One thing that you might have learned about my family thus far is that we are a bunch of theme park people. We just are. We love a day of wandering through looking at themeing, riding rides, eating all kinds of food that is probably terrible for us, and taking pictures. But even though we live within an hour of two of the country’s premier theme parks, parks people actually create whole vacations around, we still make our pilgrimages to Disney World.
Of course, there are plenty of reasons why Disney is totally different from the other parks, not the least of which is Mickey himself, but one of the main reasons that we set Disney apart from any of our other theme park excursions is simply what it’s like to be there. At other theme parks you experience what is around you and what they’ve built up for you to see. At Disney, you become a part of it. You are immersed in the fantasy and immersed in the atmosphere. No two days are alike because they are different by merit of who is there that day. It’s nothing short of magical.
One of our favorite ways to become a part of Disney World during our visits is playing Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. This interactive card game is one of the delightful little details of the park that somewhat flies under the radar. It’s not hugely marketed, though you will see little signs and hear mention of special cards for special events, so it feels a bit underground when you play. If you have ever played any of the number of battle-type card games out there, you have a pretty good head start for playing.
The point of Sorcerers is to battle the forces of evil throughout Magic Kingdom and restore good. Yep. It is just as fabulous as it sounds.
Start your quest by heading to the Fire Station on Main Street U.S.A. Tucked in the corner past City Hall and before the Barber Shop, the Fire Station is a cute little piece of ambiance but also the hidden headquarters of Sorcerers. Here you step up to listen to Merlin explain the game, then receive your starter pack of cards. You can get one pack of cards per day, and you must have played with the previous deck to receive more during that trip. So you can’t just go in and get cards every day and stockpile them. You must actually play with your first cards before you can get more.
That’s where the fun begins. Once you get your pack, open them up and organize them with the rest of your group. You’ll likely find some repeats, but you’re also going to get a nice variety of characters and powers. These are your weapons against evil. Your guide at the Fire Station will tell you where to begin. Grab your map and head to the location, ready to fight. Once you’ve arrived, look for the elaborate mirror and the large “S” symbol on the ground. Step up to the symbol and use your Key card to let Merlin know you’ve arrived.
The mirror will magically come to life and give you your instructions. Then a villain will appear. Choose the character card in your pack that you think will defeat that villain and boldly hold it up toward the mirror. You will either defeat the villain or not. Either way, you will get instructions for the next stop to visit. Head there and repeat your battle. Keep going until you have defeated the evil forces and won the Magic Kingdom back!
These games can take a long time and something to note is that you don’t have to finish it right then. You can pause in between stations and pick back up the next day or later on. Keep building your deck and bring it back each trip for even more fighting power. If you happen to be visiting during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, be sure to stop by the Fire Station during the party with your party wristband to pick up a special limited edition card only available to those who go to the party. It’s a fabulous souvenir and a fun way to relive your memories during the next trip when you fight evil again.
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Taryn was born and raised, and still lives in Richmond, Virginia. Neither she nor her husband ever had the opportunity to visit Walt Disney World when they were children, but when their daughter Avalon came along, they decided she was not going to follow in their footsteps. They brought Avalon for the first time when she was 3 and have been hooked ever since. Now along with Taryn’s mother and equally Disney-loving older brother, they go “home” at least once a year, and by the time she is staring longingly at Cinderella Castle from the ferry on their last night, Taryn is well on her way to planning the next trip. As a group consisting of two adults with Asperger’s, including one who is also vegan, a very accommodating husband, an only child, a senior, and a service dog, they are a pretty special family, but Taryn is excited to show that the World really is The Most Magical Place on Earth and that there is a place there for everyone. When she isn’t thinking about her next Disney adventure and trying to come up with a Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party costume that will beat her Oozma Kappa nerd look, she is a professional blogger and novelist, but Taryn also likes to indulge her Disney passion on her Etsy shop It’s Better in Vinyl.
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An “S” on the ground? Are you sure that doesn’t stand for Slytherin? The answer is No, nilly silly bear, you’re at Disney, not at Wizarding World of Harry Potter! Sounds like an interesting activity to do when I’m visiting MK this May. Fire station, here I come!