Magic Kingdom Live Update

October 10, 2020

We visit the Magic Kingdom and bring it to you live via both video and podcast. We check out everything that is happening to include new nighttime hours at Magic Kingdom, where we get our first glimpse of the 50th Anniversary castle at night. From there we take on every land in the kingdom, and look at new construction, halloween additions, and crowd flow. We capture some key pieces of the magic that always wow the guests, but may not be working because of the challenges management is facing with maintenance. All this and more as we bring you the Magic Kingdom of Walt Disney World live.

You can find our podcast here on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, MyTuner, and ListenNotes. Key notes and photos are below, but you’ll find most of my commentary on the podcast. Also, be sure to not only catch the video on YouTube, but subscribe there as well so you get updates.

What you won’t see on video is the work being done to repaint the toll plaza entrance to the Magic Kingdom.

Many of our photos are taken Thursday morning. Note that the crowds are very light in many parts of the park.

Scaffolding has been cleared away from City Hall and we now see the building in all of its gingerbread architecture.

We pause to note that in one of the windows, there is no animation to the Cinderella scene.

If you haven’t seen the Halloween Cavalcades, check out the following:

Disney Cast Members having a pre-shift meeting before heading to their work assignments. It’s a tough time for Cast Members.

Lots going on with layoffs. We have a complete post/podcast to support Cast Members who may be struggling at this time. It’s also an informative look at how Disney manages terminations.

I share my views on this newly expanded exit via backstage of Main Street, U.S.A. on the video and podcast.

Spring rolls are now being sold in the parks again. It’s early in the morning here, but be assured there is a line much of the rest of the day.

We talk about the waterwheel in the podcast/video. It’s part of a larger conversation. On Thursday it’s working. On Saturday it’s not.

We did a complete video of the Treehouse last February. It wasn’t working on that day as well.

We did an earlier post/podcast on The Enchanted Tiki Room. It’s about Change. I know…the topic doesn’t sound right. But check it out!

Thursday morning at 9:30 am. Looks pretty empty…

…Until you round the corner and find a 40 minute queue for Big Thunder Mountain.

Tom Sawyer Island is closed. But we did a fun post/podcast that compared Tom Sawyer Islands all around the world. Check it out!

We see the Haunted Mansion sitting on the Rivers of America. They are probably being drained over the next few weeks as repairs are done to the Liberty Belle and to Tom Sawyer Island.

New ghosts at the Haunted Mansion? Terrible picture I know. But check out our podcast/video to know more.

Not covered in the video/podcast are new decorations for Hanukkah…

…and for Nightmare Before Christmas.

Big scaffolding has gone up in front of “it’s a small world”.

Big lines stretch for Peter Pan’s Flight, but how long was the real wait? We talk about it in the podcast/video. Meanwhile, I caught a picture of London while soaring over it.

It’s Thursday morning and there are more strollers than people.

The challenge with Gaston’s opening up is that there are not enough distant benches to sit. They need to add some temporary wood benches to the area and spread them out.

Pete’s Silly Side Show has an animation of Pete tipping his hat. And it’s working today!

Very cool thing discovered the other day was this marking behind the flat of Pete, giving the show element a sense of a temporary carnival moving in and out.

Note that at the train station there are no tracks. They are being replaced.

Lots of great photo of Tron coming in. Here we see the building from the monorail beam.

Here’s a much closer view on the other side.

Here’s a view of the grid that will canvas the exterior portion of the coaster.

Sonny Eclipse is always playing at Cosmic Rays–well…almost. It’s really disappointing when his character is down, as he just sits there in front of diners doing nothing. Here he is singing “Space Angels”

In our podcast/video we talk about the following:

• Cinderella Window on Main Street
• Water wheel on Swiss Family Robinson
• “it’s a small world” clock
• Pete’s hat animation at Silly Side Show
• Dormouse at Mad Tea Party
• Cosmic Ray’s own Sonny Eclipse
• PeopleMover

These are all attractions that provide just a little bit of magic and yet are easily broken down. The PeopleMover is the biggest of these challenges and is a reflection of how few maintenance people are available to support these efforts.

In the video/podcast I talk about the equivalent of Tomorrowland Terrace at Tokyo Disneyland. At Magic Kingdom, this restaurant is practically out of business, except when they were doing dessert parties at night. In Tokyo, this is a vibrant, cool space with great colors.

Here’w where you order your food.

Big, spacious and colorful dining areas.

All the while, it hosts great views as well. Trust me when I say that Tomorrowland Terrace is Magic Kingdom’s most underrated real estate.

Let’s go back to Magic Kingdom. Dusk is sitting on Magic Kingdom.

And with extended hours, we get some beautiful shots.

This is one of the first evenings we’ve been able to see the completed 50th anniversary castle lit up at night.

A little Halloween glow being shared with Cinderella Castle.

The Madame Leota Sipper cup is a big winner at Magic Kingdom.

Also, Main Street U.S.A. is lit up. They almost purposely left lights off at twilight in September so guests did not stay to linger but move on from the park.

A castle framed in lights.

Good night Magic Kingdom!

There’s More!

Again, you can find our podcast here on Podbean, iTunes, Spotify, MyTuner, and ListenNotes. Or catch a full park video on YouTube. Be sure to subscribe there as well so you get updates.

We have two other posts/podcasts already out for this week! Check them out:

Efficiency: A Disney Key To Excellence. This includes not only an in-depth look at one of Disney’s Four Keys to Excellence, but we also announce a new Disney Key added this last week: Inclusion.

Top Disney Parks Poster Art. For those who really love Disney attraction posters, this is my top 10 favorite list. Check it out!