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A Beginner’s Guide to MagicBands

My brother’s green MagicBand waiving to the parade.

If you know anything about Disney World, they are always keeping up with the latest trends and technology. MagicBands are waterproof wristbands that come in all different colors and have Mickey’s head on them. They are free if you are a passholder or if you stay on Disney property. Update: Disney is now not giving guests free MagicBands starting January 1, 2021.

The blue MagicBand and a macaroon. Yummy!

MagicBands are cute but they are also very important to have at Disney World. When you enter a park at Disney World you have to scan your MagicBand and then scan your finger next to it. You can use a card instead but MagicBands are better than the cards because MagicBands are always on your wrist so it’s scan and go. Meanwhile with the cards you have to take the card out of your bag and then scan it. Why have to do that when you can have a MagicBand on your wrist? They also help you get on rides when you have a Fastpass+.

If you don’t like the plain color MagicBand choices, you can also get MagicBands with designs or your favorite Disney characters on it, but those MagicBands are not free. Do not trade your MagicBand with a family member. When you scan your MagicBand, the people that work at Disney World can see your first name! Once you have a MagicBand it’s yours and no one else’s. I hope this information on MagicBands was helpful!

Kilimanjaro Safari Review

What I Like About It

The Kilimanjaro Safari is a ride located in Animal Kingdom. On the Safari you ride in a big truck and get to see amazing animals. The Safari is a fun ride for kids because you get to see animals you would normally not see in every day life. The truck bumps around a lot which is also fun. Sometimes the driver can make some jokes as well.

Every time you go on the Safari it’s always different. Why? Because the animals sometimes become the center of attention. On my last Disney World trip in August, we saw an ostridge open its feathers and pee right before our eyes!

Another time a couple of years ago, a rhino was walking right next to our truck! The Safari might sound boring but it’s actually an amazing ride for animal lovers!

What I Don’t Like About It

Pretty much nothing, I love this ride! The only thing I don’t like is that the line can get really long so you really need a Fastpass+.

Test Track Review

Height Restriction: Must be 40 inches

What I Like About It

Test Track by Chevrolet (real people, not actors) is located in Epcot and it is my little brother’s favorite ride. At Test Track you get to create your own car and take it for a spin! First, you enter a room where you get to choose the color for your car, the height of your car, and the speed and design of the car. Next, it’s time to get in your car! Scan your magic band or card when you are about to get on the ride and a picture of your car will appear! While in your car, you will be testing your car. The last test is the speed test. It’s a fun race against the other people on the ride who have also made cars! The ride goes outside, has lots of curves and goes really fast. The speed test is my favorite part of the ride.

This is my little brother’s favorite ride!

What I Don’t Like About It

When it rains, they close the ride. This is a pain but it happens to many rides in Disney World that are outside. If it rains and they close the ride, just come back later in the day. Hopefully, it will be open again. Also, there are long lines because the ride is popular, so it is helpful to get a Fastpass+.

FAST! My hair always gets in my face on this ride!

Disney’s Yacht Club Resort

Disney’s Yacht Club. The Pirate Ship Slide is on the right!

On my last trip to Disney World I stayed at Disney’s Yacht Club Resort. This is now one of my favorite hotels! Around the hotel there are hidden Mickey’s. Keep on the look out!

One of the reasons I liked it so much is that while at the Yacht Club it still felt like I was in a Disney Park. The people who work at the resort are dressed like Captains. Outside, there is a tall pirate ship shaped slide that goes REALLY FAST!!! I really like the pools because there is sand on the bottom. If you fall, you will not hit the cement.

Another one of my favorite things about the resort is that it is walking distance to Epcot. And at night you can see the fireworks from the balcony!

The great view of the Epcot fireworks from our balcony!

Across from the hotel is a boardwalk area with restaurants, games and shows. It is also walking distance to Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course.

Jedi Training

Jedi Training is a Star Wars show at Hollywood Studios that you can be a part of and you even get to wear a Jedi robe! Only kids between the ages of four and twelve are allowed to participate and attempt to complete the Trials of the Temple.

My little brother fought Darth Vader when he was 4!

