You ever think back to those magical moments you had at Disney World? I know I do!

I’m talking about those times when you were zipping about on your favorite rides, eating the most delicious of foods, and, of course, watching the fireworks light up the skies above Cinderella Castle. Now, we all typically like to bring back some kind of souvenir as a reminder, memento, of the incredible time we had a Disney World. Speaking of those souvenirs, I try not to have any regrets, however, there’s this one Magic Kingdom souvenir I had to leave behind and I still think about it to this day!

Alright, it’s confession time. So, I’m that person at Disney World who gets emotional during literally every firework show. (It’s not just me, right?) There’s just something about watching those glittering lights burst above Cinderella castle while the “Happily Ever After” soundtrack swells. It just gets me every time. It’s the childlike wonder, the nostalgia, and the pure magic of it all that puts tears in my eyes.

So, you can imagine the excitement I felt when, one fateful night, I walked away from the Magic Kingdom with a totally unique and explosive (pun intended) souvenir. I’m talking about a piece of firework debris! Yes, you read that right. While it was the coolest thing I’ve ever accidentally picked up, I regret having to leave it behind to this day.

The Night It All Went Down

Okay. Let me set the stage. It was a perfect Disney World evening. You know, the kind where the weather’s just right, the lines aren’t too long, and every ride you go on is just better than the last. That evening, my friends and I were stationed at Pinocchio Village Haus, enjoying some snacks and staking out a solid view for the Happily Ever After fireworks. It’s a pretty good spot that’s just far enough from the castle that you don’t feel crushed by the crowd, but close enough to still be fully immersed in the magic.

As the first firework exploded, that familiar surge of emotions bubbled up inside, but then something unusual happened. It’s never happened to me before or since. As I’m watching those glittering pyrotechnics light up the sky, I felt something hit the ground near me with a little thud. My first thought was that maybe someone dropped their popcorn or Mickey pretzel, some treat like that.

To my complete surprise, when I looked down, there was a small, charred piece of a firework casing just chilling by my foot. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Is that safe?” Honestly, I had no clue, but it was the coolest, most unexpected souvenir I could’ve ever asked for. It was like literal magic falling at my feet.

The Souvenir I Shouldn’t Have Taken (But Totally Did)

Now, let’s pause for a second. Any “normal” person might have just kicked it aside and moved on with their Disney World evening. But I guess I’m not normal. Remember, I am the type of person who loves Disney so much that I cry during the fireworks. I am also a bit of a nerd, so you can understand when I say that at that moment, my inner geek was geeking out HARD. I mean, I knew this wasn’t exactly an “official” souvenir, but how many people can say they have a piece of an actual Disney firework? Not many, I bet.

Naturally, I did what any self-respecting Disney superfan would do. I picked it up, admired it, and then tucked it into my bag like it was a piece of pirate treasure. Now, I couldn’t stop thinking about it all night. I was already imagining how I’d display it at home. Maybe put it in a display, surrounded by photos of that trip, or even pair it with one of my Disney pins. It was going to be epic.

The Airport Realization

Okay, so fast-forward to the end of our trip. I was packing up, mentally going through my checklist, and mourning the fact that my time in Disney World was over. That’s when it hit me — there was no way I could take a charred piece of firework casing on a plane. I mean, it’s literally debris from an explosion. The TSA would not be having it. My dreams of turning this explosive keepsake into a permanent memento came crashing down.

Here’s the moment when you cue the sad Disney music. I had to leave it behind. There was no dramatic goodbye. I had to chuck it into the trash in my hotel room like it was just another piece of garbage, and honestly, I still feel a little heartbroken.

The Regret is Real

It’s been a while since that trip, but I still think about that little piece of firework. I still regret leaving it behind. Imagine being able to tell your friends, “Oh, this? It’s just a piece of Disney firework that literally fell from the sky in front of me.” Instead, all I have is the memory of it. Now, every time I go back to Disney and watch the fireworks, I can’t help but glance down at my feet, hoping for another little piece of magic to fall from the sky. But so far, no luck. Maybe it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing, but it still doesn’t stop me from wishing I had that charred little memento, tucked safely in a display box.

So, if you ever find yourself in a similar situation, here’s my advice: Take the photo, capture the moment, and don’t try to bring the explosives home. Even if you’re as much of a nerd as I am.

Until then, keep following DFB for all the latest from Disney!

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What souvenirs do you wish you had of your trip to Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

The post I STILL Regret Leaving This EXPLOSIVE Magic Kingdom Souvenir Behind first appeared on the disney food blog.