Planning a trip to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida can be a bit overwhelming, but these 10 Disney World tips and tricks will help make your experience as magical as possible!
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10 Magic Kingdom Disney World Tips and Tricks
Table of Contents
- 1. Make park reservations in advance
- 2. Download the My Disney Experience App
- 3. How to use the Genie+ Lightning Lane Pass
- 4. Arrive at the park earlier than you think
- 5. Stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- 6. How to strategically plan your day at Disney World Magic Kingdom
- 7. Know the best places to sit for the Magic Kingdom parade and fireworks show
- 8. Take advantage of the rain
- 9. Bring snacks and drinks
- 10. Have fun and don’t stress!
1. Make park reservations in advance
It is important to note that in addition to purchasing your tickets, you will need to make park reservations.
This is a fairly new procedure, and if you do not have reservations you will not get in!
There are a limited number of daily reservations and once that has been reached then you won’t be able to enter the park, even if you have a ticket.
It is critical to book your reservations in advance, particularly during peak season.
It is also critical that you check the reservation calendar prior to purchasing the tickets to ensure that there is still availability on your desired dates.
If you are flexible on your dates, I would highly recommend consulting a crowd calendar as well before booking your tickets.
2. Download the My Disney Experience App
You’ll want to download the My Disney Experience App before you go.
This is where you’ll link your park tickets and make lightning lane reservations if you choose to purchase the Genie+.
You can also use the app for mobile food orders, make dining reservations, see the daily event schedule for parades and shows, check for ride wait times, and see your GPS location inside of the park.
Speaking of dining reservations, you can make them up to 180 days in advance.
The more popular character dining experiences, such as Cinderella’s Royal Table, book up months in advance so be sure to make your reservations early.
3. How to use the Genie+ Lightning Lane Pass
The lightning lane pass is Disney’s newest version of the retired “fast pass”. If you purchase Genie+, it gives you access to lightning lane passes for almost all of the rides in the park.
As of July 2022, the cost was $15 per person per day, but I believe they have since raised the price. The updated price will be available on the app.
It is definitely worth the cost as it will allow you to spend more time on the rides and less time standing in lines.
The lightning lane pass works a little differently than the fast pass.
You can request your first lightning lane pass at 7 am the day of your visit, and they go fast! Set your alarm for 6:45 am then make sure all of your family’s passes are linked to your app.
Choose your top 2 rides and start refreshing the tip board on the app at 6:59 so that you can get your request in right at 7 am.
I would recommend trying to get passes for Big Thunder Mountain or Space Mountain first since they fill up the fastest.
There are only a limited number of lightning lane passes available per ride per day, so try to do the most popular rides early before they are gone.
Once you get your first lightning lane pass, you’ll be assigned a time. After you scan your ticket for that ride, you can then hop on the app and request your next pass.
There is a 5-minute window, so if you arrive at the ride 5 minutes before your assigned time they will still let you on. These 5-minute windows add up and will save you time throughout the day.
If the first available time is more than 2 hours after the park opens, then you can make an additional selection 120 minutes after the park opens.
This YouTube video is super helpful in explaining just how the Genie+ Lightning Lane passes work.
The passes are put onto a card, but if you don’t like the hassle of pulling out a card for every ride, you can also purchase a MagicBand that links your account to a wristband.
The MagicBands are complimentary if you are staying at a resort hotel.
It’s not clear if there is a limit on how many times you can use lightning lane passes, but we were able to use them for seven different rides throughout the day before we maxed out. It saved us so much time!
However, the Genie+ isn’t available for every ride. A few of the more popular rides, including the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, require an individual lightning lane purchase for an additional $10 per person.
4. Arrive at the park earlier than you think
Many people arrive at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park expecting to park and walk in. What they don’t realize, is that you’ll need to take a monorail, ferry boat, or bus to the actual park entrance.
The check-in process takes much longer at Magic Kingdom so you’ll need to arrive at the park at least an hour before it opens.
Once you arrive, you’ll need to find parking. Then you’ll wait in line to scan your tickets and get your passes.
Then you’ll need to wait in line to take the monorail, ferry boat, or bus. We took the monorail and it’s a 7-minute ride from the parking lot to the gates.
Once you get to the gates, you’ll need to wait in line to scan your tickets again to get into the park.
