The Magic Kingdom Welcome Show

Update: The new Welcome Show at Disney’s Magic Kingdom takes place at Cinderella’s Castle stage.

On your next Walt Disney World trip, do not miss the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show. In order to see the Welcome Show, you will need to arrive at the park at least 30 minutes prior to opening. The Welcome Show usually starts about 12 minutes before the park opens.

When you arrive at the Magic Kingdom, you will first need to go through security. You will see security guards positioned on both the left and ride side of the entrance and one guard located in the center. If you have bags, you will go through either the left or right security station (your choice) and if you do not have bags, you will go through the center security guard.

Tips for security at Walt Disney World:

• To make your trip through Security as short as possible, always open up all of the compartments on your bags
• The security guards check people on the left and right side of their table. Choose the side with the shorter line. Due to the crowd mentality, you might find 10 people in line on his left side and no people in line on his right side. Feel free to walk up to the empty side because you are in the Disney know!
• If you are using a stroller, they will search the under area of the stroller so make sure everything is organized (we usually wait to put things in the bottom of the stroller until we are through security).
• The following items are not allowed in Disney Parks: Alcoholic beverages, Glass containers (except baby food jars and perfume bottles), weapons of any kind (even if you are licensed to carry), items with wheels such as wagons, skates, etc (strollers, ECVs and Wheelchairs are permitted).

After you make it through security, you will enter into the Magic Kingdom through the ticket turnstiles. Always look for the shortest line or the line moving the quickest.

We personally arrive at least 50 minutes before opening so that I can get a place at the rope. We usually go with the entrance on the right side, but stay to the left side of the tunnel.

When you arrive, try to get as close to the rope as possible. When the Welcome Show starts, people will move to the center of the welcome floor. I urge you to stay as close to the rope as possible and put your kids on your shoulders so that they can see.

While you wait, ask the Cast Member at the rope drop for a Times Guide and Map of the parks. This way you can look over the scheduled times of the character meet and greets, shows, parades and more.

When we first arrive, I grab a spot at the rope and my hubby lets the kids run around and play on the Welcome Floor until the crowds start to arrive. Cast Members can be found blowing bubbles, supplying hula hoops and more to keep the kids entertained.

When it starts to get crowded, he grabs the kids and brings them to the rope. Here’s our view of the Welcome Show from the right gate. When you use the right gate and stand to the left side of the entrance to the tunnel, you can see the train go by with all the characters on board. They wave right at my kids!

When Mickey starts to count down to open the park, get ready! Grab your kids by the hand, hold the stroller and get ready to walk quickly (no running) into the Magic Kingdom!

Here is shot of my daughter and I when we were the first guests (excluding those with early morning reservations) into the park following the tips above.

I highly recommend that you make it to the park by rope drop to see the Welcome Show. You won’t regret it!

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