PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom, Disney Springs, and more 8/23/2024

The weather on my visit on August 23 was much more pleasant than the thunderstorms I encountered on August 22. I got off to an early start, arriving at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort before sunrise. I then took a boat to Magic Kingdom before heading over to Disney Springs to be one of the first to see the new “Nightmare Before Christmas” customizable headband plushes.

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

View of a large water body from a boat with a white and yellow rail in the foreground. On the horizon, there is a shoreline with buildings, trees, and a cloudy sky above.

Picture it! The Sun has barely risen and you opted out of the normal hustle and bustle of the Transportation and Ticket Center, or TTC for those savvy Disney readers, for a calm lowkey Polynesian Village Resort boat ride to the Magic Kingdom.

Pro tip! If you park in the TTC, you can walk to Polynesian and use that boat dock to get to Magic Kingdom. Walk through the resort and beyond the pool area towards the beach to find the dock. For anyone who has never been to Polynesian but has always wanted to go, this is a good way to see a lot of the resort.

There is also a walking path that you can take from Polynesian past Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and to Magic Kingdom. Unfortunately, that walking path is currently closed due to the construction of the DVC Island Tower at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. The walkway from the Grand Floridian to Magic Kingdom is still open.

Magic Kingdom

Gold Sequin Loungefly Backpack – $98.00

A gold sequin-covered mini backpack with mouse ears and a gold bow, displayed on a shelf. The front has a gold label reading "Disney Parks Loungefly." Various other backpacks are visible in the background.

When I got to Magic Kingdom, my first stop was Emporium where I found this gold sequined Loungefly backpack. The backpack, of course, has Minnie’s signature bow in gold, and ears on either side. In the gold sequins, you may notice a familiar pattern, as darker gold Mickey heads are found all around the front and sides of the backpack. The back of the backpack is not sequined but is made of a pleather gold that reminds me of the gold on the Thanos Ears.

Main Street Confectionary

Image of a well-lit, spacious confectionery shop with “Main Street Confectionery” written on the floor. A central display case showcases various sweets, and a few people are visible in the background.

I stopped in the Main Street Confectionary to see that they had already set up stanchions for August 23rd’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. The treats are always tempting. My favorite is the freeze-dried Skittles. Sometimes they are even good as a topper for Dole Whip.

Princess Symbols Hat – $29.99

A person with white nail polish holds a black baseball cap with embroidered patterns in front of a display of various hats, including one with Mickey Mouse ears.

I spotted this black and pink princess hat in Main Street Cinema. It’s very low-key as the princess symbols can only be spotted in certain light.

Rebbecca Hook Mickey Bracelet – $175.00

Thin silver bracelet with a straight bar design, displayed on a red cushion. Price tags of 125 and 175 are visible.

I spotted this Rebecca Hook bracelet in Uptown Jewelers on Main Street, U.S.A. I love how simple this piece is while still allowing guests to show their fandom.

“Aladdin and Jasmine” Swarovski Figure featuring Abu and Carpet – $45,000

A collage image shows figures of Aladdin and Jasmine riding a flying carpet, decorated with beads. They are accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity in the background.

I spotted a new addition to the limited edition Swarovski figures we’ve been seeing out of Crystal Arts by Arribas Brothers on Main Street, U.S.A. According to the figure’s certificate of authenticity, it took 355 hours and 57,703 crystals to create the figure. The figure available on Friday was number four out of 200.

The Plaza Restaurant Refurbishment

Two images of a green historic building with ornate architecture under a clear blue sky. The structure features multiple balconies with intricate woodwork. Surrounding the building are other structures.

Over at The Plaza Restaurant, refurbishment progress continues to be made. A railing has been installed on the second floor. Even for all the progress made, the walls and scrim remain on the rest of the facade.

Sonny Eclipse

Even if I’m just passing through and not eating in Cosmic Rays Starlight Cafe, I always stop and see Sonny Eclipse . Sonny was kicking his little feet and singing his heart out to an audience of one on Friday morning. It was nice, but also a little eerie being there alone.

Concrete Work

Pathway fenced with green railings beside a body of water, flanked by greenery and potted plants on wheeled platforms. A bridge is visible in the background.

Strictly covering heavy news here, I am happy to report that concrete work is being done on the retaining wall on the pathway that typically holds the queue for meet and greets with Mirabel. The line forms on the opposite side so there is no issue there.

Adventureland Thematic Pathways

A closed storefront with drawn blinds and no signage, surrounded by a few pedestrians walking on a sunny day. Rope barriers are set up in front of the store.

Earlier this week I wrote an article on the Adventureland path becoming a more thematic walkway. Since that article was published, I noticed that not only has the area with new theming been expanded but prep work is also being done to extend the path even further. I like this change over that basic gray concrete we’ve had. Do you like the change? Let me know in the comments.

Resort Monorail

A sign on a fenced-off corridor states, "Escalators Closed. Please use stairs or elevator. Thank you for your patience," with a background of a spacious building interior and large windows.

I took the resort monorail back to the TTC after my brief morning in Magic Kingdom. The escalators at Contemporary Resort were still closed to guests, but there are alternative exits available for guests who want to get off at the resort.

Disney Springs

A person holding an open black umbrella in a sunny outdoor area with three other people standing in the background near an ornate building entrance.

Once I made it to Disney Springs I knew exactly where I needed to be: Disney Ever After. Yesterday, Disney Ever After teased that they would be releasing new “create your own headband” characters from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” I was one of the first in line which was both convenient and inconvenient as I got destroyed by the blazing sun. As soon as they opened the door, I was stoked to see what they had inside.

Create Your Own Headband featuring “Nightmare Before Christmas” Characters

A display of plush toys and accessories featuring various characters, including a skull-face plush, a red-haired doll, and a bunny with a pumpkin. The background shows a store selling themed merchandise.

THREE! We got Jack Skellington, Sally, and Zero! As a firm believer that dogs are the best thing to ever happen in this world, I was very excited to see that he was one of the three additions today. The headband alone is $9.99 and the characters are $11.99 each. Are you a fan of the new create your own headbands? I think the aliens are still my favorite characters to add to the headband.

A long wooden dock with a metal railing extends over the water, leading to buildings on both sides. The sky above is partly cloudy.

That’s it for today! I’ll end it how I started and pose a simple question: Can you name a better way to start an early day than with a sunrise on a boat to Magic Kingdom? If you can think of a more perfect start to a morning, please let me know in the comments below.

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