Trip Reports & Experiences Archives - Page 4 of 5

Disney Princess 5K Race Recap

It’s hard to believe I ran the Disney Princess Half Marathon 5K race just two weeks ago today! As always, Princess Weekend never fails to disappoint! Just two years ago I ran my first ever runDisney event, the Princess 5K and the Glass Slipper Challenge, and I haven’t looked back!

Ready, Set, Jet!

Packing for a quick weekend getaway is easy…race costumes each in their gallon ziplock bags, plenty of Sports Beans and KT tape, and a spare rain poncho and mylar blanket. Throw in some mouse ears, Sparkle Skirts and a Magic Band and I’m ready to go!

Late to Bed, Early to Rise!

Second only to the training, the hardest part of any Disney race is the early wake-ups, especially if you’re running more than one race! This morning was no different, except the 5K starts at 6:15 a.m. instead of the 5:30 a.m. start times for the 10K and the Half Marathon! Woot! Woot!

Knowing we had to be on the bus from Pop Century no later than 4:00 a.m., we staggered our wake-ups at 2:30 and 3:00. Luckily, we laid out our race outfits the night before and just had to take turns jockeying for the sink and mirror! (The most challenging part was getting my Pocahontas’ tattoo on straight! Getting it off is another story…!)

Pocahontas (me) and Cruella (my bff Tiffany) headed for the buses! Pop Century is a fabulous host hotel…a single bus stop and always plenty of buses. We were quickly loaded and whisked away to the ESPN parking lot!

Corral 101

Once we made the trek through bag check, we split up. Tiffany wanted to check out how long the character lines were. (It looked like both Snow White and Sleeping Beauty were meeting separately.) I still had to pick up my bib-my flight had been delayed and I missed the Expo!

I headed to the Runners Relation tent and showed my signed waiver and license. Though this is highly unpublicized, this is still offered to runners as a courtesy due to unforeseen circumstances. Though I am careful not to abuse it, I would gladly pay the fee they piloted a few years ago in order to have my bib waiting for me at my hotel, stress-free!

Once my bib was pinned and bag checked I felt so much better! We decided the character lines were too long, and instead, people watched while listening to the DJ! We snapped a bunch of photos and selfies, and looked for photographers. Since the switch from Marathonfoto to Photopass there don’t seem to be as many photographers roaming around early morning-but we knew they’d be all over the course!

As we headed to Corral A, it was one last stop for water and porta-potties! We moved to the front of the corral and waited to be released. They informed us of a new procedure…that corrals would be released in mini-waves to limit the number of runners starting at once. Similar to the procedure they use at rope drop at the Parks, two Cast Members holding a rope would walk each new group up to the starting line.

After the National Anthem and an awesome preview of the new Disney movie, Beauty and the Beast, it was our turn! We were in the third mini-wave for Corral A. It was a really nice change to be able to run right away, instead of having to walk, waiting for the bigger crowd to dissipate!

On Course

A 5K is 3.1 miles, and we knew the first mile would primarily be highway. It’s a nice, easy way to warm up and get into the groove. The weather was perfect, not too hot, not too cold. No Mylar blankets or throw-away clothes needed! (Did you know Disney collects, washes and donates every piece of the runners’ discarded clothing?)

Nothing can quite prepare you for rounding the corner into Epcot and seeing the World Showcase lit up in pink lights for Princess Weekend! It is spectacular! You almost wish you could stop right in your tracks-but another Princess would be sure to run right into you-keep moving!

Epcot’s World Showcase lit up in all pink.

Running in the dark before the park opens is such an amazing experience! Photopass photographers were busy on the course snapping away! I typically get between 15-20 course photos per race, so it’s a great deal!

As the sun came up, we completed the loop around World Showcase and made our way past the Seas with Nemo and Friends. Another water stop (Powerade only after finishing) and less than a mile to go! My prop, Meeko, was easy to hold and run with. I actually kind of forgot about him!

Another on-course perk is running into your running buddies! The camaraderie you develop with other runDisney runners is amazing-even when they live all over the country! I’m an admin for a small running group on Facebook and I love these women! Shout-out to all of the Princesses in Disney’s PHM Fabulous and Fantastic Corral F and Beyond! (You may have noticed brevity is not my thing!)

