Disney's celebration of the new millennnium in 2000 was a great thing. They had a lot of memerobilia marking the occasion and did a good job with the theming. Tapestry of Nations was added to EPCOT as were some other things. EPCOT seemed to be the center of the celebration and had done more things than the other parks. Overall, this was one of the best celebrations that I have witnessed at WDW.
It is a good idea, but only a select few people get to experience the special "dreams." The Fastpasses would be a great gift to enjoy the experience more and the Hotel upgrades would be awesome, but not too many people will get to experience it. I am being forced to put up a rating against my will...
Disney did this... beyond expressibility! The special events honored this as a world occasion that we should use to celebrate our common bonds and unity. It was about dreams and the possibility for the future - and not gushy at all. I've never experienced the kind of serenity I did at World Showcase during this. It makes me wanna be alive in 3000.
I did it years ago, probably '97. It wasn't too bad, but I swore I would never do it again due to the pushy people. Well, never say never. I am going to be down there the weekend of this year. It just happened to be the beginning part of our trip. Mom did it last year with a group of friends and said it was nuts, but we wanted to go for the Christmas party, so that's when we are going. We will just avoid Studios for the weekend. Planned on going off property to Seaworld on Sunday, but just found out Jack Hanna will be there. Can't win! By the way, I am a huge AMC fan, but pushy women I can't handle!
Finally a FAMILY Halloween event! MNSSHP is a FAMILY FREINDLY Halloween evnt with much to offer! Most of the attraction are open for the this spooky Halloween treat but, beware only a few resteraunts are open! MNSSHP is fested with endless Halloween decorations, special light fixtures, and much much more! Honest to Pete, it even has Trick-er-Treating and Mickey's dazzling "Boo To You!" parade! (Note: The Haunted Mansion section of the parade maybe a little scary for small ones!) I HIGHLY advise going to this fun and not-so scary Halloween event!
One of my favorite celebrations.
We attended the Pirate and Princess Party the end of January this year; What an AWESOME event. My daughter got to go to the BBB prior to the event (princess Aurora) and my son dressed as Capt. Jack Sparrow. My parent were with us and we had the Best Time Ever. The lines weren't long at all; we rode Splash mountain four times in a row with no wait time. My daughter loved seeing all the princesses in their ball gowns. We had our picture taken next to Cinderella's carriage and my son just loved the pirate tutorial (both kids now belong to Capt. Jack - I have the paper to prove it). If you're a Disney diehard you'll love this event as much as your kids. I highly recommend this event!!
If your a star wars fan this is a must. The parade was great and if you are willing to stand in the lines characters are all over to take photos with. The one draw back is in the Fl sun waiting in these lines is terrible. Over and hour each to see Vadar and Chewbacca. You would think they would find a way to set this up indoors somewhere. Besides that it was really great and there was plenty to keep a star wars fan busy.
This was our first trip to WDW for the holidays. This made the trip feel like the Christmas season. Our two kids loved all the extra shows and characters in special costumes and I was pleasantly surprised by the average sized crowds(I expected it to be packed). There was plenty enough to do without going on rides but we snuck a few in anyway! We would go again for sure.
Considering that it is only a few dollars more than a day's admission to DisneyQuest, the price is definitely right. With minimal wait times, an amazing fireworks show, a new parade (though not my favorite) and free goodies, the experience truly is amazing. Performers cover the park and the theming additions make the Magic Kingdom even more magical after dark. If the event is renewed for next year, I will definitely be returning!
The old E-Ride nights (not to be confused with the new EMH nights) were wonderful. For around $10, on select nights, you had an extended stay in the Magic Kingdom for 3 hours. Unlike EMH nights, the E-Ride nights were not really publicised, and hardly anyone knew about them. This meant that there really were very few people in the park. They have now been discontinued and replaced by the current Extra Magic Hour nights, which are free to resort guests.
