My husband and I were married on June 30th and made the trip to Disney 2 days later for an exciting 8 day Honeymoon (during 4th of July Week no less). Neither of us had been to Disney in at least 8 years and we had never been there together, so we were excited to enjoy Disney for the first time as adults and as a couple.

A brief synopsis of my advice to anyone going to Disney: (1) Buy the Birnbaum's Guide to Disney (found at any Barnes and Noble or Borders). They actually have a few versions --- we found the one specifically written for adults traveling without kids especially helpful. This book helped me to research and plan our days - a MUST if going to Disney. Planning a flexible itinerary is the difference between having a great time and having a horrible time. (2) Use your Fastpasses. (3) Stay in the resorts if at all possible. Especially if you like to take mid-day naps. (4) Plan to walk a lot! Disney is more than twice the size of Manhattan!!!

We arrived in Orlando at around 10:30am on Sunday and were so thrilled to see that the weather was beautiful our first day there! We weren't staying in a Disney Resort, so we had to find our own luggage, and call our car rental company to come pick us up. In the 30+ minutes we were waiting for the car company's shuttle to come and get us, we saw the Disney Magical Express come and go quite a few times picking up passengers. Our shuttle finally arrived to take us to our car rental location only to wait even longer AND pay an astronimical rate.

We were staying at the Marriott near the airport (very nice hotel!) and check-in wasn't until 3pm, so we decided to spend the afternoon at Downtown Disney. Upon arrival , we could feel the magic immediately. The Disney music was playing throughout the entire Downtown area, and everything was done in perfect detail, just as I remember Disney from when I was a child. Near the Lego store, there are GIANT lego figures that move and make noise...there is even a huge Lego dragon that sits in the lake! While we were in Downtown, we shopped in the most unbelievable Disney store known to mankind and ate at Rainforest Cafe (a nice restaurant with pretty good food and AMAZING atmosphere). When the mid-afternoon rains came, we took a tour of the Disney Vacation Club and fell in love (although we did not buy...yet).

We went to bed early that night so we could arrive at the Magic Kingdom for 7:30am...and that we did. We got there for the opening ceremonies and being that I was raised on Disney everything, this ALMOST brought a tear to my eye. We couldn't believe we were here. The great thing about getting to the parks as soon as they open is that you can literally walk right on the rides for at least the first hour you are there. We were of the first to get onto Space Mountain, and we hit almost every major ride by 1pm! Just be prepared to need a nap mid-day. Must hits for the Magic Kingdom for adults are: Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, and the newly refurbished Pirates of the Caribbean. For kids and big kids alike, definitely hit Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Stitch's Great Escape, and Buzz Lightyear. And great get-out-of-the-heat-and-relax rides are The Hall of Presidents and the Carousel of Progress.

Epcot was our stop for Day 2, which also happened to be the Fourth of July. A great choice for during the day, as the Magic Kingdom was much more crowded during the day (although at night it was a different story). We first hung around Future World for the first part of the day, hitting Test Track and Soarin', which were both breathtaking rides in their own senses of the word. At 65 MPH, Test Track will take your breath away, and Soarin' makes you feel as if you are sailing over so many beautiful landscapes that it leaves you breathless. We also took in the beautiful Sea Creatures in the Living Seas... In the World Showcase, we were amazed at how much cooler this place is when you're an adult. We hit every country and even rode some of the rides that are tucked away inside the scenery, such as Maelstrom in Norway (don't miss this one!) and El rio del Tiempo in Mexico (perfect for couples...very romantic!). We had dinner in China, enjoyed crepes and ice cream and strawberries in France for dessert, and took a seat a couple hours early to get a great view of the best 4th of July fireworks show we ever saw!

We visited Animal Kingdom and MGM Studios all in the same day (do NOT try this with kids...we are probably the most energetic and antsy people you will ever meet which aided us in completing this near impossible feat). Go to Animal Kingdom early, as it closes at 7pm or earlier. There are a lot of great rides here...Expedition Everest is the most amazing ride in Disney and the Kali River Rapids are a blast (though you will get soaked so wear a bathing suit under your clothes). You have to hit the Kilamanjaro Safari where you can see all kinds of wild animals including lions, elephants, and some creatures I have neer before heard of in my life...all throughout a gorgeous landscape. And Dinosaur is another one to not miss...

MGM Studios is a great place for movie lovers and Disney lovers alike. There are a lot of great themed restaurants (The Brown Derby and 50's Prime Time Cafe) and some really thrilling rides (Rock'n Roller Coaster and The Tower of Terror). We took the Backlot Tour while we were there and it was surprisingly a lot of fun. We saw a lot of great special effects that are done in movies, as well as some really cool authentic movie props from everything from Star Wars to Chronicles of Narnia.

Finally, as far as dining goes, we found that the pricing was a lot more affordable than Six Flags here in New Jersey and the quality and quantity was better. Some tips: split stuff when getting fast food...we found that ordering two meals as some places was just too much and it went to waste. Pack snacks and water. They will let you bring it in the parks with you. Make reservations...you will need them for dinner. Some of our favorite restaurants: Plaza Restaurant on Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, 50's Prime Time Cafe in MGM, Rainforest Cafe in both Downtown Disney and the Animal Kingdom, and Ghirardelli's in Downtown Disney for ice cream and dessert (no reservations required). And for a speciall/romantic treat, make reservations (well in advance) for Victoria and Albert's at the Grand Floridian. It is very expensive, but the food is impeccable, the atmosphere is regal, and the service is the best I have ever had. This was the best dining experience we have ever had.

So, to sum it up, we loved Disney...and we can't wait to go back. As a matter of fact, we are planning our next trip already!!!