A Day at Disney Magic Kingdom
Next up on our Amusement Park Tour was Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. We visited Disney Magic Kingdom back in December 2015 and have been itching to go back ever since. Nisheet still has the magical memory of riding Dumbo at night with his dad and feeling like a kid again. And, then there is the memory of going on Splash Mountain and wondering if Nisheet’s parents would be able to handle it, but they came out of the ride smiling ear to ear. Magic Kingdom is THE most popular of all the Disney World Parks, and that’s not just because it has Cinderella’s castle but because it is jam-packed with shows and rides. There are 4 lands inside the park all providing different environments, rides, and shows. Just like December 2015, we opened and closed the place by staying at the park for almost 14 hours!
Crowded Day Tips
The whole month of May proceeding the Memorial Day weekend is a great time to go. The weather is still bearable and the crowds are on the lighter side. However, Magic Kingdom is the most visited of all 4 parks so you’re bound to find this park crowded at all times. If you find yourself at Magic Kingdom on a crowded day, here are some tips:
- Get to the Magic Kingdom early! Preferably be parked 30 minutes before the park gates open. This is because you can’t just walk to the park after parking. You need to either take a ferry boat or the monorail. We prefer taking the ferry in the morning as seeing the castle appear slowly in front of you while being on a boat is an extra special feeling!
- Book your fast passes early. Like a week early. Typically, the rides with the longest wait times are at the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Railroad, Haunted Mansion, and Buzz Lightyear…did we not say that Magic Kingdom has the most attractions!?! Pick 3 of these rides (that’s the maximum number of fast passes you can book) and go to the others first thing in the morning before the lines become unbearably long. Also, book your fast passes for the afternoon if possible. That’s when all the lines are the longest.
- Get to the Fireworks show early. You want to be at our favorite spot (more on that below) about 30 minutes early. You don’t want to have a bad view of the best fireworks show that Disney has to offer. If you are worried about wasting your time waiting around, bring your dinner or a snack to your seat and eat while waiting.
General Tips:
Other tips not related to crowds:
- The professional photographers scattered throughout Magic Kingdom will take pictures of you with your personal camera. Be it a DSLR, point-and-shoot, or your smartphone… just ask. Usually, they are in the prime locations and know the best angles for the shot. They do this every day for hours on end, so take advantage of it!
- If you are going to a 3D show, do NOT be the first to enter the theater. The first ones in each row have to walk all the way down to the end. You want to be in the middle of the crowd as you enter the theater so you end up in the middle of the row and have the best view.
- All of the rides at Magic Kingdom (as of April 2017) allow you to have a bag with you. So, feel free to bring a backpack with water, sunscreen, and any other necessities you need during the day. Just don’t bring too much because you’ll be carrying it around all day!
- Wear the most comfortable pair of shoes you own. Magic Kingdom typically has the longest hours of the 3 parks so you’ll be walking and standing a LOT.
- Make sure you stop and look around once in a while. It is easy to get carried away running around and checking the box off your attractions checklist. Disney puts a lot of thought behind every lamp post, sign, and architecture. So, as the old saying goes, make sure you stop to smell the roses.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (10/10)
We started our day with the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. We tried to get fast passes a couple weeks prior, and they were already gone. Since this was our #1 priority, we made sure to hit it up first. And, it is a good thing we did because the wait was already over 40 minutes first thing in the morning! It was definitely worth the wait though and one of our favorite attractions of the day.
The mine train is a roller coaster ride that simulates the seven dwarfs (from the Snow White fame) going into a mine to collect diamonds and rubies. In the middle of the ride, you get to be high above Fantasyland and see the whole park for a brief moment. The coolest thing about this coaster is that your cart freely swings left and right while the coaster moves forward.
Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid (7/10)
Ashley’s favorite childhood (and current) Disney character is the Little Mermaid. She’s obsessed with Ariel and Sebastian. Nisheet is a fan of Sebastian and his singing skills but doesn’t like the whole story of Ariel ditching her mermaid family just to have legs on land. But, enough about that. Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid is a gentle ride where you sit inside a clamshell and basically go thru a condensed version of the movie. You’ll see Sebastian leading all the undersea creatures as part of his “under the sea” song. Then you’ll come across the mean sea-witch Ursula appear in all her thunderous glory. It’s a nice ride which the true fans are sure to enjoy! As a bonus, this ride generally doesn’t have as long of lines as the others.
