What I'm Looking Forward To...

So, there are a lot of things that I'm looking forward to about this program. I can finally go to the parks that I've never been to before! For free! I've never been to Animal Kingdom, or fully explored Hollywood Studios. I can get into Magic Kingdom all I want and explore EPCOT ALL the time.(I wonder if I can get into Disney Quest for free... Hmm. That would be AWESOME.)

• Disney Quest is the four-story arcade in Downtown Disney. They have all different kinds of games and "attractions" inside. For example: There is a whole floor dedicated to virtual reality Pirates of the Caribbean games. When I found this out, I FREAKED. There is also a floor where you can design your own roller coaster, then RIDE it. (Virtually, of course.) But still! How awesome is that? Ah, the inner nerd in me is having a freak out happy moment. I don't know what the other two floors consist of. But I'm sure they're full of awesome.

• Animal Kingdom- I have never been there. I know, I know, that is such a sin for any Disney lover, but I've never been a big fan of zoos, and thus, Animal Kingdom has never interested me before. My parents didn't see the point of paying for the tickets if no one was really interested. But I have always wanted to experience it ONCE and ride the ride with the Yeti. I'm sure I'll do the Safari ride at least once. I want to see the shows there and see the Tree of Life. The DCP gives me the opportunity to do this. (For free. As many times as I want.)
• Hollywood Studios- I haven't properly explored this park. I went for the first time last year, and I after I left, I found out that I only explored HALF of the park. I didn't know there was more. Once I got to Tower of Terror and Rockin' Roller Coaster, I didn't leave that area. It was kinda awesome and sad at the same time. I kind of want to work here too. I loved the Art of Animation section of the park, I learned how to draw Pluto and Dopey like a pro.  

Other than getting into the parks for free, I found out that I can go on specific Cast Member tours/events in the park. Like, riding Space Mountain with the lights on, or taking a tour of Haunted Mansion with the lights on!!! How cool would that be?! I could also get discounts on tours and even do the Cast Member only tours.

• Cinderella's Castle Tour- It's just something I've always wanted to do, to see the suite that people can stay in at the Disney resort. I mean, how does that work? Do people actually stay in there? Or is it a tease? Imagine if you stay in there and the park closes, and suddenly you want to go ride It's a Small World? Could you do that? Idk. It'd still be awesome.

Since I'll be there in the Fall, I'll get to be at Disney for the four major holidays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. I've always wanted to see the parks during the holidays, but usually the tickets are a little more expensive, and my parents don't understand why I would want to go to Disney World for vacation. ("Vacation time is to relax, Katie." I call shenanigans on that.)

(This is the show from last year, and I reallllllly hope I see it this year. :D )

• Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween is something that I've always wanted to see with my own two eyes. It's obviously around Halloween, and the characters themselves are in "costume" and the villains walk amongst the guests! I am a HUGE fan of all of the villains. (My absolute favorite being Dr. Facilier from Princess and the Frog. :D)  There is also trick-or-treating for the guests! You go to a ride, and you get candy. Not just one piece, but roughly 4 or 5 per ride. Crazy! The inner-child in me is freaking out now too.  
• Disney at Christmas- I think this is pretty much self-explanatory. Magic Kingdom decorated in thousands of Christmas lights, there are carolers everywhere, the parades are supposed to be fantastic, and in Hollywood Studios, it SNOWS. In Florida. They make it snow every day. Sure, it's soap flakes, but still. I'm a huge Christmas fan, and I can't think of anywhere else to bring ALL of the magic of Christmas to life than Disney.

I don't actually know what they do for Thanksgiving or New Years, and this will be my chance to find out! There isn't a whole lot more to say about how excited I am, but this is just laying out the specific things that I know are going to happen while I'm down there.