Want to know the insider tips and tricks to help you make the most of your visit to Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida? Well, you’ve come to the right place. If it’s your first time visiting, there are certain things you need to know before going to Magic Kingdom Park.
We’ve put together this list of our top hacks for planning your time at this extra special theme park in Orlando, Florida. Read on to find out how to have the most magical time at the most magical place in the world with our Magic Kingdom Park tips.
1. Spend more than one day in Magic Kingdom Park
People often ask, “Is Magic Kingdom Park worth a full day?” and we can categorically answer yes – and more! There is so much to see at Magic Kingdom Park, from thrilling rides to spectacular shows and everything in between.
One of the best tips for Magic Kingdom Park is to spend more than one day here so that you can make sure you see it all. Maybe spend one day trying out all the incredible rides and another day meeting the Disney Characters and watching the amazing shows.
2. Arrive early to see the welcome show
Each morning, five minutes before the official Magic Kingdom Park opening time, a fun-filled opening ceremony featuring lots of familiar faces takes place at the front of Cinderella Castle.
A trumpet fanfare starts off the Let the Magic Begin welcome show before Mickey and his pals take to the stage to welcome you to the park. By arriving in time to see this, you’re not only witnessing a fantastic show, but you’ll also be one of the first in the park to get on the incredible rides. Plus, you’ll be able to snap a few selfies in front of the castle while the park is at its quietest.
3. Set a reminder to make virtual queue reservations
Some of the rides at Magic Kingdom Park require virtual queue reservations for guests to be able to ride. Currently, there’s a virtual queue in place at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure – one of the newest rides at Magic Kingdom Park
Virtual queue reservations are made on the My Disney Experience app on the day of your visit and are given out on a first-come-first-serve basis. There are two chances for you to snag a reservation: 7am and 1pm EST so we recommend setting a reminder on your phone so you can log on ready to get in the virtual queue.
Make sure you’re linked with everyone else in your group who wishes to ride as one person can make the reservation for the whole party and link it directly to each ticket.
You also might want to plan to get to the park for opening time, just in case you get an early slot. [X] has been to Walt Disney World Resort in Florida [X] times and says: “We got allocated the first slots on a virtual queue ride so we had to rush to get dressed and get into the park! It was absolutely fantastic being the first ones on the ride that day!”.
4. Watch the Magic Kingdom parade from Frontierland
One of the absolute must-do experiences at Magic Kingdom Park is watching the famous Disney parade. You’ll get to see so many Disney Characters all in one place. You can expect to see Disney Princesses and royalty, classic characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, and even a few villains!
The Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade runs every day at 3pm (although be sure to check the times in the My Disney Experience app, as they are subject to change), winding through Frontierland and Liberty Square before making its way down Main Street, U.S.A.
Most guests gather on Main Street, U.S.A. to watch the parade, so this is usually the busiest area. If you’re looking for somewhere a bit quieter where you’ll still be able to see everything, we recommend watching from Frontierland or just underneath the train station near the park’s entrance.
No matter where you choose to watch the parade, make sure you head over to the area early. Once the parade preparations are underway, it can make it a little more challenging to navigate your way around the park.
5. Ride the top attractions during the parade
On the other hand, if you’re more of a ride fan, hitting the rides during the parade is a good time to tick some off. Lots of guests have a break from the rides to watch the parade, so if you’ve got a particular attraction at the top of your list, head here when the parade is on, and you should have a shorter queue time.
Make sure you’re close to your chosen ride before the parade starts because, as we mentioned before, it can be harder to get around the park once it begins.
If you’ve decided to visit Magic Kingdom Park for two days instead of just one (see Magic Kingdom Park hack #1!), you won’t be missing out, as you can do the parade on one day and rides on the other.
6. Stand in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A. for the fireworks
It’s tempting to find a spot as close to Cinderella Castle as possible when getting ready to watch the nightly Magic Kingdom Park fireworks show ‘Happily Ever After’. However, if you stand slightly further back from here, you’ll get a great view of not only the fireworks but the projections on the castle, too.
