Our 1-day Magic Kingdom touring plan affords a step-by-step itinerary for a great go to to Walt Disney World, with technique to attenuate time in line, maximize effectivity, and keep away from crowds. We’d journey these points of interest, eat at these eating places & snack stands, and extra. (Up to date January 23, 2023.)
This one-day Magic Kingdom itinerary has been overhauled a number of occasions within the final 12 months, considering Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary celebration, Early Entry and Prolonged Night Hours, Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, elevated crowds, and arduous ticket events. Suffice to say, quite a bit has modified at Magic Kingdom within the final a number of months, each from a substantive and technique perspective.
We go to Magic Kingdom repeatedly “for the sake of analysis” (a glorified excuse to observe Nation Bear Jamboree and loop the PeopleMover), monitoring wait occasions, testing plans, and fine-tuning our technique. That is the revised Winter 2023 Magic Kingdom itinerary we’ve devised in consequence, together with rope drop precedence and when to do Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice…
fiftieth Finale Replace: When you go to Walt Disney World between now and March 2023, this itinerary is correct. It has been up to date for the closing of Splash Mountain and the way that alters the rope drop dynamic.
Nonetheless, equally huge modifications are on the horizon in early April 2023. That may see the top of the Disney Enchantment and triumphant return of Fortunately Ever After, which is the far superior nighttime spectacular. Extra importantly–at the least from a strategic perspective–is the opening of TRON Lightcycle Run in Tomorrowland. We’re anticipating this to make use of a digital queue, which suggests it gained’t upend the technique right here, however should you’re visiting on or after April 3, you must await the Spring 2023 replace to this itinerary.
Within the meantime, right here’s how one can plan your day within the Magic Kingdom…
This Magic Kingdom itinerary additionally assumes you’ll not be shopping for the Lightning Lane line-skipping companies. When you do plan on spending the additional, seek the advice of our 1-Day Magic Kingdom Itinerary with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. For sure, Genie+ is most helpful at Magic Kingdom–the one park the place we advocate readers buy the upcharge. If you wish to see an instance of what we completed within the park, see My Day Utilizing Genie+ at Magic Kingdom.
When you’re staying on-site and may arrive early, try our report on Early Entry at Magic Kingdom. Likewise, should you’re staying at a Deluxe Resort or Disney Trip Membership property, examine our expertise throughout Prolonged Night Hours at Magic Kingdom. Both of these issues will show you how to save time and keep away from crowds, providing you with a giant benefit. Nonetheless, neither are strictly needed for a productive day in MK.
Whereas effectivity is a giant purpose, this Magic Kingdom itinerary focuses on each doing as many rides as potential whereas nonetheless having fun with the Disney ambiance and particulars that make Magic Kingdom the most well-liked theme park on this planet. Our Magic Kingdom itinerary is considerably subjective in that it covers our favourite issues to do throughout our “excellent day.” Moreover, this Magic Kingdom touring plan is optimized in order that wait occasions are minimized.
To perform every part in a single day, some (much less fashionable) points of interest and reveals are skipped. (Sorry, Magic Carpets of Aladdin! Really…not sorry.) For our journey rankings and opinions of each attraction, learn our complete Finest Magic Kingdom Sights & Journey Information publish. For one thing extra complete to plan each side of your trip, from the place to buy low cost tickets to when to go to and extra, learn our 2023 Walt Disney World Trip Planning Information.
Pre-Rope Drop Arrival – For a great expertise at Magic Kingdom, we advocate arriving to the park about half-hour earlier than official opening time, and selecting up this itinerary from there. When you’re driving, this implies leaving for the park to permit ample time to park and get from the Transportation and Ticket Heart (TTC) to Magic Kingdom.
When you’re staying on-site and are eligible for Early Entry at Magic Kingdom (see above), we’d advocate arriving 45 minutes earlier than the official begin time of that.
Fantasyland Flight? – When you’re not eligible for Early Entry, don’t trouble with Fantasyland or Tomorrowland. These are the 2 lands open for that on-site perk, and by the point that 30 minute “headstart” is over, all the headliner points of interest in each lands could have average or longer wait occasions.
As an alternative, you must head to the left of Cinderella Fort and focus your vitality on Adventureland or Frontierland–fashionable points of interest which can be not open for Early Entry…
Set Sail for Journey(land) – Whereas this suggestion might sound unorthodox, Jungle Cruise has develop into one of the crucial fashionable points of interest in Magic Kingdom following its reimagining. In actual fact, Jungle Cruise is the #2 attraction by common within the final 12 months. Accordingly, we’d advocate knocking it out first.
Instantly after Jungle Cruise, one choice is true subsequent door: Pirates of the Caribbean. That is the simple selection if you wish to reduce strolling. It’s additionally the only option now that Splash Mountain is closed–you are able to do Frontierland and Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad later within the afternoon.
Magic Kingdom Classics — Double again to Tangled Bathroom Territory (not the official identify of this space…but it surely must be!) and do Haunted Mansion adopted by the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and ‘it’s a small world’.
