Main Street
1. Main Street closes half to a whole hour after the Magic Kingdom closes. Just because the park ‘closes’ at 9pm, you do not have to rush out. Take your time enjoying the shops and attractions on Main Street.
2. Avoid Main Street from about 2:30 pm until after the parade is over if you aren’t watching the parade.
3. You can stop by the car barn and pet the ponies.
4. Cooks at the Convectionary makes candy in view of guests until 7 pm at night.
5. Take a moment to sit next to Goofy on the bench in front of Tony’s. You will be in for a true treat!
6. In Curtain Call Collectibles located at the exit to Town Square Theater, you will find a real Mary Poppins Dress on display.
7. Don’t use the Main Street vehicles for transportation. It is faster to walk down Main Street.
8. Do you have young children? Stop by the Baby Care Center next to Crystal Palace. There you will find an air conditioned room, a changing room, bathrooms, a couple of tables for the kid’s to sit down and color at as well as a tv that plays Disney movies. This is a good place to regroup.
9. The Town Square Exposition Hall Museum (aka Art of Disney) has a theater that shows old cartoons in a 25 minute loop. This is a good place to hang out at the end of the day while you wait on the crowds to disperse.
10. When you stop in the Chapeau store, be sure to look for the antique phone. Pick it up and listen to a neat conversation!
11. You can get a real haircut or even get glitter in your hair at the Barber Shop. The chalkboard in the barber shop lists all the hurricanes that have hit Florida as if they were in line to get a haircut.
12. Most of the shops are connected inside. You can walk through the shops to avoid the crowds on Main Street.
13. At the train station, look for the abandoned items and scenes under the train station and check out the viewing machines just before you board the train. They work when you insert a penny into them! The typing you hear in this room is one of Walt’s speeches in Morse Code.
14. Did you know that Main Street goes slightly uphill? That is why it is so hard to make it Main Street at Rope Drop but so easy to go down Main Street when you are leaving. They did that on purpose to give you a good last impression of the Magic Kingdom.
15. Firehouse
16. Look down one of the alleys for a window that says Voice & Dance Lessons and listen. You might be surprised by what you hear.
17. Look through the window at the back on Tony’s to see Lady and the Tramp eating.
18. Don’t miss Lady and the Tramps paw prints in front of Tony’s. It is located in the area where the strollers are parked. I had to move a stroller to see it (I did put it right back, don’t worry!).
19. The Emporium is the huge store located on the left side of Main Street (when facing the Castle). Inside, the store is divided into multiple sections. You can carry your purchases from section to section and pay at any of the registers in the store.
20. There is a bathroom located between Casey’s Corner and Crystal Palace. There is another bathroom located by the entrance to the park near City Hall.
21. At 5 pm, they have a Flag Ceremony to lower the American Flag located at the entrance to the park. Be sure to stop by City Hall in the morning to register your Veteran to be in this ceremony.
22. Located near City Hall is a bench where you will find Roy Disney and Minnie Mouse. In front of Cinderella’s Castle, you will find Walt Disney and Mickey.
23. At Guest Services, you can get maps in other languages (great if your child is taking French or German), buttons for your special occasions and Disney Dollars that you can redeem in the parks.
- Walt Disney designed the entrance to the Magic Kingdom to reveal itself as if you were walking into the opening of a Disney movie. *As you pass under the Main Street Railroad Station, you’ll notice movie posters on the walls, just as you would if you were walking into the entrance of a theater. *The curtain “rises” as you emerge from the tunnels and take in the “opening act” of the Town Square and Main Street, U.S.A. Music fills the air as you smell fresh popped theater popcorn from the old-fashioned popcorn cart, which Disney Imagineers ensure*is always stationed nearby. *Next, as you begin to walk down Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll see the “opening credits” displayed on the windows of the second and third stories of the buildings lining the street. *These credits are the names of the Cast Members who played a major role in the creation of Walt Disney World. Fittingly, Walt Disney’s name is the first and last one you’ll see on Main Street, U.S.A., just as the Director of a movie is listed at both the opening and ending of the credits. Guests are greeted by a window at the Main Street Railroad Station which reads, “Walt Disney World Railroad Office – Keeping Dreams on Track – Walter E. Disney – Chief Engineer -” A second window for Walt Disney can be found at the far end of Main Street, U.S.A. on the second floor of the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, facing Cinderella Castle.
- the Walt/Mickey statue and the Roy/Minnie statue are purposely placed in their spots as if Walt is pointing to Roy and telling his buddy Mickey that he can look to his brother when he is gone
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The Castle
There is a garden located between the Castle and Tomorrowland. It is called the All American Rose Garden. I recommend that you take a walk around dusk through the garden. You might even find ducklings waddling around! This is also a great place to watch Wishes at night!
