New Fantasyland

A lot of hype has been put up about the New Fantasyland expansion in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom, and it deserves all that attention. It is the largest expansion ever at this park and while some sections are still under construction the Beauty and Beast and the Little Mermaid experiences are up and running. I had the privilege to eat at the new Be Our Guest restaurant for both lunch and dinner and I must say its the most beautifully designed restaurant at Disney I have been to. The ballroom is just how you see it in the movie and Beast's west wing as well! The study is a bit out of place because its not actually part of the movie but the center piece makes up for it.

 Food wise the restaurant is also outstanding. For lunch the offer a modified quick service so you can order your food in the queue then sit down and they bring your meal by the magic rose you are given as a position finder. The french onion soup is wonderful as are the desserts. For dinner the dinning style changes to a more sophisticated palate. Servers of the castle bring you to your table with rose napkins and delectable dinner options. When I was there for this meal we had enough people to each choose a different item and try every entree on the menu and they were all spectacular! What sets this restaurant apart from the rest of Magic Kingdom is their offering of wine and beer at dinner. If you happen to be celebrating anything make sure to let them know in your reservations or wear a birthday pin and try the "grey stuff" it really is delicious. 

Speaking of food Gaston's Tavern is right next door if you don't want to wait in line for Be Our Guest. There is not much on the menu but the cinnamon rolls are huge and the decor is truly Gaston's style. You might even spot the big guy strolling around in front by his fountain.

 Belle's Cottage was a nice experience but because I visited during soft opening (late November) and opening week (December 6th) the lines were long and the cast members didn't leave much time inside the rooms to really explore and see what was there. The new story time with Belle was refreshing and when the summer months come along will be a nice change from the once outdoor area where it was held. Over all its a cute thing for the little kids but if you want to look at things inside the cottage and Maurice's workshop you might be disappointed from being rushed on to the next room.

The Journey of the Little Mermaid ride is almost identical to its California counterpart but I'm so glad that Disney brought it to Florida. The wait line is filled with thingy-ma-bob's and whatcha-ma-call-its. It is interactive but when I got in line we just about walked onto the ride. Ariel's meet-and-greet has also been restored in her Grotto just next to the ride entrance.

The last area to be opened will be the 7 Dwarfs' Mine Train. Walking around the construction fences there are areas to peek in and see the progress. This ride is not supposed to open though until 2014! Also new over by Small World and Peter Pan. It will house a meet-and-greet as well as some new bathrooms.

Have a Magical Day!

Some New Magic

It's been since January that I made my last visit to Magic Kingdom. Far too long compared to my normal amount of visits. With our annual passes currently expired we used some of our 1 day/1 park from volunteering at the Disney Marathon in January. With all the construction going on in Fantasyland and one section of it open it was as good as time as any to spend a day.

First things first I had heard about the Sorcerers Card Game, a new interactive game which leads you around the park to help save the Magic Kingdom from the Villains of Disney. There are 70 cards total each with a different attack performed by a Disney character. 60 of the cards can be found in the packs given to you each day you go to the Sorcerer training centers. The last 10 cards are part of mystery packs that you can buy, 6 regular cards and 1 of the final ten. Once you get started with your first 5 cards you begin battling some villains at portal located around the park (marked on a special map). Using the Key Card you open the portal and follow the prompts to show either the back of your card for the Crest or the front of a card for an attack. I've only just started but its easy to see that this is a hit among those who know of it. Trading duplicates helps to build up your amount of cards and expands the visuals shown when attacking a villain.

The newly opened area of Fantasyland was next on my list of things to experience. Dumbo was moved and doubled in size. Not only does this make the wait time less Imagineers have also reconstructed the waiting experience. Instead of traditional queues they now offer a large indoor (and air-conditioned!) play area for kids and seating for adults. Before entering they give you a pager similar to one you would get waiting for a restaurant. The kids are free to explore and play and the pager will buzz when its time to join the line again. From this point it only takes a few minutes to actually board the flying elephants!

Along with the updated Dumbo a new water play area has taken over what was once Donald's boat in Toontown. The area features circus train cars filled with exotic animals spraying water at the kids running underneath. Look closely at the ground and you'll spot some of the foot/hoof prints along with some peanut shells that the elephants must have over looked!

As this is August the heat was mighty bad. The newly reopened Sunshine Tree Terrace was the perfect option to cool down. Part of the original Adventureland area Disney brought back some Orange Bird memorabilia recently to help celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Disney World (Oct. 2011). Now you can once again enjoy the citrus swirl (much like a creamsicle). The lines also seem less than the Dole Whip station. Personally I think Disney needs to bring back the Orange Bird so I can recreate a picture of my dad from back during the opening month.

Among the new things to be seen since my last visit was the Merida from Brave meet and greet area. Step through the gates and enter the Highlands with tapestries on the walls and even an archery lesson awaiting you its like being in the movie. Keep an eye on the little bears, they don't like sitting very still and make some funny noises.

I must say I can't wait to visit when the new princess castles will be open!
Until then, Have a Magical Day!