I just went to my first Food & Wine Festivle in Oct of 2006. It was a bit overwhelming to say the least and this is comming from someone who's done other international food festivles in AZ and SC. I highly recommend the first thing to grab is a program/brocure. This has a list of all the various foods and where in the park they are found. Wish I had gotten on at the first food booth we tried instead of at the last one. It would have made a world of difference. Now that I have it, I plan on using it this coming year. hopefuly a few of the areas and food will be the same. I also recommend if your eating at one of the French restaurants, to skip the appetizers and go directly to the French food booth outside. My husband was wanting to get the escago in the restaurant, which was 10.99 but we were able to get the same escargo outside for only 4.00. Also, if you've never had African food or chutney, definantly try the African booth. We had something that was beef w/pasta and a mango chutney that was wonderful. Most of the portions at the food booths are big enough to share between 2 people. That way you get to try more items. Bon Appeite
What an awesome time we had last night! The weather was supposed to be lousy, and it did rain when we were on the ferry at about 4:00. We (DH, DS 4 & 2, SIL, DN) were able to get into the MK at 4:00 with our tickets, which was great b/c we had 4:30 reservations at the Crystal Palace. Walking into the park was great, there was a separate entrance with the red carpet - as close as I'll ever get I imagine! We got our booty bags & maps, then headed to get our stroller, which was complimentary for the evening - always nice! Then off to supper... We had the best server there who really was so into it and fed off our excitement - can't say enough good about it! The food was wonderful! Pooh & friends were about and were awesome with pics and hugs :) The rain had let up and we were off after supper. We headed right to Adventureland and did the Tiki Room (DS 2 year old loves it), then Pirates and walked right on. Then we bought DS (4 year old) a Captain Hook costume, and the CM who was at one of the registers was amazing, DH said while we were shopping she had come up to our DN (dressed as Aurora) and asked her for her autograph - it was so sweet. I'm getting all teary reminiscing :) We paid for all of our pirate gear and got a special throw for $15.00 if you spent at least $60 (which is way too easy!!) DS transformed to Hook and we were off to Fantasyland... There were special places for treasure, and X did mark the spot. The X's were all set up on light post lanterns. They were very generous with the candy given! And throughout the park were projections on the ground of treasure chests, roses, crowns, skull & crossbones - all very neat. The music was a nice change too with the score from POTC... We had our wristbands checked as we headed into Fantasyland at 7:00. Got some more booty and there was a photo station with Cinderella's carriage with a little bit of a line, 10 minute wait maybe. I took DS (2) to IASWAA, and walked right on again. It was so quiet that we were actually the only ones in our section of 4 boats and there wasn't anyone ahead or behind us, so that in itself was special, like we were VIP!! After that, we walked right on Peter Pan, then Dumbo and hit up more booty :) After Dumbo we went to dance for a little bit with Fantail, had so much fun. Walked a little further to the Teacups and again walked right on. Then we made our way to Tomorrowland, skipping Mickey's Toontown for later. Got to Tomorrowland and went straight to Buzz, and walked on again - notice a pattern yet :) After Buzz we got some light necklaces & snacks and just took it all in. There were so many people in costume, young & older, it was wonderful!! We went back to Adventureland for Capt Jack's Pirate Tutorial and it was great. You'd think Johnny Depp was there; the actors have everything down to a science. The show was funny and had action. DH went to speak to a CM about the CJS meet & greet and she said it should be going on, but we didn't see it, so that was a little let down, but not a mood dampener by far! The CM did say that the actor doing the Tutorial was the best CJS and didn't do the meet & greet, nice tip :) We headed back to Toontown for some pics and rest at the benches just outside and caught the fireworks. And they were awesome!!! SO much better than Wishes IMHO. What did it for me was the score - perfect balance. They did most of the princess movies, Peter Pan & POTC. It really exceeded my expectations. After the fireworks we made our way to Main Street to catch the parade. This was by far my favorite, It was a bit shorter, but I loved the action! They started with the royal guard and knights on black horses, the princesses followed individually in their carriages, Aladdin & Jasmine were the last and they were on horses. One thing that was really cool was that there were sword fights throughout this parade, preceding A & J, and kicking off the pirate half. The guys had flags and were like a color guard, and they were awesome!!! Then the ghost pirates came on their boat, then Capt Jack - he was great, too. After the pirate float the Peter Pan ensemble followed, then came Tink on her mountain of treasure The actress had her down to a science, pouting & holding her tummy laughing. It was so great b/c there weren't hundreds of people crammed into each other for a spot, and it felt like you really got the attention, or like you really were being looked & waved & smiled at. It was just a wonderful, wonderful parade!! My absolute favorite part of the evening came as we were waiting for the parade to begin and a CM named Damon came over to talk to my little Hook. We chatted a little bit and he asked him if he was having a good time, enjoying everything, then he asked if he liked Tinkerbell, DS said yes, Damon said even though she caused lots of trouble for Hook, DS said we forgive her (I melted at this point) and then DS got pixie dust pins!! I just teared up (I'm such a baby) and felt like this was the greatest moment :) Damon explained what DS was to do with them and he was off, not realizing he made my trip. After I dried up, we headed back to Tomorrowland for one last go on Buzz (walked on again), then back to Fantasyland where we walked on everything there :) We decided to call it a night and headed to the ferry. All in all, this was a super event, if not for the fireworks & new parade, but for the small crowd & good spirits. There was an air of friendliness I haven't felt there before, and I loved every minute!!!
