MAGIC KINGDOM

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WDW At Large

AT A GLANCE...
Attractions
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Shopping

Main Street USA
Harmony Barber Shop
Harmony Barber Shop
   Photo Gallery
Walt Disney World
   Railroad

Adventureland
Enchanted Tiki Room:
   Under New
   Management
Jungle Cruise
Magic Carpets of
   Aladdin
Pirates of the
   Caribbean
Swiss Family
   Treehouse

Frontierland
Big Thunder Mountain
    Railroad
Country Bear
   Jamboree
Splash Mountain
Tom Sawyer Island

Liberty Square
Hall of Presidents
Haunted Mansion
Liberty Square
   Riverboat

Fantasyland
Cinderella Castle
Cinderella's Golden
   Carrousel
Dumbo the Flying
   Elephant
It's a Small World
Mad Tea Party
Many Adventures of
   Winnie the Pooh
Mickey's PhilharMagic
Peter Pan's Flight
Pooh's Playful Spot
Snow White's Scary
    Adventures
Storytime with Belle

Mickey's Toontown Fair
Barnstormer at
   Goofy's Wiseacre
   Farm
Donald's Boat/
   Toon Park
Mickey's Country
   House
Minnie's Country
   House
Toontown Hall of
   Fame/Judge's Tent

Tomorrowland
AstroOrbiter
Buzz Lightyear Space
    Ranger Spin
Carousel of Progress
Monsters Inc.
    Laugh Floor
Space Mountain
Stitch's Great Escape
Tomorrowland Indy
   Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit
   Authority

Entertainment
Disney Dreams
   Come True Parade
Dream along with Mickey
Electrical Water
   Pageant
SpectroMagic
Wishes

Favorite Viewing
   Locations for the
   Fireworks!

Special Events
Grad Nites
Mickey's Very Merry
   Christmas Party
Mickey's Not So Scary
   Halloween Party
Pirate & Princess
   Party

Special Reports
Carousel of Progress
   Photo Gallery
Hats of the Magic
   Kingdom Photo Tour
Magic Kingdom vs
    Disneyland
Main Street USA:
   Then and Now
Mickey's Not So Scary
   Annual Passholder
   Event
Parade Grand
   Marshals

Archives
20,000 Leagues
    under the Sea
25th Anniversary
75 Years of Mickey
   Statues
Adventureland
   Challenge
Cinderella Castle
    50th Anniversary
Cinderellabration
Cinderella's Surprise
  Celebration
Easter Parade
ExtraTERRORestrial
   Alien Encounter
Goofy's Country
   Dancin'
   Jamboree at the
   Diamond Horseshoe
Magical Moments
   Parade
Main Street
   Electrical
   Parade
Mickey's
   Birthdayland
Mickey Mania Parade
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
Night of Joy
Share a Dream Come
   True Parade
Surprise Celebration
    Parade
Swashbuckling
   Pirates
Sword in the Stone
   Ceremony
Timekeeper
Walk Around the
   World Bricks
Walt Disney Story

OTHER THEME PARKS
Animal Kingdom
Disney's Hollywood Studios
Epcot

Disneyland
Disney's California
    Adventure

YOUR COMMENTS

For more Reader Comments, or to send in your Night of Joy Reports, click HERE.

10/05

Philip Stasyszen comments: I have been lucky enough to attend the Night of Joy at the Walt Disney World resort for the last four years, enjoying it every year. For those of you who may not know what this is, it is a two night (in 2004 they experimented with 3 nights) event which brings some of the biggest CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) artists to play at various stages at the Magic Kingdom. This year's artists included some big names such as Mercy Me, Newsboys, and Audio Adrenalin. The bands start playing at 7:30 pm and it usually wraps up around midnight. If
you are wanting to attend in the future, this is a separately ticketed event like MNSSHP and MVMCP; and it usually sells out well in advance. The stages are in various places including one in front of the castle, one in Adventureland, two stages in Tomorrowland at Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe, and the Galaxy Palace Theatre. Some bands play one long set and others play 2 shorter sets and there are usually about 20 bands spread out over the two nights. Other things going on include character meet and greets and a DJ playing some of the top Christian songs of the day. There is also a karaoke booth where those who are brave enough can sing their favorite songs. This year in cross promotion of the new Disney film The Chronicles of Narnia they had a booth set up with the video game that you could play and also gave out more information on the film. Most every ride and restaurant is open as well as most of the stores. I would not recommend trying to do much riding, as there are many youth groups at the event where many teenagers are running wild with no supervision it seems. I feel sorry for the workers for this fact. One year that I went to the event I rode to rides, Peter Pan's Flight and It's A Small World; on Peter Pan, the kids were screaming at the top of their lungs and it was just annoying on IASW they were leaning over the boat and splashing water at each other. Needless to say if you are taking small kids or you are wanting to just ride rides, go to another park -- it's not worth the admission. This event has been fun every year I've been though, there is never a shortage of good music; and to see the cast members pull it all off is nothing short of amazing. The crowds around this time of year (usually the weekend after Labor Day) are usually small and manageable; I think the longest line we waited in was no more than 30 minutes. So if you are a fan of Christian music and you are going to be in the area I would recommend you attend. The tickets are around $60 for both nights and there is
an annual pass discount for single nights.

