DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
One of the most magical places on Earth is the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. The theme park brings guests into a world of fantasy, exotic far off lands, and the future of tomorrow. Each section of the park is a different land which is home to attractions, dining, entertainment, and more for guests to enjoy throughout each day. With so much to do and see in the Magic Kingdom, there are plenty of guests who are not quite sure what the best approach is in order to enjoy it all. Disney pros know a few tips and tricks on how to spend time in the park while getting the most out of each moment. From time saving tips and things to FastPass to taking advantage of special times and often overlooked moments, there are plenty of ways that Disney pros know how to perfect a day in the park. Here are eleven amazing tips on how to do Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom like a real Disney pro.
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1. Use Extra Magic Hours
Disney pros know that some of the best times to enjoy attractions and entertainment in the Magic Kingdom is by visiting during Extra Magic Hours. Extra Magic Hours are special times in the park that are only available to guests who are staying on property at a Disney Resort. Typically on a given day, one park will open to resort guests an hour early and another can stay open up to three hours late. Since only Disney Resort guests are allowed in at these times, the parks are less crowded and popular attractions have much lower wait times. The Magic Kingdom often hosts Extra Magic Hours and guests who visit during those times can enjoy popular attractions like Peter Pan’s Flight and Space Mountain with much lower wait times than normal.
2. Arrive For Rope Drop
If guests can’t get to the Magic Kingdom in the morning for Extra Magic Hours, the next best thing is to arrive for rope drop. This entails getting to the park before it officially opens and waiting to be left past the Castle hub. Each morning just before park opening, guests can enjoy a welcome show in front of Cinderella Castle where they are magically greeted for their day to come. Once the show is over and the park is officially open, guests who arrived early for rope drop are some of the first to enter into the lands of the park and enjoy few crowds and low wait times.
3. Visit Adventureland First
Disney pros know that many guests head straight to Fantasyland to enjoy attractions like the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Peter Pan’s Flight or to Tomorrowland to enjoy Space Mountain. Since this is the case, it makes the most sense to head in the opposite direction of the crowds to avoid getting caught up in the middle of it. Disney pros instead head straight for Adventureland where they can enjoy attractions like the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean with virtually no wait first thing in the morning.
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4. FastPass Peter Pan’s Flight
One of the most popular attractions in the Magic Kingdom can be found in Fantasyland across from It’s A Small World. Peter Pan’s Flight invites guests to be sprinkled with pixie dust and take to the skies to soar high over London and Neverland with Peter Pan and the Darling children. With many familiar characters and a classic ending, guests absolutely love to enjoy Peter Pan’s Flight. Since the attraction is so popular, the wait time can be very lengthy on a busy day in the Magic Kingdom, making it a great choice for a FastPass.
5. FastPass Space Mountain
Another great attraction to FastPass in the Magic Kingdom can be found in the heart of Tomorrowland. Space Mountain brings guests into the intergalactic travel hub of Starport 75. There they can blast off into the thrilling darkness of space on either the Alpha or Omega tracks. With plenty of big thrills and rocketing speeds, Space Mountain usually has a very long line making it a great FastPass option.
6. FastPass Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
One of the newest attractions in the Magic Kingdom is also one of the most popular. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is located in the middle of New Fantasyland and has guests board swinging mine carts to set off to see the dwarfs’ workplace. After zipping around the mountain a little, guests can check out the place where a million diamonds shine and see the dwarfs at work. With amazing views of the surrounding areas, amazing audio animatronics, and some thrills, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train can experience some very high wait times on busy days in the park. Guests who want to avoid spending lots of time in line are smart to book a FastPass for the experience.
7. Make Advanced Dining Reservations
The Magic Kingdom is home to some amazing full service dining locations, and Disney pros know just how easy it is to be turned away from a restaurant without a reservation. Guests who are looking to dine at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, the Crystal Palace, the Plaza Restaurant, or Be Our Guest Restaurant definitely need to book Advanced Dining Reservations, or ADRs. Advanced Dining Reservations can be booked up to one hundred and eighty days in advance and ensure that guests will have a table at their desired restaurant without being turned away or experiencing a long wait. No ADRs? Be sure to use Mobile Food and Beverage Ordering on your My Disney Experience App, now available at multiple quick service locations throughout Magic Kingdom.
8. Get A Good Spot For Happily Ever After
Once night falls in the Magic Kingdom, the skies and Cinderella Castle come to life with a wonderful fireworks and projection show called Happily Ever After. Since the show is new and equally amazing, guests are clamoring for the best spots to enjoy it from. Disney pros know the best way to enjoy fireworks in the Magic Kingdom is by arriving on Main Street at least an hour ahead of time and finding the perfect view to enjoy.
9. Visit Fantasyland During The Parade
Each afternoon the Magic Kingdom hosts the Festival of Fantasy Parade. The parade features many different floats showcasing whimsical ideas and familiar faces. Since many children enjoy the parade, families who usually spend time in Fantasyland tend to head towards Main Street to enjoy the experience. This leaves Fantasyland typically less crowded than other times of the day, making it a great time to visit for lower wait times on popular attractions.
10. Or Line Up Early
If guests want to enjoy a showing of the Festival of Fantasy Parade, they should definitely opt to line up at least an hour before the parade begins to ensure an unobstructed viewing spot. Some of the best spots can be found along the curb on Main Street, meaning guests have to get there extra early to snag one!
11. Stay For The Kiss Goodnight
After the Magic Kingdom closes for the evening, there is a wonderful show that Disney pros love to enjoy. The Kiss Goodnight features special music and lighting on Cinderella Castle as a speech is given thanking guests for spending their magical day in the park. The Kiss Goodnight is a great moment to cap off each day in the Magic Kingdom, and it is typically not crowded since many guests don’t know about it!
