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Magic Kingdom is probably the most Disney of the 4 Walt Disney World parks in Orlando, Florida.
You’ll discover Cinderella Castle, Mickey Mouse, Disney princesses, and probably the most nostalgic rides many people keep in mind from our childhoods.
Magic Kingdom sights are typically extra mild than thrilling (though there are a number of enjoyable curler coasters together with the brand new TRON experience), and there’s loads to do for each adults and kids.
Simon and I liked the park as youngsters and proceed to get pleasure from it on repeat visits as adults.
In this publish, we share our picks for the most effective rides at Magic Kingdom plus the way to skip the strains and different enjoyable issues to do for a magical day.
Contents
How to Skip Lines at Magic Kingdom
Disney is infamous for lengthy strains, and Magic Kingdom is likely one of the hottest Disney parks on the planet.
But with these time saving suggestions we not often wait greater than quarter-hour for any of those Magic Kingdom sights.
- Make a Park Reservation – Reservations are important now. I like to recommend reserving your Disney tickets and making a park reservation for every day of your journey at the very least a month prematurely. Magic Kingdom is the park that’s almost definitely to e book up at busy instances.
- Download My Disney Experience app – To verify wait instances, make Genie+ choices, order meals, and extra.
- Purchase Genie+ – This paid line skipping service is finest worth at Magic Kingdom with 23 sights included within the each day value of $15-35 (relying on demand). It’s a complicated system so see our full information which discusses Is Disney Genie Plus Worth It?
- Stay Onsite – If you keep in a Disney resort, you’ll have the ability to enter each park half-hour earlier than official park opening. This provides you an excellent head begin.
- Arrive Early – Arrive half-hour earlier than Early Entry begins as they let folks into the park even earlier. You can then wait on the entrance to Tomorrowland or Fantasyland (the one areas open for Early Entry). Even in the event you don’t have Early Entry, arrive half-hour earlier than official opening. The first hour of the day is the quietest.
- Visit on a Party Day – The park closes early (often at 6pm) when there are paid occasions like Halloween and Christmas events within the evenings. This places folks off so the park is de facto quiet on these days. Ideally, get a Park Hopper ticket and head to Hollywood Studios or Epcot within the night, and go to Magic Kingdom on one other night to see the fireworks.
- Spend Two Days Here – There are over 40 sights at Magic Kingdom, so it’s finest unfold over two days if attainable, particularly in case you are visiting with babies.
Most Popular Rides at Magic Kingdom Orlando
The latest and hottest experience at Magic Kingdom is TRON, which opened in April 2023, but it surely has no standby line and might solely be ridden by digital queue (see under).
These are the Magic Kingdom rides which have the longest strains with common wait instances over the 12 months:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (79 minutes)
- Peter Pan’s Flight (67 minutes)
- Jungle Cruise (61 minutes)
- Space Mountain (49 minutes)
- Haunted Mansion (43 minutes)
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (41 minutes)
Interestingly (and controversially to some), not one of the high three busiest rides are our favourites. We focus on them extra under.
Best Rides at Magic Kingdom
These are what we expect are the best possible Magic Kingdom rides that you shouldn’t miss.
As adults with out youngsters we’ve a unique perspective from households, so in case you are travelling with kids, you must also take a look at the most effective Fantasyland rides under.
One main experience that’s lacking right here is Splash Mountain. This log flume experience was our favorite attraction within the park, but it surely closed in January 2023.
It will reopen in late 2024 as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, primarily based on The Princess and The Frog film, and I’m certain it would once more rise to the highest of this Disney Magic Kingdom rides record.
1) TRON Lightcycle Run
Type of Ride: Thrill Ride with Big Drops
Minimum Height: 48 inches (122cm)
Lightning Lane: Individual ($20)
Location: Tomorrowland
TRON Lightcycle Run is the park’s latest experience and for a lot of it’s already probably the greatest issues to do at Magic Kingdom. We haven’t had an opportunity to experience it but, however we are able to’t wait!
TRON is an exciting rollercoaster the place you experience a motorcycle round a excessive pace monitor. It’s primarily based on the Disney sci-fi movie TRON: Legacy and is Disney’s quickest coaster.
There’s an outside part with wonderful views of the park earlier than you enter an enormous darkish warehouse to race different groups throughout the Grid by eight Energy Gates.
TRON can solely be ridden by becoming a member of a free digital queue within the Disney app at 7am and 1pm (plus 6pm on choose Evening Hours days for Deluxe resort visitors).
The queue sells out in seconds so you actually should be fast. See our information to the way to use Genie+ for pace reserving suggestions. It’s often simpler to get a spot within the 1pm queue in the event you miss out within the morning.
