W D   W  Magic Kingdom

Park Introduction

The Magic Kingdom is the theme park most people think about when they say, “I’m going to Walt Disney World.” It is the original park and is closest to its California cousin, Disneyland. One of the reasons the Walt Disney Resort is so large is that Walt Disney didn’t want people distracted by what was outside the park while they were inside. The story goes that he saw a couple moving quickly to the exit of Disneyland one afternoon. He caught up with them and asked if something was wrong; their response was they could see traffic backed up on one of the freeways from the top of the Matterhorn (a roller coaster) and wanted to leave to get out before the traffic got worse. The additional land also allowed the designers of the park to spread things out creating wider traffic lanes, covered queuing areas (since it rains a lot more in Florida than in southern California), and larger versions of the rides. Take a look at the second story windows on Main Street; they’re actually “movie credits” for the people and companies who were involved in the creation of the Walt Disney World resort.

James loves all the parks through the holidays, but especially the Magic Kingdom and the seasonal decorations they put out. Starting in late September through New Year’s the park transforms with, first, Halloween, and then Christmas themed settings. Partially this promotes the evening events that require extra admissions: Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. But it also adds an incredibly nostalgic feel to Main Street.

If you’re only staying for a short time or this is one of your first trips to the resort, the fireworks show at Magic Kingdom is a must see. In recent years the Imagineers have added projector systems that make Cinderella’s castle a part of the show and not just the foreground element. The best place to see the fireworks is near the exit of Main Street to the hub that gives access to the other themed lands. There are people who will start sitting in this area to “save seats” hours before the show starts.




Favorite Memories




Thoughts for Planning a Visit

DISCLAIMER: The Walt Disney World Resort is consistently going through refurbishment and rejuvenation. New rides, changes in ticketing process, and special events announcements occur all the time. Please check the Official Walt Disney World Website for current information.


General Notes

Our last visit to the Magic Kingdom was in 2016(ish) so there have been a fair amount of changes. Most of the rides we reference are staples and while they may get updates, they are unlikely to disappear completely.
Magic Kingdom is traditionally the busiest park so make sure you identify a good place to meet if you get separated – not as much an issue with cell phones; the Starbucks half way down Main Street on the right (as you enter) is our go to reference.

While the Magic Kingdom is always the busiest of the theme parks, during the winter holidays it gets crazy busy. Note we haven’t been there since the timed entry requirements so not exactly sure how this might impact crowds. Between Christmas and New Year’s Day, it wasn’t uncommon for the park to hit capacity before noon and they’d stop letting people in. That translated to 60-90 minute lines for almost every ride and crowds thick enough it was hard to maneuver through certain walkways. March was also usually a peak time because of Spring Break. Summer sees a lot of tour groups from other countries visiting as well; you’d see guides with their decorated umbrellas up in the air with 30-40 people following along behind to the next ride.


Attractions

Recommend doing Space Mountain during the day. If you do it at night, your eyes are adjusted to the dark and it’s not as “exciting” since you are able to see the track in front of you.
The new 7 dwarfs mine ride is pretty fun.
Pirates of the Caribbean is a must; if it’s hot, this is a good mid-afternoon ride. The line (if any) is inside and air conditioned.
James likes Splash Mountain, but you have to plan on getting very wet (doesn’t always happen, but better plan on it).
Big Thunder Mountain is fun, but you will slide from side to side in the car, so be aware.
Buzz Light Year is good with the kids and adults; it’s a competition.
Haunted Mansion is fun; again, do this in the daytime so your eyes aren’t accustomed to the dark.
Jungle Cruise is good; you’ll see where James gets his sense of humor.
If you need to just sit and rest for a bit, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (TTA) and/or the railroad that goes around the park are good ideas.
For the rest; it just depends on how much you want to stand in line.


Addressing Rumbly in the Tumbly

Counter Service - Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn and Café (Adventure Land) or Pinocchio’s Village Haus
Table Service - Liberty Tree Tavern in Liberty Square; reservations recommended
Buffet - Crystal Palace – has characters so usually requires a reservation
Out of the way – Columbia Harbour House – Liberty Square near Haunted Mansion; usually not as busy as other places
Snacks – Mickey shaped pretzels and/or popcorn from one of the carts and/or Aloha Isle (pineapple smoothie) near bridge from main street to Adventure Land
Haven’t eaten in the newer spots in Fantasy Land (Gaston’s Tavern or Be Our Guest Restaurant)


Parades

The park updates the parades every couple of years. We know they stopped having them for a while during the pandemic because of the large groups of people compressed along the routes, but we believe they're running again. Something to keep in mind...
Daytime parades go from back of park to front (want to draw people farther into the park); can be a good time to try and get on some of the more popular rides.
Nighttime parades go from front to back (want people to start heading to the exit as end of parade passes). If you’re going to buy anything on main street, do so before parade starts; the stores get really busy as the parade passes and people start heading toward the gates.