With COVID restrictions limiting Disney World operations, many people are opting to postpone their Disney World trips (my self included). However, there are still a handful of ways you can experience a taste of Disney World at home.
But with that said, this list is perfect for anyone looking to add a little Disney World Magic in their life, whether you had a trip planned in 2020/2021 or not.
Here are 8 ways to get a taste of Disney World at home.
Disney+
If you’ve never heard of Disney+, it’s Disney’s streaming platform. And while they have plenty of Disney and Disney Channel shows, movies, and shorts, they also have Disney Parks content.
This includes a 6 part series called The Imagineering Story. This show focuses on the creation and expansion of Disneyland, Disney World, and Disney Parks around the world. (It’s a favorite of mine!)
There’s also the Magic of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which takes you behind the scenes of Animal Kingdom.
You can also check out One Day at Disney. This is a series of short 6-10 minute shorts that feature people who work for Disney. However, this is not just limited to the parks. There are people from all over Disney including Disney theme parks.
Disney Rides on YouTube
There are plenty of YouTubers who have kindly filmed their ride experience so you can join them on almost any given Disney World ride.
Many of these videos are shot to make you feel like you’re on the ride yourself. It may not be quite the same as being there, but if you need a Disney ride fix, it might at least give you a lift.
You can try a general “Disney World rides” search and see what grabs your attention, or you can try searching for your favorite rides.
Disney YouTubers
There are tons of Disney YouTubers out there dying to bring you a first hand look at the parks.
Some are still visiting the parks, so if you want some more current content, you can get an eyes-on-the-ground account of how the parks are operating right now.
Additionally, there are plenty of accounts that have older content if you’re looking for a bigger taste of “normal.”
Two of my favorite Disney YouTubers are Disney Food Blog and Jen Lafforge. But you’ll find plenty more–it can definitely be a youtube rabbit hole.
Plan Your Next Trip (even being on hold will get you excited)
If you can’t wait for your next Disney trip, why not start planning now. It may be a while before you can/want to go, but planning can make it feel a little more real.
Additionally, when it comes time to book, Disney uses some of their Parks music while you hold for them. As a result, I’ve found that just waiting on hold to book my trip makes me excited and gives me just a little bit of Disney World magic.
Not only that, once you have a date, you have something to look forward to and plan for–even if it’s a little while off.
Daydream about the trip you’d love to take
Disney World is expensive, and a trip simply may not be in the cards right now–even if you had one planned.
But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen someday. If you’re craving a Disney trip you know you can’t take right now, let yourself daydream a little.
Plan the trip you’ll take someday even if that someday is a ways away.
This can mean creating a fun Pinterest board, browsing Disney menus, and looking into Disney World Resorts.
Let yourself live in a place where you will be going to Disney World–even if you can’t say exactly when.
Relive previous trips
If you’ve been to Disney World in the past, dig out the pictures and relive the memories!
And don’t just do your most recent trip, go through all the trips you’ve taken. If you’re currently spending time and/or planning a trip with people who haven’t shared all your previous trips, be sure to swap stories.
And if you haven’t seen the people you’ve traveled to Disney World with recently, this might be a fun reason to reach out and reconnect.
And even if you have seen the people you’ve traveled with recently, this can still be a fun topic to revisit. It’s also a good way to celebrate the Disney World joy, even if you can’t get some new magic just yet.
Watch Disney World nighttime shows
Honestly, Disney World’s nighttime shows are one of my favorite parts of Disney World.
From the Happily Ever After fireworks in Magic Kingdom to Fantasmic in Hollywood Studios–I’m pretty much here for all of them!
And while you may not be able to get the full Disney World firework experience from home, there are several YouTube videos of the shows online.
This includes the Happily Ever After Fireworks from Disney Parks themselves!
And keep in mind, you don’t have to limit yourself to the current shows.
If you dig around enough, you’ll likely find a video of the previous Magic Kingdom show, Wishes, plus the special Halloween, New Year’s, and 4th of July fireworks.
I’m not going to link to any more videos here, because they can come and go, but this can be a great way to add some Disney Magic to your at-home life.
Watch Disney Movies
This is perhaps the easiest way to bring Disney to life at home. Consider making Disney movie nights a planned, regularly scheduled event.
You can do this even if you don’t have an extensive Disney movie collection or aren’t interested in springing for Disney Plus.
Since Disney movies are considered classics, they’re often purchased for local library collections.
Libraries often offer very affordable DVD rentals–some as low as a dollar.
However, you’d have to reach out to your library for availability, price, and current operation guidelines.
For more Disney World tips and tricks, check out the other Disney World Posts!
Sound off: How do you get a taste of Disney World at home? Tell us about it in the comments!