What are the best tips you have for creating the perfect day in the Magic Kingdom?

[sporter5353]

Hey everyone! Pete and I are brainstorming an idea for an upcoming Best and Worst of Walt Disney World episode. We want to know what you guys think are the best tips for navigating and creating the perfect day in the Magic Kingdom! The more unique, the better!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Setting your own expectations Steve. We are our worst enemy. Realize that you are going to the happiest place on earth with friends/family and you DO NOT need to do everything.

Put the expectations in your head that hey no matter if we can't do this meal, meet this character, ride this ride you'll have a good time.

Expectations. Set it and forget it.

 

[scrappinginontario]

When booking FP+ reservations, consult a MK map to find the location of each attraction. It's easy to spend unnecessary time criss-crossing the park to get to FP attractions. If you're planning more than 1 day in the MK, you may wish to group your FP reservations by location each day.

Also, it's a good idea not to grab the very first FPs of the day as that's when the park is least busy. If you're planning on being there for Rope Drop, get your FPs for sometime after the first couple of hours that the park is open.

Honourable mention: FPs for shows are only 15 or 20 mins in length. I try to give first timers a heads up as they get used to FP windows being an hour in length and do not always notice the shorter window.

 

[Farro]

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best! That way you'll never be disappointed.

Make sure to ride the people mover at night.

Spend time browsing in the stores on Main Street. I find it calming. And I find good stuff!

And don't feel too bad if you have a fight in the middle of the Halloween party while waiting for the parade. At least you know you were a source of entertainment for the people around you...

 

[Trap]

slow down and relax you will see so much more their is so many small details if you rush you will never see them

 

[SoosieQ]

I agree with PP. Relax and just enjoy. You are at Disney.....better than being at work!

 

[LisafromIndiana]

We always do everything we want to do with good planning, but our priorities are always the following: each person's favorite ride (we make these our FP's), one awesome show(parade, fireworks, etc) and one amazing meal (ADR at 180 days or as soon as the trip is booked). If we get to do more, that's wonderful, if not, our expectations were met.

 

[hes122]

If you only have 1 day at MK, start in Adventureland and work your way around to Tomorrowland. If you're planning on more than 1 MK day, focus on Adventureland/Frontierland/Liberty Square on Day 1 and Fantasyland/Tomorrowland/Main Street on Day 2 (or vice versa). Don't spend unnecessary time traipsing back and forth across the park

 

[MemoryMakers]

If eating lunch at a quick service, do so early (11:00) or late (2:00). Saves some valuable time not having to wait in long line to order/pick up food.

 

[King of Naboombu]

For a perfect MK day I like to start off by paying my respects to the mouse. So my suggestion would be to meet Mickey at Town Square Theater first. Not only is it in the front of the park but I feel it sets a fun, magical tone for the rest of the day.

Also, if going with children, discuss with them ahead of time which rides they do not meet the height restrictions for as well as what rides they are afraid of. This way you do not get their hopes up for rides that they end up being too short for and can avoid rides they are afraid to ride. For my DS (7), there are rides he used to love that now he is afraid to go on. It can make for a less than perfect day if once in the park you figure out you wasted a fastpass selection 60 days ago because you assumed certain rides were OK based on past trips.

 

[lovethattink]

Convince night owls to become morning people. Rope drop is the best time for standby attractions.

 

[mindeola]

Managing Expectation is #1. You can't do it all. Do not try. It is an excuse to return!

Balance out FP and RD with shows/attractions with low waits times.

 

[Rockette]

If eating lunch at a quick service, do so early (11:00) or late (2:00). Saves some valuable time not having to wait in long line to order/pick up food.

This is probably the best advice. It also means it's easier to find a place to sit and relax without every table around you being filled.

If I eat a full breakfast, I can easily wait until 2 p.m. for lunch. Having dinner a bit later too (after 7:30 pm) makes things much easier.

 

[MrsHull]

Don't overplan. Slow down and enjoy the people you're with.

 

[Accident]

Hey everyone! Pete and I are brainstorming an idea for an upcoming Best and Worst of Walt Disney World episode. We want to know what you guys think are the best tips for navigating and creating the perfect day in the Magic Kingdom! The more unique, the better!

