Final Information to Magic Kingdom, From Disney Consultants

When the Magic Kingdom opened its gates on Oct. 1, 1971, it grew to become an iconic place to not solely see favourite Disney characters however to expertise modern points of interest and go to lands rigorously crafted to move friends to a different time or place. No journey to Walt Disney World can be full with out a go to to the Magic Kingdom. The preferred park on the Florida resort can be the most-visited theme park in the whole world, with greater than 17 million guests in 2022, in keeping with the World Sights Attendance Report.

With this recognition comes crowds, so understanding the way to finest navigate the park is important to make sure an incredible expertise. “Walt Disney World is sophisticated in a manner that is completely different from virtually another trip vacation spot. There are much more individuals who wish to journey Disney’s finest rides and eat at Disney’s finest eating places than there may be journey and restaurant capability for them. You will must make reservations for the favored rides and eating places or threat not attending to them,” says Len Testa, co-author of “The Unofficial Information to Walt Disney World.”

Able to plan your journey? This is every thing it’s essential know to plan an ideal day at Magic Kingdom.

Planning Your Go to

“The 2 issues to contemplate when visiting Walt Disney World are crowds and climate,” says Testa. “Walt Disney World’s crowds are sometimes lowest when public colleges are in session. One of the best climate is mostly between November and March, with daytime highs between 75 and 80 levels.” 

Tickets might be bought as both single or multi-day passes, and you’ll add the Park Hopper possibility to go to a number of parks a day. Single-day ticket costs are dynamic and fluctuate relying on the day and park you’re seeking to go to, ranging between $134 to $189 for 2024. Whereas park hours fluctuate all year long, presently Magic Kingdom is open from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Friends staying at Disney accommodations (and choose different accommodations) can make the most of Early Entry to enter the park half-hour earlier than it formally opens. Friends staying at a Disney Deluxe Resort or different choose accommodations can get pleasure from Prolonged Night Hours after the park closes on choose nights.

Attending to Magic Kingdom 

Friends can’t park exterior of the gates of the Magic Kingdom and should park throughout the Seven Seas Lagoon at The Transportation and Ticket Heart, in any other case referred to as the TTC. From there, friends can take a ferry or monorail to reach on the park gates. “My motto is ‘take the one which’s there’ – generally that’s the monorail and generally it is the ferry. Both manner, it’s good to start out the day with out a wait (if potential) since there will definitely be loads of ready to come back,” says Samantha Davis-Friedman, theme park journalist and contributing author of “Walt Disney World Hacks, Second Version”.

Solely Walt Disney World Resort buses and “Minnie Vans” (Lyft’s unique Walt Disney World automobile service providing choose perks), can drop guests off instantly exterior of the park. Third-party shuttles sometimes drop riders on the TTC. 

Customary parking is $30 per day, most well-liked parking varies seasonally between $45 and $55 per day, and outsized automobile parking is $35 per day. For those who’re park-hopping, excellent news: Friends solely must pay one price for a parking cross that’s good all day in any respect 4 theme parks. 

Friends staying at choose Magic Kingdom space resorts also can take the monorail or a ship from their lodge.

Greatest Rides and Sights 

Youthful friends shouldn’t miss out on the rides in Fantasyland, like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan’s Flight. Thrill-seeking guests ought to make some extent to journey Large Thunder Mountain Railroad, Area Mountain, and Tron Lightcycle Run. For followers of basic Disney, no journey is full with out a cease at The Enchanted Tiki Room, a journey on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, and a spin by Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, which initially debuted on the 1964 New York World’s Truthful. Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion are perennial favorites amongst friends of all ages. And Tiana’s Bayou Journey is certain to be an instantaneous hit when it opens this summer season.

The easiest way to optimize time throughout the parks is to make the most of Genie+ and Particular person Lightning Lanes, an replace on the beforehand complimentary FastPass system. These advantages come at an extra value, however time within the parks is efficacious and generally, it’s finest to spend extra cash to keep away from misplaced time in line. The fee varies by park and date, usually ranging between $16 to $35 per day. 

Testa recommends buying Particular person Lightning Lanes (ILL) for sought-after points of interest like Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare.

Associated: 58 Disney World Rides and Sights, Ranked From Worst to Greatest

Leisure 

Let the Magic Start and Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire are stage reveals that run a number of instances all through the day and have Mickey and his buddies, Tiana and buddies from “The Princess and the Frog,” and extra. 

The Disney Journey Pals Cavalcade is an abbreviated parade that runs by the park and options characters from “Encanto,” “Coco,” and extra. The Disney Pageant of Fantasy Parade options unbelievable floats, a protracted listing of characters, and an incredible soundtrack. 

