Top 10 Q&As for Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

When most people think of Disney World, the very first thing that pops into their head is Cinderella Castle and the rest of Magic Kingdom. This is understandable. Magic Kingdom was the very first of the four parks to open, and is definitely the most “Disney” of them all. It’s also the one with the most attractions and the most crowds, meaning visiting this park requires some serious planning. Of course, with planning comes questions, especially from those who’ve never been to the park. Because we know how frustrating it can be to find the answers you need to finish your planning, and in an effort to speed up the process, we’ve put together a list of the top 10 questions most Disney newbies tend to ask. After reading through these, you should have enough basic info to plan a perfect day in the Magic Kingdom.

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1. “How much time will I need?”

As we just mentioned, Magic Kingdom has more attractions than any other Disney World park. In fact, there are so many attractions in this park, it’s nearly impossible to do and see it all in one day. For this reason, we highly recommend spending at least two days in this park during your vacation. Have a little more time to spare? A third day in the Magic Kingdom never hurt anyone 😉

2. “How can I avoid crowds?”

Honestly, you can’t avoid crowds entirely. However, there are some tricks that can help. Our first tip is to visit during the slower times. These include:

• The second half of January
• February (except President’s Day weekend)
• Late August
• September
• October
• First half of November
• First half of December

That said, no matter when you visit, it’s always best to arrive at opening, avoid the middle of the day, and return for the late-evening hours. Additionally, you can avoid some crowds by heading left from the castle when you arrive, as most people tend to go right.

3. “Which restaurants are best?”

Magic Kingdom has tons of awesome restaurants! Our favorites are:

Quick-Service:

• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
• Be Our Guest (lunch)
• Sleepy Hollow
• Columbia Harbor House
• Pecos Bill’s Tall Tale Inn and Cafe

Table-Service:

• Be Our Guest (dinner)
• Cinderella’s Royal Table
• Liberty Tree Tavern
• The Crystal Palace

All table-service restaurants will require reservations, as will Be Our Guest lunch. Be Our Guest and Cinderella’s Royal Table should both be reserved as soon as possible in order to ensure you get a table.

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4. “Does Magic Kingdom have thrill rides?”

Many people assume that Magic Kingdom is for young children and thus has no thrill rides to speak of. The funny thing is, this park actually has several rides for the adrenaline junkies out there. This is perfect because it means there is plenty for teens and adults to enjoy! The thrill rides found in Magic Kingdom include:

• Space Mountain
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Splash Mountain

5: “Which attractions should I FastPass?”

Choosing FastPasses is difficult no matter what park you’re headed to. This is especially true when it comes to Magic Kingdom because there are so many awesome attractions to choose from. The trick is knowing which attractions tend to have long lines. Below are the attractions that have the longest lines, making their FastPasses especially valuable:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Space Mountain
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Splash Mountain
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Haunted Mansion
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Jungle Cruise

6: “What should I pack?”

A day in the Disney parks requires more than you might think. We recommend packing the following:

• Snacks/lunch
• Water
• Phone
• Phone charger/battery backup
• Camera
• MagicBands
• Towel (to sit on while waiting for parades and shows)
• Autograph book and pen

With kids you’ll also want:

• Quality stroller
• Typical diaper bag needs
• Clothes that can get wet (for the Casey Jr. Circus Train water play area)
• Extra towel (for drying off wet kids)

Don’t bring in:

• Selfie sticks
• Glass containers
• Anything with wheels (besides obvious necessities such as strollers, wheelchairs, walkers, and scooters)
• Folding chairs
• Large coolers
• Weapons or toy weapons

7: “What’s inside the castle? Can I go inside?”

After seeing Cinderella Castle your entire life, you’re probably wondering if you’ll finally get to learn what’s inside. The answer? Yes and no. Parts of the castle are not accessible to the public. However, if you can manage to get a reservation, you can see parts of the castle interior by eating at Cinderella’s Royal Table or getting made up at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

8. “Which resorts are closest?”

For those who’ll be spending tons of time in Magic Kingdom, it just makes sense to stay as close as possible. Luckily, there are a few different resorts nearby, one of which is within easy walking distance. The best options are:

• Contemporary Resort (walking distance or monorail ride)
• Polynesian Resort (monorail ride)
• Grand Floridian Resort (monorail ride)

9: “How do I get there?”

Magic Kingdom is odd in that you can’t park directly in front of the main entrance. Instead, those who are driving in should park at the Transportation and Ticket Center. From there, visitors can ride a monorail or a ferry boat to the entrance. Of course, people staying on Disney property won’t have to drive anywhere. Instead, they can take Disney transportation. For most, this will mean a bus ride. However, those staying at certain resorts—such as Wilderness Lodge, Fort Wilderness, The Contemporary, The Polynesian, and The Grand Floridian—can take a boat. Finally, there are the three closest resorts mentioned in #8 above. These are located right on the monorail line, meaning a short monorail ride is all it takes to get to Magic Kingdom.

10. “What are Mickey’s ‘Not-So-Scary Halloween Party’ and ‘Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party’?”

If you’re visiting Magic Kingdom during the holidays, you might notice advertisements for the special parties. These are super fun events with limited admission, meaning you can enjoy the park with fewer crowds. The parties both feature special parades and fireworks shows, as well as included snacks, unusual characters, and other super fun things that can’t be experienced any other time. Either of these parties is well worth experiencing if you can swing it! Even if you aren’t going to a party, it’s a good idea to be aware of when they are. This is because the park closes early on party days, meaning your Magic Kingdom day may be cut short. Therefore, we highly recommend keeping an eye on the calendar to be sure you don’t get kicked out early.