Once upon a time...
The Laid-back Guide to Magic Kingdom was created for families like yours who want to do all the things...without doing "all the things."
For anyone who wants to enjoy their family wherever they are.
This guide is filled with dining options, attractions and shows, and the best way to experience them - especially with kids.
...so you can stop the endless scrolling, screenshotting and straight-up wondering how to experience the biggest park of Walt Disney World.
Before you arrive,
make sure to...
- Download the My Disney Experience app and have all your tickets + party linked
- Have a credit card ready and tied to your account.
- Check current closures and refurbishments to work around them.
and remember...
- If you have a single-day ticket, you can still leave the park to take a break and come back later.
- Kids under 3 are free! No ticket required.
My Secret to a Laid-back Park Day
CHOOSE A TOPIC OR CONTINUE SCROLLING
let's go to Neverland...
Arriving + Morning Timeline
CAR: If you’re driving your own car, you’ll have the option to pay for Standard ($25) or Preferred ($45-50/day) parking. If you're Disney Resort guest, standard parking is free! The parking lot opens 90 minutes prior to Early Entry. Example: If Early Entry starts at 8:30am, you can park at 7:00am.
Once you’ve parked, you'll walk or take a tram to the Ticket and Transportation Center. You'll go through security, then take a ferry (10 mins) or a monorail (15 mins) to the gate.
BUS: All resort guests can take the complimentary bus system directly to the gate. Buses don’t require car seats - yay - but you will have to collapse your stroller. You can see exact bus times in your My Disney Experience app under your resort tab, but expect buses to start running 90 minutes before park opening.
A tip from Dana: A breakfast reservation at one of the monorail resorts is one of our favorite ways to stack on memories before a park day. Like Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary or ‘Ohana at the Polynesian.
If you're staying off-property, here's a bit of a hack: Uber or Lyft to one of these resorts for a dining reservation, then take the monorail to Magic Kingdom. This bypasses the Ticket + Transportation Center!
MONORAIL: The three “monorail” resorts (the Grand Floridian, Polynesian, and Contemporary) offer just that: a monorail. If you’re staying at one of these resorts OR coming from a dining reservation at one of these, you can monorail to the Magic Kingdom. Both the Grand Floridian + Contemporary both have walking paths, too.
UBER OR LYFT: Magic Kingdom is the only park that will NOT let you be dropped off at the gate - the driver will have to drop you off at the Ticket and Transportation Center. Buttttt, if you use a Minnie Van - which is operated through the Lyft app - you’ll get a Disney Cast Member to drive you RIGHT up to the gate. They even come with 2 car seats installed!
"Early Entry" is a perk that lets Disney Resort guests (or "on property guests") into any park each day 30 minutes before official park opening. To see if you're included, check this list.
To use Early Entry, one MagicBand or ticket will be scanned at the end of Main Street on the right. You'll see a Cast Member with an EARLY ENTRY sign.
Only Fantasyland and Tomorrowland are opened during Early Entry, which includes:
EARLY ENTRY
TRANSPORTATION
Magic Kingdom will let EVERYONE onto Main Street 45 minutes before Early Entry starts, no matter where you're staying. For example: If official park opening says 9am, everyone can start scanning their tickets at 7:45am.
Out of all the parks, Magic Kingdom is the only one that does this. Rides won't be running yet, but you can take advantage of empty castle photos, get coffee, or get in line to "rope drop" your first ride of the day.
"ROPE-DROPPING"
ALL GUESTS
"Rope Drop" is lingo for when the park (or one of the lands) opens for the day. When the rope is removed or “dropped”, guests are free to enter.
If you're rope-dropping during Early Entry for Tomorrowland, you’ll be held at the end of the bridge at the corner of Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor.
For Fantasyland. you'll be held between Cheshire Café and Cosmic Ray’s. This is the path you’ll want if your goal is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or another Fantasyland ride.
The most popular attractions to Rope Drop:
If you're using Early Entry...
Space Mountain in Tomorrowland
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train + Peter Pan's Flight in Fantasyland
If you're NOT using Early Entry...
Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
“it’s a small world”
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Mad Tea Party
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Peter Pan’s Flight
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Space Mountain
The Barnstormer
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tomorrowland Speedway
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Click here to learn more about Rope-dropping
This part is important!!