Always time for a quick pic with friends!

One of my favorite parts of the course is when we approach Spaceship Earth! I attempted to get my signature jumping picture but the photographer insisted I hold my bib down so it wouldn’t flap up and obscure my number. (I guess next time I should remember to use safety pins on the bottom of my bib, too! LOL!)

Character Stops

As always, character stops were plentiful and varied during the 5K! I wish I had stopped for the first ones I saw-the Vikings in front of Epcot’s Norway! (I am a Swede after all…my maiden name is Johansson!) Even though the 16 minute mile pace isn’t as strictly enforced during the 5K, (I have never heard of a single person being swept) it’s tricky not always knowing what lies ahead!

I did, however, stop for a photo with this awesome Pocahontas! We were definitely a minority amongst all the Belles and other princesses!

I feel like I willed the next character stop-it was Meeko!!! Dressed as Pocahontas, carrying a little plush Meeko of my own, there was no way I wasn’t stopping! Meeko even held baby Meeko-I was so excited I almost dashed off without him!

Meeko!! Holding little Meeko!! See?? See??

As we headed into Germany we saw a long line, and then realized why…it was Dopey! Though he was out for Wine & Dine this past November, he is still a pretty rare character and we were psyched! Most people don’t ever meet him unless they wait hours at Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party for the money shot with all seven dwarfs! This one was non-negotiable!

As we made our way around World Showcase we also stopped for Abu in Morocco (not particularly cute), and then Cinderella’s mice, Suzy and Perla, in France! I was so excited to meet both, especially because they were frequently being switched in and out, and most people only got their picture with one of them! (Confession: It was much less exclusive than I thought…they were meeting later that day in Magic Kingdom by the castle wall! LOL!)

Cinderella’s mice, Suzy and Perla, in France!

The final characters were the performers from the Festival of Fantasy Parade posing with runners near The Seas with Nemo! Typically found on the Ariel float, they looked like beautiful and exotic sea anemones! I chose not to stop for this photo op, but I did get a selfie with the iconic Spaceship Earth!

Will Run for Bling!

Before we knew it, we were crossing the finish line! I was so excited to get my first runDisney 5K medal that was actually metal and not plastic! The Chip design from Beauty and the Beast was adorable! We posed for our finisher pics, grabbed our banana (phones) and snack boxes, and got in line for a celebratory pic with Snow White!

A metal medal! So excited for this Mrs. Potts and Chip bling!

Post-Race Celebration

Shower? Nap? Ice bath? Nope! We hopped on a bus to Magic Kingdom via the Polynesian…time to open the Parks! Our first stop was to show off our new medals to Tink. She sprinkled me with Pixie Dust so I could continue to run fast for the rest of the weekend. (My friend suggested she should have sprinkled me with antibiotics…I was still recovering from a sinus infection and bronchitis!)

While hitting the hub for the obligatory castle/medal photo op, we ran into the Dapper Dans just milling around! Not only were they happy to pose for pictures-they SANG the Cruella Deville song to Tiffany! I have to admit…I am STILL jealous! (They also told me they loved my Sacagawea costume-LOL!)

Finally, we made our way to Crystal Palace for a well-deserved breakfast, followed closely by everyone’s favorite snack-the Dole Whip! The only thing that would have made our perfect morning any better was rum!

Run??? We thought you said rum! We’ll be sure to come back for the Disney Princess 5K next year-especially if we can find some rum!

Jacqueline lives in Connecticut with her husband, two children and cat. You can follow her on Instagram at @morphingintominnie and @neverlandpress.

A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas

Did you know that there’s a place in the Magic Kingdom where you and your little (or big) buccaneers can go on an interactive pirate adventure? Until our last trip, I had always passed it by without a second glance. On a particularly busy park day when I was off at a race meetup, my husband decided to try it as an alternative to standing in another long line with the kids. When I met back up with them, all I heard about was how much fun it was and how they couldn’t wait for me to try it. Everyone loved it – from the toddler to the teen to the grown-up, it was a hit!

On our next day at Magic Kingdom, they insisted we go play. We walked over to the “Crow’s Nest”, located just past the Adventureland sign as you’re heading toward Frontierland. One person in our party went inside, since it’s a fairly small space, and picked a map they hadn’t previously completed. The game is loaded onto your Magic Band, and each child is given their own map. Within just a couple of minutes, we were off!

