Disney World: Epcot After Dark

We visited Epcot within Disney World during their After Dark special event.

This was unique in that it was the first time we’ve driven to a Disney World park; previously we were staying inside the bubble at the Fort Wilderness campground, but we did this visit when back at TTO.

Entering Walt Disney World

Epcot parking entrance:

Epcot parking entrance

The After Hours info:

After Hours

We thought it a little odd that the map cut off halfway around the lake… but later found that they blocked off that, which was disappointing; we enjoy walking around the lake:

After Hours

The Spaceship Earth globe:

Spaceship Earth globe

Spaceship Earth globe

Spaceship Earth ride:

Spaceship Earth ride

Lime dole whip snack:

Dole whip

Luminous show:

Luminous show

Luminous show

Luminous show

Luminous show

Luminous show

Looking towards France:

Looking towards France

Ratatouille ride:

Ratatouille ride

Minnie Mouse:

Minnie Mouse

Looking across the lake:

Looking across the lake

Mexico pavilion:

Mexico pavilion

Norway pavilion:

Norway pavilion

Frozen ride:

Frozen ride

Selfie:

Selfie

The Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind ride had a somewhat long wait; it seemed like it was going extra slow:

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind

Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind

Guardians of the Galaxy

Spaceship Earth globe

Definitely the least fun of the three After Dark experiences, between not being able to go around the lake and longer lines. But still enjoyable.

Disney World: Magic Kingdom

We visited Magic Kingdom again, during regular hours (and on Valentine’s Day).

Train station and train:

Train station and train

Castle:

Castle

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure:

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Ferry to Tom Sawyer Island; a generally boring area, but we had to visit it, as it will be going away soon, to be replaced with a Cars-themed land:

Ferry to Tom Sawyer Island

Ferry to Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island

The river and riverboat will also be going away, unfortunately:

Riverboat

Riverboat

Pirates of the Caribbean ride:

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean

Snack:

Snack

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Video:

It’s a Small World ride:

It's a Small World ride

It's a Small World ride

The traditional picture of the massive New Zealand representation:

It's a Small World ride

Tron Lightcycle Run ride:

Tron Lightcycle Run ride

Tron lightcycle run

Video:

Snack:

Snack

Carousel of Progress ride:

Carousel of Progress

Carousel of Progress

A new activity is making a custom tiara from a selection of frame styles and crystal colors, which Jenn did:

Custom tiara

Custom tiara

Jenn with her new tiara:

Jenn with her new tiara

Haunted Mansion ride:

Haunted Mansion

No one poses like Gaston:

No one poses like Gaston

We had dinner at the Be Our Guest restaurant on Valentine’s Day:

Be Our Guest entrance

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Be Our Guest restaurant

Castle

Disney World: Epcot

We visited Epcot within Disney World.

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Epcot

Chalk art:

Chalk art

Chalk art

During the Festival of the Arts they have special food booths, and some dishes to collect stamps for a prize, which Jenn enjoys doing. Here are all of the things we ate as part of that:

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

Food

The prize last year was a plastic glass that Jenn still uses; the one this year was a rather unpleasant rice cake thing (at top, on the collection booklet); disappointing:

Food

Another collection thing that Jenn did was the World Traveler Passport, where she got a stamp and handwritten message from each of the world pavilions, from someone from each country:

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

World Traveler Passport

Mexico pavilion:

Mexico pavilon

Mexican duck

Frozen ride:

Frozen ride

Frozen ride

Frozen ride

Character

Germany pavilion:

Germany pavilon

Italy pavilion:

Italy pavilon

Japan pavilion:

Japan pavilon

Morocco pavilion:

Morocco pavilon

United Kingdom pavilion:

United Kingdom pavilon

Living with the Land ride:

Living with the Land ride

Living with the Land ride

Living with the Land ride

Living with the Land ride

Paint by numbers:

Paint by numbers

Flowers:

Flowers

Guardians of the Galaxy ride:

Guardians of the Galaxy ride

Spaceship Earth ride:

Spaceship Earth ride

Spaceship Earth ride

Spaceship Earth ride

Spaceship Earth ride

A custom video based on our answers:

Journey of Water:

Journey of Water

Journey of Water

Epcot

Disney World: Hollywood Studios After Dark

We enjoyed the Magic Kingdom After Dark so much that we booked a couple more, starting with Hollywood Studios After Dark.

