Our 1-day Magic Kingdom touring plan gives a step-by-step itinerary for a super go to to Walt Disney World, with technique to reduce time in line, maximize effectivity, and keep away from crowds. We’d journey these sights, eat at these eating places & snack stands, and extra. (Up to date April 16, 2023.)
This one-day Magic Kingdom itinerary has been overhauled a number of instances within the final yr, most lately with technique for TRON Lightcycle Run and the return of Fortunately Ever After fireworks. It additionally takes into consideration Early Entry and Prolonged Night Hours, Genie+ and Lightning Lanes, elevated crowds, and onerous ticket events.
Suffice to say, loads has modified at Magic Kingdom within the final a number of months, each from a substantive and technique perspective. We go to repeatedly “for the sake of analysis” (a glorified excuse to observe Nation Bear Jamboree and loop the PeopleMover), monitoring wait instances, testing plans, and fine-tuning our technique. That is the revised Summer time 2023 Magic Kingdom itinerary we’ve devised in consequence, together with rope drop precedence and when to do Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice…
After a bunch of modifications in the beginning of this month, Magic Kingdom technique has stabilized and shouldn’t change a lot between now and Halloween. About the one factor that might throw a monkey wrench into this plan is that if TRON Lightcycle Run drops its its digital queue early.
On condition that Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT remains to be utilizing its digital queue a few yr after opening, we aren’t anticipating TRON Lightcycle Run to shift to standby anytime quickly. Accordingly, this Magic Kingdom itinerary ought to stay correct till at the very least August 2023. Even then, modifications for Halloween and Christmas are principally minor–making this technique sound till 2024.
With that in thoughts, right here’s methods to plan your day within the Magic Kingdom…
This Magic Kingdom itinerary additionally assumes you’ll not be shopping for the Lightning Lane line-skipping providers. For those who do plan on spending the additional, seek the advice of our 1-Day Magic Kingdom Itinerary with Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. Certainly, 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 achieved within the park, see My Day Utilizing Genie+ at Magic Kingdom.
For those who’re staying on-site and may arrive early, take a look at 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 allow you to save time and keep away from crowds, providing you with an enormous benefit. Nonetheless, neither are strictly obligatory for a productive day in MK.
Whereas effectivity is an enormous aim, this Magic Kingdom itinerary focuses on each doing as many rides as doable whereas nonetheless having fun with the Disney ambiance and particulars that make Magic Kingdom the preferred theme park on this planet. Our Magic Kingdom itinerary is considerably subjective in that it covers our favourite issues to do throughout our “good day.” Moreover, this Magic Kingdom touring plan is optimized in order that wait instances are minimized.
To perform every thing in a single day, some (much less in style) sights and reveals are skipped. (Sorry, Magic Carpets of Aladdin! Truly…not sorry.) For our journey rankings and evaluations of each attraction, learn our complete Finest Magic Kingdom Sights & Experience Information put up. For one thing extra complete to plan each facet 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.
Get on the grid to enter The Grid – On the morning of your Magic Kingdom day, at the very least one individual in your social gathering will must be awake and on-line earlier than 7 am. It is because visitors with a sound ticket and a Disney Park Go reservation for Magic Kingdom will have the ability to entry the digital queue for TRON Lightcycle Run beginning at 7 am on the day of their park go to. That is accomplished outdoors the park–earlier than you allow your resort resort, or from actually anyplace.
The 7 am digital queue fills up quick. Our Learn how to Experience TRON Lightcycle Run & Digital Queue Pace Technique is important studying and covers every thing it’s essential know–like rising your probabilities of success! For those who’re unsuccessful at 7 am, you may strive once more to hitch the digital queue once more at 1 pm from inside Magic Kingdom. (Alternatively, you may gamble and solely try to hitch at 1 pm should you’d want to journey at night time.)
Add TRON Lightcycle Run into this itinerary each time is handy after your boarding group will get known as. You’ve gotten an hour to return to the attraction from receiving the notification that it’s your time to journey. Upon arrival, you’ll enter The Grid of TRON!