The spots closest to the castle tend to fill up early, so if you aim to stand on Main Street, U.S.A. instead, you’ll have a bit more time for dinner or one final ride before the park closes. You’ll also be closer to the park’s exit, so once the fireworks have finished, you’ll get a head start back to the car, bus, or monorail.
The time of the fireworks changes depending on the season. It tends to be at 8pm during winter and 9pm in summer, but check the times on the My Disney Experience app to be sure.
Once again, if you’re visiting for two days and saw the fireworks on your first day, use this time on the second day to go on some rides. On some rides like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, you might even get a view of the fireworks as you ride!
7. Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
A trip to Magic Kingdom Park wouldn’t be complete without a visit to see the main man himself – Mickey Mouse! You can do this at Town Square Theater. This meet and greet location is right at the front of the park, to your right, as soon as you come out from under the train station.
It can be easily missed as guests tend to make their way straight to Cinderella Castle, but if you want to say ‘hi’ to Mickey (and, let’s face it, who doesn’t?), this is the perfect place to do so.
This meet and greet is listed as Entertainment on the My Disney Experience app and is called Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater. You can check wait times here to help you plan your day.
During special events, you’ll find Mickey dressed up, and if you’re lucky, you might even see Minnie there, too!
8. Add some of the quirky details to your list
With so many amazing rides and attractions, it can be easy to forget about some of the smaller, more quirky details that make the park truly special. Big Disney fans will appreciate everything the park has to offer, so we suggest taking some time to explore the park properly, beyond the big hitters.
Look out for things like La Fontaine de Cendrillo (aka the Cinderella fountain) and the Sword in the Stone, as these make for some fantastic photo opportunities.
Similarly, the Walt Disney World Railroad can sometimes get overlooked, but this is well worth putting on your must-do list. A ride on the authentic steam-powered train gives you amazing views of the park and also transports you to different locations.
There are also lots of hidden Mickeys to look out for at Magic Kingdom Park, so why not see how many you can find?
9. Schedule in extra time if you’re driving
If you are driving to Magic Kingdom Park in a rental car, there’s still some distance to go from the car park at the Transportation and Ticket Center to the park’s front gates. You’ll either need to take the monorail or a ferry boat from here to the park’s entrance.
It can take around 35 minutes to get from your car to the entrance, or longer if you arrive at a busy time. Be sure to schedule in this extra time to make sure you don’t miss anything you really want to see.
If you choose to take a shuttle service instead, you’ll be dropped off at the Magic Kingdom Park bus terminal, just a short walk from the entrance. Staying at a Disney Resort hotel means that not only do you get free transport to the parks, but you can also get into them early – 30 minutes before everyone else!
10. Bring a power bank
Last up on our list of Magic Kingdom Park advice is to bring a power bank with you. You’re probably going to be on your phone quite a bit during the day – taking photos, checking times for shows, and using the park map on the app, which is the best way to navigate Magic Kingdom Park.
You’ll also be out for quite a while, especially if you’re planning to get to the park for the welcome show and stay all the way through to the fireworks.
Bring a portable power bank and charging cable with you so you can give your phone more juice if it needs it. A solar power bank is an excellent idea as you don’t need to plug it in to charge it. And you’ll find plenty of sun in Florida – after all, they don’t call it the Sunshine State for nothing!
Summary
- Spend more than one day at Magic Kingdom Park
- Arrive early to see the welcome show
- Set a reminder for virtual queue reservations
- Watch the parade from Frontierland
- Ride the top attractions during the parade
- Stand in the middle of Main Street, U.S.A. for the fireworks
- Meet Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
- Add some of the quirky details to your list
- Schedule in extra time if you’re driving
- Bring a power bank
Ready to start planning your Walt Disney World Resort in Florida holiday? View our great value Walt Disney World Resort offers and book your tickets today.
