A Last Minute Summer Sojourn in WDW, A Trip Report

I am NOT a great last minute vacation planner for my family. I am far too Type A to handle that type of stress, normally. That said, we just booked our family’s flights, last night, for a Walt Disney World trip in 38 days. 

Why so last minute? This past week I accepted an invitation to the Walt Disney World® Resort Marketing Forum, Marketing the Magic. That commitment includes a 3 night stay in our family’s new favorite resort, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort, while my children are still on Summer Break from school and overlaps a weekend- which also makes it easier for my husband to join us. We decided to fly in a night before my commitments begin and stay an additional night at the end as well.

We land in the afternoon and decided we would get settled, grab a quick dinner inside Gasparilla Island Grill, and then settle in by the marina to watch Happily Ever After.

The next day, I will be attending an opening reception (time TBA) while my family tackles the parks. They have decided to try and go in after lunch to avoid the heat of the day, so I expect some pool time that morning into the afternoon as well.

On Friday, I am expecting to be attending meetings all day, but I am hoping to meet up with my family to explore Pandora at night.

On Saturday, my family has plans to travel around World Showcase for the day with lunch in Italy and dinner and dessert in Mexico while I am in meetings during the day before dinner with my colleagues.

On Sunday, there might be a final marketing breakfast before my family heads to Disney’s Hollywood Studios. We also secured a reservation for the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Dessert Party that night. The last time I was inside Hollywood Studios at night to see Symphony in the Stars, the projections weren’t quite ready, but the laser and fireworks show was spectacular- we are all really excited to see the upgraded show up close after meeting some jawas and stormtroopers!

We leave the next afternoon and have reserved a farewell lunch inside the Grand Floridian Cafe just after we check out. Then the next countdown begins until our return….