On every trip to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, a visit to the Magic Kingdom Park is an absolute must. The sight of Cinderella Castle is enough to bring some of us to tears, and we're sure many of you will feel the same way. So that you can concentrate entirely on the Disney magic and not spend the day feeling stressed, here are our tips for the Magic Kingdom Park.
Tips for a day in the Magic Kingdom Park
Tip 1: Get to the park early!
The early bird catches the worm is a philosophy that also applies to Magic Kingdom Park - or rather: the early park visitors queue less! Guests staying at one of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels can enter the theme parks with early entry access half an hour before regular park opening. In the Magic Kingdom Park, all park guests can access the park one hour before the individual themed areas open (half an hour before early entry), so you can take a stroll along Main Street U.S.A. and head to the entrance of your favourite themed area. Since queues begin to form an hour before opening, arriving early is recommended.
Tip 2: Go to the theme park during the week!
Since the Magic Kingdom Park experiences the biggest crowds on the weekend, it's best to visit the theme park on a weekday.
Tip 3: Swap the parade for a main attraction
If you don't mind missing the parade, this is a great time to ride one of the attractions with consistently long lines. For example, instead of watching the parade, you can jump onto Space Mountain to avoid the long waiting times.
How do I plan a day in the Magic Kingdom Park?
Before visiting the park - 7 a.m.
The TRON Lightcycle / Run roller coaster in Tomorrowland, which opened in April 2023, can only be accessed using the virtual queue or the Individual Lightning Lane access. If you want to join the virtual queue, you must do so in the My Disney Experience app at 7 a.m. You can do this from your accommodation, all you need is your valid Disney ticket, which should be linked in the app. You should practice this process at least once beforehand.
Shortly before 7 a.m., press the symbol of the three lines on top of each other in the My Disney Experience app and then click on the button "Join Virtual Queue" under the Virtual Queue image. Then click on the button "Confirm Your Party", which confirms your group - as long as all members of your group have their tickets linked, this shouldn't be a problem. By the way, you can confirm your group as early as 6 a.m., so you know that everything is correct shortly before 7 a.m. From there you are moved into the step "Review Details", where you can see all the details. From 7 a.m. onwards, keep pulling the page down or tapping the "Refresh" button below until the screen changes and you can click the "Join Queue" button. If you were successful, you will be shown your boarding group and an estimated waiting time. As the day progresses, the waiting time will be displayed for you in the "My Queues" section of the app.
If it doesn't work at 7 a.m., you'll have another chance to join the virtual queue at 1 p.m. sharp (but if it works, you won't be able to queue a second time). The 1pm process is the same, but you must already be in the Magic Kingdom Park or at least have been there that day.
Please note that once your boarding group is called, you have a maximum of one hour to arrive at the attraction.
Alternatively, you can buy an Individual Lightning Lane access*. These are available when the park opens - or 7 a.m. if you're staying at a Disney Resort Hotel.
In the morning
Most early entry guests head straight for Fantasyland or Tomorrowland to ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Space Mountain. If you don't have early entry because you're not staying at a Disney hotel, it makes sense to avoid these two themed areas, which are already busy by the time you enter. Instead, make your way to the rope that provides access to Liberty Square to begin your fun filled day there, and walk through towards Frontierland, an area which fills up less quickly.
A reliable approach is to experience one of the main attractions first, when the queues are even shorter, and then ride the smaller rides with shorter queue times. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a good attraction to start your day with, which is in close proximity to two other popular rides, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. Two other extremely popular rides are the Jungle Cruise and "it's a small world".
Another plan is to join the crowds at Fantasyland or Tomorrowland first thing in the morning to experience one of the three biggest attractions as early as possible: Peter Pan's Flight, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Space Mountain have rather long lines throughout the day.
Midday
After you have used the early morning to enjoy the first attractions without much waiting, it is now time to plan the day according to your preferences. You should consider the shows you would like to see, like Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor or the 3D music adventure Mickey's PhilharMagic, whilst also considering the attractions and restaurants that matter to you most. Which shows and attractions you visit will of course depend on your group - for younger children we suggest Prince Charming’s Regal Carousel and Under The Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid, while the older ones may want to ride the Haunted Mansion!
Afternoon
While you wait for your next attraction’s queue to shorten, you can take advantage of the many opportunities to meet the Disney characters. During the Festival of Fantasy parade that travels from Frontierland up to Main Street U.S.A., you can see most of the Disney characters you know and love. If you are looking for specific Disney characters, head to the meet and greet spots located throughout the park instead. Disney characters can be spotted in all areas of the park, from Aladdin in Adventureland, Cinderella, Tiana and other princesses can be found in the Princess Fairytale Hall, while characters like Donald Duck and Goofy will be dressed up as circus characters at Pete's Silly Side Show. Winnie the Pooh and Tigger spend the day at The Thotful Spot and to meet Mickey, head to the Town Square Theatre. Here the heartfelt wishes of little princes and princesses come true!
Evening
In the evening, the Happily Ever After fireworks are the wonderful end to a day full of Disney magic. Many guests leave the theme park after the fireworks, meaning you can now experience a few final attractions if you still have the energy and desire to! The wait for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train probably won't be short now, but you might find a short line for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin or ride Big Thunder Mountain again, as this coaster feels very different in the dark! A perfect end to your day at the Magic Kingdom Park!
Once you've customized this template for your day at the Magic Kingdom Park to suit your preferences, you'll be one step closer to your Orlando vacation! If you still need to book your tickets, you can buy yours here Walt Disney World Tickets.
