Magic Kingdom is the MOST popular theme park in Disney World property — and for good reason! Not only is it the OG of the four, but it’s got TONS of different rides, shows, restaurants, and shows for you to fall head over heels for.

(Or you can develop an unhealthy obsession with the PeopleMover. Y’know. NORMAL Disney guest things like that.)

But with a park so jam-packed (with attractions AND guests), you’re gonna need a solid game plan to get everything done that you WANNA get done — which is why we’re coming at you with ALL our best Magic Kingdom tips that’ll make your visit WAY easier (and WAY better than you could’ve hoped for).

Search Restaurant Names When Making Reservations

This trick could be the difference between getting that reservation you really-really want… or missing out on it entirely. When it comes to snagging reservations for those coveted Magic Kingdom restaurants — like Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest — speed is KEY.

ADRs open 60 days before your trip, starting at 6AM EST. For those hot-ticket restaurants, you’re gonna want to be up and around by then — since those ressies will go FAST. (It might even benefit you to be all logged in and ready to go by 5:30 EST, just in case Disney decides to drop those ADRs early.

You’re going to want to save yourself as much time as possible once those reservations are released on the Disney World website/ the My Disney Experience App. So here’s what you do: If you already have a game plan and know EXACTLY what restaurant you’re wanting to book, search for that specific restaurant online or on the app instead of just clicking *check dining availability* for the date you’re looking for. That way, you don’t have to sift through all the other dining reservations that’ll appear when you’re only trying to find one specific restaurant anyways.

It may only save you a couple seconds, but a couple seconds could STILL be the difference between getting a reservation and not getting one. You can also call to book reservations, but that phone line doesn’t open until 7AM EST — so your best bet is trying to book online FIRST, then try calling as a Plan B.

Beware Of The TTC

If you pay for a rideshare OR you decide to drive to Magic Kingdom via your own car, you’re gonna have QUITE the journey still to make it up to the park’s front gates. And that’s because you’ll have to park — or you’ll be dropped off at — the Transportation and Ticket Center FIRST. From here, you’ll either have take a Monorail or Ferry Boat to get to the Magic Kingdom entrance.

Only Disney World resort buses OR the Minnie Vans (aka: Disney’s own rideshare service that you can book through the Lyft app) will be able to drop you off/pick you up directly from the front gate of the park. So if you’re not using either of those services, then make sure to schedule in some extra travel time into your itinerary!

Don’t Miss The MORNING Show

What better way to kick off your Magic Kingdom day than with a celebration alongside your favorite Disney characters? Let the Magic Begin features a Mickey-led musical number in front of Cinderella Castle.

You’ll only be able to catch this show once per day — 5 minutes before the park officially opens (which is most often 9AM, but occasionally 8AM — so be sure to know the day’s park hours before you go). You ARE allowed to be on Main Street, U.S.A. prior to the official opening time of the park — so use that opportunity to head toward Cinderella Castle straight-away and get a good spot for this start-of-the-day celebration!

Get A Haircut!

Okay, so this Magic Kingdom trick isn’t exactly going to make your day EASIER, but it WILL make it WAY more unique! You can get your haircut on Main Street, U.S.A over at the Harmony Barbershop! They do child’s haircuts, first haircuts, adult haircuts, and beard trims.

Bizzare? Sure. But also, how many OTHER people can say they had their hair shaped up inside the Most Magical Place On Earth? While you’ll SOMETIMES find walk-up availability for this experience, you can guarantee your seat in the barber’s chair by booking an advance reservation on the Disney World website.

Get The BEST Views For Happily Ever After

It’s the end of the day and you’re DESPERATE to find a good spot to see the EPIC Happily Ever After fireworks spectacular. So… where do you need to station yourself for the BEST view? If you want to be right in the heart of things, then you and your group can chill right in front of the Castle for 30-45 minutes prior to showtime. (Just be ready to make some CLOSE neighbors here.) This will give you some of the best view of the projections directly on the Castle, buuuut you might be craning your neck to see the fireworks.

For better fireworks views AND — again — a clear view of the castle projections, step back a few paces and place yourself near the Partners Statue of Walt and Mickey! This area will ALSO get super crowded, BUT you should still be able to see the show alright.

HOWEVER, if you wanna see the projections that’ll ALSO be happening down Main Street USA, then plan to stake out a spot right there in the middle of the street (while AVOIDING those all-too-dangerous, ankle-twisting trolley tracks, of course). Find your spot on Main Street about 45 minutes prior to showtime (or even less, if you want to be farther back, closer to the Train station). Just bear in mind that this provides the furthest view of the on-Castle projections (but you WILL be closer to the exit, meaning you can make a beeline out of the park BEFORE the wave of people do).

OR if you don’t mind paying for preferred fireworks viewing, then you might find terrific value in booking a Happily Ever After Dessert Party, which pairs sweets with the best viewing areas in one fell swoop! You can book a happily ever after dessert party before your trip on the Disney World website.

