Monthly Archives: August 2022

Attraction Profile: Mickey’s Philharmagic

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Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is consistently one of the busiest amusement parks in the world. Undoubtedly one of the most congested areas of Magic Kingdom is Fantasyland. It is also the biggest section of Magic Kingdom and connects Tomorrowland to Liberty Square behind Cinderella’s Castle There also isn’t much shade and it gets very hot. There is everything here that Magic Kingdom has to offer. Great rides, popular characters, signature dining, quick service restaurants and wonderful attractions. It can be difficult to navigate and certainly gets overwhelming. There are so many decisions to be made. And they need to be made quick, as wait times fluctuate rapidly. One decision we never regret is to make sure we head into Mickey’s Philharmagic.

Mickey’s Philharmagic is a gorgeous production. Guests enter the theater for an orchestra performance. Through some hijinks, Donald Duck ends up on a musical adventure through some of the greatest Disney movie musical numbers. This show is an absolute must for any fan of Disney music. You will find yourself singing along and dancing in your seat. It is wildly entertaining.

Mickey’s Philharmagic also offers a great benefit that many of the attractions at Walt Disney World share. They provide a cool place to have a seat while enjoying the show. The queue is almost entirely inside and the wait is almost never more than 15 minutes. All together it can be a solid break of about 20 minutes to a half hour.

The most essential Disney World Accessory

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There are some simple ways to save money on a Walt Disney World vacation. The easiest way is to bring a reusable water bottle. There are so many other great benefits as well.

Walt Disney World charges a lot for single use water bottles. They can cost up to $4 each. On a family vacation this certainly adds up. It could be hundreds of dollars on this expense alone. Because of this, people end up drinking less water. This leads to hunger, and more snacks at even greater expense. In the Florida heat, especially for travellers from cooler climates, water intake should be increased. Combined with lots of walking, this can create an unhealthy scenario. Dehydration can have many unfortunate side effects that include things like increased motion sickness and exhaustion. These are obviously especially troublesome on a Walt Disney World Vacation.

I have found that bringing reusable water bottles has certainly helped us increase our water intake. It is so much easier to quench your thirst without having to stop and buy water. Walt Disney World is adding filtered water bubblers. But in the meantime, we refill at water fountains or in bathroom sinks. We usually start the day by filling the bottles with ice in the morning before heading to the parks. This gives us cold water most of the day.

2020 Souvenir

And one final point, Walt Disney World sells reusable water bottles. They make for great souvenirs after returning home. And we still use them for things like sports and car rides.

A Quick Hit on Character Dining

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There are many planning considerations for a Walt Disney World vacation. With four unique theme parks, exciting rides and beautiful shows, the planning is certainly continuous. Still nothing might require more thought than planning meals. Under no other circumstances do people plan meal times and restaurants 60 days in advance.

Well one easy way to narrow it down, is to plan on some character dining. If you have your heart set on world class meals, look elsewhere. But for this Disney Dad, we are on vacation in Walt Disney World for reasons just like this. Kids absolutely love having the characters come by their dinner. And the pictures are wonderful. And their faces are so cute and they are so excited. Those memories are what Disney Dads strive to capture.

Garden Grill, EPCOT

You might read reviews for these character experiences that they are expensive or that the food isn’t great. Well yes they are pricey and the food is probably about average. But the experience can’t be beat.

Hollywood and Vine, Hollywood Studios
  • Magic Kingdom
    • Crystal Palace
    • Be Our Guest
  • EPCOT
    • Garden Grill
    • Akershus
  • Hollywood Studios
    • Hollywood & Vine
  • Animal Kingdom
    • Tusker House

Strollers in Disney World

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A Walt Disney World vacation involves a lot of walking. So you are going to want a stroller for your kids. They are great for moving across the parks quickly when little legs arent fast enough. They are also great for kids to rest and nap. This is true even for bigger kids. Especially at the end of a long day. Luckily, there are several different ways to access a stroller in Disney World. Of course, it involves some elements of planning. Here is what I have discovered over the years.

With just one child, a small and lightweight stroller is ideal. It’s is great for portability. You don’t want to bring your best big stroller. You can bring your stroller right up to the plane and they will check it there and get it for you when you land. This way you can use it in the airport, which I have found to be helpful.

Another popular option is to rent a stroller from Walt Disney World. Utilizing this strategy allows guests to grab a stroller as they enter the park and drop it off when leaving. This does make bus travel to the park and back to the resort much easier. But there are some drawbacks. Sometimes a sleepy child is best left in the stroller until you get on the bus. Especially if there are lines and a wait it makes it much easier. Also, it gets to be annoying to have to go grab a stroller every morning upon park entry.

My favorite stroller plan is renting through ScooterBug. This company has a partnership with Walt Disney World. They will deliver your rental stroller to your resort on your arrival day. I have used this service several times and have always had the stroller waiting for me when I get there.

ScooterBug rental

This really is the best of both worlds. You get a stroller without having to travel with it and you still get to use it traveling around Walt Disney World. We get a good stroller and the price is reasonable. We request a color other than black, because it makes it easier to find in the stroller parking. ScooterBug also rents electric vehicles for anyone in your party that might have mobility issues. We rented this once as well, and it really madea difference.

So now that you have your stroller in Walt Disney World, what are the best ways to get around. There are many stroller parking locations spread throughout each park. They are clearly marked and easy to find. So guests can park strollers, check out some attractions in an area. With bigger kids, we would leave the stroller for hours at a time and then head back and get it.

Best and worst rides at Magic Kingdom

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Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World is a massive amusement park. There are so many iconic attractions that it is not possible to get to everything in one day. There are some rides that are universally accepted as the best of the best. Everything else can be a matter of personal taste. I will give you a few ideas here that I hope can help you decide what might be best for you if there just isn’t enough time. These are all tough choices to make, as there really are so many classic rides.

Best of the Best

These are the attractions that you should make sure to experience. Splash Mountain, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain are all top picks here. They are fantastic rides and well worth the wait. Mickey’s Philharmagic is a fun adventure through the music of Disney Movies. Peter Pan’s Flight often has a long line but the ride does justify the wait. Even though the characters are dated, children love the ride through the sky.

Things that can be skipped

I honestly do not like typing this. But there are several rides at Magic Kingdom that just aren’t worth the wait. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin is so dated that it is just not that enjoyable. Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios is such a better ride. Tomorrowland Speedway has a slow moving line that is entirely in the sun. There is often a strong odor from the engines of the cars. The ride itself is just ok. It’s a Small World is iconic and classic and boring (yikes). It is something to experience once at some point, but I wouldn’t miss out on other rides for it. Jungle Cruise is in the same boat (pun intended). These rides certainly appeal to many people, but I have found that many others just don’t like them. Lastly, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a fun little coaster, but the wait is often so long that it is just disappointing. Again bested by Hollywood Studios, Slinky Dog Dash is much better.

Everything Else

Haunted Mansion

There are still plenty of rides left over and choices to be made. These rides should be considered based on available wait times and personal preference. This list is not exhaustive but includes Pirates of the Caribbean, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Haunted Mansion