Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom Discussion Thread

So no damage to the house on the brake run.

Good to hear no damage to the ride itself.

So after all the years of being on here and following conversations, you would think I would know the answer to this.... My sister and I are looking into going to Orlando for a few days in January since I have some airline vouchers that will expire soon. Anyway, I can get free tickets to Universal through a family friend, but Im looking to somehow acquire 2 one-day tickets to Magic Kingdom... without having to do a timeshare or resort tour. Is there much hope? Any help would be appreciated.

^That's pretty much it if you don't want to shell out the money for the tickets.

You could get your tickets through Undercover Tourist. They're not free, but they're cheaper than what Disney sells them for.

So after all the years of being on here and following conversations, you would think I would know the answer to this.... My sister and I are looking into going to Orlando for a few days in January since I have some airline vouchers that will expire soon. Anyway, I can get free tickets to Universal through a family friend, but Im looking to somehow acquire 2 one-day tickets to Magic Kingdom... without having to do a timeshare or resort tour. Is there much hope? Any help would be appreciated.

Some of those time share presentations are absolutely horrible, but it does get you free tickets.

Video from "A Frozen Holiday Wish" - New castle lighting show which opened today!

What a great way to light up a castle, lol!

I loved the "Let It Go" soundtrack, written with the lighting in mind.

And the actress was great, with her timing with the projections.

Great video, Robb.

Video from "A Frozen Holiday Wish" - New castle lighting show which opened today!

Gotta say, I really enjoyed it! I wasn't sure what to expect, but this definitely exceeded whatever it was that I wasn't expecting. Now if only Olaf "talked" hehe

I especially got a kick out of how at about 5:00 in, they reproduce the trademark twirl that she does. Although she does seem to get a little...burlesque with her mannerisms for a minute right after that, hehe

Great video! I want to be at Disney so bad right now. Why oh why does it have to be so far away??

Looks great, and it'll be perfect for the Holiday season.

Do you want to build a Baymax? Or... drink from one?

It's a new drink container available at the parks! Very cool. From the Disney Parks Blog.

I was just watching the videos coming out of the Frozen elements that were added to the Christmas parade...Does anyone recognize whether or not Olaf and Kristoff's floats are repurposed from something else, or if they are (presumably) new builds?

Just 1 week after Halloween, Magic Kingdom was in full Christmas season already kicking off their first "Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party" of the year! Just like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, the Christmas Party features a special parade, fireworks, dance parties, merchandise items, and holiday treats included with the cost of the event ticket!

We love the Walt Disney World "hard ticket" events as we feel you get so much value out of the experience. First off, the amount of tickets are limited, so it's not uncommon to see much shorter than normal waits on main attractions like Space Mountain, Thunder Mountain, etc.

Secondly, the exclusive entertainment offerings are always top notch! The parade is awesome, as is the fireworks show. And the holiday Wishes shows are about the only time you can see the park do "Fireworks in the Round" where fireworks are exploding all around you!

The event runs November 07 - December 19, 2014. Here are more details about the event and how to book tickets: https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/mickeys-very-merry-christmas-party/

Now some photos & video!

"...the moose out front should have told 'ya!"

Looking forward to another Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! We love the Walt Disney World hard ticket events!

We had to make a stop by Sorcerer's of the Magic Kingdom to get a party-exclusive card!

Yes! It's Elsa with her Icy powers!

I absolutely LOVE the new decorations down main street. You can now get a clear shot of the castle beautifully framed by the decorations!

While I know it's Christmas, we had to make a quick stop over at the new shop by Haunted Mansion!

The new items in this shop are fantastic!

Yes, you will be taking lots of my money very soon!

And of course we also had to make a stop by the Christmas shop.

Those Duffy's would be GONE in 10 seconds if this was Tokyo Disney!

As a special treat for the media, we were invited to come and meet Olaf for the very first time! He loves to give warm hugs!

Another perk of these hard ticket events?

NO LINES!!! Even for popular attractions like Space Mountain!

Onride photo!

Best part of the event? When you see these candy canes....

...you get complimentary holiday snacks!

Hot chocolate and Christmas cookies for everyone!

