Tips & News

Magic Kingdom is the happiest place on Earth regardless of the weather, but we can probably all agree that Orlando summers are particularly rough. A summer day in the park usually involves dense crowds, plenty of standing in the sun, and a lot of sweating. It’s very important that you not only hydrate frequently but also take cool off breaks.

We’ve listed some of our favorite spots to catch some AC and recuperate below:

Shows

Hall of Presidents – This is for when you REALLY need a rest. The chairs are comfy, the air is nice and cool, and the show lasts 25 minutes. Essentially, this is the nap room of Magic Kingdom. By the time we leave Hall of Presidents, we always feel completely refreshed and ready go!

Carousel of Progress – Similar to Hall of Presidents, this show is another 20-minute refresher in an air conditioned theater. You can find Carousel of Progress in Tomorrowland!

Mickey’s Philharmonic – Ok nappers, this one is not for you. I love Mickey’s Philharmonic but it is LOUD! It’s a 12-minute show that takes you through some of your favorite classics, such as “Be Our Guest” and “A Whole New World.” The wait might be a little longer than some of the other options, but it’s indoors and air conditioned, as well.

Rides

Pirates of the Caribbean – Pirates is such a crowd favorite (despite removal of the wench scene). The line is mostly covered but still hot, so you have to wait until you’re close to the water to really cool off.

Space Mountain – It’s dark, completely inside, and very cool! Not to mention it’s one of the most fun rides in the Kingdom.

Haunted Mansion – I hesitate to put this on the list because almost the entire line is outside and really dang hot. But the ride itself is indoors and so worth the wait!

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – This is one of my all-time favorites! It’s refreshing, interactive and a competition. The goal of this ride is to hit the targets as many times as you can with your laser gun, trying to out-score your partner.  (I always win.)

Under the Sea – Hop in a clam and speed through the story of the Little Mermaid. This ride is relaxing and nostalgic!

Don't forget, Main Street has shops galore. These are great for taking quick breaks from the heat. Another great option is to schedule dining reservations for the hottest time of the day. You can relax inside over a late lunch!

Where's your favorite spot to cool off in MK during the summer? Comment below and let us know!

Happy almost Fourth of July! Thanks to the power of the internet, Disney Parks Blog will be livestreaming their amazing fireworks celebration with the rest of the world this Tuesday! The show, “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky,” will take place at Magic Kingdom, of course. You can tune in at 8:55pm EST, and the fireworks will begin right at 9pm. If you’re wanting to avoid the crowds of your local fireworks show, this is a great option (and honestly probably better). Just throw it on the TV and enjoy the Disney magic!

If you’re at Disney World for the holiday weekend, you can actually catch this show on both Monday AND Tuesday. Monday will probably be less crowded, so if seeing the show on the 4^th isn’t extremely important to you, this may be the better option. If you’re going on Tuesday, just make sure you get your spot early!

Disneylanders can catch the show from July 1-4 at 9:30pm over Sleeping Beauty Castle. There will also be an Independence Day themed pre-show before “World of Color.”

You can live stream the celebration here: Disney Parks Blog

We hope everyone has a wonderful Fourth of July weekend!

If you’re planning a trip to Disney World and you don’t live near the parks, chances are you’re going to be booking a hotel for your stay. There are 30 official Disney resorts to choose from and many more “Disney World Good Neighbor Hotels.” I’ve taken both routes for my trips. In fact, I had never stayed at a true Disney Resort until last year! While the good neighbor hotels can be right depending on the situation, I would definitely encourage you to stay at a Disney Hotel. The many benefits and endless magic of these hotels make it worth the higher price tag.

What benefits, you ask? Convenience. I can’t stress this enough. If you plan on going to multiple parks, Disney Springs, or want to explore the other resorts, staying at a Disney Resort is so worth it! There's free transportation to and from everything on the Disney property. Talk about staying stress-free on your vacation. These resorts also accept the Disney Dining Plan, serve your favorite park foods (Mickey Waffles anyone?), and sell official park merchandise.