If you plan to be there for the rope drop, an insider tip is that the initial rope drop actually happens an hour before the park opens.
It only gives you access to Main Street, USA. However, it’s a great opportunity to wander around and grab a picture in front of the castle without all of the crowds.
This also guarantees that you’ll be there for the welcome parade.
Once inside the park, there are six different rope drop locations that allow access to the rides. These ropes drop right as the park opens.
Have a strategy and know where you want to go because the lines at the rope drop locations begin forming early.
If you plan to be there for the initial rope drop, you may want to arrive at the parking lot 1 1/2-2 hrs before the park opens.
Here is a great article explaining the rope drop strategies.
When leaving the park, there will be two lines for the monorail. One goes directly to the parking lot, and one has a stop at the resort.
As an insider tip, the line for the resort monorail is significantly shorter, but it still ends at the parking lot after dropping off guests at the resort.
5. Stay at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
If you would like to eliminate the hassle of arriving early to get into the park, consider making reservations at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.
Disney’s Contemporary Resort is the closest Disney resort to the Magic Kingdom. You’ll be paying a little more than a standard hotel, but it does come with some extra perks that make it worth it.
Parking is complimentary at the hotel, and the monorail has a stop right in front of the hotel. This saves time and hassle when trying to arrive early at the park.
They also have a path leading to the park if you prefer to take the 10-minute walk.
Another huge perk is that guests at Disney resorts are allowed early access to the park. You will be granted access 30 minutes prior to opening so that you can be sure to be first in line for your favorite ride!
Some of the resorts even offer extended evening hours. Click the link to see which resorts offer this and to see all of the benefits of staying at a Disney resort.
Staying at a Disney resort also allows the magic of the kingdom to carry on during your entire stay. You’ll find touches of magic throughout the resort with themed amenities, character dining, and daily activities.
You can even request a free wake-up call by a Disney character!
For an out-of-this-world experience, book a stay on the Star Wars: Galactic Star Cruiser. This all-inclusive immersive experience is a bit of a splurge, but will be unforgettable!
*Related Post: While you’re in Orlando, see our guide 7 Things to Do in Orlando Besides Theme Parks for more fun things to do in the area.
6. How to strategically plan your day at Disney World Magic Kingdom
Having an enjoyable day at the park takes planning and preparation!
The first step, as mentioned previously, is to take advantage of the lightning lane passes.
You’ll essentially be planning your day around when the passes are available, but there are a few other tips to keep in mind.
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is by far the most popular ride in the park and it is common to have a 2-hour wait all throughout the day.
You can purchase an individual lightning lane pass for this ride specifically, however, at $10 per person it can be quite expensive for just one ride.
Instead, I would recommend arriving at the park early for the rope drop, then running straight to this ride.
If you are staying at a Disney resort and have early access then that is even better.
Alternatively, you could catch this ride just before closing.
A good insider tip is that the rides don’t stop once the park closes. Not only are the lines shorter before closing, but as long as you are in line before the park closes, you will be allowed to ride.
If the park closes at 9 pm and you are in line by 8:59 pm, then you will still be able to ride. I would suggest getting in line at least a half hour before closing, though, just to be safe.
Another tip for saving time in lines is to take advantage of the single-rider line. If you don’t mind sitting next to a stranger on a ride, then this will save you a significant amount of time.
And if you’re traveling with kids, be sure to use the Rider Swap line.
It is also good to note that the lines tend to slow down a little bit during the parades and fireworks show, so that is also a good time to hit the more popular rides.
You’ll most likely still be able to see the fireworks while standing in line, and it’s a unique experience if you get to see the fireworks while you’re actually on the ride!
If you are planning to visit in the summer, you’ll also want to keep in mind that during the peak of the day the temperatures can soar to the upper 90s with high humidity.
During the hottest part of the day, you may want to plan to make dining reservations, shop for souvenirs, or see some indoor shows. The Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor is pretty entertaining and one of our favorites.
There is also the Town Square Theater, Princess Fairytale Hall, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, Country Bear Jamboree, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, and the Hall of Presidents.
It is actually mind-blowing just how realistic the robotic presidents are in the Hall of Presidents show!
