Why You Shouldn’t Pick Up A Map At The Magic Kingdom
I know I seem to write about the Magic Kingdom a fair bit on this blog, but the thing is, the place holds so many memories for me that it is really hard not to. I could really speak about any of the parks when it comes to this but like any blogger I am looking to churn out content as often as possible so perhaps I can carry this theme on like I did with many of the Harry Potter posts.
The Magic Kingdom is usually the park in which people will go to first and with this I am talking about newcomers to the parks. This is because it is the flagship park for Disney and also the first to be built in Florida and people always assume that it is the best of the parks on offer.
So Do You Need A Map?
When you are entering the park the very first thing you will see is everyone dashing to get one of the maps or in my case dashing to see what they have put on the front of it for that year. If you are a first timer to the park then I urge you not to do this and to walk into the park without a map, an app activated on anything like this because you would be making a mistake. Although it can be great to actually walk around the park with a map and directions in what you are doing the Magic Kingdom is one of those places that you can be self guided and because there is so much going on all of the time it is very hard to set a time to do something. Go around the park whichever way you fancy, there are many ways people do it to speed up time and beat the crowds but the best way to have fun is to do it your way!
You will easily spot the biggest rides and the way to do the parks is to experience it your own way, going the way in which a guide or map tells you too is really going to ruin the first time experience.
In the end the decision in what you do when it comes to going around the Magic Kingdom is up to you, do it in the way that feels best for you and you are guaranteed to have one of the most magical days you have ever had in your life!
Photo Of The Week 28-7-2010
I missed out on the photo of the week last week thanks to the fact I had something a bit more important to blog about and I have been pretty busy for the last 8 days which is why there has not been a blog post on here recently but to try and keep some kind of pattern going on the blog I am actually going to include one this week!
Many people miss things like this and it is important to realise just how much work Disney put into their parks! I believe this is on the way out when you are walking out of the Magic Kingdom. It’s always a bit sad for me because it is one of the last things I see of the park!
Why Does The Magic Kingdom Always Put A Smile On Newcomers Faces?
Well for starters I say newcomers faces, this is far from true, I know for a fact that every single time I enter the main gates I am lit up by everything that is going on around me.
So what is it that makes the place just fill you with joy as soon as you step out into the start of Main Street U.S.A.
A Lot Going On
One of the things that certainly impresses people when they are walking into the park is the amount of things that are happening all over the place. At any one time down Main Street you can have marching bands, singing quartets, Disney characters walking around, horse drawn carriages and even balloon salesmen dressed like they were back in the day. It is truly amazing to see it when it is like this.
Cinderella’s Castle
The very first thing you see when you walk down Main Street USA is Cinderella Castle and this lights up not only children’s faces but everyone else that grew up loving Disney movies. It makes you feel that anything is possible, after all that is a castle looking exactly like it does from the movies.
The People
Something else that people really like when they are walking into the park is that everyone else around them is smiling too,it is hard not to be happy when this is the case. You will very really see anyone sad in a Disney park and although a lot of people moan at Disney for being too corporate I feel as long as they are doing this job, they are doing their job well.
It is all these reasons and many more that make Main Street USA one of the happiest places in Disney World, the street itself is colourful and magical on top of all of these other reasons. It is these reasons why I would always recommend going to Magic Kingdom first when it comes to Disney World stops.
Why The Name Change Of The Carrousel?
Well firstly I know it looks like I have spelt Carrousel wrong but it is how the French spell it and this is how Disney seem to spell it too. Now onto the main event of this article, why on earth has Disney changed the Carrousel name from Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel to Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. This all seemed a bit pointless but there could be a couple of explanations on why Disney have made this move. First of all let’s take a look at the back story that Disney have come up with to go along with the new name change:
The New Prince Charming Carrousel Back Story
“Following their fairy-tale romance and happily-ever-after wedding, Cinderella and Prince Charming took up residence in Cinderella’s Castle. With peace throughout the kingdom, Prince Charming had time to practice for jousting tournaments. In the countryside near the castle, he built a training device of carved horses, on which he could practice the art of ring-spearing, a tournament event in which a knight rides his horse full speed, lance in hand, toward a small ring hanging from a tree limb, with the object of spearing the ring. This event was known by various names throughout the lands, but generally came to be called “carrousel.”