Mickey’s Philharmagic (8/10)
This is one of Nisheet’s absolute favorite shows at Disney. It’s a 4-D show where you see a 3-D movie complete with water being spit on your face. It revolves around Donald Duck trying to conduct an orchestra by using Mickey’s wand and basically keeps losing the wand. Donald gets transported from Lion King, to Aladin, to The Little Mermaid, to Beauty and the Beast, all while managing to keep losing the wand. The show will bring back all the happy feelings that you used to get as a kid while watching your favorite Disney movies. Make sure to turn around and look at the back of the theater at the very end of the show!
“it’s a small world” (7/10)
Right across from Mickey’s Philharmagic is “it’s a small world,” so that is where we headed next. Plus, the wait was only 15 minutes. Yay! For those that have ever wanted to go to Magic Kingdom or for those that have already been, you know that just thinking of this ride will have the “it’s a small world after all” song stuck in your head. No trip is really complete without doing the most classic of Disney rides. It’ll put a smile on your face and make you appreciate all the little details that Disney works so hard on.
Lunch at The Friar’s Nook – eat at Pinocchio Village Haus
It was a little on the early side for lunch, but we had just enough time to squeeze in some food before our fast passes started, so we went in search of one of the best-kept secrets at Magic Kingdom. Sitting on the balcony of Pinocchio Village Haus. Instead of going inside like everyone else, walk up the stairs on the right side and pick a table on the balcony. The view of the castle is awesome, and you get to watch all the hustle and bustle below. We ordered the pulled pork Mac & Cheese at The Friar’s Nook and brought it over here to enjoy. The Mac & Cheese was delicious and the setting provided a good escape from the crowds.
Space Mountain (7/10)
In hindsight, I’m not sure if it is the wisest decision to eat lunch and then head straight to Space Mountain, but that is what we did. This was our first fast pass of the day and it saved us from waiting in line over an hour. It is one of the oldest rides at Magic Kingdom and opened way back in 1975! The ride is nice but feels a little dated and unexciting. You ride a roller coaster in the dark to simulate riding in space. I really wish they had added other planets, moons, or spaceships so you could see something while sitting in the dark. Ashley thoroughly enjoyed this ride though, so perhaps your opinion will be different than Nisheet’s. But then again, Ashley likes all roller coasters…
Tip: Make sure you get a FastPass for Space Mountain as the wait time is rarely less than 60 minutes.
Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party (5/10)
After Space Mountain, we had another fast pass lined up for Splash Mountain. What’s better than a water ride in the hot Florida afternoon? Along the way, we ran into the Move It! Shake It! Dance & Play It! Street Party. This is a street dance party (obviously) held in front of the castle consisting of various floats and a DJ trying to get your butt moving. Although fun to watch, we wouldn’t list it as a must-do but more of a watch-as-you-walk-past kind of a thing.
Sunshine Tree Terrace – Citrus Swirl
Still on our way to Splash Mountain, we came across the Sunshine Tree Terrace. If you have been to any of Disney’s parks, you have probably tried the pineapple flavored Dole Whip. The only thing that can rival Dole Whip is the Citrus Swirl that is only sold at the Sunshine Tree Terrace in Magic Kingdom. Unlike the sweeter tasting Dole Whip, the Citrus Swirl is more tart having a distinct flavor of…you guessed it…orange juice! We’re glad that we tried it but I think we can unanimously say that Dole Whip beats out the Citrus Swirl.
Swiss Family Treehouse (6/10)
We didn’t make it much past the Sunshine Tree Terrace before we got side tracked again! (Good thing you have an hour window to use your fast pass!) If you’re looking to take a break from the usual shows and rides at Disney, we highly suggest that you check out the Swiss Family Treehouse. This walk-through attraction is based on the movie The Swiss Family Robinson that neither of us has seen. You walk up the stairs and into the various “rooms” that are supposedly modeled after the movie. It’s a fun break from the rest of the attractions and makes you appreciate the details that are put in. It was neat during the day, but I think it would be cooler at night.
