We Tried to Do a Two-Park Day at Disney… and Ended Up Napping in the Car Instead AKA: A Very Star Wars Birthday Adventure

So here’s the plan we thought we were executing: Wake up early, get to Disney right at rope drop, hit Hollywood Studios and Epcot in one day to celebrate my husband’s birthday like the park-hopping champions we are.

Here’s what actually happened:
We rolled into the parking lot at 11 a.m. 
But listen… it’s his birthday, we weren’t on a mission to impress anyone, and Starbucks wasn’t going to drink itself. So we considered it a win just getting there.

Once inside Hollywood Studios, we made a beeline straight to Galaxy’s Edge because my husband is a full-grown Star Wars superfan and this was his day. And let me just say—we crushed it. Rode all the rides, I took my trusty Dramamine (because I’d like to stay married and not yak on his big day), and I’m proud to report: 0 nausea, 10/10 fun.

Also? Can we talk about my outfit for a sec? I wore a new athletic dress from Amazon that’s a total Halara dupe, and I am obsessed. It was cute, comfy, moisture-wicking, didn’t ride up, and had pockets (which is a mom-level bonus). I’ll drop the link at the end because this dress deserves a fan club.

After getting our fill of stormtroopers and space drama, we wandered over to Woody’s Lunchbox for lunch in Toy Story Land. Now, let me break down our meal because y’all know I’m always scouting the gluten-free vibes:

• Hubby: Brisket sandwich – Gone in 60 seconds, so safe to say it was a hit.

• Daughter: Grilled cheese – A kid classic. Zero complaints.

• Me: Smoked turkey sandwich on gluten-free bread with potato barrels (they’re tots, but fancy) and an ice cold Angry Orchard cider that absolutely hit the spot.

The sandwich? A solid 9/10—I had to add a little extra mayo to bring it to life, and the bread wasn’t perfect, but the smoked turkey flavor was chef’s kiss.

Post-lunch, we tried to rally for more rides. We almost did Slinky Dog Dash, but my daughter gave it a nervous nope, and I wasn’t about to be the mom who drags her kid onto a coaster and then wonders why she’s giving me side-eye in all the ride photos. (Next time, Slinky. Next time.)

And then… the rain started. And as any Disney veteran knows, that’s your cue to either 1) get drenched or 2) retreat. Since my husband is a smoker, we opted for the car so he could sneak a smoke and we could regroup.

Cut to: Me, fully passed out in the front seat for a solid 30 minutes.
Was it a power nap? Maybe. Was it the beginning of the end? Absolutely.

We rallied again around 4:45 p.m. because he had a reservation to build a droid (grown-up toy for the win). They let him go early—bless the cast members—and we were out of there by 5:20.

Before leaving Hollywood Studios, we had to grab some sweet treats, because duh—it's Disney. My husband and daughter went with the classic churros, and I proudly devoured a Mickey bar, because I’m nothing if not consistent. Cold, creamy, and shaped like a mouse? Yes, please.

And then… we thought about heading to Epcot via the Skyliner.

We really did.

But then the rain started again, we made eye contact, and without saying a word, both of us just turned toward the car like two people who knew their limits. No regrets.

So did we hit both parks?
Nope.

Did we nap in the car, ride Star Wars rides multiple times, eat good food, and laugh a lot?
Absolutely.

Sometimes, the magic isn’t in doing it all—it’s in knowing when you’ve done enough. 💁‍♀️

P.S. Want to check out the dress I wore? Here’s the link to the Amazon athletic dress I’m raving about. (affiliate link, because moms deserve comfy & cute too 💕)