Don’t Be Afraid To Go Against the Crowd

I’m here to tell you that it’s OKAY to swim upstream and against the current! (Okay, lemme put that in human talk, not salmon talk.) If you decide to arrive at Magic Kingdom for rope drop (AKA: park opening), don’t feel like you HAVE to hit up those hot E-ticket attractions right off the bat — like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Space Mountain. Because that’s where EVERYONE’S going. Unless you arrived BEFORE rope drop (like, an hour or so early) the lines for these rides are still going to be lengthy. Because that’s where all these rope droppers are planning on going, too.

This isn’t a terrible idea, but if you’re looking to ride as many rides as possible before the crowds fill in, consider using that rope drop time to hit up the other rides around the park before those crowds distribute and make all the wait times increase, like Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean, or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Haunted Mansion, or — if you’re traveling with younger kiddos — you can get a head start on the Fantasyland circuit with The Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Barnstormer, and Peter Pan’s Flight.

I’m not saying skip out on the MAJOR rides. There’s a reason they accumulate large lines — they’re a TON of fun! But you can always hit up those signature attractions toward the end of the day instead (since the wait times tend to drop just before park closing time).

Remember — Disney will still let you into the queues for rides up until the park closes. So even if you jump in the queue 10 minutes before the end of the day, Disney will let you ride. Cast Members will make sure to get everyone through the queue before they close down the ride. So you’re not only going to have a shorter line to wait in, but you’ll also get some extra time in the park, too!

Use Mobile Checkout

Mobile Ordering isn’t just for food, y’all — it’s for shopping too! At select Magic Kingdom shops — like Emporium, Star Traders, and Tomorrowland Launch Depot — you can use the Mobile Checkout feature on your My Disney Experience App to skip the physical checkout line entirely.

You can check out any time you want, WHEREVER you want in the store. Such a major time-saver! And easy, too! After you tap on the mobile checkout button, the My Disney Experience App will lead you to your virtual shopping bag. Press “Scan an Item” to scan the barcode of the merch you’re wanting to buy. That item will be added to your account immediately.

Next, you’ll have the option of adding more to your virtual shopping cart OR proceeding to check out. As long as you have all your card info already added to your app, you should be able to check out almost instantly. After you check out, a QR code will pop up on your phone screen, which you’ll need to show a Cast Member at the store’s exit to prove you purchased your item (or items) on the app.

Learn About Virtual Queues

As we’re writing this blog post, the NEWEST Magic Kingdom coaster — TRON: Lightcycle / Run — is still using a virtual queue system. (Meaning you WON’T be able to get in a physical line for this one if you’re planning a trip for the near future).

You’ll grab those boarding groups FOR the ride’s virtual queues on the My Disney Experience App. But here’s how you’re gonna pull it off:

FIRST: Confirm your party

• Beginning at 6AM, you can tap into the Virtual Queue and set your party so that you have fewer steps when Boarding Groups are available at 7AM or 1PM. On the app, under “Join Virtual Queue,” you’ll find a button that says “Confirm Your Party.”
• Once you hit that button, the app will find the people who are linked to your account. You’ll select each person that you want to add to your party, and then select — you guessed it — “Confirm Party”

NEXT: Join the queue

• You can attempt to join the Virtual Queue through the app at exactly 7AM EST by selecting the Join Virtual Queue button on the home screen of the app. (Remember, you can register for the 7AM Virtual Queue opening from ANYWHERE — you do not have to be inside the park. BUT if you try for the 1PM drop instead, you WILL have to be inside the park).
• The app will notify you immediately if you have successfully booked a space in the Virtual Queue by providing you with an assigned Boarding Group Number!
• At any time throughout the day, you can monitor which groups are currently boarding within the app, or on Information Boards posted throughout the park.
• Better yet, you also enable push notifications from the app that’ll alert you when your Boarding Group is called!

Consider PAYING To Skip The Lines

Whether you love it or hate it, you STILL need to know about it. Disney Genie+ is a premium online planning tool that you can find on the My Disney Experience App. This tool will grant you access to Lightning Lanes, which are basically the updated version of Disney World’s former FastPass system (RIP).

Genie+ costs between $15 and $35 a day, per person — and allows you to select 1 ride at a time for a specific time frame where you can skip the standby line entirely. You can make multiple selections throughout the day, but you’ll only be able to make another selection once your previous Lightning Lane ride has been used.

Some rides aren’t available for the standard Disney Genie+ feature, such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle Run. Instead, you’ll have to pay a separate fee to receive Individual Lightning Lane benefits for those hot-ticket attractions.

We’ve got a YT video out now going IN-DEPTH about how to get the MOST out of your Genie + purchase while you’re in Magic Kingdom, and you can watch it right here!

BUDGET For Magic Kingdom

ONE more thing about Genie + (that I’ve GOTTA tell ya about before we move on here!) – Not too long ago, Disney switched things up and made their Genie + pricing park-specific — meaning the cost of this line-skipping service will vary both by date and by which park you plan to visit.

More often than not, Magic Kingdom DOES have the HIGHEST Genie + prices of the four parks (since it tends to be the busiest AND it has the most rides to offer). So when you’re budgeting for this service, make sure to save back MORE for it instead of less.

