Select Page

By Dreamin’ Diva

I’ve been traveling to Disney Parks since I was 9 months old.  I’ve experienced so many things at the parks and been able to cross lots of things off of my “Disney Bucket List”. There are so many other experiences beyond the park attractions included with your park admission and outside of the parks.  Yes, many of them are an extra fee or take extra effort, but that sounds well worth it to me! I have a list of things I have already crossed off, but today I want to list the things I have yet to do and hope to be lucky enough do one day.  Check out the list below and click on the links to see how you can do them too one day! Feel free to add these to your bucket list!

IMG_2987

1. Stay at Animal Kingdom lodge with a savanna views- https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/sunrise-safari/

2. Adventures by Disney: I don’t have a particular preference for location. I just want a fun adventure… Disney Style.
www.adventuresbydisney.com

3. The ultimate Disney Park tour that visits all 4 parks in one day- Backstage Magic- https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/backstage-magic/

4. Be Grand Marshall in a parade. Be in the right place at the right time with the right story

5. Eat at the California Grill during the fireworks at the Magic Kingdom.  I have watched them from the park, from my balcony at the Grand Floridian, and from the Ohana restaurant at the Polynesian Resort- and even from the balcony of the castle. But I don’t just want to see the fireworks from the California Grill, I have always just wanted to eat there.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/dining/contemporary-resort/california-grill/

IMG_4720

Disney’s Contemporary Resort

6. Visit the new Aulani Resort in Hawaii. Disney Destination AND Hawaii.  2 birds, one stone. ‘Nuff said.-http://resorts.disney.go.com/aulani-hawaii-resort/

7. Tour behind the scenes at Animal Kingdom. There are a couple of options for this.  I would love to do both one day.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/wild-africa-trek/  https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/animal-kingdom/wild-by-design/

DSCN3761IMG_4658

 8. Drink around the world at Epcot. I’m not a beer drinker, or much of a drinker at all, but I have always wanted to do this. Pick a side of the World Showcase and order a drink.  Then stop in each country and order another. Sounds like a great girls weekend activity or something to do at the Food and Wine Festival.  Let the fun begin!
IMG_4796

 

9. Attend the Food and Wine Festival in Epcot. I don’t really have a solid reason other than I have just always wanted to go.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/food-wine-pavilion-events/

10. Stay at least one night at all of the resorts on property at Walt Disney World.  I have only crossed off 6 of over 20 options, but over my life time, I think this can be accomplished.
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/

IMG_6639

Disney’ Caribbean Beach Resort

IMG_4681

Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

IMG_2898

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

 

DSCN3857

Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

11. Attend Star Wars Weekend at Walt Disney World. We love Disney and we love Star Wars. It just looks like so much fun!
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/hollywood-studios/star-wars-weekend/

The closest I've come to Star Wars weekend at WDW... Darth Vader costume on display

The closest I’ve come to Star Wars weekend at WDW… Darth Vader costume on display

12. Race in the Richard Petty Driving experience- I’m not really a racing fan, but driving or riding in a race car sounds like a blast!
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/speedway/richard-petty-driving-experience/

100_0702

13. Attend Disney’s management training workshops for non-cast members at the Disney Institute. Being a former cast member has really given me a solid foundation in customer service over my career.  It has helped lead me into many leadership positions.  I would love to get more training in management.  Like everything else, no one does it like Disney. www.disneyinstitute.com

14. Eat at Club 33 in Disneyland.  To do this, I will either need to find a way to get stinking rich and get on the waiting list or make friends with a rich friend who will take me there. http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/08/inside-club-33-at-disneyland-park/

15. Run a Disney Marathon- I just need to start running a lot more…and eat better… and get into better shape… If I had this as a goal, I think I could totally do it! There are so many events to choose from!! My goal for 2014 is to train for the Half Marathon in 2015. Who is with me?? www.rundisney.com

16. We were there around Halloween one year, but didn’t get to attend the party. Halloween celebration in a place where dressing up is completely normal on a daily basis? Take me to there!
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party/

17. Christmas time and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party at Disney World…. Including the Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights and the Candlelight Processional at Epcot. I have only ever seen the leftover lights in January, but for a long time I have wanted to see them all lit up and in person! https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/holidays/  https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/magic-kingdom/holiday-d-lights/

18. Behind the Seeds tour at Epcot. I have just started gardening in the last few years and I kind of suck at it.  It still fascinates me how Disney has innovated growing all kinds of things that they use in the parks. https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/behind-the-seeds/

19.  Swim with the Dolphins at Epcot- https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/events-tours/epcot/dolphins-in-depth/

20. “Walk in Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps” Guided Tour. I have been a huge fan of this creative man for most of my life. How cool would it be to learn more about the creation of Disneyland? SO COOL!  I’ve taken a very similar tour in Walt Disney World.  It would be amazing to do something similar in the park where it all started.
https://disneyland.disney.go.com/events-tours/disneyland/walk-in-walts-disneyland-footsteps/

Castle

Disneyland

21. Set sail on the newest Disney Cruise ships, Dream & Fantasy, and sail to different destinations. I have sailed on both the Wonder and Magic to the Bahamas and Caribbean, but there are so many more destinations now.  I would love to do their Mediterranean and Alaskan cruises too.  The Mediterranean cruise would be the perfect opportunity to head up to Paris after the cruise and work on crossing off #22.
http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/

IMG_6901

Castaway Cay

22. Go to each of the international resorts at least once: Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, & Shanghai. I was in Paris in 1995, 3 years after the park opened as Euro Disney.  I was only 11 and had no idea it was there! It has grown and changed so much since it opened and I would love to go back to Paris and take my husband and son. I love to travel and the other locations are also places I would love to visit in general.

http://www.disneylandparis.co.uk/index.html

http://www.tokyodisneyresort.co.jp/en/index.html

http://park.hongkongdisneyland.com/hkdl/en_US/home/home?name=HomePage

http://en.shanghaidisneyresort.com.cn/en/

23. See the Treasures of the Disney Archives- currently exhibited in Chicago. I don’t know if I will make it to the current exhibit, but I hope they will be shown closer to home soon.

http://www.msichicago.org/about-the-museum/press/treasures-of-the-walt-disney-archives/

IMG_3221

Jolly Holiday costume from Mary Poppins on display at Hollywood Studios in 2007

 

24. Stay in the Cinderella Suite or Disneyland Suite.  Practically impossible unless you are a very lucky winner or ultra rich/famous/powerful. But Cinderella taught me that “A dream is a wish your heart makes”, so I’m not giving up hope!

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/video/rare-inside-cinderella-castle-suite-18221968  http://blogs.disney.com/oh-my-disney/2013/05/31/31-photos-inside-disneylands-dream-suite/

IMG_4729

25. Become a Disney Vacation Club member and own a piece of the magic. Commit to annual Disney vacations? Yeah, I can do that!
http://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com

 

I’I’ve already crossed off many things from my bucket list. That would be another whole article I want to write in the future. There are so many other things to do than just what is in the parks.  So many more dreams to come true! It doesn’t matter if they are simple or extraordinary! Whether you have crossed it off or not, what is on your Disney Bucket list?

Thanks for reading!

Dreamin’ Diva

IMG_5282