If you have ventured to the World before, what type of Disney vacationer are you? Slow and lazy? Or fast and crazy?
If you’ve been following me for a while, you know exactly the type my family falls into. We are definitely not the ones to take a slow approach to touring and we are even more definitely not the type to take a long break in the middle of the day. The way we think of it is if we wanted to sit around by a pool for hours, we’d just go to the local water park back home. We’re in Disney, so we want to be enjoying our Disney magic. Which means we try to squeeze every drop possible out of our days. Now, I’m not going to tell you we’re rope drop people. I’m a rope drop people. I LOVE getting a super early start and being one of the first people to greet a park in the morning. (Have you ever heard that blissful welcome message and music?)
The rest of my family? Maybe not as much.
So, you’ve heard of Rope Drop to Wishes. Which, I suppose is now Rope Drop to Happily Ever After. We are more An Hour After Opening to Kiss Goodnight. This is when we slow down and take a moment of serenity with Magic Kingdom.
If you’re not familiar with the Kiss Goodnight, don’t worry. You’re not alone. There are even some hardcore Disney-ers who have managed to miss this delightful little moment in their Magic Kingdom day. Now that you know about it, though, it’s time to plan a slightly longer Disney day so you can experience it for yourself. After all, what’s better than a goodnight kiss?
One with pixie dust.
The Kiss Goodnight depends on another little tidbit some visitors aren’t aware of. Did you know even though the park itself closes at closing time, you have another WHOLE HOUR to enjoy Main Street U.S.A.? An hour!!! Please excuse my excessive exclamation points, but that’s a lot of Mickey magic you might be missing out on just because you join the rush to the entrance as soon as the last firework explodes. Instead, linger back and wait for the park to empty. (!!!!!!)
Main Street during the hour after closing, and especially the last half hour, is amazing. There are people, yes, but nothing like during the day. This is especially true on nights with very late Extra Magic Hours. A crown jewel in my Disney history is the night we snagged 3 AM Extra Magic Hours. It was the holiday season and Hubby, Bubba, and I stayed until the very end. We looked like festive zombies making our way down Main Street at the end, but it was so worth it.
Whether you snag one of those mythical extra-late hours or you are just there for a normal closing, stay until the very, very end. Then, when it’s just before the moment when you will have to leave for real, turn your attention to the Castle. (Now, I’m going to insert in here that I’ve heard anecdotes about the Kiss happening more than once a night. I have not personally experienced this. I have only ever seen it at the very end of the night. But you might get different mileage than us, so keep checking the Castle about half an hour after closing)
The first thing you’ll notice is lights twinkling on the Castle. It’s subtle, but soon the Castle lights up along with familiar, magical music. A voice comes over the speakers, thanking everyone for coming to this land of “family, fun, and fantasy”. The voice then gives you a little glimpse into Walt’s vision for the park. Just try not to get a little choked up when he says this is a place where “magic and make-believe are reborn”. He then wishes you a safe trip home and says goodnight. If that didn’t give you goosebumps, wait until Mickey himself comes on to say goodnight and that he’ll “see ya’ real soon!” The music comes back and to the sound of “When You Wish Upon a Star” the Castle sparkles and glows, then goes quiet and dark.
The day is over and Magic Kingdom is asleep.
We can officially get some rest for the next day.
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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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