Disney Springs Holiday Shopping & Aquatica's Illuminate Nighttime Event

Disney Springs Holiday Shopping

• 🛍️ The day began with a visit to Disney Springs for holiday shopping, starting at the parking garage.
• 🍪 A major stop was Gideon's Bakehouse to try their famous cookies and peanut butter cold brew, with the stuffed vanilla sugar cookie being a highlight.
• ☕ Despite initial long wait times, the experience at Gideon's was positive, with a shorter actual wait than quoted.
• 🛍️ Shopping continued with a look at Corkcicle for Disney-themed cups and lids, and a browse through the World of Disney store for holiday pajamas and pin lanyards.
• 👕 The search for holiday party attire included checking out pajamas and a light-up Winnie the Pooh sweater, with a discussion on the value of Disney merchandise versus Target finds.
• 🎶 The visit also included observing high school bands performing at Disney Springs and exploring unique items like artisanal boozy marshmallows.

Aquatica's Illuminate Nighttime Event

• ✨ The second part of the day involved attending Aquatica's Illuminate, a new nighttime immersive walkthrough event.
• 💡 The event features five immersive areas with lights, food, and themed lanterns, running on select nights from November 8th to January 31st.
• 🦈 At the Commerce and Dolphins habitat, visitors can see leopard sharks and dolphins, with a fun fact about identifying sharks versus dolphins by their tails.
• 🎅 The event includes a Kiwi Santa experience, representing New Zealand traditions, and various themed areas like the 'Legends' area with lanterns like Rowan the Kiwi.
• 🍔 Food options at Illuminate included items like 'Chicken Parm Glow Up' on garlic bread, 'Deck the Halls' meatballs, and 'Home for the Holidays' turkey with stuffing.
• 🏕️ A popular station was the s'mores station with campfires, creating a festive sensory experience.
• 🎭 Other immersive areas included 'Shimmer' with feather arches and fog bubbles, and 'Rivers of Discovery' featuring animal-themed lanterns and storytelling.
• 🚂 The Serengeti Express train ride offered a $5 per person tour through animal displays, and a variety of themed drinks were available at Trader T's Tinsel Bar.
• 🌟 The event concluded with a review of the food, the storytelling, and the overall immersive experience, with a recommendation for a return visit.