The maps are really cool souvenirs. There are five different adventures, and they are all contained within Adventureland. Each map has around six clues, each one leading to the next. If you’re familiar with the area, you will probably complete each one within about 20 minutes. When you discover the clue, you tap your Magic Band to activate it. There are some really fun effects! We had a great time discovering each one.

Once you complete the entire map, you can return to the Crow’s Nest and select another adventure. We were given special cards for completing each one, and got an even cooler reward when we told the Cast Member we had completed the entire set. I won’t spoil what that one was, but I will be happy to share if you’d like to know.

When you’re exhausted but can’t bear to let go of your treasure map!

This is one adventure that we’ll definitely be embarking on again! We all enjoyed it, and I’d recommend it for pirates of all ages.

Disney Souvenirs-Bringing Home the Magic!

One of the only things that makes leaving Disney World or Disneyland a tiny bit easier after a fabulous trip is taking some of the magic home with you! Souvenirs are often a great and inexpensive way to keep your vacation memories alive, at least until you can book your next trip “home”! Here are some of my favorites from both parks!

Inscribed “Princess Jacqueline” button gifted by a Cast Member!

Ear Hats

Nothing says, “I’m going to Disney World!” like a pair of Mickey ears! Ear hats are a rite of passage-for young and old! You will be amazed at the sheer variety! You will see everything from Baby’s First Ears to Maleficent horns, and everything in between!

Disney Parks has their own collection of ear hats that are available in the parks, on the Disney Store website and on the Shop Disney Parks app. Many people buy them from home and bring them into the parks, but if you purchase your ear hat from Le Chapeau in the Magic Kingdom, you can even have your ears personalized!

Embroidered “Luke” ears with ear hats from both coasts!

If you are crafty, there are a million tutorials out there to create your own ears. If you are like me (not crafty at all) then you have etsy! Etsy is THE place to find customized ears for any occasion, at every price point. Some of my fave Etsy shops include MakeMeMinnie, ModernMouse Boutique, the Bow Mama and HappilyEverAfterbyPatti.

Some of my favorite custom ears from etsy!

Park Buttons

Celebrating a birthday or a wedding? Maybe you just graduated or are celebrating an anniversary! Tell a Cast Member-you may be gifted a free park button! Park buttons are available both in the resorts at check-in and in the parks, usually City Hall! The designs vary from year to year, but First Visit, Birthday and Celebration buttons are always plentiful!

Sometimes a Cast Member will surprise you with a button! While waiting in line to meet Peter Pan at the Magic Kingdom, my bff and I had a great interaction with character attendant Michael Signorello. He personalized “I’m Celebrating” buttons for Princess Jacqueline and Princess Tiffany! (I still have it pinned to my Princess Dooney!!)

In Disneyland this past May, my daughter and I were the first two people in Fantasyland as we made our way over to sign up for Jedi Training. Another Cast Member gave us buttons as Honorary Citizens of Disneyland! We were so excited!

On our way to sign up for Jedi Training!

We pinned this immediately to her Rey outfit!

Disneyland also gives out buttons for their character meals! We have buttons from the Plaza Inn, Ariel’s Grotto, Storyteller’s Cafe and the PCH Grill!

Etsy is another treasure trove for custom buttons! You can create your own buttons featuring your favorite characters, or purchase pre-made ones. We’ve ordered Star Wars buttons, runDisney themed buttons and even ones for Disneyland’s Diamond Celebration! (And at around $5-they are a great value!)

Custom buttons from various etsy shops…yup, that’s “Matt” from the SNL Kylo Ren Undercover Boss skit!

Ornaments

Next, ornaments are a popular souvenir that people buy year round. Available in every gift shop in every park, there are also dedicated shops like Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Days of Christmas in Disney Springs. Popular ornaments include dated ornaments, characters, and themed shoe and “ear” ornaments. Many others can be personalized with a name, date or event at an additional cost-just ask!

