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Florida Spring Break: Magic Kingdom

Updated: Jan 6, 2021

Although half of the week was done, there was only one Disney Park left to visit. The best one was saved for last, and I couldn’t have been happier. The only problem I had with this day: not having enough time to spend at this magical place. Without further adieu, let’s take a look beyond Cinderella’s Castle.


The moment has finally come

 

17, March 2016


The day began with a series of transportation to get to the main gates of Magic Kingdom. This park is different from the others, requiring a trolley and a train (or a boat) to get to the entrance – it took great lengths to get to the happiest place on earth. Once we passed through the entrance, we directly went to the first main attraction: pin trading! You’d think that photos were the first option, but pins are much more important than photographic evidence. I believe Chris was in the process completing the summer series, while Isabelle was looking for more Stitch pins (that is her favourite character!)

Once we settled with the pins, we passed through the ‘station’ (not sure what that division from seeing the park is called), and the first characters we saw were Marie and Stitch! I love the fact that characters were all over the place, it brings an incredibly warm feeling for your inner child :”3. Within the first few steps, we waited in line to enter a card game that is played throughout the park. For those who have yet experienced this game, there are crests all around the park:



When you locate the crest, you flash your wristband, and play the game with the select cards given to the player. The wait was about 15-20 minutes, and the game seemed very promising. I may not know exactly the full purpose of the game, but it’s a fun and interactive way to get children walking around and defeating the villains. Not to mention, the artwork for the game is very eye catching (or, the fact that Hades is on the poster!):


Before we can get into play, there was a parade happening before our eyes, which is all part of the Disney World experience. While I may have been a fan of parades when I was younger, I have lost interest for them (isn’t that sad?) I even remember the parades I saw when I was first at Disney World, and they were truly amazing. I may have grown out of parades, but I will say that Disney is consistent with their themed parades, which is something I appreciate. This particular parade was all about celebration (probably because you finally made it into Magic Kingdom!)



We only caught the ending of the parade, which was still fun – and I know where the parade begins! I am curious to know how it’s possible to store all of their floats, especially when there are multiple parades occurring throughout the day. When the party was over, we first headed into Tomorrowland, and waited for Stitch’s Great Escape! What makes this ride unique is the story line, letting guests experience a different narrative from the movie.


Let it be warned: this ride is not for those who are afraid of the dark. When we went on the ride, there were a few children who wanted to get out of the ride midway. Stitch can be naughty in his own way- do not be deceived by his cuteness! Thankfully, Isabelle was not afraid of Stitch’s Great Escape (if anything, she is probably the bravest!) After the ride, we explored the old provincial town for lunch.



The restaurant had quite a line-up, but was definitely worth the wait! Upon entering, the place is truly a masterpiece. If you thought the outside was impressive (which it is!), that was only the beginning of what we would encounter next. Yes, the line-up still went long, but you get to adore the attention to detail:



Lunch setting is different from dinner, and acts more like a quick service – still does not take away from the magic of the restaurant. Using the screen, you basically select the items you want for lunch, and then you are open to select any seat of your choice. For a quick service, the system was efficient and also fun to use. I wonder what the self-serve area looks like for dinner (one day, I will find out).



And then came the beauty of the place: the seating. Shellby suggested to look at all of the rooms, and see where to sit for lunch. The main room is the ballroom, followed by the library and the forbidden west wing. Each room had their own vibe, although the west wing is quite dark (not necessarily the best option for dining). However, the west wing does possess one important detail: the enchanted rose. I enjoyed the effort made by Disney, capturing the animated feature to life and bringing the restaurant to perfection.



Of all the places viewed, I decided to sit in the ballroom – it was the only place with a view! Although I am not sure why, but outside is snowing. I mean, the view is outstanding, but not what I had in mind. While everyone mostly got a main entree, I ordered a children’s meal, so I could later get dessert. The amazing part of the experience was the fact that the servers knew where everyone was seated. I cannot recall whether we had an indicator of where we sat, but that service was truly remarkable! The food was really tasty, although none could compare to the dishes served in the film. One dessert on the menu? The gray stuff – believe me, it was delicious!


I could not figure out what was the gray stuff, and so I had the table try it for themselves. Vincent said that the stuff is vanilla – I didn’t agree with his opinion. The flavour is sweet, but not like vanilla. If cooking videos have taught me anything, then I should guess that the gray stuff is cookies and cream… Looks like i will have to try this chocolate cake again to determine what is the flavour!


Once lunch had finished, we walked around Fantasyland, looking at the changes since I was here in 2012. Fantasyland was still being constructed at that time, and did not get to see the final product. Fortunately, the project has been complete, and get to view a new twist to Fantasyland. One of the new instalments included Rapunzel’s tower, acting as a washroom for guests.


Entering Frontierland, we had to ride the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I believe this was the first time I rode this ride, mainly because I was afraid of roller coasters when I was young. I believe we had fast pass for this ride, which was much nicer than waiting for 50 minutes for a 3-minute ride. Although the coaster is not too extreme, it’s a thrilling good time, especially with all of the bumps that come on the ride.


After hopping on and off the train, we headed back to Cinderella’s Castle. Throughout the day, there are show performances starring your favourites, Mickey and friends, as well as Peter Pan, Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora. I will admit that I was not as keen seeing show performances, as we could have used that time to go on another ride. But my cousins wanted to see “Dream Along With Mickey” before the show was replaced with a new performance – that is something I can appreciate. I used the time waiting for the show by taking photos of the castle:

I may have outgrown some aspects of Disney, and I’m not really sure why. After watching “Dream Along with Mickey,” I began to feel a sense of nostalgia. Having no idea of the show, I would say that I was pleasantly surprised by the whole program. Sure, I would not have suggested the show, but it’s a good way to stop and relax (especially when you have to walk the whole park all day long). I admit that I am pleased to have seen the show – now I need to see its replacement.



