WDW Magazine October 2021 | Page 31

With Danny McBride
With Kat Wolfe

With Danny McBride

MAGIC KINGDOM AT NIGHT

VS .

With Kat Wolfe

MAGIC KINGDOM IN THE DAY
DANNY SAYS : Staying at Magic Kingdom until park close might test your Disney stamina , but that ’ s what it ’ s all about . There ’ s nothing like the feeling you get when scoring spectacular crowd-free views of the park if you ’ re one of the last to leave .
ATTRACTIONS : When the sun goes down , so do the attraction wait times . I also prefer to ride outdoor attractions at night , especially Splash Mountain and Big
Thunder Mountain Railroad .
ENTERTAINMENT : The brand-new fireworks and projection show , Disney Enchantment , is like no other .
Other forms of entertainment , such as character cavalcades , will only take place at night during seasonal Disney After Hours events .
DINING : Securing a reservation for a Magic Kingdom
Table-Service restaurant shortly before closing time can spark the most magical moment of your trip . You might even finish your meal after the park has closed ; by the time you leave , you could make your way through a seemingly empty Magic Kingdom .
STRATEGY : Just before the start of Disney Enchantment , you ’ ll find shorter wait times on some of the most popular attractions . If you ’ ve already seen the show , it ’ s a great time to ride something like Seven Dwarfs
Mine Train without waiting in a long line .
UNIQUE FEATURE : Just 30 minutes after the park ’ s posted closing time , you ’ ll see Cinderella Castle sparkle and change colors , hear an emotional rendition of
“ When You Wish Upon a Star ,” and be told “ See ya real soon !” by Mickey himself . It ’ s such a special ( often overlooked ) way to end your day .
FUN FACT : Magic Kingdom Cast Members continue to work at the park up to 2.5 hours after park closing ( with some custodial Cast Members even working overnight ).
KAT SAYS : Hands down , the earlier you start your day at Magic Kingdom , the happier you will be . The park is freshly cleaned , you ’ re energized and photo-ready , and the crowds are the lowest they will be until the park closes .
ATTRACTIONS : Without Genie + and Individual
Attraction Selection , if you want to ride those headliner attractions and wait the least time for them , your best chances are right at the beginning of the day .
ENTERTAINMENT : Character cavalcades and regular parades are exclusively daytime entertainment . If you want to catch a glimpse and get a wave from your favorite princess , you better be at the Magic Kingdom during the day .
DINING : Have you been dying to try the Cheeseburger Spring Rolls ? You can ’ t get them at night . All dining locations currently serving have daytime hours at the Magic Kingdom , but some close after 6 PM .
STRATEGY : Arrive at Magic Kingdom at least an hour before opening to be among the first to ride that headliner attraction or two . Then enjoy the low wait times on others until the crowd picks up about 2 hours in . You can get so much done in those first few hours when you rope drop .
UNIQUE FEATURE : If you are the first customer at Casey ’ s Corner , you ’ ll get to take part in “ Throw the First Pitch ,” a ceremony to officially open the restaurant for the day .
FUN FACT : It ’ s called rope drop because guests used to be held back to wait until the park was opened by Cast Members , who held a rope spreading across the anxious-to-get-inside crowd .
ON DEBATING DISNEY TONIGHT , KAT AND DANNY GO HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH OPPOSING VIEWS ON A VARIETY OF MAGICAL SUBJECTS RELATING TO THE WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT . TUNE IN ON SELECT THURSDAYS AT 8:00 PM ET LIVE ON WWW . FACEBOOK . COM / DEBATINGDISNEY / TO BE THOROUGHLY EDUTAINED !