Fortunately Ever After is the park’s present nighttime spectacular that includes projections, lasers, particular results, and naturally, fireworks. Whereas discovering a spot in entrance of the fort is essential if you wish to catch the projections, the present continues to be extraordinarily satisfying when considered from different, usually much less crowded, spots. My favorites are Tomorrowland and Fantasyland (and it is a bonus in case you are onboard the PeopleMover or Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare whereas fireworks are exploding within the sky above you).

Greatest Eating places

Guests seeking to maximize their time within the parks ought to decide to order from quick-serve places, ideally with cell orders. Sleepy Hole is a superb cease for breakfast, providing a particularly well-liked contemporary fruit waffle sandwich. Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is a dependable cease for burgers and hen strips. It’s additionally residence to Sonny Eclipse, a beloved animatronic performing lounge tunes all about his residence planet Zork within the eating room. Casey’s Nook affords sizzling canines, corn canine nuggets, and french fries. For those who’re on the lookout for non-fried decisions, Columbia Harbor Home serves New England-inspired seafood dishes.

Friends who wish to stand up shut with their favourite buddies could make a reservation for a personality meal at Cinderella’s Royal Desk to dine with princesses or The Crystal Palace for a meal with Pooh and buddies. Different standout table-service eating places are Be Our Visitor, Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen, and Tony’s City Sq. Restaurant, due to a current menu overhaul that makes it a improbable place to get pleasure from a glass of wine on the patio, particularly whereas a parade passes by.

Snack fiends, be ready: there are a number of can’t-miss Disney World meals, together with pineapple upside-down cake topped with Dole Whip from Aloha Isle, cheeseburger spring rolls at The Spring Roll Cart, and the pepper jack pretzel from Cheshire Cafe.

Associated: 30 Greatest Disney World Eating places

Magic Kingdom Itinerary 

Be able to e-book your first Genie+ choice and be a part of the digital queue for Tron Lightycle Run at 7 a.m. For those who miss the 7 a.m. window, there may be one other likelihood to affix the Tron digital queue at 1 p.m. from contained in the park. For those who’re staying on property, be able to enter the park when Early Entry begins. In any other case, be ready to rope drop as quickly because the park opens. Head to the preferred rides first to make the most of the shortest traces you’ll seemingly see all day. Seven Dwarfs Mine Prepare, Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise, and Area Mountain develop a number of the highest wait instances because the day goes on. From there, sort out the park by land, and don’t overlook to take your time and luxuriate in. Proceed to make the most of Genie+ to e-book return instances for points of interest — or in case you’ve opted to cross on the extra buy, keep watch over wait instances within the app to move to the shortest traces. Attempt to spot a parade alongside the way in which, and finish your day with Fortunately Ever After.

Suggestions for a Magical Day at Magic Kingdom

• “Be on the park, admission in hand, 60 minutes earlier than the official opening. On most days, Disney will allow you to into the park and can help you line up in your first journey effectively earlier than the park opens. This can be a great benefit over those that cannot stand up and out the door that early. You will be effectively in your technique to your second (or third) journey earlier than most individuals have gone by the turnstiles,” says Testa.
• Be ready for the climate. “It doesn’t matter what time of 12 months you go to Magic Kingdom, it should seemingly rain — and it’s at all times A LOT of rain. As a result of I’ve been caught unprepared for rain at Walt Disney World (greater than as soon as), I now carry a pair of cheap, light-weight flip-flops in my backpack. That manner, I can shortly swap out my sneakers and socks to maintain them dry (this works effectively on water rides too!),” says Davis-Friedman.
• For those who plan on spending a number of time at Magic Kingdom, take into account splurging to remain at a neighboring lodge. Friends can stroll on to the park from Disney’s Modern Resort and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. This comfort will prevent a number of time and problem in case you plan on staying till the park closes.
• For these seeking to keep away from the post-fireworks crowds, take into account watching them from the neighboring resorts. Diners at The California Grill situated on the highest flooring of Disney’s Modern Resort have entry to a viewing deck that pipes within the present’s sound, as does the seaside at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort. 
• A number of the finest elements of a day in Magic Kingdom aren’t simply the moments of hovering by Large Thunder Mountain or passing by hitchhiking ghosts inside The Haunted Mansion; they’re the magical moments in between, like having a spontaneous dance social gathering with The Nation Bears or recognizing the names of a number of key Imagineers on the home windows alongside Fundamental Road U.S.A.