Howdy! Today was a nice relaxing morning in the Magic Kingdom. There were tons of construction updates with Big Thunder Mountain and Lakeshore Lodge Resort, I found new chocolate bars with gorgeous wrapping, and more of my usual antics in the most magical place on earth.
Good Morning from the Express Monorail
Good Morning from the Transportation and Ticket Center, better known as the TTC. Here you can catch a monorail to EPCOT, the Polynesian Resort, the Grand Floridian Resort, the Magic Kingdom, and the Contemporary Resort. You can also catch a ferryboat to Magic Kingdom Park.
I opted for the most efficient route via a fairly empty monorail. That’s pretty normal for these 8 a.m. openings. The 8 a.m. opening means I’m here around 7 a.m.
Magic Kingdom Sunrise
I think Cinderella Castle is most beautiful during sunrise. The crowds were pretty chill today too, which always makes life easier. The weather is also perfect, so other than being a little grumpy by the early start, it looks like a beautiful day ahead.
Confectionery Pretty Postcard Pixar Sweets – $8.99
These Pixar chocolate bars look beautiful. I found the pair in the Main Street Confectionery. On the pack, there is a place to write to and from, a small themed postcard, and the common nutritional facts that are better left unread. I love the foiling on the front big letters printed over a matte background. I meant to grab them on the way out so they wouldn’t melt, and I totally forgot. Next time.
Pirates of the Caribbean Updates
I have more good news than bad today, which I take as a win. The Torre del Cielo has been boarded up, which is odd. I am curious to see what comes of this.
The good news is I found a Little Golden Book for Pirates of the Caribbean available in Plaza del Sol Caribe for $5.99. Disney has also repaired the pole base that was rotting away. There is also a new cabinet on the back wall of the shop. This is the same wall as the exit doors to the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
Shooting Tower Erased
The DVC Lounge in Magic Kingdom opened a few weeks ago. However, the tower that is above the DVC booth used to be a shooting tower facade. The tower matched the original shooting arcade.
Since the DVC Lounge opened, Disney has slowly made moves to complete this tower. Last week they finally matched the paint color. Now they have finally covered the holes that were used for guns to shoot through. Hopefully this is just one step toward the finish, because this looks a little silly to me in its present state.
Spooky Parasol
The personalized parasols at the Magic Kingdom are very nostalgic to me, and they are honestly a necessity in the summertime sunny days. I loved this premade Haunted Mansion-themed black parasol. I love the campy style of the characters in this original art.
Let me know in the comments below if you have ever gotten a parasol from the Magic Kingdom.
Belle’s Village Needs Help
I am particularly protective of the princesses and their areas in Magic Kingdom. I hate that we have these nice things that aren’t taken care of with any urgency. The Be Our Guest outdoor menu still has the temporary medallion in place of the medallion with a rose carved into it. I say “temporarily” with hope that is slowly draining.
Speaking of draining, the Gaston fountain is not functioning, and the piles of pennies at the base of the fountain are just sitting there soggy. Whatever dude, Disney has yet to fix the themed bolts along the village bridge. Those have been missing in different spots for almost two years, at minimum. I just wish they would take care of the things we have.
King Triton – NO UPDATES
I am tired of this game Disney. May I come in with a small paint collection and just touch this up? I would love the opportunity, and honestly I would do it just for the story. It just looks weird. At least he’s not chipping under his nose. Here’s to the never-ending Triton Saga.
Joe the Legal Weasel Muppet Magnet
Every Friday, Made Dtech releases a new Muppet magnet. Joe the Legal Weasel is number 34 of 70. There are 70 magnets in the collection to celebrate the Muppet’s 70th Anniversary. I saw this one in the machines in Launch Depot.
Sonny’s Missing Again!
Dag Nabbit. It doesn’t feel like a complete Magic Kingdom day without seeing Sonny Eclipse. This is so rude. I hope Sonny is enjoying his early weekend. The guy does work tirelessly. Maybe the Space Angels finally joined a union and it’s mandatory. Stay tuned. I’m sure we will see him soon.
Big Thunder Mountain Construction Update
Since my last visit, there seems to have been a lot of work done on Big Thunder Mountain. The newest track from last week now has some serious structural supports underneath it.
From the Liberty Square Riverboat, you can see that below the newest track the crew have been laying concrete. There is even a new structural support piece where there have been boards with “hole” written on them.
Boat to Fort Wilderness Campgrounds
Truth be told, I have never been upset with this being one of my final stops on Fridays. The to-go food at Trail’s End is SO GOOD. If you don’t know you don’t get it, and you need to make it a point to educate yourself.
You can choose a few ways of enjoying this home-style cooking. You can go to Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue for a dinner and show event or Trail’s End Restaurant for either a warm or cold option. Any way you do it, it’s going to be worth it. Oh my gosh, the cornbread. I need to wrap this up so I can go eat some. It’s so gooey.
Lakeshore Lodge Resort and More Cabin Construction
On the boat over, I noticed that the crews were busy quickly building the new Disney Lakeshore Lodge nestled between Fort Wilderness Campgrounds and Fort Wilderness Lodge. I am, as usual, cautiously optimistic. I noticed that there was a wooden frame on the beach, which is kind of spooky. I hope that the beach isn’t on the way out, but it certainly looks that way.
There are also two cabins being constructed literally in front of the Hoop-Dee-Doo venue, which I feel is a very weird choice. Maybe they will be reworking the area with the new resort just behind the restaurants.
The bus stop is still located in the Cast Member parking lot while the two cabins are being constructed. The cabins are fairly complete. It looks like the crews are working on the decking of the two cabins.
I hope you enjoyed our morning in Magic Kingdom. I most enjoyed just being in the park today. I hate waking up and I certainly wouldn’t consider myself a morning person. But once I’m out the door, there is no place I’d rather be. The weather has been perfect, the crowds have been low, and the vibes have been nothing but magical.
Let me know in the comments below if you are excited to see the finished Lakeshore Lodge at Fort Wilderness. I am cautiously optimistic.
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