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7 Things No One Tells You About Visiting The Magic Kingdom In Walt Disney World

Credit: Dsney

When many guests picture Walt Disney World, they immediately conjure up images of the Magic Kingdom. With iconic buildings and attractions including Cinderella Castle, Splash Mountain, It’s A Small World, and Space Mountain, the Magic Kingdom is a favorite of many guests. Those who spend time in the park can experience thrilling adventures like careening through an abandoned mine town on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, flying high over the skies of London with Peter Pan, exploring the exotic rivers of the world on The Jungle Cruise, and interacting with ghosts on the Haunted Mansion. With so many amazing experiences to be had in the Magic Kingdom, it is no surprise that guests want to make the most of each moment and see as much as possible. There are several tips and tricks that guests can follow to save time and be able to enjoy more on each day in the park. Here are seven things that no one tells guests about visiting the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World.

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7. Be There For “Let The Magic Begin –

The Magic Kingdom opens at different times each morning depending on the season and day. Be sure to look up the exact time of opening and get to the park at least a half hour before that. Guests who are there early are welcome to enter the park to spend time on Main Street U.S.A. before the park officially opens. Main Street and the hub in front of Cinderella Castle remain open while the rest of the park is still closed. Roughly 5 minutes before the official park opening, “Let The Magic Begin” begins! This is a welcome show held on the stage in front of the Castle with fun music, special characters, and a few fireworks to kick off the day!

6. Adventureland First –

After entering into the Magic Kingdom each morning, many guests tend to head straight towards either Fantasyland or Tomorrowland. A great way for guests to save time is to go against the crowd and head towards Adventureland instead. Guests who head towards Adventureland can experience popular attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean and The Jungle Cruise with low wait times since most of the crowds are in other areas of the park.

5. Use The Railroad (Currently under refurbishment)

The Walt Disney World Railroad operates on a loop around the entire Magic Kingdom and it is a great way to spend some time relaxing while in the park. Guests often don’t realize that the attraction has three different stations throughout the park and can actually be used as a convenient mode of transportation as well as an enjoyable experience. The Walt Disney World Railroad has stations on Main Street, in Frontierland, and in Storybook Circus and guests who need to travel from one side of the park to the other should consider making a loop on the attraction and take a few moments to relax as opposed to walking all the way.

4. Fantasyland During The Parade –

Many of the attractions in Fantasyland tend to have very long wait times since they are popular with guests of all ages. Classic attractions like Peter Pan’s Flight and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh can often have wait times over an hour on busy afternoons in the park. A great way to experience the attractions of Fantasyland with low wait times is to visit during the afternoon parade. The Festival of Fantasy Parade runs each afternoon at three through Frontierland and down Main Street. Many guests who spent the morning in Fantasyland have either moved towards Main Street to watch the parade, are off eating lunch, or are back at their resorts relaxing for a while. This creates a great time to visit Fantasyland as the crowds will have thinned out and wait times will be lower, leaving more time to explore the rest of the Magic Kingdom.

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3. A Decadent Snack –

One of the best things about the Magic Kingdom is the insane number of delicious snacks that guests can enjoy throughout the park. A snack that many guests don’t know about can be found at the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street and is big enough to share (though many won’t want to!). The Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich combines two massive fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and any flavor of hand scooped ice cream available. Since the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor is on Main Street, the Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich is a perfect snack to pick up and enjoy while waiting for a parade or Happily Ever After.

2. A Second Floor –

One of the most popular quick service dining locations in the Magic Kingdom can be found across from the Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square. The Columbia Harbour House serves up fresh seafood and light options including fried shrimp, the Lighthouse Sandwich, and seasonal cobblers. With such unique and delicious options, the restaurant is a popular location for guests and tends to become crowded during meal times. What many guests don’t realize is that the Columbia Harbour House has a second floor with plenty of tables and large windows offering views into Liberty Square. The second floor is generally never as crowded as the first, making it a great location for guests to enjoy a meal while in the Magic Kingdom.

1. Rainy Escape –

An underrated attraction in the Magic Kingdom is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (TTA) in Tomorrowland. The TTA takes guests on a relaxing ride via the highway in the sky, offering views of Tomorrowland below and glimpses into nearby attractions like Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Since the TTA is a continuously loading attraction, it rarely ever has a line and many guests even walk by the entrance without noticing. What many guests don’t realize is that the TTA is the perfect attraction to enjoy during a sudden rain storm in the Magic Kingdom. Guests can sit back and enjoy the breeze and view while remaining dry, and since there is rarely ever a line, guests can usually stay on the attraction and ride again with no problem. So the next time guests find themselves in a rainy Tomorrowland, they should definitely take advantage of the TTA!

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.