TRANSPORTATION CHART
For even more detail on how to get to Magic Kingdom from your resort, here's a free download to save to your phone in case you get stuck!
"ROPE-DROPPING"
"Rope Drop" is lingo for when one of the lands opens for the day. When the rope is removed or “dropped”, guests are free to enter.
If you're rope-dropping during Early Entry for Tomorrowland, you’ll be held at the end of the Tomorrowland bridge. This is where you'd want to be if your plan is to ride Space Mountain.
For Fantasyland. you'll be held between Cheshire Café and Cosmic Ray’s. This is the path you’ll want if your goal is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Peter Pan's Flight.
The most popular attractions to Rope Drop:
If you're using Early Entry...
Space Mountain in Tomorrowland
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train + Peter Pan's Flight in Fantasyland
If you're NOT using Early Entry...
Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
Your Morning
Timeline
Attractions & Shows
Let’s check out the attractions + show in bite-size pieces according to the 6 "lands" across Magic Kingdom: Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Adventureland, Liberty Square, and Main Street USA.
Fantasyland Rides:
The Barnstormer (35”)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
"it's a small world"
Mad Tea Party
Peter Pan's Flight
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (38”)
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid
Fantasyland has the most attractions that are “any height”, meaning the entire family can ride - even babies! It’s the biggest draw for toddlers and preschool-age kids and let’s be honest, we love it, too. This land is open for Early Entry.
Fantasyland Experiences + Shows:
Casey Jr Splash N' Soak Station
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Mickey’s Philharmagic
Meet Ariel at her Grotto
Meet Cinderella and Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall
Pete's Silly Sideshow
Fantasyland
Fantasyland Rides:
The Barnstormer (35”)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
"it's a small world"
Mad Tea Party
Peter Pan's Flight
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (38”)
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid
Fantasyland Experiences + Shows:
Casey Jr Splash N' Soak Station
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Mickey’s Philharmagic
Meet Ariel at her Grotto
Meet Cinderella and Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall
Pete's Silly Sideshow
Fantasyland has the most attractions that are “any height”, meaning the entire family rides - even babies! It’s the biggest draw for toddlers and young kids and let’s be honest, we love it, too. This land is open for Early Entry.
Fantasyland
Adventureland
Frontierland
Tomorrowland Rides:
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
Space Mountain (44”)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Tomorrowland Speedway (32”)
TRON Lightcycle / Run (48")
Tomorrowland Experiences + Shows:
Carousel of Progress
Tomorrowland has a piece of my heart for it’s look-to-the-future-vibe, but how it ironically feels nostalgic. This land is open during Early Entry.
Adventureland Rides:
Jungle Cruise
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Pirates of the Caribbean
Adventureland Experiences + Shows:
Swiss Family Treehouse
Enchanted Tiki Room
A Pirate’s Adventure - Treasures of the Seven Seas
Adventureland is our favorite land. It makes me want to grab a backpack and get lost somewhere - maybe in search of the perfect rum cocktail (psstt...you can find one at Jungle Navigation Co.!)
Tomorrowland
Adventureland
NEXT
BACK
NEXT
BACK
Fantasyland Rides:
The Barnstormer (38”)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
"it's a small world"
Mad Tea Party
Peter Pan's Flight*
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (38”)
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid
Fantasyland has the most attractions that are “any height”, meaning the entire family can ride - even babies! It’s the biggest draw for toddlers and preschool-age kids and let’s be honest, we love it, too. This land is open for Early Entry.
Fantasyland Experiences + Shows:
Casey Jr Splash N' Soak Station
Enchanted Tales w/ Belle
Mickey’s Philharmagic
See Cinderella at Princess Fairytale Hall
See Tiana at Princess Fairytale Hall
Fantasyland
Frontierland Rides:
Big Thunder Mountain (40")
Tiana's Bayou Adventure (40")
Frontierland Experiences + Shows:
Country Bear Jamboree
Tom Sawyer Island
Frontierland feels the most “laid-back” to me out of all the lands, and is a great land to go when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Frontierland
Frontierland
Liberty Square Rides:
Haunted Mansion
Liberty Square Experiences + Shows:
Hall of Presidents
Liberty Square Riverboat
Fun fact: Liberty Square is the only land with no public restrooms - except the restaurants of course. Since indoor plumbing didn’t exist in this land’s era, restrooms wouldn’t have existed either, and Disney is aaall about theming.