Pre-Rope Drop Arrival – For a super expertise at Magic Kingdom, we advocate arriving to the park about half-hour earlier than official opening time, and choosing up this itinerary from there. For those who’re driving, this implies leaving for the park to permit enough time to park and get from the Transportation and Ticket Heart (TTC) to Magic Kingdom.
For those who’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? – For those who’re not eligible for Early Entry, don’t hassle 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 sights in each lands may have reasonable or longer wait instances.
As a substitute, you need to head to the left of Cinderella Fortress and focus your power on Adventureland or Frontierland–in style sights which might be not open for Early Entry…
Set Sail for Journey(land) – Whereas this advice may appear unorthodox, Jungle Cruise has change into one of the crucial in style sights in Magic Kingdom following its reimagining. In truth, Jungle Cruise is the #4 attraction by common within the final yr. Accordingly, we’d advocate knocking it out first.
Instantly after Jungle Cruise, one possibility is correct subsequent door: Pirates of the Caribbean. That is the simple selection if you wish to reduce strolling. It’s additionally your best option now that Splash Mountain is closed–you are able to do Frontierland and Large Thunder Mountain Railroad later within the afternoon.
Magic Kingdom Classics — Double again to Tangled Rest room Territory (not the official identify of this space…nevertheless it must be!) and do Haunted Mansion adopted by the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and ‘it’s a small world’.
We notice that includes a little bit of backtracking, however waits for Winnie the Pooh’s darkish journey often 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 an enormous deal to do them within the reverse order.
Area Out – The above is probably going all you’ll have the ability 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 beneath half-hour, do this. Knock out Area Mountain too by way of the standby line.
To recap, earlier than lunch you’ll hopefully have achieved 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 have the ability to accomplish much more than we’ve got listed right here. Both manner, to attain all of this, it’s crucial that you just arrive earlier than official park opening time. For those who arrive later, you’ll be fortunate to do half of this record.
Leisurely Late Lunch – For those who’re capable of accomplish ~8 sights to begin the morning, you need to have time for an early sit-down lunch. We advocate a desk service possibility, 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 beneficial for dinner; different options are Pecos Invoice in Frontierland or Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland. Neither are nice, however each get the job accomplished. Alternatively, two enjoyable sleeper picks are Sleepy Hole and Friar’s Nook–simply you’ll want to 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 traces, so take an AC break with these life-changing (in a great way) reveals which might be simply too superior for most of the people to grasp.
Hit up Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room or Nation Bear Jamboree in the course of 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. Whilst you’re of their neck of the woods, you’ll want to wave to Large Al and his crew.
Catch the three O’clock Parade – Competition of Fantasy is Magic Kingdom’s daytime parade, which arrives to Primary Avenue 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 might be fairly cool.
Add to this performers in costumes which have a whole lot of element and are, in some instances, a bit darker and extra attention-grabbing than the ‘fantasy fluff’ you’d look forward to finding in a Magic Kingdom parade, a catchy soundtrack, and a fantastic power, and you’ve got a parade that’s an actual winner. Frontierland is least crowded, however the space round Cinderella Fortress and Primary Avenue makes for higher photographs.
Masterpiece Intermission: Extra Snacking – You’ve gotten a couple of choices to select from, as lined in our Finest Magic Kingdom Snacks & Desserts for 2023. This record was simply up to date and expanded, and now additionally contains the worst snacks that we extremely advocate avoiding.
For those who did the ‘Masterpieces’ out of order and are in Liberty Sq. or Adventureland, the excellent news is that there are great snacks in each of these lands, too. This contains the Dole Whip and Citrus Swirl, that are beloved amongst Walt Disney World followers! Whilst you’re passing by means of Adventureland, you’ll want to do Pirates of the Caribbean should you haven’t already.
Fantasyland Enjoyable – With out Genie+ or Early Entry, you’re at a severe drawback in terms of doing the favored family-friendly Fantasyland sights. As such, the aim 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 sights on this order:
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Barnstormer Starring the Nice Goofini (skippable)
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Underneath the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
- Mad Tea Occasion (skippable)
- Peter Pan’s Flight
Of these, the one lengthy wait you need to encounter is Peter Pan’s Flight. There’s actually no manner round that one.