Located in front of the Castle is a statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse. Be sure to check out what is on Walt’s hand! You’ll also find statues of other characters in this area.
Just behind Cinderella’s Castle is Cinderella’s fountain (on the Fantasyland side). If you bow down in front of the fountain you will see a crown magically appear on Cinderella’s head!
Look for Cinderella’s Wishing Well and check out the base. This is different from Cinderella’s Fountain.
Make sure you check out the rear of the castle. Many times characters will appear unannounced! I’ve also seen characters on the path on the right side of the castle.
Starting about a half hour after the park closes (remember that if the park closes at 9pm, you have almost a full hour to leave the park), the Kiss Goodnight will begin. The castle will appear to change colors as Roy O. Disney’s dedication speech for the Magic Kingdom plays thanking you for coming.
Here’s a tip: In the middle of the day, the walk through the castle is closed. This is because of the show Dream Along with Mickey that is performed periodically throughout the day. However, early in the morning (at Rope Drop) and at night the walkway through the castle is open. So make sure you experience it!
Inside the walk through the castle is a mosaic. Be sure to look at the faces of the evil stepsisters.
Stop in Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and ask the cashier to sprinkle your little girl’s head with Pixie Dust. You do not need an appointment to get sprinkled!
Sit on the stone ledge on the right side of the castle and listen for Stitch to call for Lilo. I have never experienced this so let me know if you have!
If you are eating in Cinderella’s Royal Table, be sure to look up in the room where you meet Cinderella. You should see the Disney Family Crest and you might even spot Cinderella’s Mice in the rafters!
I also hear you can ask the suite of armor for an autograph and get a funny reply.
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Fantasyland
Castle Couture Shop – Sleeping Beautys Dress
Sir Mickey’s – Look for the giant peeking into the shop
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
– There are 90 horses on this Carousel. Judge the line and don’t get in it if there are too many people. Usually there won’t be though.
– The ride lasts 2 minutes
– Make this one of your last rides in Fantasyland because the line is usually short.
– The horses on the outside go faster than the ones on the inside. If you have small kids, put them on a horse on the inside.
– Cinderella has a horse on the carousel. It has a golden ribbon on it’s tail!
– one carved chariot
– each horses go up and down
– lit by over 2300 twinkling lights at night
– Carousel features 18 paintings from Cinderella
There is sword in a stone in front of Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel. Yes, it is THAT sword in the stone. Be sure and take a picture with it!
– Don’t get in this line if it’s more than 15 – 20 minutes. This ride loads fast and the line is often short. If you see a long wait, try it again later.
– If there are 2 lines, go to the left!
– Ask to sit in the front of the boat. it’s the best view and it has the most leg room.
at the end of the ride there is a balloon and one of the dolls is holding a sign that says help
Cleopatra winks at you in Egypt (she’s on a barge)
– 10 minute ride
Mad Tea Party / Spinning Tea Cups
– This ride doesn’t usually have a long line. I wouldn’t wait over 15 minutes for this ride. The line will be short again in no time.
– There are 18 cups. Don’t lolly gag. Get to the one you want asap.
– You can spin the tea cup by turning the wheel in the middle of the cup. If you don’t want to spin, hold the wheel still.
– Look at the top of the big center tea pot as you spin.
– You can often find characters from Alice in Wonderland outside this ride. Look for Alice, the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit and more!
The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh
– This is a fastpass ride. Remember the first fastpass return time is one hour after the park opens. You might want to grab a Fastpass on your way in or out of the ride.
– The ride lasts 4 minutes
– There is a meet and greet for the Hundred Acre Woods characters to the left side of the ride
Interactive Queue
Look for Mr. Toad giving owl the deed to the ride in Owl’s House
Explore Rabbit’s Garden, paint with honey and visit Eeyore’s home at this play space found just past the main entrance. Designed for both the young and young-at-heart, this Hundred Acre Wood-themed spot includes 4 areas of fun and games:
- Rabbit’s Garden
A hide-and-seek game with gophers, vegetables that play music and a crawl-through tunnel formed by stacked crates offer fun for little ones. - Hunny Wall
Draw shapes with overflowing honey by running your hand against a wall. - Piglet’s House
Knock on the front door to hear Piglet inside. - Eeyore’s Gloomy Place
Crawl through Eeyore’s leaning home.
– This is a fastpass ride but honestly don’t waste one of your fastpasses here. You really don’t need it.
– The best seats are in the middle of the theater.
– After you see the movie, look behind you. You will see where Donald landed after he got shot out of the cannon!
– 12 minutes
– jewels
– This is a Fastpass ride. And a very popular ride. If you are here before 10 am, make sure you grab a fastpass before you get in the stand by line. If you are here after 10 am, don’t get in the line if it is longer than 15 minutes. Instead grab a fastpass and come back.