Meet Mickey at Town Sq. Theatre
Let the Magic Begin (welcome show)
Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade + Adventure Friends Cavalcade
The Dapper Dans
Festival of Fantasy Parade
Happily Ever After
Repeat after me: Castle. Coffee. Fireworks. Shopping.
While there are no attractions in this land, there are a lot of shows, parades and meet and greets to be found. Like...
Liberty Square
Main Street USA
NEXT
BACK
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Tomorrowland Rides:
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
Space Mountain (44”)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Tomorrowland Speedway (32”)
TRON Lightcycle /Run (48")
Tomorrowland Experiences + Shows:
Carousel of Progress
Tomorrowland has a piece of my heart for it’s look-to-the-future-vibe, but how it ironically feels nostalgic. This land is open during Early Entry.
Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland Rides:
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
Space Mountain (44”)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Tomorrowland Speedway (32”)
Tomorrowland Experiences + Shows:
Carousel of Progress
HIGHEST WAIT TIME: Space Mountain (44")
Tomorrowland has a piece of my heart for it’s looking-to-the-future, but now it ironically feels nostalgic, like the 70s airport in Catch me if you Can. This is one of the lands that’s opened during Early Entry.
TOMORROWLAND
NEXT
BACK
Adventureland Rides:
Jungle Cruise
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Pirates of the Caribbean
Adventureland Experiences + Shows:
Swiss Family Treehouse
Enchanted Tiki Room
A Pirate’s Adventure - Treasures of the Seven Seas
Adventureland is our favorite land. It makes me want to grab a backpack and get lost somewhere - maybe in search of the perfect rum cocktail (psstt...you can find one at Jungle Navigation Co.!)
Adventureland
Tomorrowland Rides:
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
Space Mountain (44”)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Tomorrowland Speedway (32”)
Tomorrowland Experiences + Shows:
Carousel of Progress
HIGHEST WAIT TIME: Space Mountain (44")
Tomorrowland has a piece of my heart for it’s looking-to-the-future, but now it ironically feels nostalgic, like the 70s airport in Catch me if you Can. This is one of the lands that’s opened during Early Entry.
TOMORROWLAND
NEXT
BACK
Frontierland Rides:
Big Thunder Mountain (40")
Tiana's Bayou Adventure (40")
Frontierland Experiences + Shows:
Country Bear Jamboree
Tom Sawyer Island
Frontierland feels the most “laid-back” to me out of all the lands, and is a great land to go when you’re feeling overwhelmed.
Frontierland
Tomorrowland Rides:
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
Space Mountain (44”)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Tomorrowland Speedway (32”)
Tomorrowland Experiences + Shows:
Carousel of Progress
HIGHEST WAIT TIME: Space Mountain (44")
Tomorrowland has a piece of my heart for it’s looking-to-the-future, but now it ironically feels nostalgic, like the 70s airport in Catch me if you Can. This is one of the lands that’s opened during Early Entry.
TOMORROWLAND
NEXT
BACK
Liberty Square Rides:
Haunted Mansion
Liberty Square Experiences + Shows:
Hall of Presidents
Liberty Square Riverboat
Fun fact: this is the only land with no public restrooms - except restaurants. Since indoor plumbing didn’t exist in the land’s era, public restrooms wouldn’t have existed either, and Disney is all about theme. If you need a potty - head to a neighboring land!
Liberty Square
Tomorrowland Rides:
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
Space Mountain (44”)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Tomorrowland Speedway (32”)
Tomorrowland Experiences + Shows:
Carousel of Progress
HIGHEST WAIT TIME: Space Mountain (44")
Tomorrowland has a piece of my heart for it’s looking-to-the-future, but now it ironically feels nostalgic, like the 70s airport in Catch me if you Can. This is one of the lands that’s opened during Early Entry.
TOMORROWLAND
NEXT
BACK
Meet Mickey at Town Square Theatre
Let the Magic Begin (welcome show)
Mickey’s Celebration Cavalcade + Adventure Friends Cavalcade
The Dapper Dans
Festival of Fantasy Parade
Happily Ever After
Repeat after me: Castle. Coffee. Fireworks.
