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15 Best Tips, Tricks, & Secrets for Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

fireworks-magic-kingdom-castle
Credit: Disney

Any guest who travels to Walt Disney World simply must spend time in the original of the four theme parks on property, the Magic Kingdom. The park opened with the Walt Disney World Resort in 1971 and features different lands that each have their own unique themes that are shared through attraction, entertainment, dining, shopping, décor, architecture, and more. Some of the most quintessential Disney experiences can be found in the Magic Kingdom, and guests who visit definitely want to enjoy as much magic as possible. Whether guests are visiting the park for the first time or the hundredth time, there are some helpful tips, tricks, and secrets that can help to make the day even more magical. From cutting down on wait times and booking the right FastPasses to choosing the perfect spot for entertainment, these helpful tips will ensure that guests have a truly perfect day in the park. Here are the fifteen best tips, tricks, and secrets to use when visiting Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

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1. Adventureland First

Guests who spend time in the Magic Kingdom should plan on arriving right when the park opens for the day to ensure that they have as much time as possible. When the gates officially open, many guests head towards Fantasyland or Tomrorowland, leaving those areas fairly busy right off the bat. A great tip to avoid the crowds in the morning is to head for Adventureland first where guests can enjoy classics like the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean with little to no wait times.

2. Frontierland Mountains Early

After enjoying Adventureland, guests should make their way to Frontierland while it is still early and the crowds are low. There they can enjoy two thrilling mountain-based attractions that share wonderful stories. Splash Mountain brings guests on a journey with Br’er Rabbit that ends with a thrilling plunge into the Briar Patch below. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is the wildest ride in the wilderness on a runaway train through the town of Tumbleweed. Enjoying these two thrilling attractions in the morning makes the most sense as guests can enjoy them with low wait times without using a FastPass.

3. Don’t Skip Shows

The Magic Kingdom is home to many popular and thrilling attractions as well as shows that are wonderful but often considered to be underrated and overlooked. Those who are spending a whole day in the park should definitely plan on enjoying shows such as the Country Bear Jamboree, Hall of Presidents, Walt Disney’ Enchanted Tiki Room, and Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. These attractions rarely have wait times and are all entertaining in their own ways!

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4. Enjoy the Interactive Graveyard

One of the most popular attractions in the Magic Kingdom is the Haunted Mansion which brings guests into a home haunted by nine hundred and ninety nine happy haunts. Before entering into the house itself, guests who wait on the standby line can enjoy an interactive graveyard that is home to eerie and comical effects. Guests can interact with a ghostly poet with writer’s block, be splashed by a ghostly sea captain, and even figure out a murder mystery by reading clues on the busts of various family members.

5. FastPass Peter Pan’s Flight

Another popular and beloved attraction in the Magic Kingdom brings a classic Disney animated film to life. Peter Pan’s Flight invites guests to be sprinkled with pixie dust and fly through the skies of London to Neverland with Peter and the Darling children. Peter Pan’s Flight is a must do attraction, however it typically has lengthy wait times making it the perfect experience to utilize a FastPass for.

6. FastPass Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Fantasyland is also home to a thrilling and innovative attraction that is fun for the whole family. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has guests board mine carts that sway from side to side as they whip about the mountain and ultimately enter into the mines where the dwarfs are hard at work. With thrills and amazing theming, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a popular attraction that typically has a very long wait time. Guests who want to enjoy the attraction without spending lots of time standing in line should opt to book a FastPass for the experience.

7. Eat at Sleepy Hollow

Liberty Square is home to an amazing quick service location that offers up both savory and sweet treats that can be enjoyed with a beautiful view of Cinderella Castle. Sleepy Hollow is located right on the Liberty Square side of the bridge that connects that land with the hub, and guests who stop by can enjoy dining on options such as the Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich, Sweet and Spicy Chicken Waffle Sandwich, and Funnel Cake with Powdered Sugar.

8. Use Mobile Ordering

While there are several quick service dining locations in the Magic Kingdom including Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café, they all tend to become very crowded during normal meal times with long lines to order and wait for food. A great way to avoid the wait times and easily pick up a meal is by using Mobile Ordering. Guests can log into the My Disney Experience App and preorder and pay for their food before simply walking up to a pickup window and being handed their tray!

9. FastPass Space Mountain

Tomorrowland in the Magic Kingdom is a very popular land to enjoy thanks to its great theming and wonderful attractions. One of the most popular attractions in the area is Space Mountain which blasts guests off into the darkness of space from Starport 75. With thrilling turns and drops in near darkness, Space Mountain attracts many guests and long wait times making it a great option to book a FastPass for to avoid waiting in long queues.

10. Aiming on Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Also found in Tomorrowland is Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin which has guests join Star Command to help defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg. Guests board space cruisers and take aim at Zurg’s power sources which are targets with the letter Z. Some targets are easy shots and only award low points, but there are several targets throughout the attraction that offer up one hundred thousand points per hit. Guests should pay close attention to a robot’s arm and the bottom of Zurg’s ship if they want to max out on points and be a Galactic Hero.

11. Best Parade Spot

Each afternoon the Festival of Fantasy Parade brings Disney characters to the streets in a whimsical show that features catchy music and beautiful floats. While Main Street is one of the most popular viewing locations for the parade thanks to the backdrop of Cinderella Castle, guests who are looking to enjoy the parade with less crowds should opt to watch from Frontierland. The Festival of Fantasy Parade begins at three o’clock in Frontierland and the crowds are typically lower making viewing spots easier to come by.

12. Special Glimpse

After enjoying Space Mountain, guests who want to see what the inside actually looks like can sometimes get the chance to do so from another attraction. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover brings guests through Space Mountain where it is typically dark and hard to see anything. However if guests enjoy a ride on the highway in the sky while Space Mountain is closed, they might catch a glimpse of the attraction with all the lights on!

13. Line Up Early

Each night in the Magic Kingdom, the skies come to life with the beautiful fireworks show Happily Ever After. The nighttime extravaganza features fireworks accompanied by projections on Cinderella Castle, Disney characters, and Disney music. The best viewing spots are on Main Street and guests start finding spots at least an hour before show time. Guests who are set on enjoying the best possible view of Happily Ever After should plan on finding a spot on Main Street at least an hour early.

14. Astro Orbiter During the Fireworks

Those who are looking for a more unique way of viewing the fireworks of Happily Ever After can enjoy an out of this world experience in Tomorrowland. When timed correctly, an amazing way to enjoy Happily Ever After is by riding the Astro Orbiter and feeling as though the fireworks are bursting right next to the high flying rockets! Guests could also enjoy unique views from Dumbo the Flying Elephant, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

15. Kiss Goodnight

When the Magic Kingdom closes for the evening, most guests immediately head for the exit, however there is a special treat for those who linger. About a half hour after park closing, Cinderella Castle lights up in beautiful colors while Disney music plays and a speech is broadcast thanking guests for spending their magical day in the park. This Kiss Goodnight is a wonderful way to end magical day spent enjoying all that the Magic Kingdom has to offer!

About Caitlin Kane

Caitlin Kane first started visiting Walt Disney World when she was two years old, and despite spending most of that trip quarantined with the chicken pox she managed to fall in love with the place. Visiting WDW every year since, she especially loves learning all about the history and small details of the parks and eating/drinking her way through the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival each fall. When she's not in Disney, Caitlin lives in New York and spends her time counting down the days to her next trip.