Magic Kingdom
The Magic Kingdom is the perfect Theme Park. That's Dad's story and he's sticking to it. It's the best designed, it's the most fun, it's just the best. Trust me.
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This park is by far the most visited park in the world. Over 15 million people every year walk through it's gates. Uncle Walt created something very special when he designed "The Most Magical Place on Earth".
The Entrance to the Magic Kingdom
Photo by Joe Penniston
Cinderella Castle
Cinderella Castle is the center of the park. For very good reason, it's amazing. The 189 foot castle towers over everything in the park. It's Florida's most photographed landmark. Everyone should experience it one time. (See Dad's favorite memory of Cinderella Castle)
Dad's Cinderella Castle page
The Lands
The Magic Kingdom has five (it used to be 6) "lands" there are over 40 rides, shows and attractions divided up between the lands. Each of the lands has a different theme. Each land is very unique.
Here are a list of the lands in the order Uncle Walt meant for them to be seen. Click on the land to see what's inside.
Main Street USA
This is the opening act to the best interactive movie you'll ever see. There aren't any rides here but lots of great shops and places to go back in time.
Attractions -
Dad's Main Street USA page
Fantasyland
Fantasyland is the home of the most loved Disney World rides of all times. Fantasyland is undergoing a major update. See Dad's Fantasyland Upgrade page for more updates.
Attractions -
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant (part of the new Storybook Circus)
- Prince Charming's Regal Carousel
- It's a Small World
- Peter Pan's Flight
- Mickey's Philharmagic
- Mad Tea Party
- Snow Whites Scary Adventures
- Winnie the Pooh
Dad's Fantasyland page
Liberty Square
See the pride of a new country. History abounds in every step. From the Liberty Bell replica to the beautiful Riverboat that could have been the where Mark Twain came from.
Attractions -
Dad's Liberty Square page
Frontierland
Uncle Walt captures Westward Expansion in a sometime whimsical, sometimes scary and just downright fun way.
Attractions -
Dad's Frontierland page
Adventureland
Take a trip to exotic lands around the world. Watch out for the pirates. They are everywhere.
Attractions -
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Swiss Family Robinson Tree House
- Enchanted Tiki Room.
- Jungle Cruise
- Pirates of the Caribbean
Dad's Adventureland page
Tomorrowland
"The future that never will be".
This is Dad's favorite part of the park. The rides here are the best anywhere.
Attractions -
- Stitch's Great Escape
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
- Buzz Lightyear's Ranger Spin
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority
- Astro Orbiter
- Carousel of Progress
- Space Mountain
- Tomorrowland Speedway
Dad's Tomorrowland page
The Extras
What sets Walt Disney World apart from those "other" theme parks is the extras that are thrown in during the day.
The Parades
Uncle Walt loved parades and if you've seen any parade put on by Disney you know that they are the best. Period.
Waiting for the parade Photo by Express Monorail
- Main Street Electrical Parade - the evening parade which replaced SpectroMagic
- Celebrate a Dream Come True - the afternoon parade
- Move it! Shake it! Celebrate it! - party time with the Disney Characters as the dance and sing their way down Main Street.
Make sure to find a spot to watch these great shows early.
The Shows
Every day there are several shows that thrill guests all around the Magic Kingdom.
- Dream along with Mickey - the Castle stage is the location for music and dancing while experiencing Mickey's dreams.
- Frontierland Hoedown - dance with the Country Bears.
- Captain Jack Sparrow Tutorial - learn to be a "proper" pirate. You can take the oath and join the crew.
And of course the day ends with the best shows anywhere. Wishes and The Magic, The Memories and You are the perfect way to end every day.
The Little Things
The little extras are what separate Disney Parks from other theme parks. Some of these are mind blowing and some are just simple daily activities that bring a special feel to the park.
The Flag Retreat - every day at 5:00 pm the Magic Kingdom flag is lowered by the Security color guard with the Dapper Dan's and the Main Street Philharmonic accompanying.