Splash Mountain?
And then we finally made it to Splash Mountain! Just kidding! Sadly we never got to go on that ride, because as we were finally making our way there I realized our fast pass had been canceled and the ride was closed. Bummer! But, it wasn’t a complete loss. Our fast pass became a general fast pass that we could use at any (one) ride at any time of our choosing.
The Muppets Present… Great Moments in American History (8/10)
Since we were in the general area, we figured we might as well check out the Muppets Show. As you all know by now, Nisheet loves the Muppets but Ashley hates them. Therefore, this review is a little biased. Nisheet found this short 15 minute show to be hilarious and filled with all the foolery that Muppets are known for. Mrs Piggy, Kermit, Gonzo, and the gang attempt at a history lesson on how America got its Independence from Great Britain. The show is filled with wise-cracking jokes and puns that are uniquely Muppets. Ashley used this time to cool off and rest in the shade. Win-win, right?
Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire (8/10)
Then it was on to another show! The first time we went to Magic Kingdom, we didn’t get a chance to see any of the live shows. So, attending the Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire was one of our top priorities and we got here extra early to score the front standing row. (Which really, you don’t need to get here very early to do.) The show has all your classic characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofie, and some special ones like Elsa, Anna, Olaf, and the whole cast from Tangled. The show lasts for about 20 minutes and includes a lot of singing and dancing. This show left us smiling, so definitely try to make it if you can fit it in your itinerary.
Aloha Isle – Dole Whip Float
We had tried the regular Dole Whip. We tried the Citrus Swirl. Now it was time to try the Dole Whip Float. The float is essentially Dole Whip with pineapple juice at the bottom. What makes this combination absolutely delicious is once you get to the bottom and can mix the soft serve and the pineapple juice on your spoon. The sweetness of the soft serve along with the liquid goodness of the juice is just a match made in heaven! Make sure you split one with somebody as it’s a quite a lot of sugar for one person to have.
Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade (9/10)
The best place to enjoy your Dole Whip Float is while watching (or waiting for) the parade. It can be quite hot, and there is limited shade along the parade route, so you will definitely want something to help you cool! Also, be sure to grab your spot early as it super popular. This is the main big parade at Magic Kingdom that you don’t wanna miss. The parade pays tribute to movies like Tangled, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, and Brave. One of the coolest floats is that from Tangled that features swinging swords and hammers as the cast rides them and move from one end to the other.
Tip: If you bring your nice DSLR camera then you’ll notice that the Disney cast looks at you more for some great shots!
Country Bear Jamboree (7/10)
After watching the parade in the hot sun, all we could think about was cooling off indoors. And lucky for us we were sitting right next to the Country Bear Jamboree and the next show was about to start! This show includes fully animatronics bears that talk and sing like country folks. It’s really entertaining watching a group of bears dressed like they’re from deep south playing homemade instruments. There are some catchy tunes and funny jokes scattered throughout the show.
Haunted Mansion (8/10)
Next up was the Haunted Mansion. A FastPass is highly recommended for Haunted Mansion as the lines are always long at this popular ride (We used our Splash Mountain fast pass for this ride). However, if you have already used all your FastPasses, then the line to the ride is kind of fun. You walk past several graves with funny headstones such as “Here Lies Good Old Fred. A Great Big Rock Fell On His Head.” The ride takes you on a journey through a mansion full of ghosts coming out of everywhere. Some of the special effects are pretty cool like a candelabra floating in the middle of a room. It definitely isn’t a spooky or thrilling ride. Just fun and relaxing.
Gaston’s Tavern
We had recently watched the new live-action Beauty and the Beast and loved the song that takes place inside Gaston’s Tavern so we had to just check it out at Disney. The food is just ok but the thing to get here is LeFou’s Brew, named after Gaston’s sidekick. The drink is cold and refreshing and tastes like apple juice with hints of marshmallows. It is super sweet so make sure you have somebody to share it with. And maybe consider skipping it if you have already had 2 super sweet treats already…
Tip: Sit in the room to the right of where you order. This room has a replica of the fireplace in the movie and tons of animal heads and antlers adorn the walls and chandeliers.
