Before Sunrise in Magic Kingdom
Last week, we set out for Magic Kingdom shortly before 6 a.m. for morning Extra Magic Hours. After breezing through bag check and the turnstiles, a small group of dedicated Walt Disney World guests waited in front of the floral Mickey to enter and beat the hordes of spring breakers that would later descend upon the park.
Rope drop occurred shortly before 7 a.m., allowing for the rare experience of seeing the Magic Kingdom all lit up in the morning. This pre-sunrise experience in Magic Kingdom happens a few times a year, primarily around Christmas, New Year’s Eve, Easter, and spring break.
It’s one of my absolute favorite times in Walt Disney World, not because you can do a ton of attractions as walk-ons (although you could do exactly that), but because it’s an uncommon opportunity to enjoy the best time of day at Magic Kingdom–as the park transitions from night to day–in a totally serene environment. In this post, I’ll share that experience with you via some photos I captured that morning…
I first fell in love with this pre-dawn Magic Kingdom experience several years ago while staying at Bay Lake Tower the week between Christmas and New Year’s. That year, the park offered 7 a.m. Extra Magic Hours every single morning of our trip, and had unannounced openings even earlier, at about 6:30 a.m.
Every morning, I was outside the train station by 6 a.m., I’d walk over from the Contemporary in the dark and wait for the day to begin. I’d run around, going wild doing attractions as walk-ons, grabbing a few photos here and there. In retrospect, I don’t remember a single ride I did, but the experience of taking certain photos is etched in my memory.
After a few hours, the holiday crowds would show up in full force, and we’d leave, heading back to Bay Lake Tower to crash for the afternoon before getting up just before sunset and repeating the whole process in reverse, staying out as late as possible for evening Extra Magic Hours. It was an odd sleep schedule, to say the least.
My recollections of those mornings are quite fond, but I’ve frequently wished I could do it all over again, focusing solely on the photos. Last week, I had exactly that opportunity, and took full advantage. While Sarah was riding around the Main Street vehicles and the PeopleMover, I was racing around like a madman photographing everything in sight.
If I were to offer a recap of my morning, it would effectively read like the play-by-play from a game of pinball. I started at the Train Station, went halfway up Main Street, back to the Train Station, all the way into the Central Plaza, and back down Main Street.
Then I headed over to Tomorrowland–but not to do attractions, to take photos of fake palm trees. Then it was back to the Central Plaza, through Cinderella Castle to Fantasyland and New Fantasyland, back to Tomorrowland…you get the idea.
Originally, I was going to title this post Kingdom Keepers: Magic Kingdom Before Sunrise.
However, I haven’t actually read any of those books, so I went to Wikipedia to make sure my assumptions about the books’ premises were correct…and it sounds like they’re actually about kids who are holographic hosts, doing battle with villains after hours?
Maybe it would’ve been a good reference, but I nevertheless dropped it. Instead, I went with the Before Sunrise reference, which is part of my favorite film trilogy of all time. The first film is a romantic drama dealing with human connections, everyday life, travel, and seizing opportunities.
Not that you cared.
With a totally clear sky, this sunrise wasn’t ideal from a photography perspective, but I did make sure to be near Cinderella Castle as it was “kissed” by the red glow of the first sunlight piercing the horizon.
This red hue doesn’t last long, so as soon as I captured shots to the side of and between Cinderella Castle, I raced back to New Fantasyland.
My options there were limited, as the sunlight hadn’t yet hit anything near ground level. I’m not sure spotlighting Beast’s Castle is the best idea, but I like this photo.
I probably should’ve headed to Frontierland instead, but I’m not sure I could’ve made it there in time.
Heading back towards the Central Plaza, I stopped for some photos of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
It was still dark enough to accomplish this photo simply by bumping up my aperture and slowing my shutter speed just a bit, creating the motion blur to give the photo a sense of kinetic energy.
Once the sun was sufficiently over the horizon, it was time for one of my favorite things in photography: sunbursts.
There’s a lot of dead space in the above photo, but I still like it. Not only is the light on the ground pretty, but it underscores just how empty Magic Kingdom was at this hour.
More of the same back on my favorite walkway along the Rivers of America in Frontierland.
This path can get congested during the middle of the day, especially when it’s a parade bypass, but early in the morning or late at night, it’s a serene and charming way to enjoy the scenery along the Rivers of America.
A different approach here as I positioned the sun just out of the frame, blowing out the sky with a soft, ethereal glow.
It’s not my normal style, but I think it works. There are also three ducks in the frame, and that alone makes it a keeper.
Speaking of wildlife, there were two times this particular morning when I heard other guests audibly react to animals (once a squirrel, once a duck) scurrying down pathways in Magic Kingdom.
We regularly see guests taking photos of ducks, rabbits, squirrels, and even cats in the parks. We see this because we’re often doing the same. This just goes to show that no matter how much high-tech wizardry Walt Disney World introduces, sometimes life’s simple pleasures and moments of joy are what makes the place special.
More sunburst fun back at the Little Mermaid dark ride as the sun rises a bit higher.
I still vividly remember racing around back here when the area was still relatively new during the last 24-hour party. As chaotic as those were, I’d love to see them return. Maybe we’ll get a 50 hour kick-off for Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary?! Somehow I doubt it, but I can dream…
I love the pink, red, and yellow flowers planted around the Central Plaza at Magic Kingdom right now. The multi-color snapdragons I really like are already gone, but the park is still looking vibrant for spring.