To complete the Trials of the Temple, you will be trained as a Jedi and then must fight a Sith with a lightsaber. The Jedi Masters instruct you how to use your lightsaber and teach you how to fight the Sith. It’s really fun!

On my last two Disney World trips I had to go against Kylo Ren and last year I had to fight Darth Vader. Kylo Ren was trying to use the force on me to read my mind! It was scary! Once everyone is done dueling you take off your Jedi robes and get a badge. Most recently they gave me a water bottle afterwards, which helps in the summer time. This is a super fun and exciting activity!

My Favorite Restaurant at Epcot

Epcot has the most restaurants to choose from, but my favorite restaurant at Epcot is Garden Grill. The restaurant is in the Land Pavilion and the restaurant even moves! In the background you can see scenes from the Living with the Land ride.

Notice Living with the Land is behind us.

At breakfast, for kids they serve Mickey waffles. For adults there are eggs, bacon, sausage, potato barrels (tater tots), fruit and a cinnamon roll sticky bun. My favorite is the cinnamon roll sticky bun. They bring all the food to your table. If you go to Garden Grill really early for breakfast, they sometimes let you on Soarin’ Around the World early so you don’t have to wait in a long line!

For lunch and dinner they have lots of foods including salad, turkey, pot roast, macaroni & cheese, french fries and vegetables. Best part is the dessert: berry short cake with whip cream! You also get to meet characters. Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale all come to your table.

All About the Play Disney Parks App

Okay, let’s be honest! Not all the rides at Disney World take ten seconds to get on. Fastpasses can help shorten the wait times, but sometimes you don’t have a Fastpass for a ride. New rides or rides that are just very popular can take over an hour and it can become boring having to wait. Trust me, I had to wait over an hour to get on Space Mountain on my last trip.

The App works in Disney World and Disneyland

I am going to tell you the faster way to let the time fly by. Downloading the Play Disney Parks App! This app is free and is full of games. Most of the games on this app only work in the parks or resorts so use your time wisely! When I used the Play Disney Parks App on my iPhone (it is also available on Android devices) it helped keep me occupied. You can also try quizzes or quiz a family member. The Play Disney Parks App for Space Mountain has secret codes and ship races! I also used this app while I was waiting to get on Alien Swirling Saucers. It was super fun playing with my brother! We took pictures and put on silly glasses and wigs on the pictures. So if you want the time to pass while you are waiting in line GET THIS APP!

Toy Story Mania! Review

Mr. Potato Head greets you on the way in!

What I Like About It

Toy Story Mania! is in Toy Story Land, located in Hollywood Studios. It is a ride where you wear 3D glasses and shoot arrows, rings and other objects at lots of different targets. You sit two people side by side. The one who gets the most points wins. I usually don’t get the most points, but my accuracy is usually better.

What I Don’t Like About It

When the ride is changing from one screen to another, it whips you around. Besides that, this ride is great!

Slinky Dog Dash Ride Review

Height Restriction: Must Be 38 Inches

What I Like About It

Slinky Dog Dash is located in Hollywood Studios in the new Toy Story Land. When you walk into Toy Story Land you feel like a small toy in Andy’s backyard!

Giant Woody at the entrance to Toy Story Land

Slinky Dog Dash is new and opened in June 2018. It is a roller coaster that is located outside. The ride seems like a small kiddie ride but DON’T be fooled. This ride is FAST! Towards the middle of the ride it speeds up. My favorite parts of the ride are when the ride goes up and when there are about five bumps that make the roller coaster bounce up and down.

What I Don’t Like About It

The ride is outside. Roller coasters that are outside scare me. Seeing all the people below me just freaks me out. This is probably why I enjoy Space Mountain so much.

Dinosaur Ride Review

Height Restriction: Must be 40 inches

What I Like About It

Dinosaur is a ride at Animal Kingdom with many scary dinosaurs. The ride is exciting and lots of fun. The goal is to find the Iguanadon dinosaur to bring it back with you, but everything goes wrong. There is also a hidden Mickey at the beginning of the ride.

What I Don’t Like About It

The ride jerks around A LOT. Even though you have a seat belt it still is very jumpy. Hold the bars or a parent.