Quiet heroes add magical mysteries to a Walt Disney World tour, says
If you think you know the ins and outs of The Most Magical Place on Earth, think again. During my latest pilgrimage to Walt Disney World, I stepped off the well-trodden Main Street and discovered hidden gems that gave me a new appreciation for the immersive details and surprises around every corner.
First I took a deep dive into EPCOT’s new Journey of Water.
Inspired by the film Moana, in this self-guided trail, you get to play with water. Think squirting blowholes and interactive waterfalls. It’s great fun, and a reminder that sometimes the simplest things are the most magical.
Talking of simple pleasures, sometimes all it takes is tequila. If you’re looking for a fiesta, head to San Angel Inn at EPCOT’s Mexico Pavilion, where you’re transported to a vibrant plaza in an everlasting twilight.
Tuck into tacos while overlooking a lagoon with a backdrop of Mayan ruins and a volcano.
This sensory immersion left me humming along to the mariachi band, sombrero askew and heart warmed.
Here, you’ll also find the Plaza de los Amigos, one of the Disney’s best gift shops. Stroll around the marketplace and peruse colourful glassware, food items, leather goods and figurines.
For a different kind of escape, roll
down the Na’vi River Journey in the Animal Kingdom.
This boat trip, inspired by Avatar, is often overshadowed by neighbouring 3D thrill ride Flight of Passage.
But after boarding a canoe on the Kaspavan River, you are transported through the bioluminescent world of Pandora to the Shaman of Songs, the most advanced audio-animatronic Disney has ever created. The Na’vi woman’s lifelike movements and soulful chants will leave you convinced you saw it give you a wink.
But it’s not just on the rides where Disney has levelled up. Gone are the days of fumbling for room keys
– now, a MagicBand can unlock a world of convenience.
It’s your park ticket, room key, wallet and PhotoPass.
Via Disney Magic (but more than likely, radio frequency) the watch registers your presence on attractions, so your ride photos arrive on the Disney app before you’ve even had time to adjust your windswept hair.
And it offers an extra pinch of pixie dust at night; syncing with firework shows via vibrations and lights.
One show not to miss is the new Luminous: The Symphony of Us around the central EPCOT lake.
This immersive blend of light, water and music washes over you like an emotional tidal wave. Be swept away by the sight of fountains and lasers, and a moving soundtrack. Take the experience to another dimension with ‘Mickey vision’ glasses – look at the fireworks, and a Mickey Mouse appears at every spark.
After that emotional ride, compose yourself at the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, which has some of the largest standard hotel rooms at Walt Disney World, each sleeping up to five.
My stay had me feeling like royalty (minus the tiara).
But who needs a tiara when you can have a badge? If visiting for the first time or celebrating a special occasion, ask for a ‘Celebratory Button’ to let everyone know.
Staying in a Disney Resort hotel means you can enjoy early theme park entry and get around with complimentary monorail, bus, boat and skyliner transportation.
But even if you aren’t staying at the resort, you can still visit
Disney hotels, so you won’t miss out on appearances from your favourite characters over breakfast.
For the best place to see your favourite mice, ride Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Hollywood Studios.
Goofy will invite you to board his train to the “perfect picnic” with Mickey and Minnie before
it literally goes “off the rails” and chaos ensues as trackless technology shines.
This tech is also used in Star Wars: The Rise of the Resistance. By far Disney Parks’ most complex attraction, it features walk-through areas, a trackless dark ride, motion simulator and multiple floors and drops.
A tip to pack more in at the parks: walk around them anti-clockwise, as most guests naturally go clockwise!
By the time I left, I realised that Disney magic isn’t just about the headliners – it’s about the wonderful surprises around every leafy corner and turreted tower.
So may the force – and the margaritas – be with you!