One of the things that I didn’t realize before we moved down to Florida was how very much the sunny days would impact me. For crying out loud, the state’s nickname is “The Sunshine State,” right? You would think I would’ve known. Consistently seeing the sun has a way of raising the spirits and lightening the load just a bit.
As I’ve been looking back at Walt Disney World pictures during the temporary closure, I’ve noticed how much fun it is to look back at the happy sun-filled moments. Just in case you needed a snapshot or two of sunny Disney happiness today, I thought I’d share a few with you.
I took this at Disney’s Riviera Resort back in January. Morgan and I were representing The DIS at a multi-day media event, and the start time for each day was early. You’d never know it from the picture, but the average morning temp over those three days was in the fifties. Brrr. Layers were definitely a good thing. If you’re traveling to Walt Disney World in January, be sure to bring a jacket. It may be Florida, but it’s still winter.
I took the picture above during my first visit to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. It was mid-morning, and the sun was brilliant. The entire land was awash in sunlight, and the way that it played off of the lanterns and tchotchkes hanging from the rafters of Black Spire Outpost’s Marketplace was beautiful. I couldn’t believe that I was actually in this land that we’d waited for; it was magic. Rain moved in during the early afternoon and remained for the rest of the day. I was so glad that the morning had been so lovely.
Enchanted Rose, the newest lounge at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa soft opened on October 4th of last year. When an attraction, lounge, or dining location opens quietly before the official opening date to help the cast members get the kinks worked out, it’s called a soft opening. It’s a great chance to get a first look at a new venue, and I headed over to get pics and a feel for things so that I could write an article and cover it for the site. I left a meeting and made my way to the Grand to check things out, still in my heels from the meeting. You do what you must, right? The day was gorgeous, and the lounge’s patio that overlooks the water play area and the Disney Vacation Club villas looked like the perfect spot to hang out on a sunny afternoon. It’s also the spot that Jackie would most want to be found on a lazy Florida afternoon. The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian are her very favorite.
I snapped the picture above as I chugged my way through Future World on a Friday afternoon last July. Word had gotten out on social media that the new table service restaurant in the Japan pavilion, Takumei Tei, was going to be soft opening at 4pm, and I hoped to get there right away to take pics for the site. I’m so glad that I stopped for second on my way through to turn around and take this picture. It’s a scene we won’t see again, and while I can’t wait to see what Dreamer’s Point looks like when Epcot‘s construction is complete, I will miss the Fountain of Nations. There was just something about getting a little of the fountain’s mist on you as you trucked through the park on a hot and sunny afternoon.
It was October of last year when I took this picture. It was a gorgeous evening in Epcot. Some of my favorite pictures are taken in this park at sunset. I was in Epcot to get updated construction progress pictures, and to visit the Epcot Experience for the first time. It had been a super productive day, and it was nice to stop and take a few pics of a peaceful World Showcase Lagoon.
What’s your favorite sunny spot at Walt Disney World? Where’s your favorite place to savor a sunrise or sunset? Please let me know in the comments section below.
