Our Top 10 Disney Bucket List Experiences
While writing our “Top” 10 NEVER AGAIN! at Walt Disney World list, I stumbled upon our old Disney bucket list post, and thought it might be due for an update. I started to edit it, only to realize that so much had changed that we probably should just do Volume 2 of our Disney Bucket List with some additions. If you told me when I wrote that original bucket list that, 3 years later, we’d have crossed off many of the items on it, I probably wouldn’t have believed it.
Before we get started with our ultimate bucket list items, we have a few quick-hit bonus bucket list entries:
- Keys to the Kingdom Tour (Walt Disney World)
- Visit The Jim Henson Company lot
- One dessert in every country of World Showcase in a day
- Celebrate Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary
- Watch fireworks from a bathtub at Bay Lake Tower
- Eat at a filling meal at Captain Kidd’s…and live to tell about it 😉
We have been very fortunate in our Disney travels and various opportunities we’ve had. We are very aware that for many people, a vacation to Walt Disney World or Disneyland is a once-in-a-lifetime bucket list item. We are incredibly grateful for the experiences we’ve had. We hope our dreams listed in this post don’t come across as entitled fans unappreciative of what we have. We’re very appreciative of what we’ve been able to do, and we hope this post is taken in the ‘for fun’ manner it’s intended.
There are more items on even our short list, but many of them are redundant or the same types of thing (e.g. various tours, hotels with views or specific cool rooms, etc.), so let’s jump right to the “holy grail/crazy dreamin'” items on our bucket list, starting with the ones that are pretty unlikely to happen, and moving towards ones that are more attainable…
10. Stay in the Cinderella Castle Suite — We’ve toured the Cinderella Castle Suite twice, and we think our “ultimate” bucket list item would be this, as a result. Unfortunately, this is totally out of our control, so I’m not sure if it’s even appropriate for a bucket list at all.
Basically, our “goal” here is to win a contest that tens of thousands of other people enter in order to stay a night here, or be awarded a stay in the suite for our continuing excellence in blogging. (The probability of the former occurring is a lot higher than the latter.)
9. Visit All Soarin’ Around the World Locations – This is a pretty out there goal given that all of the destinations for Soarin’ Around the World aren’t yet known, but based upon a merchandise leak, it sounds like the destinations will include the Swiss Alps, Monument Valley (check!), Egypt, France (check!), Africa, Australia, Brazil, Fiji, and Disneyland (check!).
All of those are places we’d ultimately like to visit, and while it’s improbable that we’ll hit them all (especially since there are likely other locations in the attraction), why not try? We’ve been to almost every location in Soarin’ Over California, and I never thought that would happen, so who knows?! As an honorable mention, I’ll add “Visit All Impressions de France Locations” to the list. Same idea as this one.
8. Disney in the Snow – Continuing the trend of relatively unattainable bucket list items is seeing and photographing snow in one of the parks. Growing up in the snow belt of Michigan, I love (and miss!) the snow. Few things are more beautiful than a fresh layer of powder blanketing the trees. Realistically, any accumulation of snow is not going to happen in Florida or Hong Kong. Paris and Tokyo are different stories.
It does snow periodically in those parks, with Tokyo seeming to be the more likely of the 2, getting a solid snowstorm just about every other January. The real challenge here is timing. You’d have to either live in Japan or plan a January trip and hope to get lucky. I’m not so sure I’d want to visit in Japan without the guarantee of snow…it’s pretty cold, and cold weather without the snow is no fun. However, I really want photos like the one above, so I’m going to do everything in my power to make this one happen eventually!
7. Disneyland & Walt Disney World in the Same Day – This is from the original list, and we still haven’t done it. Then, we wrote, “this would be very easy for anyone who lives in Florida. Just enter one of the parks before flying to Disneyland.” We considered it ambitious then because it would require a single trip with stops in both California or Florida.
It’s not nearly as much of a challenge now, but it’s still on our bucket list because we are total dorks and want photos with the day’s issues of the Orlando Sentinel and Los Angeles Times in front of Cinderella Castle and Sleeping Beauty Castle. Can you blame us? For an even more fatiguing challenge of a similar nature, we’d like to do Disneyland and Tokyo Disneyland in the same day.
6. Dine at Every Disney Restaurant – All of them, worldwide. I’m pretty sure that I already have reviewed more Disney restaurants than any other blogger, which is either a “bragging rights” feat or insane depending upon your perspective. The next goal is to dine at every restaurant worldwide. We’ve already done almost every restaurant at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney Resort. Disneyland Paris presents the biggest obstacle to completing this challenge, because it has a lot of restaurants, many of which aren’t open regularly.