We understand that entails a little bit of backtracking, however waits for Winnie the Pooh’s darkish journey normally get longer than ‘it’s a small world,’ so it’s the objectively superior method. If you wish to avoid wasting steps, it’s not a giant deal to do them within the reverse order.
Area Out – The above is probably going all you’ll be capable to accomplish earlier than crowds construct, so proceed from the far nook of Fantasyland to Tomorrowland. If the road for Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin is underneath half-hour, do this. Knock out Area Mountain too through the standby line.
To recap, earlier than lunch you’ll hopefully have completed the next, so as:
- Jungle Cruise
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Haunted Mansion
- Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- ‘it’s a small world’
- Buzz Lightyear’s Area Ranger Spin
- Area Mountain
On a busier day, you would possibly solely hit the primary 4 of those. On a slower day, you would possibly be capable to accomplish much more than now we have listed right here. Both means, to realize all of this, it’s crucial that you simply arrive earlier than official park opening time. When you arrive later, you’ll be fortunate to do half of this checklist.
Leisurely Late Lunch – When you’re in a position to accomplish ~8 points of interest to start out the morning, you must have time for an early sit-down lunch. We advocate a desk service choice, with our favourite meals being at Skipper Canteen–an underrated gem of Magic Kingdom eating.
Proper now, there aren’t many nice counter service eating choices in Magic Kingdom. Our go-to is really helpful for dinner; different alternate options are Pecos Invoice in Frontierland or Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland. Neither are nice, however each get the job carried out. Alternatively, two enjoyable sleeper picks are Sleepy Hole and Friar’s Nook–simply you should definitely take a look at menus earlier than doing both of these, as their choices are extra restricted.
Magic Kingdom Masterpiece Theater – Afternoon is when any Disney theme park has its longest strains, so take an AC break with these life-changing (in a great way) reveals which can be simply too superior for most people to grasp.
Hit up Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room or Nation Bear Jamboree through the hottest and busiest time of the day. Nation Bear Jamboree is the one must-do of those, and is beloved world wide by extremely smart and engaging folks. When you’re of their neck of the woods, you should definitely wave to Huge Al and his crew.
Catch the three O’clock Parade – Competition of Fantasy is Magic Kingdom’s daytime parade, which arrives to Essential Road roughly 20 minutes after the parade steps off in Frontierland. The float that captures everybody’s eye is the steampunk-esque Maleficent dragon float that breathes hearth, which makes for a photogenic scene. The entire parade is nice, although, with Tangled, Peter Pan, Monstro, and princess floats which can be fairly cool.
Add to this performers in costumes which have loads of element and are, in some instances, a bit darker and extra fascinating than the ‘fantasy fluff’ you’d anticipate finding in a Magic Kingdom parade, a catchy soundtrack, and an important vitality, and you’ve got a parade that’s an actual winner. Frontierland is least crowded, however the space round Cinderella Fort and Essential Road makes for higher photographs.
Masterpiece Intermission: Extra Snacking – You may have just a few choices to select from, as coated in our Finest Magic Kingdom Snacks & Desserts Listing. A few of these is perhaps unavailable relying upon while you go to; sure snack spots are solely open on weekends and busier days proper now.
When you did the ‘Masterpieces’ out of order and are in Liberty Sq. or Adventureland, the excellent news is that there are fantastic snacks in each of these lands, too. This contains the Dole Whip and Citrus Swirl, that are beloved amongst Walt Disney World followers! When you’re passing via Adventureland, you should definitely do Pirates of the Caribbean should you haven’t already.
Fantasyland Enjoyable – With out Genie+ or Early Entry, you’re at a critical drawback in terms of doing the favored family-friendly Fantasyland points of interest. As such, the purpose is to “outlast” the crowds, doing these rides within the late afternoon and early night as households with babies begin to wear down and head for the exits.
We’d advocate knocking out the remaining Fantasyland points of interest on this order:
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Barnstormer Starring the Nice Goofini (skippable)
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Beneath the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
- Mad Tea Social gathering (skippable)
- Peter Pan’s Flight
Of these, the one lengthy wait you must encounter is Peter Pan’s Flight. There’s actually no means round that one.
All Quiet on the Western Entrance — Make your means again to Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad in late afternoon, as crowds ought to depart from this dead-end nook of the park by now.
With Splash Mountain now closed for the subsequent ~2 years (to transform the log flume journey to a Princess and the Frog attraction), there’s no must prioritize this space of the park. Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad is fashionable, however not that fashionable. This can be doubly true when TRON Lightcycle Run opens in a few months and Tomorrowland turns into the largest attract Magic Kingdom.
Cinderella Fort Stage Present – If your loved ones is into characters, you should definitely see Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire. This options just a few songs from Frozen, Tangled, and Princess and the Frog, plus characters from these movies and Mickey Mouse and buddies. It’s cute and properly carried out.
When you can catch this all through the day, we’d strongly advocate catching one of many final two performances. The daylight and warmth will be brutal for earlier showtimes, and Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire is comparatively prolonged. (Or so it feels when standing immediately within the blazing solar, warmth and humidity!)
