Disney World

June 2026 trip recap
Trip log · June 2026

The trip recap, day by day.

Bullets only: food and drink, park-day attractions, and the other notes worth saving.

June 2 arrival June 3 Animal Kingdom June 4 Polynesian June 5 Magic Kingdom June 6 Hollywood Studios June 7 pool day June 8 Epcot June 9 Animal Kingdom
Tuesday, June 2
Arrival day
Kidani / Jambo / Sanaa

Food and Drink

  • The Mara lunch at Jambo House.
  • Poppy: three-cheese flatbread; ate every bite; “so good.”
  • Rosie: kids’ chicken strips, double apple slices, apple juice.
  • Clay and Kristin: jerk chicken strips with pineapple salsa.
  • Sanaa dinner: bread service was the clear win.
  • Favorite sauces: Clay picked pickled garlic; Kristin leaned chimichurri or hummus.
  • Poppy: butter chicken with mac and cheese; 9.5/10.
  • Clay: braised beef with red beans / rajma masala and jasmine rice; delicious.
  • Kristin: flat iron steak was only okay; too fatty/gristly and under-seasoned.
  • Rosie: tomato soup was not a hit.
  • Drinks: Rosie water; Kristin African Mai Tai; Clay Bee’s Knees; Poppy watermelon lemonade.

Other notes

  • Michael met the family for pickup.
  • Arrived at Animal Kingdom Lodge around 1:30 PM.
  • Walmart delivery scheduled for 3:00 PM.
  • Room 7977 was very far from the elevators.
  • Booked Standard View; received Savanna View.
  • Swimming and splash pad time before Sanaa.
  • Sanaa service was underwhelming; waitress was Lindsay.
Wednesday, June 3
Animal Kingdom
82° and cloudy

Food and Drink

  • Popcorn break and popcorn refill saved for later.
  • Poppy and Kristin: cookie dough brownie ice cream sandwiches.
  • Satu’li Canteen lunch.
  • Poppy: cheeseburger pods.
  • Rosie: wrapped hot dog / pig-in-a-blanket.
  • Clay and Kristin: cheeseburger pods plus beef/shrimp noodle bowl with green onion vinaigrette.
  • Kristin: margarita.
  • Clay: mystery Captain Morgan/chamoy/orange juice drink.
  • Nomad Lounge patio couch booth: churros and drinks.
  • Kristin: Annapurna Zing; Clay: Spice Trader Classic.
  • Flame Tree Barbecue dinner for Kristin and the girls.
  • Kristin: apple salad; delicious.
  • Rosie: pulled pork kids meal.
  • Poppy: pulled pork with fries plus chicken leg/drumstick meal.

Attractions

  • Rope drop target: Flight of Passage.
  • Poppy rode Flight of Passage twice.
  • Kilimanjaro Safaris: mandrill, three lions, flamingos, white and black rhinos, cheetahs, hippos, ostriches.
  • Poppy’s safari favorite: lions. Rosie’s favorite: flamingos.
  • Zootopia show in the Tree of Life.
  • Mickey and Minnie meet-and-greet for the girls with Kristin.
  • Expedition Everest with rider swap; Poppy rode twice.
  • Poppy after Everest round one: “I think I like it.”
  • Poppy on the second climb: “Why am I doing this again?”
  • Na’vi River Journey boat ride.
  • Train to Conservation Station to see Bluey.
  • Kali River Rapids, then two more Kali rides to end the night.

Other notes

  • Girls were up before 6:00 AM.
  • Kristin got Lightning Lane plans merged with Courtney’s family at the blue tent.
  • Lots of pin trading.
  • Rosie earned an Everest gift shop scavenger-hunt badge.
  • Rosie got her own MagicBand+.
  • Rosie loved Kali and was the only one who wore her poncho.
  • Clay had a fresh clean shirt ready.
  • First time all four family members opened and closed a park together.
  • Back at the resort: Community Hall.
  • Poppy made DIY Minnie ears; Rosie decorated a tumbler.
  • Watched the end of live-action Lilo & Stitch.
Thursday, June 4
Polynesian move day
Boma / Trader Sam’s / Poly lawn

Food and Drink

  • Boma breakfast at 10:00 AM.
  • Clay went to Trader Sam’s at 1:30 PM and left around 2:30 PM.
  • Pizza picnic on the Polynesian lawn.
  • Dole Whips after pizza.