The Dapper Dan's Photo by Jeff_B - The Dapper Dan's - Dad's dream group. The Dapper Dan's are a Barbershop Quartet that performs several times a day outside the barber shop, oddly enough. (Keep checking, one of these days, you might find Dad in stripes.)
- Main Street Philharmonic - 12 piece brass and percussion group
- Push the Talking Trash can - Push thrills audiences several times a day as he talks trash. Literally.
- The Main Street Pianist - the piano player (don't shoot him) outside Casey's Corner.
Check out the schedule on your map to see what shows, parades and little things that are happening during your visit. Take advantage of some of the best entertainment Disney has ever developed.
Special Events
The Magic Kingdom has a couple of magnificent Special Events during the year.
The Magic of Christmas
Christmas at Disney World is the best time of the year to visit. Disney knows how to throw a party and Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party is one of the best parties you'll ever attend.
The Magic Kingdom puts on it's finest duds for Christmas. During November and December there are several special Christmas shows that happen all around the park.
Dad's Christmas at Disney World page
Halloween Happenings
While Christmas is special, Halloween is spooky (in a Disney way). At Halloween, there are special shows, parades and Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party.
Scary? Not so much
Photo by Express Monorail
Dad's Disney World Events page
The Restaurants
| Breakfast |
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| Photo by Samantha Decker |
The Magic Kingdom is not famous for it's fine cuisine, but it does have one of the most coveted restaurants at Disney World.
Quick Service Restaurants
- Casey's Corner - Hot dog stand.
- PInocchio Village Haus - Fast Food in Fantasyland.
- Mrs. Potts Cupboard - Drinks and ice cream
- Columbia Harbor House - Fish and chips, chicken and sandwiches
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe - Hamburgers and more in Frontierland
- Tortuga Tavern - Captain Jack's favorite establishment serves Mexican fast food
- Sunshine Tree Terrace - Drinks and ice cream
- Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe - Chicken and hamburgers
Table Service Restaurants
- Tony's Town Square Restaurant - Italian Restaurant with a Lady and the Tramp theme.
- Cinderella's Royal Table - The Magic Kingdom's signature restaurant located in Cinderella Castle.
- The Crystal Palace - Character buffet starring Winnie the Pooh and friends.
- Liberty Tree Tavern - Colonial dining featuring a traditional Thanksgiving meal
Grabbing a bite to eat has gotten more interesting in the last few years.
Dad's Disney World Restaurants page
A Video of a day at the Magic Kingdom
The Details
Here are some of the details that will help you plan your time in the Magic Kingdom.
Crowds
Mickey Mouse's house is the busiest theme park in Florida, for a great reason. It's magic. Crowds during the year range from the not very busy January day to Christmas Day where they actually close the park to new guests.
Dad's Guide to avoiding the crowds
Touring Plans
The Magic Kingdom is the one park where some kind of a touring plan is essential. There are 40 attractions to see in the park and according to Disney the average guest sees 9 on an average day. That's not very good.
This is why Dad highly recommends Touringplans.com. It's the website for the group that writes the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World. They have over 100 plans to help you minimize your wait times at all the parks. Check them out.
Dad's Touringplans.com page
Hours
When it comes to opening and closing times, this park is very unpredictable. Very unpredictable. In fact Disney sometimes changes closing time during the day. To see what the hours are for your trip check out ...
Dad's Magic Kingdom Hours page
Uncle Walt's Magic Kingdom
This is the last project Uncle Walt worked on before his untimely death. It's his greatest creation and it's the perfect Theme Park. The whole park, including the entrance is part of the theater and story. Uncle Walt was a magnificent story teller and the Magic Kingdom is his best story ever.
Dad's Uncle Walt's Best Story Ever page
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Dad's Bottom Line
Dad believes this is the best theme park in Florida, and for that fact, the whole world. Everyone should go to Disney World and see the house that Mickey Mouse built.
It's magic. Trust me.
Read reviews at TripAdvisor
