PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (11/2/2024)

Nana T.

People walking near a large Christmas tree in a town square, surrounded by decorated buildings and a flagpole under a clear blue sky.

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom, Grand Floridian, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios (11/2/2024)

Happy Holiday from the Most Magical place on earth! Oops, it’s a spoiler…

A group of people in various colorful costumes pose together on a stage at Hollywood Studios, with some wearing masks and props. The backdrop is decorated with spider webs and lights, capturing the enchanting atmosphere of Magic Kingdom.

I hope everybody had a spooky Halloween! We had a Halloween News Tonight at the office. Can you guess my costume? It is not easy to guess…

Halloween is now over, and we are fully into Holiday Mode. This is the busiest time of the year for us (reporters) because Disney and Universal will soon put up all the holiday decorations around both resorts.

I had a plan today, which was:

  • Park at the Transportation and Ticket Center
  • Go to Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
  • Ride the Monorail to Magic Kingdom
  • Ride Jingle Cruise and do a park loop
  • Walk to Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Take a bus to Disney’s Hollywood Studios and do a loop
  • Take a bus to Disney’s Animal Kingdom to check on the Christmas tree
  • Bus back to Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort so I can walk to TTC

Sounds a lot right? haha Do you think this will go as we planned? We will see… Let the Chaos Begin!

Magic Kingdom

The entrance gate to Magic Kingdom, reminiscent of the enchanting Grand Floridian, boasts illuminated signage and stop signs. A conical structure stands tall as the road unfolds through multiple lanes, inviting guests into a world of wonder.

As soon as I pulled into the TTC, I noticed they had holiday decorations. I told my team, “I have a feeling Magic Kingdom got the tree…”

The entrance area at Hollywood Studios features multiple ticket booths and digital screens displaying information. Green railings guide foot traffic under charming overhead decorations, reminiscent of the elegant touches seen at the Grand Floridian.

I parked in my princess parking, where I could easily find my car. I walked to the security checkpoint and I saw more decorations at the ticket booths.

People stroll near the entrance to the Magic Kingdom ferryboat, with Cinderella Castle majestically in view, as visitors plan their day hopping between iconic spots like Hollywood Studios and perhaps even the luxurious Grand Floridian resort.

So I decided to count on my iPhone 15 Pro Max and zoomed in on Magic Kingdom… Yup! I do see the tree. The plan I had this morning was already falling apart. It’s fine! Now I’ll take the ferry to Magic Kingdom.

People walking near a large Christmas tree in a town square, surrounded by decorated buildings and a flagpole under a clear blue sky.

TA-DA-🎄✨ The tree is here!

The holiday season at Magic Kindom has officially started! Also, the in-park music has switched to more festive tunes. Do you prefer to hear holiday music in the park? I like the regular Main Street music; I get depressed from this music loop.

A wooden sign for "Jungle Cruise Tours" is decorated with greenery, lanterns, and colorful ornaments.

I then took all the necessary photos and made my way to Adventureland for the Jingle Cruise opening. I made it to the first boat! I love Jingle Cruise holiday jokes. The skippers are great! Once you are skipper, you are always skipper!

A person taking a selfie near a "Jungle Cruise" sign at Magic Kingdom, wearing a colorful shirt and pointing upward, with a sunny sky and theme park ambiance in the background.

This year’s Jingle Cruise coverage is brought to you by Nana and Billy! After Jingle Cruise, I started my quick Holiday Decoration Hunt loop around the park.

Here are just a few that I found from my loop, from Frontierland to Tomorrowland! Which land has your favorite holiday decorations?

Customers at a diner counter with staff assisting, reminiscent of the charming ambiance at the Grand Floridian. Menu boards displayed above feature drink and dessert options. The ceiling adds a whimsical touch with its star designs.

I wrote about Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies’s Candy Corn Soft Serve Sundae in Nana’s Disney Princess Diary before, because it was the best treat from all the Halloween offerings this year. Now, Halloween is over… BUT they still have it! So for one last time, I bought it.

A hand holds a cup of swirled orange soft serve ice cream inside a restaurant reminiscent of Hollywood Studios, with gray and silver decor in the background.

Nana was fulfilled. We will miss you!

A large gingerbread house graces the ornate lobby of the Grand Floridian, its sweet scent drifting past intricate white railings and arched windows, evoking a whimsical atmosphere reminiscent of Magic Kingdom's enchanting charm.

I finished my Magic Kingdom loop and took a boat to the Grand Floridian to check on the gingerbread house. (Yes, I took Contemporary off my list because my friends told me there is no update on their gingerbread display… Good to have some friends, right?)

A decorative porch at the Grand Floridian showcases lush greenery and vibrant red flowers. A bowl with a small tree and ornament graces the porch, enclosed by white railing, with logs in the background.

At Grand Floridian, I FOUND A FIGGY TREE!! They were still putting them in when we had a reporter taking pictures yesterday. So we did not get him.

My job is done here so taking a bus to Hollywood Studios!

Hello from Hollywood Studios!

