That's What I Call Magic
There are a lot of reasons people love to stay on Disney property while visiting the House of the Mouse, but I happen to like staying at Downtown Disney. The thing is that you get most of the perks of staying on Disney property, but without sacrificing your first-born son and all of his future offspring. It's still not a bargain, necessarily, but definitely an improvement, depending on the time of year. Downtown Disney hotels all feature the same sort of crazy good customer service that you expect from Disney. Which, by the way, is not at all surprising to me because even the Taco Bell near Disney World has better customer service than I've ever gotten at an Applebee's in Pittsburgh. Taco Bell. Good service. Wrap your brain around THAT, internet.
Anyway, one of those Disney property perks is Extra Magic Hours, the time each day when one of the parks opens early or stays open late only for guests staying on Disney property. Downtown Disney hotels get to take part in that joy.
Ever since we lucked into the whole thing a few years ago, we have made it a point to be sure to head over to Disney Studios (it hurts my head that I've been brainwashed into calling it that, btw) for the evening Extra Magic Hours.
This is why:
The shenanigans don't start until late (10:00 pm for us this time), but ZOMG! THE AWESOME!
The Disney Junior show transforms into a preschool-sized rave, complete with flashy lights, a DJ, bubbles, balloon animals, and a handful of Disney Junior characters. Some of them are Lame with a capital 'L', but still. They're there, the crowds aren't, and it all leads to a lot of dancing and chaos.
My favorite part of the little dose of Disney magic (excluding the part where my kid who hates people in giant fursuits seemingly forgets that she hates people in giant fursuits--that's a level of amazing that I can't describe) is that I get to sit on the floor in the back of the room and just sort of prop my eyelids open with popsicle sticks while Alexis does her thing.
It's beautiful.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Reader Comments (13)
ZOMG is right! That looks like so much fun! My girls would be so jealous. Last time we were at Disney, my girls were too wiped out from all of the daytime fun to truly experience the "Extra Hours" magic. I wish we had planned better and had them rest and taken them back for the fun at night. Love staying on Disney property just for all of the extra magic, in and out of the park. Do you think she will ever want to take the Jasmine costume off? : )
This is just so much awesome. I love reading about the magic and getting the just the slightest sense of the joy Alexis much be experiencing. :-)
she looks like she is just having a blast!!!! not too mention how beautiful my little angel is.
kiss and hug her for me and tell her to love on my big eyeore
OMG, I haven't seen JoJo in YEARS! I'm surprised they had a castmember dressed as JoJo given that the show hasn't been on Disney in several years.
Wow! That does look amazing. Making a mental note for when we go.
i've never been to disney.
i'm thinking i need to go with you and alexis so that i can truly appreciate the magic.
Is it just me? That ginormous Diego scared me! I actually shuddered! Looks like a blast though, and
Alexis looks like she is in Disney heaven. Why 10:00? Do they want the kids to be tired and grouchy the next day?! I really wish you would do a whole series on tips from your Disney trips, so the rest of us can benefit from your knowledge!
Is it wrong that I am kinda sad (at this moment and prolly this moment only) that the girls have outgrown Little Einsteins?
Thanks for the pro-tip - when I get out to Disney, I am sposed to stay with one of my best friends who lives right outside the compound, but now I'm thinking maybe going for the extra perks instead....
Oh my gosh, how fun! She must be having such a blast!
Yep...Miss Peach should be there!
I love that we can see how big her smile is without even seeing her face. :)
How was the new show? We're heading down in June (yes, I know it's going to be OMG HOT!), but I'm one of those mean parents that doesn't like to pull kids from school. ;) Maybe they'll want to go back to homeschooling after experience the heat? Anyway, my youngest two love that Jake and the Neverland Pirates show, and I heard that it was now a part of the Disney Junior show at the Studios. Is that true? How was it?
I'm behind on reading. But BB just flipped a lid that she was dancing with Handy Manny.