Once is Enough and Can't Get Enough: Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World is a big place. It is like a city unto itself and just like any city, it's impossible, even when spending lots of time there, to do everything. Having been there a few times, including having lived there for four months, I still haven't done everything. But of the things I've done, there are things I keep coming back to and others I don't really need to do again.
This week, I'm going to share what those things are for me in the Magic Kingdom. Like I've said before, this is all matter of opinion, but it's the advice I would give a friend going to Walt Disney World as far as my recommendations for what to at least try, and what to avoid if you don't have time.
Once is Enough
I'm not one to wait if I don't have to. Even at Disney, I try to hack the lines as much as I can. For a ride, I might gladly wait for 20-30 minutes, but never, ever, for a character. For a character, I won't wait more than 10 minutes. Yes, even if I'm traveling with kids.
Now, there's a few ways I avoid waiting. One way is I will book a character meal. Got a character your kids just can't live without seeing that is also involved in a character meal? Great! Tackle two birds with one stone and meet the character at your leisure while you dine. It's fabulous. While expensive, time is money, and I can't recommend character meals strongly enough.
The other way I avoid waiting is I keep an eye on the MyDisneyExperience app and I ask Cast Members. Last time, I wanted to meet Gaston really badly. I knew here he would show up, so I went there and asked a nearby Cast Member how often he comes out and how long it had been since he was last out. They always know and if they don't, they will find out. Then, I time my arrival at that area to be about 5 minutes before the character comes out and since most people don't pre-plan, I can be first or second in line.
Can't Get Enough
Speaking of Gaston, I have a new favorite snack at the Magic Kingdom and it's Lefou's Brew. Vaguely in the vicinity of New Fantasyland? I need a Lefou's Brew.
In addition to Lefou's Brew, there is just something about a good old fashioned Mickey's Premium Ice Cream Bar at the Magic Kingdom that I can't resist. If I feel the slightest bit peckish, forget the confectionary, forget the ice cream parlor, forget the bakery or the popcorn... it has to be a Mickey's Premium Bar.
Once is Enough
Remember what I said about waiting around? I'm not likely to do it. I'm especially unlikely to do it at the height of the afternoon heat on a concrete sidewalk at about 3:00 with a thousand of my newest best friends whose kids are climbing on me and whose balloons are hitting me in the ear.
That's right, I'm talking about the afternoon parade. It's gotten crazy. To snag a good spot, you need to start planting yourself at LEAST an hour beforehand. And then you need to defend that spot because others WILL try to edge in. You need to judge how close you can be to the curb without a Cast Member telling you you are in the street, with how far back you can be without a family cheerfully volunteering their kids to stand in front of you. It's downright stressful.
Now, I don't dislike the afternoon parade. It's really quite a production. The floats are beautiful. The dragon... oh my gosh. But there is no way I'm going to wait out on the street for it. Instead, I grab an ADR. Liberty Tree Tavern works as does Tony's Town Square. A good ADR time is about 2:00 if the parade is at 3:00. Show up at 2:00 and ask for a seat with a view and tell them you are happy to wait for one to open up. It's not a 100% guarantee you'll get what you want (one time I was let down, but I literally do this on every vacation and one time out of all of them isn't so bad). But it saves you from the heat, and you can get some productive (eating) time in while waiting.
Can't Get Enough
One thing I will wait for that is worth it is Happily Ever After. This show is just amazing. There are a few viewing experiences to choose from involving different levels of willingness to wait. If you are ok with not being right at the hub, then any spot on Main Street USA will do. You can find your spot about 5 minutes before the show and it will still be beautiful. But at least once a vacation, I recommend getting to the hub so that you are close to the castle at least once. For this, I will show up about a half hour early and wait.
Once is Enough
Here comes the controversy: Space Mountain. I do not need to ride this ride often, if ever. I'm not sure what the thrill is of riding an indoor coaster in complete darkness. Again, because it's a thrill ride, it draws large crowds and that also makes it not worth it for me. I much prefer the themed experiences of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train to this.
Can't Get Enough
On the other hand, I can't get enough of Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. This needs at least one Fastpass during each trip, and also gets a visit any time the line is 20 minutes or less.
I can't really describe why I love this ride as much as I do. It's a ride through arcade shooter type ride, making it very similar to Toy Story Mania over at Disney Hollywood Studios, but I prefer this to Toy Story Mania. I like the blacklight effect, and I like Buzz Lightyear giving me a pep talk. It's just super fun and I ride it often.
Once is Enough
For many, the quintessential experience is to dine in Cinderella's Castle. The popularity of this experience is evident in how quickly ADRs disappear for Cinderella's Royal Table. But while I love character meals, this one is just not worth it for me. Aside from the stressful experience of even trying to get a seat at Cindy's Table, the meal is expensive and the food is not that good. You CAN go into the castle in other ways (you can walk through it), and you CAN meet the princesses in other ways, like Restaurant Akershus, and this experience just leaves me underwhelmed.
Can't Get Enough
Splash Mountain! And we're a little nervous about the re-imagining of this as a Princess and the Frog ride. We love the music. We love the singing chickens. We love Br'er Bear and Br'er Fox. We sing the entire time we are on this ride.
Once is Enough
Now, I know us parents can't get away with this, but if I never had to ride It's a Small World ever again, I would be happy. I don't know what our kids see in this ride. It's just so long and it's scene after scene of slightly spooky dolls singing the same verses over and over.
Can't Get Enough
Pirates of the Caribbean. One time, I took a trip and did not get a chance to ride Pirates and I didn't feel like my time at Walt Disney World was complete. Something about this ride just completes the experience for me. I even love the smell as you descend down the stonework ramps into the cool darkness. I love the sound of the water canons and the cool fire effects. And of course, the song is catchy too.
So that's my list of things I must do at Magic Kingdom and things I feel no need to do again. What would make your list? Share your thoughts over on this week's blog post on our Facebook page. Until next time...
