Explore the Magic Kingdom a family’s Guide!

Hi guys…join us and discover how we conquered Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom to visit Mickey Mouse and all his friends.

The information you read here comes from a Mum’s point of view…As we have been traveling to Orlando for the last ten years, our children’s ages especially in the early days have always been our No 1 priority regarding what we could do and how to go about it when visiting the parks.

So remember… if you need to split the park up over two days when you plan those days out to the park then do it, you will be thankful, and that includes all ages.

We also understand this depends on what tickets you have purchased…. We recommend you buy flex tickets for the above reasons, plus if you are working on a budget Walt Disney and Orlando Flextickets do offer further value and flexibility for your hard earned cash. Over 4, 5 and 10 days are available to suit your holiday needs during your stay in Orlando.

Let’s not forget…us Parents and Grand Parents…heh we are on holiday or vacation also, so if you feel you need to return to your hotel, motel or villa to charge those batteries, remember Mickey and his friends will always be there on your return. This is where flex tickets and staying at a Disney resort surrounding the Magic Kingdom has its advantages.

Also to keep you up to date with what’s going on at the Magic Kingdom during your stay here’s a useful events calendar.

Check to see what's not open on the day of your visit, plus keep updated on the Extra Magic Hours if you are staying in a Disney Resort.

Sunkissed tip;

Try to avoid the Magic Kingdom on Saturday’s and Monday’s… these are the busiest days during the peak seasons…visit one of the other parks or Water parks on the Monday… not Saturday, remember you are surrounded by a heavy populated area and those Floridians like to party after a hard week at work!

Arriving at Magic Kingdom

So let’s get to the park…if you are staying at a Disney resort, problem solved your transport will take you straight to the entrance either by bus, monorail, or boat, and remember those early entrance hours for Disney residences to beat those queues (lines).

If you are traveling by car remember your map you will approach the Magic Kingdom via World Drive. Once you have paid your parking fees of $10.00 (subject to change) you will enter the car parking area and be directed to your parking space…remember where you park your vehicle, a sign with Goofy, Mickey, Minnie, Tigger, Winnie the Pooh etc will be situated on each line.

ferry-magic-kingdom-disney-orlando-florida. From here you will catch the shuttle train to the main entrance where you will purchase or show your tickets and depart by monorail or ferry, take your pick, we always choose the ferry.

Once you have arrived at the Magic Kingdom, bag searches are now common before you enter the park, if you have decided to hire a locker or pushchair (stroller) these are situated to the right of the entrance before you enter the park. Don’t forget to pick up your map before you enter.

Sunkissed tip;

Do you want to Dine in Cinderella’s castle? well if you do early booking is advisable to save disappointment, the food is excellent and very reasonable.

You can book at the entrance near the locker and pushchair area before you enter the park and don’t forget your autograph books, Cinderella will be about.

Which Rides to choose?

As a Mum’s point of view…for very small children the best advice is to make your way up to ‘Fantasyland’ Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel, Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World, Pooh’s Playful Spot, Dumbo, Ariel’s Grotto, Mad Tea Party, Snow White’s Scary Adventures and Mickey’s 3-D show is a must for all the Family.

Then travel over to ‘Mickey’s Toontown Fair’. Keep your autograph book handy as Mickey and his friends are always hanging around the Judge’s Tent and Hall of Fame Tent. Have fun in the fountains at Donald’s Boat (that’s the children…not the parents!) and enjoy a goofy coaster ride at The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm.

thunder-mountain-magic-kingdom-orlando-florida. For the older children (and parents) who like the fast rides ‘Frontierland’ is a good place to start for Splash Mountain (sit in the front seat, you will get wet!) and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Visit ‘TomorrowLand’ and get your heart pumping with Space Mountain, race your brother, sister or parents on the Indy Speedway and save the galaxy…. zapping aliens on the Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

Sunkissed tip;

Remember…you can use your park ticket to acquire Fastpass tickets onto certain rides to return at the time stated on your fastpass (only one ride permitted at a time). Once that time has expired, you can use your park ticket once again to acquire a fastpass.

Discover the rest of the Magic Kingdom at your leisure, ‘Adventureland’ (Johnny Depp look-a-like at the Pirates of the Caribbean ‘yummy’) take a steam ship down the rivers of America and have a spooky good time in The Haunted Mansion at ‘Liberty Square’. Explore ‘Main Street USA’ and let the kids experience Disney’s new Virtual Magic at VMK Central, take a trip on the steam train around the Magic Kingdom to rest those weary feet.

parade-magic-kingdom-orlando-florida

Remember…keep in mind what time the parades start, as gaining a good position for the children and photos is essential, if you need to be around the castle take your place early to avoid disappointment. Your park map will show you the route of the parade.

We recommend in front of the House of Presidents Liberty Square during the day and after watching the parade visit the remarkable historical show about the American Presidents.

Evening time parade…. we always pick our spot in front of the castle as the lights and fireworks are spectacular. If you leave before the fireworks catch the ferry back to the other side of the lake and stand by the ferry terminal to watch the display ‘fantastic’.

Where to Eat in the Magic Kingdom?

Where do you eat? Well not to confuse you, about twenty seven different locations are available around the Magic Kingdom, from table service, counter service and quick bites so the choice is yours. For table service, reservations are strongly recommended and dining times are available from the main entrance.

Counter service and quick bite locations offer a wide variety of food and beverages to suit most budgets but let’s remember we are in Disney here, so when you pick up your Magic Kingdom park map you will see the locations marked by letters A, B, C etc and up to three $$$ Dollar signs alongside these letters, these donate price per person guidelines, we’ll show you here:

$ = $14 and under
$$ = $15 - $29 Dollars
$$$ = $30 Dollars and over

We have always been around $7 - $9 Dollars per person, depending on where you decide to eat. We use the Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square which caters for all the family.

Sunkissed tip;

During peak season in the Magic kingdom try to keep away from all dining locations (unless you have reservations), it is crazy between 12 – 2pm and by the time you collect your food no seats are available.
This is where a good breakfast comes in handy!
We use the cozy courtyard by the Sleepy Hollow café. It’s hidden away past the House of Presidents if no seats are available in the Columbia Harbour…plus the Sleepy Hollow makes wicked funnel cakes!

We will keep updating this page via our RSS feed regarding new additions, changes etc, so click onto the RSS feed above and follow the instructions to keep you on top off what’s happening in the Magic Kingdom, where like your local paper boy, delivering your morning news free of charge.

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