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If you ask a true Disney fanatic to name their favorite sight in the Magic Kingdom, be prepared to wait for a while. The parks are simply one visual treat after another and choosing just one is nearly impossible. It would be easy enough to select one of the more obvious sights in the park as being the most beautiful, such as Cinderella’s Castle or Wishes Fireworks Spectacular. To some guests, the sight of Captain Jack Sparrow on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride is the most beautiful of all! But there are also a lot of simpler, subtler sights to be seen in the park that are amazingly beautiful in their own right. Some of them can be hugely emotional as well. Here are a few of the most beautiful sights in Magic Kingdom:
10. Smiles with Mickey Mouse
It doesn’t matter if it’s your own child or a child from a family you don’t even know, when you see a youngster’s face light up with delight upon laying eyes on Mickey Mouse, it’s not only beautiful – it’s magical. A split second of confusion is replaced by recognition, which transforms into excitement, and the next thing you know a couple of chubby toddler legs are propelling the child into Mickey’s arms. It doesn’t matter how many times I see it, it’s absolutely charming every time.
9. Princesses Meeting Princesses
Likewise, when a young girl wears her favorite princess costume to Magic Kingdom, you just know that somewhere back home there’s a DVD or Blu-Ray copy of that movie that’s been watched more times than she can count. When she finally meets her favorite princess face to face, it’s a truly sweet sight to behold. If you can watch a young princess trying to act grown-up in her nice dress while barely containing her excitement without smiling, there’s a strong chance you might be a Disney villain!
8. The Steam Locomotive Entrance
If you typically arrive at Magic Kingdom early enough to see the Welcome Show, you know there’s no better sight than seeing the characters ride in via the Disney World Railroad. Your amazing day has begun, you’ve arrived in time for rope drop, and as a result you’ll be able to knock out a lot of attractions in a short time. The sight of that first steam locomotive chugging into the Main Street, U.S.A. Station just starts your whole day with a bang!
7. The Kiss Goodnight Show
At the other end of the day is another beautiful sight – the Kiss Goodnight. This simple little two-minute show, consisting of dialogue, music, and flashing lights on Cinderella Castle, is the Magic Kingdom’s way of bidding you a final fond farewell from the park. If you see both the Welcome Show and the Kiss Goodnight in a day’s visit to Magic Kingdom, you are doing Disney right!
6. That Blast of Cold Vapor
You’re visiting during the summer months, so Magic Kingdom is crowded, sunny, and hot. You can’t stand the thought of waiting in another line in such close proximity to hundreds of other hot, sweaty guests. Then you stop at an ice cream cart and watch as the Cast Member pulls a Mickey’s Premium Ice Cream Bar out of the freezer. The ice cream is so cold and the day is so hot that chilly vapors rise up from inside the freezer and all around your frozen treat. Your mouth starts watering in anticipation not only of the chocolate and vanilla flavor, but the sheer coldness of it. Heaven!
5. Your Name in Stitches
The most iconic souvenir that you can get in the Magic Kingdom is Mickey Mouse or Minnie Mouse Ears. They might not be the most inconspicuous thing to wear around your hometown, but while you’re at Disney World they are the height of fashion. And there’s nothing better than personalizing your own set of ears. Get to the park early enough, and you won’t have to wait long to see the embroidery machine stitching your name onto the back of the Ears. Try to contain your excitement – you’ll be putting them on soon enough!
4. Characters En Route
Much like reaching the front of the ride line, there’s no better feeling than being “next” when you’re in the Magic Kingdom. That goes especially when you’re enjoying a character meal. The food is quite good of course, but the main reason you’re there is to see the Disney characters. And there’s no better sight, especially for the youngsters in your party, than seeing them making a beeline for your table. Get those cameras and autograph books ready.
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3. Keeping it Real… Clean
Disney has a fairly well-known policy which states that everyone in the organization – from the top execs all the way down – picks up trash when they see it. But the Custodial Department at Disney World leads the charge in the battle to keep things aesthetically pleasing. They swoop in to deal with rubbish almost before it hits the ground, not to mention the more ghastly chore of dealing with “protein spills”. Seeing a custodial Cast Member keeping the parks beautiful for their guests is beautiful in its own right.
2. Going Above and Beyond
Most Disney guests would agree that Cast Members deliver service that is exceptional, and frequently goes above and beyond expectation. This is never more evident than when you witness a Cast Member kindly and patiently interacting with a young child or a developmentally disabled guest. Disney World may be for everyone, but it was built with children in mind. Good Cast Members engage their youngest guests while never talking down to them. Likewise, many developmentally disabled guests who travel to Disney World are able to experience guest service that is patient and courteous – possibly for the first time in their lives. The sight of a Cast Member treating one of their most vulnerable guests with tolerance and kindness is as beautiful as it gets, and chokes me up every time.
1. The Flag Retreat Ceremony
The Flag Retreat is a beautiful flag-lowering ceremony that takes place every evening in Town Square of Main Street, U.S.A. The ceremony features patriotic music from the Main Street Philharmonic and the Dapper Dans, including America the Beautiful and The Star-Spangled Banner. A child in attendance is selected to lead the guests in the Pledge of Allegiance. The flag is lowered, folded, and then presented to an Honorary Veteran of the Day who receives a certificate and photo commemorating the ceremony. A reminder of the many men and women who have fought for our freedoms, this traditional ceremony is guaranteed to bring a tear to your eye.
Have you seen these sights when visiting Magic Kingdom? Do you agree that they are beautiful? What are the most beautiful sights for you in Magic Kingdom?
BONUS TIP: Consider planning and booking your next Disney trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner you can trust like Mickey Travels. They’ll help you get the best Walt Disney World deal, share expert advice and their services are totally FREE! It’s genius!
Photo courtesy of Disney Photo Snapper
