Super Nintendo World opened earlier this year at Universal Studios Japan, but Californians still have to wait to jump into this video game land. Construction began on Super Nintendo World at Universal Studios Hollywood in August 2020, and was confirmed in December 2020. Since Universal Studios Hollywood reopened, we’ve been able to catch glimpses of construction on the land. There aren’t many obvious changes to the top level of Super Nintendo World since our last visit. However, the blue crane […]
The winners will get a 5-night stay at a 1-bedroom villa at Riviera Resort, 4-day Walt Disney World theme park tickets with the park hopper option, and round-trip airfare to and from Orlando (as long as you live more than 250 miles away)!
Disney’s Riviera Resort
You can enter the sweepstakes for free from now until July 20th. When entering, you will fill out some basic information and then you will watch a short Luca trailer. After that, you can submit your entry.
And get this! After you enter the sweepstakes, you can earn up to 3 bonus entries by watching a few videos that will teach you about the Disney Vacation Club.
Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
You can’t believe everything that you hear about Magic Kingdom!
Cinderella Castle
Magic Kingdom was the first Walt Disney World park to open, making it an iconic focal point of the Resort. But over the course of its nearly 50-year history, some misconceptions about the park have popped up. Let’s take a look at — and debunk — some absolute lies about Magic Kingdom!
Magic Kingdom is Home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter
Have you ever been walking down Main Street, U.S.A., and heard a fellow guest ask where they can find Hogwarts? We have…fairly often, in fact! A lot of people think The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (or “Harry Potter World,” as it’s often informally called) is located in Magic Kingdom.
You Can’t Get to Hogwarts from Main Street, U.S.A.!
But no matter how hard you search for Platform 9 3/4 in Magic Kingdom, you won’t find it. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is actually located at Universal Orlando Resort!
Hogwarts at Universal Orlando Resort
Guests will find Harry Potter-themed attractions at two of the Universal Orlando Resort theme parks — Universal Studios Florida is home to Diagon Alley, while Islands of Adventure houses Hogsmede and the famous Hogwarts castle.
Hogwarts Express
At one point before the lands were built at Universal, Disney was in a bidding war to be the theme park to build The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and J.K. Rowling had even signed a letter of intent to create the land with Disney.
Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure
But both Warner Bros. and J.K. Rowling wanted to keep creative control over the project, which turned out to be a dealbreaker for Disney. And so, the land ended up at Universal instead. Our pals over at AllEars.net layout this deal really well. Read all about it here!
Hogsmede
So, if you can’t find Hogwarts in Magic Kingdom don’t worry, that doesn’t mean you’re a muggle. You’re just looking in the wrong park!
Mickey Mouse Has His Own Personal Air Conditioner to Keep Him Cool
Some guests think that Mickey Mouse and all of his friends have personal air-conditioning units built into their clothes to keep them cool in the Florida heat. But in reality, characters do not have air conditioners “hidden up their sleeves!”
Mickey and Pluto
That means the characters that guests spot around Disney World can probably get pretty hot in the Florida weather. Especially during the intensely hot and humid summer months.
Princesses in Magic Kingdom
Some former Cast Members, including actor Wayne Brady, even have stories about experiencing heat exhaustion during their time in the parks.
This is why characters are often only out to greet guests for a short window before ducking backstage for a break. Even Mickey needs to stay cool and hydrated!
There’s a common misconception that Cast Members aren’t allowed to say “no” to a guest. But that’s not exactly the case, Cast Members are allowed to use the word “no,” especially if it involves a potential safety concern.
Cast Members in Magic Kingdom
It’s true that there are a number of guidelines Cast Members are expected to follow, which might have contributed to this rumor. For instance, if a guest asks a question the Cast Member doesn’t know the answer to, they aren’t supposed to say “I don’t know.” Instead, they’re expected to say “let me find out” and try to help whenever possible.
Magic Kingdom Cast Member
All Cast Members are taught the Disney “key” values as part of their training, and the number one key is safety.