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3/05

Amy Quirk writes: Hi! My family and I were in Disney last year during The Night of Joy time. It was AWESOME! There were hardly any crowds and you could practically walk right up to the stage to watch the performers. We started out buying a one-night pass, but then ended up buying the other nights tickets as well, since we had such a great time. The added bonus was that when you left the park they gave away free CD's of the bands that performed. We would definitely recommend this time to go to anyone who likes the Christian bands.

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9/04

Diane from MI writes: Even though I have been visiting Disney World regularly since 1979, I just discovered the "Night of Joy" a few years ago. I attended the last 2 years. If contemporary Christian music is what one likes, then this is THE place to go. The Magic Kingdom is open only to NOJ particpants, so the crowd is very polite and friendly. The crowd is limited to and sold out the 2 years we went. There are stages set up all over the Magic Kingdom with mini concerts going on all of the time. There are different styles of music to please any age fan, from pre-teen to a middle aged oldie like me. The event draws alot of fans from Florida, but others like me travel from all over the US( I am from Michigan). I was not able to go this year, but plan to make this an annual event, taking any family members who can go also. This is also a good time to visit Disney World because the regular crowd is less, being right after school starts. I would highly recommend this event to anyone who loves to hear the best in Christian music!

V. Case writes: My husband and I attended NOJ quite some time ago in 1993. It was a
wonderful experience. We had just moved to Florida to be music and youth pastors for a church in Leesburg, FL. It was fantastic to enjoy all the best of the Magic Kingdom and fantastic Christian artists. My best memory is that of a new, up and coming group, named Point of Grace. Look how far they have come in such a short time! I was sure even then that they would be a top notch Christian group. Our youth group had a great time on the rides and enjoying some of the best Christian music around. I highly recommend this special event.

Eric & Jen comment: We attended the NOJ on 9-10-04 and was delighted with the entire night! I had read about "rowdy youth groupers running loose", but never had a problem with any of that! There was really little to no wait time on most of the rides we like, just Space Mountain was too long. We were able to enjoy Sonic Flood, Skillet and a little bit of the Stryper concert. All put on a great show! We will definetly try to make it next year! Our whole family enjoyed the concerts, especially our teenagers! Hope some of you get to go next year!

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Susan Edgington, 2001: I was at Night of Joy 2001 with my mom on the second night. I had a good time in a sense because I loved hearing the bands, but it was soooo crowded that I only got to do one ride, my favorite, Big Thunder, and the line was thirty minutes, which is the longest I am willing to wait. My mom had a blast because all she wanted to do was hear the bands. We are both planning on going this year, but I would recommend, if you want to do Magic Kingdom rides, then go earlier in the day because it's too crowded during the NoJ. I noticed some rambunctious teen groups, but no bad behavior. All teens no matter where they come from are rambunctious in groups. So if you go, be prepared for crowds and take a gentle attitude with you, and enjoy the awesome music!

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Chris Johnson, 9/01: I'd like to share our experiences, for what they're worth. My husband and I only attended one night, the second one, and I'd like to say up front that I am not a huge fan of Christian music, so I was attending this solely for my husband. The MK official close time that night was 7:00pm, however, if you had the NoJ wristband, you were allowed to remain inside the park until the "official" start of NoJ at 8:00. I would not recommend doing this to anyone, as they close everything down. All of the stores lock their doors and all of the rides cease operating until 8:00. I guess this is to induce all of the non NoJ guests to leave, but, it doesn't really leave anything for the other people to do.

As 8:00 approached, the hub area was packed with people waiting to see the artists on the Castle Stage, and before they did, some local d.j.'s came onstage to introduce the band. In doing so, they stated something that we later heard repeated, the Cast Members hate working NoJ, it is considered the worst night to work and no one wants to do it. After experiencing the event, I can see why. Churches from all over just turn loose their youth groups in the parks. The behavior of these groups is atrocious. I have been to large rock concerts and the crowds were more well behaved. In line for Pooh, I watched as kids came hurtling over the barriers that direct the lines to cut in front of a family with a young child. They nearly landed on the child, without an apology. They proceded to push and yell the whole time they were in line, and unfortunately, we got stuck in a car with some of the kids. They totally ruined the ride. As a result, we didn't even attempt any of the other rides that were open.

Everywhere you went there were people screaming, pushing, jumping and acting up. I have been in the MK between Christmas and New Years and I have never seen a crowd like this. In my opinion, save the 30.00 a person and just see these groups when they are near you. Spend time at the MK, but get out before NoJ. Also, the transportation back to the resort, when we left at 11:30 pm (the event ends at 1:00 am) was terrible. We had a long wait for a bus, and then the bus waited there for another 20 mins before departing to the hotel.

WDW Night of Joy http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/7769/index.html