There are so many Magic Kingdom tips out there it can be very overwhelming if you’re thinking of visiting for the first time. This post has been written after multiple visits to Magic Kingdom over many years and I hope you’ll find it helpful.
If you’ve been lucky enough to visit Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, then I guarantee you remember the first time you saw the castle. My first glimpse of the castle was in the distance when we were travelling by bus towards the park.
That was enough to send shivers through me, but the real magic was when I turned the corner onto Main Street and saw the castle in full glory.
Entering Magic Kingdom
I know when entering Magic Kingdom park, I was in awe of the size. I didn’t know where to look first, and how on earth was I going to take all this in? To put it simply, you can’t so don’t try. The biggest Magic Kingdom tip is to just enjoy what you’re seeing and don’t worry about what you’re missing. Otherwise you wont truly enjoy your visit.
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Are you thinking of visiting magic kingdom in one day? It’s certainly possible, but I guarantee you will be returning for many more visits.
When did Magic Kingdom open?
The park itself was the first to open in 1971, and spans 107 acres which is 433,000 square meters, which is bigger than Disneyland in California. So don’t worry that you can’t see it all when you look at those figures.
Why not try this Magic Kingdom scavenger hunt with FREE printable
When you first walk into the park, there is a lot going on right in front of you without walking more than 50 steps. This is overwhelming in itself, so my best piece of advice would be to get a park map BEFORE you visit the park so you can have a look where the attractions are you really want to visit.
There are five lands within Magic Kingdom, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Adventureland and Liberty Square.
It’s very easy to see the town theatre and spot Tinkerbell and Mickey Mouse on the character meet and greet board when you think you HAVE to get in line.
The queues for Mickey and Tinkerbell never went over 30 minutes throughout the days on all of our visits. In hind sight we didn’t need to make that our first port of call. The air conditioned waiting lines were nice, but we could have saved that pleasure for later.
Once you walk up Main Street towards the castle (and I know you will if it’s your first visit as you wont be able to resist), you’ll be in the centre of the park, but which way to go next?
If you are able to get there before park opening, you can watch the welcome show on the Cinderella castle stage. It’s around a ten minute show where Mickey and the gang open the park. It’s a must see if you can get to the park early enough.
The walking distance around Magic Kingdom is very spread out. It’s far too easy to walk all the way over to Frontierland to ride Big Thunder Mountain before realising you wanted to see Belle in Enchanted Tales With Belle which is on the opposite side of the park in Fantasyland.
Plan your must see attractions and check out the map of the park to make sure you don’t waste time walking from one end of the park to the other.
Crowds in Magic Kingdom can increase as the day goes on. A good Magic Kingdom tip to get away from the crowds is to visit Tom Sawyer Island.
You’ll find Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland hidden away in Magic Kingdom. Travel by raft to Tom’s Landing and explore the secret caves and passages.
Magic Kingdom Characters
There are a lot of characters you can meet and greet with at Magic Kingdom. The times will change so it’s a good idea to pick up a show leaflet as you enter the park. See who will be available for meet and greet at what point during the day.
As previously mentioned, Mickey and Tinkerbell are in the Town Theatre. This appears to be their regular home. In front of City Hall (just outside the Town theatre), you might find Minnie Mouse, or Pluto. However these characters are all subject to change at any time.
We spotted Marie (who has now since stopped appearing), and Pluto during our visits. The queues weren’t too long but there is no shade from the sun whilst you wait.
The princesses, Cinderella and Rapunzel can be found in the Princess Fairytale Hall which is by the Castle. The wait times for these princesses can be in excess of 120 minutes so one of my top Magic Kingdom tips would be to visit first thing in the morning, or during parade times.
Often there may be other princesses here such as Aurora, Tiana, Jasmine, Mulan, Eleanor of Avalor. The best advice if you want to see the princesses is to arrive early at rope drop and go straight there to join the queue.
These are very popular so book as far in advance as you can. Princesses do seem to change so it’s worth checking in advance who will be appearing.
We often spotted characters as we were walking around the park. Some queues were longer than others, but we didn’t have to wait longer than ten minutes for a quick cuddle, lots of photos and an autograph.
Character Meals In Magic Kingdom
One of the biggest Magic Kingdom tips I can pass on is to book a character meal if you want to meet plenty of characters. Whilst these are expensive, you will get to spend a lot of time with your chosen characters.