– Sometimes when you get a Fastpass here, you will get a bonus Fastpass to Mickey’s PhillharMagic.
– When you see Wendy on the plank, be sure to look up!
– Tink in boat scene
– The blocks in the nursery on the nightstand spell out something neat
Look for tink on the right
Peter Pan’s shadow in the nursery
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Lasts around 30 minutes
Head to as soon as the park opens
Participate in the story to automatically get a pic with Belle; if your child is shy, just tell the CM and they will still let you in line to meet her
Take a picture of your child by the measurements on the wall of the cottage
There is a special gift at the end
Accommodates 300 people per hour
Under The Sea
Board a clam shell and ride through musical scenes of the Little Mermaid
Look for seashells on walk path
Watch for sebastan to pop up in almost every scene
Ariel’s Grotto
Meet Ariel
Play with the seashells imbedded in the wall
Storybook Circus
Barnstormer
Fastpass available
63 seconds long
35 inches to ride
One big drop
Dumbo
– The ride is 1:30 long.
– Sit kids on the inside of the ride.
– There is a lever in the elephant that will allow you to adjust the height of the elephant. Unfortunately the ride starts and ends by raising the elephants to their fullest height. (yes, I am scared of heights. And Dumbo scares me.)
Receive a pager when the group enters the play area and the pager will go off when it’s your turn to ride.
Look for the fake peanuts on the walk path
Animals got out and ran around
Casey Jr Splash & Soak Station
Pete’s Silly Sideshow
Meet Goofy, Donald, Daisy and Minnie
Be Our Guest Restaurant
Housed inside Beast’s Castle.
At lunch it is a quick service restaurant; at dinner it is a Table Service Restaurant
Gaston’s Tavern
Take a seat in Gaston’s chair and enjoy A LeFou’s Brew made from apple juice and toasted marshmallows
Notice the hoof prints on the walk path
Bathrooms
1. Beside Pinocchio Village Haus.
2. Behind the Enchanted Grove snack bar near the Mad Hater’s Tea Party.
3. Just past Peter Pan’s flight, near the transition to Liberty Square.
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Adventureland
If you are in this land during the parade, you’ll be trapped.
Because of the 3 pm parade, if you can plan to spend some time in this land from about 2:45 to 3:30pm you won’t see very long lines. Otherwise the lines here are pretty long between 12 pm and 5 pm.
The Enchanted Tiki Room – Under New Management
– The birds in this show throw insults at each other. It’s very funny, however it is dark and the Tiki goddess can be a little scary for young kids. I suggest watching the show on You Tube ahead of time to make sure it would be suitable for your kids (if you aren’t worried about ruining the magic. I’d rather not have scared kids but that is just me.)
– If you sit on the left side you will have a better view of the Tiki goddess.
– This is a fastpass ride. usually your return time is about 30 minutes after you get your fastpass. I suggest sending one person over to get the fastpass and then riding Aladin or seeing the Tiki show while you wait for your fastpass to be valid.
– Just before you get to the entrance to the Jungle Cruise, you will see some giant Tiki god statues. If you listen carefully you will hear the sound of distant drums and if you aren’t careful with where you step, you might get spit on!
– if you hear thunder, avoid this ride until later. They will close it if there is thunder in the area and you will wasted time in line.
– There is half of a lockhead plane on this ride. The other half is on the Great American Movie Ride in Hollywood Studios.
– Look for the employee of the month sign and say his name out loud.
– Near the beginning of the boat ride, look at the tribal head carvings on the 3 canoes
– Ride at night for a different experience
– Look for the chalkboard listing the names of the missing passengers
- One of the Jungle Cruise “natives” says, “I love Disco.”
– This ride holds up to 64 people. Each carpet holds 4.
– I wouldn’t wait if the line is longer than 10 minutes.
– The riders in the front of the carpet control the height of the carpet. The ones in the back control the tilit of the carpet.
– Seat your child on the outside of the carpet so they can see more of Adventureland.
– Keep one eye on the camels. They will spit on you! If you want to get hit, ride about halfway down.
– Aladdin and Jasmine can be found in the market area just to the right of the Carpets. And sometimes you’ll even spot them on the ride.
– Mr. Smee and Captain Hook are often found outside of Pirates as well as Pirate Goofy.
– Go to the right if possible
– check for wet seats before you sit down
– Stress that the pirates are funny, and encourage the kids to look for the silly things the pirates are doing (sleeping with a pig, sitting on a bridge etc). There are lots of other animals to look for: a cat, a dog, a donkey, maybe even some chickens.
– ON the boat before it goes under the bridge, look for the bald pirate near the water. He will turn and wink.
– Look in one of the windows and see 2 skeletons playing chess (in the queue)
– Look for the mermaid skeleton on the island
– the entire lock in the jail scene is a hidden Mickey
– At the exit look for the peg leg and foot prints on the moving ramp
There are great photo opps in the gift shop after you exit the ride.
Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial
– This show is on the left side of the Pirates entrance.
– This show is hourly from 10 am to 5 pm. It lasts 20 minutes.
– There are lots of stairs! If stairs hurt your knees, I would avoid this.
– You can go anytime. There is rarely a wait.
– There are great photo opps of the Magic Kingdom
– Don’t miss the plaques that tell the story
Bathrooms
1. There is a large bathroom located in the passageway between Adventureland and Fronteirland.
2. There is a secluded bathroom located at the back of the market stalls near Pirates.
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Frontierland
There is a nice path that runs right along the river. This is a great path to take when coming from Liberty Square to Frontierland.
At the railroad station, look for the wooden leg and the cart of luggage.
– This is a FASTPASS ride. If the line is longer than 15 – 20 minutes, get a FASTPASS instead.
– There are 2 loading lanes, bottleneck
– The kids must be at least 40 inches to ride. No exceptions!
– If you have a small child who isn’t eligible to ride, make sure you do a child swap.
– Ride in the front of the train if you don’t want to be jerked too much
– Ride at night for a different experience
Can you spot the possum in the tree
Look for the carate that says “Lytum & Hide Explosives” at the exit of the ride
Look for Tinker Bell in a rock near the exit. It is between 2 metal carts and behind a cactus
– Look on the second floor of the saloon for a party
There are some geysers to the left of the exit that offer a great photo opp.
– This is a FASTPASS ride. If the line is longer than 15 – 20 minutes, get a FASTPASS instead.
– The kids must be at least 40 inches to ride. No exceptions!
– If you have a small child who isn’t eligible to ride, make sure you do a child swap.
– Most people do splash mountain first. I suggest grabbing a fastpass to Splash and riding Big Thunder and seeing other sites until your window opens.
– If you don’t want to get wet, ask to sit in the middle.
– If you aren’t riding splash and you have young kids, as a cast member where Brer Rabbit’s House is. It’s a play area for young kids located right by Splash mountain!
– You can also watch for your family to come down the big drop on Splash. This could offer a great photo opportunity!
– Look for a meet and greet with Woody and Jesse outside the ride.
– Just before the drop, watch for the characters that screams go FSU!
Listen for Brer Toad singing in the queue
– This show does not start until an hour after the park opens (usually 10 am)
– The theater will hold 380 people
– Avoid this show right after the parade.
– Try to sit in the first 5 rows for the best seats.
– You might see the Bears outside the show for a meet and greet!
– If the line is long, grab a seat on a bench nearby
Look for the clawmarks on the floor
Tom Sawyer Island and Fort Langhorn
– The first boat to the island isn’t until 10 am
– This island will probably take you about 45 minutes to an hour to do. It’s a great place to let the older kids run and play while parents enjoy an ice cream.
– Don’t go to the island if you hear thunder! You might get stuck on the island until it passes!
– Find Harper’s Mill and look closely at the wood gears. Between the clogs is a blue bird.
– Find where Tom was painting the fence
Shooting Arcade
Bathrooms
– Stop by the women’s bathroom between Frontierland and Adventureland. Listen very closely and you might just hear Lilo looking for stitch!
If you are trying to cut from Liberty Square to Frontierland, you might want to take the path by the water. You can see it here. People don’t realize that this walkway is there and you can high tail it between lands.
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Liberty Square
– Be sure to get your picture in the stocks!
– Stop by the Liberty Bell in Liberty Square and tug on the rope to ring the bell. This bell is made from the same cast as the Liberty Bell.
– There are some nice rocking chairs on the side of The Hall of Presidents. A great place to rest and catch your breath.
– Look for the 2 lanterns in the window across from the Haunted Mansion
– Look for the brown pavement that represents the sewer that flowed through the streets
– Look for the wooden crates at the entrance that represent the Boston Tea Party
There are 2 rocking chairs on the side of Hall of Presidents
Look for the gate around the door, it guards a piece of the floor from Monticello
Look for the 13 lanterns in the Liberty Tree. They represent the 13 original colonies. This tree is over 100 years old!
Notice all the doors with a 3 digit number. Add a 1 to the front of that and it is the style of the door for that year.
– There is a tree near the register that kids can decorate. They get their name on the tree and a certificate commemorating the event.
– There is a area behind the shop that has bench and umbrellas. It’s a perfect spot for lunch or a snack or just a break from the crowds.
Notice the shop is actually 3 shops connected inside. One was owned by a german family, one was owned by a wood carvers family and one was owned by a musicians family.
Santa’s Sleigh – watch parade from here
– This show lasts a little over 22 minutes. It is a good place to go to cool down on a hot summer day.