Even if Genie + ISN’T as expensive as you THOUGHT it’d be on the day of your visit, it’s better to high-ball (and have some safety net cash leftover) rather than low-ball (and have to pay out-of-pocket MORE than you were expecting to). Genie + goes on sale daily starting at midnight, but Lightning Lane selections don’t go live until 7AM. So be sure to set those alarms!

Try A Unique Snack

Magic Kingdom is home to those staple Disney World treats — like the Mickey Premium Bar, Mickey pretzel, and refillable popcorn. But they’ve ALSO got tons of snacks that you’re NOT gonna find anywhere else on property!

Here are a few unique options that you may wanna try IF you’re feeling ADVENTUROUS:

• The Spring Roll Cart outside Adventureland has specialty spring roll flavors that rotate out often. Currently, you’ll be able to find the classic cheeseburger flavor that we see here often, as well as a brand new chicken, ham, and cheese flavor that comes with a honey mustard dipping sauce
• And — oh my goodness — hit up the Main Street Confectionery ASAP for the Blondie Pie. This treat is made with Butterscotch Flavored Chips, Caramel bits, and topped with a TWIX Minis

Download The FREE Guide

Now HERE’S a Magic Kingdom trick we created JUST FOR YOU! Drop us your name and email here, and you’ll be able to access our digital Magic Kingdom ULTIMATE checklist!

Test A TRON Coaster Seat BEFORE You Ride

TRON is most known for being the ONLY Disney World coaster where you ride it like you would a bike. And while that makes this coaster feel even MORE like you’re ACTUALLY riding a lightcycle, it can be more of a pain than it actually is FUN, depending on the guest.

That’s why Magic Kingdom offers a tester seat outside of the attraction so you can gauge your comfort level BEFORE your ride. If you decide it’s not a great fit, you can then request the adaptive seating option by speaking to a Cast Member so you can still ride and, ultimately… ENTER THE GRID!

Know and Use Walk-Up Waitlists EARLY

There may come a time during your trip where you didn’t make a table service reservation… but you really wish you had and now you’re kicking yourself for it. That’s when the walk-up waitlists come in handy! Walk up waitlists are available through the My Disney Experience app and allows guests to view and snag reservations at Table Service restaurants that still have available seating for those who are currently in the park!

BUT here’s where our tip comes in…. We know that the phrase “walk-up” implies “RIGHT NOW.” But it’s quite possible that a restaurant may not ACTUALLY have that “walk-up” availability until a few hours out (or any at all). So if you haven’t lined up an Advance Dining Reservation, but suddenly a relaxing sit-down meal seems like a good idea during a busy park day, we recommend checking out that Walk-up Waitlist availability EARLY (like when you get in line for your first ride) to aim for the most convenient time possible. The earlier you look for last-minute tables, the better your chance at getting one on the day of your visit.

Mobile Order While You’re In Line

And since we’re on the subject of pre-planning your Magic Kingdom meals early on in the day, you can do the same thing for quick services too! During some of Magic Kingdom’s BUSIEST seasons, we see quick services get BOGGED down with MAJOR lines during those peak dining times. So even IF you’re wanting to mobile order off your my Disney experience app to skip the physical lines entirely, you might still find yourself having to wait awhile for your order to start being prepared IF all the immediate arrival time slots have already been taken up.

HERE’S my handy-dandy tip for ya: Open up Mobile Order a couple of hours before you actually want to eat to plan ahead and schedule your pick up time before everyone else does — that way, you’ll be sitting down with your favorite meal exactly when ya want to be.It’s also not a bad idea to plan your mobile orders around non-peak dining times for a late lunch or early dinner. In the meantime, you can always order some park snacks to munch on to tide ya over — or you can pack some munchies from home in your park bag too!

Book Breakfast EARLY-EARLY

If dining inside THE Cinderella Castle — or the Crystal Palace, for that matter — wasn’t enough of a royal treatment for ya, you can feel even MORE special, depending on what time you book a reservation for at either one of these locations. If you snag a breakfast reservation for the FIRST time slot of the day, then you’ll get the chance to enter the park before EVERYONE else.

This’ll give you the opportunity to see that BIG castle review down Main Street USA when the streets are practically empty. It can also give you the ability to snap some fantastic pics without any other guests photo-bombing your view.

Escape

Since Magic Kingdom is the most popular park amongst guests, it also tends to be the most CROWDED. And those massive crowds can get REAL overwhelming, even for people who usually don’t mind sharing their vacation with other trip-goers.

Magic Kingdom crowds tend to be at their WORST during the mid-to-late afternoon. So if you need to escape from all the people, here are a few places you can turn to nearby:

Carousel Of Progress: Not only is this rotating show one of a kind, but the wait times are short, the building is air conditioned, and the whole experience takes around 20 minutes. So that means you’ll get a good chunk of time out of the sun, off your feet, and away from the swarm of other guests. Similar things could be said about Hall of Presidents and Country Bear Jamboree too! Just look for the indoor shows and rest for a spell (while still getting a good bit of that Magic Kingdom Experience).

