Bay Lake Archives - Living a Disney LifeLiving a Disney Life

From my non-Disney-loving friends, I take some flack for my vacation destination of choice. From my fellow Disney fans, I get teased about my love for one of the most special, original, and enduring attractions at Walt Disney World…The Electrical Water Pageant. What’s made me so devoted? Glad you asked.

Disney World’s Electrical Water Pageant

It was 1996 when the Pageant’s current version was launched and that’s the year I first experienced this most amazing of extra magical touches. Available to guests who happen to be along the shore of the Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake most evenings, this parade-on-water is a charming treat. It’s one of those things Disney doesn’t have to do. People would still flock in droves to the House of Mouse and have fantastic family fun without this one attraction, but it’s been there since late October of 1971 and is still “a thing” treasured by many adoring fans like me.

For my family, it’s the whimsical simplicity of parade floats made out of barges with blinking lights. As the floats go by, animals seem to leap out of the water and dance. There may only be 14 floats and the entire experience lasts only 15 minutes, but it’s got a special place in our hearts. If we’re staying at Bay Lake Tower, we can sometimes hear the Electrical Water Pageant’s music as we’re drifting off to sleep – like a perky lullaby even if we’re not watching the show.

The music is snappy and the songs are well-known (mostly…maybe not everyone is familiar with the 1988 Was (Not Was) hit, “Walk the Dinosaur”). Many of the songs are from The Little Mermaid and there are also tunes from Peter Pan, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, and other Disney movies. Patriotic favorites like “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “America the Beautiful” add a nice touch as well. I’m telling you – this thing’s adorable! Quirky, eclectic – there are sea creatures, a dinosaur, and the Stars and Stripes – there’s a lot to see in a mere quarter of an hour.

Who would love the Electrical Water Pageant? Little ones, fans of classic Disney World attractions, folks who want a low key attraction that’s both free and outside the parks, and lovers of Disney music and magic. Our favorite spot to watch the Pageant is on the boat dock at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, but there are lots of prime viewing locations. If you’re enjoying a meal at one of the monorail resorts, adding the Pageant to your evening is a great way to end the day. Evening show times vary and are available in the My Disney Experience app…search for “Electrical Water Pageant”. Here’s what Disney’s website says…

Recommended viewing locations include:

Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort – Beginning at 9:00 PM
Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa (including Narcoossee’s) – Beginning at 9:15 PM
Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – Beginning at 9:30 PM
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground – Beginning at 9:45 PM
Disney’s Contemporary Resort – Beginning at 10:10 PM; in instances when Wishes Nighttime Spectacular takes place at 10:00 PM, the Electrical Water Pageant will begin shortly following its conclusion
Right outside the entrance of Magic Kingdom park – Beginning at 10:35 PM, during Extended Theme Park Hours only

Please note that all show times are approximate and may vary by several minutes. All entertainment is subject to change and may be cancelled in cases of inclement weather.

Have you watched the Electrical Water Pageant? How do you feel about it?

With so many gorgeous and captivating Disney details everywhere at Disney World, it’s often hard to notice the spectacular beginnings and endings to the day provided naturally by the Sunshine State. Early mornings are often missed getting ready to hit the parks for rope-drop and early evenings are completely ignored in favor of delicious meals in a favorite restaurant. Once I notice what I was missing, I started making it a point to pause and appreciate those breathtaking moments I’d been ignoring.

Some amazing sights are afforded by Dawn & Dusk at Walt Disney World – here are five of my favorites:

Sunrise over Bay Lake: Peaceful, misty, and absolutely gorgeous, watching the sun rise on Bay Lake is one of my favorite activities when I’m lucky enough to get a lake view room in Bay Lake Tower. At first, the scene looks as still as a post card picture, but shore birds are waking for the day and boats are soon moving across the water. I just soak it all in while sipping a cup of coffee – it’s the kind of quiet time every great vacation should include.

Sunset over the Seven Seas Lagoon: A window seat in the California Grill is a great vantage point for some gorgeous sunset viewing. But the walkway between the Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower works just as well (first pictures on this page were shot there). Absolutely worth taking the time to enjoy!

Sunrise on the road to (or from) the Magic Kingdom: You might not have to enter a runDisney race to catch the particular beauty, but that’s how I saw some pretty awesome sights. During the Princess Half Marathon, I was a tiny bit too late to see the sun rise on Cinderella Castle, but if you’re planning on attending the next 24-Hour event, be sure not to miss that! I bet it’s incredible.

Sunrise over the World Showcase Lagoon: Again, I was in Epcot before the sun came up for a runDisney event, but I had to stop and take a picture when I saw how still and beautiful everything looked in the early morning light. The sunrise is also very beautiful in the Boardwalk, Beach Club, Yacht Club area – and except for my fellow runners, very few people were out and about to enjoy the view.

Sunset at Animal Kingdom Lodge. I’m sorry I don’t have more pictures to share. To me, there’s something very special about this resort any time of the day, but as the sun is slowly sinking, the buildings glow and it’s easy to feel as if you’ve been transported to Africa. Book a dinner reservation at one of the Lodge’s fantastic restaurants and plan to catch the sunset!