A Trip of Firsts, and Lasts, but mostly Firsts - Disney/Universal July 15-July 27, 2025

[Skywatcher1206]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Christina and I am a certified Disney nut from NC! Here is a photo of me from our last trip to the World in December 2024, before BTM closed for its lengthy refurbishment. We had such a great time at our first MVMCP. This was our last time on the Liberty Square Riverboat as it closes on July 7, before we get back .



On this trip will be DH, Hansen, as well as our 2 boys, Ethan (15) and Josh (12). Here is a pic of the whole family at our trip to DLP last year (I am still craving the delicious candies they had a DLP):



This trip was planned as part of a multi-year vacation plan made to ensure we had some cool plans before Ethan goes off to college (he just finished his freshman year of high school). This will most likely be our last week long trip with him before he leaves for college, and our last trip for a little while as a family, as we are not planning on going at all next year due to other vacation plans.

Although we go to WDW pretty often, it is rare that we go for a week long trip or longer which brings us to our first “first”, the length of the trip - 12 days! We aim to have at least 1 “first” every day!

Here is our itinerary:

Wednesday, 7/16 - Arrive at Poly. Go to Blizzard Beach. Monorail Dinner Crawl. Appetizer at Poly (either Trader Sam’s or Tambu Lounge), dinner at Steakhouse 71, dessert at Grand Floridian (any ideas?). The firsts: the kids first time staying at Poly, free water park on check in day, Steakhouse 71

Thursday, 7/17 - Move to AKV Kidani. Go to Typhoon Lagoon. Go to Epcot Moonlight Magic event for DVC. The firsts: our first Moonlight Magic event (and hopefully first ride on reimagined Test Track if a preview is open during event)

Friday, 7/18 - Magic Kingdom. Eat at Tony’s. The firsts: Tony’s. The bread service looks amazing!

Saturday, 7/19- Rest Day. Boma for dinner. No idea yet what our first will be yet. Maybe a snack or place to eat for lunch.

Sunday, 7/20 - Hollywood Studios. Sci Fi for dinner. The firsts: 2 new shows, Little Mermaid and Villians.

Monday, 7/21 - 4 park challenge. AK, HS, Epcot, MK in that order. 4 rides per park. The firsts: the family’s first time doing a 4 park challenge.

Tuesday, 7/22 - Animal Kingdom with Up Close with Rhinos tour. Hop to Epcot. Dinner at Space 220 Lounge. The firsts: Up Close with Rhinos tour, and the kids first time at Space 220 Lounge.

Wednesday, 7/23 - Check into Royal Pacific. Universal/IOA. Not sure what the firsts will be yet.

Thursday, 7/24 - Universal/IOA. Dinner at Mythos. The firsts: Mythos

Friday, 7/25 - Epic Universe. Dinner at Blue Dragon. The firsts: Everything.

Saturday, 7/26 - Volcano Bay. Dinner at Toothsome’s. Not sure yet what the firsts will be yet.

Sunday, 7/27 - Go Home

 

[Skywatcher1206]

Changes to plan already happening. Decided to scrap the monorail crawl on first night and we will just stay at Poly to swim. Still hoping to get into Trader Sam’s.

Due to the opening of Starlight, I also added a reservation for Plaza restaurant on our 4 park challenge day to hedge my bets in case capacity limits come into play for AP park hopping. I made it for late enough that I can still cancel if getting in is not a problem.

 

[DLo]

Following along. Looking forward to reading more.

 

[Skywatcher1206]

Thanks for joining!

 

[Skywatcher1206]

Nothing like spending the morning booking your lightning lanes. It is a mixture of stress, excitement and shame that you are spending hundreds of dollars to skip some lines - $707.28 for lightning lane costs for the entire trip for 4 people:

July 18 - MP for MK, plus ILL for Seven Dwarfs & Tron
July 20 - MP for HS
July 21 - MP for HS plus ILL for Rise & Guardians (4 park challenge day)
July 22 - MP for AK

Ouch....

 

[NSDisneyGirl]

We're going in January and planning on doing LL's at each park too - last time I did it as a solo traveler with a friend so was easier to take! Now taking my niece and nephew as a party of 4, time to start saving!