JOAN COLLINS BROWN: Disney

Chase and I planned to make a trip up to Orlando once we arrived back to the States. Chase and I haven't been to Disney World for years and I knew my birthday would be the perfect time to make the trip. Disney always makes an effort to treat you the very best on any occasion but especially your birthday. It's a definite plus that my birthday happens to 'fall' during the best time of the year!

I'm going to preface this post by saying it was the best birthday I have ever had. I try to live my best life everyday, so when my birthday rolls around I think I put too much pressure on myself to make it the very best day and it never seems to go as planned. This year though, I wanted it to be and feel different. Disney World was the perfect destination, and after we secured our tickets to the parks we needed to find a hotel.

I knew I wanted to stay near the parks and close to the Disney property because it makes things a lot easier. The hotels in Orlando are on a different level than your typical hotel because of their outstanding amenities and impeccable hospitality. Per recommendations I knew the Hilton Bonnet Creek would be the perfect choice for my 25th birthday getaway.

We made our way up to Orlando on Monday instead of on Tuesday for my birthday because we heard of a service project for the victims of Puerto Rico. We were able to volunteer at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando for a few hours. It was so fulfilling and the time went by so quick. All we needed to do was pack 6 food items in a cardboard lunch box, and then pack them into a box to be shipped to Puerto Rico. Our group of 5 made over 1,200 boxes this day. So many people have volunteered their time, that the organization already surpassed their original goal of 4 million units. From what I understood, they will be there until the end of October.

Once our shift was over we head to Disney Springs (Downtown Disney) for lunch. I'm not sure how they do it, but Disney can even make a shopping mall magical. It's a great place to go and have dinner, or just walk around since parking is free in the garage.

DRESS c/o: CHICWISH

Love this dress so much

We went to check in to Hilton Bonnet Creek right after lunch because we wanted to take a swim and relax. The building is even better in person, the entrance is so grand, but welcoming at the same time.We walked up to the front desk and were greeted immediately by Sumaiyah, who was extremely charming and attentive. I'm not sure about you, but I can tell by the way I am treated at the front desk how much I will enjoy my stay. (A little fun fact about me, when I was going into my senior year of high school I had the opportunity to do an internship for the Holiday Inn on Miami Beach. I learned so much while working there as a switchboard operator.) Above all the things I learned was that a front desk agent holds so much responsibility for the hotel. Many times they are the first impression a guest has on the hotel and so many other times they are the only interaction a guest will have with the hotel staff. They are the face of the hotel property and should represent themselves as such.

We checked into our room which took no more than five minutes and went to park our car, which Sumaiyah was kind enough to waive the fee for us. The self service parking garage is located right next to the hotel, so it makes it extremely easy to head out at any time. You also have the choice of valet parking if you find that more convenient for you.

We made our way up to the room where we stayed in a double occupancy deluxe, with views of the Disney fireworks at night. We were immediately impressed because every single floor had watermelon infused water right off the elevator, which added a nice touch, especially since it's always hot in Florida.

Sumaiyah also let us know of all the amenities that the Hilton Bonnet Creek has to offer, some of which we didn't know about. For example, if you are a Georgia or Florida resident you can save up to 12% on your stay, which is great since so many people are season holders to the parks. Probably the best amenities is the free shuttle the property has. It can take you to any of the parks and Disney Springs. Honestly it is such an added plus if you don't have season passes to Disney parking will cost $20 per day. All you have to do is go to the concierge and ask for your shuttle passes and make sure you take a schedule to find out the shuttle times.

After we unpacked and gushed over the view and went straight to the pool, I have to say the reason we were do drawn to The Hilton Bonnet Creek was because of the property. The hotel has 3 acre pool and their lazy river. Including a waterslide, complimentary inner tubes, and you can also rent out a private cabana. A major plus of the hotel is getting to enjoy all the amenities the Waldorf Astoria has to offer. The Waldorf is right next door and you can take this beautiful and peaceful walk over to their property.

Honestly the pool area of the hotel is the star of the show. Not only do you get an outstanding view of their golf course but you can also enjoy a drink and meal while lounging by the pool. You can order from their Beech restaurant located right next to the pool area. We stayed at the pool until the sunset and then went back to the room to watch the Disney firework show to end the night.

It's no secret that I go crazy for Autumn, I mean the colors, the movies, all the pumpkin everything, and on top of the list is Halloween. Unfortunately, we don't have seasons in Florida, but once we stepped foot in Magic Kingdom I felt like I landed on the set of Halloween Town . It was basically heaven to me and I couldn't get enough of all the Fall themed decorations.

Chase did a good job of planning our visit to the park by getting fast passes on the My Disney Experience App. He reserved the top three rides we wanted for the day and then we played it by ear. The park wasn't packed so it made it really easy to get on rides quickly.

One of the coolest things Disney does during the month of October is Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The park closed at 7:00pm on this particular day so all of the party guests can have the park to themselves. It was so fun seeing all the people in their costumes. By far the best costume we saw was a couple dressed like Cinderella and Prince Charming. I don't think I am exaggerating when I say we all thought they were Disney cast members. It was beyond spectacular to see how much effort went into the costume. We saw other fun costume's like woody and the tin man from the Wizard of Oz.

After we left Magic Kingdom we head over to Animal Kingdom to check out the new Pandora ride. We knew the lines would be crazy busy at all times of the day, so we wanted to wait after the sun went down to avoid the heat while we stood in line for almost two hours! Going to the Avatar ride at night would be my recommendation. This section of Animal Kingdom is designed after the world of Pandora just like in the movie, so all the plants are glowing at night.

Although we waited in line for almost two hours for the new Avatar ride, it was so worth it. I won't spoil anything for you, but it was probably one of the best rides I've ever been on.

After the ride we went out for some grub before heading back to the hotel tired and sweaty from the day. I was so surprised when we got to the room because the hotel left chocolate covered strawberries, prosecco, and a card waiting for me as a birthday surprise. Sumaiyah also took the time to write me a note, gave me a cupcake, some balloons, and M&Ms. It was so thoughtful of her and I really appreciated the kind gesture. What a great way to end my birthday!

The next morning we went back to Animal Kingdom to go on the rest of the rides. Chase again reserved fast passes for the rides we wanted, so we finished the park early and then went to Epcot.

From September until November 13th Epcot hosts the International Food & Wine festival. If you aren't familiar with the event, Epcot has booths set up with food from all over the world. Instead of going to just one restaurant you have the choice of trying small plates from different countries. The park makes it easy to walk around the pavilions of each country to try the food at the kiosk, you can even get a Disney passport stamped as you make your way around.

I have to say a huge thank you to Walt Disney World for invited us to enjoy all of your parks, and also to the Hilton Bonnet Creek for the wonderful accomodations. It was the best birthday, and a big thank you to everyone who wrote me and wished me a great day.

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