✈️ The Adventure Begins: Heading to Walt Disney World for Wine & Dine Weekend- Part 6
- Mai Smith-Trau
- Nov 2, 2025
- 3 min read
Well, the time has finally arrived — we’re heading to Walt Disney World! Our bags are packed, airline tickets printed, and hotels booked. (Yes, hotels — plural. Thanks to my questionable planning skills, we ended up doing a split stay with our Disney Vacation Club. Fingers crossed this goes smoothly!)
Pre-Travel Prep
Because we live a couple of hours from Reno, my husband booked a free night at the Grand Sierra Resort so we could sleep in before our early morning flight. Honestly, leaving during the week has its perks — not only is it quieter, but it also helped us save a bit of money.
I booked our flight early enough to land in Florida with time to stretch our legs and explore Disney Springs. I’m not going to lie — that time change is always a challenge for me, but I was ready for some Mickey-shaped snacks and Disney magic to wake me up!
Airport and Flight Tips
Pro tip: Pre-check everything you can. I checked in for both our flight and hotel ahead of time, and it made the process so much easier. At the airport, all we had to do was drop off our luggage and cruise through TSA — though my camera bag earned me a little extra attention.
I travel with my WANDRD camera bag, which made the inspection a breeze. The only camera they had questions about was my beloved Widelux (she’s vintage and a little quirky), but TSA was super understanding once I explained what it was.
We only had one layover — and honestly, if you can, book direct or one-stop flights. It saves time and sanity. We flew United, and it was fantastic. Each seat had its own TV, and I used my Shokz bone-conduction headphones to watch movies the whole way. Snacks were the usual flight fare, but hey, that’s what the pre-packed trail mix is for.
Arrival and Check-In
Once we arrived, I was thrilled to find we could go straight to our room — no front desk line! I used the Disney World app to unlock our door (if you don’t already have it downloaded, do that before your trip — it’s a lifesaver).
We stayed at Saratoga Springs Resort, which has a fun equestrian theme. After unpacking, we stopped by the Carriage House to grab dinner and snacks. The Cast Members were incredible — patient, kind, and happy to help us figure out how to link our family’s accounts on the app.
First Impressions
Our first day was all about settling in and soaking up the atmosphere. We wandered Disney Springs, checked out the pools, and got a feel for the resort. For those on the West Coast — Disney Springs is basically Florida’s version of Downtown Disney, but with way more shops and restaurants (and yes, even more reasons to spend money).
We’re beyond excited for the week ahead — our 5K, 10K, and Half Marathon await during the Wine & Dine Weekend!
Stay tuned for the next post — I’ll be sharing how the runs went, the best snacks we found, and a few lessons learned (like why caffeine and running can be both magical and mildly chaotic).
Final Tip
Plan, plan, plan. Things may not always go perfectly, but a solid plan makes it easier to adjust when life throws you a few Dole Whips along the way. 🍍✨
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