All Quiet on the Western Entrance — Make your manner again to Large 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 following ~2 years (to transform the log flume journey to a Princess and the Frog attraction), there’s no have to prioritize this space of the park. Large Thunder Mountain Railroad is in style, however not that in style. This might be doubly true when TRON Lightcycle Run opens in a few months and Tomorrowland turns into the most important attract Magic Kingdom.
Cinderella Fortress Stage Present – If your loved ones is into characters, you’ll want to see Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire. This options a couple of songs from Frozen, Tangled, and Princess and the Frog, plus characters from these movies and Mickey Mouse and associates. It’s cute and nicely accomplished.
Whilst 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 instantly within the blazing solar, warmth and humidity!)
Tomorrowland Tranquility – After sundown, we advocate returning to Tomorrowland. Not as a result of it’s strategically necessary–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 in the course of the daytime has a ton extra character.
Whereas in Tomorrowland, you’ll want to 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. It’s also possible to do Tomorrowland Speedway if it pursuits you. At night time, 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 preferred restaurant in Magic Kingdom, Be Our Visitor Restaurant (learn our full evaluate) stays a really onerous 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. Ensure to take a look at the West Wing!
In case you are in a position, seize an Advance Eating Reservation earlier than your trip. For those who’re unable to attain a reservation, control the My Disney Expertise app for Stroll-Up Waitlist availability.
Various Dinner: Columbia Harbour Home — Given the sheer variety of worthwhile sights within the Magic Kingdom and the excessive wait instances, you would possibly need 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 simple choose. We love grabbing a desk by the window, recharging, and watching the hustle and bustle of Magic Kingdom outdoors.
Nighttime Spectacular: Fortunately Ever After – Now that the fiftieth has ended, the beloved Fortunately Ever After fireworks have returned! This nighttime spectacular options new projections on Primary Avenue and can be drawing colossal crowds. That’s unlikely to alter anytime quickly, as Walt Disney World followers love Fortunately Ever After and are popping out in full drive to see it.
Our Viewing Information to the Fortunately Ever After Fireworks at Magic Kingdom covers the perfect & worst spots to see the nighttime spectacular. Maybe most significantly, it shares a couple of nice low-crowds places for individuals who don’t need to be within the crush of crowds. (Critically, don’t underestimate the chaos and congestion, which will be downright uncomfortable, particularly for these with strollers or ECVs. Personally, I might not watch Fortunately Ever After from Primary Avenue if I have been an ECV person; I might not really feel protected.)
Night Sights: Higher at Night time – At this level, you need to have about an hour till park closing on a standard night time. Dumbo, Large Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice are some sights that we most strongly advocate doing at night time for a superior expertise.
Clearly, you received’t have time to do all of them–and if Magic Kingdom closes earlier, you may not have time for any of them. As for Seven Dwarfs Mine Practice, we’ll cowl that beneath. In case you have time for added sights, take a look at our 10 Finest Magic Kingdom Sights at Night time 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 accomplished the latter. You mainly keep away from the lengthy traces all day by getting in line as late as you doable can, and you’ll actually really feel your self saving time in line.
Peaceable Park Closing – After you’re accomplished with both of the above choices, the Magic Kingdom might be closed. Bear in mind that the outlets on Primary Avenue are usually open an hour after park closing, so then is the time to do your memento buying.
Past buying, this can be 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 Large Thunder in direction of Haunted Mansion is a strong, shock choose right here.
For those who’re capable of do even 75% of the issues on this Magic Kingdom touring plan, you might be just about assured of getting a wonderful 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 personal fault! ;))
Whereas this itinerary covers a lot of the park in a single day, in a really superb world, we advocate studying our 2-Day Magic Kingdom Best 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 consider requires two days to do every thing with out feeling rushed–you are able to do the opposite parks in sooner or later every.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Find out about inns on our Walt Disney World Lodges Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To save cash on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a novel take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Experience Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the perfect place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every thing it’s essential know!
Your Ideas
What would you embody in your superb day within the Magic Kingdom? Any hidden gem favourite sights, quiet spots you get pleasure from savoring, little particulars to cease and luxuriate in, or scrumptious snacks to strive? Do you agree or disagree with our technique? Do you intend 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? For those who haven’t visited Walt Disney World, what do you intend on doing? Any questions we will help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!