Overlooked Areas

There are a couple spots in Magic Kingdom that are more off the beaten path, but they’re not entirely hidden. These are spots that COULD have some people in them, but when they don’t, they’re great for you to take a breather.

But one of our FAVORITE overlooked areas is over on Center Street! This street is just off of Main Street, U.S.A. and it’s basically like a little side street that doesn’t lead to anywhere. There are some tables and chairs over here that you can relax at if they’re available. If Main Street is feeling super crowded, this is a nice spot to hang out and people watch or just to relax for a while until you’re ready to brave the crowds again. You can find it right between Crystal Arts and Uptown Jewelers, on the right side of the street if you’re walking into the park!

The Liberty Square Gazebo: Another place that’s kind of tucked away — out of sight, out of mind — is the Gazebo in Liberty Square. You’ll find it right before you get to Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe if you’re entering the land from The Hub (ie: the main area where the castle is!). During events like Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, however, this is usually where characters like Santa Claus will meet and greet — so this tip only applies during normal park hours if a character meet and greet isn’t happening there.

The Tent Near Pete’s Silly Sideshow: Over in Storybook Circus, tucked away by Pete’s Silly Side Show, there is a spacious yellow tent specifically designed for you to sit in the shade, escape the crowds, and even charge your phone for a bit (thanks to the wall outlets). It’s nothing fancy, but it could be the perfect hideaway when the parks start to get too hectic.

Watch The Second Parade

Wanna see the Festival of Fantasy Parade with a BETTER chance at a GREAT view? Consider going during the SECOND showing. Normally, Festival of Fantasy performs twice each day — once at 12PM and once at 3PM. Again, this isn’t a FOOLPROOF trick, BUT — more often than not — we find that MANY guests will opt for the noon show instead of the 3PM one.

So if you decide to go against the crowd, plan to hit up Festival of Fantasy LATER for a less people-y situation, and use that 12pm showtime to hit up more rides while the parade observers aren’t populating the lines. (WARNING: You’ll wanna check on your weather app BEFORE attempting this trick. Oftentimes, Orlando experiences afternoon thunderstorms and — if severe enough — the parade will have to be canceled, making 12pm still your best bet for seeing this performance.)

ALSO Watch The Parade In Frontierland

Here’s another solid parade tip for ya: Whether you decide to go to the first OR second Festival of Fantasy showing, the crowds are usually WAY more hectic down Main Street USA than they will be over in Frontierland.

So try to stake out a spot near Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe, just outside the Country Bears Jamboree, or somewhere near the Westward Ho kiosk. (Just make sure you’re not blocking any entrances or foot traffic with wherever you decide to nest!)

Start A Walking Regimen

The DFB team is in Magic Kingdom. Like… a LOT. So when I say that Magic Kingdom is EXHAUSTING, I mean it. You can get enough sleep, get enough food, have enough mini-breaks throughout the day, and your feet might still hate you by the end of the night.

Lemme hit ya with some numbers real quick, just so you know WHY your feet might cry: Let’s say you stay in Magic Kingdom from rope drop to park closure. If that’s the case, then you’re probably going to be taking around 20,000 to 25,000 steps per day. Sometimes our park reporters even clock in with 30,000 steps. (And I APPLAUD them for that.)

If you’re not used to that kind of physical activity, Magic Kingdom (or any of the parks, really) could be difficult. So start practicing ahead of time. Start small and make sure to get in those recommended 10,000 steps daily. Take walks on your lunch break, stroll on your gym’s treadmill, use the stairs when you can, make the rounds at your local mall.

However you can get in those daily steps, GET THEM IN. That way, your body will be more prepared for the physical exertion that’s going to happen when that Disney trip commences.

Consider Breaking Up Your Visit

Think of this as a PART TWO of the point I just talked about. Because I’m NOT KIDDING here, friends — Magic Kingdom WILL wipe you out! Since this park is filled with SO many rides and attractions, as well as things to see and munch on, it may not be a bad idea to plan for TWO days at this park instead of just one.

That way you’ll be able to take as many breaks as you need to and not worry about rushing to get everything done in one day. Not to mention, if you’re traveling with younger kiddos, a half park day will be easier for them to take on rather than a full 20,000+ steps day. Then, instead of wearing yourselves out silly, you can head back to the hotel for naps and a quick dip in the resort pool!

Try Rider Switch!

The GOOD thing about going to Magic Kingdom with younger kiddos is that MOST of the rides here are for ALL AGES. But a select few rides — like Tron, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, etc. — still have a height requirement.

If you’re going to Disney World with a kid who’s not tall enough to ride yet (or a kid who IS tall enough but would just rather SKIP the thrills altogether), then someone’s always going to have to be that designated person who skips out on the big kid rides and stays behind to watch the younger party members. However, Disney has a Rider Switch service that’ll make sure EVERYONE in your travel party is still able to ride, even if one person has to stay behind initially.

