Magic Kingdom is probably the park most people think of when they hear the phrase “I’m going to Disney World.” It’s the park where you can dine inside of Cinderella Castle, take a ride on Dumbo, and rocket through the universe on Space Mountain.
Expectations for the overall experience are most likely highest here, and it’s the busiest park, so it is important you head into your visit at Magic Kingdom being as prepared as possible.
Check out these resources to help you maximize your time (and money) during your trip…
What to expect in this guide
We’ve taken a lot of time putting together the information we found ourselves searching for when planning *our* first visits to Magic Kingdom. That includes detailed info on attractions and dining, the best places to watch the fireworks, plus so much more.
We’ve answered a lot of the FAQs on this page, but you’ll also find a ton of links to more detailed information mixed in down below. As you read through the info here, don’t be afraid to spend some time checking those other pages out, too.
Basically, this is your one-stop shop for just about anything and everything you need to know about Magic Kingdom before your next visit.
How many days should I visit Magic Kingdom?
For most trips, there simply aren’t enough days to see and do everything at Disney World, so deciding how to divide your time is an important step in planning your stay.
The table below has suggestions for the number of days you should plan to spend at each park, but depending on your family’s tastes and interests, you may want to adjust how you allocate your time.
Suggested number of days in each park
Note: For trips that are 5 days and longer, we recommend you spend time outside the parks doing things like visiting a water park, the beach, etc.
- 1 day – Magic Kingdom
- 2 days – Either 2 days at Magic Kingdom OR 1 day at Magic Kingdom and 1 day at Epcot
- 3 days – 1 day at Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Epcot, 1 day at either Animal Kingdom or Hollywood Studios
- 4 days – 1 day at Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Epcot, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, 1 day at Animal Kingdom
- 5 days – 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Epcot, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, 1 day at Animal Kingdom
- 6 days – 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 1 day at Epcot, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, 1 day at Animal Kingdom, 1 day at a water park
- 7 days – 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, 1 day at Animal Kingdom, 1 day at a water park
- 8 days – 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, 1 day at Animal Kingdom, 1 day at a water park, 1 day doing something else (visit the beach, Disney Springs, etc.)
- 9 days – 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, 1 day at Animal Kingdom, 1 day at a water park, 2 days doing something else (visit the beach, Disney Springs, etc.)
- 10 days – 2 days at Magic Kingdom, 2 days at Epcot, 1 day at Hollywood Studios, 1 day at Animal Kingdom, 1 day at a water park, 3 days doing something else (visit the beach, Disney Springs, etc.)
Magic Kingdom Lands
Magic Kingdom is home to 6 distinct areas or “lands”. Each land has attractions, dining, and shopping themed to match it. We have in-depth explainers for each unique land linked below:
Adventureland
Adventureland is where you’ll find Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, Dole Whips, and more!
Fantasyland
Fantasyland is kind of the heart of the park and is packed with lots of attractions like “it’s a small world”, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.
Frontierland
From Big Thunder Mountain Railroad to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, this land is packed with thrills and fun places to explore.
Liberty Square
Liberty Square is small but mighty! Here is where you can find 2 classics: The Hall of Presidents AND Haunted Mansion.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A. is the gateway to the entire park. Lined with shops and restaurants, it ends at the hub and Cinderella Castle.
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland is the perfect spot for space explorers of all ages! From the brand new TRON to the classic Space Mountain, there’s something here for everyone.
Magic Kingdom Park Hours
Need to know when Magic Kingdom is open?
Magic Kingdom is the most popular theme park in the world, and its park hours reflect that. At Walt Disney World, it is typically the theme park that is open the longest each day. Get more information about specific dates below.
Magic Kingdom Maps
We recommend you spend some time looking over some of the maps you might need before you get to the park. That way, you avoid having to have your face in a map the entire time you’re in the park.
To make it easier, we’ve combined all of our most popular maps (including our maps with the best spots to watch the parades and fireworks) into one spot.
From the link below, you’ll be able to download and save to your phone any of the maps you find useful so that you’ll have them with you when you are in the parks.
Magic Kingdom Attractions
Magic Kingdom has over 30 attractions, ranging from peaceful boat rides all the way up to thrilling coasters and everything in between.
Quick Guide to Every Attraction at Walt Disney World
Get started by exploring our overview of every attraction, and then dive deeper by checking out the detailed pages for each attraction below.
Attraction Deep Dives
Whether you are new to planning a Disney World trip or a veteran, you probably have questions on stuff like what the ride vehicles look like and what, if any, the height requirements are. The posts below have all of that.