You’ll be given a boarding group and shall be notified by way of the app when it’s time to experience. You’ll then have one hour to get to TRON.
If you don’t handle to safe a spot, you may pay for an Individual Lightning Lane, however attributable to demand for the brand new experience these are promoting out quick.
Lockers are required for baggage and free objects, however they’re free and also you move them within the queue.
Note that bigger visitors could have points becoming within the bike-style Lightcycles, however there are customary curler coaster vehicles (with lap bars) for many who want or choose them. There’s a take a look at seat outdoors the experience so you may see if it really works for you.
2) Space Mountain
Type of Ride: Dark Thrill Ride with Big Drops
Minimum Height: 44 inches (112cm)
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Tomorrowland
Before TRON opened, Space Mountain was probably the most thrilling experience within the park. While this high-speed indoor curler coaster in the dead of night feels quite dated today, it’s nonetheless a Magic Kingdom should do for us.
We love dashing in a rocket by outer house, hitting sudden turns and plummeting down unseen drops. It’s pure enjoyable and Simon will experience it many times.
Like all Disney World Magic Kingdom rides, it doesn’t go the other way up.
Seating is in a single row with three folks per automobile and two vehicles joined collectively to make a rocket practice. If you might have a alternative on a quiet day, using on the entrance is probably the most enjoyable.
Strangely, on our final go to, we discovered Space Mountain jerky within the mornings however smoother and sooner because the day progresses.
We often experience it very first thing, however wait instances are likely to drop after Early Entry (when solely Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are open). The finish of the day may also be quiet. Otherwise, use Genie+.
The experience is inside an enormous futuristic construction, and in the event you do have to attend, there are interactive video games on the Play Disney Parks app to maintain you occupied. When it’s quiet, the stroll to the beginning is the longest a part of the expertise.
If you get pleasure from curler coasters, you’ll undoubtedly need to experience Space Mountain.
3) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Type of Ride: Thrill Ride with Small Drops
Minimum Height: 40 inches (102cm)
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Frontierland
Another of Magic Kingdom’s mountain vary, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a gentler curler coaster than Space Mountain however nonetheless one of many high rides at Magic Kingdom.
For us, the spotlight is the Wild West themeing from the Gold Rush period. Your runaway mine practice speeds by purple canyons, dips into haunted gold mines, and rushes previous the deserted city of Tumbleweed. There are so many particulars to get pleasure from on the way in which.
We additionally love the views of the park from this largely out of doors experience—Cinderella Castle seems particularly good at evening. It can be wonderful in the course of the fireworks.
As coasters go, this can be a pretty tame one, but it surely’s quick and there are some enjoyable turns and small drops. It feels a bit jerky, particularly in comparison with the newer Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
This is one other widespread Magic Kingdom experience finest ridden at the start or finish of the day or with Genie+.
4) Pirates of the Caribbean
Type of Ride: Dark Slow Ride with Small Drops
Minimum Height: None
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Adventureland
Magic Kingdom excels at darkish rides that take you on mild journeys into different worlds. These are appropriate for all of the household so there are many issues to do at Magic Kingdom even in the event you don’t like curler coasters.
Pirates of the Caribbean is our favorite darkish experience. This mild boat journey takes you thru scenes of a seventeenth century pirate raid from the bombardment of a fortress to debauchery after the victory.
There are many particulars to get pleasure from on the way in which and also you’ll end up buzzing “Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate’s life for me” for the remainder of the day.
This basic experience pre-dates the films (which had been impressed by the experience), however now you can see an animatronic determine of Captain Jack Sparrow.
There is a small waterfall drop however largely this can be a very relaxed experience appropriate for all. You may get splashed however you received’t get soaked.
Wait instances fluctuate for Pirates of the Caribbean however are not often lengthy, so simply wait till a quieter time or use Genie+ (but it surely isn’t a precedence).
5) Haunted Mansion
Type of Ride: Dark Slow Ride
Minimum Height: None
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Liberty Square
Another basic darkish experience at Magic Kingdom (and for a lot of, their favorite) is Haunted Mansion.
Board a Doom Buggy for a gradual experience by a labyrinth of haunted rooms filled with ghosts and ghouls and otherworldly surprises.
While babies would possibly discover it scary, there’s no gore and the ghosts are pleasant. We discover it extra playful than scary and love all of the particular results.
Lines fluctuate however you shouldn’t have to attend too lengthy in the event you anticipate a quieter time. Halloween season is the busiest so experience it earlier then.
A barely longer wait right here isn’t a hardship as the road options interactive components like a musical crypt.
6) Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Type of Ride: Spinning Slow Ride
Minimum Height: None
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Tomorrowland
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is an interactive experience that we all the time get pleasure from.
Seated in spinning vehicles armed with laser cannons, you experience previous Toy Story scenes aiming your laser on the glowing Z targets.
The extra you hit, the extra factors you acquire. The aggressive high quality makes it immensely re-rideable.
Buzz Lightyear has extra dated tech than Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios, and it’s more durable to purpose right here, however we nonetheless suppose it’s value doing if the strains aren’t too lengthy.
7) Jungle Cruise
Type of Ride: Slow Ride
Minimum Height: None
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Adventureland
Jungle Cruise is totally different from different Magic Kingdom rides. Yes, the out of doors boat journey takes you previous animatronic characters and different fascinating scenes like the opposite gradual rides, however right here you get commentary out of your tour information so each experience is exclusive.
Expect plenty of dad jokes and puns as you sail previous gorillas in Africa and elephants in Asia.
Your enjoyment of the experience will largely rely upon how humorous you discover it, though it’s nonetheless a calming river journey both means with heaps to note.
While it’s not our favorite Magic Kingdom experience, we do suppose it’s value doing if waits aren’t too lengthy. This is the most effective Genie+ to pick out first because it usually sells out.
You may also need to experience it at evening for a unique expertise.
Top Fantasyland Rides at Magic Kingdom
Fantasyland is the world of Magic Kingdom the place you’ll discover probably the most iconic Disney characters and kid-friendly sights.
These are our picks for the most effective Fantasyland rides, however there are loads extra together with a carrousel, teacups, spinning rides like Dumbo, and naturally, the long-lasting “it’s a small world” with its experience track you received’t have the ability to neglect.
If you’re visiting with babies, you’ll doubtless add extra to your Magic Kingdom should do record than us.
8) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Type of Ride: Thrill Ride with Small Drops
Minimum Height: 38 inches (97cm)
Lightning Lane: Individual ($10-12)
Location: Fantasyland
Any different finest Magic Kingdom rides record can have Seven Dwarfs Mine Train close to the highest. It’s all the time the experience with the longest strains within the park and far beloved by many.
Honestly, we don’t fairly get the fuss. If the road was brief, we’d experience it each time we visited the park, however getting on entails planning, a protracted wait, or paying for an Individual Lightning Lane, and it doesn’t really feel definitely worth the effort for us.
On the plus facet, it’s the smoothest curler coaster in Magic Kingdom—just like Thunder Mountain however a lot much less jerky.
The design is nice from enjoyable interactive components within the line like a musical fountain to the wonderful animatronics on the darkish experience part the place you see the dwarfs mining jewels.
The out of doors coaster part is enjoyable as you experience in mine carts with a cool tilting design, but it surely’s quite tame. It’s the best first curler coaster, although, which explains its reputation in Disney’s most child-friendly park.
If you do need to experience Mine Train with out lengthy waits, head there very first thing in Early Entry (however everybody else shall be doing the identical) or experience on the very finish of the day.
9) Peter Pan’s Flight
Type of Ride: Dark Slow Ride with Small Drops
Minimum Height: None
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Fantasyland
As with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight is likely one of the hottest Magic Kingdom rides that we don’t suppose is definitely worth the lengthy waits.
This mild darkish experience is actually cute as you fly in a magical pirate ship over scenes from the tales. See Big Ben in London lit up at evening then enterprise to Never Land and watch Peter Pan combating Captain Hook.
While it might be charming, the strains are virtually all the time unreasonably lengthy. If you’re a Peter Pan fan, choose this as certainly one of your first Genie+ sights to keep away from a protracted wait.
10) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Type of Ride: Dark Slow Ride
Minimum Height: None
Lightning Lane: Genie+
Location: Fantasyland
Winnie the Pooh is one other cute darkish experience in a hunny pot by scenes from the basic tales.
If wait instances are brief (or you may rating a Genie+ later within the day), it’s value using, however I wouldn’t queue for lengthy.
Best Attractions at Magic Kingdom with Low Wait Times
It’s the afternoon at Magic Kingdom—it’s sizzling, you’re drained, and wait strains are lengthy on all of the above rides. What do you do?
Ride certainly one of these low-key Magic Kingdom sights that not often have lengthy waits. Many of them are indoors and permit as much as 20 minutes of blissfully air-conditioned relaxation time.
Even in the event you don’t benefit from the attraction (though we love them), you’ll admire the break, so ensure so as to add at the very least a number of of those to your Magic Kingdom itinerary for a change of tempo.
None of those have top restrictions or require Genie+.
11) Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover ranks as probably the greatest sights at Magic Kingdom for a lot of hardcore Disney followers, but it surely flies below the radar for many first timers.
It’s actually not one thing you need to experience within the all-important first few hours of park opening, but it surely does have plenty of attraction and is splendidly straightforward to experience (if strains occur to be lengthy, anticipate them to go down).
This slow-moving elevated tram experience takes you on a 10-minute journey by Tomorrowland together with behind the scenes at sights like Space Mountain.
The views of the park are pretty together with Cinderella Castle and Tomorrowland Speedway.
Our favorite time to experience the stress-free PeopleMover is at sundown, but it surely’s additionally nice at evening when the park is lit up.
12) Tom Sawyer Island
Back once we visited Disney on a decent finances, we’d convey a packed lunch into the park and picnic on Tom Sawyer Island.
The island is reached by log rafts and appears like an exquisite escape from the busy park. You can wander down filth trails, cross suspension bridges, discover forts and caves, and take a break on a bench to benefit from the view.
While it’s a enjoyable playground for teenagers, it’s a pleasant change of tempo for adults too.
The rafts cease operating at nightfall so that is finest visited within the afternoon.
13) Swiss Family Treehouse
Swiss Family Treehouse is one other distinctive Magic Kingdom attraction that by no means has a wait.
On this self-guided walk-though, you climb up the 116 stairs of the Robinson treehouse, house to a household who had been shipwrecked on a abandoned island.
You can discover the varied rooms the place they lived and the ingenious strategies they created to outlive—like a bucket pulley system to convey water to the home.
We love exploring all the main points and having fun with the park views from the six-story-high summit.
14) Country Bear Jamboree
Our favorite break at Magic Kingdom is Country Bear Jamboree. And not only for the air-con—this 10-minute musical present is so enjoyable!
An array of animatronic bears carry out foot-stomping nation songs which might be hilariously racy (“the guys that turn me on, turn me down”) and surprisingly darkish in locations.
It’s a straightforward crowd-pleaser for all ages.
15) The Hall of Presidents
The Hall of Presidents makes a good higher break because the present is 20 minutes lengthy, the theatre seats are comfortable, and naturally, there’s air conditioning.
This is extra severe than most Disney exhibits with an fascinating look again by the US presidents with every represented by life-size animatronics.
The ready space has an exhibition of presidential portraits and memorabilia.
Definitely one for patriots, however as foreigners we get pleasure from it too.
16) Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Mickey’s PhilharMagic is one other air conditioned present that’s ideally suited for the afternoons.
Donald Duck stars on this zany 3D musical present on an enormous display that options basic Disney songs like “Be Our Guest” and “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King”.
If you’re visiting with youngsters, this could take precedence over the exhibits above, but it surely’s enjoyable for all.
17) Liberty Square Riverboat
For a calming experience round Tom Sawyer Island, hop aboard the Liberty Square Riverboat, a steam-powered paddle wheeler.
On the 17-minute journey you may get pleasure from distinctive views of rides like Thunder Mountain in addition to sights you may’t see another means.
This is one other one which’s nice at sundown however you may experience at any time of day once you want a change of tempo.
18) Walt Disney World Railroad
The Walt Disney World Railroad is the one Magic Kingdom attraction that can be utilized as transport across the park as there are three stops (Main Street, Fantasyland, and Frontierland) the place you may get on and off.
We not often use it like this, although—we choose to get pleasure from the entire 20-minute loop across the park. As properly as an pleasant break, the classic narrow-gauge steam practice provides you an fascinating perspective on the park.
Lines can often be lengthy, so wait till they go right down to experience.
19) Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
The Tiki Room appears like basic Disney and makes an excellent break from the warmth.
The full of life present options animatronic birds dangling from the ceiling singing the horribly catchy tune “The Tiki Tiki Tiki Room”.
20) Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
The Carousel of Progress is a sort of hokey transferring present. Your theatre seating strikes to varied scenes of an American household all through the twentieth century displaying how their houses and devices change through the years.
It’s a wonderful break as you by no means have to attend lengthy, it’s 20 minutes lengthy, and the theatre is snug and funky.
Walt Disney himself conceived the present for New York World’s Fair in 1964-65.
Other Top Things to Do at Magic Kingdom
Take a Photo at Cinderella Castle
There’s no extra iconic picture of Disney than Cinderella Castle. You’ll see it as quickly as you arrive within the park and stroll down Main Street in direction of it.
When the park first opens, particularly in Early Entry, is the most effective time to take a selfie with out the crowds.
Admire the Fireworks
The basic approach to finish a day at Magic Kingdom is watching the fireworks.
