Magic Kingdom is the happiest place on earth. It really is. Thrill rides, beloved characters and iconic attractions bring back adoring guests year after year. Theming at Walt Disney World, and especially within Magic Kingdom, is something that helps Disney World rise above other amusement parks. Other Disney parks come close, but nothing quite catches this phenomenon like Magic Kingdom. Tomorrowland just feels different than Fantasyland and Fronteirland. It really is amazing. Magic Kingdom is the best.
There are so many rides in Magic Kingdom, that it wouldn’t be possible to experience them all in one day. Especially with little children, there is a certain limit of how much can be done. Little ones don’t do very well waiting in lines. Although Disney designs most rides to accommodate even the smallest guests, the thrill rides to have a minimum height requirement. And that leaves families scrambling sometimes trying to decide what to do. Here I will pitch one of my favorite attractions, Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover.
A view from People Mover
The People Mover is an elevated open air tram that travels around Tomorrowland in basically a tour of the attractions. The ride is slow moving and relaxing, but does sometimes seem to be cruising a little faster. It winds its way through rides like Space Mountain and is narrated with fun facts. Guests can get fun views of Magic Kingdom as they wind their way through Tomorrowland.
A view from People Mover
Vacations to Walt Disney World are about making family memories. Most rides and shows can be experienced by almost everyone in the family. Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover can truly be enjoyed by everybody. The ride is entertaining, long and enjoyable. The wait is never too long. The trams allow families to sit facing each other so they can really connect and converse. It is calm enough for people who don’t want a thrill, while also being fun enough for kids seeking a ride. I can’t describe the joy I feel while zooming around Tomorrowland with my favorite people.
For the first time in our adult lives, my wife and I traveled to Walt Disney World without our children. The 2 of us celebrated her 40th birthday on a 3 night vacation. Our thoughts before our vacation had us wondering what it would be like in Disney World without kids. Would there be enough to do? Would it be as fun or as magical? Would we miss them? Would they be mad at us? Well, all our questions were answered rather quickly. We had an amazing vacation. While it was certainly very different without our children, it was an experience every Disney Dad should enjoy.
EPCOT
We knew that we were not planning a usual vacation to Walt Disney World. We did not want to rush to make it to every ride. We wanted a relaxing pace so we could take in every magical moment. We also planned for a lot of time at EPCOT. We wanted to navigate World Showcase without the attention being on our children. We also wanted to see Fantasmic (finally) as it had been closed for almost 3 years because of the Covid19 pandemic. We added the park hopper option and made park pass reservations. We chose Magic Kingdom for our arrival day, because it was open late and we were staying at Bay Lake Tower at the Contemporary Resort. The second day we started at Hollywood Studios and ended at EPCOT. We reversed that plan for the third and final day, starting at EPCOT and moving to Hollywood Studios.
Bay Lake Tower
One of the things we attempted that we had never done before on a family Disney vacation, was to have a nice dinner. We made late reservations at California Grill inside of the Contemporary. We had a wonderful day at Magic Kingdom. We rode Splash Mountain (one last time before the new theme). We returned to our resort to grab a drink and watched the fireworks from our hotel room balcony. That was something we didn’t plan in advance but gave it a try when we realized we could. And it was so worth it. It was an experience we never considered, but it was so magical to have a private view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks. We played the accompanying music on the hotel TV and we felt like rock stars. California Grill was amazing and we lucked out with a table at the window with a wonderful view of Magic Kingdom.
The second day at Hollywood Studios we planned for a short stay there. We wanted to get to EPCOT right at 2 when park hopping opened. We watched Walt Disney: One Man’s Dream inside the Walt Disney Presents museum. It was a great show that we were never able to get to with kids. We had a few drinks at Oga’s Cantina and saw Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage. The wait for Tower of Terror never got low enough for us to get in line. There was so much we wanted to experience without having to get on the thrill rides to appease the kids. Another first for us, we took a Friendship Boat to EPCOT. It might be the slowest way to make the trip, but it was so cool. And the boat operators entertain with jokes that imitate Jungle Cruise.