– Be sure to read the tombstones as you wait in the queue for Haunted Mansion–and watch for your “ghost host” at the end of the ride!
– Find “Mr Toad” in the graveyard near the exit
– There is always a hidden mickey to be found the dining room table but it’s in different spots every time! The plates will form a mickey head.
– Pay close attention to the tombstones in the que line. One very close to where you enter the ride has motion to it. She will open and close her eyes and her lips will move.
– Notice the top of the mansion looks like chees pieces
Look for the Hidden Donald on the back of the red velvet chairs in the hallway
AT night, look at the top story above the entrance. After a while, you will notice a light pass with shadows that resembles 2 people with lanterns.
Look for the hearse that is being drawn by an invisible horse. Notice his hoof prints on the ground
(10) At the HM, the carriage in the courtyard is being led by an invisible horse, notice the hoof prints (go at night if you can). The invisible horse is called “Old Glue” or “Elmer” and the black hearse is the same one used in a John Wayne movie called THE SONS OF KATIE ELDER. Follow the hoof prints (and wheel tracks of the hearse) out to the area where the fast pass machines are housed. This is called the Stable because you can see horse whips, bridles, and horse shoes hanging down from above
(10) Stand in front of the hearse at the Haunted Mansion and listen. You will hear the “ghost” horse whiney.
(13) At one point in the ride, you fall out of an attic window and die! I think this occurs when your doom buggy turns backwards and you make that steep descent…supposedly, if you pay close attention, the ghosts have not acknowledged you before that point, but after you “die,” you enter the party scene, and that’s when they acknowledge you for the first time! (14) The creepy organ music you hear in the stretching room is just “Grim Grinning Ghosts” slowed way down. You are hearing one song on the whole ride starting very slow and getting faster as the ride goes on. (15) The “hands” on the clock are actually FINGERS !?!?!?!?!?
(26) Be among the first to exit for the Doom Buggies by standing on the side with the painting of the lady with the parasol (a painting of Master Gracey’s first wife who was lured to her death by the machinations of Madam(e) Leota). (27) Who is the woman who screams in the stretch room? Some say this is the voice of a woman who has thrown herself down from the rafters and you can hear a dull thump at the end of the scream.
(29) Hippogriffs guarding two separate staircases
31) The piano player in the Music Room is invisible, but you can see his moving shadow on the floor.
(33) There is a Hidden Tinker Bell in a pane of broken glass over the coffin!
36) There are stars twinkling overhead in the graveyard scene! Notice that the outside of this house looks nothing like the brick manse outside.
– The first boat ride is not until 10 am.
– The boat ride is 16 minutes long.
– There aren’t many seats available. If you don’t get one when you board, you will likely have to stand the entire time.
– Ask to ride in the pilot house to receive an official Riberboat pilots certificate
– Be sure to look in the river while you are on the boat. There is no telling what you might see!
– If you don’t want to be in the sun, opt for the middle deck.
There are no bathrooms in this land because there were no indoor plumbing in this time.
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Tomorrowland
Random tips
– There is a path that runs from Tomorrowland to Circus. You can’t miss it on the map. It is near the railroad tracks and not many people take this shortcut.
– Look for a phone under the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and Astro Orbiter. Pick it up and listen to a unique conversation.
– Look for the aileen statue. It is pleaky the alien from Lilo and Stitch
Push
– This ride often has a long line past 9:30 in the morning. So if you want to ride it, you need to try to get here early in the day.
– The ride is 1.5 minutes long.
– You want to seat the kids on the inside of this ride.
Twice the speed of dumbo
Beautiful at night
Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
– This ride has Fastpass. Don’t get in the standby line if the line is longer than 20 minutes.
Don’t miss the photo opp with Zurg in the giftshop
SCORING TIPS:
Just hold the button down the whole time.
Aim for the center of the “Z’s” (targets).
The targets that are further away and those that are moving are worth more points.
Hit the top of the volcano for 100,000 points.
After passing the “Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots” pivot your car around and see if you can hit the target on the back of the robot’s wrist for 100,000 points.
Look for the spider after the robots and see if you can shoot it.
In the room where the targets are projected, don’t stop shooting.
Try hitting the batteries in the front to knock them down and rack up points.
Hit the Z on the palm of the left hand of the big robot
Hit the top of the volano
Aim for the targets on bottom of Zurg’s Ship
– Go to this show anytime of the day.
– You can text in jokes that they might use during the show. (Anyone know the number?)
– 40″ Height Requirement
– Might scare little kids
– This ride is very popular and often has a longer line during the day. Try to ride this one earlier in the day or during a parade or Extra Magic Hours
– The ride lasts 4.5 minutes.
– Dont drive too fast or you will end up waiting a long time to unload.
Sit in the car outside the ride for a photo opp
Little ones can request a drivers license
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
– Good place to cool down on a hot day.