To use Rider Swap, find a Cast Member at the entrance of the ride. Let them know you’re using Rider Swap so that they can scan your Magic Band or park ticket. Then, the riding will commence per usual — the first group of your party will wait in the normal queue while the others wait behind with the kiddos.

After the first part of your travel party rides and returns, they’ll play a game of tag-team — now, it’s THEIR turn to watch the kiddos while the second part of the group goes and rides. Only this time, the second members will get their band (or card) scanned by the Cast Member and get to use the Lightning Lane to shorten their wait time. Bam. Time = saved. And EVERYONE who can and wants to ride now GETS to ride. A win-win!

Don’t Forget The Park Passes!

We don’t talk about park pass reservations AS often as we used to because A) they’re not AS difficult to snag as they used to be, and B) they’re going away at the beginning starting on January 9th, 2024! THAT BEING SAID… they’re STILL required for NOW. And if you don’t MAKE a park pass reservation for your 2023 trip, then you won’t be able to enter into Magic Kingdom, even IF you have a valid theme park ticket.

The only time you WON’T need to make a park pass reservation is if you’re just planning on spending one day ONLY in Magic Kingdom (and skipping out on the other parks for now). One day tickets will automatically make those reservations for you to secure your spot in the park.

Try A Secret Snack Hack

One of the most frightening moments in Disney World occurs right after the Magic Kingdom fireworks end, when you find yourself carried along in a veritable sea of humans all trying to exit the park at the same time. But what if I told you we could make that experience much less terrifying? Instead of rushing into the mass park exodus, consider just… grabbing some grub instead!

Some Magic Kingdom restaurants have Mobile Order available past the park’s closing time — like Casey’s Corner and Main Street Confectionery. With this hack, you can merrily snack on a Confectionery caramel apple or Casey’s corn dog nuggets while taking a break in the Hub Grass as the rest of the crowds disperse behind you.

Figure Out The TRON Locker System

TRON Lightcycle / Run is the first Disney World attraction to require the use of lockers — but don’t worry! It’s not hard to figure out (and they won’t cost you a cent extra to use). You can unlock a locker with a MagicBand or physical park ticket. (Or, if need be, a cast member can give you a temporary TRON locker card, which you’ll return AFTER you retrieve your stuff post-ride). There is a small compartment on the ride vehicle that you can use to store items like phones, glasses, and wallets, but anything larger than that must be stored in the lockers.

If you accidentally lock your card IN your locker (which, yes, has happened to US), just track down a nearby cast member in the queue and they can reopen your locker for you with their tablets. And what happens IF you forget your locker number? No worries there, either! Just scan your ticket or MagicBand on one of the nearby TRON locker screens, and it’ll tell you which locker is yours!

Find A Reliable Weather App

Since we’re on the subject of weather, this is my big-bad reminder to DOWNLOAD reliable weather apps BEFORE your Magic Kingdom visit so you’ll always be in-the-know when it comes to Orlando’s storms. Usually, you’ll catch me checking out Accuweather — which I find to be pretty accurate when it comes to predicting even minute-by-minute weather conditions.

But apps like Windy and My Radar are also pretty good at showing the current radar and predicting when a storm will come and go.

Don’t Forget About The Main Street Entertainment

So often, guests are quick to make their way outta Main Street USA and on into OTHER parts of the park where rides actually exist. But just because Main Street USA doesn’t have any coasters or dark rides doesn’t mean you’re not gonna have a good time here, too!

For example…The Casey’s Corner Pianist is a Main Street, U.S.A. icon, and you can catch their show several times throughout the day. And since we’re talking about park icons here, let’s NOT overlook that colorful quartet, The Dapper Dans, who perform acapella musical numbers from the mornings until the afternoon.

And — around 5pm daily — you can see the Flag Retreat Ceremony, where an active-duty military member or veteran is selected from among that park’s daily guests to lower the flag and carry it in a procession down Main Street, U.S.A.

Get Pixie-Dusted for FREE

You can make the whole place SHIMMER… just by asking for a FREE pixie dusting in Magic Kingdom! Pixie dusting is where a Cast Member asks you to close your eyes, make a wish, and then they use a magic wand to sprinkle you with pixie dust while wishing that all your dreams come true. (Very Disney of them, truly.)

You can get a complimentary pixie dusting at two different locations in Fantasyland: The first is at Sir Mickey’s Gift Shop, and the second is at Bonjour Village Gifts! And no, this ain’t JUST for the kids. Grown ups can ask for their biggest, bestest dreams to come true too!

Mail A Postcard!

All aboard the snail-mail express! If you’re wanting to send someone back home a postcard (or maybe even send yourself a letter to remind future-you of how much fun your past-self is having while you’re stuck back at work), then you can use Magic Kingdom’s very own mailbox to do so!

You’ll find this mailbox over on Main Street USA, right outside the Fire Station and toward the entrance of the park Of course, your envelopes will need to have stamps and addresses — but you can bring your own stamps from home. You can also purchase stamps in Magic Kingdom over at the Main Street Chamber of Commerce OR at the Newsstand (both, of which, reside along Main Street USA, not too terribly far away!).

