Imagine being whisked away by limo before sunrise for a surprise adventure with three of the people you love most. That was how Mikayla Carlton, age 6, began her epic family vacation to Walt Disney World in the spring of 2016.
Her parents, Scott and Keinika Carlton, kept the magical destination a secret from their youngest daughter for months.
“She knew we were going on vacation but not exactly where we were going. We kept Disney World a secret with Mikayla all the way up until we reached the parking gates,” Keinika told BlackDoctor.org.
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Their 13-year-old daughter, Alyna, was old enough to remember previous trips to Walt Disney World, but Mikayla was only two months old the last time the Carltons visited as a family.
“My dream was to make this an ultimate memorable experience, especially for Mikayla,” Keinika shared.
If there is any place on earth where dreams absolutely do come true, it is Walt Disney World. With 4 theme parks, 2 unique water parks, over 25 themed resorts, and new attractions like Pandora – The World of Avatar, there is more than enough to make Walt Disney World the total dreams-fulfilled vacation destination.
But with so much to do and so many places to go, how did the family of four make the most of their five days in paradise? On behalf of the Carlton crew, Keinika shared her top 5 ways to discover the magic of Walt Disney World and create memories that will last a lifetime.
1. Create a realistic budget.
“Disney is possible for everyone with the right planning and budgeting,” Keinika believes. Using her experience as a travel planner, Keinika planned the family’s days down to the minute and dime.
“My husband and I sat down and discussed the rides we wanted to get on, places we wanted to eat, souvenirs we wanted to get, things like that. We made a table and put times for each activity or stop and then a dollar amount next to those items. Totaled them up and anytime we came over budget for something, we prioritized with other items on the list.”
The Carltons found additional savings by packing snacks and lunch and found free items that made for great souvenirs.