– Go anytime.
– Try to sit about 4 rows back and in the middle
Look for the painting in the girls room of Walt Disney
Tomorrowland Transit Authority
– Go anytime.
– Look for the Galaxy Gazette Hawker between the entrances to Astro and Transit. Stand in front of him to get insulted.
– One of the most popular rides in Magic Kingdom.
– Fastpass ride. Get one if the line is longer than 20 minutes.
– Alpha and Omega Lines
Look for the asteroid that is a chocolate chip cookie
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Parades
Celebrate! A Dream Come True Parade
– This parade is daily at 3 pm.
– People start lining up at 2:30 pm. Consider getting a snack, grabbing your parade viewing spot and eating while you wait.
– Lasts 15 minutes.
– Starts at Town Square and ends in Liberty Square.
– Liberty Square is usually the least crowded place to be for the parade.
– 15 minute street party that takes places 3 times a day (check the times guide!)
– Starts at Town Square and moves down Main Street.
– You stand on the sidewalks for this show.
Main Street Electrical Parade
– 20 minutes. ?Starts on Main Street and runs to Liberty Square and Frontierland.
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Shows
– This show takes place on the stage in front of Chindrella’s Castle.
– There is no seating for this show
– The show lasts 20 minutes
– There is no shade for this show. Dont’ make the same mistake that we did and see it in the middle of the day.
– Check your times guide for show times.
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Fireworks
– This is the nightly fireworks show.
– It lasts 12 minutes
– My favorite viewing spot is right in front of Casey’s restaurant
– Be at the end of Main Street near the train station if you want to make a fast exit.
– Tinker Bell will fly from the top of the castle (weather permitting). Check out the line she uses to fly before it get’s dark and make sure the spot you pick to watch the fireworks gives you a clear view of that line.
– Fireworks can be seen outside the Magic Kingdom. Popular places include the beaches at the Polynessian and California Grill at the Contemporary
– Hang around for 20 – 30 minutes after it ends to avoid the crowds loading on the buses.
See the fireworks on the left side of main street (when you are facing the castle) and then use the Emporium shops as a quick exit. They are all connected on the inside.
Rose Garden
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Random Tips
Trouble finding a character? Call guest services at 407-824-2222 and they will let you know the character’s schedule for the day!
Always go left when it’s an option. People tend to go to the right.
Never follow the crowd. People tend to go with the crowd. If you watch for a moment, you might find a shorter line or a better way to get somewhere.
Counter service cashiers and security guards take one guest on their left and then one guest on their right. If you don’t see anyone on one side of them, don’t be afraid to approach.
Snacks
Magic Kingdom
- Egg Roll at Adventureland Eggroll Wagon
- Dole Whip Soft Serve at Aloha Isle in Adventureland
- Icecream Floats at Auntie Gravity’s in Tomorrowland
- Cotton Candy at Casey’s Corner on Main Street
- Chicken Noodle Soup at Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland
- Gelato at Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland
- Lemonade or Raspberry Slush at Enchanted Cove in Fantasyland
- Churro at Fronteirland Churro/Pretzel Cart
- Mickey Pretzel at Fronteirland Churro/Pretzel Cart
- Sweet Cream Cheese Pretzel at Launching Pad in Tomorrowland
- Muffins at the Main Street Bakery
- Danishes at the Main Street Bakery
- Apple Charlotte at the Main Street Bakery
- Strawberry Cheesecake at the Main Street Bakery
- Uncrustables at the Main Street Bakery
- Mickey Mouse Child’s Cone (one scoop of vanilla with chocolate ears) at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street
- Hand Scooped Double Cone at Plaza Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street
- Chocolate Dipped Marshmallow Wand at the Main Street Confectionery
- Mickey Gingerbread Cookie at the Main Street Confectionery
- Mickey Cupcakes at the Main Street Confectionery
- Chili at Pacos Bill in Fronteirland
- Funnel Cake with powdered sugar or cinnamon at Sleepy Hallow in Liberty Square
- Chicken and Wild Rice soup at Sleepy Hallow in Liberty Square
- Fudge Brownie Sundae at Storybook Treats in Fantasyland
By the entrance
Pluto (opening – 2:30)
Daisy Duck (opening – 2:30)
Sometimes Chip and Dale (I found them in Tomorrowland on the last trip)
Adventureland
Ariel & Prince Eric * on the Adventureland Veranda Porch by the entrance to Adventureland from Main Street (intermittently from 10:00 to 4:30 pm)
Jasmine and Aladdin near the Magic Carpets of Aladdin (from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm; they also will ride the Magic Carpets a few times during the day)
Dinsey Fairies – Visit Tinker Bell’s Magical Nook inside Adventureland Veranda from 9:15 until park closing
Frontierland
Tiana * from Princess and The Frog at the Liberty Square Bridge (from 9:30 – time marked on times guide)
Woody and Jessie * near Splash Mountain (10 – 5:30)
You can meet Woody at Hollywood Studios, but this is the only place where you can meet Jessie.