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In Magic Kingdom, you can dine with Cinderella, visit Winnie the Pooh and friends in the Crystal Palace or meet the Beast at the Be Our Guest restaurant (dinner only).
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Popular Rides At Magic Kingdom
Which are the best rides at Magic Kingdom? You wont go to Magic Kingdom and not want to go on a ride. Whether you are a fan of roller coasters, or prefer a more gentle option such as the tea cups, there are Magic Kingdom rides for everyone.
Some rides have height restrictions, so it’s a good idea to check before you go. There are some of the more popular Magic Kingdom rides that I would recommend keeping an eye on the wait times in the My Disney Experience app, or purchasing Disney Genie+.
Currently Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the one ride in Magic Kingdom with an individual Lightning Lane. This means you can purchase with or without having Disney Genie+.
Your first Lightning Lane reservation can be made at 7am of the day of your park reservation. Prices do change according to time and popularity, so it’s best to keep your eye on the app.
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Some of the more popular rides at Magic Kingdom with longer wait times include
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (we saw queues of over 120 minutes)
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (or go early in the day to see queues of 10-20 minutes)
- Peter Pan’s Flight (we waited 45 minutes in the queue and a lot of it is not covered so on a hot day this was very uncomfortable)
- Enchanted Tales With Belle (average wait times were 40 minutes which a lot of it is in the shade)
- Princess Meet and Greet at Fairytale Hall
- Space Mountain
- Pirates of The Caribbean (the queue is all in shade but moves slowly and it’s dark)
Magic Kingdom Tips and Tricks
I would love to tell you where to get the best food and snacks from, as there are so many options available. As everyone has varied tastes, I’m not going to cover food as such apart from telling you to drink plenty of water in the heat. My favourite snacks to eat can be found here.
You can ask any of the Magic Kingdom restaurants for ice water and they will give you a cup free of charge. This also applies to hot water if you want a cup of tea etc.
My favourite place to visit for a refreshing drink in Magic Kingdom is Aloha Isle in Adventureland. They sell dole whip floats which are pineapple juice topped with soft ice cream. It’s a very refreshing drink and well worth it. Don’t forget to take advantage of mobile ordering to avoid waiting in long lines.
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There is still so much more to see in Magic Kingdom aside from attractions, characters and food and drink.
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Magic Kingdom Parades And Shows
There are currently two different parades that take place during the day. Magic Kingdom parade times are subject to change but currently, my favourite is the Festival of Fantasy parade in the afternoon each day.
The majority of the crowds gather along Main Street so if you wish to watch from here a top tip is to stand or sit on the left hand side of Main Street facing the castle as this side is in the shade in the afternoon.
The parade does go through Frontierland as well which can sometimes be a quieter place to watch from.
You can also catch the castle show, currently Mickeys Magical Friendship Faire. This show happens a couple of times during the day. This is great fun and worth taking the time out to enjoy it.
If you are visiting Magic Kingdom for the first time, then I hope this post has helped with some tips.
The biggest thing I could possibly say is that no matter how hard you try you won’t see it all! Enjoy what you are seeing and don’t worry about what you’re missing. There’s always the next time!
Magic Kingdom Frequently Asked Questions
How much is parking at Magic Kingdom?
Parking at Magic Kingdom Park is currently $30 per day
How many days do you need for Magic Kingdom?
As many as you possibly can! It is possible to see everything in a day or two but to be able to take your time you will need multiple visits.
How to get a reservation at Be Our Guest?
Book as early as the reservations app will let you (currently 60 days in advance). Keep checking for cancellations if you’re not successful because they do pop up.
Where to buy dole whip in Magic Kingdom?
Aloha Isle quick service next to the Enchanted Tiki Room, opposite Magic Carpets of Aladdin.
Where can you get alcohol in Magic Kingdom?
Alcohol can be served with a meal at Be Our Guest restaurant, Cinderella’s Royal Table, Skippers Canteen, Liberty Tree Tavern, Tony’s Town Square restaurant, The Crystal Palace and the Diamond Horseshoe.
Check out our Walt Disney World resource page for plenty more tips and tricks
If we ever get to go I know exactly who to ask for advice. One day hopefully.
Oh I love Magic Kingdom! It’s truly a magical place. Great post. Jemma x #MustSeePlaces