EPCOT without kids was awesome. We did get Lightning Lane reservations for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind twice. That ride is so much fun. We got to enjoy so much of what makes EPCOT unique and fantastic. We stayed until 11pm with extended hours and headed right back the next day at 8:30 for park open. We stayed until almost 5 pm and then finally headed over to Hollywood Studios. This time we took the Skyliner to Carribean Beach from EPCOT and hopped on the other line to Hollywood Studios.
Our night at Hollywood Studios included a Lightning Lane reservation at Rise of the Resistance, drinks at BaseLine Tap House, and a late 9:30 showing of Fantasmic.
Visiting Walt Disney World with only your spouse is so easy. It’s so much quicker to decide on where to go or what to eat. Many decisions become cumbersome when traveling with kids. It becomes even more slow when the extended family comes along. But with just 2 people that are so familiar and comfortable together, we traversed effortlessly through the parks. We were able to do so much in just three days, we both felt like we were there for a week.
Walt Disney World is home to some pretty amazing rides. Across four theme parks, there is a diverse mix of thrill rides, family rides, shows and experiences. Hollywood Studios has transformed recently more than any other park. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land have massively increased the size of the park. Even still, Hollywood Studios is relatively small, but the rides are jam packed all over the park. The current big draw is Rise of the Resistance, which is one of the most unique attractions in all of Disney World. But there are plenty of great experiences here that don’t get the attention they deserve.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Let’s start within Galaxy’s Edge with Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run. This great attraction is completely overshadowed by Rise of the Resistance. It doesn’t get nearly enough hype because of this. Smugglers Run is a wonderfully immersive adventure. Guests are able to enter the Millennium Falcon and step into the flight deck. It is incredibly fun and kids get so much joy from their scores at the end of the ride. It is such a unique Disney attraction that delights all. Especially for Star Wars fans the ability to be inside the Millenium Falcon is mind blowing.
Our next entry on our list is a bit surprising, but this attraction has become under appreciated. It has been a staple of Disney World for so long, people have stopped realizing how great it is. Of course, I am talking about the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The ride is still magnificent approaching 30 years of operation. The theme, the details, the music, the decorations and everything else are so great. The ride is the perfect mix of fright and fun for children and adults. It doesn’t seem possible to achieve that goal, but Disney was able to create this timeless attraction.
Finally, maybe I am biased because of my own personal love for them, but Muppet Vision 3D is criminally under visited. The pre-show is hilarious to the point I often quote some of it, “what foolishness would you like to see”. The 3D movie is funny and sweet and the Muppets really shine. The Muppet Theater is iconic and nostalgic. And kids that don’t know the Muppets still thoroughly enjoy the show. Hollywood Studios always seems to be the sunniest and hottest park at Walt Disney World. A nice rest in a cool theater should help rejuvenate your family for the rest of the day. There is hardly ever any wait for the show, and nobody will be disappointed.
Walt Disney World Railroad had been closed for over 4 years. It was inoperable while construction was in progress on Tron: Lightcycle/ Run. But as of December 2022, it has finally reopened. Because of this extended closure, there are many people who have never enjoyed a ride on the rails. Additionally, there will be many who are totally unaware of this attraction. Don’t let this experience be forgotten.
The Walt Disney World Railroad is unique in that it is an attraction, but is also a mode of transportation. There are three train stations around Magic Kingdom. The first one is at the park entrance. The next two are in Frontierland and Fantasyland. The train only operates in one direction in that order. It can be a quick way to get around if the timing is right. It is also a relaxing way around the park and a nice break.
The Walt Disney World Railroad is a scenic ride that provides an opportunity to see some interesting views of Magic Kingdom. During the construction update, imagineers added a tunnel through Tron Lightcycle/Run. Similar to Tomorrowland’s People Mover, Disney World guests will feel the magic when riding the Railroad. It is such a simple attraction that would be completely ordinary at other amusement parks. But, at Walt Disney World, that indescribable feeling of joy and wonder is perfectly captured.
