Magic Kingdom Day Trip

Lake Buena Vista, Florida:  We hit the road early this morning for a day trip to Walt Disney World.  Today's adventure took us to the Magic Kingdom.  Having resumed our annual passes following an almost five year break from the parks, we were excited to see what's new at the Magic Kingdom since our last visit in 2019.

One advantage to living so close to Walt Disney World is being able to take day trips to the park.  One downside is having to deal with I-4 traffic to get to the park.  We were originally going to go up yesterday, but when we punched in the trip on Google, our usual 2:20 trip was skirting close to 4 hours.  So we chose to go today instead and what a great choice!  The early start on the road left us smooth sailing to the park and Mother Nature prepared a beautiful, mild and sunny Sunday.  

We arrived to Walt Disney World right as the Disney Princess Marathon was completing.  Despite the traffic modifications as a result of the race, there was little impact into the Magic Kingdom parking lot.  We found our parking spot in the Scar lot and headed to the Transportation Center for our trip over to the Magic Kingdom.

It's A Small World
For those of you who have never been to Walt Disney World or the Magic Kingdom, it is the only park that the parking lot is not directly attached to the park.  The Magic Kingdom parking lot is located across the Seven Seas Lagoon from the park and you reach the park via the monorail or a ferry.  We chose the ferry and boarded the General Joe Fowler for the short journey across the lagoon to the park.  


Once we reached the park, we headed straight down Main Street USA for Fantasyland for a ride to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.  Based on Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the coaster features a one of a kind ride car that allows the car to sway while speeding through the track.  After we got off the mine train, we headed to a few Fantasyland classics,  Peter Pan's Flight and It's A Small World.

We then headed to Liberty Square for a ride on the Haunted Mansion.  The spooky mansion is a family must ride each time we go.  We hopped aboard the doom buggy to enjoy the antics of the 999 friendly haunts found within the old mansion.

The Jungle Cruise

Our journey through the park then took us into Adventureland and two more park icons, the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Jungle Cruise.  We took a boat ride into the land of Captain Jack Sparrow to enjoy the pirate's life.  Afterwards we joined our punny captain for a trip of the rivers of the world filled with dad jokes galore and a stop at the eighth wonder of the world.

Next we went into Frontierland for the wildest ride in the wilderness.  We hopped aboard Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, one of my favorite rides in the park.  It was so much fun, we decided to ride it twice!

Festival of Fantasy Parade

Between the two rides of Thunder Mountain, we squeezed in the early Festival of Fantasy parade. They daily parade features some of the modern day Disney stars mixed in with the classics as they journey on parade through the park from Frontierland through Main Street USA.  The daily parade is now performed twice daily doubling your chances to see the parade.

After the second ride of Thunder Mountain, we headed across the park to Tomorrowland but with a quick stop back in Fantasyland for a journey under the sea with Ariel.  Hop aboard a clam shell and let the Little Mermaid come to life as you join Ariel, Flounder and Sebastian as you become part of the story.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The day started to get away from us once we got to Tomorrowland.  We started with a showing of the Carousel of Progress.  The rotating stage show is the longest performing state show in history and a great place to rest your feet in the a/c.  After we tried to ride the Peoplemover but it had the longest line I have ever seen for that ride and being an annual passholder, I have taken the stance that we don't have to do everything on every trip so I had no problem skipping the long line.  The next stop was Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin but after waiting in line for 10-15 minutes, the ride suffered a mechanical breakdown.  

We decided at that point it was time to head for home.  We hopped on the monorail and headed back to the car for the journey back home and the dreaded I-4 traffic.

We will be back at Walt Disney World with a trip to Epcot next weekend.  Check back later for photos from today and make sure to follow to read about next weekend's trip.

Writer's Note:  Our trip to Epcot was postponed due to rainy weather in Central Florida.  We will be back up at Walt Disney World soon.  3/3/24



Location: Bay Lake, FL 32836, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Photo of the Day: Disney's Hollywood Studios

Image
  For many years, a towering, iconic Sorcerer's Hat served as the unmistakable central landmark for Disney's Hollywood Studios (formerly MGM Studios), drawing visitors deep into the park's vibrant heart. The hat, an enormous, three-dimensional representation of the magical cap worn by Mickey Mouse in his role as the Sorcerer's Apprentice from the classic film Fantasia , was initially erected as a centerpiece for the park's 100 Years of Magic celebration, honoring the centennial of Walt Disney's birth. Its prominent placement quickly cemented its status. Much like the instantly recognizable icons of the other Walt Disney World theme parks—Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom, the geodesic sphere of Spaceship Earth at EPCOT, and the intricately carved Tree of Life at Disney's Animal Kingdom—the Sorcerer's Hat became the park's most famous symbol and a favored backdrop for countless visitor photographs. Its design featured bold colors, stars, and the moon...
Read more

Photo of the Day: New York City

Image
Along the perimeter of Central Park, nestled within the vibrant core of New York City, stands a collection of the city's most architecturally significant and historic luxurious apartment buildings. These iconic addresses are more than just residences; they are meticulously preserved monuments that pay homage to a bygone era of Gilded Age splendor and pre-war elegance, maintaining their original magnificence and grandeur.  A premier example of these exceptional homes is The Beresford. Completed in 1929, this legendary co-op on Central Park West is instantly recognizable by its distinctive trio of massive copper towers and is celebrated for its imposing scale and sophisticated design. Conceived by the renowned architect Emery Roth, The Beresford stands as a testament to the period's commitment to lavish detail, expansive layouts, and unparalleled exclusivity. It offers residents breathtaking panoramic views of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline, cementing its status not just ...
Read more

Visiting the Florida Holocaust Museum: A Powerful and Reflective Experience

Image
St Petersburg, Florida: Located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, the Florida Holocaust Museum is one of the largest institutions of its kind in the United States, dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and educating future generations about the dangers of hatred and intolerance. Founded in 1992 by Holocaust survivors Walter and Edith Lobenberg, the museum has grown into a deeply moving cultural and educational destination that encourages visitors to reflect on history while promoting a more compassionate future.  Overview of the Museum  The museum’s core exhibit, “History, Heritage, and Hope,” takes visitors on a chronological journey through the Holocaust, beginning with the roots of antisemitism and continuing through the rise of Nazi Germany, World War II, and eventual liberation. The experience is largely self-guided, allowing visitors to move at their own pace while engaging with photographs, personal artifacts, and survivor testimonies.  One o...
Read more