Pack The GOODS

What you add to your park bag is more vital to your Magic Kingdom day than you might think. So here are some of the MUST-PACK park essentials that you’ll NEED to have in your backpack, fanny pack, purse, etc BEFORE you step foot inside the park:

• A Mobile Charger – To make sure your phone doesn’t die in the middle of your park day (leaving you My Disney Experience-less), a portable charger will come in handy.
• Sunscreen – No burnt noses and shoulders here! Applying sunscreen is not a one-and-done ordeal. You’ll need to reapply this stuff SEVERAL times throughout the day to make sure you’re keeping you skin safe (and not crispy).
• A refillable water bottle – Magic Kingdom has a few water stations where you’ll be able to fill up on nice cool H2O and keep yourself hydrated
• Extra socks – If the rain rain rain comes down down down, wearing soggy socks can be miserable. So pack an extra pair to change into. (Your feet will thank you later)
• Ziploc Baggies – And WHERE are you gonna store your OTHER socks while they’re all gross and damp? Put em in a ziploc baggie so they don’t get the rest of your stuff all wet! Ziploc baggies are also great for storing melty sweets (like lollipops and chocolate covered rice krispy treats) that you wanna save and munch on again later.

You’ll Regret Not Packing These Things for Magic Kingdom — Click Here!

Know How to Find the Nearest Bathrooms

You can’t put a tinkle break on pause! Finding WHERE the bathrooms are in Magic Kingdom ahead of time can prevent you from backtracking and completely missing out on one that WAS way closer to where you already were.

Fun fact: You can use a filter in the My Disney Experience app to find the closest restrooms! Just go to the map, tap on the down arrow at the top of the screen, and choose the restroom icon for a full list of porcelain throne pit stops

Ask For Free Water

You don’t HAVE to pay for pricey water bottles in Magic Kingdom even if you DON’T bring a refillable one from home! Free water cups are available at SEVERAL quick services and kiosks around the park!

Just keep in mind that the popcorn carts (aside from the one in the hub area) do not have free ice water available and only sell it bottled. However, locations like Joffrey’s, the Main Street Bakery, Sleepy Hollow Refreshments, Westward Ho, Sunshine Tree Terrace, and several OTHER quick service locations will make sure to keep ya nice and hydrated at NO extra cost.

Consider Staying At A Monorail Resort

If you’re planning on spending most of your vacation time in Magic Kingdom, then it might benefit you to stay super-duper close to the park! The deluxe resorts along the monorail loop — ie: Disney’s Contemporary, Disney’s Polynesian Village, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa — are all within walking distance to Magic Kingdom’s front gates.

Disney’s Wilderness Lodge might not be on the monorail loop, but it’s still just a boat ride away from the park. The major downside to all of these resorts is their BIG price tags (which may be worth it to you for the proximity alone, depending on your vacation budget).

Your CHEAPEST option, that’ll still keep you close to Magic Kingdom, is actually Disney’s Fort Wilderness Cabins and Campgrounds. While the cabins are about to undergo some major DVC renovations, you CAN choose to camp with your own tents or campers on the Campsites for only around $70 a night!

Not only will this save you a WHOLE lotta money (if you’re up for becoming one with the great outdoors), BUT you’ll ALSO be able to take a boat up to Magic Kingdom from these resort grounds, too!

Leave Magic Kingdom For More Dining Options

Even if you decide that you don’t wanna invest a whole lotta moolah into a stay at one of the monorail resorts, that doesn’t mean you can’t still take advantage of their proximity from Magic Kingdom. If the parks are just getting WAY too busy for your liking around lunch/dinner time, you can always hop on the monorail and hit up one of the restaurants inside these nearby resorts instead!

For table services (which you WILL still need ADRs for), some of our favorite monorail options include:

• ‘Ohana at Polynesian Village
• Steakhouse 71 at Contemporary
• And Grand Floridian Cafe at the Grand Floridian

OR for a cheaper, faster meal, you can order a quick service bite from:

• Capt Cook’s at Polynesian Village
• Contempo Cafe at Contemporary Resort
• And Gasparilla Island Grill at the Grand Floridian

Transform Your Kiddo Into ROYALTY

Looking to get a Disney makeover? Well if you’re between the ages of 3 and 12, then Magic Kingdom can hook you UP! Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is a special salon where kiddos can transform into a princess, a prince, or even one of the characters from ENCANTO (with Disney’s NEW Encanto-Inspired makeover package).

The Fairy Godmother’s Apprentices (AKA: Cast Members) will pamper kids with a variety of beauty services, including hair, make-up, costumes, and PLENTY of maaaaagiiiiiiic! The NON magical part about this whole experience is… the price.

These packages typically range between $100-$200. So make sure to talk this over with your kiddo FIRST before surprising them with a Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique makeover — just so that you’re ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN they’re gonna love this.