I’ve plugged it once already recently, but anyone who wants to see Magic Kingdom at its horticultural peak should check out the Gardens of Walt Disney World. (You can read my full review of this book here.) That book showcases how resplendent Magic Kingdom used to look back in the late 1980s.
We end with a look at Sharing the Magic as early morning light starts to give the Main Street facades a warm glow. By this time, more guests were starting to trickle into the park, and were likewise stopping in their tracks to take photos of the beautiful morning.
By about 9 a.m., I had already logged around 15,000 steps, and should’ve been exhausted. Yet I felt rejuvenated. There is a certain feeling Magic Kingdom has as it wakes up for the day and comes alive, and experiencing that in relative serenity is truly…(I won’t use the obvious but cliched term here)…majestical.
We are very fortunate to visit Walt Disney World often, and while that might sound really great, the byproduct is that it can make the exceptional feel everyday. You start to take the parks for granted, which definitely should not be the case. Mornings like this are reinvigorating, restoring that magic (okay, I had to use it), and helping keep that passion going strong.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Have you ever spent an early morning in Magic Kingdom just wandering around, savoring the atmosphere? Ever had the chance to do super early Extra Magic Hours during peak season? Thoughts on any of these photos, or the sometimes-random, rambling text? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
This was just the kind of article I needed to read today. It’s reminding me to slow down a little bit and take in what’s around me. I wish your pics were for sale because I would definately like to have them to view when I need a reminder…
Thank you!
You should read the “Kingdom Keepers” books … they are great! And they are all about Disney!!! You will love them!!!
Thank you for the beautiful pictures! We returned from WDW in February, which was our 1st trip there. Tried to see everything, but was impossible. I don’t remember being on the walkway by Rivers of America in Frontierland, and I wish I had seen it, especially as your camera did. Awesome scene!!
As always I feel so much better after living through your eyes as you capture the magic (yup, I said it) of Disney. Taking a break from work is well worth reading and absorbing these awesome works of art. Thank you for sharing.
These are some great photos. Went to Disney during the Christmas break with my wife, 2-yr old daughter and parents and we got to experience the sunrise at Magic Kingdom not once, but twice during our trip. I almost can’t imagine not seeing it again as it was the first time I had been back to Disney in about 15 years.
Thanks for sharing!
Awesome photos! Although enjoy that crazy itinerary while you have no kiddos as it will be near impossible to do it with them in the early years.
Such lovely images and thoughts! Takes me back 36 years, early summer mornings when cast departments had canoe races around Tom Sawyer’s Island. Beauty, wonder, awe hasn’t changed my love of Disney since working there a college summer. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing these photos! Those sunbursts are amazing.
I would seriously pay money for copies of the shots you have posted here. Mornings are my absolute favorite time to be alive (even though it is hard to drag my body out of bed) and your pictures of Magic Kingdom in the morning are like photos of heaven, honestly! Wow.
YES- Tom, you should 100% consider selling prints if you don’t already- there are some GORGEOUS shots I know would sell!! 🙂
I don’t know how oftem Tom uploads new shots to Sugmug, but he has hundreds of great pictures for purchase there: https://tombricker.smugmug.com/Disney
Thats how I roll as well. Up and out before dawn if possible while on vacation. Some of the best views and experiences happen when each day is born. If you spend all of that money on a trip, I don’t understand why some people sleep till 10 before starting their day. You can sleep at home, I say.
One of my favorite all-time memories was when my high school marching band marched before Spectromagic as part of Magic Music Days in 2001. On one of the days, we got to take a group photo in front of the castle, but we had to enter before park opening. We arrived by bus to a backstage lot on the East side of Main Street and were escorted onto risers that were setup around 6:30am. There were work trucks lining Main Street, prepping the park for the day ahead. We had our picture taken as the sun was starting to hit the castle. While we didn’t get to enjoy the park at that hour, just seeing the Hub, the castle, and looking down Main Street as the sun came up was… magical! I agree with Tom, there’s something very special about that time of day in this park. Thanks for bringing back those great memories!
What a wonderful memory! Thanks for sharing it.
Beautiful pucture! Love the sunburnt photos!
Thank you for sharing!
Thank you so much for this. I am blessed with a big family so the chance of me getting to the park pre-dawn is about as good as my chance at Powerball. Getting to WDW at all is pretty special. I would never have seen these beautiful sights without your post. Hoping one day to do a similar photo tour.
we are going in Oct. 2019. I told my husband I want to go to Magic kingdom as early as possible. we haven’t done that since our honeymoon 30 years ago. I really hope they have a morning that has extra magic hours to enjoy the start of day .
This is awesome. Makes me wish alarm clocks weren’t my worst enemy. I could use a glamour shot of just Harper’s Mill with the morning sun casting long shadows across the face. That spot has so much going on, I think the sunburst is unnecessary.
we are going in Oct. 2019. I told my husband I want to go to Magic kingdom as early as possible. we haven’t done that since our honeymoon 30 years ago. I really hope they have a morning that has extra magic hours to enjoy the start of day .
Beautiful photos!! I love the sunburst photo of the castle reflecting on the bridge – thanks for sharing!
One Of my favorite parts about the WDW marathon weekend is exactly that. Running through the park while it’s dawn. I run with such a smile during the MK portion.
Great post. You’ve captured the quietude and serenity of the park at this special, fleeting hour in a day so effectively, in words and images. Thanks for taking me there! Getting more excited for our trip every day.
These are some of my favorites from all of your pictures. Thanks for sharing!
I have never gone to the parks early mornings but will on my up coming trip!
The photos are beautiful and thank you .
Wow. I so admire your photographers eye. Thanks for sharing.