(Note: exempted from this is Club 33 at Tokyo Disneyland. This is a bucket list item for us itself, but it’s highly unrealistic. The restaurant is the same idea as Club 33 at Disneyland, but located in World Bazaar (Main Street) at Tokyo Disneyland. They have a fairly strict policy on photos inside the restaurant, so you’ll seldom see photos online. This is another one that’s pretty much out of our control–short of learning Japanese, getting jobs in Japan at companies that may (or may not) have memberships, working our way to an executive level at which we can utilize said memberships, and then going, I don’t see this happening. Doesn’t hurt to dream!)
5. Castle to Chateau – The top 5 consists of more realistic and attainable goals. The actual bucket list goal here is to run an inaugural runDisney event, as I feel I’m sort of late to the party with runDisney (I’m envious of all the 10+ year old shirts I see at runDisney events.)
To pump up this entry a bit, I’ll say the “goal” here is actually to earn runDisney medals on two continents in the same month, which should happen this year, as I’m registered for the Disneyland Half Marathon and Disneyland Paris Half Marathon this September. Of course, running 13.1 miles twice in a month is hardly a foregone conclusion, so I can’t cross this one off the list until I do it.
4. Visit the Walt Disney Family Museum — This was on our original list and the only reason it claims a numbered spot on this list is because I’m embarrassed that it’s still on the list. We’ve been to San Francisco a few times in the last couple of years, and have yet to go.
This is despite me often preaching the historical significance of Disneyland and other integral components of Disney history. We’ve heard great things about the Walt Disney Family Museum, and have penciled in a California Coast road-trip to San Francisco in May, and this is the top priority on our agenda.
3. Adventures by Disney – We keep going back and forth on Adventures by Disney. Numerous readers have asked, and we always answer in hypothetical: on the one hand, it’s pricey, but on the other hand, I have yet to hear a negative review of Adventures by Disney. While part of the adventure on our travels is the journey and mistakes we make along the way, having someone else take care of everything might be a nice change of pace. We are probably more cost-conscious than typical Adventures by Disney guests, so I wonder if the sticker-shock would be really tough to get past. This is our ultimate someday bucket list item. Someday, when we have more money or there’s a good deal on an itinerary, we’d love to experience Adventures by Disney firsthand.
2. Shanghai – Being at Shanghai Disneyland for opening day was a relatively unattainable item on the last incarnation of this list, but this was also written before we crossed Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, and Hong Kong Disneyland off the list. However, it was also before we had a solid grasp of the realities of international travel.
I’ve never been as apprehensive about visiting a park for the first time as I am about visiting Shanghai Disneyland. Due to the unique nuances of Chinese culture and the crowds that swarmed at the Disney Store in Shanghai when it opened a couple of years ago, we are preparing for this park and DisneyTown to be swamped with guests for its first year.
1. Photograph Ear Force One, Zip-A-Dee-Doo Duck, or Spaceship Earth Balloon — This is a modified item from the original list and was in my “relatively unattainable” category. After crossing off either items from that category, I’m convinced that I’m persistent and stubborn enough to make this one a reality, too. I know these Disney balloons with character are seldom-used, but they are still used, including at real-world balloon festivals.
I’m going to make it my mission to figure out when they’ll be in use, and head there to photograph them. With the Albuquerque New Mexico International Hot Air Balloon Festival (something I really want to photograph regardless of Disney balloons) and Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival nearby, I will make this a reality! Heck, maybe I’ll even kill two birds with one stone and photograph it at the opening of Shanghai Disneyland!
It’s been fun crossing items off of our Disney bucket list over the course of the last several years, and continuing to add things we want to see, experience, and do helps keep the parks fresh for us even after numerous visits. There’s always something we haven’t done, whether it’s a new seasonal event, restaurant, etc., to help keep things fresh. Who knows what will be on this list the next time we update it!
Now, it’s your turn…what are some of the top items on your Disney bucket list?
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Your Thoughts
What do you think of our bucket list? Have you done any of these things? What are the top items on your bucket list? Which bucket list items of your own have you crossed off? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
Love your list, I hope you and Sarah continu to update us every once in a while on your list.
I could have sworn I read somewhere that you ran by a hot air balloon on one of your runDisney marathons and regret not taking a photo of it. Guess that could have “counted” haha?
Visiting Disneyland is still on my list!
