Our fifth and final day brought us, happy yet tired, to Hollywood Studios. You may remember this park, from your childhood, as MGM!

You also may remember the amazing Honey I Shrunk the Kids area where you could slide down blades of grass and climb up a GIANT oatmeal cream pie. That area is now gone and turned into the brand new Toy Story Land. 

This is part of a series on our visit to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. I recap each day, the park we visited, where and what we ate and drank, the very best parts of each, and what we'd do differently or skip altogether for next time.

Here's What's Been Covered:
The overview of this trip to Orlando
A Decoding Disney Guide that helps you understand the many terms and features
Day 1: a little warm up at the Magic Kingdom, at night, just for a few hours, and just for the girls
Day 2: a full day at Universal Studios, which was the highlight of the trip for the guys - my husband and his brother

Now:
Here were are now, at Day 3. It's our full day at the Magic Kingdom, the best day for me, my sister-in-law, and my niece! 

Next:
Day 4 will be Epcot and the Best Food
Day 5 is Hollywood Studios and the new Toy Story Land

If you're visiting Figs and Flights for the first time, please stay a while and take a look around. Start here if you're looking for all things Disney. 

This is THE Disney day of my dreams - a full day at the Magic Kingdom. Tighten your Magic Band and get ready for the fun.

This recap is broken up first by land, then by ride, restaurant, or whatever!

Thanks to Magic Hours we were able to get into the Magic Kingdom at 8:00 am. We giddily bounced down Main Street USA and promptly had a family photo shoot in front of Cinderella's Castle. This was a specific request of mine, to get our pictures at the castle in while we were still bright eyed and bushy tailed and before the crowds arrived.

For a few hours hopped around the Magic Kingdom without a care in the world, popping on rides with short wait times.

Universal is often dismissed as the non-Disney park and called things like "that other park in Orlando." While perhaps less popular than Disney, at first, Universal Studios is where the MAGIC of Harry Potter lives. I know dozens of adults who are "too cool" for Disney but will talk to you about Harry Potter for hours. I've been lucky to travel with people who agree with me that visiting Universal is equally as important ad Disney while spending time in Orlando.  

During our recent trip, we spent our second day in Orlando at Universal Studios. Join us and relive the whole day!

There are plenty of Disney posts here at Figs and Flights. Start with the Disney Parks Basics if you're new to the MAGIC and keep exploring using the Disney page.

Recently I went on a family trip to Walt Disney World, in Orlando, Florida. While I covered the trip overview already, when I started to write about our first day in the parks the post was just TOO LONG with the happenings of our day and explaining all of the Disney-speak. I created this guide to help you to decode Disney before your next visit! If you never intend to visit and just want to read along, I also appreciate that!

This post also hints at my thoughts on staying at a Disney property (yes, it is absolutely worth the money) and why you don't actually need a rental car, even if you have small kids needing car seats. 

There are so many Disney features and options to know of before you visit Walt Disney World (WDW), in Orlando, Florida. It doesn't help that most of them include the word magic. This Decoding Disney Guide will help you learn the most important terms and understand a bit more of just what I'm talking about in the series of WDW posts to follow.

Many of these features are reserved for guests (which is your first Disney-speak term, always used instead of "customers") who are staying at Disney hotels or properties. I'll call out which apply only to Disney hotel guests and which are for all park-goers.

​While many of these things are included with your hotel stay, you still need to get super friendly with the My Disney Experience website and/or app to customize your Magic Bands, arrange for your transportation to and from the airport, and so on. Just because they're included in your stay once you've paid doesn't mean you don't have to give Disney your flight information and first born child... OK OK, you get what I mean!

Hawai`i was my home for 5.5 years. The Aloha State is abundantly gorgeous, the weather is nearly perfect, and the aloha spirit is truly unique. 

My nieces are visiting Hawai`i for the first time next week so I'm finally gathering my thoughts and photos to create something useful for them, and for you, if you're planning a visit to Hawai`i. Enjoy this post on Hawai`i {What to See}, the previous post on Hawai`i {What to Say}, and keep an eye out for the third and final post on Hawai`i {What to Eat}.

There are three very specific things that I want you to see while you're visiting Hawaii. It doesn't matter if this is your first and only trip or your 90th, each visit to the islands is different and these three specific categories are always relevant.

​Of course you'll see all of the gorgeous sun, sand, creatures, and nature, but I challenge you to take a look into the past of Hawai`i and to learn a thing or two about the United States' history there as well as Hawai`i's own unique history.

The three specifics that you should see in Hawaii`i are:

1. See the history of the US in Hawai`i
2. See the unique history of Hawai`i
3. See as much of Mother Nature's offerings as you can