While there are no attractions in this land, there are a lot of shows, parades and meet and greets to be found on Main Street USA. Like...
Main Street USA
Tomorrowland Rides:
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
Space Mountain (44”)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Tomorrowland Speedway (32”)
Tomorrowland Experiences + Shows:
Carousel of Progress
HIGHEST WAIT TIME: Space Mountain (44")
Tomorrowland has a piece of my heart for it’s looking-to-the-future, but now it ironically feels nostalgic, like the 70s airport in Catch me if you Can. This is one of the lands that’s opened during Early Entry.
TOMORROWLAND
NEXT
BACK
The parade is a great way to see a lot of characters like Mickey, Peter Pan, Ariel, Rapunzel, and a Fire Breathing Dragon (maybe give your kids a heads up about that one!)
BEST SPOTS TO WATCH
Frontierland is my favorite spot for a few reasons: since the parade starts in Frontierland, it takes about 20 minutes to reach Main Street USA. Watching from Frontierland means you can get back to rides with low waits before everyone else! It's also far less crowded and has more shade.
Where to Watch
SPOT TO WATCH: TWO
If you're planning on heading out after the parade, the end of the Main Street by the flag pole is an excellent view since you can watch the parade turn the corner. It's the least crowded, and right next to the exit for you to duck out.
Where to Watch
MORE PARADE TIPS
- The parade takes about 20 minutes to reach in front of the Castle towards Main Street
- Confirm the parade showtime(s) in the My Disney Experience app
- Take a potty break before it starts
- If you're not watching the parade, this is great time to ride attractions with lower wait times
BACK TO FIRST SLIDE
Parade & Fireworks
THE PARADE
When people talk about the fireworks, they're talking about "Happily Ever After"! Check ahead of time to confirm which nights it's showing (this will not be performed on nights with a Halloween or Christmas Party.)
BEST SPOTS TO WATCH
While you can really get a view of the fireworks from anywhere, the cool thing about Happily Ever After are the projections on the Castle. Anywhere between the Central Plaza and the castle are the best views.
Where to Watch
DESSERT PARTIES
- If you want to beat the after-fireworks crowd, watch from further down Main Street USA.
- Bring a set of pajamas for your kids to change into, so when you get back to the room it's *plop* to bed
- If you can hang, after the fireworks is a great time for low wait times
- While it's definitely not necessary, people start saving their spots about an hour - if not more - before fireworks start
BACK TO FIRST SLIDE
TIP #1: Check a calendar
Triple checking a calendar (I like the free one from UnderCover Tourist) will show you things like high and low crowds, events, and holidays you should be aware of. You may end up wanting to switch your days around after knowing what you know!
TIP #2: Try for mid-week
Historically, crowds are higher on Mondays and Saturdays. Tuesday through Thursday will statistically have the least amount of crowds.
TIP #3: Ride at "odd times"
Riding attractions during the parade (especially the first show of the day) and fireworks will give you lower wait times
TIP #4: The last minute
After the fireworks is a great time to ride some bigger attractions. You can get into the standby queue for a ride up until literal park close, they have to get you ride.
The Barnstormer (35")
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40”) closing for a year-long refurbishment on January 6, 2025
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Haunted Mansion
“it’s a small world”
Jungle Cruise
Mad Tea Party
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Peter Pan’s Flight
Pirates of the Caribbean
Space Mountain (44”)
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (40”)
Tomorrowland Speedway (32")
Under the Sea ~ The Little Mermaid
- Lightning Lane Multi Pass is the new skip-the-line system at Disney World that allows you to use the "Lightning Lane" (expedited queue) at an attraction.
- Multi Pass costs between $15-35/day per person and can be purchased in your My Disney Experience app either 7 days before your check-in date if you're staying on property, or 3 days if you're not.
- You can pre-book 3 Multi Pass picks and up to 2 Single Pass picks in ONE park only. Once you use one, you can book another Lightning Lane in any tier you want.
For us, Multi Pass is a no-brainer when we have a full day in Magic Kingdom.
It has the most attractions included and the most for kids to ride out of any other park.
Do yourself a favor and invest in Lightning Lanes on your Magic Kingdom day!
USING LIGHTNING LANES TO SKIP THE LINES
WHAT SHOULD I BOOK FIRST?
