Thinking about the Never Land universe, I decided to focus this post on finding Peter Pan and the company in the Parks. I was going to say “Peter Pan and Friends” in the post title, but I decided to save Tinker Bell for her own post, so that left Captain Hook and Mr. Smee. So…
Here are five things to do in Walt Disney World if you love Peter Pan and/or Captain Hook:
1. Peter Pan’s Flight
My favorite part of this classic Fantasyland attraction is flying over the city of London, which is not surprising considering how much I love miniatures. Peter Pan’s Flight is on pretty much everyone’s must-see list, which means the queue can get a bit unreasonable as the day goes on. I suggest riding first thing in the morning or waiting until late in the evening, perhaps during the parade or fireworks.
2. Character Meet-and-Greets
Peter Pan can be found just about every day in Fantasyland, near Tinker Bell’s Treasures. (Occasionally, Wendy may join him.) His appearances aren’t always listed in the Times Guide, so ask in City Hall when he’ll be around. He’s also spotted every now and then at the International Gateway in Epcot.
Captain Hook and Mr. Smee can be often found at the Animation Building in Hollywood Studios. You may also find them near Pirates of the Caribbean in Magic Kingdom. Again, ask a cast member to find out where they’ll be when.
3. Disney Junior—Live on Stage
I’ve never watched Jake and the Never Land Pirates, although my sister-in-law tells me that my two-year-old nephew loves to say, “Aw, coconuts!” like one of the characters. The addition of the show to Disney Junior—Live on Stage means you now have the opportunity to see Mr. Smee and Captain Hook in puppet-form and, of course, scare them away by pretending to be the Tick-Tock Croc.
4. Family Magic Tour
I haven’t had the chance to experience the Family Magic Tour myself, but Disney describes it as a “guided interactive quest to save Magic Kingdom theme park from the dastardly plans of a Disney Villain.” Although the official description doesn’t specify, reviews indicate the villain is Captain Hook, and sometimes you get a private meet-and-greet with Peter Pan. It takes 1 ½ to 2 hours and costs $34 per person (plus theme park admission). You can call (407) WDW-TOUR to book.
5. Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage
This is another special experience that I still haven’t done, but it sounds like great fun. It starts out with snacks at the Contemporary Resort before Mr. Smee and Captain Hook lead you to your boat. You may be able to catch the Electrical Water Pageant before you sail to the Seven Seas Lagoon to see Wishes. On the way back to the dock, your pirate host, Patch, tells the story of Peter Pan, which the Disney website says is a clue to “one final surprise” (which I’ll now spoil): a meet-and-greet with Peter Pan. You can see photos of one family’s voyage on WDWMagic. It’s $53.99 for those 10 and up and $30.99 for kids 3-9. To book, call 407-WDW-PLAY.
Final Word
Doing all these experiences back to back would mean seeing the same characters in person three times in one day! The Family Magic Tour is offered daily at 10 a.m. If you get to the park at opening, you could experience Peter Pan’s Flight and then do the tour. Afterward, you could see if the characters are doing any meet-and-greets in Fantasyland or Adventureland. By mid-afternoon, you should head over to Hollywood Studios to catch Disney Junior—Live on Stage and see if Hook and Smee are doing a meet-and-greet there. The Fireworks Voyage starts one hour and 15 minutes before Wishes (which is usually at 9 or 10), so you should have plenty of time to get back to the Contemporary from Hollywood Studios.
Who’s your favorite Peter Pan character? (I have a fondness for Mr Smee.)