Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints

Every child has a dream of going to Disney World. Movies and the media have given us an expectation that we have to see Mickey Mouse and Co.

So, what do you do when you go to Disney..as an adult..with no children? You take photos, of course. Your inner child comes out when the parade goes past and you get to see life-sized cartoon characters. You can't believe you're actually seeing Cinderella, Mickey, Donald and even Captain Hook!

The first thing that hits you when you land in Orlando is the humidity! October might not have been the best time, but I don't mind the heat. Thank goodness for swimming pools! I got a really good tan. But I am getting off track here..back to Disney.

My first stop was Downtown Disney, where everything Disney can be bought. Downtown Disney is pretty cool. There are a myriad things to do, see and eat. My favourite was Splitsville for a burger lunch and ten-pin bowling.

When I wasn't swimming, I was at the theme parks. Of all the theme parks I have to say my favourite was the Animal Kingdom. It could be because I'm an animal lover. Here you can go on "safari". This is by no means a safari in the true sense of the word but a truck that drives through the park and doesn't stop to view the animals. Taking photos as you pass them is tricky and most of them came out blurry, so I'm incredibly proud of the photos I got.

My thoughts of the other parks:

Magic Kingdom's parade is the one opportunity to see ALL the characters in one place. The queues are full of young children wanting to get their photo taken with the characters, so it's pretty embarrassing when you get to the front, only to tell them you don't want your photo taken with Pooh.

Epcot Centre is amazing for evening photography! There are various things to do which are science related. The ride inside the ball is quite fun too! (yes, I'm a fan of roller coasters!). There was a Food & Wine Festival where you can eat your way around the world.. well, the lake anyway, hosted by ambassadors from the countries. Needless to say, we were stuffed by the time the fireworks display happened!

Hollywood Studios is great for spotting characters, and there are a number of rides to enjoy. I joined a few queues, but without a fastpass, I gave up. My highlight was the Backlot Tour. You go through set design, costumes, special effects.

My tips for an enjoyable Disney experience: comfortable shoes, sunscreen, lots of water, fastpass tickets!! Also, bring your inner child along.