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Essential Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Kingdom

Posted by: Rebekah Tyndall Burkett October 18, 2024 Comments Off on Essential Things to Know Before Visiting Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom Park
Credit: Igor Menezes on Unsplash

A trip to Walt Disney World is incomplete without visiting Magic Kingdom, the park where Disney magic began! Since opening its gates in 1971, this iconic park has drawn millions of visitors with its blend of classic attractions, unforgettable experiences, and timeless charm.

If you’re planning your visit, here’s what you need to know to make the most of your magical day at Magic Kingdom!

1. You’ll Need a Park Reservation

To enter Magic Kingdom, having a valid ticket is no longer enough. Disney now uses the Park Pass Reservation System, meaning that you must reserve your park entry in advance. This system helps manage capacity and ensures a safer experience for all guests. Reservations can be made on the My Disney Experience app or through the official Walt Disney World website. Make sure to book your park passes as early as possible, as popular days can fill up quickly!

The image is split in two. The left side shows a blue Disney 50th anniversary logo with a gold Mickey Mouse head. The right side shows a family of four, smiling and gathered around a smartphone, all wearing casual clothes and some with Mickey ears.

Credit: Disney

2. Choose Between a Monorail or Ferry to the Magic Kingdom

The magical journey to the Magic Kingdom often begins before entering the park. Guests arriving at the Transportation and Ticket Center can either take the scenic ferry or the classic monorail to get to the park.

Whether you choose the breezy ferry or the high-flying monorail, both offer stunning views of Cinderella Castle and the Seven Seas Lagoon—a picture-perfect way to start your Disney day.

3. Be Our Guest Restaurant – Reservations

Be Our Guest Restaurant is a fan favorite at Magic Kingdom, known for its incredible atmosphere inside the Beast’s Castle. While the restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, it no longer operates as a quick-service location for lunch as it once did. Guests can enjoy a prix fixe menu during both meal times, offering a luxurious selection that includes steak, chicken, and more.

If you’re hoping to dine here, reservations are highly recommended. You can book your dining experience up to 60 days in advance via the My Disney Experience app, so mark your calendar and snag a reservation for this must-visit restaurant.

Be Our Guest Restaurant

Credit: Disney

4. Mobile Ordering is Essential

All quick-service dining locations at Magic Kingdom offer mobile orders for food. This means you can use the My Disney Experience app to place your order, wait for the confirmation, and then pick up your meal once it’s ready.

With popular spots like Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café, mobile ordering is as great way to skip the lines.

5. Character Meet-and-Greets Are a Must Do

For many families, meeting Mickey Mouse, Tinkerbell, and other beloved characters is a highlight of any Magic Kingdom visit. These traditional character meet-and-greets are a must-do, in our opinion, when visiting with family and friends.

Make sure to keep an eye out for characters appearing in parades and stage performances as well throughout the park. You never know when you might spot a princess or pirate waving hello!

6. Plenty of Dining Options

While mobile ordering quick-service food is great and a fast way to get through a meal, we highly recommend enjoying one of Magic Kingdom’s table service restaurants, such as Be Our Guest restaurant, as mentioned above. We especially recommend Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen for a humorous meal!

Magic Kingdom offers plenty of outdoor seating at popular locations like Sleepy Hollow and Aloha Isle, where guests can enjoy delicious snacks and meals. Be sure to try fan favorites like the Dole Whip or the Mickey Waffle for a quintessential Disney treat!

7. Enjoy the Fireworks!

No surprise here! Make plans to enjoy Magic Kingdom’s stunning nighttime spectacular, Happily Ever After. To ensure a great spot, line up on Main Street, U.S.A., or in front of the Cinderella Castle at least 45 minutes to an hour before the show.

Just ensure you can see the front of the castle, as the projections are just as amazing as the fireworks!

A grand castle stands against a blue sky, surrounded by white clouds. Colorful fireworks burst in the background. In front of the castle, costumed characters gather on the stage, with tall green trees visible on the sides.

Credit: Disney

Who’s ready to put on their Mickey ears and enjoy the magic? We know we are!

As you plan your Walt Disney World vacation, be sure to check Disney’s official website for the most up-to-date information on park hours, reservation requirements, and more!

About Rebekah Tyndall Burkett

Rebekah grew up in Forney, Texas and lives just outside of Dallas. She’s been a Disney superfan since childhood, experiencing the magic at Walt Disney World for the first time at the age of 11. Journeys to Neverland are at least a yearly occurrence for her, her husband and her four children (the Fab Four). When they go to the parks, they stay in Florida for three weeks at a time. Rebekah loves exploring the history of the parks, the genius behind the Magic in the person of Walt Disney, and she is intrigued by all things Disney World and Disney Imagineering. When in the parks, Rebekah and her husband Scott make the most of their time by enjoying every minute with their Fab Four, by delving deeper into Walt’s vision for the parks and into the history behind the Walt Disney World Resort, and by photographing the many different types of architecture at Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and on the World Showcase at EPCOT. When she’s not in the parks, Rebekah is excitedly setting travel dates and planning her family’s next adventure to their happy place deep within the Sunshine State. On breaks from planning her next trip, Rebekah is a writer, journalist and children’s author, penning children’s books about kids with special needs that she affectionately calls “believement-achievement” stories. Her hobbies include creative writing, paper crafting and interviewing Imagineers. She is also an advocate for Autism Awareness and for children with developmental disabilities of all kinds.