Pressed Pennies

My two children are crazy over pressed pennies! For the low, low price of 51 cents (two quarters to pay for your souvenir-you supply the shiny penny!) you can get an engraved Disney pressed coin! These machines are everywhere…at attraction exits, in the resorts, even in gift shops! (Which also conveniently sell the portfolios to store your pressed coins!) Pinterest has many updated maps that show the location of each machine, too. Some even allow you to press a quarter! (Hint: Recycled M&M mini canisters are great for transporting your coins, too, just be prepared to show them at airport security!)

Silhouettes

For years I have been trying to have silhouettes done of my children by the artists working outside on Main Street, USA in Disney World. However, our schedules never lined up. I rectified that this past May in Disneyland, which has its very own silhouette studio!

In case you don’t know, silhouettes are hand-cut profiles that are done by eye…and extremely accurate! In less than two minutes each, talented Cast Member had fashioned two silhouettes. The likenesses were amazing! Even more amazing…he had perfectly captured my son with autism, who typically has trouble sitting still!

Hand-cut silhouette in under two minutes!

The cost for the silhouette (which also included a mirror image) and the frame was about $20, and was the best Mother’s Day gift I’ve ever gotten!

Pin Trading and Vinylmation

Pins and Vinylmation are both collectable souvenirs that can be purchased, and sometimes traded, at the parks! Both also make for great displays once you get home…check out Pinterest for some inspiration!

Pin collecting and trading is fun for all ages! You can purchase pins in the parks or buy them from eBay or Amazon before you go. (Just make sure they are Disney Parks authentic!) Pins can be worn on lanyards, or even attached to shirts or hats-be creative! Cast Members wearing pins on a lanyard are allowed to trade up to two pins a day per guest, so choose carefully!

Vinylmations are small, plastic figurines of popular characters that are part of a series, usually eight or twelve. They are grouped by theme-Princesses, Star Wars…even Special Editions! Most are sold in blind boxes, so you never know what you may get. However, each series contains a “chaser”, which is a rare, mystery figure…no wonder it’s so hard to buy just one set!

runDisney

When you run multiple runDisney race challenges per year, you want to bring home more bling than just your medals! The most popular Expo souvenirs tend to be “I Did It!” shirts, pins, wine glasses commemorating your event, and themed New Balance sneakers! (Have you seen the Haunted Mansion ones??) Athletic apparel such as Sparkle Skirts and raw threads get snapped up, too! (Guilty as charged!) Themed Dooney and Bourke handbags are also available for some races…these are pricey (and very coveted!) souvenirs! Pre-order, or plan to arrive early at the Expo!

However, my all-time favorite runDisney souvenirs are shoe ornaments. Each “shoe” represents a princess or female character. Every time I run a race, I pick up a shoe ornament to either show the character I dressed up as, or to represent that weekend’s theme. For example, I brought home the Cinderella shoe ornament the first time I ran the Glass Slipper Challenge and Tinkerbell for my first Pixie Dust Challenge in California!

Shoe ornaments are available in the parks and online!

Mugs, Magnets and More!

There is no shortage of treasures to collect at the Parks! Whether you collect magnets, keychains, pens or shot glasses you will have hundreds to choose from! Candy apples and rice krispie treats from the Confectionary, mugs from Starbucks, baseball hats from the Emporium…there is something for everyone!

Just don’t forget your ears!

Custom ears celebrating the Dole Whip and Starbucks by MakeMeMinnie!

Jacqueline lives in Southbury, CT with her husband and two children. You can follow her on Instagram at @morphingintominnie.

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party-A First Night Review!

When I signed up to run Lumiere’s Challenge as part of runDisney’s Wine & Dine race series during Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival, I didn’t know I’d be in for an extra treat! Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was scheduled to debut our final night in Disney World! Never having been, and unsure how quickly tickets would sell out, my friend Tiffany and I purchased our tickets almost as soon as they were available!

Our plan for the party was simple. We wanted to experience all the things that were specific to party night-particularly the hard to find characters and the special shows. We weren’t planning on riding any rides, as we had devoted an entire day to Magic Kingdom two days before. Our Bucket List included a picture with the Seven Dwarfs, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade, and Holiday Wishes.

Park Entry

Though the Christmas Party officially starts at 7:00, guests with tickets are allowed to enter Magic Kingdom as early as 4:00. It was easy to spot the party-goers…lots of red and green holiday themed outfits, Santa hats, and festive ears! We were happily surprised to be allowed in about ten minutes before 4:00, and were promptly given a special wristband to wear showing we were attending the party.