EPCOT is a BIG park. To be honest, I find out something new every time I go. It is too big to really get to know in one day. But at the same time, it lacks some of the thrill rides that Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios have. It is hard to justify spending multiple days there on a vacation that is not super long. So there are sections of the park that people don’t get to explore and they unfortunately miss out on experiences. This is totally understandable as there is just not enough time to do everything.
The Seas with Nemo and Friends might just be the most overlooked area of EPCOT. There are no thrill rides here. The Finding Nemo right is cute, but it is not a big draw. Turtle Talk with Crush is not one of my favorites. Even the restaurant Corral Reef (which I personally love) is one of the easiest places to get a reservation. It doesn’t help that the area is basically tucked away in the corner of EPCOT. However, there is one thing here that should be a bigger draw.
There is a really nice aquarium here that you should spend some time checkingout. Sea turtles, dolphins and sharks can all be found in the massive tank. It is a wonderful indoor (think A/C) space where kids can run around and enjoy some freedom. I’m a big proponent of letting them run free at times as a little break from waiting in lines and being forced into compliance with the itinerary. Bigger kids can also learn from many of the friendly cast members.
The aquarium is accessible after the Finding Nemo ride or by walking into the unadvertised entrance to the left of the Nemo entrance.
Something truly amazing is happening at EPCOT. What Disney World is working to vastly improve the park. Without getting into too much detail here, there was a time not too long ago where I would travel to Walt Disney World and spend half a day at EPCOT. And that seemed like too much. Last year EPCOT welcomed Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. And they followed with the opening of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is an unbelievable attraction. It is described by Disney as a rotating roller coaster adventure. My spoiler free review confirms that. It is definitely a one of a kind coaster experience. It is something different than most other coasters. And the entire attraction is just that, an experience. It’s almost like Disney Imagineers dreamt of a ride that combined Rise of the Resistance with Space Mountain. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is more than just a ride. It is an entertaining adventure.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is one of the most fun rides I’ve ever been on. Especially that first time, when everything is unexpected and guests don’t know what is happening. Disney did a wonderful job incorporating the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They created a blockbuster level movie in a theme park. I must admit that I do love the MCU and the Guardians of the Galaxy, so my experience was even that much better.
The attraction is obviously in high demand. As of right now, the only way to ride is with a virtual queue or Lightning Lane reservation. We purchased the Lightning Lane and it was well worth it. Much like Rise of the Resistance, there is more to the attraction than just the ride. The guests are pulled into the story and the experience.
Planning your Walt Disney World vacation is fun, exciting, and deeply involved. There are so manybthings to consider that some important details can get overlooked. This is easy to do when thinking about dining reservations and which new attractions might be available. And it seems that the Disney Park Reservation is going to be hanging around for quite some time. Walt Disney World executives enjoy the benefits of forecasting guest attendance. So there is one important detail that is often overlooked during the planning phase that can really hurt your plans. You have to confirm the park hours.
Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World maintains fairly consistent park hours. They don’t change much during the season. So you can check the weeks before the hours are released during your vacation and get a good idea of what the hours will be while you are there. You then would want to plan on going to parks that are open the longest each day of your trip.
Another important thing to check is if there are any special events during your vacation. These occur mostly at Magic Kingdom and include Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. On those select nights, Magic Kingdom closes early (usually 7pm). So you don’t want to be at Magic Kingdom that day if you are not attending the event.
Vacations to Walt Disney World have so many variations. There are so many things to do and decisions to be made. Some families prefer a relaxing vacation with maximum time hanging out by the pool, while others arrive early at the park and stay all day. Many vacationers stay a week or more and still leave wanting more. There are also families that might only stay for a few days because of a number of factors including budgeting and time constraints. A short trip can seem even more overwhelming because there is the added stress of feeling rushed to get everything done. Here are some ideas to relieve stress and enjoy your vacation.
Hollywood Studios
The most important thing to remember when visiting Walt Disney World is that it is supposed to be fun. It seems simple, and kind of stupid, but it is still something to remember. Even with all the planning and considerations ahead of time, there WILL be bumps in the road. This is especially true for short trips where you will inevitably be trying to squeeze everything in. There have been times when I wanted to make a showtime, and just didn’t make it for one reason or another.
