We’re officially doing it. We are packing up our family of six and heading off to Florida for two whole weeks. Sunshine, Mickey Mouse, palm trees, jet lag… the full experience. This is the kind of trip we’ve been daydreaming about for what feels like forever, and now that it’s actually happening, I have entered full holiday-planning-mum mode. You know the one: I have spreadsheets, colour-coded lists, and a Pinterest board labelled “Florida Fun” that I pretend is for the kids, but actually I’m planning my own ice cream trail.
Florida just made sense for us. We needed somewhere with enough excitement to keep the big kids happy, enough magic to keep the little ones starry-eyed, and enough coffee shops to keep the adults going. Where better than the land of theme parks, sunshine, and air-conditioning so fierce it could resurrect the dead? Every time someone asks why we picked Florida, I just think of the look on our kids’ faces when they see those castles and characters come to life… that, and the fact that a beach is always within an hour’s drive if theme park queues finally defeat us.
Accommodation-wise, we’ve gone sensible. A villa. Because as much as I adore my children… having them all share a single hotel room with us after a day of Disney adrenaline and sugar would probably end in someone needing witnesses and a legal statement. A villa means doors. Actual, close-able doors. Space to breathe. A pool. A kitchen where someone can make snacks without paying £18 for a Mickey-shaped pretzel. It’s the dream.
We’re also hiring a car because Florida is apparently enormous and public transport seems to work on the assumption that you’re only going about 15 minutes away. I’m just hoping we end up with something large enough that no one is kicking the back of my seat for hours. And if it has built-in screens? Well, that’s basically first class, right?
Disney: Where the Planning Is Its Own Ride
Let’s talk Disney. Planning Disney is… a whole personality. I thought I was organised before (kinda), but now I have discovered Disney planning Facebook groups and people who can tell you the exact minute to join a queue to get a better spot in another queue. There are fiery debates online about which park to visit first. There are rules for when to pee so you don’t miss a parade. There are grown adults who take this very, very seriously… and honestly, good for them. I need that energy.
Meanwhile, I’m just trying to figure out whether we’ll cry from joy or exhaustion first.
I imagine that first moment: turning a corner and seeing Cinderella’s castle in the distance, the children gasping, me pretending I’m not tearing up, my partner calculating how much money will leave our bank account before lunchtime. Pure magic.
Packing, though? That’s another story. Packing for six people should count as an Olympic sport. It starts with ambition and optimism, “We’ll pack light! We don’t need that much!” and ends with me sitting on a suitcase while shouting, “WHY DO WE OWN SO MANY SOCKS?!” We’ve already discussed having a luggage allowance just for sunscreen. Then there’s the comfortable-shoe situation. The good shoes. The back-up shoes. The “in case someone’s feet betray us by day two” shoes. By the time we’re done, I’ll either be a packing ninja or crying into a pile of swimwear at 1am.
Survival Strategy: Snacks, Screens & Sanity
I’m also determined to be the Fun Prepared Mum for the flight. I have plans. I am creating surprise bags. There will be snacks. Noise-cancelling headphones. Colouring. Netflix downloads. I want to arrive in Florida still smiling… not already needing a holiday from the holiday. And if all else fails… iPads. There’s no judgement here.
Budgeting for this trip has been a conversation — mostly between my excitement and my bank account. Souvenirs alone could bankrupt us if we aren’t careful. I’ve seen the price of a spirit jersey. I’ve also made peace with the fact that the youngest is going to want all the sparkly things she can lay her hands on. We’re setting sensible budgets so the kids can choose their must-haves without me fainting in the checkout line. We’re planning home meals in the villa to balance out those park treats; because nobody wants to live entirely on churros, except possibly all of us.
But honestly, as much as I love the planning and the Disney researching and the “we must pack everything we’ve ever owned,” what I’m most excited for is just being together. Properly together, no school runs, no homework arguments, no alarms (well, besides the ones for early park entry), no schedule beyond what we want to do. Swimming before breakfast. Ice cream melting faster than you can lick it. Holding hands during parades. Falling into bed exhausted from the very best kind of day.
The kids each have their own priorities, of course. Our eldest is already talking about rollercoasters. The next one is going straight for the snacks. The 9-year-old has informed us that she will be meeting every single princess and will not be taking questions at this time. And the youngest? She’s convinced she is also a Disney character and someone there will notice and immediately offer her a job.
Their excitement makes every tiny bit of planning feel worth it.
As the countdown continues, I’ll definitely be sharing the chaos, the wins, and the “what on earth were we thinking?” moments. There will be packing lists, travel hacks, reminders for future me, and probably a few panicked posts about realising the trip is suddenly VERY close. And of course, once we’re actually there, I’ll be documenting every magical moment — from character hugs to sandy toes.
This trip isn’t just a holiday. It feels like a celebration; of family time, of making memories while the kids are still little enough to believe in magic, and of treating ourselves to something we’ve looked forward to for so long.
So here we go into the land of sunshine, fireworks, and the most enthusiastic mascots known to mankind. Florida, we’re coming for you. And we’re bringing snacks.
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