Back To The Magic! 2013 | Trip Report Index

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After 3 fab weeks in Orlando, we are back home to reality and time for me to start writing up my trip report for our August 2013 trip back to the Magic!

If you are new to The Purple Pumpkin Blog allow me to introduce my family to you, or for this trip report, the cast!

Me – Michelle…36 years old (for a few more days yet anyway!) and a plus size chick. I include a ride size guide in my reports for those of you out there who might be worried about fitting into rides. I actually ended up going back to Florida bigger than our last trip, but still seemed to be fine. I am currently a size UK28. I am also crazy about taking photographs, I took over 7000 of them on this 22 day trip!

Hubs – Steve…40 years old and his main aim is to eat ALL the American food! On his list this year was turkey legs and dole whip! The holiday pack horse I’m afraid, holder of sun cream, ponchos, water, tickets and money! Also the videographer this time around!

The Boy – Liam…14 years old, and still just as excited to be going back to Orlando for our second visit. Luckily, not too stroppy of a teenager, but likely to get X-Box withdrawal symptoms!!

I’ve written all about us and our plans in my Back to the Magic Pre-Trip Report which will bring you up to speed :)

Back to the Magic, Walt #Disney World Trip Report 2013!

The Trip Report Day by Day

Day 0 – T-Minus: Gatwick North Premier Inn
Day 1 – Come Fly With Me: Gatwick to Orlando with British Airways
Day 2 – A Magical Lunch with Pooh: Magic Kingdom + Character Lunch at Crystal Palace
Day 3 – Jungle VIP: Animal Kingdom + Character Breakfast at Tusker House
Day 4 – Ohana Means Family: Dinner at ‘Ohana, Polynesian Resort
Day 5 – In Blues We Trust: Gospel Bruch, House of Blues + Downtown Disney + Dinner at Chilis
Day 6 – Tidal Wave: Typhoon Lagoon + Dinner at Bahama Breeze
Day 7 – I Can Show You The World: Kitchen Sink at Beaches & Cream + Epcot World Showcase + Lunch at Biergarten | France | Morocco | Japan | The American Adventure | Italy | Germany | China | Norway | Mexico | United Kingdom | Canada | IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth
Day 8 – A Swim on the Wildside: Aquatica + Banana Beach Cook Out + Wildside Bar & Grill
Day 9 – May The Force Be With You: Hollywood Studios + Miller’s Orlando Ale House
Day 10 – Confessions of a Shopaholic: Houlihans + Shopping
Day 11 – Let’s Go To The Movies: Universal Studios + Dinner at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Co.
Day 12 – Singing In The Rain: Hollywood Drive-In Mini Golf (City Walk) + Islands of Adventure + Dinner at Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill
Day 13 – What Kind of Sorcery Is This?: Fantasia Gardens Mini Golf + Downtown Disney + Dinner at Bongos Cuban Cafe
Day 14 – Happy Feet: SeaWorld + Dinner at Red Lobster
Day 15 – Figment of Imagination: Epcot + Lunch at La Cantina de San Angel
Day 16 – Something Wicked This Way Comes: Halloween Shopping + Sonny’s Real Pit BBQ
Day 17 – Second Star To The Right: Character Breakfast at Chef Mickeys, Contemporary Resort + Magic Kingdom + Dinner at Boma, Animal Kingdom Lodge
Day 18 – Island Hopping: Rest Day + Lunch at Bahama Breeze + Take Out from Bamboo Wok
Day 19 – The Amber Nectar: Universal Studios + Islands of Adventure + Margaretaville
Day 20 – Finding Dory: Discovery Cove (Non-Swim) + Dinner at Olive Garden
Day 21 – Four Corners of the World: Hollywood Studios + Animal Kingdom + Epcot + Magic Kingdom + Dinner at Longhorn Steakhouse
Day 22 – Bon Voyage: Orlando to Gatwick with British Airways
Day 30 – Back Home A Week: A Second Timers Highs and Not So Highs.


I often get asked about my trip report photography, so here is all the info you might need! Any questions, please feel free to message me – there’s a form in the sidebar!

I took this year’s photographs predominantly on my new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ200, as well as a few on my iPhone5 (all of those are on my Instagram). Waterpark/pool photos were on my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT2. I won’t be sharing all 7000 photographs – many will see the recycle bin! All the photos I do share will be in my Florida 2013 Flickr Collection.

Hubs did videography this year on a Panasonic Lumix V720. I’ll be uploading videos to my YouTube Channel.

Any photo editing is done with Paint Shop Pro X3, Photoshop CS5 or Camera+ app.


And if that’s not enough Disney trip reporting for you, there is also The First Time, August 2011 trip report, as well as our Disneyland Paris August 2010 trip.

Finally, there you’ll find all of my Walt Disney World + Orlando Tips here!

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