Other notes

  • Woke up and packed up at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
  • Took a Lyft to the Polynesian Tower.
  • Checked in at the Poly Tower.
  • Pool time after check-in.
  • Clay checked out the room with Poppy and Rosie while Kristin stayed by the pool.
  • Girls watched Wreck-It Ralph in bed in their swimsuits.
  • Clay handled grocery delivery and luggage delivery.
  • Kristin finished her book and said the ending was worth the slow part.
  • Courtney, Christian, Ray, Jude, and Sloane arrived.
  • Everyone was excited to see each other.
  • Watched the Electrical Water Pageant before heading back to the rooms.
Friday, June 5
Magic Kingdom morning
Dumbo / Barnstormer / Ariel

Food and Drink

  • No food notes logged yet.

Attractions

  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant.
  • The Barnstormer.
  • Under the Sea — Journey of the Little Mermaid / Ariel.

Other notes

  • Magic Kingdom morning started in Fantasyland.
  • Photo reel added for the morning.
Saturday, June 6
Hollywood Studios morning
Alien Swirling Saucers / Toy Story Mania

Food and Drink

  • Joffrey’s tea.
  • Giant donuts.
  • Kristin got the Cookie Num Num while the group rested and had food.

Attractions

  • Alien Swirling Saucers.
  • Toy Story Mania.
  • Both were done by 10:30 AM.
  • Slinky Dog Dash.
  • Tower of Terror for the group minus Rosie and Jude; the dads stayed behind with them.

Other notes

  • Kids got to sleep in a bit.
  • Arrived at Hollywood Studios a little after open.
  • Bathroom break after the early Toy Story Land rides.
  • Rested and had food before Slinky Dog.
  • Everyone was back to the room by 1:45 PM.
Sunday, June 7
Pool and relax day
Resort day / Ohana

Food and Drink

  • Dinner at Ohana.

Other notes

  • Pool and relax day.
Monday, June 8
Epcot day
Spaceship Earth / Soarin’ / Trader Sam’s

Food and Drink

  • Lunch in Mexico.
  • Dinner in the American pavilion.
  • Poppy and Clay went to Trader Sam’s together after swimming back at the hotel.

Attractions

  • Spaceship Earth.
  • The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
  • Soarin’.
  • Journey Into Imagination with Figment.
  • Met Mickey, Minnie, and Goofy after Figment.
  • Frozen Ever After.
  • Moana: Journey of Water.
  • Evening Epcot rides for the group that went back: Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Gran Fiesta Tour, and Mission: SPACE.

Other notes

  • Back at the hotel, there was swimming.
  • Evening: Ray, Clay, Rosie, and Jude stayed back at the hotel.
  • Everyone else went to Epcot.
Tuesday, June 9
Animal Kingdom again
Kilimanjaro Safari / Kali / Pandora

Food and Drink

  • Lunch at Tusker House was delicious: not one thing was less than good, and most of it was great.
  • Night Blossom slushes in Pandora after Na’vi River Journey and Flight of Passage.

Attractions

  • Kilimanjaro Safari.
  • Rosie, Jude, Clay, and Kristin rode Kali while Poppy, Sloane, Courtney, and Christian rode Expedition Everest.
  • The whole family rode Kali together afterward.
  • Poppy and Sloane went on Expedition Everest one more time after Kali.
  • Na’vi River Journey and Flight of Passage after lunch.

Other notes

  • Mission: SPACE the night before and Expedition Everest this morning were the first two rides she went on without a parent.
  • Shopping on Discovery Island after Pandora.
  • Then the family hopped a bus home.
  • Photo batch added: 24 June 9 Animal Kingdom photos are in this day’s carousel.
Still unfolding

More magic ahead

The trip keeps rolling from here: more park days, more resort time, more food reports, and hopefully at least a few dry socks.