Orlando & St. Pete Beach during Covid-19...

We haven't been to Magic Kingdom since 2014. We were so excited to return but things looked a little different during Covid-19. Here's what you can expect if you visit during the pandemic:

Make a date-specific advance reservation online
Temperature checks when you enter
Face coverings required
No Fastpass 😂
Reduced hours
Restaurants: Order & pay for food on the app
Social distance on rides and inline (markings on the ground & can make wait times longer)
Hand sanitizer throughout the park
Increased cleaning procedures
Download My Disney Experience App. Get the latest updates, mobile ordering, restaurant menus, real-time wait times, and park maps.
No extra Magic Hours
No park hopping: One park per day
No parades: They will have impromptu brief processions (we saw 2)
No fireworks or other nighttime spectaculars
No character meet and greets. They are in the park you just can't get close.

I know the changes might make some not want to visit during Covid-19 but it really wasn't bad. We were excited to have an escape during the pandemic! We're grateful Florida is allowing Disney World to be open!

We purposely came to the Magic Kingdom on a rainy day. We've been here before in October when it was really hot. It was overcast and ended up being a great day and we didn't mind the rain. We bought our tickets the night before and were able to still get a reservation.

ButterBeer, Wands, and Magic... the Wizarding World of Harry Potter-Hogsmeade is amazing! We waited in line before it opened and went straight to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. My #1 TIP is to arrive early!! Our favorite ride was Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Coaster. It's popular so make sure to go on it first (#2 Tip). Later in the day, the wait time was 2 hours. We purchased the express pass but this ride was not included on the express pass. 😢 You'll find many of the same Covid operational changes at Universal's Islands of Adventure including no light show on the castle.

We ate lunch at the Three Broomsticks Tavern and returned later for dessert. We couldn't make up our minds so we ended up with apple pie, butterbeer ice cream, and frozen butterbeer. 😋 It was so yummy!

We stayed in a hotel on International Drive. I-Drive is 11 miles of shopping, dining, theme parks, and entertainment. I would usually skip staying in such a busy area but we ended up really enjoying it. You can eat and find entertainment at any time of the day. One evening we went to Congo River Golf to feed alligators. It was one of our favorite things we did and if we weren't staying on International Drive we wouldn't have found it.

Another International Drive find... Cicily loved Fun Spot America as much as Disney World. She's a dare devil and loves to go on fast rollar coasters that go upside down... basically anything that would make me sick! 😱 She also loved that there were no lines!

We always try to take an airboat ride when we travel to Florida. It is such a rush! We went on Wild Willy's Airboat Tour. We saw lots of eagles, alligators, and birds. Captain Tyler picked the water lilies for my girls. 💕

It just kept getting better... after our boat ride, Captain Tyler let us hold this cute little gator!

A swampy park is such a treat for a girl from the desert!😂 We had a picnic then explored the trails at Shingle Creek Regional Park.

We stayed on St. Pete Beach for the second half of our vacation. It was nice to relax on the beach after spending three days in Orlando. The hotel pool was a hit and our girls loved going back and forth between the beach and pool!

We 💟 FLORIDA

John's Pass Village & Boardwalk... It's a quaint turn-of-the-century fishing village. They have lots of shopping, restaurants, boat rentals, and jet skiing... Our favorite was a taffy store that smelled so good! 😋

The legendary Pink Palace of St. Pete Beach! The Don CeSar Hotel opened in 1928 and has played host to a long list of interesting guests, including Marilyn Monroe, Al Capone, and Elizabeth Taylor. In the '70s it was slated to be torn down but the locals stepped in to petition that it be restored and saved 🙌. I can't imagine St. Pete Beach without it.💫

Does it really have to end? 😂 So grateful for the memories we made during our Florida vacation. Because of quarantine, I really appreciate being able to get on an airplane, stay in a hotel, and visit amusement parks. I'm so glad Florida is allowing the parks to stay open during Covid-19 so our lives can seem a little normal during such a crazy year. Thank you, Florida we love you! 💟