Brace Yourself For A Torn Up Frontierland

Frontierland hasn’t been looking like itself lately… but it’s got a good reason. At the beginning of the year, Splash Mountain closed after its 30 year run and is currently being reimagined into a NEW Princess and the Frog-inspired ride called Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

While the log flume track will remain the same, the ride itself will be completely transformed into a Mardi Gras jubilee, with new and familiar faces alike! But BECAUSE this overhaul is so extensive, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure won’t be ready to greet guests until late 2024.

In the meantime, you’ll still be able to experience OTHER parts of Frontierland — like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Country Bear Jamboree, and Tom Sawyer Island.

Best Bathrooms

With so much going on in Frontierland near the upcoming Tiana’s Bayou Adventure attraction, it can be hard to navigate all of the construction to see exactly what is still open and what’s closed.

But — I tell you what — there is a set of restrooms in Frontierland that seems to have been forgotten about since all the new construction came to the area. And that can DEFINITELY play into your favor.

Since the closure of Splash Mountain, the whole back queue area has been a mess — but those bathrooms are STILL open and have remained very clean, freshly scented, and well-kept for the past few months. And best of all — they’re OFTEN TIMES deserted, meaning you can potty in peace.

Learn About Disability Access Services

If you or someone you’re traveling with has a disability, the Disability Service Access Program is in place to help make your waits for rides easier. Instead of having to wait in the regular queue, you can go up to a Cast Member stationed at the ride — just like you would for Rider Switch — and request a return time.

This service was updated back in 2021, after Disney Genie was released. Instead of having to wait until you arrive at the parks to set up your Disability Services, you’ll NOW be able to video chat with a Cast Member 30 days in advance and select 2 attractions per day that you want to prioritize But you must make those selections at least two days in advance — so don’t forget about them!

You’ll also be able to self-select rides the day of and get 1-hour return times right in the app, rather than having to stop by each ride or a kiosk.

Check shopDisney Online FIRST

You’re gonna want to make sure that Magic Kingdom souvenir you’re ogling over at the parks isn’t already being sold online where you could go home and get it anytime you want. If you buy an item from shopDisney, you may even run across an online deal that Disney tends to drop on its virtual customers every now and then — so you could save money buying that must-grab item online rather than in person.

For some more UNIQUE Magic Kingdom souvenirs (that you won’t find online), check out the following gift locations:

• Tomorrowland Launch Depot (for the build-your-own Tron action figure experience)
• Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe (for personalized ornaments)
• The Portrait and Character Cart in Liberty Square (for an affordable silhouette of the family)
• And the parasol cart ALSO in Liberty Square (for hand-painted parasols)

Use The Baby Care Center!

Parents — this might be my most IMPORTANT Magic Kingdom advice for you. Magic Kingdom’s Baby Care Center offers a quiet, peaceful, private, and FREE spot for parents to get in a quick diaper change, nurse, or pick up any baby necessities they might’ve run out of!

You can find Magic Kingdom’s Baby Care Center right off of Main Street USA, between Crystal Palace and Casey’s Corner.

Request A Specific Ride Seat

Not all seats are created equal when it comes to some Disney World rides. For instance, riding in the very back seat of Big Thunder Mountain gives you THE Wildest Ride of all on The Wildest Ride in the Wiiiiiildernessssssss! If you’re wanting a SPECIFIC ride seat for a specific ride, make sure to ask the cast member about it when you’re up toward the front of the attraction and about to board.

DISCLAIMER: Sometimes, accommodations may not be able to be made (especially if Magic Kingdom is PACKED OUT that day and cast members are just trying to fill in any and all available gaps that they can). So, if a cast member says they’re not taking requests at that time, don’t take it personally! I promise they’re not trying to be mean, they’re just doing their job! Either way, it never hurts to ask — just in case!

Find Out Ride Wait Times In ADVANCE

You may already know that you can find Wait Times for park attractions posted at the entrance to the ride itself OR on the My Disney Experience app. But did you know that you can also use the app to PREDICT Wait Times for the rest of the day?? Just use the Ride and Attractions Tip Board within My Disney Experience. You can also search for a specific ride and tap on it to learn about its Forecasted Waits. While forecasted waits aren’t always 100% correct (just like forecasted weather patterns), these graphs can still let you know when, on average, a ride’s wait times typically dip during the day.

Avoid Stroller Stress

It’s pretty easy to find a designated spot to park your stroller so your whole family can enjoy riding “it’s a small world” — or whatever ride you choose — together. Wanna know what’s not as easy? Finding your stroller AFTER the ride!

Not only do lots of strollers look alike, but occasionally, Cast Members may need to move strollers to a nearby location in order to accommodate operational needs in the park. Our advice? DECORATE your stroller with an easy-to-identify object. It doesn’t need to be fancy — a brightly colored cloth tied on the handle can do the trick, or some bit of shiny flair or a sign. Just something you can be on the lookout for that will catch your eye during the occasional stroller search.

Grab a DFB Guide

Need a super-thorough guide that will provide you with all the latest dining tips, tricks, and recommendations in Magic Kingdom? We know a pretty awesome team that can hook ya up. Just head on over to our DFB Store and order The DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2023.