Dining reservations might be hard to come by. The dining reservation system opens when your vacation is 60 days away from the first day. So during a long stay, you can book the last days before many other people. The inverse is also true, that during a short stay, many people have already made their reservations by the time you are able to make yours. That means you have to accept that you will likely not get your top choices. And don’t feel like you need to sit down and eat every meal. I usually only do one table service meal anyway. On a short trip, it would be wise to only sit at a restaurant you really want, and not settle for anything.
It might be worth it to purchase the park hopper option on a short trip. The park hopper allows guests to go to 2 parks in one day. This way, you will at least be able to visit all the parks. A great benefit of this is that each park has their own hours, and generally Epcot and Magic Kingdom are open the latest. Also Animal Kingdom usually opens the earliest and you can really hit most of the attractions in half of a day. This allows you to start at an early park and then go to another that’s open later and really maximize your time. And to save money if you plan to park hop on the back end of the trip, you cab add that option after you used your base ticket the first few days. Something to remember is that Hollywood Studios and EPCOT are very close to each other and you can even walk from one to the other in about 20 minutes.
Finally, prioritize the attractions you definitely want to do. With a little luck you should be able to do everything you want at EPCOT and Animal Kingdom. But, assume you won’t have time to do all of the major attractions in one day at Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. And you won’t want to spend so much time in lines you can’t really enjoy the Disney experience. So make sure to hit attractions that don’t have long waits. And again, don’t rush around trying to do everything. Just enjoy what the vacation brings you.
Disney D23 Expo concluded this past weekend. As usual, there was so much news coming out of this event it can get overwhelming. Disney announced a ton of new movies and Disney+ shows. There were also many Disney Parks updates around the globe. By far the long awaited news that got my interest was the Tron Lightcycle/ Run update.
Tron Lightcycle/ Run Under Construction
Tron Lightcycle/ Run is an innovative roller coaster under construction at Magic Kingdom. And it has been under construction forever. It was supposed to open for the 50th Anniversary of Walt Disney World in 2021. Unfortunately, the COVID19 pandemic derailed those plans. Construction started before the pandemic, so anyone that has visited Magic Kingdom over the last few years has seen the construction ongoing. It has been progressing at a snail’s pace. Tron Lightcycle/ Run will bring a much needed world class thrill ride to Magic Kingdom to help push Walt Disney World into the future.
And while construction has been under way, Walt Disney World Railroad has been closed, as it passes under or through the construction zone. So hopefully the Railroad will be opening again soon. Because I do miss that ride around Magic Kingdom.
This news is, however, met with some disappointment. Tron Lightcycle/ Run has been seen to be in operation recently with theories of ride testing circulating the online community. It seemed as though the ride was closely approaching an opening date. Selfishly, I was hoping it would be complete by my next trip to Walt Disney World this January.
There are so many things to do in Walt Disney World and so much planning that goes along with it. Most likely, you are not highly anticipating watching cartoons in a movie theater. But you should be. There are a couple of spots to catch Mickey Mouse on the big screen in EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. These attractions should not be overlooked. Kids love seeing Mickey Mouse and there aren’t many attractions featuring this original Disney character. These theaters also provide a great place to sit in the A/C and cool off and relax.
Hollywood Studios
Vacation Fun is located in Hollywood Studios behind Echo Lake near Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! It is an original short played in a cute theater. The animation is a throw back to older Mickey Mouse cartoons and not the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse style. The story is funny and kids and adults love it. There are also fun photo spots on the way out of the theater.
Vacation Fun
Disney and Pixar Short Film Festival is one of my favorite attractions in all of Walt Disney World. It is so underrated. It is located in EPCOT behind Journey into Imagination with Figment next to the Land in World Nature. The presentation usually includes 3 short films. The second two films are selected from several different options that rotate through performances. The first film is always a Mickey Mouse short. And it is so good. The first time we saw it we were blown away. We never expected it to be so great. The film is in 3D and the effects are top of the line. It is hilarious and so much fun. We make sure to catch this show every time we are in EPCOT.
