PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom and EPCOT 12/19/2024 (Foggy Morning, Monorail Rides, and New Year’s Set Up)

Bryce B.

People walk down a festive, foggy street lined with decorated buildings, leading to a distant castle.

PHOTO REPORT: Magic Kingdom and EPCOT 12/19/2024 (Foggy Morning, Monorail Rides, and New Year’s Set Up)

Howdy! It’s another day in the Magic Kingdom, but with all the fog you could barely see it! I found lots of fun merchandise, saw a lot of construction and refurbishment work, and of course, rode the Monorail a few times.

Foggy Start

Collage of foggy scenes at a resort, showing a monorail, a man waving from a balcony, a misty lake, empty ferry terminal, and palm trees in fog.

This morning, the fog was certainly aggressive. The ferryboats didn’t open at their normal time because of the fog. My morning was brightened by Jason Diffendal’s shining face waving from the newly opened Island Tower.

Entry – Passholder Entrance

A person stands in line at a theme park passholder entrance with a Mickey Mouse sign nearby.

I like this picture because the sky is completely blank as if it were edited, but it is just that foggy.

The Passholder entrance is sometimes hit or miss. Sometimes this is a way more efficient line because in theory, Passholders should know they have a reservation before entry so there’s a less likely chance of getting stuck behind someone with an issue with their ticket or reservation.

I am curious to see if Walt Disney World will get the more modern tapstiles that Disneyland recently installed at their entrance.

Good Morning from Magic Kingdom

A large decorated Christmas tree stands in a town square surrounded by festive decorations and buildings. Several people are walking nearby.

You could barely see Cinderella Castle down Main Street, U.S.A., but the weather was very nice otherwise. The crowds were light at Magic Kingdom this morning, which is pretty normal for a party night.

Tonight, Magic Kingdom is hosting Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, so the park closes to day guests at 6 p.m. Many folks skip it if they don’t have party tickets so they can have a full day with fireworks.

More Play in the Park Merchandise

WDW MK EC Photo Report 121824 8

I found more Play in the Park merchandise at the Emporium, though I found the sling bag at the bottom right at Creation Shop in EPCOT. I have said before that I like this new version of this collection more than last year’s, and I stand by that. I think the repeating pattern is cute, and the sling bag is definitely on my list.

You can find the prices of these and more from the Play in the Park collection on our website. What do you think of the new Play in the Park collection? Let me know in the comments.

Stoney Clover Merchandise in Uptown Jewelers

Display of Disneyland-themed merchandise, including sweatshirts, backpacks, and wallets on store shelves.

Yesterday, Stoney Clover released their collaboration with Walt Disney World. Each of the parks seemed to have gotten a few pieces. I was surprised to see that there were still a few items left at Uptown Jewelers in Magic Kingdom. Granted, there was only one extra small sweater available.

Apparently, people were lined up for these things yesterday. They are a bit expensive for my taste. Let me know what you think of this collection in the comments below. You can check out more of this collection and the prices on our website.

Maintenance at The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Maintenance crew working on a purple flying carpet ride with ladders and tools. The ride is temporarily halted for repairs.

This morning Adventureland had a delayed opening. When the land finally opened, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin was still closed. There was a huge crew of Cast Members and maintenance partners trying to resolve whatever issue the carpet must’ve had.

Luckily, later in the day, the carpets were reopened to guests thanks to the Cast’s hard work.

Pirates of the Caribbean Construction

Collage of three images: Exterior of a theme park ride with a clock tower, and two interior shots showing ceiling lights and wooden panels.

Over at Pirates of the Caribbean, construction continues. Forgive me, I am short and believe in retaining magic when Disney has full walls up. From what I can tell, there are new concrete walls that have been built but have not been covered with any drywall.

There are still some spots in the ceiling that have insulation hanging out. Overall, it seems that there is still a lot of work left to be done. I have a fear that this tavern they are building will be similar to Gaston’s, which is alcohol-free. I think parents deserve a beer at the very least after a long day at Magic Kingdom.

Merry Christmas Week!