In this three-part guide, we provide you with full reviews of every single restaurant in Disney World, as well as provide you with updated dining info galore to make your Magic Kingdom day (and Disney World vacation, in general) that much easier. And don’t forget to type in the code WDW2023 to save money on your guidebook purchases!

Celebrate The Holidays EARLY

Magic Kingdom throws TWO holiday after hours parties each year: Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The Halloween Party costs between $109-$199 per adult, while the Christmas Party will set you back $159-$199 per adult. (Note: These prices are separate from a regular day Magic Kingdom ticket).

So HOW can you make sure you’re paying for the CHEAPER end of that range instead of the most EXPENSIVE one? By planning your holiday celebrations EARLY. The cheapest tickets for Not So Scary are listed for: August 15th, 18th, 22nd, 25th, and 29th. Meanwhile, the cheapest dates you’re gonna find for Very Merry are: November 13th, 14th, and 16th.

BUT if you book your party tickets closer to the actual holidays, then you’ll be paying TOP DOLLAR for them. (And, in the case of Not So Scary, that’s literally a $90 difference!) So if you wanna save money — and still experience these ghoulish/wintry events —then you’re gonna need to get into the spirit of the season ASAP.

Hold Your Umbrella Through Security

Here’s a weirdly specific one for ya. If you take an umbrella with you to Disney World, make sure to take it out of your backpack ahead of time before walking through the park’s security check. This isn’t major or anything, but it is kind of a nuisance if someone — or multiple people — in your party has to get pulled aside for a more thorough bag inspection since the umbrellas will trigger the security check.

The same goes for large phone chargers — take those out of your backpack and carry those big boys through security, too. That way, when the security check is triggered, the security Cast Members will see what specifically caused it to be set off. Just another time-saver tip! You’re welcome!

Study Maps

If you’re about to go to Magic Kingdom for the first time — or if you’re just in need of a major refresher before your visit —then this point’s for you! Magic Kingdom has a LOT packed into that park. We’re talking over 40 attractions across 6 different lands. So studying the digital map on the My Disney Experience app ahead of your trip is gonna save you a WHOLE lotta time when it comes to navigating your way around.

After all — you’ve got SO much to do and SO little time to do it all! And you don’t want to waste a second of that time trying to find bus stops, restrooms, or must-do attractions. Even if you don’t memorize EVERY SQUARE FOOT of the park ahead of time, you don’t have to — as long as you’ve got the gist of it all!

Magic Kingdom also provides guests with FREE physical park maps near the entrance, if you’d prefer looking at one of those instead. And if you’re still having trouble finding a certain location while you’re at the parks, don’t hesitate to ask a Cast Member for help. They’d be more than happy to!

Handle Photopass With Care

Look at the birdie! You’ll find PhotoPass Cast Members all over Magic Kingdom with cameras out and ready to commemorate your trip. There are a few ways you can receive these pictures, but the main option Disney tries to sell you on is the Memory Maker — which will give you ALL of the digital copies of your photos for your entire trip

You can either pay for Memory Maker ahead of time with that advance price of $169 for the entire trip, or you can pay to purchase the entire trip’s worth of pictures during or AFTER your vacation for $199. Otherwise, you can purchase photos individually for WAY cheaper. (Like… $30 per photo.)

OR you can also ask a Cast Member to snap a photo with your camera or phone too — for FREE. These just won’t give you those cool magic shots with the ZOOM lenses or photoshopped Disney characters. But if you’re just looking to get a quick pic of your family in front of Cinderella Castle, then the FREE route is always an option you can turn to.

Rent A Locker

IF you don’t wanna carry your backpack with you ALL day long — OR if you bought something from the gift shop that you’d rather NOT lug all the way back to your hotel room just yet — then you may wanna consider renting one of Magic Kingdom’s lockers, located at the front of the park. Storage lockers at Magic Kingdom come in three sizes — small, large, and jumbo — and they range in price between $10-$15.

Just keep in mind that lockers don’t transfer between parks. So if you plan on park hopping, you will have to pay for a whole other locker at the NEXT park if you wanna store your stuff again.

Ask for Allergy Binders

Dining around Magic Kingdom’s fast food restaurants shouldn’t make you nervous. So if you have a specific food allergy, don’t hesitate to ask a cast member at the quick service counter if you can look over their Allergy Binder. Allergy binders provide an organized list of all the specific ingredients you can find in each of the restaurant’s meals.

HOWEVER, that’s not ALL you need to do to prepare to dine around Magic Kingdom! Before your trip, check out the online menus for the quick service and table service restaurants. Many of the allergy-conscious menu items are provided there so you can plan what you’re going to order ahead of time.

Although Disney does its best to accommodate for these different needs, just know that these meals are NOT prepared in allergy-friendly kitchens, just in a separate part of the same kitchen. So if you’re hyper-sensitive to a certain type of food, you may want to avoid restaurants that specialize in it. For example, you may want to avoid Columbia Harbour House if you have a major shellfish allergy.

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The post 50 Tricks to Make Magic Kingdom SO MUCH EASIER first appeared on the disney food blog.