Once in the Town Center, we were ushered to a special entrance to the right of the Le Chapeau shop. There was a Photopass photographer and some special photo opportunities…and the first treats of the evening-a big, green Christmas Tree cookie and hot chocolate!

Party Perks-What We Knew and What We Didn’t

We knew that party admission meant that we would get access to special characters that were either considered rare or in special holiday attire. In the past, the biggest draws have included the Seven Dwarfs and all the Princes meeting with their Princesses. There were usually some “surprise” characters, as well.

Shhhh! Nick and Judy from Zootopia might be here…!

The interesting thing is, the actual character meet-and-greet schedules are not only not announced beforehand, but are not even available once the party begins! From the brochure, “(Special Disney) Characters will be meeting Guests Intermittently throughout the event. Appearances may differ from event operating hours. Look on the map for character locations.” We got our information from one of our favorite sources-Kenny the Pirate. His Character Locator app http://www.characerlocator.com is genius…but there are no guarantees as the first party night is a lot of speculation!

Snack Stops-New for 2016!

In past years, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party goers had enjoyed cookies and hot chocolate. This year, some fun changes were made that added some variety. Five different Holiday Treat Locations were set up around the Park, each featuring a different treat and beverage! Locations were posted in the party guide, but the menu was not.

Different treats and beverages at each location this year!

In addition to hot cocoa, you could also get eggnog, spiced apple cider and even blue raspberry snow cones! Cookies included Snickerdoodle, Ginger Molasses, Peppermint Bark, Snowman Sugar cookies, an allergy friendly Chocolate Chip cookie and the Green Christmas Tree cookies we were offered upon entrance. (Though subsequent party-goers say jumbo Snowman Sugar cookies are now offered there!)

Had we known, we would have loved to visit ALL the treat locations! For the cost of the evening and the limited hours you are there, it’s curious why Disney chooses not to publish their MVMCP menus and meet and greets. I know us Type A Planners would really appreciate it! LOL!

Character Bucket List

As I shared, our priority was characters…the rarer, the better! Seven Dwarfs were at the top of both of our lists, but I also wanted to see Jack Skellington as Sandy Claws. Tiffany wanted to see Gaston at his final scheduled meet of the day during regular park hours. We agreed to split up-I’d wait for Jack, then meet her in line for the Dwarfs. After all, based on the Halloween parties, Jack would be out nice and early @5:15!

After waiting for an hour and a half to meet Sandy Claws, with no line movement or confirmation from Cast Members that he would be coming out anytime soon, I got a call from Tiffany. They were setting up for the Seven Dwarfs! I quickly (and reluctantly!) said good-bye to my new friends in line for the last few hours, Brittany and Brittany, and dashed over to Fantasyland.

I got into line just as they were walked out, and everyone broke into spontaneous cheers and clapping! It was so exciting! As the fourth family in line, it went very quickly from there-a solo pose for each of us, and one together!

The Seven Dwarfs-the Holy Grail of character photo ops…!

We walked back towards Sleepy Hollow restaurant, where we planned to eat. Out of curiosity, we stopped to see how the two Brittanys were making out in the Sandy Claws line. Jack had still not been brought out, and the girls graciously invited us to rejoin them back in line. In fairness to the others, we asked the surrounding people if they were okay with this, and then decided to take a group photo as to not press our good fortune!

Jack Skellington as Sandy Claws and our new BFFs!

One of the biggest and unannounced surprises was a Zootopia meet-and-greet! Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps were meeting guests in Tomorrowland by Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. They didn’t sign autographs but did hand out a badge-shaped collector card with both names on it. They had a cute little schtick and a long line, but thankfully it moved quickly.

You can see Donald Duck in a lot of places…but how often do you get to see McScrooge Duck?? I was so excited for this rare character! As I left Tomorrowland they were meeting with guests by Pete’s Silly Sideshow. I loved their cold weather attire-especially Donald’s plaid!

You can see how psyched I was to meet McScrooge!

It was so late by the time I got to Fairytale Hall that they really had no business letting me in! When I asked if the princesses were still meeting (I believe it was about 11:45 at that point) the Cast Members looked at each other and kind of shrugged me in. I was THE last person admitted…which meant that at one point I was the only guest in the room with Rapunzel, Flynn Rider, Tiana and Naveen! (I am so mad at myself for not thinking to ask for a special picture with all four characters!)

