Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Magic Kingdom

Does this look cool?  Well, it is.  Big thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is one fun ride.  It's a roller coaster through an old western gold mining mountain where you ride a train through twists and turns , up and down hills, and into the mountain itself.

I you like old-fashioned coasters with a rough ride you're going to like this one.  It's not a terribly rough one but it's enough that I don't suggest it if you're pregnant or have neck or back problems.  There is a height restriction but I think it's only 40 inches.  I saw some pretty little kids on it and mine all went on it by the age of five so not too bad.  It is good enough to rattle your teeth and when you get off it you'll have had fun.

There are a few climbs and plunges, a little water, but other than that it's just right for the kids.

Thunder Mountain was closed for the better part of this year for repairs so we haven't been on it for a while.  That has made it a busy ride because folks have waited for a long time for it to reopen.

You probably want to Fast Pass this one due to the extraordinarily long lines.  Thunder Mountain is located right next to Splash Mountain which is another long wait so I suggest getting a Fast Pass for one and waiting in Stand By for the other one.  This will cut your wait for the two of them significantly.

No, we don't know these folks.  I just got a shot of them going by as we waited in line.  Definitely don't miss this one.  It's worth the wait and you're under cover from this Florida heat while in line.  Drink lots of water this time of year as we are in the tropics.  Have fun.

Splash Mountain - Magic Kingdom - Walt Disney World

Splash Mountain at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is a great thrill ride that's good for all ages.  It's fashioned after the 1960's film "Song of the South" featuring the adventures of Brer Rabbit and Brer Bear.  The ride is a water experience so plan on getting wet.

 You'll climb to the top of the mountain and get into log boats where you ride through the mountain and into the world of the briar patch where you recognize all the characters from the iconic movie.  I believe there's a height requirement for this one and may not be best for kids under 5 but they can guide you when you arrive.  The ride lasts about 5 minutes and culminates at the top of the mountain where you plunge down the mountain at break neck speed.

I did my best to get good pictures but the boats move through limited lighting and it's hard to focus on any one thing so I did my best.  (I'm a writer - not a photographer).  We enjoy this ride because the animation and details are as exquisite on this attraction as on all the Disney rides and you'll love it.  Although most of the ride is a boat ride you are excited because you know what's coming at the end so it makes the whole thing interesting.

As you come down the mountain at the end you will get very wet so brace yourself!  It's an awesome feeling in the hot Florida summer and a cold shock in the winter months.  Your boat will be photographed on the way down which is fun because you get to see every body's unrehearsed reactions to the big fall.  It's usually hilarious and makes a great keep sake photo to take home with you. Have fun!

The Crystal Palace, A Buffet with Character

Dinner at the Crystal palace is a great experience both for the food and the atmosphere.  We made reservations at 1- 407-WDW-DINE (939-3463) and were seated promptly after reporting to the reservation stand at our appointed time.  The service was good. They seemed confused as to who our server was but once he arrived it went well.

The restaurant is a very nicely laid out buffet with a salad bar, entrees and vegetables, and a dessert bar.  The prices are a little high but it's Disney and to be expected.  The characters are in the dining room the whole time and do a wonderful job of enchanting the kids and posing for photos.  They are really skilled at playing with the kids without talking.  Hats off to the folks who can do this because it must be very difficult.

This place is built like an old Florida hotel with white painted walls, lots of plants, spacious walkways, and almost an ice cream parlor brightness to it.  The serving staff at the bar was very courteous and all the employees are pleasant to speak with.  Supervisors are conspicuously posted in and around the dining room and seem to pay close to details and service.

We were there almost an hour and a half because there was so much to eat and sample.  The salads were fresh and well-maintained and the entrees never ran out.  They had mussels, Spanish chicken, chicken tenders, roast beef, roast turkey, and a vegetarian medley pasta for vegetarian diets.  There are a variety more items but that was all I could remember. I especially like the cod and spinach casserole which I'd never had before but loved it.

Dinner was great and the characters made it a true Disney experience.  Service was a little confused and pricing was a little high.  I give the place a "B+" for the whole experience but it was really enjoyable.

Plaza Restaurant at Magic Kingdom

This is a nice place to eat at Magic Kingdom.  Right on Main Street USA across from Casey's Corner you can dine in an early 1900's restaurant with excellent food.