Peter Pan’s Flight (3/10)
Last time we were at Magic Kingdom, we couldn’t go on Peter Pan’s Flight because we didn’t have a FastPass and the wait was over 90 minutes long. The wait was over 75 minutes long this time but good thing we were prepared and had a FastPasses. The ride, however, turned out to be a disappointment. You basically sit in a ship and fly over London and see some animatronics of Peter Pan fighting Captain Hook. Perhaps if we had seen the movie beforehand then the ride would have been fun but alas thought it was terribly boring. Thank goodness we didn’t have to wait in line!
Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover (9/10)
We didn’t have a solid plan after Peter Pan’s Flight and found ourselves just wandering around. It isn’t what you want to do if you are trying to maximize your time at attractions, but I still recommend taking your time and walking around because Magic Kingdom is awesome for people watching. Anyways, we noticed this train like thing going around above us and since there was virtually no wait we decided to check it out. It was the People Mover and surprisingly turned out to be a lot of fun and a change from the usual. The ride takes you around the Tomorrowland part of the park. You get to go through the top level of Space Mountain and see the folks zipping around in the dark. There are some nice views of the Sleeping Beauty castle too. A nice and relaxing ride!
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress (9/10)
Since it was nearby, we headed to the Carousel of Progress, one of the oldest rides at Magic Kingdom. The exact Carousel was featured at the 1964 New York World’s Fair before moving to Disneyland and then finally to Magic Kingdom in 1975. What’s special about this particular ride is it is the only attraction at Disney World that was personally touched by Disney himself! You sit and watch an animatronics family discuss their lifestyle starting in the 1900s. Then the whole seating area rotates to the next set where the same family is shown living in the 1920s. Act 3 and 4 show the family living in the 1940s and the 21st century respectively. Although the ride definitely looks outdated (as it should), it just feels very special to witness something this old in perfectly working order and appreciate the work that Walt Disney himself put in to create.
Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor (7/10)
If you’re in the mood of some good laughter and comedy then checkout Monster’s Inc laugh Floor. The show features a 400 seat auditorium where the task of the monsters are to fill the big yellow laugh meter by making people…wait for it…laugh! What makes this show unique is the level of guest interaction that it provides. There are cameras everywhere that pick random people and make them say or do stuff that’ll sure to make you laugh. And, there are live voice actors in the backstage making every show different from the last.
Pirates of the Caribbean (7/10)
We had a little bit of time before the fireworks show and somehow we were able to snag a last minute fast pass to Pirates of the Carribbean, so that is were we headed next. You can’t really complete your visit to the Magic Kingdom without doing the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Chances are that you have probably heard your family/friends talk about this popular ride. You sit in a boat and go through various scenes depicting the life of pirates. You go amidst pirate ships firing cannonballs at each other. Then you’re in a village full of pirates doing their pirate-ey shenanigans. The ride ends with Jack Sparrow sitting on a mountain of booty. If you are lucky enough, the real Jack Sparrow might be there! (He was at Disneyland several weeks ago.)
Tip: After you use all 3 of your fast passes for the day, you can get fast passes for more rides, one at a time.
Wishes Nighttime Spectacular (ends May 1, 2017) (10/10)
You absolutely cannot go to Magic Kingdom and not watch the firework show. We caught one of the very last showings of Wishes Nighttime Spectacular full of music, lights on the castle, and fireworks. For the best viewing, especially for those who might be slightly height challenged (me), head to the bridge in front of the castle. Like everything else, get there early to claim your spot. It is slightly raised here, so you will be able to see above everyone else and have awesome views of the beautifully lit castle with bursting colors behind it.
Once Upon a Time (9/10)
After the fireworks show is another show called Once Upon a Time. It isn’t nearly as crowded, so you’ll be able to move around and find a good spot. There are some fireworks scattered throughout the show, but it is main just projections of your favorite Disney characters on the castle. It is truly a magical way to end your day at Disney.