In addition, we also have accessibility information, the history of the attractions, plus lots, lots more. For detailed information on each attraction, check out the links below:
- “it’s a small world”*
- Astro Orbiter
- The Barnstormer*
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad*
- Buzz Lightyear’s Spaceranger Spin*
- Country Bear Jamboree
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant*
- Enchanted Tales with Belle*
- The Hall of Presidents
- Haunted Mansion*
- Jungle Cruise*
- Liberty Square Riverboat
- Mad Tea Party*
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin*
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh*
- Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor*
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic*
- Peter Pan’s Flight*
- Pirates of the Caribbean*
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train1
- Space Mountain*
- Swiss Family Treehouse*
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (coming 2024)
- Tom Sawyer Island
- Tomorrowland Speedway*
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
- TRON Lightcycle / Run1
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid*
- Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
- Walt Disney World Railroad
1 – Eligible for an Individual Lightning Lane
* – Included with Genie+
Magic Kingdom Rides for Babies and Toddlers
Traveling with a baby or toddler? Magic Kingdom has lots of options for them, and we have an entire post with everything you can ride with a little one.
Characters at Magic Kingdom
In addition to all the rides and attractions at Magic Kingdom, there are also lots of opportunities to meet characters, too.
Some of the character meet and greet opportunities are even a part of Genie+, which makes it easier to avoid waiting in long lines.
We cover everything there is to know about characters, including who signs autographs, where they meet, and if PhotoPass is available in the link below.
How to Tour Magic Kingdom
The best way to avoid standing and waiting in long lines is to have a good touring plan.
But knowing how to put one together can be more than a little intimidating.
We’ve done a lot of the hard work for you, though – with our 1 and 2 day Magic Kingdom touring plans. Check them out below!
Genie+ at Magic Kingdom
FastPass+ is out and Genie+ is in. Magic Kingdom has the most attractions available with Genie+, and we definitely recommend that you purchase for your days here (if it is in the budget).
Special Events at Magic Kingdom
Halloween parties. Dessert parties. After Hours. Christmas.
Magic Kingdom has several different special events that are held at select times throughout the year.
We love the special events here; they are perfect for a birthday or anniversary celebration, and while they all require a separate ticket, they do come with some pretty nice perks.
How to get to Magic Kingdom
Out of all the parks at Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom is one of the easiest to get to … as long as you aren’t arriving by car (including Uber or Lyft).
Depending on where you are staying, you can easily get to Magic Kingdom by:
- bus
- boat
- monorail
- Minnie Van
- walking
If you do plan to drive, make sure you understand how parking works, since it is different from all the other parks.
Driving and Parking at Magic Kingdom
Parking at Magic Kingdom is a little bit different from parking at the other 3 main parks.
When driving to Magic Kingdom, guests park about a mile away at the Transportation and Ticket Center. From there, guests have the option of taking either the ferry or monorail over to the front gates of Magic Kingdom. Because of this extra step, you should plan to budget at least 30 extra minutes for your travel time if you plan to drive.
Like the other 3 parks, the parking lots at the Transportation and Ticket Center are staffed with an abundance of Cast Members that will help direct you to your spot. If you park too far away from the front gate to walk, there will be handy trams to shuttle you back and forth from the end of your row to near the front gates.
How much does parking at Magic Kingdom cost?
- Free for Walt Disney World Resort hotel guests
- Offsite guests $25/day
- Passholders – Free with Passholder card and photo ID
- Preferred Parking – $45-50/day
FAQs about Magic Kingdom
What should I bring with me to Magic Kingdom?
Since Disney allows you to keep your bag with you on nearly every attraction, many people find it handy to carry a bag or backpack with them into the parks.
What you pack in your backpack will vary on your age and who you are traveling with but to help you decide what you might want to bring we have an entire post dedicated to Disney World park bags.
Here are some other common questions on what to bring with you:
Can I bring food with me to Magic Kingdom?
Yes! You can bring your own food items with you. The only restrictions are no glass containers (baby food is an exception) and no alcohol. Also, for the safety of the animals, no straws are allowed at Animal Kingdom.
Can I bring a cooler?
Yes, small coolers are allowed; however, the total size can’t exceed 24″ by 15″ by 18″. We recommend bringing a cooler small enough to fit into a locker or in the bottom of a stroller (note: as of 5/1/19, loose ice and dry ice are not allowed in the parks, so you will need to use an ice pack or something similar if you plan to bring cooled items).
Are wagons allowed?
Items that can be pulled behind you are not allowed at Disney World, and that includes wagons.
Can I bring my selfie stick?
Sorry, but no. Selfie sticks are banned at all Disney World parks, including Magic Kingdom.
Can I bring my tripod, so I can take pictures?
Tripods (and monopods) that are small enough to fit in a backpack are allowed.
I heard the lines are long. Can I bring a folding chair with me to sit in while I wait?
Folding chairs are not allowed, and we’d never want you standing in a line long enough that you’d need one! Make sure you read the touring plan information below so that you avoid standing in long lines.
Did we leave anything out? Let us know your questions in the comments below.
melanie kiprakis
Friday 2nd of September 2022
I waited my 60 days to try to book the special dinning for the 50th Celerbration. I tried early mornings, later in the evening, all day sitting at my desk at work and never was able to book one. Very sad that I couldn't get one. Something just didn't seem right. Not even Space 220.