Disney’s Magic Kingdom is a big theme park often at the top of visitors’ bucket lists. It is hailed as the best theme park of the four.
After all, it’s the essence of what Disney World feels like with the beautiful Cinderella Castle at the center.
So, if you’re visiting Magic Kingdom alone or as part of your long journey to Disney World Florida, there are some things you should know before going.
- Get to the park early and park at the Transportation and Ticketing Center if coming by car.
- Some buses and boats run from Disney Resort hotels to the park.
- It’s a massive park with six themed lands that require at least one whole day but preferably two.
- Many dining options exist, but table service restaurants require a reservation in advance.
- Enjoy the afternoon parade, fireworks, and character meet and greets.
- Staying at a Disney Resort hotel can give you half an hour of early entry and a bus ride to the park.
- There are ticketed special events around the year, so look out for those.
- The Disney Genie+ service and Lightning Lane passes can cut your wait time on popular rides if you wish to purchase.
- Plan your journey and list the rides you want to experience the most.
This article covers essential information on visiting the Magic Kingdom at Disney World and tips to make the best of the Most Magical Place on Earth!
Everything You Should Know Before You Visit Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is often mistakenly called Disney World. That’s an understandable mistake as it has the iconic castle often used in pictures of Disney World.
In contrast, Magic Kingdom is one of the four theme parks at Disney World. The other three parks include Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot.
If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom, here are some things you should know.
1. Parking Isn’t at the Magic Kingdom Entrance
If you want to get to the park in your car, you’ll need to park at the Transportation and Ticketing Center. From there, you can take the Monorail or Ferryboat to the park.
There’s no parking at the entrance of the park.
Sometimes, there are shuttle buses too that run from the Transportation and Ticketing Center to Magic Kingdom.
Get the Monorail instead of the Ferryboat, as it’s faster and runs frequently. You can get to the park quickly, especially if you want to use every minute to enjoy it!
2. Tickets Prices Vary
Prices for Disney World parks vary by season and time. Generally, it may be more expensive to visit Magic Kingdom during summer or the holidays.
If you want to save money on the tickets, opt for the off-season, such as September, October, mid-Novemeber, January, or February.
3. There Are Six Themed Lands
Magic Kingdom comprises six parts or lands named Main Street USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Liberty Square, and Tomorrowland.
All of these lands are mapped in a circle. Each land has a unique theme, and the rides, restaurants, and activities are based on that.
For instance, Tomorrowland is based on a futuristic theme, depicting future views.
Most people start from the right when entering the park, taking a circular route and exploring all the lands. You can also go left or randomly to different lands per your preference.
Remember, you’re there to enjoy!
4. Using Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane Access
Magic Kingdom is undoubtedly the most visited theme park at Disney World. It’s the most visited theme park worldwide, with 12.69 million visitors in 2021.
So, you can imagine it will be busy, and you may have to wait in line to get on rides or have a meal at a restaurant. Don’t worry, as there’s a workaround to that.
Disney introduced the Disney Genie+ service with its app My Disney Experience. Also, there’s something called the Lightning Lane that you can benefit from and avoid long wait times.
Lightning Lane basically gives you priority access, so you don’t have to wait in line. Lightning Lane is available with Disney Genie+, which is a paid service.
There’s also Individual Lightning Lane or a-la-carte option to purchase a Lightning Lane pass separately for a ride.
If you purchase the Disney Genie+ service, you can get Lightning Lane pass for up to eight rides included in the service.
While many rides are eligible for quick access, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is not included. You can get a separate, individual Lightning Lane pass for that.
Keep in mind that these are extra paid services. You don’t necessarily need them to enjoy the rides.
However, they may cut your wait time significantly and allow you to enjoy more rides.
5. Enjoy the Many Dining Options
Spending the whole day or even a few hours at Magic Kingdom will surely kick in the hunger. The good news is that there are plenty of restaurants, counters, and snack carts to choose from.
While some counter service restaurants may provide service fairly quickly, others require a reservation in advance.
Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest are the two most popular restaurants at Magic Kingdom.
If you want to try these restaurants, reserve a table in advance. You can book a table as early as 60 days in advance.
Other frequently-visited restaurants at Magic Kingdom include the Crystal Palace, Liberty Tree Tavern, the Plaza Restaurant, and the Diamond Horseshoe.
