A Mother–Daughter Disney Trip We’ll Never Forget ✨
I will always cherish this look in her eye and how thankful she was for this time together!
There’s something incredibly magical about taking a mother–daughter trip—just the two of you, no distractions, no schedules except the ones you choose. Recently, I surprised my daughter, Kaylin, with the ultimate 13th birthday celebration: a girls-only getaway to Walt Disney World. And honestly…it was everything I could have hoped for and more.
From the moment I picked her up from school with our matching mother–daughter shirts packed and ready, the magic began. She had no idea what was coming. We headed straight to the airport, full of excitement and giggles, ready for our adventure.
Our private transfer picked us up on arrival and even made a quick stop so we could grab water and settle in after checking into our resort. Once we unpacked, we hopped on the Skyliner—our favorite—and headed to Beaches & Cream for dinner. Matching grilled cheese and tomato soup for both of us, followed by the iconic No Way José and a banana split. The perfect start to our weekend. We went to bed early, knowing we had a big day ahead.
Epcot Day: Guardians, Snacks & A Lot of Laughter
Our first full day was all about Epcot. We took the Skyliner over and went straight to Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Only a 25-minute wait—amazing! I had pre-purchased Lightning Lanes seven days in advance since we were staying on property. (And yes—if you book your trip with me, I will help guide you through Lightning Lanes so you don’t have to worry about a thing!)
We filled our morning with all our favorites: Nemo, Soarin’, Test Track, Living With the Land, and another round on Guardians.
With the Food & Wine Festival going on, there were snacks everywhere, but Kaylin and I started where we always do—our favorite spot in Mexico. From there, we let curiosity guide us around the World Showcase, stopping for treats whenever something looked good.
We also grabbed a Remy Scavenger Hunt, which ended up being such a sweet memory. It gave us a reason to explore each country more deeply, and Kaylin loved finding all the little Remys hidden around the world. We walked the showcase three whole times that day!
When we got back to the resort, Kaylin wasn’t even close to being done. She set up her phone, and suddenly we were making silly reels, laughing until our stomachs hurt. Moments like that—just being together, uninterrupted—are what I’ll treasure forever.
Hollywood Studios — The Big 1-3 Birthday! 🎉
Kaylin woke up officially 13, and I was ready to spoil her. Her favorite park? Hollywood Studios, of course.
Thanks to more Lightning Lanes, we hit every one of our favorite rides—many of them twice or three times. We shopped a little, and Kaylin picked out a gorgeous new Disney coat as her birthday present.
For lunch, we celebrated at Woody’s Roundup, her absolute favorite. The park closed at 7 that night, but we stayed for Holly Jolly Nights and enjoyed the Christmas lights and entertainment. Before the park officially closed, we made it to Fantasmic, which I highly recommend if you’ve never seen it.
As the crowds cleared for the nighttime event, we were able to ride with no wait times at all. We walked back into our room close to 1 a.m., tired but overflowing with joy. Kaylin said it was the best birthday she’s ever had—and I couldn’t agree more.
Magic Kingdom Day & Resort Hopping
On Sunday, we moved over to the Contemporary. Resort transfers are so easy—Disney handled the luggage, and we headed straight to Magic Kingdom by bus.
I didn’t purchase Lightning Lanes for this day, but even with ABC filming holiday specials, we still had such a lovely time. Rain came and went, but it didn’t slow us down one bit. We rode our favorites, enjoyed our must-have snacks, and spent time exploring.
We also stopped in to enjoy the new Beek & Barrel, which had such a cool atmosphere. With Magic Kingdom offering extended hours until 11 p.m., we took advantage of the lower crowds and soaked up every moment.
A Perfect Disney Goodbye
Monday morning, we slept in—much needed! After packing up and dropping off our bags, we jumped on the monorail to the Grand Floridian. We checked out the new lobby bar and enjoyed a delicious brunch at the Grand Floridian Café, one of our longtime favorites.
A little shopping, a few last magical moments, and then our private transfer arrived to take us back to the airport. I didn’t want the trip to end, but my heart was so full.
This trip… I will never, ever forget it. Taking a few days away from the real world to focus on just Kaylin was the best decision I’ve ever made. Missing a few days of school was absolutely worth it. She’ll only turn 13 once, and this time together—this uninterrupted mother–daughter memory—was priceless.
You can always make more money.
But you can’t make more time.
If you’re dreaming about a vacation of any kind—Disney, Universal, cruising, an all-inclusive—I would truly love to help you create magical memories just like these. You won’t regret taking the trip.
