Exploring Disney World's Magic Kingdom | CamelsAndChocolate.com

The Magical Day at the Magic Kingdom

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I often get asked, “where does the girl who travels all over the world go for vacation?” Well, I have an answer for you: Disney World, of course!

Not the answer youย expected, huh?

My parents have owned a timeshare right near the parks since I was a wee thing, and we haven’t made use of it since 1998. So, we all decided to convene in Orlando for a week at the ideal time of year: height of summer, height of high season, height of school being out, height of heat. (Smart, that we are.)

I’m actually a huge proponent of Disney—all the Orlando parks, really. They were such a part of my childhood; we’d come down here several times a year—summer, Spring Break, Thanksgiving—to park hop. Scott, however, had never been (can you believe it? such a deprived childhood he had!), so it was fun to take him on his first visit to the Magic Kingdom, even a week shy of his 35th birthday.

I have no problem embracing my five-year-old self, as if I haven’t made that evident time and time again.

In fact, the majority of rides we rode were of the kiddie variety: Peter Pan, the Astro Orbiter, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean (one of my all-time favorites), Haunted Mansion (scary, wooo) and the Carousel.

And since my last visit, there was a welcome addition: An Aladdin attraction, featuring none other than my favorite animal!

I was super bummed that the Alien show is now defunct and that we didn’t get to ride either of my favorite rides: Splash Mountain was a 90-minute wait (we picked up our Fast Passes around 1pm, but they weren’t valid until 6:30pm, and by then the daily afternoon storm had shut down all the rides); Space Mountain was closed until further notice. WHAT? I almost asked for a refund, as that’s one of the main reasons I chose Magic Kingdom over MGM (excuse me, make that Hollywood Studios…which, speaking of, what’s the deal with the name change in the first place?). Oh well, guess we’ll just have to go back! (67 Days of Smiles people, call me!)

In a totally random aside, we have these friendly avian creatures waddling around our unit each day. They even come up to say hi. Can anyone tell me what they are? Pretty please?

COMMENTS
  • June 26, 2009

    Next time you are there Twitter me….the guy who runs Splash Mountain is the hubby of one of my BFFs – can hook you up with FASTER fast passes, lol. Also…Space Mountain they are re-doing the track. So it will be more awesome (I am assuming…I hated it….ugh) soon.

    I miss Disney!

  • June 26, 2009

    Fun! Two missed mountains is worthy of a refund in my opinion ๐Ÿ™‚

  • June 26, 2009

    You know, I’m not a huge Disney fan, but these pictures are adorable and make it look totally appealing! I like the one of you on the carousel.

  • June 26, 2009

    I could never get enough of Disney, land or world. And it’s extra fun when you can introduce someone newly there. Although I could do without the height of summer crowds and heat. Love the pics of you as Snow White and with your fave camel.

  • June 26, 2009

    I can’t get over Scott being almost 35. He doesn’t look a day over 28. I can’t wait to take Kyle to Disney World.

  • June 26, 2009

    I’ve never been and never wanted to go but you make it look fun! Can I go with you next time? ๐Ÿ™‚

  • June 26, 2009

    Great photos, Scott! How do you manage to take these wide angle shots without vignetting on the sides? And I love that photo with all the strollers!!! Being a mommy, I am both amused and flabbergasted at the sight of all those 2-wheeled monsters!
    Oh, I miss Disney!! My last time was 1986 in LA. My uncle took me, but he was broke at that time, he pretended to be ‘mentally handicapped’ so he could get a discount.

  • June 26, 2009

    I think you have to have grown up near one of the parks to really be a Disney fanatic. I’m one too. We’d go all the time and I’m even going to Disneyland in September. I can’t wait!

    I think I just like how whimsical it is, that there was this guy who thought, You know what I’m going to build? A wonderland! There’s something so essentially American about it.

  • June 26, 2009

    I visited Disneyworld twice as a child from London and these trips stand out as highlights of my childhood. I’m not a huge theme park fan generally, but I still love Disney and can’t wait to take my children as the first stop on our big world trip in 18 months time. Thanks for posting these fun pics to remind me what I’ve got to look forward to!

  • June 26, 2009

    sigh. I love Disney. My fiance has never been there either and it’s my mission in life to get him to go. Unfortunately, he’s a bit less open to the idea than Scott. Great pictures!