Frontier Donald – Donald dressed in his Frontier clothes. We have seen him on both a porch and near the water in Frontierland
Fantasyland
Peter Pan and Wendy * next to Mickey’s Philharmagic (10 am to 4:45 pm)
Alice and the White Rabbit * near Mad Tea Party (9:30 to 3:30)
Alice also meets at Epcot, but the White Rabbit only meets at the Magic Kingdom.
Fairy Godmother * at Cinderella’s Fountain (9 am to 1:15 pm)
Rapunzel * in Fairytale Garden (9:15 am to 5:45 pm; the show is 30 minutes long and they only allow 35 kids to attend. Get here early and have one member of your party hold your place in line – it’s allowed at this location)
The Stepsisters and Step Mother from Cinderella* – You can usually find them in Fantasyland in the morning
Snow White – I have found her in the morning around the castle
Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, Rabbit, Eeyore near Winnie the Pooh ride (11:15 am to 6:15 pm)
Pinocchio* – We met him on our last trip by Pinocchio Village Haus in the afternoon. I have also seen him greeting near the entrance too.
Tomorrowland
Buzz Lightyear near the Carousel of Progress (9 am to 5:30 pm)
Stitch – I have seen him meeting in the area. He usually has a short line.
*I have also seen Chip and Dale here too
My tips for meeting the characters:
- Almost all characters sign, make sure you have an autograph book (write your cell phone number in it) and pen for them to use (their hands are big so you might want to get one of the fat sharpies but don’t get green! They won’t use a green pen because it won’t come out of their clothes.)
- Character handlers (the cash members that work with characters) have a light blue shirt on. If you see someone standing around with a light blue shirt, it means a character is about to come out. Ask them!
- When you get in line, ask the cast member when the character plans to go get a snack. You might not want to wait the extra 5 minutes for their break.
- Only face characters (like the Princesses) speak. You could explain this to your child by saying that the other characters have to save their voices for the parades and shows (where they do speak).
- It is okay to ask questions to the characters about their movies, life, etc. It might be fun while you wait in line to come up with a question to ask them. Just don’t ask Chip and Dale where they keep their nuts!
- When we meet a character, we get the autograph first (make sure you open your book to a clean page while you are waiting in line), give hugs and then take a picture. The characters will help your children to turn around to pose for the picture.
- Don’t forget to say “please” when asking for an autograph & photo and then “thank you” afterwards.
Photo tips
- Take a picture of your child as they walk towards the character. I’ve caught some cute pictures of Jacob with his arms outstretched towards the character. It’s so cute.
- Most characters have a Photopass Photographer with them. They will take pictures with your camera too. Don’t be afraid to ask!
- It is okay to have a picture made with just your kids and then you jump in for a second shot.
Rides to avoid if you have a bad back…
- Space Mountain – Lots of movement and jerking not to mention being in the dark so it makes it hard to brace yourself.
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – If you are not going crazy with the Spinning Controls it is ok. Be warned.
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Can be jerky especially at the end. Keep in mind this is a Roller Coaster.
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – When your bouncing like Tigger really does not feel good.
The Bathrooms on Main Street USA are located by City Hall and Casey Corner by First Aid.
I was just watching the ENchanted Tiki Room Under New Management on Youtube and in reading the comments, it looks like there was a fire and it will be going back to the original version starting August of this year. Anyone know anything about it? Is it worth seeing, or is it a “don’t waste your time” attraction?
At the Main Street Harmony Barber Shop, they do first haircuts. They are extremely cheap and are great with the babies. You get a certificate, a set of Mickey ears hat that has First Haircut embroidered on the back, a locket of hair, and they entertain the baby with stickers and toys while getting the haircut. DGS17 months had this done when he was 9 months old ( a trip especially to do this!) and he loved it!!
On Space Mountain, there are two “lanes”, Alpha and Omega. Alpha is a smoother ride than Omega. Also, the lines have now been revamped so there are games to play along the way. If you are there during a special ticketed party, you will not have to wait in line very long.
Is the electrical parade going on right now? Everything I’ve seen said it’s back for a limited engagement, but some things say it was for last summer only? I really want my kids to see it when we go in March. The electrical parade is one thing I really remember from my trip to Disneyland when I was 9.
I was going to say the same thing about the sword in the stone, that it actually does come most of the way out. But I didn’t know it was only once a day. Wow. Also the carousel is now Prince Charming’s carousel. I don’t know if Cinderella’s horse is still on there or not.
Last trip my son did the Pirate’s League and it was great. He had a lot of fun and it was a great experience.
