Main Street Electrical Parade

All of the Disney World Theme Parks have fantastic parades to offer.  A favorite Magic Kingdom is the Main Street Electrical Parade.  Tinkerbell leads the parade of LED lights and special effects that light up all of Main Street U.S.A.








This is a must see for any kids! It is a parade like no other because every float is completely covered in lights.  All of your kids favorite Disney characters are in this parade and make it so special for them.  There are 23 different floats that go through this showstopping parade.

The parade follows the traditional Magic Kingdom parade route which is heading from Main Street to Frontierland.  There are plenty of viewing locations throughout the route, but it gets crowded early.  Plan to arrive 45 minutes early to snag the perfect viewing spot! Usually the parade runs during peak seasons and special events!

Disney Tip: During super peak seasons, there are 2 shows, an early and a late one.  If your family has enough steam left in them, plan to stay for the later show because it is usually less crowded!

For more information on the Main Street Electrical Parade, please check out this link:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/entertainment/main-street-electrical-parade/

Mickey's Philharmagic

Location: Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom
FastPass: No
Ride Type: 3-D Show
Restrictions: None
Ages: All ages
Typical Wait Time: See now

The queue line at Mickey's Philharmagic!

This 3-D show is a crowd pleaser for sure! You are seated in Mickey's Opera House with your Opera Glasses (3-D glasses) and get to see all of your favorite Disney characters.  It starts out with everybody's favorite duck, Donald, who tries to steal Mickey's sorcerer hat and wand and lead his orchestra.  You journey through movie's like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, Peter Pan, Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, and much more! The songs are classics and all of the kids ( and kids at heart) love singing along.



The 3-D effects are excellent! You even sometimes have some 4-D effects like water (don't worry, not too much) and Donald flying through the audience.  Even though it is dark, usually this ride does not scare the youngsters in your family!  It is 12 minutes long so it is definitely a really great experience without feeling too long.  This will definitely be one of your child's favorite because it combines all of the best Disney movies into one.  I know my brother and I who are now in our 20's still love seeing this film because it takes us right back to our childhood! Adults love it because it really is a fantastic show and you can't help but get caught up with the music.

Because this is an indoor ride, it is a great idea if the weather gets too hot or it begins to rain! Also the line is usually never too long because shows happen frequently and the Opera House is very large!  It's a great idea if the park gets really crowded and other lines are far too long!

P.S.: Don't forget to return your Opera Glasses on the way out!

Disney Fun Fact: Mickey's Philharmagic is home to one of the largest SEAMLESS projection screens in the world! You'll see why when you visit!

For more information on Mickey's Philharmagic, please follow this link:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/attractions/mickeys-philharmagic/

The Crystal Palace

Location: Main Street U.S.A., Magic Kingdom
Serves: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Reservations: Highly Recommended
Price: Moderate to Expensive
Cuisine: American Buffet
Disney Dining Plan: Yes
Menu Standouts: Omelet Station and Carving Station

Winnie the Pooh French Toast

One of the best restaurants in Disney World is the Crystal Palace.  From the food to the entertainment to the atmosphere, this is a HUGE hit for the entire family! It serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner and is an all you can eat buffet.  My family and I always go for breakfast just because the breakfast foods are really special and spectacular.  They have wonderful breakfast potatoes covered in cheese, delicious egg casseroles, Mickey Mouse shaped waffles, a cooked to order omelet station, and the most fabulous french toast covered in cinnamon and sugar! Dinner is just as fabulous with a carving station, mashed potatoes, different vegetables, delicious breads, and fantastic apple crumbles and ice cream desserts! All meals have a fantastic kids buffet that you even catch adults sneaking food from sometimes!

Besides the great food is the fantastic atmosphere.  There is nothing better than walking down Main Street on a Sunday morning and entering this beautiful crystal room.  No lights are necessary because the sun glistens in the windows and illuminates the whole restaurant.  Beautiful topiaries of all of the Winnie the Pooh characters are in the center of the room.  It just can't get more beautiful than this!





On top of the food and atmosphere, this restaurant is also part of Disney's Character Dining.  Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet make their rounds at every meal from table to table to sign autographs and take pictures.  What a great way to meet characters without waiting on line in the Florida sun! Don't worry if you are at the buffet when the characters come to your table, they usually fit in 2 rounds to every table throughout one meal.  Every half hour, this restaurant goes into an uproar when all of the kids (and kids at heart) are invited to join the parade with the characters around the restaurant.
Don't miss this Disney favorite! Reservations go fast for this restaurant, especially for breakfast! Don't be late because this is one place you don't want to miss!!

