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.
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 Authentic Ears!
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!
A sampling of our complimentary park buttons!
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!!)
“May all your dreams come true!”
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!
Disneyland character meal buttons!
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!
Push, the talking trash can, has his own series of ornaments!
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!)
Pressed pennies are a fun and inexpensive souvenir!
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!
Disneyland’s (tiny!) 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!
Best souvenirs ever!!!
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!
RunDisney Vinylmation!
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!
Pins are great themed souvenirs!
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!
How many Vinylmation do you have??
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!
RunDisney bling-bring your wallet!
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!
Starbucks AND Disney? Yes, please!
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.
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.
Holiday decorations everywhere!Holiday-themed outfits…check!Event guides and bracelet.
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!
MVMCP photo op!
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.
Happy Howlidays from Nick and Judy!
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!)
OMG! Rapunzel’s tiara!!
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!
Mickey hosting his parade!The march of the wooden soldiers!
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!*
Holiday Wishes
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!
Snow on Main Street, USA!
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!!”
Taking an “elfie” with Santa!I *think* I’m on the Nice List!
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!
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.
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!
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.)
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.
Lumiere ornament on Beast’s tree.Thanksgiving Day lunch at Be Our GuestMrs. Potts ornament in the main hall.
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!)
Our view from Cinderella’s Royal Table during Thanksgiving dinner.Seasonal menu offering…turkey and all the fixings!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!)
Fairy Godmothers working their magic at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique!Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party photo op!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
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!
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.)
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!
Trout Pass Pool Bar refreshments!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!Some holiday cheer with Stitch!The last year the holiday decorations were extended over Main Street…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.
I love Animal Kingdom. I know that for a lot of people, it’s a half-day park, a place to go knock out a couple of rides and be on your way. But I love it. I love walking around and taking pictures, I adore the Tree of Life, and I could ride Everest and Kilimanjaro Safari over and over (and I have, on several occasions). I admit, I would be happy if DinoLand were completely demolished, but that’s another story.
All the love for Animal Kingdom!
As long as I have been going to the parks, I have always wished that I could ride Everest at night. So when I heard that Animal Kingdom was getting nighttime entertainment, I was thrilled! I scheduled two nights of our trip to make sure we got to do everything. The thing that really struck me on both nights was that the park seemed relatively empty. Wait times were low and the only huge crowds seemed to be around the time that the Jungle Book show was letting out. So did the nighttime entertainment meet my high expectations? In some ways, absolutely! In other ways, not so much. Let’s take a look at all of the things I experienced.
Everest After Dark
I’m a big, big fan of coasters, and Everest is my favorite at any of the Disney parks. Riding in the dark has always been on my Disney Bucket List, and I was extremely excited to check it off. Everest at twilight was actually my favorite – seeing the sky and all of the twinkling lights below. Riding in the complete dark didn’t disappoint, either! It felt like you were better able to see the Yeti, probably because your eyes were already adjusted to the dark. Over the course of two evenings, I probably did 6 rides. Lines were extremely short and the single rider line was almost nonexistent. This was definitely a highlight – it was just as amazing as I had always imagined it would be. If you’re a fan of this ride, then riding at night is an absolute must-do!
The view from the top of Everest!Arms up!
Kilimanjaro Safari: Nighttime Edition
The Safari is one of my favorite things to do at Animal Kingdom, because it is always different, and sometimes you get a really unexpected and up-close view of an animal. I was excited to try it at night, and we went on at a few different times to see what the best time might be. We went on around 6:30 (still light), 7:45 (dusk), and 8:30 (fully dark). The ride at dusk was definitely the best. It seemed to be feeding time for a lot of the animals, so we got a good look at a lot of them, but it also felt different being out there slightly later than usual. The lions were even up and about at this time! When we went in the complete dark, we didn’t see nearly as many animals. It was also nearly impossible to get any pictures, at least using my iPhone. It was really cool to get a different experience on an attraction that we have been on so many times, but I wouldn’t recommend it if you’ve never been on the safari during the day. They have lights on the jeep, and lights strategically placed in the trees throughout the ride. Another thing that I also noticed in the evening: they were only loading from one side, so this slowed things down a little. It operated that way both nights we were there, but the line was still pretty short compared to the wait during the day. I’m glad I got to experience this, even if the nighttime safari wasn’t all I had hoped it would be. Now I just need to check off the Wild Africa Trek, and my AK Bucket List will be complete!
A giraffe came up to say hello on our earlier safari.
Tree of Life: Awakening
Around sunset each night, the animals on the Tree of Life begin to “awaken”. Sometimes they just slightly move, but there are also four different entire animated sequences (lasting around five minutes each) that are accompanied by music. Imagine something similar to the “Celebrate the Magic” projection on the Castle, but with animals. I thought this was really charming, and since it happened at various times throughout the evening, you could walk up and catch it at any time. We stood and watched for quite awhile, and everyone seemed to really enjoy it. I would love it if new sequences were eventually added, but I consider this a hit and a definite must-see. Please note that since it is a projection, it’s only visible from the front of the tree.
A little fox “awakens” on the Tree of Life.I loved the colors and music that were used.
The Jungle Book: Alive with Magic
By now, you’ve probably heard all the bad reviews about this show. Let me just add: they’re all true. This show was unbelievably awful. I was so excited about Rivers of Light, and I was bummed that it was delayed. The theater that was built for it is absolutely gorgeous, and seeing all the lights right at dusk is breathtaking. Thankfully, the Jungle Book show has now ended and if you haven’t seen it yet, you’ve missed your chance (September 5th was the last show). It was basically Indian-style music and dancing to the Jungle Book soundtrack, while scenes from the movie were projected onto water in the background. There were also some cast members that danced up and down the aisles. It was painful. It was boring. And every single person in our party hated it. Most of them had no idea of the bad reviews going in, and I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to influence their opinion. It was surprisingly bad for a show put on by Disney, which just speaks to the fact that it was quickly thrown together as a replacement. Fingers crossed that Rivers of Light arrives quickly!
The floats were pretty. That’s the only nice thing I have to say about this show!
Overall, I loved being at Animal Kingdom after dark, and I can only imagine that it will get even better once Rivers of Light debuts and the expansion is finished. While we were there, the park felt fairly empty, and it was really fun to walk around and just enjoy the views. It seemed like a good deal of the vendors were open late, as well. I stopped to ask what time they would stop serving drinks in the Harambe Market, and the answer was 10pm.
The lights were beautiful at night!
Unfortunately, Animal Kingdom began to cut their nighttime hours right after our trip. They are currently still open until 9pm, so you can still enjoy lots of nighttime activities, but you’ll have to hurry. The hours scale back to 8:30 in October and then to 6:00 in November. I’m looking forward to experiencing Animal Kingdom at night even more once the new show and expansion are ready!
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!
