January 2026 Trip Highlights

It is a dream come true to have a trip so early in the year. Even a quick one. I cashed in some points and gift cards and was in Florida January 2-4. It was a fun filled packed trip full of firsts. Come along with me as I relive my first Walt Disney World trip for 2026.

My first first is that I stayed at a value resort. Gasp! (Just kidding) When I travel with my family, there are numerous reasons why it is much easier for us to stay in the EPCOT area to set my son up for success. When I travel solo, I am only paying for one person, so it is ⅓ cheaper than what I am used to. We generally are flexible with dates and can shop the best deal whereas this trip was time sensitive. (If you want me to help you get the best deal, reach out!) 

Staying at Pop Century had some pros and cons. By far the biggest pro was access to the skyliner! I have no empirical data to support my claim; however it has been my experience staying in a resort with multiple transportation options takes the strain off of the buses. Even when you have to ride them, they are less crowded and more available than they used to be. It could have been Disney magic or luck, but every time we rode the bus this trip we basically walked right on with minimal wait. And the skyliner is a dream for me. It is so peaceful flying above my happy place. It runs (mostly) continuously, so even when there is a line it generally moves quickly. Pro tip: check for closures if you are staying at a resort specifically for the Skyliner.

A few things that were less favorable to me included the bed size, the overall room size, not having a separate sink/vanity area, no mirror other than the bathroom and no luggage stand. Perhaps some of these were specific to the room we were in, but it was a short trip and we weren’t in the room very much so none of it really mattered. I will not dwell on the minor inconveniences because they were minor. Overall, I enjoyed staying there and it exceeded some of my expectations about staying in a Value Resort. 

The parks were crowded on the 2nd and 3rd and wait times were long. Somehow we still managed to get a lot in. Including my other firsts. The newly opened Better Zoogether and Disney Villians: Unfairly Ever After. I enjoyed both! I also got Disco Inferno on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and it is my new favorite (for now). 

If you are of age and enjoy the bubbly, I recommend a glass of the Bollinger which in some circles is known for being the “Queen’s Champagne”. You can find it at EPCOT in the France Pavillion. It felt great to toast the new year at my favorite place with a festive beverage. 

Of course I had some amazing meals as I always do when I visit a Disney park. The two table service meals were Skipper Canteen and Garden Grill. Both places I have eaten before and will eat again, and again… I enjoy the adventure vibe at Skipper Canteen and the unique food offerings. This trip I had the Tastes like Chicken" Because it is! and it was delicious. The Garden Grill is one of my favorite character meals. I enjoy the family style food, the rotation of the restaurant and of course Mickey in his overalls.

Quick service meals this trip included Cosmic Ray’s, Tangierine Café, ABC Commissary, Everything POP, and of course my beloved Casey’s Corner. Not to mention Joffrey’s, Mickey pretzels, popcorn and Churros. If you haven’t had the bread at Tangierine Cafe, I highly recommend it on your next trip.

Overall, this trip was an incredible way to start the year. It was packed full of fun, food and magic. The crowds were more than I am used to, but it didn’t dampen the trip at all. I highly recommend a trip at any time, of course, but a break from the midwest winter was most welcome.