Top 10 Disney World Ultimate Bucket List

So it’s possible that I have just seen and cried over the movie Up.  For the upteenth time.  But whose eyes can stay dry when Carl goes through his Adventure Book with Ellie and sees her note telling him to have a new adventure?  It gets me every time!  So because I am in the mood for adventure, it is with this same spirit of exploration and carpe diem that I write about my Top 10 Ultimate Disney World Bucket List.

Have you ever gone on a trip to Disney, missed out on doing something you really wanted to do, and then said to yourself, maybe someday?  I think I have one of those moments every time I go to Disney, but that’s just because there’s so much to do!  And when I cross something off the list, something new always pops up.

So for now, here is my Top 10 Ultimate Disney World Bucket List:

10. Become an annual passholder. It would be amazing to be able to go to Disney whenever my little Disney-obsessed heart desires. Feel like going to Soarin’ on a random Tuesday night?  Why not!  Being an annual passholder allows you to go to the parks to your heart’s content (well, there are some blackout dates in the fine print, but let’s choose to overlook those small details), and it provides some nice perks too, including discounts on rooms, special events, and merchandise.  For the ultimate version: get the Disney Platinum Plus Pass, which allows you access to all four theme parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course.  You also get free PhotoPass downloads and free parking.  And the best part?  There are no blackout dates!

9. Participate in a RunDisney event. I’m not a runner by any stretch of the imagination, but after two 5k’s under my belt, I can say that there is something amazing about almost keeling over crossing that finish line. What better way to do that than at Disney?  RunDisney promotes several races each year, including anything from diaper dashes to 5ks to full marathons for kids and adults.  For the ultimate version: join the RunDisney Coast to Coast Race Challenge – complete a RunDisney half marathon or marathon at Walt Disney World and a half marathon at Disneyland in the same calendar year, and you will receive a Coast to Coast Race Challenge medal that you’ll be proud of for years to come.

8. See the Goodnight Kiss at Magic Kingdom. Every night, about 20-30 minutes after the park closing time, Magic Kingdom bids farewell to its guests.  The lights at the castle start to twinkle, the music to When You Wish Upon A Star swells, and it’s the perfect way to end a magical visit.  And don’t forget to snap that rare picture of you and your family on a very empty Main Street!  For the ultimate version:how about closing all four parks in one day? End first at Animal Kingdom, followed by Hollywood Studios, then Epcot, and finally, at the Magic Kingdom.

7. Go on a tour.  Disney has some pretty amazing behind-the-scenes tours that allow you to look behind the curtain and see how things really work at Disney. At the top of my list is the Keys to the Kingdom Tour, where a cast member takes you on a five-hour journey of the Magic Kingdom.  You learn little tidbits and trivia about beloved rides and the theming around the park.  Did you know that dye is actually mixed into the water at Jungle Cruise to give it that murky green color?  It’s that kind of stuff that makes the Disney geek in me go giddy!  And of course, this tour also gives you an opportunity to see the legendary Utilidors, the secret passageways that transport people and supplies across the Magic Kingdom without being seen by guests.  For the ultimate version: go on the Backstage Magic Tour, a 7-hour guided tour where you visit all 4 theme parks (and more!) to learn about the secrets and day-to-day operations of Walt Disney World.

6. Have dinner at Victoria & Albert’s.  Not only is this restaurant a AAA Five Diamond Award winner, it has won this distinction for the last 15 years in a row.  Only 14 other restaurants in all of North America share that same honor.  On top of that, Victoria & Albert’s was also named one of the top restaurants in the United States in TripAdvisor’s 2015 Travelers’ Choice Awards.  Getting the #6 spot out of 25 restaurants, V&A was the sole award-winner from the state of Florida.  In other words, Victoria & Albert’s offers a culinary experience unlike any other.  For the ultimate version: try the Chef’s Table at Victoria & Albert’s.  Only one party per evening is seated, and guests enjoy a 10-course meal prepared by the chef and his team right in front of your very eyes.

5. Go on a land and sea trip.With Port Canaveral being thisclose to Orlando, doing a land and sea trip has never been easier. It would be amazing to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the parks, but also experience relaxation in the middle of the ocean – all Disney style.  Both the Disney Dream and the Disney Fantasy sail year round from Port Canaveral and have amazing destinations in the Bahamas and Caribbean.  For the ultimate version: try doing a Disney cruise sandwich – spend time at the parks before your cruise, then set sail aboard a Disney cruise, and then come on back to the parks for one final visit.

4. Be at the parks for special holidays. Yes, you’re likely to see the parks at its highest capacity, but the payoff is incredible. Have you ever seen the Fourth of July fireworks at Disney?  It is amazing to behold.  There are also special parties, like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.  For the ultimate version: it’s not for the faint of heart, but you can be at Magic Kingdom for the New Years’ Eve fireworks.  You’d have to get to the park early enough before it might be closed due to capacity, and not leave until the fireworks are done.  Hey, people do this every year in Times Square, why not at Disney? 

3. Eat, drink and be merry around the World. Epcot has these fancy passports that you can get stamped as you visit each country.  Why not get an appetizer at Mexico, have a hearty lunch in Germany, and finish off with some School Bread  in Norway?  But there are so many more options to choose from, so you can definitely get a taste of what each country has to offer for a day.  Just don’t forget to wear loose clothing!  For the ultimate version: accomplish this feat during the Epcot Food and Wine Festival and make sure you get that extra-large passport fully stamped!

2. Ride all the rides in one day at Magic Kingdom. With some careful planning, it is definitely doable! For the ultimate version: there are several ways you can come at this.  You can ride all the rides, watch all the shows and meet all the characters at Magic Kingdom – all in one day.  Or, you can try what very few have accomplished, which is to ride all the rides in all four parks in one day.

1. Plan a coast-to-coast visit. It would be amazing to enjoy both Walt Disney World and Disneyland in one year. I visit Disney World regularly, but it would be great to also ride Autopia or Grizzly River Run.  And to see World of Color!  That would be an unforgettable year indeed.  For the ultimate version: what Disney Addict would not want to someday see all the Disney parks all over the world?  Here’s the list:

• Disneyland Resort in California, with Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure
• The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, with Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom
• Tokyo Disney, with Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea
• Disneyland Paris, with Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios
• Hong Kong Disneyland
• Shanghai Disney

With that, I will turn it over to you.  What is your on your Disney bucket list?  Sound off in the comments below!

Hi there, I’m Myra and I’m a huge Disney nerd and addict!  I’m also an Independent Travel Agent at World of Magic Travel, the preferred agency of Chip and Co. and Disney Addicts.  I’m happy to help you cross some things off your bucket list, at no cost to you!  Visit my page or send me an email at myra@worldofmagictravel.com to get started!

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