Laughing, Crying, Screaming with Joy: The Top Five Magical Disney Moments of 2017
The end of 2017 is almost here. While I tend to get excited about the possibilities of a brand new year, it’s equally fun to reflect on all the inspiring moments of the year that is closing. Some of them only lasted a few minutes, others lingered much longer. Here’s my list of the top five magical Disney moments of 2017.
Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images
5) Auli’i Cravalho sings How Far I’ll Go at the Oscars.
It’s no secret I’m a huge fan of Moana. So perhaps I’m a bit biased when I claim Auli’i Cravalho’s performance of the film’s How Far I’ll Go at the 2017 Oscars was one of the most magical moments of the year. The sixteen year old newcomer graced the stage in a beautiful red gown and boldly sang Lynn Manuel-Miranda’s inspiring lyrics like a pro. She even got hit in the head by one of the giant blue waves behind her and just kept swimming. I mean singing.
Photo from oh my Disney.
It’s hard not to feel inspired by watching her on stage. Here’s a young performer reaching for her dream by singing a song about, well, chasing dreams. Her enthusiasm is positively contagious. Just look at that smile! You can watch a video of the performance (in non-HD quality…) here. Make sure you catch the enormously relieved sigh at the end!
Promotional photo by Disney Pixar films.
4) Coco lights up the theaters.
Disney Pixar’s Coco opened the week of Thanksgiving and delighted audiences around the world. The film just crossed the $500Million mark this week. The animation is exquisite. The music is fiesty and fun. And of course, in true Disney-Pixar-fashion, the storyline is equal parts touching and inspiring. It’s a film about pursuing your dreams while considering the impact your choices make on the loved ones around you. If you haven’t seen it yet, what are you waiting for? Get to Coco pronto. You can read my full spoiler-free Coco review here.
Artist rendering of Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland as shared at the D23 meetings in July 2017.
3) Disney announces new attractions for Disney World at the D23 meetings.
Disney announced a ton of new park attractions at their annual meeting for Disney fans in July of this year. It seriously felt like an Oprah moment to me… you get an attraction and YOU get an attraction! There’s a new Tron-inspired ride headed to Magic Kingdom. Mickey finally gets his own attraction at Hollywood Studios. Epcot gets a ton of upgrades including a new Guardians of the Galaxy ride in Future World and a Ratatouille-based attraction in the International Showplace.
Artist rendering of the new Gondola station at Disney’s Hollywood Studios released by Disney.
There’s also a new Gondola transportation system in the works (called the Disney Skyliner) that will connect Epcot and Hollywood Studios to select hotels. Oh, and there’s also new restaurants, performance venues and hotels too. Whew. It was more than just an awesome moment it was a completely awesome week! You can read more details about the construction here.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge model released by Disney Parks.
2) Star Wars rages on.
It’s a great time to be a Star Wars fan. The D23 announcements referenced above included more details about the new Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge coming to Disneyland in California and Hollywood Studios in Florida. Both expansions will top 14 acres and open to guests in 2019. The new planet portrayed in the space, which we’ve since learned will be called Batuu, will include two new rides, a new restaurant, multiple stores and numerous character experiences. Once completed, it will be the largest single-land expansion for both resorts in Disney’s history.
Photo by Disney Parks.
As we anxiously await these theme park expansions, we were also treated to the eighth film in the series with Star Wars: The Last Jedi this December. My inner-geek was thrilled. There’s still nothing quite like seeing “In a galaxy far, far away…” on the screen and then being blasted out of your seat by John William’s famous score. Who cares what happens next? The opening sequence was more than enough to satisfy. There’s just no other movie experience like it.
1) Pandora: World of Avatar opened at Animal Kingdom
Disney opened Pandora: World of Avatar over Memorial Day weekend this year and it’s been flooded with enthusiastic guests ever since. This new section of Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando is enchanting. The area transforms you to the world of Pandora, complete with floating mountains, glowing landscapes and over-the-top attractions. The Flight of Passage ride blew me away, literally and figuratively. It’s ridiculously fun. You can read more about the thrills of Pandora here.
If Disney can achieve this level of entertainment for a world some of us had forgotten (Avatar hit theaters in 2009) then just imagine what they will do with Star Wars in 2019!
So there you have it. My list of the top five magical moments of 2017. I could have easily included others… like biting into my first Butterfinger cupcake created at home. Unlike my cupcake, many on this list promise to delight us with magic for years to come.
Finally, I also wanted to mention that 2017 was the year I launched smittenwithmickey. It’s been a fun, educational and inspiring year. Thanks so much for being a part of it! Smittenwithmickey is not about reaching the masses or achieving web fandom. It’s a personal quest to encourage all of us to add a little more “magic” to our lives. In other words: Be creative. Have fun. Dream bigger. Smile more.
That’s why I pursue crazy crafts beyond my skill level, attempt to recreate my favorite Disney park treats, read every Disney book I can find and write posts on how to conquer your Disney World travel plans, just to name a few. Who knows what I’ll try to tackle in 2018. I hope you’ll join me on the ride.
Whatever you have in store for 2018, I truly hope it’s your best year yet! You can do it. Add a little magic to your world!