Advertisement

From fairy tale weddings to Disney World's 50th anniversary, 10 ways to soak in the magic

Walt Disney World is known as "Most Magical Place on Earth," but some days are more magical than others. There's so much to do, it can be overwhelming.

Here are 10 great things (plus a bonus) to consider doing for an unforgettable vacation.

While some of the attractions are currently unavailable due to COVID-19, they are expected to return.

Disney's 50th anniversary celebration

Walt Disney World will officially mark its 50th anniversary with The World’s Most Magical Celebration, starting on Oct. 1 and running for 18 months.

Disney characters will wear special costumes and there will be new nighttime shows at the Magic Kingdom and Epcot a new kite show at Animal Kingdom, new golden character statues at all four parks and a new ride, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, at Epcot’s redesigned France pavilion.

The iconic centerpieces at each of the parks — Cinderella's Castle, the Tree of Life, the Hollywood Tower Hotel and Spaceship Earth — will be lit with an “EARidescent glow” each night.

►No park ticket? No problem: 10 things to do at Walt Disney World outside the parks

►From Dole Whips to 'TikTok' margaritas: 10 snacks and treats to try at Disney World

Epcot festivals

Epcot has long been the home for Walt Disney World’s annual festivals, which bring special experiences to an already-special place.

There’s a Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Arts in January and February, with special “edible art” menus and more than a hundred artists doing Disney and non-Disney art live in the park.

The International Flower & Garden Festival starts in March and runs until early July, with special topiaries, outdoor kitchens and blooms throughout the park.

That’s followed by an International Food & Wine Festival, which runs from July 15 though Nov. 20, with 30 “global marketplaces” featuring food, beer and wine from around the world.

The year wraps up with the Taste of Epcot International Festival of the Holidays, with a holiday cookie stroll, characters dressed for the holidays and a gingerbread city in the World Showcase.

The Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is one of the festivals held in the park every year.
The Taste of EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival is one of the festivals held in the park every year.

Celebrate the holidays

Not surprisingly, Walt Disney World goes all out for the holiday season.

In the Magic Kingdom, Main Street gets a holiday makeover and the park reopens at night for the Very Merriest After Hours celebration, a separately ticketed event with characters in holiday costumes and a holiday-themed fireworks show.

Santa shows up for a motorcade at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, where projections transform the Hollywood Tower Hotel into the Hollywood Holiday Tower.

The Tree of Life at the Animal Kingdom takes on a holiday feel, and it “snows” at the Disney Springs shopping area.

Before all that, Halloween lovers can savor spooky season at Disney After Hours Boo Bash, where there's even trick-or-treating.

Get hitched

Walt Disney World has a whole special division, Disney Fairytale Weddings & Honeymoons, to help happy couples turn fairy tale weddings into reality.

They offer wedding gowns inspired by Belle, Ariel, Cinderella, Jasmine, Snow White, Aurora, Rapunzel, Pocahontas and Tiana, bride and groom mouse ears and Disney-themed wedding rings.

There are more than 30 places to exchange vows, including some in the parks, plus an equal number of reception venues.

A nighttime wedding with up to 300 guests at the Magic Kingdom will set couples back $30,000.

Walt Disney World offers wedding packages for people who want to get married in the parks or Disney hotels.
Walt Disney World offers wedding packages for people who want to get married in the parks or Disney hotels.

Get a makeover

Looking a little shaggy? Guests can get a haircut in the Magic Kingdom, at the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street.

It’s a popular spot for kids’ first haircuts, and they have a special My First Haircut package that includes commemorative Mickey ears and a keepsake lock of hair.

There’s also a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in the Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, where “Fairy Godmothers-in-Training" will transform kids age 3-12 into Disney princesses or shining knights in less than an hour.

When young princesses-to-be make their royal entrance at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, they are greeted by their very own Fairy Godmother-in-training who transforms them with magical makeovers.
When young princesses-to-be make their royal entrance at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, they are greeted by their very own Fairy Godmother-in-training who transforms them with magical makeovers.

Fireworks galore

After a long day at one of the parks, it’s tempting to head for a pool or, better yet, a bed.

But those tricky Imagineers are making that difficult with a pair of new shows officially starting Oct. 1.

At the Magic Kingdom, the new "Disney Enchantment" nighttime spectacular features new music and fireworks and immersive projections that transform Cinderella’s Castle and Main Street.

Epcot’s World Showcase Lagoon gets a new "Harmonious" nighttime show with new fireworks, fountains and lighting, plus reinterpretations of classic Disney songs in more than a dozen languages.

Drive across a lake

An Amphicar is a German-made vehicle that can drive on land or float like a boat on water, and they have a fleet of them at Disney Springs.

Guests can take a 25-minute guided tour (a captain drives the vehicle) starting at the Disney Springs Boathouse with three or four passengers.

Hang ten

The wave pool at Typhoon Lagoon can dial up some real beauties.

Private and group surf lessons are offered for beginners and intermediate surfers. Students get to ride 100 waves, in sets of 25.

The lessons are held in the morning before the water park opens to the public. They take 2 ½ to 3 hours and cost $199.

Teen pro surfing phenom Caroline Marks, the 17-year-old who recently earned a spot on the first-ever U.S. Olympic women’s surfing team, caught some waves at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.
Teen pro surfing phenom Caroline Marks, the 17-year-old who recently earned a spot on the first-ever U.S. Olympic women’s surfing team, caught some waves at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon.

Lace 'em up

Pick a distance — marathon, half-marathon, 5K, 10K — and there's a race at Walt Disney World.

The races are grouped on four weekends, the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in early January, the Disney Princess Half Marathon Weekend in February, the runDisney Springtime Surprise Weekend in April and the Disney Wine & Dine Half Marathon Weekend in November.

Runners earn Disney-inspired medals and get to snap photos with beloved Disney characters along the way.

Disney also offers virtual races, where participants can run in their neighborhoods or treadmills to earn medals, T-shirts and other prizes.

Walt Disney World offers several marathons, half-marathons and shorter races every year.
Walt Disney World offers several marathons, half-marathons and shorter races every year.

Up, up and away

Aerophile is a tethered balloon rise that carries up to 29 passengers 400 feet over Disney Springs where, on a good day, guests can see all four Walt Disney World parks.

The French-built craft — the world’s largest hand-painted helium balloon — flies for about eight minutes and is open to all ages.

Aerophile can carry more than two dozen passengers 400 feet over Disney Springs.
Aerophile can carry more than two dozen passengers 400 feet over Disney Springs.

Bonus: Cirque du Soleil

Drawn to Life” is a new Cirque du Soleil show that was scheduled to open in 2020 at Disney Springs but was delayed by the pandemic.

It is now scheduled to open Nov. 18.

The show will combine Cirque du Soleil’s acrobatic performers with Disney’s music to bring classic Disney animation to life.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Disney World bucket list: 10 ways to soak in all the magic