There are lots of holiday entertainment venues all over the park!

This cast member was making an awesome Olaf...

out of cleaning fluid! How cool is that?

The new castle lightning show with Elsa is amazing! Check out this video!

And of course, the holiday version of Celebrate The Magic turns the castle into a giant candy cane!

Holiday Wishes is one of our favorite fireworks shows at the resort.

Fireworks everywhere you look!

Huge fan of when they use the castle projections in the fireworks shows.

And fireworks with the castle all lit up!

Of course we took a ride on the parks latest roller coaster addition!

I really love Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It's not meant to be huge on thrills, but it is huge on fun!

Jack Skellington as "Sandy Claws" also is making Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party exclusive appearances!

This Japanese girl dancing with her Duffy's at the Holiday Hootenanny was amazing!

This dance party at the Diamond Horseshoe is always a lot of fun!

And of course I had to pick up the Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party exclusive...

MAGIC BAND!!!

To close out our night, we went to the final showing of the Mickey's Once Upon a Christmastime Parade.

Anna & Elsa were added to the parade this year!

And they head up an entire Frozen section of the parade.

Olaf was next...

Really love that they now have a full sized character for parades and meet & greets!

And then Kristoff in front of Wandering Oakens!

Vanellope and Wreck-It Ralph were also added to the parade this year.

And of course, how could you have a Christmas event without the REAL star of the show?

Was another awesome Very Merry Christmas Party!!!

Construction Photos from early Feb 2005

The Jack Skellington/Sandy Claws character is great.

Awesome TR, Robb! Are the crowds always this low during the Christmas Party?

Awesome TR, Robb! Are the crowds always this low during the Christmas Party?

It was actually sold out the night we went, so that's actually the most the crowds will ever be!

That's amazing! I know when I'm going to Disney next!

The parties always LOOK super crowded because everyone is out and enjoying the special stuff but the rides are all walk-ons! Plus the last hour usually really clears out as all the young ones fall asleep and their parents leave.

Definitely need to do the Christmas events some time. It's just so hard to resist going during Halloween season that I can never afford to go two months later.

^ I do admit that I like the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party a *little* better, but also because I'm more of a Halloween fan than I am Christmas.

Looks great as usual. Me and my girlfriend already have tickets for the 19th!

I do have to say though I dont like those new Main Street decorations as much. Main Street seems bare without the garland hanging across the street...maybe that's just because Im used to the old decorations. I'll see what I think in person.

Definitely need to do the Christmas events some time. It's just so hard to resist going during Halloween season that I can never afford to go two months later.

Wouldn't mind seeing them myself, as I've been to Disneyland over the holidays a few times, but never Disney World.

I do have to say though I dont like those new Main Street decorations as much. Main Street seems bare without the garland hanging across the street...maybe that's just because Im used to the old decorations. I'll see what I think in person.

Yeah, I mean, I like the new ones much MUCH better. Maybe it's just that people don't like change, but for me, I always HATED that the stupid garlands that stretches across main street got in the way of taking a photo of the castle all lit up at the end of Main Street. The "decorations" aren't the wreaths and garlands, that are similar to stuff you can buy for your house at Wal-Mart, the REAL "bigger than life" decoration is that castle. And now you can get a clear view of it:

EDIT - Here's a couple of pics of what it used to look like. These would annoy me soooo much! So glad they are gone!

Here's a really good now versus then from https://twitter.com/WDWShutterbug/

This year:

Last year:

I "get" what people are saying that it might look more "Christmasy" because of the garlands going across the street, but IMO, it isn't any less Christmasy this year, it's just a bit cleaner (no ugly wires holding up the garlands), slight lines are better, and it's not as "in your face."

There are still decorations EVERYWHERE on Main Street now, but I prefer the cleaner, less obstructive look they went with this year.

And really? People are complaining about garlands? Yes, they are. This is what the internet has come to. People bitching about Christmas decorations. What ever happened to just going to a park and having fun and not getting stressed out over Christmas decorations?

SMH

^I think people feel like they are invisible unless they are bitching about something these days . This looks awesome, and this year will be my first Mickey Christmas event. So very excited.