Tomorrowland Tranquility – After sundown, we advocate returning to Tomorrowland. Not as a result of it’s strategically vital–on the contrary, it’s not–however as a result of the ambiance is improved. The neon lights shine vibrant and actually pop, and the tasteless land through the daytime has a ton extra character.
Whereas in Tomorrowland, you should definitely do the PeopleMover, which is a leisurely journey above the land. As soon as completed with that, head over to Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, which is a stage present chronicling improvements of the twentieth century. You may also do Tomorrowland Speedway if it pursuits you. At evening, Astro Orbiter is a must-do. The road is shorter and the ambiance is so a lot better.
Dinner: Be Our Visitor Restaurant – Nonetheless the most well-liked restaurant in Magic Kingdom, Be Our Visitor Restaurant (learn our full overview) stays a really arduous Advance Eating Reservation to attain. The theming and a spotlight to element are nice right here and the meals is formidable for a restaurant within the Magic Kingdom (not to mention in New Fantasyland), with a number of strong menu objects. Be sure that to take a look at the West Wing!
If you’re in a position, seize an Advance Eating Reservation earlier than your trip. When you’re unable to attain a reservation, control the My Disney Expertise app for Stroll-Up Waitlist availability.
Different Dinner: Columbia Harbour Home — Given the sheer variety of worthwhile points of interest within the Magic Kingdom and the excessive wait occasions, you would possibly wish to save time by having dinner at Columbia Harbour Home, a counter service restaurant.
Nice seafood choices, plus the quaint and considerably secluded (or maybe underutilized is the higher time period) upstairs seating space makes this a straightforward decide. We love grabbing a desk by the window, recharging, and watching the hustle and bustle of Magic Kingdom exterior.
Nighttime Spectacular: Disney Enchantment — Throughout Walt Disney World’s fiftieth Anniversary, Disney Enchantment is the nightly fireworks present in Magic Kingdom. This explicit present shouldn’t be excellent, however fireworks exploding over Cinderella Fort is at all times time, so that you gained’t wish to miss it.
Crowds will be heavy within the entrance of the park, however we nonetheless advocate watching the Magic Kingdom fireworks (try our viewing location ideas for Magic Kingdom fireworks) from Essential Road. Pyro is fashionable, so stake out a spot round 45 minutes prematurely of the fireworks.
Night Sights: Higher at Evening – At this level, you must have about an hour till park closing on a traditional evening. Dumbo, Huge Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice are some points of interest that we most strongly advocate doing at evening for a superior expertise.
Clearly, you gained’t have time to do all of them–and if Magic Kingdom closes earlier, you won’t have time for any of them. As for Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, we’ll cowl that under. If in case you have time for added points of interest, try our 10 Finest Magic Kingdom Sights at Evening for others so as to add to this plan.
Mine Practice Half Court docket Shot – One minute earlier than Magic Kingdom closes, take into account leaping in line for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice. That is like sinking a game-winning, half courtroom shot.
Or, so I assume…I’ve by no means carried out the latter. You principally keep away from the lengthy strains all day by getting in line as late as you potential can, and you’ll actually really feel your self saving time in line.
Peaceable Park Closing – After you’re carried out with both of the above choices, the Magic Kingdom can be closed. Remember that the outlets on Essential Road are usually open an hour after park closing, so then is the time to do your memento procuring.
Past procuring, it is a nice time for appreciating the main points of Magic Kingdom because it empties. Swiss Household Robinson Treehouse adopted by a stroll on the boardwalk alongside the Rivers of America main away from Huge Thunder in the direction of Haunted Mansion is a strong, shock decide right here.
When you’re in a position to do even 75% of the issues on this Magic Kingdom touring plan, you might be just about assured of getting a superb day within the Magic Kingdom. That’s our assure! (Please be aware that this assure has no money worth and isn’t supplied to residents of any state besides Wyoming. Additionally be aware that any day you might be at Magic Kingdom must be wonderful, so should you don’t have a good time, it’s most likely your individual fault! ;))
Whereas this itinerary covers a lot of the park in a single day, in a very excellent world, we advocate studying our 2-Day Magic Kingdom Ideally suited Day Plan. That’s how a lot time you have to be spending in Magic Kingdom in case your journey lasts per week or longer. Magic Kingdom is the one park at Walt Disney World that we imagine requires two days to do every part with out feeling rushed–you are able to do the opposite parks in someday every.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Lodges Evaluations web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Evaluations. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys publish takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every part it’s essential know!
Your Ideas
What would you embrace in your excellent day within the Magic Kingdom? Any hidden gem favourite points of interest, quiet spots you take pleasure in savoring, little particulars to cease and luxuriate in, or scrumptious snacks to attempt? Do you agree or disagree with our technique? Do you propose on shopping for Genie+ or an Particular person Lightning Lane throughout your day in MK? Will you benefit from Early Entry or Prolonged Night Hours? When you haven’t visited Walt Disney World, what do you propose on doing? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!