Entrance

We had to experience Muppet-Vision 3D one last time — it will be shutting down in June 2025 and replaced with a Monsters, Inc land:

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet-Vision 3D

Muppet area

Dinner in Galaxy’s Edge:

Dinner in Galaxy's Edge

Smuggler’s Run ride:

Smuggler's Run ride

Smuggler's Run ride

We got to be pilots, for the first time; we’ve been engineers and gunners in the past:

Smuggler's Run ride

Smuggler's Run ride

Galaxy’s Edge:

Galaxy's Edge

Blue milk:

Blue milk

Galaxy's Edge

Rise of the Resistance ride:

Rise of the Resistance ride

Rise of the Resistance

Rise of the Resistance

Rise of the Resistance

Toy Story Land:

Toy Story Land

Alien Swirling Saucers ride:

Alien Swirling Saucers

Alien Swirling Saucers

Toy Story Land

Slinky Dog Dash ride:

Slinky Dog Dash ride

Slinky Dog Dash ride

We enjoyed free Mickey bar ice cream:

Mickey bar ice cream

Toy Story Mania ride:

Toy Story Mania ride

Toy Story Mania ride

Toy Story Mania ride

Toy Story Land

Runaway Railway ride:

Runaway Railway ride

Star Tours ride:

Star Tours ride

Sunset Boulevard:

Sunset Boulevard

Rock’n’Roller Coaster ride (did not enjoy this one; very rough):

Rock'n'Roller Coaster

Rock'n'Roller Coaster ride

Tower of Terror ride:

Tower of Terror

Tower of Terror

Video:

We did all of the rides that were open during the special event, even ones we normally skip (like Star Tours and Rock’n’Roller Coaster).

Hollywood Boulevard:

Hollywood Boulevard

A fun night.

Disney World: Hollywood Studios

We also visited Hollywood Studios in Disney World.

Entrance

Main street

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge area:

Stormtroopers

Oga’s Cantina for lunch:

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Oga's Cantina for lunch

Posed photo

Posed photo

Galaxy's Edge

Galaxy's Edge

Galaxy's Edge

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride:

Galaxy's Edge

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance ride

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Toy Story Land:

Toy Story Land

Spinning Saucers ride:

Spinning Saucers ride

Slinky Dog Dash ride:

Slinky Dog Dash

Toy soldiers drummers:

Toy solders drummers

Some food:

Snack

Toy Story Land

Toy Story Land

Toy Story Mania scores:

Toy Story Mania scores

Hollywood Tower of Terror ride:

Hollywood Tower of Terror

Hollywood Tower of Terror

A video:

Pandora store for a couple of charms for Jenn:

Pandora store for a couple of charms for Jenn

The Brown Derby for dinner:

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

The Brown Derby for dinner

Disney World: Magic Kingdom After Dark

After spending several hours at Animal Kingdom, we went back to our coach to rest for a few hours, then headed out again to Magic Kingdom, for a special “After Dark” visit, where we (and hundreds of others) could enjoy the park after closing hours, with pretty much no lines for any of the rides, and “free” popcorn, ice cream, and beverages.