You might think that the characters would be going through the motions at this point, but you wouldn’t be more wrong! Rapunzel and Eugene were playful with both each other and me. We laughed about his satchel/pocketbook and he asked me if I could act “surprised”. I agreed, but then was really actually surprised when he pulled Rapunzel’s tiara out of his bag! (NOT a pocketbook-he reminded me!!) Tiana and Naveen were just damn good-looking. Both of them. Their outfits were to die for!

Gracious, hospitable, and always well-dressed!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Shows, Parades and Fireworks

After meeting both the Dwarfs and Sandy Claws, (which we hadn’t thought possible!) we were on a total high! We realized we were starving and walked a few paces to Sleepy Hollow. Even though they were offering the Pumpkin Spice Waffle Sundae, we were dying to try the Fruit and Nutella waffle, which we talk about trying every single trip! And because we were REALLY hungry, we also each got a baked potato.

Sleepy Hollow’s perfect location for the castle show and parade!

It ended up being a genius move…because from our outdoor seats we had the perfect view of both the castle for A Frozen Holiday Wish as well as front row seats for Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade and Holiday Wishes!

The parade was truly spectacular! The dancers, the ice cutters and the dancing gingerbread men were so much fun-but the reindeer and marching wooden soldiers were the best! Mickey and Minnie had their own float, as did Olaf, Ralph, and of course, Santa Claus!

After the parade, it was time to take our place for Holiday Wishes. I positioned myself right in front of the big Christmas Tree in front of the Train Station. I had the perfect view of the castle and Main Street, USA! It was truly overwhelming with the piped in Christmas music in time with the red and green fireworks bursting above. I have to admit…I choked up when they played “Oh, Christmas Tree” as green fireworks surrounded Cinderella Castle, topped off with a golden fireworks star! *Sniff!*

Shortly after, snow began falling on Main Street. Snow! At Disney World! In Florida! Even though I was expecting it, nothing could have truly prepared me. I was like a kid on Christmas morning!

Santa! I Know Him!

No Christmas Party would be complete without a visit with Santa Claus! We found Santa set up next to City Hall, and the line was manageable. Even though the hour was late, most of the people in front of us were families with small children. Santa was very engaging…and had the best line of the night! When we asked him if we could take a selfie, he told us no. He then went on to say, “But…we CAN take an ELFIE!!”

Late Night Pixie Dust

Though the party officially ends at midnight, it was fun to stick around for photo ops as the park started to slowly empty. The back emptied first…after leaving Fairy Tale Hall I was the last person ushered to the front of the castle!

Photopass photographers were still snapping pictures. The Emporium was packed with people buying ornaments, Very Merry party shirts only available during party hours, and Christmas bulb necklaces. The Confectionery was doing a brisk business selling holiday cupcakes, rice krispie treats and candy apples, and smelled delicious, as usual!

It was after 1:00 a.m. before we finally made our way out of the park, and we were far from the last guests there. We took one last look at all the beautiful decorations and I got to say my final, “See ya real soon!”

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was a must-do…and one I hope I get to do again! Merry Christmas to all…and to all a good night!

Are You Ready to Brave Disney on a Holiday?

If you ever dreamed of spending a Thanksgiving or Christmas at Disney World, you are not alone! Thousands descend upon the parks during the holiday season, but don’t be surprised if even your fellow Disney lovers don’t share your excitement. Just ask on any Disney-related Facebook page about traveling the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day and you’re sure to be flooded with negative commentary…masses of people, hour long waits, Fastpasses gone by noon, impossible to make dining reservations… every worst case scenario you could imagine.

wdw201333224885848_6894267764 — A Thanksgiving trip so perfect, we even got a Christmas card out of the deal!

Does this mean you’ll never get a chance to meet Santa Goofy or see the fireworks extravaganza on New Year’s Eve? Of course not! Spending a major holiday at Disney can easily be done with some planning and flexibility, and give you unforgettable memories to last a lifetime!

wdw201333425366990_6893744129 — Santa Goofy in Dinoland, Animal Kingdom

Know Before You Go!