The carrousel device drew the attention of the villagers, who wanted to take a turn on this amazing spinning contraption. So Prince Charming had a second carrousel constructed closer to the Castle, where everyone could take a spin on this wondrous invention. Instead of a working knight’s training device, however, this new carrousel is more befitting its regal location in the Castle Courtyard – its rustic training horses replaced with ornately decorated prancing steeds adorned with golden helmets and shields, flower garlands, feathers and other festoons. Prince Charming invites one and all to test their horsemanship skills and to enjoy their own happy ending.”
Source: DisneyWorld Blog- http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/05/carrousel-name-change-at-walt-disney-world/
Part Of The Fantasyland Update?
One reason many people have speculated that Disney have made this move is because of the major updates that are in progress within Fantasyland at the moment and are of course due to be completed by 2012. It is not like Disney to make a change like this that could potentially upset (has already upset) many hardcore Disney fans so I hope that in the near future they provide a reason for this.
Boy Friendly Carrousel?
Another option to why Disney have done this is to make Fantasyland a bit more boy friendly and whilst I think a lot of Disney experts are stating this to be the reason I am not so sure. They already have fantastic attractions such as Peter Pan and Mickey’s Philarmagic when it comes to what boys would be interested in, what is a name change going to do?
The fact is that the Carrousel at DisneyWorld is a ride suited for both sexes and people of all ages, I am shocked to see the name change but I am sure Disney have something up their sleeve that will be revealed at a later date. Stick with Top Florida because as soon as I hear the news, so will you!
Fantasyland Updates and Work On Main street USA
In case you didn’t realise, Magic Kingdom is seeing a major update to Fantasyland that should be open to the public in 2012 and already parts of the parks are being closed off to the public so people cannot see what the Disney imagineers are up too. However it would seem that a lot of the park is currently under renovation at the moment.
Main Street
Shops down Main Street are receiving updates at the moment and whilst they are all still open it just makes the place look a bit untidy. A couple of these have been like this since I was last in the park in late August of last year so I have no idea what the plans are for these shops. The fact that they are still open must mean that it is simply the exterior that is being changed rather than the type of shop on the inside but who knows when it comes to Disney.
Fantasyland
As any Disney fan will know, this is big, in fact, bigger than big, its Disney’s biggest project since the Animal Kingdom was announced and a whole new overhaul of Fantasyland is currently in the works. At the moment it would seem that nothing has closed within the section of the park but I am wondering how long this will last. Expect Toontown to be closing as well completely later this year to make way for the new plans on the park. There are going to be new rides, new attractions and new ways to interact with your favourite Disney characters, I will be blogging on the individual things to be going into the park so keep your eyes peeled for more information on this as it comes.
As it stands at the moment, Pooh’s Playful Spot (despite being quite new), Ariel’s Grotto and Scuttle’s Landing have all closed.
Other than this all of the main attractions are said to remain open during this massive update on the land.
Why Main Street USA Is The Reason Why You Should Take The Kids To Magic Kingdom First
For me going to Disney for the first time ever was a truly unforgettable experience. I remember everything from being petrified on the Haunted Mansion to drinking from one of those small Nesquik cartons that you just don’t seem to be able to buy nowadays. Although Disneyworld has four main theme parks along with the water parks too it is the Magic Kingdom that seems to have the most impact on the kids to start off with and Main Street USA is the place that kicks it all off!
One of the main reasons that anyone would take a child to Disneyworld is to see their faces light up as soon as they enter the park. Kids are just so wowed by the park as soon as they enter the gates because there is always so much going on down this part of the Magic Kingdom.
More often than not you will find there are marching bands walking down the street, people with giant Mickey and Minnie Mouse balloons up and about and if you are really lucky you will find horses and carriages waiting to take you to the entrance of Cinderella Castle. On top of all of this you get the sweet aroma of candies, pastries and all other kinds of treats wafting out from the Main Street stores.
If you turn up just before three in the afternoon you will be treated to one of the best performances in Disneyworld and it is of course the Magic Kingdom Parade. This starts of in Main Street but you need to make sure you get your place because it gets quite packed up to an hour before the parade starts.
The street wouldn’t be the same without the characters and if you are there at the right times of day you will spot many of the characters from the Disney cast including all the favourites like Mickey, Donald, Goofy and Minnie. Note that the parade is a key time of the day to spot all of these characters and much more all in the same place.
So without actually even exploring the rest of Magic Kingdom it would seem that Main Street USA is a fantastic place to take the kids first when it comes to a vacation in Disneyworld!