For a further description of Winnie the Pooh's French Toast, please follow this link:
Winnie the Pooh's French Toast

For more information on the Crystal Palace, please follow this link:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/the-crystal-palace/

Tomorrowland Terrace Fireworks Dessert Party

This is one event that many guests have actually never heard of.  If you have ever walked by Tomorrowland during the time of Wishes you have probably seen this and just thought it was an area for VIPs only and that it is incredibly expensive.  Well actually it is open to all guests and not as expensive as one may think.  Admission is about 28 dollars for guests 10 and older and 15 dollars for guests 9 and younger.  Now let me tell you what this whole event is.  A full all you can eat dessert and coffee bar filled with beautiful and delicious desserts.  Every family gets their own reserved table with a name tag on it.  The best part is that you get an absolutely beautiful view of the fireworks show that nobody else can get in the park besides the people at the dessert party that night.  The party starts 1 hour before the fireworks begin and you are free to enjoy all the desserts before and during the fireworks.

This is how my family and I spent New Years Eve and boy was it spectacular.  Nothing made us feel more special then to walk up to a table with a beautiful decorated centerpiece with our name on it and eating all the desserts we could eat.  The fireworks were amazing (as usual) but our view was the best I have ever had for the Wishes Fireworks Show.  The best part is that you don't need to reserve a spot on the crowded Main Street U.S.A. hours before the fireworks start, and then of course be blocked by somebody right before the show starts.  Only 50 people fill this space so you have a great shot of being able to see the fireworks.  Just as a reminder, if you are celebrating this way on New Years Eve and are 21+, don't expect to get champagne at the Magic Kingdom.  There is a strict no alcohol policy in the entire park and no alcohol can be sold.

The Menu was absolutely delightful. Creamy cheesecakes, light and fluffy chocolate mousses, chewy cookies, light fruit tarts, and airy pastries.  There is also tea and coffee available which are absolutely delicious.  This is an experience you will never ever forget!  It does fill up so reservations are required and you must pre-pay.  I recommended you shoot for at least 4-5 months in advance when booking this especially during peak seasons!

Look at this beautiful view of the castle!

Our private table!

Beautiful Dessert Bar!

For more information on how to book reservations, please follow this link:
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/tomorrowland-terrace-fireworks-dessert-party/

Magic Kingdom Character Greetings

There are a couple different locations to find characters in the Magic Kingdom.   Here are some spots where you will be able to find them!

Mickey Mouse- Mickey used to be found in the judge's tent in Mickey's Toontown Fair, but since it has closed he can now be found at the Main Street Theater Hall.  He is usually there the entire day and you can even get FastPasses to see him to speed up your wait time.  Sometimes Minnie makes an appearance with Mickey later in the day, but don't be disappointed if she isn't there!

Disney Princesses (Belle, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White)- Any combination of these princesses  make appearances at the Main Street Theater Hall on a separate line from Mickey Mouse throughout the day.  Again FastPasses are available, but they will be separate from the Mickey Mouse FastPasses.

Classic Characters (Goofy, Pluto, Daisy, etc.)- These characters have been known to be out very early in the morning to greet guests in the Town Square.  When I say early I mean park opening to about an hour after the park opens.  If your children want to meet any of these classic characters, then definitely get their early because lines get long quickly!

Tinker Bell and her Fairy Friends-These characters can be found in Tinker Belle's Magical Nook for an experience like no other.  Beautiful wall art and flowers make this spot a great place for taking pictures with your favorite fairies.

Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen- These characters usually make appearances in Liberty Square near the Christmas Shoppe.  Check your times guide that is available at the park entrance.

Rafiki, Timon, Baloo, and King Louie- They can sometimes be found in Adventureland across from the Jungle Cruise.  Usually they only make appearances early on in the day and at high peak seasons.

Aladdin and Jasmine- Can sometimes be found outside of Magic Carpets of Aladdin.

Buzz Lightyear, Chip & Dale- Buzz makes appearances throughout the day next to the Carousel of Progress.  Check your times guide because lines can get extremely long for his character. Chip and Dale can be found nearby to Buzz and are often seen dancing in the show with guests near the Tomorrowland Stage.

Woody and Jessie- They have made many appearances in Frontierland near Splash Mountain.  Usually they are only out for a short part of the day.

Alice and her Wonderland friends- They have been known to make appearances near the Mad Tea Party, but sometimes it is not on the Times Guide and may happen at random points in the day.  If your child really wants to see these characters, ask a cast member near by if they know if they will make appearances that day.

Character Dining is also a great place to meet your favorite characters!

Crystal Palace- Located on Main Street U.S.A, this beautiful buffet is home to characters of Winnie the Pooh.  Pooh Bear, Eeyore, Tigger, and Piglet make rounds every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout this restaurant.  This is a great way to get two things out of the way: eating and autographs! Don't worry if you miss a character because you are at the buffet, usually by the time you are finished eating they have come around again.

Cinderella's Royal Table- By far the most popular restaurant in all of Disney World, and rightfully so.  You can eat fabulous food inside Cinderella's castle while meeting everybody's favorite characters.  Cinderella greets her guests, takes pictures, and signs autographs upon your arrival.  Disney Princesses go around table to table at breakfast, lunch, and dinner to greet guests.  Some of the princesses include Snow White, Princess Aurora, and Belle, but others have made appearances as well.

If you want to learn some tips when greeting characters, please follow this link:
Character Greeting Tips