The Magic Kingdom (MK) was the first of the Disney World parks to open in 1971. While not the largest of the Disney Parks, it does give you the most ‘bang for the buck’. As such, it’s important to be able to know your way around, and know what’s important (and what’s not). This will be a long post, but take the time to read it (because I took the time to write it)...
The MK consists of 7 themed ‘lands’. Cinderella Castle is at the central hub of the park, so if you get lost, just try to find the castle and start over again. Refer to this map for the rest of the post-
The MK consists of 7 themed ‘lands’. Cinderella Castle is at the central hub of the park, so if you get lost, just try to find the castle and start over again. Refer to this map for the rest of the post-
As you enter the MK, you are on Main St. USA, designed after Walt Disney’s childhood home in Marceline Missouri. To the left is City Hall. IMPORTANT- THIS IS WHERE WE WILL MEET AT THE END OF THE DAY (AND FOR ANY ATTENDANCE CHECKS).
Across from the Main St. USA Square is the Town Square Theater... Character photos with Mickey and Minnie and Tink can be found here. Next door is Tony’s Italian Restaurant (Lady and the Tramp).
While we’re talking about photos... WDW has an add-on called Memory Maker, which can be linked to your MagicBand. (We'll talk about MagicBands at a later time). You pre-purchase it (it is not included in the spring tour cost) and scan your MagicBand whenever your picture is taken by the Disney Photographers at any of the parks. When you get home, you’ll be able to log on to your MyDisneyExperience account (which you should make soon) and download your pictures.
While we’re talking about photos... WDW has an add-on called Memory Maker, which can be linked to your MagicBand. (We'll talk about MagicBands at a later time). You pre-purchase it (it is not included in the spring tour cost) and scan your MagicBand whenever your picture is taken by the Disney Photographers at any of the parks. When you get home, you’ll be able to log on to your MyDisneyExperience account (which you should make soon) and download your pictures.
Walking down Main St. USA, are stores and shops. Pay attention to the windows on the 2nd and 3rd floors; they are tributes to the Imagineers who have reached the highest level at Disney. The highest honor you can get is to get a window on Main St. BTW- For those of you interested in set design, Main St. USA is built in ‘forced perspective’. The windows on the upper floors are smaller, to give the appearance of being higher up. Also, the street looks farther away as you face the castle (to keep the excitement), but as you face the other way (leaving at the end of the night when your tired and ready to leave), the exits look closer.
At the end of Main St., to the right, is my favorite ice cream shop. I love the sundaes! Right next door is one of my favorite sit-down restaurants: The Plaza Restaurant.
At the end of Main St., to the right, is my favorite ice cream shop. I love the sundaes! Right next door is one of my favorite sit-down restaurants: The Plaza Restaurant.
Going to the left (towards Frontierland) is a very popular restaurant; The Crystal Palace. It is a character buffet with Pooh and his friends.
IMPORTANT- RIGHT NEXT TO THE CRYSTAL PALACE IS THE FIRST AID STATION FOR THIS PARK.
Here are some of the better attractions in the various lands (refer to the map)-
Adventureland:
Adventureland:
-Pirates of the Caribbean (PRO-TIP: If there’s a long line, at some point, the line splits, and you have to choose the left or the right. GO TO THE LEFT. A study showed that people instinctively go to the right when a line splits, so the left line may be shorter.)
-The Tiki Room
-The Jungle Cruise
Frontierland:
-The Tiki Room
-The Jungle Cruise
Frontierland:
-Splash Mountain
-Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (for any of you that don’t do roller coasters, come see me about this ride, because I don’t do wild rides at all, but this is the only roller coaster I do).
Liberty Square:
-Hall of Presidents (unless you’re really into Presidents, you’ll want to skip this one)
-The Haunted Mansion (I can never understand why this is in Liberty Square, but I don’t know where else I’d put it).
-Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (for any of you that don’t do roller coasters, come see me about this ride, because I don’t do wild rides at all, but this is the only roller coaster I do).
Liberty Square:
-Hall of Presidents (unless you’re really into Presidents, you’ll want to skip this one)
-The Haunted Mansion (I can never understand why this is in Liberty Square, but I don’t know where else I’d put it).
On the complete opposite side of the MK...
Tomorrowland:
-Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
-Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
-Stitch’s Great Escape (TRUST ME- SKIP THIS)
-Carousel of Progress (a nice break with an audioanimatronic american family... I love this)
-PeopleMover (a SLOW-moving ride around Tomorrowland)
-Space Mountain
-Tomorrowland Speedway (sooooo not worth the line, unless you’re 8 years old, of course)
Tomorrowland:
-Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
-Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
-Stitch’s Great Escape (TRUST ME- SKIP THIS)
-Carousel of Progress (a nice break with an audioanimatronic american family... I love this)
-PeopleMover (a SLOW-moving ride around Tomorrowland)
-Space Mountain
-Tomorrowland Speedway (sooooo not worth the line, unless you’re 8 years old, of course)
(BTW- One of my favorite quick-service food places is here: Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe)
And, behind the castle...
Fantasyland:
And, behind the castle...
Fantasyland:
-Winnie the Pooh
-Peter Pan’s Flight
-Mad Tea Party
-Mickey’s Philharmagic (a 3D journey thru the music of Disney films; just TRY not to tear up)
-It’s a Small World
And finally, with the New Fantasyland Expansion that recently opened up...
-Storybook Circus with the dueling Dumbo rides
-Prince Eric’s Castle with The Little Mermaid Attraction
-The Seven Dwarves Mine Train
-Beast’s Castle with Belle’s Storybook Adventures, The Be Our Guest Restaurant, and Gaston’s Tavern.
-Peter Pan’s Flight
-Mad Tea Party
-Mickey’s Philharmagic (a 3D journey thru the music of Disney films; just TRY not to tear up)
-It’s a Small World
And finally, with the New Fantasyland Expansion that recently opened up...
-Storybook Circus with the dueling Dumbo rides
-Prince Eric’s Castle with The Little Mermaid Attraction
-The Seven Dwarves Mine Train
-Beast’s Castle with Belle’s Storybook Adventures, The Be Our Guest Restaurant, and Gaston’s Tavern.
The night ends with 3 wonderful displays:
-The Main St. Electrical Parade
-The Main St. Electrical Parade
-Celebrate the Magic (is an amazing high-tech projection show ON CINDERELLA CASTLE.) It takes place 15 minutes before...
-Wishes (The fireworks show, complete with Tink!).
MY SUGGESTION- See all 3 of these from Main St. USA. After the parade ends, guests will be moved into the street to see ‘Celebrate the Magic’ and ‘Wishes’. Following Wishes, TENS OF THOUSANDS of guests will be leaving the park, and if you are not on Main St. USA by then, it will take you an eternity to find us at the meeting place at City Hall.