My fiancé and I are still not willing to give up a WDW trip for a DL trip…. This is likely to happen when we either have more money or just get tired of waiting to see the original park!
Defiantly take an Adventures by Disney trip. Although it was expensive, it was worth every cent I spent and more. There was enough free time worked into the tour that you could explore and make the mistakes you talked about. But just knowing that everything was being taken care of was so nice. I’m planning on another trip next year to Australia and just thinking about planning a trip to Australia is overwhelming, fun, but still overwhelming. By using ABD for my first trip there, I’ll have a better idea the next time I may take a trip down under.
Also, the Jim Henson studio was pretty cool for the history, but there’s not a ton to see being done.
The Walt Disney Family Museum is awesome! We went two years ago when they had the Mary Blair exhibit- really a great way to spend an afternoon. That one should be easy to cross off! 🙂
I have been to Disneyland Paris in the snow – way back in 1996, it was amazing.
My bucket list is to visit Tokyo Disney and all the Epcot countries (I only have Canada, China, Norway and Mexico to go!)
I might squeeze in Shanghai Disneyland depending on visas/crowds on route to TDR
We went to Disneyland Paris in the snow – it was a terrifying journey as we drove from the UK in a blizzard (and even had to dig our own parking space at the Hotel New York!) but it was spectacular and we got some beautiful photos of the castle and the Mickey flowerbed in front of the Disneyland Hotel covered in snow!
There’s a balloon festival in Idaho every year – my brother lives in Boise & worked the event. A few years ago, he sent me a picture of the Mickey balloon when he worked the event. I’m not sure if it’s there every year, but it’s worth looking into. http://spiritofboise.com
I will also be visiting the Walt Disney Family Museum this year (July) and look forward to seeing your report about it.
My main Disney bucket list is to visit all of the parks, which is definitely attainable for me since I have family in Thailand and can always make a detour on one of my visits there. I just need to make it happen!
Thanks! This is the kind of intel I need to make this bucket list item a reality. If anyone else works–or knows someone who works–balloon festivals (and there are a lot throughout the US alone) and knows in advance if one of these balloons will be there, please give me a heads up! 🙂
Otherwise, I might just try my luck with Albuquerque in the next couple of years…
Loved the list, Tom! I’m really looking forward to visiting the Walt Disney museum in May – I’m doing a shore excursion in San Francisco when the Disney Wonder stops there.
Also your Easter photos of Tokyo have us sooooo excited. We’ll be there in just over three weeks and can’t wait to see all the beautiful decorations!
1. I’ve definitely always wanted to stay in Cinderella Castle. I lived in Florida and hated almost every moment of my 6 years there, but I said if I could live in the castle I’d be happy.
2. Stay in all of the Disneyland Hotel Signature Suites.
3. Go to Disneyland Paris (I almost did this December, but decided on a cruise instead. Glad I did because of the terrorist attacks. I will get there though.)
4. Disney Mediterranean Cruise.
5. Adventures by Disney (especially Cambodia and Peru).
6. Stay in all of the Deluxe resorts at Disney World (I just stayed in my first, The Wilderness Lodge–loved it!)
7. Visit all of the REAL countries featured at Epcot (I’ve been to Mexico, Germany, France, Italy, England, Canada, and obviously the US, so not too many to go. Of course most of those left are a little more difficult to get to)
8. Go through the Panama Canal on a Disney Cruise
9. Do all of the behind the scenes tours at Disney World
10. Run a Run Disney Race (I ran a Kids Race with my daughter, but I don’t think that really counts, plus I didn’t get a medal 🙁
Excellent and ambitious list–thanks for sharing! I didn’t think to add *specific* Disney cruises to the list…
I never kept an explicit list, but one of the things that stuck with me from childhood were scenes from Impressions de France, particularly the aerial view of Chateau de Chenonceau. This past summer my wife and I took a hot air balloon ride over the Loire valley, and it was just as spectacular I had imagined, and just as spectacular as Impressions de France promised. It’s not a Disney bucket list item per se, but absolutely inspired by a Disney experience.
We’re also certified divers now, so we’re planning to scratch DiveQuest off the list this summer!
My bucket list is pretty moderate, but I enjoy reading yours. I definitely have #10, even though it will never happen. I’d also agree with the sentiment on Adventures by Disney. We’re do-it-yourself’ers on vacations and are also pretty frugal when travelling. But on the other hand, I have also heard nothing but great things about AbD. So, perhaps some day.
