Top 20 Walt Disney World Bucket List Items

Disney World is full of amazing experiences and opportunities for magical encounters. I think all of us have a Disney bucket list that we are dreaming of completing as soon as possible. Since Disney is constantly adding new experiences and extras, the list is subject for lots of changes. This is great news since I would never want to run out of things to add to the list! My husband and I have a strong affection for “UP”, and like to call our Disney bucket list our “Adventure Book”. We have already completed some of these items, but here are our top 20 Walt Disney World bucket list items. How many of these have you done already?

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20. Do the monorail crawl and/or eat and drink around World Showcase

Whether you prefer to eat, drink or just experience the sights these can be a lot of fun. The monorail crawl is where you experience the lounge(s) at each of the resorts on the monorail track, The Contemporary, The Polynesian Village Resort and The Grand Floridian. The concept applies to World Showcase in Epcot, but in this case you sample food or beverage from each country and make your way around the entire World Showcase, stopping at all 11 countries in one day.

19. Participate in a Disney Race.

RunDisney holds a few different series of races at Disney World at various times of the year. They sell out quickly and the resorts book up fast, so aligning your stay for one of these races will require planning. Running through Epcot without any other guests but you and the other races, plus a beautiful morning, would be an amazing experience.

18. Carriage ride at Port Orleans.

Port Orleans is a moderate resort that is really two resorts in one. Both Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter have a special charm and provide the perfect setting for a romantic carriage ride along the river.

17. Eat at every table-service restaurant at least once.

Dining at Disney is part of the amazing experience. Disney table-service restaurants are all uniquely themed and provide a different experience than you can get anywhere else. Each restaurant is worth at least one visit!

16. Kiss Goodnight at Magic Kingdom.

After the park has closed and many guests have already left for the evening, there is a little bit of extra magic that takes over Cinderella Castle with an extra goodnight message and twinkling lights. A lot of guests miss this or haven’t heard of it. Even better, since this only occurs after most guests have left, you aren’t fighting the crowds to experience this final farewell.

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15. Go to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Magic Kingdom.

This event occurs on select nights in November and December, and requires an additional ticket for admission. The party serves unlimited hot cocoa and cookies, along with magical holiday entertainment and “snow”.

14. Go to Mickey’s Not so Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom.

This even also occurs only on select nights. This party is hosted in September and October, and also requires an additional ticket for admission. There is tons of candy and trick-or-treating opportunities, along with spooky, Halloween fun that can only be experienced on the party nights. Don’t miss the parade where this may be your only opportunity to see the Headless Horsemen and the Hitchhiking Ghosts ever before!

13. Go to a Star Wars Galactic Night.

If you or someone you love is a Star Wars fan, this is definitely a bucket list addition. Star Wars Galactic Nights happen on select nights and are the perfect opportunity to meet Star Wars characters and celebrities, have access to attractions, taste themed treats and food, and experience fireworks and shows. “This Will Be a Day Long Remembered…”

12. Go on a fireworks cruise.

You can reserve different fireworks cruise experiences to experience Happily Ever After or Illuminations from the cruise. The level of service is dependent on the package that is selected, but it seems that any of the options would be completely amazing!

11. Plan your trip during Food & Wine Festival.

This is an event that occurs during select fall months at Epcot. There is representation from over 30 countries, chefs completing cooking and wine pairing demonstrations, additional entertainment, merchandise, etc. This is an event that has something for everyone and one that I would imagine you should come pretty hungry for!

10. Spend New Year’s Eve at Disney.

New Year’s Eve is in the top 3 busiest days for the entire year for Disney World. It is so popular that Magic Kingdom shows their NYE fireworks on December 30th and December 31st. Starting the new year in the happiest place on earth sets the tone for an amazing new year, plus ends the old year on a high note!

9. Dine with an Imagineer.

You must make a reservation for this experience to enjoy lunch with one of Disney’s Imagineers. You get to learn more about behind the scenes magic and what is involved in being an Imagineer. Ask them all of your questions while you enjoy a 4-course meal from The Hollywood Brown Derby Restaurant.

8. Eat at the Chef’s table at Victoria and Albert’s.

Victoria and Albert’s is the most expensive and alluring restaurant on Disney property. To add to that experience, you are also able to dine at the chef’s table where you receive a custom menu, private dining and interaction with the chef for the evening. This experience is hard to get into and one that would create a memory to last a lifetime.

7. Enjoy Christmas Day at Magic Kingdom.

Yes, there are crowds and yes, the park closes to capacity, but I feel like this is one that I have to experience for myself so that I can get that extra dose of magic at my favorite place on my favorite day of the year. Christmas and Disney are already magical on their own, but together, I feel that it will be the ultimate experience!

6. Experience the entire collection of behind the scenes tours.

Experience the tunnels underneath the Magic Kingdom, get a behind the scenes look at attractions, meet the minds behind creating and maintaining experiences at Disney world. All of these are the types of experiences to be had from the various tours at each of the parks, and some resorts, that I want to experience for myself.

5. Stay in a Polynesian Bungalow.

The addition of the bungalows at the Polynesian Village Resort have intrigued many of us. These bungalows offer amazing views of Bay Lake, Magic Kingdom, other MK area resort and views of the fireworks from outside, even in your private plunge pool. The bungalows seem like they would provide a luxurious stay in an amazing atmosphere.

4. Parasailing over Bay Lake.

Have you seen others do this on any of your stays? It looks like so much fun, and like you would have the best views of Cinderella Castle and the rest of Magic Kingdom. It is an experience that could easily be missed or forgotten about by most guests that is truly one of a kind.

3. Be the Family of the Day to open Magic Kingdom.

Each morning one lucky family is selected to help open Magic Kingdom as part of the welcome show. Tips to help be selected are to be there WAY early, perky, dressed in Disney attire and hats and engage with the cast members who are out talking and entertaining guests.

2. See the hidden Mickey on Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid.

In the rock work around the exterior of the ride, there is a hidden Mickey that appears as a shadow when the sun shines in just the right way. To make it even more special and difficult than that, the sun is only in the right place to create this hidden Mickey on November 18th, which is Mickey’s birthday, right at noon. The hidden Mickey only lasts a few minutes, so this one is a real treat to get to see and only once a year!

1. Sleep in Cinderella Castle.

This one is number 1 on the list, because of how hard this will be to experience. I haven’t figured out how to get myself into the castle for the night, but I refuse to give up! The suite is breathtaking with amazing attention to detail, that I really need to see to believe. One day….

I hope this list inspires you to get started on a bucket list of your own, and to start crossing items off of the list! The good news is that you won’t ever be able to say that you have seen and done it all since there is always something new to experience!