Pre-book your Lightning Lanes based on which ones YOUR family wants to ride and will also sell out first. These are the top rides that have the average highest wait time, and tend to sell out the soonest:
TIANA'S BAYOU ADVENTURE
PETER PAN'S FLIGHT
JUNGLE CRUISE
TRON LIGHTCYCLE RUN*
SEVEN DWARF'S MINE TRAIN*
*Not included with Multi Pass but can be purchased separately
ATTRACTIONS WITH LIGHTNING LANES
Attractions with Virtual Queues are unique in the fact that they do NOT have a standby lines.
Download a quick refresher HERE.
HOW TO JOIN A VIRTUAL QUEUE
bonus guide!
Dining in Magic Kingdom
Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
Energy Bytes
Cool Ship
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe 📲
The Lunching Pad 📲
Joffrey’s Revive
Tomorrowland Terrace (this only hosts the Fireworks Dessert Party)
Tomorrowland
NEXT
Aloha Isle
Spring Roll Cart 💗 (seasonal)
Jungle Navigation Co. 💗 🍽️
Sunshine Tree Terrace 📲
Tortuga Tavern (closed)
Adventureland
NEXT
Click here to learn more about Mobile Ordering
NEXT
👑 Character Dining
🍽️ Needs an advanced dining reservations
📲 Mobile Order available
💗 Dana's Favorites
Are you here for the food? I knew we’d be friends.
In this section you'll see all the dining options by land. I marked which are my favorites, have characters, mobile ordering and dining that requires an advanced reservation.
Save time by mobile ordering
Open your My Disney Experience app, click the "+" and choose “Order Food.” Pick the restaurant, and your arrival time, and then add to your order.
During your arrival window, select the “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” button (I like to do this while I'm walking over). The screen will turn purple and tell you exactly where to pick up.
The most under-rated restaurant in my opinion, Jungle Nav Co. is tucked away in Adventureland and themed to feel like it's where the crew of the Jungle Cruise eats.
This is the only place in Magic Kingdom where you can get a margarita and find the spiciest food (two of our favorite things.)
OUR FAVORITE DINING RESERVATION
My favorite snack
Main Street Confectionary has a make-your-own popcorn bar. Choose your base, add M&Ms, anything you like! It's a great treat that isn't so sugar-laden like other things in Magic Kingdom.
best QUICK SERVICE spots for...
Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
Columbia Harbour House
Pinocchio Village Haus
Casey's Corner
ON THE BLOG: JUNGLE NAVIGATION CO. REVIEW
Magic Kingdom with Little Kids
BEST RIDES
RIDER SWITCH
SPOTS TO PLAY
BABIES
Skip ahead to:
MEMORIES
CHARACTERS
STROLLERS
We have two little girls ages 6 and 2, so while my oldest can ride most things now, we gravitate towards things we can all ride together!
These are my favorite rides that are always a hit with the whole family:
Peter Pan’s Flight
it’s a small world
Mad Tea Party
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Prince Charming's Regal Carrousel
Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Haunted Mansion*
Jungle Cruise
Pirates of the Caribbean*
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Astro Orbiter
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
PeopleMover
*These can be a liiittle scary!
BEST RIDES
What's Rider Switch and how does it work?
RIDER SWITCH
The best way to save time! One adult rides while the other stays back with the kid(s) not riding because they're either too little or just don't want to...
Then *switch*! The adult that stayed behind can use the Lightning Lane instead of waiting in standby a second time.
Here's how:
Find a Cast Member (they'll usually be holding a device) at the attraction with your entire family.
The adult whose staying behind will have their ticket/MagicBand scanned along with whoever wants to ride with them.
Rider Switch is available for: Tiana's Bayou Adv., Barnstormer, Big Thunder Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, Tomorrowland Speedway & TRON Lightcycle Run.
After riding, the adult that just rode stays back with the "not riding" child.
Now the adult that waited doesn't have to wait in the regular standby line: they can use the Lightning Lane.
Here's the best part: the adult using the Lightning Lane can bring someone with them! So someone could ride a second time!
non-riders
riders
non-riders
riders
THE STANDBY QUEUE FOR DUMBO: THE FLYING ELEPHANT
...has a playground - with air conditioning! You can even keep your place in line while the kids play.
