Of all 4 Disney parks, the Magic Kingdom is the best to visit if you only have one day to spend on Disney property. There is so much to do there for everyone in your family, of all ages. It is definitely a great option if you need a little bit of Disney over Christmas. While I am the first one to tell you that you need at least two days at the Magic Kingdom on a typical Walt Disney World trip, taking one day to enjoy this iconic park can give you just the right amount of Disney magic and is perfect for families who happen to be in Florida for a short amount of time. But, with only one day, what is the best way to make the most out of your time at Magic Kingdom? This week, we are going to share some tips for Making the Most out of One Day at the Magic Kingdom!
What is the best “land” to begin our day? Fantasyland is a great place to start your day. There are several attractions close to each other, and they are shorter durations. So you can easily go from one to the next. Many guests will go straight to Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, or the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at park opening. I think going to Fantasyland right away is your best option. If you have Fastpasses, plan a mid morning one for the Mine Train and perhaps another of the “mountains” after you have visited Fantasyland.
How can we prepare for our one day at Magic Kingdom before we arrive? First, if you purchased tickets ahead of time, you can book FastPasses at either 60 days if you are staying on site or 30 if you are not. Regardless, be sure to make some. Plan to get to the park about 15-20 minutes before opening so you can see the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show and make your way to Fantasyland right away. Book your Fastpasses for mid to late morning and into the afternoon. Then you can get more as the day goes on.
Should we book a table service meal? In my opinion, no. IF you want a sit down, I would make a very early one, like before the park opens, at Cinderella’s Royal Table, Be Our Guest or Crystal Palace. Some locations, like O’hana and 1900 Park Fare also allow you fairly early morning breakfast times, so those would be a good option since they are in the Magic Kingdom resorts. However, I would not make a lunch or dinner table service meal. Since you only have one day at Magic Kingdom, quick service is your best option so you have time to enjoy more attractions. Columbia Harbor House and Pinnochios Village Haus are two great options for quick service.
Are there attractions we should skip? Since you only have one day at Magic Kingdom, you likely won’t see it all. But, you can see a large portion of it! I don’t know if I would plan on “skipping” anything, but perhaps some attractions can be saved if you have time later in the day. Attractions like the Enchanted Tiki Room, the Country Bear Jamboree, Swiss Family Robinson TreeHouse, Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover and the Carousel of Progress are great to save for later, if you have time to do them. While these are some classic favorites at the park, they also have very low wait times and are great time fillers if you need some time to sit down and relax and enjoy the park in a different way.
What is the best way to spend the evening at Magic Kingdom? In my opinion, the Main Street Electrical Parade is a “must do”. As much as I love Festival of Fantasy during the day, if you need to choose one parade the Main Street Electrical Parade wins out in my opinion. There are also some great attractions that are more enjoyable at night than during the day. The AstroOrbiter and Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover are so awesome at night. The views and lights of the Magic Kingdom are gorgeous from these. Plus, they are right next to each other so you aren’t spending a lot of time walking from one to the next. Another great one is Big Thunder Mountain and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. So if you can schedule your Fastpasses for those when it is dark, you’ll be glad you did!
If there is one park I would choose to spend a whole day it, it would be the Magic Kingdom. It is my absolute favorite park of them all, and has plenty to do for all ages. Are you going to make a trip to the Magic Kingdom while you are passing through Orlando this year?
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