Disney has truly thought of everything. Shows like that one allow the children to be entertained, while the parents have a moment to themselves. But once the show was done, Isabelle, Shellby, and I were on our way to the Liberty Square Riverboat. This was the first time I rode the Riverboat (at least, to the best of my memory). I think we rode the boat while Christopher, Jennifer, and Vince were taking their time to walk around. The ride lasts about 20 minutes, and has a great view of the old American environment. One of the highlights from the boat was definitely this boat – I want to say that it’s from Tom Sawyer, but I am probably wrong. Regardless, this day was full of new experiences.



After the boat, we then waited in line to see the one and only, Princess Tiana! If I come to Disney, it’s for the character meets. Although I may have gone in 2012, this would be my first time to meet Princess Tiana – and let me tell you, it was worth the wait. Not only was she stunning, but Prince Naveen escorted her to the gazebo! Both characters are such charming people, and have the same personality as in the movie. To say that I was star struck is an understatement. I cannot wait to see these two again, they are such lovely people!



After the lively visit, we went down a log and dived into Splash Mountain. We all rode together, having the opportunity for a funny photo. We all decided on one pose – except, Chris decided take a different stance. Needless to say, the result was priceless. Because there were extra fast pass, Chris and I took the opportunity to ride again, with a different pose. I love the fact that people just know when the fall comes, and when to time those poses. For me, Splash Mountain is one of the most iconic rides, adapting from “Song of the South” with its iconic song, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” – wonderful feeling, wonderful day!

Continuing with the photo ops, we then headed back to Cinderella’s Castle for proper family photos. The castle looks different in types of lighting, and sunset has a different shine appeal compared to other times. Although we took many photos, my favourites have to be the ones with Shellby – just being silly, and enjoying every moment that day.



Feeling a bit hungry, we took another visit to that provincial town, exploring Gaston’s Tavern. The pub was rather dark, but I guess that’s how pubs were lit – not really. The place is actually bigger than I expected, and more elaborate too. What seemed simple becomes a grandesque tavern that puts real taverns to shame. From the varieties of brews, to the many uses of antlers, Gaston truly knows how to make a place his own. Not my style perse, but the tavern makes a great place for pictures – especially the excessively big chair/throne.



One of the main reasons I wanted to go to Gaston’s Tavern was to try one thing: Lefou’s Brew. Not knowing what the drink looks like, the server gave me this drink:



Originally, I thought this was the drink! Shellby told me to ask for an exchange, but I decided to go ahead and drink it. For what it was, the hot version tasted like a hot apple drink – not bad, but who thinks that I wanted a hot drink on a hot day? So for round two, I went to get the original version:



Frothy and tasty, the drink is much more enjoyable served cold. If the drink itself is not enough, then the whip cream shall do the trick – it’s also flavoured! I’m sure that Lefou’s brew is suppose imitate the look of beer, and that is not a bad thing at all! Wanting to get the commemorative cup though, that was another question.



If you are wondering why I had an outfit change, it was for the sole reason of meeting Ariel. I planned out my outfit, in accordance to Saint Patrick’s Day, to see the icon that was also presented on my shirt. Unfortunately, we had different plans, and had to keep moving on… Just have to wait for the Little Mermaid on my next voyage to the happiest place on earth.

Night was nearing us, and we decided to continue with the card game. For some reason, only Isabelle had access to play the game – so make sure upon activation, that everyone has their fair share of play. There was one station that was hard to find, in the Liberty Square area, where the pass was blended with the scenery – it was remarkable. The game is best played in daytime, another player helped Isabelle shine light on the card so that the system can read it. The other player had a binder full of the cards – that beats my pin collection.


I may not be the biggest fan of parades, but there is one parade that you cannot miss at Magic Kingdom – the Electrical Parade. From the twinkling lights to the music, this parade has not changed much since its first run. Throughout the Electrical Parade, you will see the older characters, interacting with the audience in the most joyous fashion. From Cinderella to Alice, this spectacular is something to experience; I mean, how many electrical parades are out there?



Following the Electrical Parade was another spectacular: the light show on Cinderella’s Castle. The show is called “Wishes,” presenting an original song for the programme, mixed with the tune of “When You Wish Upon A Star.” The show ran for 14 years, and there were some eye catching displays that were new additions from the last time I saw the projection. Another show to watch, and I cannot wait to see the new rendition, “Happily Ever After.”



After the show was done, were granted one more ride: saved the best one for last. Ever since I went to a Disney Park, I cannot emphasize how much I love It’s A Small World. The message is great, the term is used in colloquial language, and the ride always brings a smile on my face. Running to the ride, there was essentially no line-up, and we were able to get front seats! The art work is amazing, all inspired by Mary Blair and her creativity. No matter how old I am, I will always want to ride It’s A Small World!




I was satisfied with this day. I may have not had a chance to go on every ride my inner child desperately wanted to experience, but there will always be a next time. Of all the days, Magic Kingdom is one place you have to take time and enjoy. With so many divisions in the park, the day gets very tiring, exploring each different world and all of the rides. It was sad to know this was the last Disney day. Whenever the next trip comes, I cannot wait to get even more rides in (and have incredibly fit legs along the way!)

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