You can make reservations at 407-WDW-DINE (939-3463).  I'm not even sure they take walk-ins so I would make the call or go to m.disneyworld.com from your Verizon phone.  The menu is not heavy meals.  It's more like an old-fashioned soda fountain but very good.  We had a cheeseburger, club sandwiches, and a grilled chicken sandwich. The rest of the menu has a Reuben, vegetarian, turkey, cheesecake, and other selections. The only dinner-style plate they have is a meat loaf which none of us ordered but looked good.

 They also have a good selection of ice cream, fountain drinks, sundaes, shakes, floats, sundaes, etc.  The restaurant is collocated with the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor sponsored by Edy's Grand Ice Cream so if you're a fan of theirs you'll love the desserts.  The service was excellent and the food was great.  Prices weren't bad by Disney standards and you can use your Disney Meal Plan here.  It's a great place to eat with kids and we were able to watch one of the parades through the window since we sat so close to the street.  A fun experience.  I give It an "A-" but with no complaints.

Walt Disney World Parks - Dining Reservations

I just recently tried this and it really takes a lot of the mystery out of your day at the Magic Kingdom theme parks.  If you want to make dining reservations at one of the restaurants you can call (407) WDW-DINE or (407) 939-3463 and do it by voice.  Another way is what I thought was way cool is go to m.disneyworld.com and make it from your web-enabled mobile phone.  If you are a Verizon Wireless subscriber text MAGIC to 2777 and download a free app to your phone.  Just be aware of your message and data rate since everyone is different.

While I was playing with the whole mobile phone thing I explored the site and found you can check FastPass times and availability in real time. It will give you the current wait time or tell you to go there right away.  Anything you want to know is available on this site so check it out while you're on the go inside the parks.  This is a great way to move away from huge shifts in the crowds.

Here's another tip.  The best times to visit the rides is during traditional meal times, during parades, and especially when the firework shows are on.  Of course if you want to see them it's a priority but if you are visiting for extended days and have already seen them it's a strategy that's worked for me for a lot of years.  Hope you have a great stay at any of our parks!

Fantasyland at Walt Disney World First Phase

Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is currently working on a new phase of Fantasyland called Storybook Circus.  It begins with a twin version of Dumbo the Flying Elephant and will feature big top circus tents and an interactive play area.

A water play area will be on hand for the younger visitors complete with circus animals spraying water and a version of Casey's locomotive.  The park will be good for the whole family but will be specifically geared for 12 years of age and younger.  It will replace the Toon Town feature that stood for years on the grounds of the old 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea site.  Disney, like all the parks is constantly upgrading their attractions because the competition from other parks is so fierce.

The initial phase is to open in early 2012 so no date has been set but it should be soon.  As soon as I find out I'll post it with any further information.

Walt Disney World Magic Kingdom at Christmas

As far as I'm concerned Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom is the place to be at Christmas time.  The only other place that has as much magic or charm at this time of year is New York's Rockefeller Center.  Disney rolls out the lights and light shows like nowhere else on earth and this year has been no exception.

We noticed the crowds are a little lighter than in past years but we know the economy has kept more folks closer to home.  The people were there, however, in droves but you could actually move around a little better and the longest we waited for any one ride was 45 minutes (Space Mountain) which is exceptional at this time of year.  Most ride waits were 15-20 minutes which is very good.

This is a view of Space Mountain from the entrance to the Grand Prix Raceway that your kids are going to love.  We went on all the big rides:  Space Mountain, Grand Prix Raceway, the Haunted mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean.  The wait was a little longer for Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Splash Mountain.  The day was great.

I never did it before but we posed for a photo in front of Cinderella's Castle.  The photographers are everywhere and they give you what looks like a credit card with a code on back.  You can stop in at any of the photo kiosks at any of the parks and view your shots.  There's no hurry to buy the pictures.  You can even return home and go to DisneyPhotoPass.com, create a log on, and view your shots from home.  Then you can order them from your PC if you like them.

There are tons of eateries and we always get the fast food stuff because kids aren't that interested in eating but we know they have to.  Disney has mastered the efficient fast food counter.  They serve hundreds of customers an hour in all their cafes and you don't wait too long.  The hard part is getting a seat.  Split your party up and have some secure a table while the others go to the food order line or you can end up walking around looking for a table while your food gets cold.

The weather in Orlando has been between 72-82 degrees this week with sunshine so for those from up north it's perfect for you.  It's usually in the 40's or 50's this time of year so you should love it while we in Florida wait for a cool down.

I took these pictures on December 23rd and you can see nobody's  wearing sweaters.  If you make it here you'll be pleased. My next post is about Disney hotels so stay tuned.