#Disney

#jolenegoes

I am a Southern California native with a taste for adventure. When I was younger, I was privileged enough to travel with a sports team. This opened my eyes to all of the different places just within the United States. In the early 2000's, I fell in love for the first time - not with a person, but with a city. Boston stole my heart. Then in 2008, I visited Europe for the first time. This, partnered with the realization that I could love a city, began to fuel my desire to see the world.

As a working person in my thirties, I try my best to balance a normal life - work, friends, love, art - with my adventures.

Keep following along to see where life takes me next.

May 7, 2019

Photo Diary: Jolene goes to Pop Up Disney!

Over the weekend, I decided to splurge and attend Pop Up Disney: A Mickey Celebration, located at ESPN Zone's old home in Downtown Disney. Pop Up Disney! is Disney's an Instagrammer's heaven, composed of a number of themed rooms celebrating everyone's favorite mouse. Please note that for the first time ever on this blog, these photos were NOT taken by me! They were taken by my friend Monte Dobbs. Please message me if you'd like her contact info, or you can find her at @montef

Apr 14, 2019

Photo Diary: Jolene goes to Disney California Adventure

Sometimes, a mental health day means going to Disney California Adventure in the middle of the week! My cousin Caleb invited me as one of his guests to be signed into one of my happiest places, so of course I couldn't say no. Please enjoy this collection of photos in lieu of a review... after all, a picture is worth a thousand words, right? My aunt was visiting from Virginia, so my priority was making sure she had the best time, especially since I really love DCA and it was h

Nov 20, 2018

Jolene Eats at Epcot

If you read my Epcot blog, you know I was pleasantly overwhelmed with everything Epcot has to offer, from its futuristic rides and emphasis on progress, to its spectacular 11-country World Showcase. However, in this post, I will be addressing the other significant aspect of Epcot: the food. In every other Disney World park, I made a point to make one reservation per day for a sit-down meal, ensuring that we'd have at least one big meal. After all, it's hard to find time to si

Oct 13, 2018

Jolene goes to Epcot

We visited Epcot on the fourth day of our Disney World trip, after one day in Animal Kingdom, then two days in Magic Kingdom. Our stomachs and wallets were ready, and we were willing to overlook our tired feet and humidity-tormented hair. Epcot stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Originally, Epcot was built to be a living, functioning community focusing on progress and technology. Although that vision was never brought to life in its truest sense, it is o

Oct 12, 2018

Jolene eats at Disney's Magic Kingdom

Even though Disney's Magic Kingdom is far from being my favorite Walt Disney World park, I still had some enjoyable food-related experiences, including an enchanted dinner at Be Our Guest. Before I get to the grey stuff, I'll point out some honorable mentions, including my favorite Instagram-worthy treat, the Maleficent Waffle Cone, a lime soft-serve in a black waffle cone. I don't normally favor lemon or lime, but this soft-serve was incredibly refreshing and perfect for a h

Sep 20, 2018

Jolene goes to Disney's Magic Kingdom

When I think of Disney World (or any Disney park for that matter), my mind automatically pictures an iconic castle, unlimited Mickey ears, Donald Duck throwing a fit somewhere, and Tinkerbell sprinkling pixie dust on everything. Thanks to Disneyland, this imagery has become synonymous with Disney parks, so when most of us think of Disney World, we think of Magic Kingdom. Naturally, I was quite excited to have my "full" Disney experience at Magic Kingdom - two whole days of Mi

Sep 17, 2018

Jolene Eats at Disney's Animal Kingdom

As I mentioned in my Animal Kingdom park review, Disney's Animal Kingdom is my favorite Disney World park. In addition to the exciting rides, unique experiences and unrivaled aesthetic, the food really made our visit extra special. I have to make a confession here: we were given Joffrey's coffee in our hotel room, and I was so excited to drink it... but honestly, I couldn't stand it. Therefore, I waited until we were in the park to visit its resident Starbucks. That being sai

Sep 13, 2018

Jolene goes to Walt Disney World - Planning!

Disclaimer: This is NOT a Disney Park review - it is a REVIEW OF HOW I APPROACHED PLANNING MY TRIP. After probably 20 years of faithful hoping, wishing and waiting, I finally got to visit Walt Disney World for the first time. My trip did not disappoint - four parks in six and half days, full of pixie dust, imagination and Disney Magic. Before I delve into the details of the parks in my other posts, I'd like to give you an overview of the planning I did. I'm used to being told

Sep 11, 2018

Jolene Stays at Port Orleans Riverside Resort

If you've read my Disney planning post, you already know how much planning I put into my Walt Disney World trip, including where to say. Disney World boasts 27 resorts, so there are plenty of options to choose from. After much debating, a large Excel spreadsheet and tons of pros and cons, I settled on Port Orleans Riverside. I'd like to start this review off by letting you all know that I was not traveling with children, and I do not recommend this resort for families with yo

Apr 4, 2018

Jolene goes to Disney California Adventure Park

If you've read my previous Disney blogs (Disneyland + Disneyland Paris), you know I am definitely a Disney enthusiast. Despite having visited the Southern California Parks countless times, I've not yet exhausted the Disney magic during my trips. This particular time, my goal was to maximize my time and save as much money as possible - both of these can be difficult feats in a place like Disney California Adventure Park. However, I found some wonderfully thought out day plans

Jul 14, 2017

Jolene goes to Disneyland

Disneyland is one of my favorite places. For many years, I was an annual pass holder, and over the span of my life I have visited the park over 100 times. That being said, I want to approach this post with just a handful of highlights from my trip there earlier this week. I will admit - I am not a thrill-seeking ride junkie; I have a soft spot for the more classic, nostalgic Disney attractions. I thoroughly enjoy the details Disney puts into its parks to create an ambience an