We attended the first night of the P&P Party. My son was Buzz Lightyear, (pirates are bad guys and he didn't want to be a bad guy), and my daughter was Jasmine. The crowds were super light, we love these after hours parties. We have done MNSSHP and MVMCP before so we had to try this since we were down there anyway. We started by going to the Bibbidy Bobbity Boutique where for the $45 they charge, it is well worth it. They made my 7 yr old feel like a real princess with the way they treated her. For $10 my 4 yr old son got the cool dude treatment, which included colored spiked hair and a big Mickey pained on the back. We started the evening at 5 with dinner at Tony's and they hit the rides. We get sooo much done during these parties its crazy. 4-5 times on SM, (spash was closed), a couple times on thunder mountain, my son didn't get off Peter Pan after 5 continuous rides. My daughter danced for a good hour+ at the Flounder dance party. Riding Dumbo and Astro Orbiter and Buzz and pirates without a wait is awesome. The fireworks were really cool. The parade is awesome as well...Tinker Bell in a parade for the first time ever. The floats were great...all Princesses accounted for. Filled four bags with candy, bead necklaces, and raisins, and we only hit about 1/2 the spots on the map. I think the cost is well worth the amount of stuff you get done without any crowds.
The event was so much fun. When you enter they roll out the red carpet, have fog machines going so you can't see Main Street until you are through the train station, and when you enter you hear the sound of pixie dust (kind of like a "dream sequence noise"). You are given a nice little bag and a treasure map when you enter. X's are placed around the park where you can stop and get candy, raisins and beads. We filled two bags each with candy. They were really dumping the candy in! Nothing had more than a 5 minute wait. Jack Sparrow was there to meet. He had a 45 minute wait as soon as the park opened to us. It was so much fun and he seemed to be enjoying it as well. With the PhotoPass being in effect he probably took 5 or so pictures with each person. He was striking one pose then going to another real fast like a model in a photoshoot. Great time and the highlight of the event for this huge Jack Sparrow fan. Goofy, Pluto, Donald and Mickey were dressed for the occasion. Goofy was dressed as a pirate and was doing the Jack Sparrow movements the entire night. He was stumbling around and was so much fun to watch. He'd whip out his sword and really get into the sword fights with the kids. As he went to leave after a meet a kid came running up to him and said "Let's fight!" and he stayed and probably sword fought with him for about three minutes or so. They were going back and forth until Goofy got distracted by a pretty girl and the kid used that to his advantage and stabbed Goofy (pretty hard too). Goofy was a whole bunch of fun. Almost everyone was dressed up even if it just meant the pirate Goofy/Mickey hat the sell in the Pirates of the Caribbean store, crowns, etc. A lot of us adults dressed up too. I was the only Captain Jack Sparrow that I saw (that wasn't under 10 years old). (Using super glue to attach fake beard braids works wonders!) I really expected Pirates of the Caribbean to be packed, but we walked right on and had only two other people in our boat both times. After the firework (10:30) the park was dead. We figure because it was a) Monday night and b) Most of the <10 age group is exhausted by then and leave. Almost every ride we went on we were alone. The parade was amazing. Jack Sparrow saw me off to the side and pointed at my costume and started clapping so I saluted him (the way Jack does to the hanging pirates in the movie). He laughed, did the salute back and bowed down. Earlier in the night when he saw my costume he told me "I really need to start shopping somewhere else!" The characters were fantastic tonight and really went above and beyond to make sure everyone had a memorable experience. We sure did. It was a great time and the interaction with Jack Sparrow and Goofy really did it for me. I loved it! I recommend going on a Monday within the next couple of weeks. This is a slow time of the year so the tourist will be minimal as it is but I assume Monday nights will be the least likely nights that locals will attend.