Happy Friday from the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World! Thankfully, we’re bringing you updates on a dry and sunny day, including the return of some Splash Mountain merchandise, a couple other new pieces of merch, and plenty of character sightings throughout the park.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 1 Silhoutte Portraits 8 14 20 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Silhoutte-Portraits-8-14-20-1-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 2 Silhoutte Portraits 8 14 20 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Silhoutte-Portraits-8-14-20-2-1200x802.jpg)
One of the first notable sightings when we entered the park, a team of Disney management were assessing the setup at the silhouette portraits location outside of Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 3 Parasol Stand 8 14 20 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Parasol-Stand-8-14-20-1-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 4 Parasol Stand 8 14 20 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Parasol-Stand-8-14-20-2-1200x802.jpg)
The same was true for the parasol cart, which looks to have been getting a final lookover before reopening. Unfortunately, neither of these artistic outlets opened today, but their return may be very soon.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 5 Splash Mountain Delayed Opening 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Splash-Mountain-Delayed-Opening-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
Heading over to Frontierland, Splash Mountain was experiencing a delayed opening, as it commonly does these days.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 6 Splashdown Photos Line 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Splashdown-Photos-Line-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
Splashdown Photos, on the other hand, was not only open but had quite a line shortly after park opening. As we all know by now, a line at Splashdown Photos means Splash Mountain merchandise has been restocked (more on that later).
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 7 PeopleMover Closed Astro Orbiter Entrance 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/PeopleMover-Closed-Astro-Orbiter-Entrance-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
While delayed openings are no fun, they’re far better than months of downtime, like the situation at the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover. One thing you won’t notice in this picture, because there is no signage, is that the PeopleMover queue entrance is now the Astro Orbiter queue entrance.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 8 Stitch on Stage in Tomorrowland 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Stitch-on-Stage-in-Tomorrowland-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
Speaking of signs, Stitch’s Great Escape recently had its signage removed, but Stitch didn’t seem particularly concerned with this on the Tomorrowland stage.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 9 Snow White in Character Cavalcade 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Snow-White-in-Character-Cavalcade-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 10 Tiana in Character Cavalcade 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Tiana-in-Character-Cavalcade-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 11 Ariel in Character Cavalcade 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Ariel-in-Character-Cavalcade-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 12 Alice Peter Pan Winnie the Pooh in Character Cavalcade 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Alice-Peter-Pan-Winnie-the-Pooh-in-Character-Cavalcade-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
Elsewhere, characters appeared as part of various Character Cavalcades, unlike Stitch.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 13 Dancers in Character Cavalcade 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Dancers-in-Character-Cavalcade-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
Some of those Character Cavalcades also include a team of dancers who bookend the floats.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 14 Characters at Main Street Train Station 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Characters-at-Main-Street-Train-Station-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
For other characters, the Main Street train station is their stage, greeting guests from high above Main Street itself.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 15 Main Street Train Station 8 14 20 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Main-Street-Train-Station-8-14-20-2-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 16 Main Street Train Station Walts Window 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Main-Street-Train-Station-Walts-Window-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
Let us not forget, though, that the opposite side of that train station has some important details of its own.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 17 MagicBand Slap Bracelets 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/MagicBand-Slap-Bracelets-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
At the nearby Town Square Theater, the shop within the building is has a nice stock of the recently-returned MagicBand slap bracelets. While The Emporium will also have little or no stock due to the amount of shoppers through it, this store rarely has more than a handful of guests.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 18 Indiana Jones Magnet Set 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Indiana-Jones-Magnet-Set-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
One of the benefits of The Emporium is its wide selection, though, and this new set of Indiana Jones magnets is a perfect example of the unique items you can find there.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 19 Park Icon Ornament 8 14 20 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Park-Icon-Ornament-8-14-20-1-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 20 Park Icon Ornament 8 14 20 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Park-Icon-Ornament-8-14-20-2-1200x802.jpg)
At Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe, a new “merry and bright” light-up ornament made its debut. While The Emporium has a small selection of ornaments, Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe is the premiere store for all things Christmas.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 21 Peter Pans Flight Down 8 14 20 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Peter-Pans-Flight-Down-8-14-20-1-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 22 Peter Pans Flight Line 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Peter-Pans-Flight-Line-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
Over in Fantasyland this morning, Peter’s Pan Flight experienced a bit of downtime. That didn’t dissuade guests from remaining in a very long line, though.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 23 Big Als Closed 8 14 20 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Big-Als-Closed-8-14-20-2-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 24 Big Als Closed 8 14 20 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Big-Als-Closed-8-14-20-1-1200x802.jpg)
Unfortunately, Big Al’s, the kiosk shop across the walkway from The Country Bear Jamboree, did not open at all today. While it’s known to close down during poor weather, that wasn’t the case today.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 25 Big Thunder Mountain Wait Time 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Big-Thunder-Mountain-Wait-Time-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 26 Splash Mountain Wait Time 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Splash-Mountain-Wait-Time-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
Things were not so quiet elsewhere in Frontierland, with Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain having 50 and 45 minute waits, respectively.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 27 Splash Mountain Merchandise at Splashdown Photos 8 14 20 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Splash-Mountain-Merchandise-at-Splashdown-Photos-8-14-20-1-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 28 Splash Mountain Merchandise at Splashdown Photos 8 14 20 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Splash-Mountain-Merchandise-at-Splashdown-Photos-8-14-20-2-1200x802.jpg)
Surprisingly, even hours after opening, Splashdown Photos still had a couple Splash Mountain merchandise items remaining. Most notably, these recently-released pins and a tumbler which debuted in July were both available into the afternoon.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 29 Peter Pans Flight Down 8 14 20 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Peter-Pans-Flight-Down-8-14-20-2-1200x802.jpg)
Another recurring event, similar to Splash Mountain merchandise, was additional downtime for Peter Pan’s Flight. During the afternoon downtime the entire queue was cleared, unlike in the morning.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 30 Balloons and Cinderella Castle 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Balloons-and-Cinderella-Castle-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 31 Cinderella Castle and Hub Grass 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Cinderella-Castle-and-Hub-Grass-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 32 Side View Cinderella Castle 8 14 20](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Side-View-Cinderella-Castle-8-14-20-1200x802.jpg)
Beginning to wrap up our day, we were treated to some lovely views of what appears to be a completed Cinderella Castle after its makeover.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 33 City Hall Refurbishment 8 14 20 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/City-Hall-Refurbishment-8-14-20-1-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 34 City Hall Refurbishment 8 14 20 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/City-Hall-Refurbishment-8-14-20-2-1200x802.jpg)
We’re hoping that City Hall, which has now been under refurbishment for seven months, will have its big reveal soon.
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 35 Monorail Line Social Distancing Markers 8 14 20 1](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Monorail-Line-Social-Distancing-Markers-8-14-20-1-1200x802.jpg)
![PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom 8/14/20 (Splash Mountain Merchandise Returns, Characters Abound, Completed Cinderella Castle, and More) 36 Monorail Line Social Distancing Markers 8 14 20 2](https://media.wdwnt.com/2020/08/Monorail-Line-Social-Distancing-Markers-8-14-20-2-1200x802.jpg)
Finally, on the way out of the Magic Kingdom, markers on the ground for the Express Monorail queue have been updated to some slightly clearer markings. The queue utilizes a section of the entrance gates, in preparation for times of higher capacity.
Thanks as always for following along on our magical adventures. For more great photos and stories from Disney parks around the world, be sure to follow @WDWNT on Instagram!