In honor of Walt Disney World’s 45th birthday last Saturday, we’ve drawn up at list of 45 must-do things to do, see hear, taste or otherwise experience at the resort. This is not a one-day task. Take your time.
The list is guided by a couple of limitations. They had to be activities I would recommend to a friend, and they had to be available to the public, even if it’s for a price. Sure, with enough money, you can buy anything. (I’m still saving for a week in the Cinderella Castle apartment.) But for this column, I tried to stay within the sphere of reason. Some are simple; some are extravagant.
And some of these you probably won’t need to do twice, such as spending Dec. 25 at Magic Kingdom, bless your heart. But since you only live once, here are my 45 suggestions — your bucket list may differ — for doing Disney.
•Meet Mickey Mouse — the “talking” one at Magic Kingdom.
•Meet a princess, any princess.
•Lick the bottom of the bowl of cheddar cheese soup at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
•Go to “La Nouba,” the Cirque du Soleil show at Disney Springs.
•Know the giraffe sound before you’re told at “Festival of the Lion King” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
•Go on the Wild Africa Trek backstage at Animal Kingdom.
•Ride “it’s a small world” at Magic Kingdom. Hum the song all day.
•Feel your ribs rattle during the finale of IllumiNations at Epcot.
•Stand beneath Tinker Bell’s flight during “Wishes” at Magic Kingdom.
•Watch fireworks from any water-vessel option.
•Listen to the Dapper Dans on Main Street.
•Buy a customized mouse-ear hat.
•Snarf down a Mickey bar.
•Eat at Victoria & Albert’s, the fine-dining, jackets-please restaurant at the Grand Floridian.
•Spend the night at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
•Watch the Boo to You parade at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
•Spend Christmas Day at Magic Kingdom then ring in New Year’s at Epcot.
•Dash for Toy Story Mania just as Hollywood Studios opens, even though you have a FastPass for later.
•Volunteer for an on-stage role at Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Hollywood Studios.
•Hang on tight at Rock ‘n’ Roller coaster at Hollywood Studios.
•Toss your hands in the air while plummeting on Tower of Terror (and look up at the ceiling when going up).
•Ride Space Mountain without complaining about your aching back.
•Mug for the camera while going down the big hill of Splash Mountain.
•Ride all the monorail lines and pick up some Spanish.
•Conquer Humunga Kowabunga at Typhoon Lagoon.
•Keep your eyes open during a night ride of Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom.
•Have dinner — and a drink — at Be Our Guest Restaurant at Magic Kingdom.
•Say “no windows and no doors” along with your ghost host at Haunted Mansion’s stretch room of Magic Kingdom
•Be evacuated from a ride, but not because you didn’t hands and feet inside the car at all times.
•Attend a spring-training baseball game at ESPN Wide World of Sports
•Take a selfie with a topiary.
•Eat at a waterfront restaurant at Disney Springs.
•Drink in the Belle Vue Lounge — aka the game room — at Disney’s BoardWalk
•Have a drink with two straws at Trader Sam’s at the Polynesian Village Resort.
•Participate in a madcap scene with the Citizens of Hollywood at Hollywood Studios.
•Attend Candlelight Processional at Epcot.
•Play a round of golf — mini or regular — on Disney property.
•Rent a Fort Wilderness cabin.
•Wear the “It’s my birthday” button on your birthday.
•Spot two or more lions on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Animal Kingdom
•Sit top and center for Soarin’ Around the World at Epcot.
•Finagle way into being grand marshal of Fantasy of Festival parade at Magic Kingdom.
•Wander around the gardens beneath the Tree of Life at Animal Kingdom.
•Take a dip in the sandy-bottomed swimming pool at Yacht Club.
•Hang around past closing time at Magic Kingdom.
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