In most cases, Cast Members are encouraged to find a softer word or phrase to use. But if there’s ever a potential safety concern involved (like, “Can I hop this fence?” or “Can I just walk around without my face mask on today?”) guests can definitely expect to hear the word “no!”
Magic Kingdom is the original — and arguably still the most well-known — Walt Disney World theme park. Which leads many guests to believe Magic Kingdom is all there is to Disney World.
Magic Kingdom Parking Entrance
Sometimes people will even use the terms “Magic Kingdom” and “Disney World” interchangeably since they think there’re one-and-the-same. But, as much as we love the original WDW park, there is SO much more to Disney World than just Magic Kingdom!
“it’s a small world”
Between the three other theme parks, two water parks, Disney Springs, 20+ resort hotels, and more, there’s so much to see and do around Disney World that even members of the Disney Food Blog team haven’t experienced everything!
Did You Know You Can Ride Horses in Disney World??
From horseback ridingat Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort to tasting your way around the world at an EPCOT festival, Magic Kingdom is just one example of the many, MANY experiences Disney World has to offer!
You may have heard that Magic Kingdom is only worth visiting if you have kiddos along for the visit too. It’s true that there are a lot of kid-friendly attractions in Magic Kingdom, but there are plenty of things for adults to enjoy too!
Jungle Cruise Has Plenty of Punny Jokes for Grown-Ups to Enjoy!
While some adults (like us!) might enjoy the tamer rides thanks to the nostalgia factor, there are plenty of attractions that we think grown-ups might like even better than the kiddos. First, there are definitely plenty of jokes in attractions like Jungle Cruiseand Country Bear Jamboree that are surely thrown in for the adults in the audience!
Country Bear Jamboree
Plus, there are several thrill rides throughout the park that can get your adrenaline pumping, like Space Mountain and Splash Mountain to name a few. And when TRON Lightcycle Runmakes its debut, there will be another exciting thrill ride to add to the itinerary.
Cinderella Castle Can Be Taken Down In Case Of Extreme Weather
Despite being the most magical place on Earth, Disney World is not immune to the impacts of tropical storms and hurricanes that can pass through the state. When severe storms approach, Cast Members prepare the parks for the weather by removing items like banners, flags, and other pieces of decor that are able to be relocated and secured.
Magic Kingdom
This has led to the rumor that Cinderella Castle can also be deconstructed and packed away in a secure location in the case of a hurricane or other emergency. But that’s not the case, Cinderella Castle is a permanent structure made with a 600-ton+ framework of steel.
Cinderella Castle
While Cast Members might remove or secure smaller items on or around the castle, like banners, Cinderella Castle itself will remain standing to ride out the storm!
Magic Kingdom was modeled after the original Disneyland Park, and there are some attractions and experiences that can be found in both parks. But they’re far from carbon copies of each other!
Tomorrowland
Despite the fact that Magic Kingdom and Disneyland do share a handful of the “same” attractions, many of the Magic Kingdom versions are notably different than their Disneyland counterpart. For example, classic attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, and Space Mountain all have some pretty significant differences between the two parks!
Haunted Mansion
Plus, there are some unique additions to Magic Kingdom that you won’t find at Disneyland at all, including must-do restaurants like Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table and popular attractions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Cinderella’s Royal Table
And yes, the same goes for Disneyland as well. In other words, they’re unique parks that are definitely BOTH worth a visit in our book!
As legendary as Magic Kingdom is, it’s not surprising that it has been the subject of some myths that need debunking. We’re here to set the record straight and share the truth behind these misconceptions! It’s the least we could do for all the special memories Magic Kingdom has given us. Hopefully, we’ll see you on Main Street, U.S.A. soon!
Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
When it comes to ALL of the hotels at the Walt Disney World resort, the ones in the Magic Kingdom area (especially those on the monorail loop) are among the most famous and most beloved!
But, in case you missed it, Disney World is turning the BIG 5-0 this year! The Contemporary and Polynesian are also going to celebrate their 50th anniversaries, and the Grand Floridian isn’t too far behind — it’ll be turning 33 this year. In anticipation of this major milestone and because Disney World NEVER stops evolving, these deluxe resorts are getting some HUGE MAKEOVERS!
