Magic Kingdom is now open and we have your complete guide to Magic Kingdom’s reopening including characters, attractions, restaurants and more!
If you are planning a day in the Magic Kingdom, here is everything you need to know to help your day go great!
You will have to book a park reservation first. Do this as soon as you decide you’d like to go to the Magic Kingdom so you can make sure the date you’d like to go is available. They are currently dividing the reservations between Ticket Holders, Resort Guests and Annual Passholders.
Park Hours
First up, the park is running modified hours. Check the day before your visit, but for the current time it is open is 9 am – 7 pm.
The parking lot opens ONE HOUR before the park. Don’t arrive early or they will just have you drive around until they open the parking lot.
Parking Lot, Security, Entrance
They are not currently running the parking lot tram. You will be required to walk to the Ticket and Transportation Center. But due to the lowered crowd levels you are being parked a lot closer than before. So it doesn’t sound as awful as you might think it is.
When you approach the park, you will be required to go through a temperature scan. It is simple. They scan your forehead and tell you to have a great day as long as your temp is below 100.4 F.
Next up is the new security procedure. They will have you place things like Umbrellas, Battery Packs and More in a plastic bin and then walk through the metal detector with your bag and phone. If you set off the detector, they will take you to the side, scan you with the wand and ask you to remove items from your park bag until they determine what set off the detector. I set it off every time with my park bag.
Transportation from the Ticket and Transportation Center to Magic Kingdom includes The Ferry, The Monorail and The Buses. Each one has their own social distancing procedure.
Buses
Your party will be assigned a number in the bus queue. When the bus arrives, you’ll be called by your number to board the bus. You’ll either enter through the front or the rear door. Inside you’ll be seated by your number. Each section is divided by partitions. When you arrive at the Magic Kingdom, you’ll exit the bus through the same door you entered.
Monorail
You’ll be assigned a boarding number for the Monorail. Each party is seated per bench on the Monorail. The benches that back up to one another are separated by a canvas partition.
Ferry
You’ll be assigned a boarding number for the Ferry. Once on the ferry, you’ll be asked to stand on a social distance marker with your party. Remember to keep 6+ feet between you and the next party.
Turnstiles
To enter the park, they will scan your MagicBand or Ticket. They are not currently requiring you to scan your finger. Keep in mind that they will verify that you have a park reservation.
Opening Procedures
They are not opening the parking lots until they are ready for Guests to enter the park. They are not holding guests in a queue to enter the park (known as Rope Drop). So once you arrive at the turnstile you are free to enter the park and move around.
Mickey and his friends are waving to Guests from the train station as they enter the Magic Kingdom during the first few minutes of the park opening. Be sure to say hi! And then head to your favorite, must do attraction first.
Attractions
They are currently NOT using the Fastpass system. With the reduced crowd levels, it is not as big of a deal as you might think. Most attractions in the Magic Kingdom are seeing waits under 20 minutes. The only ones consistently running a long wait are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Splash Mountain.
If you are someone who usually looks at a queue line to gauge its length….. they aren’t going to be accurate right now. All of the queues have Guests separated by 6 feet (or even more) and the attraction is stopping multiple times an hour to be cleaned. Some queues are utilizing the walk space in front of the attraction to accommodate the additional 6 feet of distance.
Each attraction is utilizing social distance markers within the queue. In areas with tighter spaces, they have put up plexi glass dividers to separate the rows. Hand sanitizer is available at both the entrance, before you board and at the exit of the attraction.
Wait times are available on the My Disney Experience app. But keep in mind that some of the wait times could be fabricated to encourage less Guests to enter the queue. On the other hand, some might be estimated below since they are not utilizing the wait time card with Guests.
They are also pausing the ride vehicles ever so often to clean them.
The following attractions are NOT open:
- Main Street Vehicles
- Walt Disney World Railroad
- Enchanted Tales with Belle
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Casey Jr. Splash ‘n’ Soak
- Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
Characters
Traditional character meet and greets are not currently available. However, Disney is doing a great job with alternative character interactions.
The schedule for character interactions is NOT available to Guests. This is to eliminate Guests from waiting around for characters to come out. So always stay alert!
Character Cavalcades
Parade floats are being utilized for smaller character cavalcades. Tinker Bell comes out on just her float. The Princesses come out together on a larger float. I’ve also seen Goofy and friends on one of the floats from the Move It! Shake It! MousekeDance It! Street Party.
Gaston and Merida also come out on horseback before some of the floats.
Random Locations
Chip and Dale have been spotted on a raft going around Tom Sawyer Island.
Pooh and Friends have been spotted on the porch of Crystal Palace even though it is not open.
Stitch and Buzz Lightyear come out on the Tomorrowland Stage.
Jack Sparrow comes out across from Pirates of the Caribbean.
The Step Sisters appear on the backside of Cinderella’s Castle on the 2nd story.
Characters will wave to you from the Train Station Platform located on Main Street. We’ve seen Mickey & friends and The Fairy Godmother & Princesses show up.
Dining Options
You are allowed to remove your mask to eat and drink. If you are walking around with it, you are expected to put your mask back on between bites/sips. If you are seated, you are allowed to remove your mask while you are at the table.
Reservations are available at Table Service meals and can be booked ahead of time using the My Disney Experience app.
Quick-Service meals are requiring you to utilize mobile ordering before arriving at the restaurant. They are not allowing you inside until the app notifies you that your order is ready. You are then allowed to go in to pick it up at the window and then select your table. They do have half of the tables marked as unavailable.
The following restaurants are not open:
- Casey’s Corner
- Cheshire Cafe
- Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Columbia Harbour House
- Cool Ship
- Crystal Palace
- Diamond Horseshoe
- Friar’s Nook
- Gaston’s Tavern
- Golden Oak Outpost
- Lunching Pad
- Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
- Prince Eric’s Village Market
- Tomorrowland Terrace
- Tortuga Tavern
- Western Ho
Entertainment/Parades/Fireworks
They are not currently running the Festival of Fantasy afternoon parade or the Move It, Shake It, Mousekedance It! mini parade.
They are not currently performing the Royal Friendship Faire on the castle stage.
They are not currently presenting Once Upon a Time or the Happily Ever After fireworks show.
Relaxation Stations
If you need a break from your mask, there are relaxation stations set up at Pete’s Silly Sideshow, Tomorrowland Terrace and between Splash Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean. You can enter the station, choose a place to sit or stand and remove your mask for as long as you need.
Final Thoughts
Magic Kingdom is seeing some of the lowest waits they have ever had. When you go, utilize social distancing and wash your hands frequently. Don’t forget to pack an extra mask or two in case it rains or you sweat through them.
