 Planning your first visit to WDW? Want to capture those magical moments? Check out our list of the top 15 photos you must get when you visit the Magic Kingdom.
1. Cinderella Castle-Obvious choice, but you simply have to have it! Get the family in the photo, preferably from a standpoint on Main Street USA.
2. Pose in front of Space Mountain-Strike a fun pose in front of the futuristic Space Mountain to remember this wild rocket ride through space.
3. Cinderella Mosaic-Venture inside Cinderella Castle to see the beautiful mosaics which tell the story of Cinderella herself! It's a great spot to snap a pic of your own little princess too!
4. Cinderella Castle at Night-After the sun goes down, you will find that the Cinderella Castle is brilliantly aglow with different colors. It's truly magical!
5. Wearing Mouse Ears at the Emporium-While there are the standard black, personalized Mickey Mouse Ears for sale at the Magic Kingdom, there are also some very unique Mouse Ears to see and purchase as well. Go ahead and try one and get a pic in the process.
6. Parade pics on Main Street USA-Whether you're watching the afternoon or nighttime parade, be sure to get a picture of one of the charming floats that sail past on Main Street USA.
7. Splash Mountain-This attraction is sight to behold! Be sure to get the classic pic of the log plummeting down the face of mountain!
8. Liberty Belle Riverboat-This vintage, white riverboat makes you feel as if you've stepped back in time; and it's especially picturesque against the backdrop of Tom Sawyer Island or Big Thunder Mountain.
9. Mickey Waffles at the Crystal Palace-Getting a photo of you and the family starting the day off with a platter Mickey Waffles will make a great memory downt the road. However, be aware that breakfast will never be the same after you've been spoiled with Mickey Waffles.
10. You with a Dole Whip-This classic, Pineapple flavored dessert is a Magic Kingdom staple. Warning: They are addictive. Get a photo of yourself with one to remember your first Dole Whip experience.
11. You holding a FastPass-Did you snatch those FastPasses for your favorite attraction? Get a picture of you or the family holding up your FastPass as a way to remember the day and one of your favorite attractions.
12. Photo of your favorite attraction sign-The signs outside of the attractions, as well as shops and restaurants, are amazing and full of detail! Some of my favorite WDW photos are of unique signs I have discovered.
13. Partners Statue-Be sure to get a photo of that iconic statue of Walt and Mickey in front of the castle. It represents the Magic Kingdom better than anything else at the park.
14. Mickey Balloons on Main Street USA-Even if you're an adult, the colorful Mickey balloons will still bring you joy and a smile. Go ahead and get a picture of some, especially if you can get the castle in the background.
15. Pirates of the Caribbean Plaza-When you visit Pirates of the Caribbean at Adventureland, take time to strike your favorite pirate pose in front of the attraction and pirate themed area!
Check out other Destination Disney posts over at Heidi's Head! "The past can hurt, but the way I see it, you can either run from it or learn from it." -Rafiki
Check out other Wordless Wednesday posts or link up your own! This week's theme is the letter "E" for Expedition Everest!
 Christmastime is coming! Before we know it, the most wonderful time of the year will be on our doorstep; and for those of you planning Christmas vacations to Disney, we are sure you're already counting down the days!
If you are one of the blessed to be visiting WDW during this holiday season, we have a recommendation for you: The Osbourne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights at the Streets of America in Hollywood Studios.
While we are fans of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom, we are even bigger fans of this special holiday event and consider a definite priority for anyone at WDW around the holidays for several reasons.
First of all, the Osbourne Family Lights does not require special admission, but is open to anyone who has admission to Hollywood Studios. This is great for familes vising on a budget!
Secondly, this display is pure Christmas magic for young or old! The thousands upon thousands of lights all synchronized to Christmas songs in every direction is magical and really makes you feel like a kid in wonder of Christmas all over again. You just have to experience it, our simply can't do it justice!
Thirdly, you don't have to wait in line to experience this display. In fact, the only waiting required is waiting for the lights to come on; and almost every view is a good view.
Also, if the fake snow on Main Street at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is a big draw for you, know that it snows here too! Fake snow is blown off the roofs of the Streets of America; and mixed with lights and music, it creates a magical, old fashioned feel! Also, there is a snack stand selling candied nuts which gives the air that festive, Christmas scent!
Lastly, the Osborne Lights is shown EVERY night at the park from its debut on November 9th, to January 6th of next year! This is great for those who only have a few days at Disney or have time obligations.
In addition to the lighted buildings, there is also a massive Christmas tree made from lights and a lighted tunnel which changes in colors and patterns to the music! Warning: As you can see from the photo above, this display packs in the crowds so it can be difficult to move. The globe with Peace on Earth banner was a fixture in Jennings Osborne's original holiday spectacle which he created in Arkansas years ago. It grew and grew until it was finally transported to WDW. I appreciate this homage to its early days and I especially like all of the angels whose wings move in time to the music! Here's a closer look at the lighted tree and how completely covered with lights the buildings on the Streets of America really are! All throughout the display, little objects and details have been wrapped in lights! Keep an eye out for some amusing sights as well!
In all, we believe that the Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights is one of the best Christmas treats that Disney World has to offer. It's technically free, is shown every night, has no line, and truly captures the spirit of Christmas for young and old! Don't miss it!