A person holds a bundle consisting of a folded umbrella, a camera attachment, and a blue sticker-covered water bottle, perfect for a day exploring Magic Kingdom.

I got beeped at security, so I took out all of my items from my backpack… and I still beeped from the scanner! Well, thank you for making sure we are safe!

Two sweatshirts on hangers, both featuring the "Walt Disney World 1971" design. One is white and green, reminiscent of Hollywood Studios' vibrant energy, while the other is white and red, capturing the classic charm of the Magic Kingdom.

They had this cute crewneck at Keystone Clothiers!

A lakeside view with a dinosaur statue, fountain, and palm trees under an overcast sky resembles a scene straight out of Hollywood Studios. A black metal fence lines the curved walkway, adding to the cinematic charm.

NO TREE AT HOLLYWOOD STUDIOS! Gertie said, “NOT YET GIRL!”

People strolling down a city street, flanked by three-story buildings, as clouds drift lazily across the sky. The scene almost feels like a charming corner of the Magic Kingdom.

No decoration at Grand Avenue either; the buildings still have their windows are open and some of their curtains are spooky.

A person in Mandalorian armor interacts with a crowd of people wearing casual and themed apparel outside, evoking the enchanting atmosphere of Hollywood Studios.

The Mandalorian was roaming around the market on Batuu today.

People strolling by a giant Woody statue at the entrance of Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios, surrounded by colorful decorations and greenery.

No holiday decorations at Toy Story Land just yet.

Two large billboards adorn the building: one for "Dancing with the Stars" on ABC and Hulu, the other for "Wizards: Beyond the Page" on Disney+, reminiscent of Hollywood Studios. A tall palm tree gracefully sways in the foreground.

In Animation Courtyard, my “Dance Moms” ad is GONE! Now, the “Wizards Beyond Waverly Place” ad is in…

The entrance to "Voyage of the Little Mermaid" at Hollywood Studios features a large mural of Ariel gracing the building. Under a cloudy sky, a few people stroll nearby, soaking in the enchanting atmosphere that rivals even the Magic Kingdom's charm.

Ariel’s backdrop is still looking terrible. I also spotted no new updates on Sunset Boulevard.

A colorful tour bus adorned with signatures is parked under a roofed area, partially obscured by the large columns reminiscent of Hollywood Studios.

When I was done at Hollywood Studios, It was already 1:30 p.m. I never heard anything about Animal Kingdom’s Christmas tree, so I triple-checked the Instagram location tag and there was nothing.

I decided to take a bus back to the Polynesian so I could walk to the TTC to get my car. When I arrived at the resort, I saw a character caravan! Nana loves characters!

The Grand Floridian hotel's lobby boasts a central water fountain feature, surrounded by lush plants and seating. Under a high glass ceiling adorned with decorative hanging lanterns, it captures an elegance reminiscent of Magic Kingdom's charm.

Characters were not out yet, so I went inside to check for holiday decorations and there were none.

The characters eventually came out of the caravan and it was Daisy, Chip, and Dale. I got to see them last Monday, so I left. I was hoping for seasonal costumed characters. You know, back in the day, each resort had characters come out on Halloween, the Fourth of July, and New Year’s Eve. Those were the best Disney days.

A person in a gray hoodie and jeans poses next to someone in a green alligator costume at night, both making playful hand gestures, as if they just stepped out of an adventure in the Magic Kingdom.

I got to see Tick-Tock the Crocodile at Beach Club in 2019!

If I could ask Santa Goofy, I would ask him to bring back more entertainment in the parks. Oh, wait, I might not be on the NICE Disney Adult list, so this won’t happen.

After the Polynesian visit, I walked to my car and then went back home.

A large crowd gathers at a theme park main street, decorated with wreaths and lights. A fairytale castle is illuminated in the background.

BUT I AM NOT A REGULAR DISNEY ADULT! So I went back to Magic Kingdom to get a night shot of the tree and Main Street, U.S.A.

Characters in colorful costumes are performing on a multi-level ship stage with lights, reminiscent of the enchanting spectacles at Magic Kingdom, against a dark background.

Then, I went to watch “Fantasmic!” at Hollywood Studios! I LOVE “FANTASMIC!” This show is my absolute favorite. I used to love “Fantasmic!” at Disneyland, but since the Maleficent dragon was “injured” and downgraded, I appreciate our “Fantasmic!” more.

Orange bars tell a tale of weekly mileage: Sun 2 mi, Mon 4 mi, Tue 3 mi, Wed 0 mi, Thu 5 mi, Fri 0 mi, and Sat's magical run of 12 miles. Total stands at a whimsical 12.5 miles as of Nov 2, 2024. Looks like a jog through the Magic Kingdom!

On November 2, I walked 12 miles in total! What a day! (On Wednesday, I slept all day.)

I totally forgot that I registered for the Walt Disney World Marathon in 2025, and I have not trained yet. I am not quite sure I can finish it at this point, but I hope these park walks will help.

Anyway, our crazy search for holiday decorations will continue… Thank you for reading Nana’s Disney Princess Diary! See you real soon!

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