The height for Stitch is 40 inches. Don’t really know why, since it doesn’t move or anything. My son loved it and he is 4. It is one of his favorite rides now, but he loves Stitch so that helps. The first time we rode it with him, we saw 2 or 3 sets of guests be taken off the ride, because of the child. So that is possible, if your child gets too scared.
I can’t say enough for all the baby care centers and the first aid centers at Disney. They are wonderful. I don’t think we have made it through a whole trip without going to at least one first aid center.
Make sure that you pull up on the sword outside the carousel. Once a day it will actually come most of the way out of the stone. It is a very cool experience to say that you pulled the sword out of the stone.
Main street barber shop is a great place to visit. They will do hairdos similar to the bippidee boppedee boutique, but for a fraction of the price. Stop by first thing in the morning to make an appointment. The barbershop quartet often visits to sing to the customers. It is also a great place for baby’s first haircut.
My son loves to ride the train around the park. It is a great way to let tired feet rest.
Actually, you can make an appointment for the Main Street Barber Shop by calling customer service way ahead of time. We did this a few weeks before our trip and were so glad! We and another 12 noon appt walked right in and in front of about 4 others waiting, much to their mothers’ dismay. I call it good planning! I think we paid about $8 and my daughter loved it and she got so many looks from other kids and compliments form the CMs.
On our trip in May our 3 year old was running a fever- dosed him with tylenol before our flight- but had to check it in our luggage- so it wasn’t available immediately. Needless to say we were having a heck of a time trying to buy some liquid tylenol in Magic Kingdom (during the massive recall to boot)- BUT next to Crystal Palace is the First Aid station; they had an RN there who took a look at him and gave us a dose of generic tylenlol for no charge! What a Godsend! Our little guy chilled through the Tiki Room and perked up right after.
We saw Woody and Jessie in Frontieer land by Splash Mountain, where you view the people going over the fall, earlier this month.
Great tips! my family and I are season pass holders and visit regularly. our last visit we used touring plans from The unofficial guide to WDW, they are great!!
FYI- storytime with Belle has been replaced by a “play and greet” experience with Rapunzel and Flynn Ryder. Kids can color a picture, dance with the characters, play games, and have lots of pictures taken. Only about 20-30 kids get in for each showtime, so if you want to see it be prepared to wait about 2 hours (often through one or two shows ahead of you…this line can be cutthroat!) minimum. If your kids are into the movie, it was WELL worth the wait!
We were very sad that Belle’s story time is retired. We saw Woody and Jessie quite a few times in Frontierland. I would line up for Toontown ASAP if you want to see Princesses or Fairies. The line for Tomorrowland Speedway got short during the afternoon parade. Any parade time is a good time for rides- but make sure you are in the land you want to be you may get “trapped”. Aladdin and Jasime rode with us on the Magic Carpets in the afternoon.
Splash Mountain: One of my favorites and I have gotten soaked many times in EVERY seat. Just be prepared to get wet! However, I did ride it once and didn’t get wet! It was on my honeymoon and they gave us our own boat, neither one of us got wet at all! It was awesome! (:
Also, right before the big drop, in the last room with characters singing, a rabbit (?) pops down from the ceiling and says “Go FSU!” One of the ride designers graduated from FSU and put that in.
There’s also a hidden mickey in the clouds after the big drop in the room with the train in it.
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor is a show, not a ride. It is a lot of fun for all ages inside a nice air conditioned theater.
Kristin-What about the “rope drop” performance? This something we have never done and I would like to watch it, when I go at end of February. How early do we need to be there (i.e. 30 minutes before park opens)?
Also, have you applied to be a Disney Mom? You would be a GREAT candidate. I know it’s too late for next year, but something to think about for 2012.
Thanks for all the insight!
During the evening Magic Hours the lines to the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway are short. One night around 1:00 AM my kids spent about 30-45 minutes riding non-stop (ride, get in line, ride, get in line…you get the picture). It was a great memory for them, plus, there is a viewing area with seats to the right of the entrance (near ride exit) that you can sit. So my husband and I were able to relax, while still keeping an eye on the kids, while they had fun. Of course, my kids were a few years older than yours are now.
Just thought I would let you know that Story Time with Belle is now a Tangled attraction/story time. From what I gather from when we were there last month it will prob be a permanent change.
Thanks. I totally forgot to take that off from my previous posting.
This could be a 1 to 1 1/2 hr wait for the Tangled Meet & greet according to a cast member that my husband talked to. People start lining up at park opening but they don’t come out until 10a.
The storytime with Belle has changed to Tangled Play and Greet.
You can also meet Princess Tiana and Prince Naveen (Princess and the Frog) in Liberty Square. The last time I saw them, if you are looking at the castle from the front, they will be on the left before you go over the bridge to Adventureland.