There are plenty of quick-service restaurants, including the popular Sleepy Hollow and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe.
You can use the My Disney Experience app to order food from these restaurants and enjoy your meal when it’s ready.
6. Magic Kingdom Is Pretty Big
Magic Kingdom is a big theme park that’s impossible to explore completely in a day.
If you’re going for a long Disney World journey, say five to seven days, you should set two days of your trip just for this theme park.
On the other hand, if you’re short on time, you can spend one day at the park.
Make sure to go early and take advantage of any early access opportunities you may have. Park times vary during the week, but it usually opens at 8 AM or 9 AM.
So you should get there before the official opening time as queues start to form 10 to 15 minutes before the entrance opens.
7. Look Out for Special Events
There may be special events at Magic Kingdom, especially if you’re visiting around a holiday like Labor Day, Halloween, or Christmas.
Most such events are ticketed, and you may have to buy them in advance. So, do a quick search on the Disney website for special events around the time you’re planning to visit the park.
Also, some of the events take place after park hours, so you can easily enjoy them after a full day of rides and fun.
If you’re visiting in November or December, you can enjoy the fantastic Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas event hosted on select nights throughout the pre-holiday season.
8. Check Out Parades and Fireworks
Magic Kingdom doesn’t just offer rides, theme dining, or taking selfies with the castle. There are many amazing experiences you can enjoy when you visit.
Every afternoon, the Festival of Fantasy Parade takes place, which features Disney characters and music.
For many visitors, the fireworks, called the Disney Enchantment, are the highlight of their visit.
If you are near the park at closing time, you can also catch the two-minute display called a Kiss Goodnight, which takes place 30 minutes after the park closes.
9. Character Meet and Greets
Magic Kingdom offers a host of iconic Disney character meet and greets as cast members in costumes are spread throughout the park.
From the quintessential Mickey and Donald to Buzz Lightyear and Ariel, there will be many opportunities for you and your kids to take pictures with your favorite Disney characters.
Also, Cinderella’s Royal Table and the Crystal Palace have character-based services. You’ll love these restaurants!
10. Stay at a Disney Resort (or Not)
Staying at a hotel at the Disney Resort has its benefits.
For starters, you don’t have to pay for parking at the park (or any park, for that matter), as you only pay to park at the hotel.
Secondly, and more importantly, you’ll get 30 minutes of early entry at Magic Kingdom if you stay at a Disney Resort hotel.
That can give you a headstart to get in the queue for those sought-after lines and experience them before the crowds arrive!
Lastly, the ride to the park is quicker from some of the hotels near Magic Kingdom, including the Grand Floridian Resort and Bay Lake Tower.
Also, these resorts provide buses and boats to Magic Kingdom, so you won’t have to drive.
That said, staying at the resort is unnecessary if you don’t want to or have a more economical/convenient option outside the resort.
Conclusion
Magic Kingdom is the most popular Disney World theme park in the world, and for a good reason. It’s simply magical!
But studying what the park offers and planning accordingly can allow you to make the best of your experience.
In short, it’s a huge park with six themed lands, dozens of rides, tens of restaurants, character meet and greets, and even some special events.
While you need more than a day to explore it, give it at least one full day.
Download the My Disney Experience app, as that will help you immensely in planning your journey, ordering food, and even buying Genie+ service and Lightning Lane passes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the First Thing I Should Do at Magic Kingdom?
You should complete your favorite ride first thing when you visit Magic Kingdom, especially if it’s one of the popular ones like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
That way, you can enjoy the popular rides before the wait times in queues get longer.
What Can’t You Bring to Magic Kingdom?
Disney World’s list of prohibited items also applies to Magic Kingdom, which includes firearms, weapons, knives, drugs, alcohol, coolers, wagons, drones, folding chairs, large suitcases, tripods, and selfie sticks.
What Age Is Best for Disney’s Magic Kingdom?
Magic Kingdom is a great theme park for kids aged three years and above. Most rides don’t have any height restrictions, so kids can easily enjoy them.
Although kids will especially love the character-filled, themed lands of Magic Kingdom, adults can also have a great time on the rides and at the restaurants, reminiscing about the cartoon characters they grew up watching.
