Howdy! Today was a lot of fun, I started the day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, one of my favorite parks, made a quick stop in Magic Kingdom before a shopping trip to Disney Springs.
Good Morning from Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Good morning from a very beautiful but cold day in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The Cast Members were standing at the entrance greeting guests and celebrating the start of the day with everyone.
I always love when the Cast do this. It really makes you feel special and welcome which is exactly how every guest should feel at Disney World.
Ariel Open Edition Pins
In Riverside Depot there were three new open-edition Ariel pins available for purchase. My favorite is Ariel showing Flounder something exciting in her book. How do you think ink works in the ocean? Must be some special squid ink or something.
- Ariel and Flounder – $12.99 (silver)
- Ariel and Sebastian – $22.99
- Ariel Singing – $14.99 (yellow)
Pandora – World of Avatar
Something about rope dropping Pandora – World of Avatar really makes me happy. The ambiance of the land architecture and the sounds of the unworldly creatures rustling in the brush really make it an immersive experience.
I like the peace of the morning but the land really comes to life when the sun goes down. If you are lucky enough to experience Animal Kingdom in the dark. Lately it’s been closing too early to really get the full effect of the blue light reactive spaces.
Play in the Park Merchandise
Even more Play in the Park merchandise landed in Animal Kingdom. I found the shirt, hat, and snack tumbler at Island Mercantile and the figurines and autograph book from Riverside Depot. I really like this new design of a returning collection.
- Shirt – $64.99
- Hat – $29.99
- Snack Tumbler – $19.99
- Deluxe Figurine Set – $34.99
- Autograph Book – $24.99 (magenta)
Flotilla Holiday Band
The Animal Kingdom Flotilla is one of my favorite additions. During the holidays the band plays holiday tunes but regardless of the music they play it always gives an extra kinetic energy to the park.
Purrecious Lion King Plush
With the new ‘Mufasa’ movie releasing soon it was no surprise that there is a new Lion King plush available in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. This precious little guy is available in Mombasa Marketplace for $34.99. I love the extra painted details on the little lions head.
Dinoland – Chester & Hester Dino-Rama
At Chester & Hester Dino-Rama I tried my luck for an Iguanodon to only be left with disappointment. I am certainly not the gamer that Nana is. I did walk away with a Minnie Mouse, which I’m told is running low so if you want her better hurry to Dino-Rama while you still can.
Oop – Magic Kingdom Moment
Working in news means you have to flexible and when things pop up we go! So I took a little bus ride to the Magic Kingdom to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Ride
Luckily it was only a 15-minute wait to ride Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. While riding I spotted the mysterious cranes that brought me here in the first place. It was hard to focus and not just enjoy the ride but we soldier on.
Are you excited by the recent announcements coming to Magic Kingdom? I look forward to the change, but stay cautiously optimistic as it is always hard saying goodbye to places that hold so many memories.
Honorary Bus Driver Sticker
After my wild ride through the Wilderness the Cast Member at my bus decided I was ready to assist as Honorary Bus Driver. This fun little keepsake was totally unexpected, but appreciated. I collect the Disney stickers that are given to me – especially these really cool uncommon ones.
Have you ever been given a really cool sticker at Magic Kingdom? The monorail wings are my favorite so far because it reminds me of the wings given to me as a child flying with Delta Airlines.
Bambi Takeover
My bus arrived at Disney Springs without an issue and I began my shopping spree. In Ever After an entirely new Bambi collection was displayed. There was a small keychain, box bag that is insulated, tote bag, and a set of three scrunchies.
The soft collection offers a more neutral tone compared to what we normally see from Disney.
- Small Keychain – $29.99
- Box Bag – $34.99
- Tote – $44.99
- Scrunchies – $19.99
Tren-D Dresses
At Tren-D there were three new dresses that caught my attention. There is a Fairy Godmother inspired dress, a Minnie Mouse inspired dress, and a patchwork dress featuring both Disney World and Disneyland.
The patchwork dress is by far my favorite. Let me know which of the three is your favorite in the comments below.
Cinderella Statue Returns
There was tons of new merchandise in the World of Disney, but I’ll spare you that level of chaos. Instead we celebrate the return of a repainted Cinderella statue. The sparkles are really coming through now and the blue is much more saturated.
This refurbishment happens pretty regularly as Cinderella and Aurora are both outside in the sun all the time, so of course there is sun damage and normal wear throughout the year.
I hope you enjoyed our day on the Disney property. My favorite moment was playing Dino-Rama and getting to be Honorary Bus Driver today. Did you have a favorite moment or did you like any of the new merchandise found today? Let me know in the comments below and on social media.
For the latest Disney Parks news and info, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.