We timed our arrival well, and with some help from the ferry boat skipper going extra slow, we were able to see the early evening fireworks from the boat:

Fireworks from ferry boat

Fireworks from ferry boat

A posed photo in front of the castle:

Posed photo in front of the castle

Side of the castle:

Castle

Little Mermaid ride:

Little Mermaid ride

“The backside of water” on the Jungle Cruise ride:

The backside of water on the Jungle Cruise ride

Pirates of the Caribbean ride:

Pirates of the Caribbean ride

Riverboat and castle:

Riverboat and castle

Haunted Mansion ride:

Haunted Mansion ride

Haunted Mansion ride

An amusing Haunted Mansion pic:

Amusing Haunted Mansion

Castle selfie:

Castle selfie

Later fireworks and light show:

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Fireworks and light show

Teacups ride, with Jenn’s giggles:

Teacups ride

Peoplemover ride:

Peoplemover ride

Space Mountain ride:

Space Mountain ride

Tron ride:

Tron ride

Tron ride

A video with us:

Heading out, with a mostly empty Main Street:

Mostly empty Main Street

A magical experience.

2024 theme parks

Not sure what it says about us that it’s worthwhile to have a summary post about theme parks, but here we are.

Again, you can also see the attractions from 2023, from 2022, and from 2021. And you can see all of the attraction-related blog posts via the exploring category, with the earliest posts at the top, or the latest posts at the top, or more specifically the theme park category (with earliest or latest posts at the top).

Universal Islands of Adventure Theme Park in Orlando, Florida:

Islands of Adventure

Universal Studios Florida Theme Park in Orlando, Florida:

Diagon Alley dragon

Disney World: Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida:

Castle

Disney World: Epcot in Orlando, Florida:

Epcot globe

Disney World: Hollywood Studios in Orlando, Florida:

Millennium Falcon

Disney World: Animal Kingdom in Orlando, Florida:

Tree of Life

Dollywood in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee:

Entrance sign

Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California:

Cars Land

Disneyland in Anaheim, California:

Marching band

Fun times.

Disney 2024: Disneyland

We also spent a day at Disneyland.

The park was festooned with Halloween decorations:

Entrance with Halloween decorations

The train station was looking a little more 2D, being refurbished:

The train station was looking a little more 2D

Castle selfie:

Castle selfie

Marching band:

Marching band

Band and characters

Characters

Lunch:

Lunch

It’s a Small World was closed:

It's a Small World closed

We did the Runaway Railway ride:

Runaway Railway ride

And the Roger Rabbit ride:

Roger Rabbit ride

And Teacups ride:

Teacups ride

Jenn during the teacup ride:

Jenn during the teacup ride

Jungle Cruise ride:

Jungle Cruise ride

Stormtroopers:

Stormtroopers

Blue milk snack:

Blue milk

The Haunted Mansion was (of course) Halloween and Nightmare Before Christmas themed, with a special virtual queue to access:

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Haunted Mansion

Pumpkin and castle:

Pumpkin and castle

Disney 2024: Disney California Adventure

We visited Disneyland in California last year, and Disney World in Florida in April this year… so of course when back in California we visited the Disney parks again. We seem to be somewhat Disney adults.

This time, we only spent one day in each of the two parks, starting with Disney California Adventure.

We visited in October, when the parks had Halloween decorations:

Entrance with Halloween decorations

Halloween decorations

Halloween decorations

Fancy churros:

Fancy churros

We spent most of our time in our favorite area, Cars Land:

Cars Land

We did the Radiator Springs Racers ride:

Radiator Springs Racers

Radiator Springs Racers

Halloween decorations

Halloween decorations

Halloween decorations

Halloween decorations

Halloween decorations

Halloween decorations

Halloween decorations

Halloween decorations

Spiderman:

Spiderman

Guardians of the Galaxy Mission Breakout ride:

Guardians of the Galaxy  Mission Breakout

Pym Test Kitchen for lunch:

Pym Test Kitchen

Pym Test Kitchen

The San Francisco area has been rebranded as San Fransokyo:

San Fransokyo

San Fransokyo:

San Fransokyo

Back out of the park, where there were long lines waiting for an evening event:

Entrance with Halloween decorations