THE HUB GRASS ON MAIN ST USA
...in front of the castle is a great spot to let your baby crawl around. Grab an iced coffee, or even lunch, and have a little picnic on the grass.
QUEUE FOR MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH
...not air-conditioned but it’s always a hit with my girls and super interactive!
SWISS FAMILY TREEHOUSE
...there’s a LOT of steps (you'd have to carry your baby) so great for when a kid needs to blow off some energy! My favorite part of Adventureland.
TOM SAWYER ISLAND
...take a boat from Frontierland to explore this secret island. Only do this if you feel like you’re not in a rush since it takes a bit to get back.
CASEY JR SPLASH N' SOAK
...find this near Dumbo's ride. On hot park days it’s a good idea to pack a bathing suit/swim diaper because the kids WILL get wet!
ADVENTURELAND MISTERS
...just up the steps from Jungle Cruise, this is a great spot to let the kids out of the stroller to cool off - perfect after a Magic Carpet ride!
SPOTS TO PLAY
There's a lot of sitting in Disney World (in the stroller, on rides, in restaurants) but kids have to MOVE. These are the best spots to let your kids out and let them run, crawl, or just straight up play.
My number 1 tip for visiting with an infant is to use the Baby Care Center next to the Crystal Palace (by the entrance of Magic Kingdom). It’s a clean, air-conditioned spot with cushioned changing tables, with lots of room to breathe instead of the crowded restrooms.
BABIES
The Baby Care Center will have last minute items available for purchase: formula, diapers, wipes, baby food, medicine, etc. There’s a place to fill up your water bottle, or microwave a snack for your toddler. It’s really the best!
I recently brought our 7 week old to Disney and found that the Carousel of Progress was perfect for a solid nursing session; 21 minutes, dark and air conditioned, not too loud. Perfect!
SEE THE BABY CARE CENTER ON THE MAP HERE.
There are so many hidden adorable moments to be found in Magic Kingdom.
Here are my favorites:
MEMORIES
- Get Pixie Dusted (free!)
Next to Cinderella Castle you'll find Sir Mickey's. Ask a Cast Member if they have any "pixie dust" and a little magic will come your way. - Silhouette Portrait
An artist creates a silhouette of
your child's sweet profile. Find booths on Main Street + Liberty Square - Embroidered Ears
Get your child's name embroidered on their first pair of Mickey ears *cries*. Find them at Curtain Call Collectibles, right next to Town Square Theater. Heads up: this can be up to 90 mins before it's ready to be picked up, so go earlier + come back.
More experiences called "Enchanting Extras" can be booked 60 days before (at midnight!) like a makeover at Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique.
1/2
First, open the My Disney Experience app > hit map > filter Magic Kingdom > characters
Tap "show list" to see aaaall the characters you can meet, you can even find them on the map!
2/2
Tap "show list" to see aaaall the characters you can meet, you can even find them on the map!
Tap "show list" to see aaaall the characters you can meet, you can even find them on the map!
You can meet Mickey indoors at Town Square Theatre. The wait times for this can be very long, so hit it first thing in the morning if you can! This is no longer offered as a Lightning Lane.
Oh, you want Mickey??
WHERE TO FIND CHARACTERS
In addition to the parade, there are lots of spots to meet your kids favorite characters like Winnie the Pooh, Rapunzel, etc. Here's how to find them:
MAGIC KINGDOM, FANTASYLAND
A popular spot themed to look like The Beast’s Castle.
Beast makes an appearance (NOT Belle) and doesn't walk around to take photos. Reservations can be made 60 days in advance.
CINDERELLA CASTLE, MAGIC KINGDOM
Dine and meet Cinderella and other Disney princesses inside the castle. Reservations can be made 60 days in advance.
Pro Tip: plan a meal here for a special occasion, like an anniversary or birthday.
MAIN ST, MAGIC KINGDOM
See Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore for either breakfast, lunch or dinner. Our favorite character meal in Magic Kingdom!
Pro Tip: Get a breakfast reservation and order a mimosa "light on the orange juice". Thank me later...
THE CONTEMPORARY RESORT
Have breakfast or dinner with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto.
It can get pretty noisy if your kids are sensitive to that, otherwise a great spot on the monorail to have a character meal. Reservations can be made 60 days before.