Magic Kingdom: Keys to the Kingdom Tour

My family and I have been planning to do a tour at Walt Disney World for a couple years now and finally booked the Keys to the Kingdom Tour in Magic Kingdom. This tour takes you through some of the classic attractions with a group guide sharing the history and fun facts about them. The tour takes you on 2 rides; Jungle Cruise and The Haunted Mansion. On the Jungle Cruise instead of having the normal skipper telling you corny jokes your tour guide tells you more about the history of the ride. In addition to the rides you walk backstage to the parade line up and storage areas, eat an included lunch at the Columbia Harbour House, and even go under the park to the Utilidors. Backstage and underground are no photography areas, no matter how much we would all love to take some pictures! The neatest thing about being backstage is the chance of seeing cast members working on exclusive material, on my tour we managed to catch a glimpse of a dance practice for Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party Parade!

This tour is named not for the facts of the park but for the four "Keys" that all of Disney is run by; Safety, Courtesy, Show, and Efficiency, in order of importance. Safety is always most important and everything from the color of the sidewalk to crowd control are covered. Courtesy is the guests comfort and everyone visiting the park is treated with a great amount of respect. Show was Walt's understanding that people come to his parks to get away from the real world and this live stage is kept up to the best possibilities of all the cast members. Efficiency is last, which is something I'm grateful for in Florida as one of the most inefficient things done is blasting AC with doors open! While some things seem impractical to most it is usually done to keep to the other 3 Keys. That being said, Disney is also very proactive in being environmentally friendly, they have their own power plant, recycling facility, and if you've ever seen the holiday lights covering the castle they are run with the same power it would take to run only 1 standard refrigerator!

Overall this tour was fabulous for either a Disney know-it-all or a beginner wanting to know more about the magic behind it all. I highly recommend going on the tour if you get the chance!

Some neat trivia from my tour:
~Oswald the lucky rabbit, Walt Disney's first animated creation was taken from him by Universal. Nearly 80 years later Disney traded rights with Universal, Al Michaels for Oswald. Yes that is right, a real person for an animated character!
~Steamboat Willie is not Mickey Mouse's first appearance in film. There were 2 other shorts made before it, but were not released on a national scale until later.
~On Main Street U.S.A. there is only 1 American flag, located at the central flag pole in Town Square, the rest only have 49 stars.
~The only building on Main Street that is truly 3 stories tall is the Kodak Theater. The rest are built with a "forced perspective" where every level is made smaller so that by the 3rd floor everything is half sized.
~Main Street is modeled after Walt's hometown
~Cinderella Castle is made out of fiberglass and there is no actual bricks in it
~The river around the center of the park is also connected to the Jungle Cruise ride and used to have a swan boat ride
~The drop in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is because the Railroad is right above it
~The bridge leading to Tomorrowland is larger than the one leading to Adventureland as the majority of visitors are right handed and have a natural tendency to go right
~You can tell which land you are in depending on the music you hear and the buildings or landscaping of the area.
~Backstage buildings are painted in "Go Away Green" so that any wandering eyes would not be able to discern its presence
~Magic Kingdom is the only park with the underground tunnels for cast members

Have a Magical Day!

Making Room for More Magic

To any who have visited Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in the past few months you've probably noticed the considerable amount of construction going on. Many areas being renovated, such as Main Street, are quickly being finished and are able to be enjoyed once more. However there is one major project that will be behind closed doors for a while longer. Mickey's Toon Town Fair is no longer a section of the park and the area is currently blocked off for construction.

Creating an extension on Fantasyland, Disney is building a complete princess area at the rear of the park where Toon Town once stood. This will include separate attractions for Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Snow White, and a few revised classic Disney attractions. The new Fantasyland is planned to open in Fall 2012 last I heard.

The construction does not affect the surrounding attractions of Dumbo, Winnie the Pooh, and Snow White's Scary Adventures. During busy times the walkways can feel a little small but it is still easy to maneuver your way from one section to the next. The new area is something to look forward to in future trips, until opening be prepared to see many walls and soon the tops of new castles and other princess-y delights.

Have a Magical Day!

Magic Kingdom: ToonTown

Toon Town, the land at the very back of the park is an area completely dedicated to small children. Where life size houses that belong to the "fab five", kiddie rides, face painting, and lots of characters reside. If there was one place in the park that seems to have nothing more to it than the enjoyment of small children, this is it.

It's hard to find things for teens to do in this area except for the character greetings, Princesses and Faries in the big shop tent, and Mickey mouse in the tent behind his house. Some other characters wander around in this area but are not usually on any real schedule.

The kiddie rides are Goofy's Barnstormer, a short ride in an "airplane" around a small track, very similar to a county/state fair ride, short and not usually worth the wait. There is a water area hosted by Donald Duck, if you want to play in here just be careful of meandering toddlers.

With the princess and fairy greetings, know now that if you are there on a busy day these lines will be long. More so on the Fairy side, Tink is popular! New Fairies just started this summer, Vidia and Terrance from the movies can now be seen. Not sure if you want to wait inline for who is there? Just ask anybody who is working in the character area, they know the whereabouts of most characters in the park.

This area is perfect for small kids to see their favorite characters' own town, but remember to those who aren't there with little ones, this the the KIDS space.

