One day at Magic Kingdom: Touring plan suggestion?

[BensDaddy]

I am taking the family to Magic Kingdom in March following a Disney Cruise, but we only have one day to spend there.

We are Disney freaks. This is our third Disney cruise, we've been to Disneyland twice, and Magic Kingdom once (but my little boy was too young to remember WDW). He really wants to see Magic Kingdom's version of Haunted Mansion and compare it to DL and the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay. Aside from that, however, we have no real plans. We have not seen new Fantasyland, so will probably want to ride 7 Dwarfs Mine Train too.

Can someone recommend a one-day touring plan for Magic Kingdom? We are staying on site at Pop Century and I believe MK has early magic hours that morning. We are expecting heavy crowds due to spring break and want to maximize what little time we have.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Fireflyblue]

If you haven't booked fast passes yet, then I would do so ASAP. Also the seven dwarfs mine ride is a very short ride for how long the line can get. If you want to get more done, then I would recommend skipping this ride unless you can get a fastpass reservation for it. I would make a list of all the attractions you would hate to miss and then list in order of importance. This way you can try to see as much of those as you can. To maximize time, eat at counter service restaurants and eat at odd times such as 10:45 or 2:00 for lunch and 7:00 or later for dinner. If you eat during a busy time, then you will spend more time standing in line for food that you could spend waiting in line for your favorite ride. Hope this helps.

 

[growinupdisney]

this past July we went to Magic Kingdom for 1 day and it was a Saturday,we usually go every year but this past year we were taking a year off but an unexpected trip was bringing us to Orlando and we thought since we would be nearby how could we not atheast go one day! This was our first time using the fp+ and we weren't able to to selections until 2 weeks before we left due to being an unexpected trip also Mine train was newly opened! So this what we did.....

Went at rope drop and went straight to 7 dwarfs mine train (wait was 20 min posted but actually took 10 min)
I had fp for BTM Splash and Space Mnt. Starting at 11:00 ending around 2
we rode everything in Fantasland that we wanted to ( no carousel Belle enchanted but everything else)with very little to no wait, then went to our 1st fp which was Space Mnt. I planned that because I knew we would be near fantasyland and would be quicker going from there to Space Mnt. After space we went to New Fantasyland looked got a few autographs rode barnstormer(no one wanted to do dumbo although had no line)

Then left there and went to Fp BTM had lunch then went to Haunted Mansion there was a 40 min wait then went back and did our splash Mnt fp

after this we went to kiosk to get our 4th fp we wanted splash Mnt because it was very hot and wanted to get cooled off none available so we got another for BTM for later that night around 8.

At this point it was probably 4:00 so we just rode anything we didn't do earlier jungle cruise about 40 min wait.. Buzz light year 40 min waited also for 40 min for pirates then it u
Ended up shutting down and didn't ride at all!

Are dinner rode anything that had lower wait times then went back to do BTM but noticed Splash had less than 40 min wait so we rode again got off and the wait was at 60 min. So we hit it perfect then went to BTM used fp got off the looked and saw the time was at 10 min. Rode 3 more times!

Then went and watched wishes and left!

 

[Fireflyblue]

I agree with skipping the seven dwarfs mine ride unless you can get a fastpass for this ride. I would recommend sitting down with your family and each picking two rides each that are a MUST, and try to get fast passes for 3 of those rides and then make a list in order of your priorities for the other rides.

Also, eat at a quick service location for your meals and try to eat at non usual meal times, aka. 11:00 or 1:30 for lunch and 4:00 or 7:30 for dinner. You will spend less time waiting in line for your food and more time you can spend in the park.

Get to the park as early as possible. Arrive before th park opens to ensure that you are in the park right at opening time. Since you should already have fast passes booked I would go straight to a favorite usually busy ride that doesn't have a fastpass ability and go wait in that line first. You can also pick a fastpass ride like space mountain and use a fastpass for something else and go ride that first. Typically if you get there first thing the line isn't much more than 10-15 minutes rather than 100 minutes later in the day.

Last, enjoy your trip. Don't fret and have fun and get a Mickey Ice Cream Bar too to celebrate.

 

[BensDaddy]

I agree with skipping the seven dwarfs mine ride unless you can get a fastpass for this ride. I would recommend sitting down with your family and each picking two rides each that are a MUST, and try to get fast passes for 3 of those rides and then make a list in order of your priorities for the other rides. Also, eat at a quick service location for your meals and try to eat at non usual meal times, aka. 11:00 or 1:30 for lunch and 4:00 or 7:30 for dinner. You will spend less time waiting in line for your food and more time you can spend in the park. Get to the park as early as possible. Arrive before th park opens to ensure that you are in the park right at opening time. Since you should already have fast passes booked I would go straight to a favorite usually busy ride that doesn't have a fastpass ability and go wait in that line first. You can also pick a fastpass ride like space mountain and use a fastpass for something else and go ride that first. Typically if you get there first thing the line isn't much more than 10-15 minutes rather than 100 minutes later in the day. Last, enjoy your trip. Don't fret and have fun and get a Mickey Ice Cream Bar too to celebrate.

Great tips! Ended up getting fast pass plus for 7 Dwarfs at around 9:30, Haunted Mansion at 11:30 (it's my son's favorite), and BTM around 7pm - never ridden it in the dark before. Gonna be a long day!

Amy suggestions where to watch Wishes before we head back to Pop Century for the night?

 

[mickeymom22]

We like watching on the bridge between the hub and Tomorrowland. Tink flies that way and she looks totally magical. To leave, just take a left and when you get on Main Street enter the first store. All the stores are connected and most of the time you can move quicker through them than you can on Main Street.

We have also staked out a spot on the second floor of the train station. If you get really lucky, you can sit at one of the tables and watch. It was fun to watch the ELP from here as well. You miss the detail of Tink's flight, but you get a quick exit from the park and you usually are the first ones on the resort bus heading back.