  • June 26, 2009

    Yeah, disney is like no place on earth that’s for sure! I can’t wait to take my son there:)
    Photo Friday – Manaul Antonio-Costa Rica’s Gem

  • June 26, 2009

    Looks like you both had a full day of fun. great picture of the carousel.

  • June 26, 2009

    ๐Ÿ™‚ I don’t have to say what a huge fan of Disney we are. ๐Ÿ™‚ I just posted about my Disney Cruise. Magic Kingdom remains my favorite park of all Disney parks. It’s just something magical there when you walk down the main street and see the Castle in front of you. Plus I can’t get enough of turkey leg and funnel cake. So Scott is no longer a Disney virgin. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • June 26, 2009

    hmm. maybe a crane? not sure.

  • June 26, 2009
    Amy

    I think the bird is a sandhill crane. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sandhill_Crane

  • June 26, 2009

    YEA!!! Looks like so much fun!!! Space Mountain at Disneyland was closed for-EVER for a while, but finally reopened about a year ago. It is a bummer when the big rides are closed . . . if only because it makes other lines a little longer.

    Someday I am going to have to do WDW, even if just for comparison’s sake. Until then . . . I guess I can’t complain since I’ve conned my husband into FOUR Disneyland trips through the end of the year. I’m going to be WORKING our free (Disney Visa points) annual passes!

    Speaking of husbands, is that ring on your finger yet? I’ve squinted at all of your photos and I think I see it in one ๐Ÿ™‚

  • June 26, 2009

    Love your pictures! So jealous that you went ๐Ÿ™‚

  • June 26, 2009

    I’ve never been to Disneyworld (or Florida)(or anywhere, really).

    You two are adorable ๐Ÿ™‚

  • June 26, 2009

    Hollywood studios? Huh? That’s weird.
    Since Jon and I are trying to save some money and can’t go on a big ole vacation this year I keep pulling for disneyland-Jon has never been either so he totally doesn’t “get” why I am so adamant about Disneyland. Maybe Scott is going to have to write an e-mail to Jon convincing Jon that he will be into it…

  • June 26, 2009

    According to Mr. E (bird nerd extraordinaire):

    Those are Sandhill Cranes.

    You should not feed them โ€” they can spear through a human’s hand with their powerful beaks. Truly.

    Still โ€” pretty cool to get so close!

  • June 26, 2009

    I love that picture of you and the camel. I wonder if there’s a golden moose anywhere. Canada maybe?

  • June 26, 2009

    As it pertains to Moose’s comment…the biggest structure of a moose IS in Canada. Its on the side of a highway in Saskatchewan and his name is Mac. (I’m not weird, I promise! I just remember running across some pictures when I was trying to get contact information for the Ministry of Transportation in Saskatchewan for work.) That is all. Happy weekending!

  • June 26, 2009

    sigh.

  • June 28, 2009

    The whole fun about Disney is that you are never too old to be a child.. everyone can have fun at any age..
    My fiance was living in NYC 3 years ago and I asked him about going there and at first he said that there other places on his list to travel to before Disney and I kept hinting and I even on one of my visits to him (I was living in Montreal at the time) I brought the video that Disney sends you if your thinking about a trip to Orlando.. and kept singing while I cook romantic dinners Disney songs that I grew up on till finally after only one of the trips on his list for us to travel.. he gave in and started looking for deals we found a great one accomodation, tickets and all near $600 for both for 5 days.. horray!
    It was his first time and you should see him he was running around asking me where to go next.. it was one of the best vacations of us together.. I loved every minute of it and so did he.. it was actually very romantic in a different way.

  • June 29, 2009

    It’s been years since I was anywhere Disney…and I never made it down there to FL. Looks like you’re having a great time, though.

  • June 30, 2009

    I love Disneyworld! but oh man- the strollers, kind of make me itch. AH!

  • June 30, 2009

    I absolutely adore Disney too. If you haven’t already been, you should definitely check out Epcot in the fall for the Food and Wine Festival. It is amazing. Free wine, beer and food tastings…need I say more? ๐Ÿ™‚

  • June 30, 2009

    McK’s feelings are greatly hurt that she was not invited on this trip! So, soon she wants her turn!! Or how about a Disney cruise?!? Maybe for your parents next anniversary they can take all of us?!?

  • July 1, 2009

    I’ve never been to Disney (World or Land) either. We were poor growing up and our vacations consisted of my mom dropping us off at Grandma’s for a week to get us out of her hair.

    I have no excuse for never having been to DisneyLand, though, since I lived in Cali and Phoenix, both short-ish drives to Anaheim.

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