POLYNESIAN RESORT
At the Polynesian Resort (which is on the monorail connected to Magic Kingdom), have a family-style breakfast with Lilo and Stitch.
Note that characters are only during breakfast.
WILDERNESS LODGE
We LOVE this spot. It's for dinner-only, with a fixed menu. Meet Snow White, Dopey, Grumpy + the Evil Queen herself.
Tip: Take a boat directly from Magic Kingdom to Wilderness Lodge!
GRAND FLORIDIAN
This is a buffet meal for breakfast or dinner with characters like Tiana, Mirabel, Cinderella and Aladdin (these can switch around!)
Tip: Take a monorail directly from Magic Kingdom to Grand Floridian!
Even if your child doesn't use a stroller at home, I think anyone under nine should bring one! We gate-check our double stroller from home to stow our drinks, bags, sweatshirts...and, um, daughters...
Here are the deets:
STROLLERS
- Strollers can't be larger than 31" wide and 52" long. Double strollers are OK!
- Stroller parking can be at completely different spots then where you enter the ride. Look for designated signs before getting in the queue.
- Within these parking areas, Cast Members will move strollers around to make room. So no - your stroller didn't get stolen - just moved!
- Tie or hang something on yours so you can spot it easily - I tie a red bandana!
- Wagons/stroller wagons are NOT allowed.
- The park offers strollers for rent, but they are hard plastic, don't recline, and I 10/10 do not recommend
This is the only service I've heard of that is allowed to leave the stroller at your resort without meeting you in person.
If you're looking to rent a stroller,
for the best options I've found.
SCOOTERBUG RENTAL
BABYQUIP
If want to rent a stroller, here are the best options I've found
click here
We used this on our last trip and absolutely loved it. We rented a double stroller, bassinet, even a baby bath for our newborn from a sweet Orlando-based mama.
This is the only service I've heard of that is allowed to leave the stroller at your resort without meeting you in person.
BABYQUIP
SCOOTERBUG RENTAL
We used this on our last trip and absolutely loved it. We rented a double stroller, bassinet, even a baby bath for our newborn from a sweet Orlando-based mama.
When Things Go Wrong
First thing to do is to let the closest Cast Member know along with a detail of your kid's appearance. They are HIGHLY trained and will communicate with staff across the park. Your child will be taken to the Baby Center - if need be - until you're reunited.
I love these temporary tattoos that you can write your phone number on for peace of mind!
LOST CHILDREN
Try and start your day off as soon as possible since thunderstorms tend to creep up in the afternoon. Bring along a raincoat or poncho, umbrella, and a rain stroller cover. Head to indoor spots like Carousel of Progress, Enchanted Tiki Room, or PeopleMover until the storm passes - they are quick! If the forecast is predicting a soggy day, throw some waterproof sandals in your bag.
RAIN
If you have a Lightning Lane return time and the ride closes during your window, the MDE app will automatically give you a "Multi-experience pass" that you can use somewhere else!
You can check other closures + refurbishments in the My Disney Experience app.
RIDE CLOSURES
Splash Mountain is closed to become Tiana's Bayou Adventure!
First, let the closest Cast Member know along with a detail of your kid's appearance. They are HIGHLY trained and will communicate with staff across the park. Your child will be taken to the Baby Center - if need be - until you're reunited.
I love these temporary tattoos that you can write your phone number on for peace of mind!
LOST KIDS
If you have a Lightning Lane return time and the ride closes during your window, the MDE app will automatically give you a "Multi-experience pass" that you can use somewhere else!
You can check other closures + refurbishments in the My Disney Experience app or click here.
RIDE CLOSURES
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You'll only find paper straws in Disney World that get SO soggy. Try these compostable-but-feel-like-plastic straws
We're not poncho people, so I make sure to always have an umbrella in my bag and a rain cover in the stroller's boot!
SEE MORE
We've had this clip-on stroller fan since '19 and it's still kickin'. Aaaand it can be recharged with FuelRods (win-win)
This may be my best - if not only - mom hack. TRIANGLE crayons that don't roll of restaurant tables!
Our Park Day Essentials
These itineraries walk you through a Magic Kingdom day separated into two parts, each with 8 attractions. Use them on their own, in pieces, or combined together.
Pre-Designed Itineraries
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