The Magic Kingdom is the nostalgic and essential Disney theme park which shouldn’t be missed. If you can only fit one of the Disney parks into your schedule, it really should be this one.
On-site guests can arrive by bus, monorail or boat – all of which drop you right in front of the main entrance. If you bring your own car, there are regular buses from the car park (which, I was told, is the size of the Californian based theme park!)
As well as stroller hire, the main entrance houses the Walt Disney World Railroad and if you are intending to visit “Frontierland” first, it is worth jumping on the steam train here.
Walking through the main entrance will take you onto “Main Street USA” which is lined with souvenir shops and small eateries. Ahead you will see Cinderella’s fairytale castle and there are walkways from the square to each of the different “lands” – Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown Fair and Tomorrowland.
When we visited the most popular attractions (which attracted the largest queues and which are worth “fast-passing” if you can) appeared as follows:
In Adventureland:
“Jungle Cruise”
“Pirates of the Caribbean” (due to the length and popularity of this fairly new experience, queues developed quickly here and during the afternoon we found visitors waiting up to 1.5 hours)
In Frontierland:
“Splash Mountain”
“Big Thunder Mountain Railroad” (as one of the bigger thrill rides in the park, this is a popular choice)
In Fantasyland:
“Peter Pan’s Flight”
In Tomorrowland:
“Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin” (this is extremely popular and although queues may look long, this is a fairly fast loading attraction)
“Space Mountain” (as one of the bigger thrill rides in the park, this is again a popular choice but some youngsters may dislike the time spent in the dark)
“Indy Speedway” (due to the time it takes to load people in and out of their cars, queues develop quickly here and wait times of 45 minutes were not uncommon when we visited)
In Liberty Square:
“The Haunted Mansion” (recently remodelled and proving popular with visitors)
If you are travelling with very small children, you’ll probably find more of interest in Mickey’s Toontown Fair and Fantasyland where there are smaller rollercoasters (“Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm”), play areas (“Donald’s Boat” and “Pooh’s Playful Spot”) and gentle rides (“It’s a Small World”, “Dumbo the Flying Elephant”) as well as the “Dream along with Mickey” show and storytime with Belle in the “Fairytale Garden”. “Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin” in Tomorrowland is popular with children and parents alike (I loved this and, have to say, got rather good at it!). The “Jungle Cruise” in Adventureland is also fairly gentle fun for most age groups.
Our children also enjoyed the “Monsters’ Inc Laugh Floor” - children can text their own jokes for inclusion into the show but, remember, this is an interactive experience so be prepared to get involved!
There are regular character greetings at designated spots around the park with favourites such as Snow White, Cinderella and Toy Story’s cowboy Woody. Visitors can queue to have their photo taken or get an autograph – the queues tend to get longer as passers-by begin to realise who is present.
You can wave to your favourite Classic Disney characters in the “Dreams Come True Parade” every afternoon and enjoy the evening fireworks and parades – “Wishes” extravaganza and “SpectroMagic”.
The times of shows and parades vary by season – pick up the latest timetable at the park entrance - but, whenever you visit, rest assured there is a regular afternoon parade and evening firework show on a daily basis.
There are plenty of dining options available throughout the park. Grab a quick breakfast pastry and coffee on your way in at the Main Street Bakery on Main Street USA. Enjoy a character dining experience (breakfast and lunch) at Cinderella’s Royal Table – this is a popular choice and you are best booking ahead. Alternatively enjoy a buffet lunch at the Crystal Palace with Winnie the Pooh and friends or a hearty meal at the Liberty Tree Tavern.
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