I love the Disney World/Disneyland in one day idea. My son and I have talked about doing 6 parks in one day! On every trip to WDW we do 4 parks in one day (must ride multiple rides at each park). On our trip last year, while doing the 4 parks in one day, we discussed 6 parks/one day and decided it would be the holy grail. The 4 in WDW and the 2 in California. We think it would be the ultimate bucket list experience.
It’s funny, but my bucket list (at 56 yrs of age) has been to see all of the Disney parks. I thought it was an unreasonable goal. Not due to finances, I could afford it with some careful planning, but even my husband who humors me quite often just chuckles when he tells people I want to do that.
I have only ever been to Disney world in Florida.
After seeing all of your travels I think it’s kind of ridiculous that I have not made a greater effort to “accomplish” this!
Disney Tokyo here we come! (maybe)!
I don’t exactly have a Disney bucket list, but after reading many of your articles, Tom, I’m convinced that someday my husband and I need to go WITHOUT our kids, LOL! Our Disney vacations are so much fun, but they are definitely kid-centered, and it would be nice to eat at signature restaurants and do more adult activities. Plus, leaving the kids behind would cut the cost of the vacation by so much that it would actually feel cheap, LOL!
This is 100% my bucket list! My parents took us a lot as kids & my husband and I are taking our oldest daughter this fall. I know we’ll do another Disney trip with both our girls at some point but I would really love to spend a few days sans kids!!
This was on our bucket list as well and we are making it happen in just a few weeks for our 15th anniversary! While we love taking our boys, we are very much looking forward to experiencing Disney as “adults.” While we have plenty to keep us busy, we are hoping to take a more leisurely stroll and not feel we have to get as many rides and attractions in as possible.
And, truth be told, I can’t wait to capture some late night shots inspired by Tom!
Yeah, I was thinking that would be a great anniversary trip sometime! We spent our honeymoon in Tahiti (16 years ago) so we could replicate the Pacific island theme by going to WDW and staying at the Polynesian. Maybe for our 20th?
Have fun and enjoy those night shots!
My husband and I JUST did this in February (thanks to my mom for babysitting!) and it was indeed amazingly delightful. Epcot without kids is fabulous, because there are no “I want that!” or “I need to go potty!” or “I’m TIRED.” Highly recommend it.
Yes, EPCOT would be awesome without kids! Our kids are fantastic travelers overall, but they do not like the World Showcase. I would love to spend a whole day in JUST the World Showcase!
Is it still possible to book a tour of the castle suit being an “average joe”?
Nope. As far as I know only the super rich can get access (and I’m not sure how regular that is). They also reserve it for contest winners. So it’s practically impossible to get into.
I mean a tour, not an overnight stay. It looks like Tom got 2 tours, not sure if it was due to the blog or not though.
They were D23 event tours years ago. As far as I know, they don’t even do tours anymore. I haven’t seen one offered in the last 2-3 years.
We were at Disneyland Paris in the snow a few years ago (in mid-March, it was unexpected!) and although it was actually much better set up for snow than Paris itself, I wouldn’t call it ideal. We spent far more on food than I usually would!!
It’s fairly difficult to get enough snow in Paris for it to be really pretty, but it’s still cold and wet. Sadly I think it’s put my boyfriend off Disney for life (though I keep trying to convince him that Florida will be warmer!)
From my (extremely) limited experience I’d try Tokyo!
The timing of this article is perfect because my daughter and I were just discussing our Disney bucket list items on our road trip this weekend. Number 1 is to visit all the International parks. Thanks to your trip planning guide, we were able to make it to Tokyo last May. I won’t bore you with our whole list but one of our top 10 is to bump into you and Sarah. No joke! We think that would be very cool because you are our Disney hero! Keep up the great articles and photos!
What about getting a picture with Darkwing Duck?
OMG the afternoon tea at the Grand Floridian is an absolute must. I did it for my birthday and loved can’t wait to splurge & do it again
DiveQuest at EPCOT is an amazing experience. I’ve been scuba diving in many different Caribbean locations, and a couple in the Pacific, and the overall experience was awesome. There was quite a bit of time spent backstage, and it was great to see behind the scenes.
My favorite part was seeing my family on the other side of the window. The DVD from the experience is priceless – seeing my 2 older kids as they were then, and the wonder in their eyes as they realized it was me waving to them are treasured memories. Definitely worth the money and time. If you get the chance, y’all should definitely do it.
That one is mostly a “Sarah” one, too. I did DiveQuest years ago, and had a blast. Aside from being in the tank and other minor details, I don’t remember a lot of it, but I remember having an awesome time. I’d definitely be up for doing it again.