I was born on Thanksgiving Day, and had my heart set on celebrating my 45th birthday at Magic Kingdom. Even better? I realized it was going to fall on Thanksgiving that year! Being a teacher, I don’t have the flexibility to travel when I choose. I often only get to travel during the busiest and most expensive times of the year. Even so, the thought of celebrating my birthday at Disney was unbelievably exciting! I didn’t need to check the crowd calendars to confirm it would be a “red” level day…but it reminded me that I would have to take advantage of every pre-planning tool and trick I have! (Helpful Hint: Both Touring Plans and Kenny the Pirate have very popular crowd calendars to help you plan your trip.)

wdw201333224798656_6894257523 — A magic shot celebrating my birthday at the happiest place on Earth!

Take Advantage of Pre-Planning Tools

The key to getting exactly what you want is by booking your top choices as early as possible. If you are an on-site guest (staying on Disney property), this means you can book your ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations) 180 days in advance! Fastpasses for rides and attractions can be booked 60 days in advance. If you are staying off-site, you can make your Fastpass selections 30 days in advance once you link your park tickets. Off-site guests can book 180 days in advance as well, but can only book reservations day by day, instead of for the duration of your trip.

img_2921_2 — Thanksgiving Day lunch at Be Our Guest

By logging in to My Disney Experience at 6:00 am EST, I was able to not only book Be Our Guest for lunch, but Cinderella’s Royal Table for our Thanksgiving dinner! If you don’t know, these are two of the most sought after dining reservations in Magic Kingdom any day of the year, and I was able to score them both for Thanksgiving! Woot! Woot! You can call to reserve your ADRs starting at 7:00 am EST. But, if you are tech savvy you can do it online, allowing you to start booking an hour earlier! (Helpful Hint: When your window for booking dining opens up, you will be able to book all the meals for your entire trip. Prioritize your holiday dining first, as these will be the hardest reservations to get!)

img_3015_2 — Our view from Cinderella’s Royal Table during Thanksgiving dinner.

Seasonal menu offering…turkey and all the fixings!

wdw201333224901767_6893744048 — Cinderella greets us pre-meal in her beautiful seasonal dress!

Dining experiences aren’t the only events that can be booked 180 days in advance. My daughter wanted the royal treatment, so I booked a princess make-over at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique right in the castle! We were also able to reserve our spots for the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party for that evening. Pretty cool, right? It’s not every day you get fireworks on your birthday! (Helpful Hint: While at times the Dessert Party has been bookable 180 days in advance, it isn’t always consistent. Sometimes it opens up without notice, or won’t be offered until 60 days prior, so keep checking back!)

wdw201333224771237_6894254234 — Fairy Godmothers working their magic at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique!

wdw201333525581213_6893744045 — Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party photo op!

img_3247_2 — Wishes and birthday fireworks!

At 60 days out on-site guests can book their Fastpasses! Remember, you no longer have to stay up until midnight…you can now start booking these online at 7:00 am EST. Popular meet and greets and rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Space Mountain will go fast, so lock into your top choices! At the very least, you know you will have three rides with minimal waits, compared to the hours-long waits that will develop by the afternoon. Feeling overwhelmed? Check out my blog post about using a Disney spreadsheet to see all your plans at a glance! The Agony (and Ecstasy!) of the Disney Spreadsheet

wdw201333124481763_6903805388 — Pre-booking your fastpasses are a must on holidays!

Front Load Your Day and Strategize, Strategize, Strategize!

Yes, I know it is your vacation and not a military operation, but holidays at Disney are no time to sleep in! First, take advantage of Extra Magic Hours, or EMH. While typically offered year-round, Parks offer additional extended hours around their busiest days. On alternating days, some Parks may open early, and other Parks may stay open hours later. On Thanksgiving morning we found out that Magic Kingdom would be opening not one, but two hours early! We were stoked for a 7:00 a.m. opening! It’s not everyday you have a chance to watch the sun rise over the Train Station!

IMG_2854_2 — Extra Magic Hours pre-dawn shot!

Next, show up for Rope Drop! While this can be used synonymously with “park opening”, at Magic Kingdom there is actually a daily show! This Welcome Show is performed about ten minutes before the park opens and is a highlight of every trip! The Main Street Citizens sing and dance while waiting for the Disney World train to pull into the train station with Mickey and friends, as well as the Family of the Day! (Helpful Hint: Though it’s a long shot, being early and chatting up the Cast Members greatly increases your family’s chance of being chosen for Family of the Day!)