To top it off, each resort has a specific theme! Whether you’re wanting a beach trip or feel like staying in N'awlins (New Orleans), you can find exactly what you’re looking for.

If you’re looking for the ultimate convenience:

Staying on the boardwalk is a must if you love Epcot! You can walk right from your hotel directly into the park in a few minutes. Check out Disney’s Beach Club Resort to get the best of both worlds – the beach and the parks! Another great option for all you SPG members are the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotels. We just stayed in the Dolphin (hello SPG points) and loved it! I can’t tell you enough how great it is to walk up to Epcot and sneak right in beside our favorite French restaurant. If you’re wanting to stay as close as you can to Magic Kingdom, book your stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

If you’re looking for the top of the line:

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. This place is serious hotel goals. Modeled after the famous Hotel Del Coronado, this lavish resort will have you never wanting to leave. Ever. Looking for more of an island vibe? Check out Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. This place is luxurious and relaxing. Directly across from Magic Kingdom, you can watch the fireworks every night from either of these resorts.

If you’re looking for the “nature” feel:

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge lets you stay literally in Animal Kingdom. These rooms overlook 4 savannas filled with animals from the wild. Where else can a giraffe walk feet away from your hotel balcony? This one is for sure on my bucket list. Now for those of you into the camping scene, the Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort may be the perfect fit! Your family will stay in its own personal cabin surrounded by nature. It’s a great option if you’re looking to escape to peace and quiet after those long exhausting days in the parks.

If you’re looking to experience the magic for less:

Disney’s All-Star Resorts give you all of those official perks without that sometimes heart-stopping price. You should also check out Disney’s Pop Century Resort and the Art of Animation Resort. There are a lot of options if you’re looking to have a lower budget for the lodging. They may not be across the pond from Magic Kingdom but you’ll still have free bus transportation. If your mentality is that you’ll be spending all of your time in the parks each day, then this may be the perfect fit for your trip!

Of course there are many more options to choose from when you’re deciding where to stay. You can go to Disney’s website for pricing and rates on vacation packages!

Have a favorite Disney resort? Let us know what makes it your top pick!

*All pictures taken from https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/

I’m sure you all are well aware of the highly anticipated opening of Pandora last weekend; however, while everyone was flocking to Animal Kingdom, the west coast was concerned with its own new attraction.

It’s called, The Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout and it can be found at Disney’s California Adventure in Anaheim. In case you’ve been living under a rock, this attraction replaced the beloved Tower of Terror - an announcement that was met with mixed reviews from the Disney community. Whether you’re still sad over losing the Hollywood Hotel or not, The Guardians of the Galaxy have arrived so let’s take a look and the new ride.

In classic Disney fashion, they went big with an elaborate opening ceremony for their new attraction on the Thursday night before the May 27th opening. Even a few stars from the film showed up. Throughout the rest of the weekend the fans didn’t disappoint either. They came in droves, creating some pretty crazy wait times. How about 7 hours long? Yes, fans waited 7 hours to get their turn on the new ride.

I’m not going to try and convince you that waiting in line that long for anything is fun, but Disney has a way of starting the story and experience well before it’s time to ride. Mission: Breakout has some pretty incredible stuff to take your mind off of the waiting and immerse you in the story before you even make it in the building. Outside is the Collector’s garden which has many unique plants, lawn gnomes, and even a few easter eggs.

https://youtu.be/lksnaSwN9H8

Once you’re inside, you will start to appreciate all of the theming and immersive storytelling that went into this attraction. You are now among the Collector’s collection. Here you’ll find Easter eggs and references to the both the film and comics.

(Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)

The pre-ride entertainment is concluded with a video right before you are sent through to the Collector’s office. One last pep talk from Rocket and it’s ride time.

The ride features 6 different experiences. The more you ride, the more you’ll encounter different drop patterns, songs and videos.

(Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)

(Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)

Whether you’re happy about it or not Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout is here to stay. You can ride it at Disney’s California Adventure park in Anaheim… after a long but entertaining wait.

We want to hear from you!

Who had the opportunity to ride?

What did you think?