A countdown sign on a red door shows "106 Days Until Christmas," featuring a snowman and a penguin decoration.

That’s right! Christmas is less than a week away officially! This countdown is located in the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in Magic Kingdom. I can’t believe it’s almost Christmastime. Be sure to stay tuned to our website, Nana and I will be in the parks on Christmas morning. Wish us luck!

Liberty Square Doll

A doll in a striped dress stands behind a window with green shutters and a pink brick wall backdrop.

There is still no update on the Liberty Square Doll. She must be eagerly awaiting Christmas because I have never seen her so focused. Maybe she will move during New Year’s Eve? It’s either adorable or terrifying.

Magic Kingdom Crane

A tall crane stands near a rocky structure surrounded by trees with a lamp post in the foreground. The sky is overcast.

The crane behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad hasn’t moved much since it was raised. Be sure to keep up to date on our website for more details on this crane and more.

Tron Windbreaker – $59.99

A turquoise jacket with "TRON" text on the back and front pocket, hung on a display rack in a store.

In Launch Depot, the gift shop exit of Space Mountain, there is a new Tron windbreaker jacket available for $59.99. I love this brighter collection of Tron merchandise being released.

Cinderella Castle

A fairy-tale castle with blue spires and stone walls surrounded by greenery and a moat under a cloudy sky.

Here’s my required walk-out shot of Cinderella Castle. The fog had really dissipated by this point, leaving blue skies behind. This was taken shortly after the fog subsided so the clouds remain for now.

Resort Monorail Blue

Interior of a monorail with a sign reading "Monorail Blue," and an exterior view showing a red monorail passing by grassy terrain and trees.

I took the Resort Monorail to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). Along the way, I captured this cool moment with the Express Monorail zooming by as the train chugged along in the background.

Thank you for indulging me, now it’s time for that Monorail transfer that always trips up the newest guests.

EPCOT Monorail Green

Two images: The top shows the interior signage of a monorail labeled "Monorail Green." The bottom depicts construction work involving scaffolding and machinery near a building.

Nothing much has changed over at Test Track since my last visit, but it’s still so exciting to see workers present and trying to make those significant milestones.

2025 Passholder Exclusive Merchandise

Merchandise display featuring black T-shirts and caps with "2025 Passholder" design, and black insulated water bottles on the right.

In Creations Shop at EPCOT, I found a new Corkcicle bottle exclusively for Annual Passholders celebrating the 2025 New Year. The shirt and hat were previously found. For details on the pricing and more details, please visit our website.

2025 New Year’s Celebration Set Up in EPCOT

A theme park with metal structures, decorations, and people walking on a paved path. Brick buildings and neatly trimmed hedges are visible.

The Italy and United Kingdom Pavilions in EPCOT have started setting up for the park’s 2025 New Year’s celebration. There should be an equally impressive stage coming to China soon. Have you ever visited EPCOT for New Year’s Eve? Let me know in the comments. I usually find myself here every year and it’s an absolute blast.

Just remember to pack a lot of patience because EPCOT goes from a theme park vibe to a giant club vibe within hours.

Frozen Cola from Refreshment Port

Hand with pink nails holding a cup of iced coffee outdoors, with a building and people in the background.

There was no one around the Refreshment Port on the way back to the Monorail, so I took full advantage of the situation. I ate the sugar treats they put on top and enjoyed my frozen Coke on the walk out. It’s supposed to be getting cooler again this weekend so I figured I should grab one while it was still nice enough to enjoy it.

EPCOT Monorail to TTC

People walking toward a monorail station entrance sign for the Transportation and Ticket Center, Magic Kingdom, and Magic Kingdom Resorts.

I hope you enjoyed our little park-hopping adventure today. I really enjoyed my frozen Coke, but I think it is always cool to see a foggy Magic Kingdom. I will never forget that in the fall of 2023, Cinderella Castle almost entirely disappeared in the mist. It was wild.

Let me know if you had a favorite moment from today and if you plan on partying with me at EPCOT this New Year’s Eve in the comments below. Until next time!

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