After we got married, we went to Disney World for 3 days. We did a hotel day after we checked in the first day, went to Magic Kingdom the second day, went to Epcot the third day and then checked out. Today's blog post is all about Magic Kingdom. I hadn't been to Disney World in 15 years, so I was so excited to go. To not make this blog post too long, I am just going to share where we stayed, what we ate, the rides we rode, etc. Instead of sharing alternatives like I usually do.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort. Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel juxtaposes modern architectural silhouettes alongside Renaissance flourishes. Most notably, the twin stylized dolphin statues gracing its rooftop. A tropical palette of aqua and coral, elaborate fountains, towering palm trees and grassy expanses render the hotel as idyllic as it is striking. There is a complimentary water taxi from the boat dock to Epcot or Hollywood Studios. You can also walk or take the bus. Boats depart every 15-20 minutes. Buses depart every 20-30 minutes. There was no free breakfast. There are 23 restaurants and lounges between the Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels you can check out. They do charge you a resort fee of $45 every day you stay. This covers the beach, 5 pools and hot tubs they have and the swan paddle boats. Also, you have to pay for parking. Whether it is self for $36 or valet for $45. So be on the lookout for those hidden fees. Would I stay here again? Absolutely. This hotel has amazing views of the Epcot fireworks, and with so much to do, it is definitely worth the money to stay on Disney property while visiting Disney. We loved being able to hop on the bus to Magic Kingdom and taking the boat ride to Epcot.
This hotel was right next to our hotel. We loved walking around this adorable Atlantic City Coney Island-style boardwalk themed Inn. On our first night, we did some shopping and got some food here. We would love to stay at this hotel when we come back to Disney in the future. There is just so much to do with all of the fun carnival games, and it is so cute and aesthetically pleasing.
Main Street Halloween Décor
Magic Kingdom is the only park decorated with Halloween decorations out of all 4 parks, so take a minute when you first get into the park to check out the Halloween decorations and props that are only there for a limited time. That is what we did.
What To Ride
Under the Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid- Revisit the classic “tail” of how one lucky little mermaid found true love and legs. Your underwater adventure takes you below the waves on a tour of Ariel’s gadget-filled grotto. Immersive special effects and hand-drawn animation sequences recreate each unforgettable scene. Watch Sebastian the crab conduct every singing, dancing fish in the sea. Skulk past a sinister eel-infested lair, and then cheer as Prince Eric kisses the girl.
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin- Buzz Lightyear’s arch-nemesis from Toy Story 2 is stealing batteries from helpless toys to power a new weapon of destruction. Become a Junior Space Ranger and help stop Zurg! Board your XP-37 star cruiser and voyage deep into the Gamma Quadrant, where you’ll take aim at the glowing “Z” targets with your infrared laser cannon. Use your cruiser’s joystick to spin a full 360 degrees, so you can blast all the targets in sight.
It's A Small World- Sing along to the classic anthem of world peace during a delightful musical boat tour. Cruise along the Seven Seaways Waterway on a gentle 10-minute journey through all 7 continents. Pass through vivid, fantastical scenes representing the iconic sights and sounds of dozens of nations. Behold a cast of dancing darlings from nearly every corner of the globe and watch as the Audio-Animatronics figures achieve universal harmony as they sing one song in many languages.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant- Based on the 1941 Disney animated masterpiece Dumbo, this classic attraction lets you hop atop everybody’s favorite circus elephant as he discovers he can fly. Dumbo’s faithful friend Timothy Q. Mouse helps keeps you aloft with his “magic” feather. As the jubilant organ melody begins, lift off for a graceful cruise around (and around and around) Storybook Circus. You can adjust your altitude during your flight, so you can soar high or swoop low.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh- Be swept away by a gust of wind with Gopher, Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga and Roo before sliding inside Owl’s House. Bob up and down with Tigger during a hide-and-seek adventure. Enter a dream world where singing Heffalumps and Woozles spring up and down. It’s a delightful romp through scenes and songs made famous in the classic Disney film Winnie the Pooh. Before saying goodbye to your new friends, celebrate with Pooh as he finally gets his paws on what he’s been searching for.
Haunted Mansion- The disembodied voice of the Ghost Host is your private guide through the cadaverous realm of an eerie haunted estate, home to ghosts, ghouls and supernatural surprises. Glide past a casket-filled conservatory, Madame Leota’s chilling séance room and a ghostly graveyard of singing specters as you attempt to find your way out. Beware of hitchhikers, these phantom pranksters may follow you home.
Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress- Follow an American family over 4 generations of progress and watch technology transform their lives. During each era, learn how the technological marvels of the day made life more comfortable and paved the way for unimaginable innovations. Discover how gas lamps, the hand-cranked washing machine and gramophone made the pre-electric era a breeze. Watch the advent of electricity give rise to modern conveniences like the electric iron, the radio and the simple, revolutionary light bulb. See how the automatic dishwasher and television set transformed the American household. Today's high-tech marvels include virtual-reality games, high-definition televisions and voice-activated household appliances. Imagine the wonders the next hundred years may bring!
Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room- Sing along with a lively menagerie of exotic birds, flowers and Tiki statues in this jubilant Disney classic. A feast for your eyes and ears, this theater-in-the-round show invites you to sit back, relax and experience the beauty of the South Pacific with a cast of over 225 choreographed Audio-Animatronics performers.
Mad Tea Party- Pour yourself into an oversized pastel teacup and twirl through a wild wonderland of color and song. As the party gets underway, sail back and forth around a towering teapot as festive music fills the air. Mad Tea Party is inspired by the Mad Hatter’s party sequence in Walt Disney’s animated classic Alice in Wonderland and modeled after the iconic 1955 Disneyland Park attraction. This was the very first ride we rode at Magic Kingdom. A classic Disney ride everyone needs to go on at least once.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad- Legend has it that soon after gold was first discovered here in the 1850s, eerie things began to happen. Trains would take off and race through tunnels by themselves. After you arrive at the legendary Big Thunder Mining Company, descend into an abandoned mine shaft and board your train. As you enter the cursed cavern, the engine speeds up along the rickety track. Dodge exploding dynamite and falling boulders as you swoop around turns, drop into canyons and dart through the mysterious ghost town of Tumbleweed. Didn't get a photo of this one. We had a lightning lane, for this ride, so it all happened so fast.
That was everything we rode at Magic Kingdom.
Where To Eat
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café- Explore a galaxy of enticing options from their out-of-this-world bacon cheeseburgers to chicken strips to plant-based burgers. Plus, have a blast enjoying the stellar musical entertainment of Sonny Eclipse! If you are looking for an affordable, not too pricy lunch spot, I recommend here. We ate here for lunch, and it was not too pricy, $25 for us both. It is very crowded and hard to find seating though. We split this cute little lemon cake pictured down below.
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor- Indulge in hand-scooped ice cream at this sweetly nostalgic parlor on Main Street, U.S.A. Savor fresh waffle-bowl sundaes smothered in hot fudge! Fat-free and no sugar added options are also available. We had to try the classic Mickey ice cream bars.
The Lunching Pad- Ready for blast off? Fuel up with out-of-this-world specialties including all-beef hot dogs, specialty pretzels, chips and more. Top it off with frozen carbonated beverages or water. We got 2 Icee's, and of course, we had to try a Mickey pretzel.
Liberty Square Market- Let freedom ring before or after your Hall of Presidents experiences at Liberty Square Market, where you can sink your teeth, whether wooden or pearly white, into chips, healthy snacks or a hot dog before wetting your whistle with a variety of beverages. A turkey dog at Disney is a must. We ate them before we watched the firework show.
Where To Shop
Emporium- The largest gift and souvenir shop in Magic Kingdom Park. The Emporium offers apparel, plush toys, pins, candy and more. Such a cool store; you must go in there. I bought this candy corn colored shirt pictured below. The perfect Disney shirt for Halloween.
Main Street Bakery- Make a stop on the way down Main Street and top off your day with a tasty cup or even a mouthwatering treat. Including a selection of Starbucks Coffee and specialty beverages, along with Disney baked goods. My husband had to get a spooky Mickey cookie.
Happily Ever After {Fireworks}
Go on a dazzling journey of color, light and song that captures the heart, humor and heroism of favorite Disney stories. Watch in awe as Cinderella Castle is magically transformed through amazing state-of-the art projection technology you have to see to believe. This astounding fireworks extravaganza uses lights, lasers and special effects, plus a soaring score featuring contemporary versions of beloved Disney songs. Discover the magic of stories and be inspired to find your own happily ever after. After a long day of Magic Kingdom, we were there 13.5 hours to be exact, this firework show was the perfect way to end it. Get there early, so you have a great view of the fireworks.
Disney World {Magic Kingdom} Travel Guide down, Disney World {Epcot} Travel Guide to go. No matter how often or little you go to Disney World, it always feels exhilarating with so much to see and do. Being that I haven't been in 15 years, it felt so amazing and exciting to be back in the parks. I already cannot wait to go back. There is just something so magical about it. I'm sure you can agree. I will always love Disney World no matter how old I get. Stay tuned for my Epcot Travel Guide coming very soon.
Xoxo,
Chey
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