Whether it’s your first time or 100th time, there is nothing more magical than walking through the gates of the Magic Kingdom and seeing Cinderella’s Castle standing in front of you! (Here’s a sneak peak to get you excited!) In fact, even the journey from the car parks are magical. Choose the monorail which travels right through some of the Disney onsite hotels, or jump aboard the ferry across the Seven Seas Lagoon and watch as the iconic castle comes into view.
Disney’s Magic Kingdom is the most popular theme park in the world and in 2017, was host to over 20 million visitors (including us!)
Your Magic Kingdom experience begins along the shops and restaurants of Main Street, USA. The park then splits into 5 main areas which branch out from Cinderella’s Castle in the middle of the park: (in clockwise) ADVENTURELAND, FRONTIERLAND, LIBERTY SQUARE, FANTASYLAND and TOMORROWLAND. Each area of the park has very cleverly themed restaurants, shops, rides and experiences which make you feel like you are entering entirely different worlds.
I’m going to take you on a quick tour of the Magic Kingdom – watch out for our FastPass recommendations! (FastPass information can be found here)
Please Note: I have not included every single attraction that The Magic Kingdom has to offer.
…ADVENTURELAND…
Here, you can sail above the crowds on Aladdin’s Magic Carpet Ride, take a sail on a Jungle Cruise (soon to be made into a film starring Dwayne Johnston and Emily Blunt!) or join Jack Sparrow on a boat ride to Tortuga. Another feature of ADVENTURELAND is the Swiss Family Tree House, a walk through inspired by the Disney film. Finally, you can watch the colourful bird and plants come to life in the Enchanted Tiki Room.
…FRONTIERLAND…
This is where the Magic Kingdom’s more thrilling rides can be found in the form of Splash Mountain (which will be renamed and given a new theme) and Thunder Mountain. I would consider both of these rides as FastPass options for adults, older children or little thrill seekers. In FRONTIERLAND you can also join the Jamboree Bears for a sing-a-long…in all our years in Orlando, we’ve only been able to sit through this once, but hey, you might love it! (Especially if it’s a Florida thunderstorm outside…)
…LIBERTY SQUARE…
If American history interests you then LIBERTY SQUARE has a whole hall dedicated to the American Presidents throughout history, or, if you’re like us, then you’d rather take a ride on the Haunted Mansion…just make sure you watch out for those tricky ghosts at the very end! In LIBERTY SQUARE you will also find the riverboat attraction where you can explore the rivers over America.
Our favourite place in LIBERTY SQUARE has to be Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe which is filled with Christmas decorations and goodies! We never visit the Magic Kingdom without a trip here to mark the occasion.
…FANTASYLAND…
This is the Magic Kingdom’s busiest area and offers a whole host of exciting rides and shows for you to enjoy. Prince Charming’s Carousel sits in the middle, and who doesn’t love a carousel?! It is important to note here that this area also has the busiest rides and we would recommend using your FastPasses for Peter Pan’s Flight, “it’s a small world” or the Seven Dwarves Mine Train as these rides can have extremely long queues!
You just can’t go to the Magic Kingdom and not enjoy a cruise around “it’s a small world”! Sit back and enjoy the delightful little song that will have you humming along for the rest of your holiday…and probably months afterwards!
This is also a great area for Disney shows which will help you rest, relax and enjoy some much needed air conditioning! You can take a musical journey in Mickey’s PhilharMusic, take a dive under the sea with Ariel and friends or listen and get interactive with stories from Belle.
…TOMORROWLAND…
The final area in the Magic Kingdom is TOMORROWLAND. Walt Disney was obsessed with what the future might look like and wanted to dedicate an area to his ideas. In this area you will find one of the classic Disney coasters, Space mountain. This would be another suggestion for a FastPass if you like rollercoasters as this queue can get quite busy. In Tomorrowland you will also get to battle alongside Buzz Lightyear in an interactive ride, as well as race on the Tomorrowland Speedway.
A classic Disney experience that you CANNOT miss in Tomorrowland is The Carousel of Progress…you’ll thank me! (Well, it will keep you dry in the Florida thunderstorms at least!)
EXPERIENCES
Want to add some extra magic to your visit? The Magic Kingdom has a range of additional experiences to choose from if you so desire. From princesses to desserts, there are add ons for everyone!
Please Note: Some of these experiences are currently unavailable due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique: One of the most well known extras that The Magic Kingdom has to offer is the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique Experience for children between the ages of 3 and 12. Here, your little prince or princess can be treated to a makeover by some of Disney’s Fairy Godmothers-in-Training. Packages start at $75 for girls and $20 for boys and include a whole host of makeover features to choose from. Samples of the various packages available can be found here: Bibbidi Bobiddi Boutique
- Ferrytale Dessert and Fireworks Cruise: Disney’s firework shows are mesmerising on their own but for a truly unforgettable experience guests can book onto one of Disney’s iconic ferries to view the show. On board, you can enjoy entertainment, sweet treats and specialty drinks before you settle down to watch the fireworks with your very own Mickey Vision glasses which make your experience special and unique. The cruise costs $99 for adults and $69 for children aged between 3 and 9. For more information, click on the following link: Ferrytale Dessert and Fireworks Cruise
- Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage: Join Captain Hook and See on a voyage of the Seven Seas Lagoon complete with snacks, drinks, songs and lots of family fun. Your voyage pauses to view the fireworks show and Cinderella Castle lights display (or seasonal events). You will also have an up close view of the Electrical Water Pageant where barges cross the lagoon lit up with wonderful animals. You then sail back to the resort while listening to pirate tales where a special guest waits for your arrival. This family fun experience costs $84 per adult and $50 per child (aged between 3 and 9). Follow this link for more information: Pirates and Pals Fireworks Voyage
- Harmony Barber Shop: It’s not just kiddies that can enjoy a makeover, adults can too with a visit to the Harmony Barber Shop on Main Street, USA. The Harmony Barber Shop offers children’s haircuts starting at $18, first haircuts with commemorative Mickey Ears from $25 and adult haircuts from $19. Extra information can be found here: Harmony Barber Shop
- Tours: Depending on what you want to see, The Magic Kingdom offers a number of Behind the Scenes tours for all of the family. The various tours can be found on Disney’s website: Magic Kingdom Tours
- Disney also have special events throughout the year to coincide with seasons and holidays such as Halloween, Christmas and summer, and spring. Make sure you check what’s on before you go!
PARADES
Not only does the Magic Kingdom have attractions for all the family, there is a parade which travels the parks at set times during the day. The streets are marked off with rope and the sidewalks start getting busy as far as an hour in advance of the parades so make sure you get a good spot! I would suggest that you watch the parade at the start of your holiday as the ride queues can be slightly quieter while the parades are on. This means that once you have seen it, you can enjoy slightly less wait times for the rest of your visit.
NIGHTTIME SHOW AND FIREWORKS
The Happily Ever After fireworks show is a must see! With lights, projections, music and fireworks this show is simply magical! Again, the area in front of the castle starts getting busy as far as an hour before the show starts and if you don’t manage to get a spot with views of the castle then you will be disappointed!
Before you know it, your day at the “happiest place on Earth” is over and you are dragging your weary body back to your hotel or villa to rest before your next adventure! But, trust me, it is so worth it!
Simply Orlando 