Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high
There’s a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby

Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true

Someday I’ll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That’s where you’ll find me

It’s a little bit weird to start a post about a Disney trip without quoting the lyrics to an actual Disney song when there are so many to choose from that would adequately convey the point, but this one, from The Wizard of Oz, just seemed to fit my current mindset.

The family and I spent the last ten days at Disney, and while that’s a bit longer than our usual stays (and we all agreed was perhaps a little too long), it was just what we needed after the year that we, collectively, have all had.

You know that I’m a Disney kid, and if you’ve been following for any sort of time know that my family of all-adults goes down twice a year for our double dose of magic. People have asked why three grown-ups with no children venture so often to the land of make-believe, but if you know, you know.  It’s a whole different experience than going with kids, but no less magical, IMO. Maybe even moreso. It’s a trip that both my brother and I schedule around our more exotic escapades, making it no less a priority than a trip overseas.

This trip was the reschedule of not one, but three previous trips that we booked last year, so we snuck it in while we could before school was out for the summer. and Florida summer heat really kicked up in to high gear.  With COVID fears still in the back of our minds, we weighed the risks of whether we should go to the parks or just enjoy the pools and the restaurants.  We opted to go to a few because, as I texted my brother while we were planning a few months ago, “I NEED FUN.”

I needed fun. I needed the magic. I needed to be in a place where for 10 days, I didn’t have to worry about COVID numbers rising, about mass shootings, warring politics and people fighting over masks. I needed to be in my Disney bubble, so to the parks we went.

As we walked into Animal Kingdom on our first day, my brother looked over me and said, “it really is magic here, you know?”

I know.

The next evening, around sunset, I went back to the Magic Kingdom myself for some last minute shopping. Sunset is my favorite time to be at the parks. The screaming, tired children are mostly gone, the scorching sun is tucked away, the crowds are thinner and the lights sparkle all around. You can actually hear the music that plays through every speaker, and you’ll no doubt find yourself unconsciously singing your favorite tunes. The only thing missing was the fireworks, my absolute favorite part of going to Disney, on hold to avoid mass gatherings, but otherwise, it was exactly the thing that my weary self needed.

And while the heat in the latter part of our trip was almost an unbearable 94+ degrees, we spent most of it poolside, soaking up all the chlorine that this Florida kid at heart misses so much now that I live in Michigan.

And while I’m always excited to come home to my Crawley, I was glad to get to spend a few days over the rainbow. 

To a land that I heard of once in a lullaby.

Where happy little bluebirds fly.

Where you wish upon a star, and your dreams do come true.

Here you leave Today

And enter the world of Yesterday,

Tomorrow and Fantasy.

Practical note:

If any of you are worried about going in these pandemic times, don’t be. In fact, if you’re thinking of a trip, I’d say now is the time to go. The crowds are thinner, and masks are absolutely required, and the policy is strictly enforced.  Diners are spaced out in restaurants and the only place we didn’t have to wear a mask was on the pool deck.  

Tahquamenon Falls is actually located in a town called Paradise.

In planning this trip, I was along for the ride in that I didn’t plan it. Not one bit, but our trusty travel planner just nailed it, and this day at Tahquamenon Falls was my favorite of the trip. (more…)

Anyone that asks how our little vacation was, before I excitedly launch into the specifics, I make it clear that it was very much a nerd trip. Tennis aside, between Harry Potter and Disney (more on that later), it was very clearly planned to bring out the kid (and inner nerd) in all of us. Say it loud, say it proud.

While Wimbledon got us to London in the first place, my task after that was to craft a week full of things that were on my bucket list and that my family would no doubt enjoy as well. While my brother reluctantly enjoys Harry Potter, my mom and I (and Tomato, though she will admit to a lesser affinity, should you ask her) are ALL into it, and made our way around Edinburgh and the Highlands last year looking for the clues of Potter that dotted the country.  This time around, we hit up the obvious attractions. Both took months of forethought, but the consensus amongst our quartet was that it was worth the planning.

First up, the play that came after, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

Picture, courtesy of Tomato

Now, I’ll be the first to say that when I read this, I didn’t love it, not the way I love the original 7 books. I just couldn’t get into it as much. BUT, when everyone I spoke to said that we HAD to go, that the audience was at the edge of its seat, that it was 100% worth the 5 hour run time (yup, you read it right), I signed us up, all in.

Should you find yourself in London, or know that your’e going, sign up for email alerts for dates when they release tickets for dates during your stay. I had been on this list for years since I figured I’d make it to London to see it eventually, so I was #700+ “in line” in February to get our tickets for July. 

You can choose to see this play (parts 1 and 2) on two consecutive evening nights, or you can do what we did and opt for the matinee + evening show to get it all done in one day.  I suggest this since you won’t lose the momentum of what’s happening in the story.

And you won’t want to! All of us, even the doubters among us, loved it.  Win-win.  Get thee to the theatre!

As for dinner, Covent Garden restaurants are hard to book up since many, I found, around the theatre district do not take dinner reservations. We opted to skip the lines and walk 10 minutes to Chinatown, where while we were a bit late for dim sum, we waltzed right into a place, sat down and enjoyed some delicious dumplings and more.

The more being matcha taiyaki.  

I was clearly very into it.

We enjoyed our food so much that we did, in fact, go back the next day for dim sum.

Steamed buns with BBQ pork, duck egg rolls

Pork steamed in lotus leaves

Shrimp dumplings

Chili squid and shu mai

And scored some treats to go. Chinese buns…

and some of my own personal Cadbury favorites.

Our Harry Potterness didn’t end there.  The Warner Brothers studio tour is about an hour’s ride outside of the city, and takes you through the actual studio and sets where the movies were filmed.  

Getting a glimpse into the costumes, props and other bobs that brought the magic to life.

Sherbet lemon!

You can even try some magic out on your own.

I also booked these tickets in advance, particularly since we were going high season. We opted to take the tube to a train to a shuttle, but if you’re looking for more convenience, you can hop on a bus from designated pick up points in central London to get you to/from.  

It took our party between 3- 3 1/2 hours to get through the whole thing.  It seems like a long time, but don’t worry, there are some delicious snacking opportunities along the way.

Butterbeer ice cream- get this rather than the drink (which I think is way too sweet)

And after all, what is time when you have a time-turner?

I wish I had one!  A solid two days of Pottering around my favorite city…I’d surely go back and do it again and again.

Footloose & fancy free!