In addition to the show, the Hall of Presidents also has a nice air-conditioned room with benches that you can hang out in if you just need a minute of reprieve from the sweltering heat.
If you choose to shop for souvenirs to escape the heat, keep in mind that if you accidentally break your souvenir, you can get a free replacement from any vendor that sells the same product.
And if you’re planning to visit Harry Potter World while in Orlando, then check out our guide The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Photos & Tips!
7. Know the best places to sit for the Magic Kingdom parade and fireworks show
The parades and fireworks shows are definitely a must when visiting the Magic Kingdom! However, you’ll need to plan ahead to get the most out of the experience.
The current Magic Kingdom parade route begins in Frontierland. It continues through Liberty Square, turns right onto the bridge, then circles around the castle before finishing down Main Street, USA.
The parade currently runs twice a day and the second parade is usually less crowded. They also have “Calvacades” which are mini parades held throughout the day.
The parade times are all listed on the My Disney Experience app.
The best place to view the parade with the best ambiance is in front of the castle or along Main Street.
However, the best place to snag a front-row seat without having to wait is in Frontierland or by Liberty Square.
If you do want to get a good spot in front of the castle or along Main Street, you’ll need to stake it out about a half hour before the parade.
The Magic Kingdom is also currently running two fireworks shows. The best spot to watch this is in front of the castle.
However, you won’t need to get front-row seats. The view is actually better a little further back so that you can take in the whole scene.
You’ll still need to arrive early so that you aren’t pushing your way through the crowds, but you can arrive 10-15 minutes early and still find a great spot further back and centered in front of the castle.
8. Take advantage of the rain
You are in Florida. Plan for rain. But don’t let it ruin your trip!
Come prepared with ponchos. I bought this inexpensive 5-pack of ponchos and they were a lifesaver! Even if it doesn’t rain, they still come in handy for Splash Mountain.
Also, keep in mind that if it is raining or lightning then all of the outdoor rides will close. Thankfully, there are still plenty of indoor rides that will keep running.
If it does look like there is rain on the way, then head to one of the indoor rides, such as Space Mountain.
Space Mountain is our favorite because the entire line is indoors as well. When a downpour hit and everyone else was trying to find cover, we were able to ride Space Mountain over and over again.
I mean, you really don’t want to be stuck riding It’s a Small World on repeat!
The rainy season in Florida is from May thru October. Rainstorms usually come in the afternoon, so try to do the outdoor rides in the morning.
But the good thing about Florida summer showers is that they generally hit hard but then quickly move on.
And the good thing about rain is that it usually scares some of the crowds away. If you don’t mind getting a little wet, you’ll enjoy shorter lines!
Just be sure to check the weather before you go so that you can plan accordingly, whether it’s sunscreen and hats, ponchos and umbrellas, or beanies and jackets.
*Related post: Try kayaking at this beautiful natural spring near Orlando!
9. Bring snacks and drinks
Eating inside the park can be quite expensive, so thankfully Disney World allows you to bring outside food and drinks into all of their parks.
While it can be fun to splurge on a dining experience or special snack, you’ll be working up an appetite and you’ll save time and money by packing snacks.
As an insider tip, you can ask for free cups of ice water at any food vendor without making a purchase.
This way you can just bring one refillable water bottle per person inside the park instead of packing a lot of disposable water bottles.
And if you’re scouting out a place to eat, a little secret is that Tom Sawyer Island in Frontierland is the best spot for a picnic!
And if you’re looking for food recommendations, we’ve got a guide to the Best Snacks at Magic Kingdom and where to find them!
10. Have fun and don’t stress!
My last Disney World tip is the most important one, have fun and don’t stress!
Disney is meant to be magic, so don’t let the stress of long lines, hangry kids, overpriced trinkets, rain, or grumpy strangers ruin your mood.
Just assume that everything won’t always go as planned. Be flexible, go with the flow, and enjoy the memories you are making!
It’s also helpful to come prepared with things to keep kids occupied in line. Our favorite is the Heads Up! app. It’s a fun game to play while passing the time in line and will help keep everyone in good spirits.
I hope these Disney World tips and tricks help make your day as magical as possible! If you have any questions or would like to share your own tips, leave it in the comments below!
And if you’re planning a trip to Disneyland in California, check out our 13 Tips and Tricks for Visiting Disneyland!
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