Happily Ever After is the present night present and options fireworks, lasers, Disney songs, and projections that rework the citadel and Main Street.
It lasts 18 minutes and also you’ll need to safe a great place early for the right view in entrance of Cinderella Castle. Check the My Disney Experience app for present instances.
Snack on Tasty Treats
Dole Whip is probably the most well-known Magic Kingdom snack and excellent for a sizzling afternoon. You’ll discover this pineapple smooth serve ice cream on the Aloha Isle stand in Adventureland.
Our favorite candy deal with is a Binx Pastry Tail on the Cheshire Cafe kiosk in Fantasyland. This lengthy flaky pastry is drizzled with chocolate sauce and adorned with a white chocolate button Binx. It’s each cute and scrumptious.
Sadly, it’s solely obtainable throughout Halloween season, however the remainder of the 12 months you may get a Cheshire Cat Tail, which is analogous however lacks the button.
We’re additionally a fan of a Mickey cupcake from the old style sweet retailer, Main Street Confectionery.
Eat at Skipper Canteen
The most tough advance eating reservations to get at Magic Kingdom are Be Our Guest (in Beast’s Castle) and Cinderella’s Royal Table (in Cinderella Castle). To safe a desk you’ll doubtless must e book 60 days prematurely, and the set menus are expensive.
If you need a desk service meal that doesn’t require such advance planning, we suggest Skipper Canteen.
This Jungle Cruise themed restaurant has enjoyable decor, joking servers, and an fascinating menu that comes with flavours from around the globe.
The vegetarian choices listed below are above common for Magic Kingdom, and we particularly loved the spicy Skipper Dan’s Dan Dan Noodles (which could be made with tofu as a substitute of pork). The veggie curry can also be tasty.
For a extra informal, quick-service meal, we just like the veggie rice bowl at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and plant-based sizzling canine at Casey’s Corner (sit outdoors for a citadel view and reside pianist).
Watch a Parade
Magic Kingdom often has a few parades every afternoon the place you may watch floats of Disney characters roam the park with music and dancers.
The present parade is Disney Festival of Fantasy celebrating the characters of Fantasyland together with a formidable fire-breathing Maleficient dragon. It begins in Frontierland and makes it means by Liberty Square to Main Street.
While some folks arrive at the very least half-hour prematurely for a great parade spot, we often simply catch it if we occur to stroll previous. For youngsters, that is extra of a must-do.
You also can look out for the shorter cavalcades that happen all through the day.
Meet the Characters
When I visited Magic Kingdom as a child, getting a signature from my favorite Disney characters was a key a part of the expertise.
As adults this isn’t one thing we need to spend time on, but when your youngsters (otherwise you) need to meet Ariel, Tiana, Belle, Cinderella, Mickey, Winnie the Pooh and extra, take a look at the character meet and greets within the app.
Wait instances at usually lengthy so that you would possibly need to use Genie+ for a few of these. Ariel sells out first adopted by Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater.
Wander and Enjoy the Atmosphere
For us, the spotlight of Magic Kingdom is the magical ambiance and noteworthy particulars in each themed land.
Make certain to permit time to wander and soak all of it in by day and evening. This is why it’s useful to spend two days at Magic Kingdom or at the very least someday and one night (you probably have a Park Hopper ticket).
Wandering is very enjoyable throughout seasonal occasions like Easter, Halloween, and Christmas when the park is adorned.
Take a Side Trip for a Cocktail at Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto
You can’t purchase alcohol at Magic Kingdom besides with a meal at desk service eating places. But the close by Polynesian Resort has probably the greatest bars at Disney World and is properly value a facet journey from Magic Kingdom.
You can get there by boat from the park, so it’s an pleasant journey, and it’s enjoyable to go searching probably the greatest Disney deluxe resorts.
Trader Sam’s is such a singular bar with its tiki decor, enjoyable servers, and themed cocktails, a few of which include shock outcomes! The finest one is Uh-Oa—a two-person fruity rum cocktail in a cool bowl.
It’s justifiably widespread so arrive early (it often opens at 3pm) and count on to attend (they may textual content so when your desk is prepared so you may discover the resort within the meantime). Advance reservations aren’t attainable. Children are allowed till 8pm.
Is Magic Kingdom Worth Visiting?
Of course, Magic Kingdom is probably the most iconic Disney park and properly value visiting! It presents one thing for folks of all ages from enjoyable curler coasters to mild darkish rides and loads of Disney nostalgia.
I like to recommend spending at the very least one full day at Magic Kingdom and ideally two if it’s your first time, you might have babies, and also you need to do all of it.
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