Rope Drop Welcome Show…around 6:50 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day!

Finally, strategically plan your day! Getting to the Park at 6:30 a.m. has its advantages…uncrowded buses, nonexistent wait times, even the opportunity to take pictures of Cinderella Castle without hordes of people!

Cinderella Castle early Thanksgiving morning

Fastpasses can’t be booked during Extra Magic Hours, so we had two full hours with the Park to ourselves before the official 9:00 a.m. opening. We headed straight for my son’s favorite ride in Tomorrowland-Astro Orbiter. Not only were we the first riders of the day, but we had the ride exclusively to ourselves! In fact, the Cast Member asked if we would like to ride again, as a line hadn’t formed yet. It was a little chilly for the three of us, but my son jumped at the chance! We have video of Luke as the solo rider-so cool!!

Solo rider on Astro Orbiter…makes the early wake-up more than worth it!

For the next two hours, we rode practically every ride in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland, and met multiple characters. We even rode some rides twice! By that time we were starting to get hungry since we had gotten up so early, so we were happy to have booked an early lunch at Be Our Guest.

By the time we finished eating the Park had become very crowded…we were lucky we had saved our three Fastpasses! We only booked one of our three for the morning, as we knew we were taking advantage of the Extra Magic Hours. We saved two for the late afternoon when we knew the Park would be mobbed! (Helpful Hint: Now, you can make additional Fastpasses through the My Disney Experience app once you use up your first three. You may want to front load your day with all three in order to then be able to book your fourth, then fifth, etc. OR spread out your three knowing the Fastpasses for the most desirable attractions are likely to be gone early on high capacity days.)

wdw201333224691949_6894948767 — Enchanted Tales with Belle is a hit with both my kids…and my daughter even got chosen to play the Beast!

Make a Day of It…and Embrace the Madness!

If at all possible, plan to stay for the entire day. If the Parks hit capacity, they reserve the right to start park closures. Though rare, it’s not uncommon for Magic Kingdom to hit a Phase 3 closure on New Years or July 4th. There are levels of closures that first hit only day guests, then off-site guests, then park hoppers and people attempting to re-enter the park, and finally guests on Disney property. Don’t over-stress about this…in the last ten years Magic Kingdom has only had a single Phase 4 closure, which effectively closes the Park to all new guests!

Starting to feel a bit busy behind the castle…!

Though we knew we were taking a risk, we did head back to the Wilderness Lodge after our early lunch. Knowing we were on-site guests with both dinner and fireworks reservations meant only a Phase 4 Closure could keep us out, and we knew that had never happened on Thanksgiving Day before! (And a monorail couldn’t get you there any faster than the five minute bus ride to Magic Kingdom! Perfect location!)

Wilderness Lodge’s Silver Creek Springs Pool…I couldn’t keep my children off the waterslide!

We spent some relaxing hours at the Silver Creek Springs pool (and maybe at the Trout Bass Bar, as well!!) and it was heavenly! Though the air temperature was unseasonably cold for November, the pool was heated and steam rose above its surface! After some waterslides and Banana Cabanas, we were ready for round two!

img_2980_2 — Who doesn’t love swimming in November??

Our plan for the crowded late afternoon was simple…show up for our dinner reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table, ride our two remaining Fastpass rides and hit the Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party! The rest of the time we were free to enjoy the theming and gorgeous Christmas decorations, see the characters decked out in their finest holiday garb and mug for the cameras!

Poinsettias, toy soldiers and Christmas trees!

The last year the holiday decorations were extended over Main Street…

wdw201333525535614_6893743992 — Main Street, USA!

Though there will always be crowds, heading to the Parks on a major holiday is something you can easily check off your Disney Bucket List! I have to say-my special day in Magic Kingdom is my most cherished and memorable birthday to date! With some advance planning, flexibility and Pixie Dust you can have your turkey and eat it, too!

The Train Station in the wee hours of the morning…some time after 1:00 a.m…beautiful!

Jacqueline lives in Southbury, CT, with her husband and two children. You can follow her on Instagram at @morphingintominnie.