Have a Magical Day!

Magic Kingdom: Main Street U.S.A

With all of the construction going on in Magic Kingdom it's a little bit harder to talk about than I originally thought. The once usual sitting spots and secret rooms have been taken out of commission for the time being and I am on a quest for new areas. My favorite spot on Main Street to just chill was the back of the Kodak building to the right as you enter the park. In this hidden gem there was a small theater which featured classic Disney cartoons such as "Steamboat Willie". This building, as is the case with many, is currently under the Disney construction facade.
In search of a new relief from the summer sun during my last visit I climbed the stairs of the Main Street Train Station. The inside is a treasure trove of old fashioned coin Stereoscope viewers. These old school flip-book style pictures are free to look through even though their casings say other wise. I suggest you take a look at all of them and get an even greater sense of the era represented on Main Street. Another nice air-conditioned sitting area is at the end of Main Street in the back of Casey's Corner. You'll find stadium style seating in front of a large screen playing classic sports cartoons.

I had heard rumor that when mailing letters or postcards from Disney property a special post stamp would be stamped on for approval. I tried this but sadly it was not true. The only thing stamped on (other than your stamp) will be an over stamp for Orlando, FL.

Main Street is known for it's shopping, mostly because it is all shops. Don't forget your discount for Seasonal/Annual Passholders! The shops include everything from Apparel, Food, Stationary, Scrapbooks, Toys, and more. 

  After shoppping when you are walking down the street during the day you'll run into some of Main Street's inhabitants, the Citizens of Main Street.  Some of the citizens will not autograph (especially Ms. Ing DePointe), but all will be more than happy for photos. They are not from any movie. From the Mayor to the town gossip, Pinthusiasts to Politicians these time traveled cast members are well in their era. Ask them about any modern technology and they will appear completely flabbergasted.

Once construction is cleared up I'll update on the changes made to the entrance of the Magic Kingdom.

Until then, Have a Magical Day!

Magic Kingdom: Night time Fireworks, Parade, and Treasures

It's summer time here in Florida and I've just seen Magic Kingdom's new summer fireworks. We found a room to stay in for the night in Port Orleans' French Quarter. There's always something special happening at Walt Disney World, in Magic Kingdom that night was "extra magic hours". Extra magic hours are where resort guest are able to stay in the parks for extra time after it is closed/ before its opened to the general public. The best thing about this is that there is hardly any lines for attractions as you get later into the night. The draw back is when your parents like to go to bed early... Luckily my dad doesn't mind staying out a bit later.

Many things are changed as special promotions during the summer. In Magic Kingdom they have brought back the classic Main Street Electrical Parade, and also created a new fireworks display that incorporates music from Pirates of the Caribbean, complete with invasion. The fireworks definitely have certain places where it makes a world of difference in viewing them. If you have a sweet tooth and you/your family/your friends are willing to spend an extra $20 I highly suggest you look into the Fireworks and Desserts Buffet. For twenty dollars you get a guaranteed viewing area for the Fireworks on the Tomorrowland Noodle Station, and a gourmet desserts buffet. As this promotion grows with popularity I recommend that if you are interested to call Disney's Dinning Reservation number and reserve before you go, although it is possible to reserve once you get there. By calling you will easily find out if the promotion is even happening on the night of your visit.

If you decide against the Dessert Buffet there are many places to get a perfect view of the castle and fireworks. After the first night parade is the best time to claim a spot for the fireworks. Although the courtyard directly in front of the castle is the premium spot for watching, it is nearly impossible to find a spot. My favorite area is to the right of the castle on the 2nd bridge to Tomorrowland. When standing in the middle of the bridge you can get a mostly unobstructed view as you can see by my pictures and be very close to the castle.


Magic Kingdom in the late hours of the night allows you to not worry about the first parade, there is a second parade that usually shows after the fireworks are over, but always check the times sheet you can get as you walk in to make sure there is a second showing the night you are there. The night time parade is visible from any where along the parade route, but if you want to actually see up closer with out saving your spot for an hour head over to Frontierland. Not many people watch from back here so you have a better chance of getting a front row spot.

Walking out of the park at around 1:30 am I was able to watch a cast member on the janitorial system who was drawing the classic characters Mickey, Donald, Pluto, and Minnie with a broom dipped in water. I don't know how common a sight this is but it was pretty awesome.

WDW Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom was the first park to open at Walt Disney World in 1971. There are different parts that make up the park; Main Street U.S.A, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Mickey's Toontown Fair, and Tomorrowland. I'm going to talk about different things to do in each of these areas as a teenager.

Going in order of appearance Main Street U.S.A is the area you walk into as you enter the park. Depending on the direction that you go when you reach Cinderella castle you will either head towards Adventureland(left), Tomorrowland(right), or Fantasyland (straight).

Either decision will take you to an area that is full of hidden surprises that can amuse even a teenager, trust me i should know. Certain areas will have more available entertainment for you but the best way is always to try the attractions. You never know when the "little kiddie ride" such as Dumbo will become your favorite.
I'll be writing on each section of the park separately so be sure to check posts about any area you may be interested in finding out more.