 The Magic Kingdom's Crystal Palace is one of the most iconic dining destinations in all of Walt Disney World due to it's gorgeous, delicate white and glass design, Winnie the Pooh characters, and picturesque location facing Cinderella Castle!
With all that going for it, it's no wonder that the Crystal Palace is one of our favorite character meals which is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The only decision you need to make when dining here during your vacation is whether you should visit for breakfast when the park just opens or at night when the restaurant', and the castle, is lit up?
While we have yet to dine here at lunch, we have dined here for breakfast and for dinner; and both dining times offer completely different experiences of the Crystal Palace. So today, we will share our experiences and let you decide which works best for you.
Breakfast: The Crystal Palace is very busy at breakfast time; but the setting is so peaceful with the blue, morning sky shining through its many windows that the atmosphere is still cheery and peaceful, even with the dozens of families and kids about. For the ultimate experience, we recommend booking a reservation here before the park opens. This way, you can walk through an empty Magic Kingdom, grab some great pics, and then finish your meal just in time for opening!
The food at the Crystal Palace is standard Disney breakfast fare: scrambled eggs, Mickey waffles, sausage, fresh fruit, and etc. But the fact that it's a buffet means that you get some extra breakfast choices too.The playful Winnie the Pooh characters also make for a great start to a morning; and what makes it even better is if you can get a table near the windows looking out towards Cinderella Castle!
Overall, a breakfast at the Crystal Palace is fun and elegant, gives you the chance to fill your belly, and is a magical, unforgettable way to begin a day at the Magic Kingdom.
 Dinner: At night, the Magic Kingdom transforms into a wonderland all aglow with hundreds of lights; and, as you can see from the photo, so does the Crystal Palace.
For dinner, the Crystal Palace buffet offers standard American fare, such as chicken, pasta, side dishes, and etc. While it's alright, it's nothing really spectacular; and we suggest not booking a late dinner reservation. In our experience, the food wasn't so great at that late hour; however, since it was near closing, the characters came around a second time which helped make up for it.
We also were in the middle of eating when Wishes was going off over the castle! During this meal, we were not seated close to the windows, so we didn't get a great view; but we did get a glimpse of the fireworks through the glass panels in the ceiling.
Dinner at the Crystal Palace was charming and offered a unique experience of the Magic Kingdom at night.
But now we want to hear from you, do you prefer dining at the Crystal Palace at breakfast or dinner?
 Are you heading to Walt Disney World for Thanksgiving this year? It's a fun time to visit with the cool temperatures and Christmas festivities in full swing. But, we should say, there are a few things you need to know.
Crowds: Any holiday packs in the crowds at WDW, so expect long lines and lots of people at the parks and resorts. Thanksgiving levels are about the same as peak season in the summer, so you definitely want to plan to take advantage of early mornings and FastPasses during your stay.
Dining: Since it is Thanksgiving, food is definitely an important topic! Most restaurants, and resort food courts, serve Thanksgiving style meals on Thanksgiving; but restaurants that match the Thanksgiving decor are the most popular. The Disney restaurant that is in high demand on this holiday is Liberty Tree Tavern at the Magic Kingdom. Therefore, we suggest that you book an advance dining reservation for the restaurant of your choice ASAP.
Temperatures: If you are used to the summer temperatures at WDW, then the November weather may be a bit of a shock. The days can be warm, but not hot, hovering around the eighties. However, the temperatures at night can be much cooler, even cold! We suggest jeans, tees, and sweatshirts as opposed to tanks and shorts for Thanksgiving at WDW.
Activities:Even though it's Thanksgiving, WDW feels more like Christmas as the resort's Christmas decorations and festivities are up and running. n fact, you may forget that it's even Thanksgiving! At Hollywood Studios, you can enjoy The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights, as well as decorations and entertainment at Epcot, a Christmas themed parade at Animal Kingdom and, on the weekends, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party at the Magic Kingdom! The resorts also offer fun and festive decor, such as a life-size gingerbread house at the Grand Floridian and massive, decorated Christmas trees!
Have you ever visited WDW at Thanksgiving? Share your experiences with us!
 Here at A Glass Slipper Vacation, we always like finding and sharing Disney World secrets and tips! So today we are showcasing one of our favorite Magic Kingdom secrets which also makes a great tip as it can really save you time fighting the crowds during your visit!
Our secret is a boardwalk/pathway that runs along the banks of the Rivers of America at the Magic Kingdom's Frontierland! When you're exploring this corner of the park, you will find that many guests flood down the western style street which runs between Adventureland and Liberty Square, and the crowds from Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Railroad only add to this madness.
If we are trying to reach Liberty Square, looking for your laughing place at Splash Mountain, or wanting to experience the wildest ride in the wilderness at Big Thunder Railroad, we recommend you take this boardwalk to get there!
Why? The boardwalk tends to bypass the bottlenecks and helps you get from one place to another a little quicker, especially since many guests don't even realize that it's there! It's rugged appearance and details also keeps with the frontier theme, and you can get really great views of the river and Tom Sawyer Island.
If you take a stroll down this path at night, you will find rustic lanterns all alight, as well as a lighted view of Splash Mountain in the distance.
So if you want to escape the crowds and get from one place to another while exploring Frontierland, take this picturesque path. But don't tell anyone! Let's keep it a secret between us!
Check out other Destination Disney posts over at Heidi's Head! While the new theme for Destination Disney is quotes, we had to post a photo of this amusing quote on a t-shirt we found at WDW in honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day!
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