In preparation for a full day of adventure, Bert’s Big Adventure kicked off a gorgeous Saturday with breakfast at the Animal Kingdom’s Restaurantosaurus Marketplace! With so many dino-lovers in this year’s crew, the families loved this prehistoric, dinosaur themed space. Safari Mickey and Minnie even joined us to get the day started off right!
We filled our bellies with Mickey Waffles with whipped cream, maple syrup, and fresh berries, alongside breakfast pastries, bacon, chicken sausage, and so much more! Each and every meal on our five-day journey is extra-special and oh so delicious!
After getting fueled up, our families set off to explore Disney’s Animal Kingdom! The park features hundreds of species of live animals and is themed around animal conservation. Our kiddos are big-time animal lovers, so it’s the perfect combination.
This memorable day was finding wild animals in the Kilimanjaro Safari, braving rides like Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, and Na’vi River Journey, and of course, souvenir shopping and pin trading!
Some of our families joined forces to park hop over to Hollywood Studios, elevating the thrill with rides like The Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, Slinky Dog Dash, and more!
Once-in-a-lifetime moments happened all day! We were moved when Bert’s Big Adventure kiddo, Sincere’s thoughtful cousin, Jalaya, surprised her new friend Bert’s Big Adventure kiddo Finnley with a stunning pair of earrings to commemorate their time at Disney. The two were so in sync that they rode Slinky Dog back to back together. We could barely get them off to check out the rest of the park’s features!
That evening, we all met back up at the Disney’s Boardwalk Inn to take a leisurely sunset stroll to dinner at Epcot’s Living Seas! The group was treated to a gorgeous buffet filled with French Bistro Salad, Fattoush Salad, Braised Boneless Chicken Fricassee with Mushroom Cream, Seared Beef Tenderloin Medallions with Caramelized Onion, Ratatouille, Potato au Gratin, and so much more! Don’t worry the menu also included our kiddo’s favorites like like individual pizzas, crispy chicken tenders, mac and cheese, and more.
The menu was so over-the-top that Lilo and Stich even made a surprise appearance to hang out with our kiddos at dinner! After dinner the fun didn’t stop! We surprised the families with a dessert party behind the ropes in Mexico featuring Mickey Waffle Whoopie Pies, Mickey Caramel Apple Pop, Dole Whip Cream Puff, Cinnamon Sugar Churro Bites, and of course, Mickey Crisped Rice Treats. The grand finale was Luminous: The Symphony of Us, a dazzling fireworks spectacle where the twinkle of Disney shined in every kiddo’s eyes as they watched in awe.
However, the celebration didn’t end with the last firework! We arranged a private after-hours experience for all our families to ride Frozen Ever After after the park had closed to the public! They embarked on an immersive boat adventure, where their favorite characters, including the iconic Anna, Elsa, Olaf, and more, came to life before their eyes.
Another huge thank you to our photographers, Amanda W. Coker, Cassandra Young Photography, Monarch Studio, and Sarah Esther Photography. Thank you to Aslyn Baringer Productions and Salt Run Creative for capturing these magical moments on video!
Follow along with the enchantment using the hashtag #BBA2025 or on Instagram, TikTok, X, and Facebook!
Remember, we couldn’t do all of this without YOU!
As we continue to embark on this once-in-a-lifetime journey, we invite our supporters to join us. Your contribution, whether it’s $5 or more, can make a monumental difference in the lives of these deserving children with chronic and terminal illnesses. Every dollar you donate to Bert’s Big Adventure between now and February 28th will be matched dollar for dollar by Zaxby’s. It’s not just a donation; it’s a BOGO good karma opportunity. Please donate today.
More magic awaits…