My primary suggestion is:

Limit your plans to 1 thing every hour with a max of 6 things every 8 hours, lower the max by 1 for every table service you are doing in the same 8 hours (aka count table service in the number, don't worry about counter). This sets you up for a successful day no matter what the crowd or weather is, time to walk a little slower to discover things you never noticed, have time for a snack you never knew existed, run into something special that day like a marching band, street performer or random character you weren't expecting. If the crowd allows for more, be spontaneous and randomly do things you normally wouldn't.

My secondary suggestion is:

Have a very narrow goal for why your going into the park. Maybe day 1 is to ride all your favorites and take in what has changed since your last visit. Day 2 might be do everything that happens on main street in the mornings and take in a couple classic rides. Day 3 might be roam around and do what you feel like doing when you come across it... you can't do it all, so a goal of "we're visiting mk" isn't a goal, it's where your goals happen... have a reasonable goal for the day and everything unplanned you add into it is just cherries on top.

 

[Amii]

Don't overplan. Slow down and enjoy the people you're with.

This is the best advice. Most people are there with family or friends. The most important thing should be really taking the time to enjoy each other's company and experience things together. Enjoying time together experiencing the small things can be more rewarding than getting a reservation at a must have restaurant or ride. The best memories often come from the smaller or unexpected things at Disney.

 

[stardam]

Mine is always "find your own groups best touring style". We used to be "must hit rope drop every day" people but now that the littles have grown into moody teens, their sleep is more precious to them & the lack of sleep just makes them unbearable. We have transitioned our style to sleeping in most days, hit up late morning fastpasses, take a break & swim, then return to stay late & close the park down. Repeat next day.
They enjoy the parks much more that way, therefore I enjoy them (the parks & the moody teens) much more!

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Currently planning for my cousin and her little ones. While we'll have more than one day in Magic Kingdom, whilst planning, I keep thinking this:

"You just returned from Disney and meet someone who knows about Disney. The first thing they ask you is, well, did you..."

So for MK, my musts are:
- Be Our Guest
- 7DMT

These are two attractions/restaurants people will absolutely ask if you did.

Next up I'd say you need to do the classics: Small World, Haunted Mansion, the Mountains, Peter Pan, Pirates, etc.

Then you need to make sure to see a parade, watch</strike> Wishes </p> Happily Ever After.

Some tricks we usually do:
- Save rides like Peter Pan and Winnie for after the fireworks, if possible. Most young families leave the park after the fireworks and the wait times dwindle
- Obviously take advantage of the EMH. Use the late-night EMH for Peter Pan, Winnie and Small World.
- We always try and watch the parade from the Country Bear Jamboree building. Once it passes, we head to a ride like Jungle Cruise. Most people are still watching or waiting for the parade. If they're not, they're eating lunch. Rides like Jungle Cruise should have a much lower wait time.

However, my biggest tip is to keep your head up and not rush around. It's easy to miss the details when you're rushing ride to ride or instagramming your picture of the castle. Instead, acknowledge the details on Main Street. The fact that the food is on your right as you enter the park hungry... and the gift shop is on your right as you leave the park and want to grab those last-second souvenirs. Check out the names in the windows; the theming and details in Be Our Guest; how the castle uses forced perspective.. all that stuff is important to check out.

 

[FindingKelly]

Also, it's a good idea not to grab the very first FPs of the day as that's when the park is least busy. If you're planning on being there for Rope Drop, get your FPs for sometime after the first couple of hours that the park is open.

I have actually found it best strategy for my group to come for rope drop and book FP's for the first three hours the park is open (ex: 8:00 am, 9:00 am, 10:00 am). After getting in as much as possible in that precious first hour, you can hit the first FP at the end of its hour (remember each FP has a 15min grace period!), go straight to the second FP, and finish your third by the time hour 3 at the park is just beginning. This way, you can now book a fourth FP for your party and have the best chance of busy attractions still having FPs available. Using this strategy, we're able to finish most attractions by early afternoon! Then we can spend the rest of the day relaxing, sitting down to dinner, grabbing a dole whip and sitting by the Hub, finding a spot for fireworks, etc. A perfect MK day!

 

[stink]

Expect the unexpected ! When your tired and cranky, leave the park or take a break in the park. Stay hydrated. Wear comfortable shoes.

What everyone else said... Rope Drop is your friend. Be armed with the knowledge that you will not do it all, see it all in a day so identify your must ride attractions, must see entertainment and must meet characters.

I have had good experience with lower lines during the last hour of the park being open, so an hour prior to park closing can be your friend as well. Use FP+.