The Orlando Bash
The second half of my 50th celebration takes us to Orlando for a multi-day adventure filled with iconic parks, immersive experiences, and time together. This portion of the celebration is all about creating memories, revisiting childhood magic, and embracing a little thrill along the way.
We’ll be exploring Walt Disney World and Universal, experiencing behind-the-scenes tours, building lightsabers, tasting our way through the Food & Wine Festival, and stepping into Epic Universe. Whether you join for a few days or the full experience, this week is designed to balance adventure with connection.
This is more than a trip. It’s a shared celebration.
Itinerary
November 1
Arrival +
Epcot Evening Preview
Welcome to the celebration. After arriving and settling into Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort, we’ll ease into the week with a relaxed evening at Epcot. We’ll explore the International Food & Wine Festival together, sampling small bites and drinks from around the world. There’s no rush tonight. Just good company, great food, and fireworks to kick off the week.
November 5
Epic Universe – Day One
Today we step into Universal’s newest park. We’ll explore immersive lands like Super Nintendo World and How to Train Your Dragon. Expect bold design, creative storytelling, and new attractions. We’ll stay through the evening to fully enjoy the experience.
November 2
Magic Kingdom +
Keys to the Kingdom Tour
Today is all about classic Disney magic. We’ll begin with the exclusive Keys to the Kingdom tour, a behind-the-scenes experience that reveals the stories and secrets of Magic Kingdom. After the tour, we’ll enjoy iconic attractions and spend the afternoon exploring the park together. The evening ends with fireworks in front of Cinderella Castle.
November 6
Epic Universe – Day Two
Our second day at Epic Universe allows us to slow down and explore even more. We’ll visit Celestial Park and the Wizarding expansion, revisit favorite rides, and enjoy time together without rushing.
November 3
Universal Orlando Mega Day
Get ready for a full day of thrills. We’ll experience both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure in one exciting day. From Diagon Alley to high-speed coasters and immersive worlds, this day is packed with adventure. We’ll wrap up the evening at CityWalk with dinner and time to unwind.
November 7
Epcot Drinking Around the World – Food & Wine Festival
This is our dedicated Food & Wine day. We’ll make our way around World Showcase, tasting dishes and drinks from global marketplaces. Think of it as a progressive dinner around the world. We’ll enjoy live entertainment throughout the day and finish with fireworks at night.
November 4
Animal Kingdom + Hollywood Studios + Lightsaber Workshop
We’ll start the morning surrounded by nature at Animal Kingdom before heading to Hollywood Studios in the afternoon. A highlight of the day is our Lightsaber Workshop experience in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. After building custom lightsabers, we’ll enjoy some of the park’s most popular attractions and end the evening with Fantasmic.
November 8
Flexible Disney Day + The Great Escape Room or Departure Day
This morning is flexible. You can revisit a favorite park, relax at the resort, or enjoy Disney Springs. In the afternoon, we’ll gather for The Great Escape Room experience, where we’ll work together to solve puzzles and complete the challenge. We’ll close the night with a relaxed group dinner.
Where to Stay and Why
We chose the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin for its unbeatable location and elevated feel. It places us within walking distance of Epcot and Hollywood Studios, making our schedule easy and flexible. The resort offers great dining, beautiful pools, and a central location that keeps us close to all the action while still feeling relaxed and comfortable.
It’s also a Marriott-affiliated hotel, so guests can earn and use Marriott Bonvoy points while enjoying Disney resort benefits.