Polynesian lobby
How are they changing? And how will these changes impact your travels to Disney World now and in the coming years? Let’s break down what’s going on at these three Magic Kingdom-area resorts!
Disney’s Contemporary Resort
Disney’s Contemporary Resort opened alongside Walt Disney World and the Magic Kingdom on October 1st, 1971!
Right now, you can grab breakfast, lunch, or dinner at The Wave, and we’re not sure what changes are coming here, but you know we’ll be keeping our eyes peeled! Details on the changes coming to The Contemporary rooms have not been shared at this time. We will share more as more information is released.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort also opened on October 1st, 1971, and before the closure in 2020, it was the home to some of the most BELOVED spots at Disney World, including Trader Sam’s and ‘Ohana.
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
Well, those restaurants have yet to reopen…in fact, the Polynesian is still closed! (Though the Disney Vacation Club rooms and some restaurants are available.) Why? Because this resort is undergoing a MASSIVE refurbishment,with a retheme to Moana in the guest rooms!
Building 9, a.k.a. Big Pine Key, will turn into 200 Resort Studios, with an expected opening date next summer.
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort
Disney World is constantly changing, even beyond the monorail loop and Magic Kingdom area, and the changes are only happening in bigger ways with more frequency as the resort nears its 50th anniversary! As construction starts, continues, and finishes, we’ll definitely keep you updated so you know how to plan your trip!
Order Your Copy of the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining Today!
With more than 750 pages, the 2021 DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining is full of tips and planning tools developed by Disney World experts over 30+ years of visits. We’ve done the research for you, so you’ll know just which spots will uniquely suit your family’s needs!
With mini-reviews of every single restaurant, bar, lounge, kiosk and more; an entire chapter on the best snacks in Disney World; full Disney Dining Plan analysis (and how to get FREE dining); and a full chapter on discounts and deals; you’ll have everything you need to plan your best vacation yet.
The COVID-19 testing site that opened at Walt Disney World’s Maingate complex last year has now closed. The site first opened with free drive-thru testing for both Cast Members and the general public in August 2020. In October, walk-up testing began. Vaccines have become more widely available in the past few months, with Disney even paying Cast Members to get vaccinated and hosting a vaccination event. As a result, Walt Disney World has relaxed some COVID-19 safety measures. Guests may […]
There’s a new hotel near Disneyland, which already ranks #2 of 128 hotels in Anaheim, California on TripAdvisor. That’s because it hits the sweet spot of inexpensive pricing and quality, while also being within walking distance of the theme parks, shopping, and dining. This resort review features room photos of the studio suite, thoughts on […]
The Disney Parks TikTok has been hard at work recently sharing sneak peeks inside Avengers Campus, opening June 4th at Disney California Adventure. Their latest TikToks show off the Atomic Fusion Pretzel, first revealed last week, as well as several cocktails coming to Pym Testing Kitchen and Pym Tasting Lab! The first TikTok shows off a closer look at the Atomic Fusion Pretzel, coming to Pym’s Test Kitchen. The pretzel features chicken, hot sauce, ranch, blue cheese crumbles, celery and […]
Based on the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) lore that exist across the Walt Disney Parks, Shinji Takahashi is an all-new action-adventure middle grade series that brings S.E.A. into the twenty-first century through a blend of science and magic, and a focus on two young characters on an epic journey through time and place. […]
Adventures by Disney has adjusted the Date Change Policy for Guests with trips through August 31, 2021. What’s Happening: Adventures by Disney has announced they are offering a temporary adjustment to their terms and conditions. Guests with travel booked through August 31, 2021 can change their reservation and receive a 100% credit to be used […]
Earlier this month, the last of the game plaques for Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom were removed after the game officially ended in January. Some portal screens and locks remain, but new pavement is now being placed where the plaques once sat. We noticed the new pavement in front of several Main Street, U.S.A. portals, which were among the first to have their plaques removed. The circular plaques were on the ground in front of each portal to indicate where […]
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