February 5, 2024, will mark the 71st anniversary of Peter Pan. Peter, Wendy, and Tinker Bell’s debut marked the end of an era for Walt Disney, becoming the final animated film released by RKO Radio Pictures before the animator founded Buena Vista Film Distribution Company, now known as Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.
In the film’s 71 years, it’s brought plenty of faith, trust, and pixie dust to the Disney theme parks. Here are four ways to celebrate the iconic film’s anniversary at Walt Disney World – or more specifically, at Magic Kingdom.
Ride Peter Pan’s Flight
The best way to celebrate this beloved movie is to watch it come to life in Fantasyland. Just across from “it’s a small world”, Peter Pan’s Flight is a dark ride that takes you through the story of the film and is arguably one of the park’s most popular rides.
Typically garnering over an hour wait, this may be a tough one to score a Lightning Lane for. But waiting in the queue just might be worth it if you’re hoping for a full experience before you head off to Neverland. The queue will allow you to walk through The Darling’s home, and you may even spot a fan-favorite fairy as you make your way to the front.
Meet Peter Pan
When celebrating these magical movies, one of the best things you can do is meet the famous faces featured in them, and this titular character can typically be found meeting and greeting with guests in Fantasyland.
Take photos, ask him how to find the second star to the right, and maybe even tell some jokes with everyone’s favorite boy who never grew up – just don’t turn your back; Peter loves to pull pranks on unsuspecting visitors!
Watch Festival of Fantasy
Standing curbside for Festival of Fantasy is another great way to catch all of the characters from the film as they go by and say hi to everyone who came to see them. Just after Ariel and Flounder swim by and just before the infamous Maleficent appears, you’ll first be greeted by the Lost Boys as they run around with Wendy.
Sing along to You Can Fly as Peter rides by on a pirate ship sat atop a rainbow. You can tip your hat to Captain Hook, who sneakily hides beneath the rainbow while Mr. Smee walks along. Lastly, don’t forget to shoot a wave to Tinker Bell, who sits at the back of the float waving her wand and often sticking her tongue out at guests!
Watch Happily Ever After (and keep your eyes peeled!)
End your Peter Pan celebration with some extra pixie dust by watching Happily Ever After. It’s near the end of the 18-minute-long fireworks show that someone very special makes an appearance, and you’ll need to keep your eyes peeled to spot her.
Just after Jordan Fisher sings, “We all have the courage to fly,” a short rendition of You Can Fly plays amid the fireworks. Look to the right of Cinderella Castle to catch Tinker Bell as she soars over Magic Kingdom before the big finale.
Ashley Amber is a former Disney cast member who rediscovered her love of writing when the 2020 pandemic ended her time making magic. When she's not bringing the magic to The DIS articles, Ashley works as a writer for Happy Productions and a live-blogger at MJ's Big Blog, and previously published over 300 articles with Collider. Ashley also authored a self-published fantasy/romance series of novelettes, and made her poetry debut in 2021's LGBTQIA+ anthology Deviant: Chronicles of Pride by InkFeathers Publishing. As a former pro ballroom dancer, when she's not writing, you can find Ashley on Youtube and TikTok where she posts dance videos featuring her own choreography and tutorials.
