Checked conga in front of Cinderella Castle at 5A off my bucket list during One More Disney Day
In celebration of Leap Year Disney Parks kept Disneyland in CA and the Magic Kingdom in FL open for 24 hours. When the announcement was first made on Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve I wasn’t terribly interested. It sounded like a fun time but I just don’t stay up late anymore. But I’d missed out on the all night events of Disneyland back in the 80s and 90s and after Doobie got home from the event’s opening ceremonies I decided I had to go. I wouldn’t miss another one. Total impulse decision.
Snuck in a late afternoon nap with Gideon (our toddler) before heading to the Magic Kingdom at 8p. Cars were streaming into the MK lot. They lined up from Heroes lot around the Speedway turn. We arrived shortly after Wishes and were surprised by how crowded Town Square and Main Street were for the Electrical Parade. It felt like a weekday night in the middle of summer. We grabbed our spot and waited. The family beside us were visiting WDW for the first time and having a blast! They weren’t staying all night but had been encouraged by others to stick around to see the light parade.
Street art created with masking tape usually used to mark parade crossover walkways
Playing in the bubbles while we wait for the Electrical Parade
After the parade we ducked into the backstage path to Tomorrowland (the cast lining the route were so friendly and definitely in the party spirit). After a popcorn snack we jumped into line for Gideon’s favorite Tomorrowland Speedway. It was way past his bedtime 11p and the wait time posted was 30 but I’m sure we waited less than that. Then it was time to take my little guy and my early to bed husband (who’d been an early, early to rise that morning for the kickoff) home for the night. I tossed on the event tee Doobie received at the media event and headed back to the Magic Kingdom (after grabbing some caffeine at Hess). It was almost surreal handing my AP to a cast member at the toll booth at 1A. I’d passed large road pavers on the way in, hard at work resurfacing the streets near DVC way an activity often saved for late hours when most guests are resting from a full day at the Disney Parks. But now I’m reminded the Magic Kingdom is open in full swing. They were even back-filling the parking lot but it didn’t dawn on me to look for a cast member so I just pulled into the first available space I saw and ended up taking a longer than needed stroll to tram load zone.
Arriving at the Magic Kingdom’s monorail station I was surprised by how many people were waiting to head back to the TTC. As one Minnie Mouse clad guest suggested “What self-respecting 20something would leave Disney now?”
Once inside the Magic Kingdom it was abundantly clear the party had started. The pounding beat of a high energy dance party filled the air, lights of Cinderella Castle rhythmically shifted from one shade to another while in Town Square numerous Main St vehicles were on display. Guests could honk the horns and sit in the drivers spot for a unique photo op. Mickey was posing for photos in his pjs and it had the longest wait I would see that night — at times 100 minutes posted. Only line I saw comparable was the seemingly never-ending queue for Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. In fact it seemed the longest lines in the late night hours were for the character opportunities I suspect it was a lot of cast members who were able to meet up with friends and get group shots, something that’s probably more difficult during normal operating hours work schedules.
After singing along to some High School Musical tunes, doing the hokey pokey and even enjoying a little Justin Bieber at the Hub Dance Party it was time to travel around the park and see what else was going on.
With a hug Duffy sent me off on my overnight adventure in the Magic Kingdom
In Adventureland Pirates had a 20 minute wait posted so I decided to seek some high seas adventure. It was a FLASH free ride. I couldn’t believe it! I can’t remember the last time I experienced the beauty of Pirates without it being marred by flash bulbs. Added fun was the couple behind me who kept commenting on the amazing Cpt Sparrow figures. I’m not sure they’d ever been on the ride before, another treat. I love hearing the observations of first time guests.
Event cupcakes at the bakery on Main Street
4A on Main Street USA
Decided to catch up with longtime friend, John Frost of The Disney Blog who was over in Liberty Square vanquishing villains as a Sorcerer of the MK. According to the Times Guide Cosmic Rays would be among the locations offering breakfast offerings so we headed to Tomorrowland only to discover the offering was … a muffin and it wasn’t there yet. So we hightailed it to the Main Street Bakery. John selected a egg,ham and cheese croissant which he thoroughly enjoyed. And I loved my chocolate croissant as always. In the bakery as I found throughout the evening the cast was great even with the odd work schedule. The line moved very quickly and soon we were sitting (which was nice) and eating (even better).
Check out the clock. Its nearing 4A and the longest wait in the Magic Kingdom is Meet Mickey. Great place to rest and get a photo with the Mouse in his pjs.
After refueling we wandered back through the Castle Dance party and into Fantasyland. I wanted to be sure to ride the leaping horses of Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel. It was a Leap Day party after all. Then we were over to Tomorrowland and the longtime “get me off my feet” go-to attraction, the Peoplemover.
As we were on the Peoplemover the lights for Space Mountain came on. Someday I’d love to ride Walt Disney World’s Space Mtn with lights on. They used to offer this type of experience at Disneyland Annual Passholder parties.
A sight not often seen – the area below the Peoplemover free of strollers
5A
Joined a high-energy conga line in front of Cinderella Castle (pictured at beginning of article). Then spotting Prince Eric and his princess, Ariel wandering across the Hub toward Adventureland we decided to follow the couple. After a few pics of the pair I took advantage of short queue for Pixie Hollow and explored something new (to me). Its adorable and once again neither Tinkerbell nor the PhotoPass team showed signs of the unusual hours.
The event was drawing to a close and attractions were slowly closing pushing the party goers back toward to Main Street. Walking the nearly empty streets of Adventureland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square I rediscovered the beauty in the Magic Kingdom. Made a note to self to get to the Kingdom in early morning or late hours more often especially during the off-season.
Splash Mountain
Liberty Belle Riverboat
Thanks to the reduced crowds I even had the opportunity to explore a new view of Magic, Memories and You. Typically due to the crowds once I find an acceptable spot I wouldn’t move again. But tonight I explored new options and found my new favorite spot to watch Magic, Memories and You — Liberty Square bridge. I found some of the visual effects worked better for me from this angle. After the show we continued to wander the unusually quiet walkways over to Fantasyland and even found a few of the Sorcerers portals were queue-less.
Fantasyland during the final hour of Disney’s 24 hour Leap Day in the Magic Kingdom
A lone sorcerer continues to battle evil with less than an hour left in the 24 hour party
In the final party moments we made our way through Cinderella Castle to the Hub where the party goers remaining were gathering, gazing at the Cinderella Castle clock. A cheer went up as it hit 6a and then…the music loop simply went from the pumping party tunes to the traditional Main Street melodies. Some were expecting a pyro send-off, while I was just surprised there was no farewell. Perplexed we meandered down Main Street. Several cast members were along the street cheering those of us who remained at dawn. Some cast offered thank yous for coming out for the fun. Some guests offered thanks for the fun we’d had all night long.
Remaining party goers gather at Cinderella Castle as the clock strikes 6A
Main Street shortly after the party officially ends
About 15 past the hour of 6, we hadn’t yet left and suddenly the traditional When You Wish Upon a Star melody and farewell message filled the air. The orange and pink hues of daybreak illuminated the skies over the Contemporary Resort while the Grand Floridian Resort seemingly remained under cover of night. As we pulled into the dock at the TTC and fog obscured our view of the Magic Kingdom, the Contemporary and even portions of the Grand Floridian the fun of my overnight adventures in the Magic Kingdom were replaying through my head. So many unique images and moments, my “One More Disney Day” was definitely not “just another Disney Day.”
You can view larger versions of all my images in my Disney24 Picasa web album