Top 8 Pro Tips For Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

If you’re planning your first trip to the Magic Kingdom, or even your second trip, the sheer amount of things to do can be a little overwhelming. To help you out, here is our list of top 8 pro tips for Disney’s Magic Kingdom.

8. Don’t Try To Do It All

Although Magic Kingdom is small in comparison to other parks like Animal Kingdom, it is not easily conquered in one visit. Between the restaurants, shows, attractions and the lands to explore, your list of things to do and see is likely a long one. Do yourself a favor and don’t try to do it all. If you can, go to Magic Kingdom more than once during your stay. Save sections of the park for another day so you can fully immerse yourself in just a couple areas each day. Magic Kingdom really is the most magical place on earth so take the time to enjoy all the details and get the most out of each experience.

7. Wait in Line

Definitely make FastPass+ reservations, especially for the must-do attractions on your list, but it’s also worth waiting in line sometimes. There are so many attractions and rides at Magic Kingdom it would be a shame to miss out on them simply because there might be a bit of a wait. With the My Disney Experience app it’s easy to keep an eye on the wait times and make good choices for the time you have. Disney has also done a superb job when it comes to designing the queues. They are immersive and the storytelling begins at the standby entrance. So get in line and play with Peter’s shadow or play the instruments in the queue at the Haunted Mansion. Be smart about it and set a maximum standby wait time for yourself, you don’t want to spend your whole day waiting in lines, but it is okay to wait a little because the attractions are worth it!

6. Dine Off-Peak Times & Mobile Order

Quick-service locations tend to be busiest at 12:30pm for lunch and around 6:30pm for dinner. It’s a good idea to avoid dining at quick-service restaurants around this time. If you eat a little later, or earlier, you won’t wait as long in line, and you won’t have difficulty finding a nice spot to eat. If you’ve ever been to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café at lunch, you’ll know what I mean when I say it’s difficult to find a seat. Ride attractions during peak dining times when the lines might be a little shorter and then eat once the crowds have thinned out a bit. Don’t forget to take advantage of Mobile Ordering on your My Disney Experience App, available at numerous Quick-service locations throughout Magic Kingdom.

5. Use Magic Kingdom Transportation

There are a few attractions that are also modes of transportation. The Walt Disney World Railroad is a classic attraction that can get you from point A to point B, or be a relaxing 20-minute ride around the park. You’ll also get an entirely different point of view of other attractions like Big Thunder Mountain. The Railroad was a passion of Walt Disney’s, so if you’re a fan of the man himself, you must jump aboard this train.

The Liberty Belle is another great form of transportation that will take you past the Haunted Mansion and Tom Sawyer Island. If you need to give your feet a break, hop on the Peoplemover and glide over Tomorrowland. You’ll get to see an early model of Progress City, which was integral in creating the concept of Epcot.

4. Make a Breakfast Reservation

A great way to start your day in the park and beat some of the crowds is with a breakfast reservation. Both the Crystal Palace and Be Our Guest open at 8am for breakfast. The attractions don’t open until the park officially opens, but it’s still a great feeling to start your day off early with breakfast in the Magic Kingdom.

3. Visit Tom Sawyer Island

Tom Sawyer Island is an attraction many guests skip but it’s worth venturing to for a number of reasons. The island is full of shady trees, which makes it a smart destination mid-day when the sun is hottest. There is also a great deal of exploring to do on this island and you can do so at your own pace. There is Harper’s Mill, Potter’s Mill, caves to explore, Fort Langhorn and even a floating barrel bridge. Tom Sawyer Island is another classic attraction that can be a place for kids to run around or to take a break and recharge.

2. Make FastPass+ Reservations

Magic Kingdom has the most ride attractions at Disney World and many of them can have quite lengthy standby wait times. Peter Pan’s Flight and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train often have wait times of over an hour and you have better things to do than spend that kind of time waiting in line for one attraction. The best way to avoid these long wait times is to make your FastPass+ reservations. It’s also advisable to try to make your reservations for later in the day, as opposed to in the morning when the line-ups will be shorter. This might also make it possible to ride some attractions more than once without much time spent waiting in line.

1. See the Welcome Show

“Let The Magic Begin” at Magic Kingdom will fill you with warm feelings of anticipation and nostalgia, with a sprinkling of pixie dust on top of it all. In order to catch this show, arrive about 30 minutes prior to rope drop. Mickey and other Disney characters get you ready for the park opening in front of Cinderella Castle. There just isn’t a better way to start your day off at Magic Kingdom than by being welcomed by Mickey Mouse himself!