Welcome to my Blog! I have spent so much time over the last several years honing my Disney and travel knowledge. I'm looking for a way to share it with a wider audience!
Let's start with a poll for future posts:
Let's start with a Trip Report from my August trip.
I went with my BFF and DTP (Disney Travel Partner). We try to do a few new things each trip, since we are lucky enough to go frequently.
The new things we tried this trip:
If you go to WDW during party season, you have to pick a non-party day to see this parade. On our trip, that meant we had to see it on either Thursday or Saturday night. On Thursday night, we arrived at the park around 7:45 and split up to find a quick dinner. I ended up trying the loaded fries at Casey's Corner. There was no wait for my mobile order, so I had them in hand almost immediately. I found a good spot in the hub, right in front of Mickey's Town Square Theater. Since this parade starts in the front of the park and moves towards Frontierland, we would be able to see the parade and scoot out from this vantage point. Alas! The parade was initially delayed, and finally canceled at around 9:20. Whomp Whomp! We did not want to wait until 11:00 for the second parade, so we called it a night and aimed for Saturday.
Starlight Parade, Take 2 - On Saturday, we spent time at Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Disney Springs, and then back to Magic Kingdom to try to see the parade again. This time, we walked into the park at around 7:45 once again and it was PACKED. No space at the spot we had on Thursday. No space along Main Street. We walked to Frontierland to find something... and hit on a great spot. It was adjacent to a spot reserved for wheelchairs, at a corner of the walkway that leads along the former Rivers of America (RIP!). The cast members were keeping a walkway clear, but we scooted inside the tape and sat on the ground. There were a few people behind us who were able to sit on the rock wall and a few people sitting in what would be the front row. BUT! When the parade came close, the walkway closed and we were all able to fill in space at the front row!
The parade was lovely, and not too long (just 12 minutes). As soon as it passed, we used the walkway to hop onto Tiana's since it had been down for rain the other times we had tried riding it.
I would recommend either of those spots for great viewing options, depending on how you want to end your night.... hitting more rides or scooting out of the park before the rest of the crowd.
The story of this trip is RAIN DELAYS! Plan A was to go to Epcot on Thursday evening and ride GOTG, then Test Track before heading to MK for a viewing of the Starlight Parade. Well, we were able to ride GOTG, but Test Track was down due to weather, and a no go on Thursday
Test Track, Take 2 - on Saturday morning, the skies were blue and the rain was not set to arrive until 11:00. However, it was down for mechanical reasons! Boo! We were able to pivot and ride other rides, and checked the app frequently. FINALLY! When we were getting off of the Frozen ride, we noticed it was up. We hustled over and got in the single rider line. Four minutes later we were on!
This has never been a favorite ride of mine, and that remains true. It feels like walking into a car commercial. But the new version is a pleasant enough car commercial. And, as we walked out the door, we saw that it was down for weather. We caught the ride in the 15-20 minute window that it was open.
This was a very fun evening! Held in a private room at the California Grill in the Contemporary Resort is a private fireworks event. The cost is high at $149/pp plus tax and tip added at checkout. BUT I would do this over the Fireworks parties at Magic Kingdom any time. The food and drinks are miles better. They open the room 1 hour before fireworks, and I recommend checking in about 30 minutes prior to that. We were in the first elevator full of guests to go to the 15th floor. We followed a man who seemed to know exactly what he was doing. We ended up in the room that has the bar, but it has 4 tables with windows overlooking Magic Kingdom. We snagged one of the tables, and I am so glad we did, because we had an amazing view. The bartenders will make anything you ask for, and are happy to surprise you if you tell them what type of drink you like. The appetizers were amazing: sliders, ravioli, shrimp, flatbread, tuna bowls, tacos, etc. Then, the desserts are brought out, and are equally amazing. When it's time to go and watch the fireworks, the servers brought us little bags of fresh popcorn to take with us. The fireworks music is piped in, and we had a private terrace to view the fireworks from. Expensive? Yes. But worth it? Also yes.
I usually love to rope drop. Efficiency is one of my love languages, and rope dropping is essential to efficiently hit headliners in any park. However, there is also something very pleasant about sauntering into a park at a slow pace, stopping for coffee, getting some great photos, and people watching for a bit. I am really good with lightning lanes, so we were able to ride everything we wanted in all 4 parks on this trip without the rope drop rush. It's nice to know that there is another option available! :)