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

[mtemm]

My perfect day is to start with a plan but be flexible and open. Go at rope drop (we are early risers), and make an ADR for a lunch break at the plaza restaurant. I find I need to step away from the crowds after a while and the plaza has such good, reasonably priced lunch food. Lastly I think knowing when to leave the park, at least for a while, is important too. Don't neglect rides like the people mover and the train as in-park breaks. And hydrate! Don't just eat junk, you will feel wretched if you do.

None of this is particularly novel, but it works for me

 

[djc9699]

My perfect day is just being in the park. The Magic Kingdom is an experience not an amusement park. Rides are fun, but so are the side shows, stage shows, and nighttime shows. There is always something to experience. We keep going back every year and we always discover something magical, usually within ourselves. Watching my 16 year old son lovingly carry his nine year old sleepy sister out of the park after the late electrical parade brought tears to my eye. Seeing my other son last year at 16 help the now 12 year old sister find the perfect set of ears after fighting in the car for the entire 15 hour drive was heartwarming. Watching a complete stranger's toddler light up at meeting their favorite character, seeing the excitement on the faces of kids when a character waves from the parade, the look of awe on people's faces during wishes - we enjoy these things as much as any attraction. That's my perfect day just being in the park soaking it all in and enjoying the uninterrupted time with my kids.

 

[DLBDS]

Some park closing advice... Don't try to leave with the rest of the hoarde at park closing. You'll get caught up in the masses eager to grab their spots in line for Disney transportation. Hang back, browse the shops on Main Street. This could be the perfect time to pick up that one item you've had your eye on. If it's an attraction you're interested in, hop in line a few minutes before the park closes. Unless it breaks down, you're guaranteed to ride. And if you hang around lone enough you'll be there for Disney's "Kiss Goodnight". Not to be missed.

 

[KimBean]

I'm another camp night owl. We very much disliked our one and only rope drop experience. While night owls are in the minority when it comes to DIS super fans, we do in fact exist lol Especially for families with teens and adult only groups.

We sleep in and wake up energized, getting to MK around 12 or 1 (right around the often sought "midday break" for rope droppers). Is it crowded? Yes. But, we start with our original 3 FP's (the book at 60 days highly sought after/lil to no chance in getting same day ones), grab lunch when convenient in between (normally CHH due to the almost peaceful upstairs seating), then start playing a fun game of FP roulette (gotta LOVE being able to do that on your phone now!) until a yummy TS dinner. After dinner, it's a little chill time until finding a good spot for the castle show/fireworks (Our fave is the old FP area closest to Casey's. We arrive an hour early, get a great spot along the inside back rail (so we can lean when we stand up later), then take turns for close Starbucks, ice cream, & the bathroom (next to CP).

After fireworks (we're always there when hours are later), we beeline it to Splash for a couple of no wait back to back rides, and check to see where the smallest waits are. The last 2 hours, and especially last hour (during peak season) blows RD period away with the amount of walk ons and little wait times...all with the advantage of it getting better as time goes by (v/s worse). At closing when the rides stop is our favorite ever!

We meander around almost empty sections of the park, taking in the peaceful nighttime "vibe". We slowly make our way to Main Street, collecting "deserted castle pics". Main Street is beautiful with all the lights at night and lil to no crowd! We always stop and watch in awe as the first Kiss Goodnight happens. Then my family shops in the emporium while I hang out in the deserted "alley" listening to the sisters teach piano lessons up top (They leave the soundtrack running. I don't know why I love ending the night with them in that alley, other than it being deserted with all the pretty lights. It feels far away, and at times real). We always know to meet when the last Kiss Goodnight happens.

After, we try to get one more photo pass pic of a totally deserted castle area before the last photo pass photographer breaks down. Then we slowly make our way out to the front, admiring the view with all the lights and no people... then we end up catching the last bus back to the resort...night owl

We rope drop and night owl and have never gone back to resort midday. Crazy people. But we are known to do relaxing things like rock out on the deck at Tom Sawyer island. Lol. Man I love that. And I miss the rocking chairs near haunted mansion. People watching and taking in atmosphere is some if the best time spent at the parks OP.

 

[keepswimming76]

A "perfect" MK day for me always begins with a pre-park open ADR. Having breakfast in the park before the rides open just always feels so special. On the other end of the spectrum, if you can be in line for a ride you love at park close and be one of the last riders that is an awesome way to end the day. We were lucky to be the last car on the 7DMR ride last year one night and it was very special.

 

[AMusicLifeForMe]

I always book my FP starting around 10 a.m. and ending at 1 p.m. That way I can have a better chance at a 4th FP. The main reason why I start at 10 a.m. is that way the lines start to build up by 11. So, I always use my first FP around 10:45 or 10:50 a.m. That is if the park opens at 9 a.m.

I will also see Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents, Mickey's Philharmonic, and the Tiki Room in the middle of the afternoon. That way I am inside during the hottest part of the day. I will also normally ride People Mover during this time. It's a nice way to relax in the middle of the afternoon since it is a long attraction.

 

[Accident]

One to add: if you are into RD, trying doing it at a park that just had late EMH. My Nephew and I did this at MK after it had just been open until 1am... we did 12 attractions before lunchtime.

never thought of this one but it makes sense.

 

[DT83097]

Don't watch the parade or fireworks through your phone/iPad/camera lens!! Put down the electronics and enjoy it! You can always get a full video of either online later if you must have it.

 

[jimmiej]

1) Do rope drop
2) Make your fastpasses for late morning/early afternoon
3) Plan a table-service meal for lunch to cool off and relax
4) Go back to your Disney hotel in the afternoon for a swim and/or nap
5) Do NOT miss the evening parade/fireworks3

 

[jimmiej]

One to add: if you are into RD, trying doing it at a park that just had late EMH. My Nephew and I did this at MK after it had just been open until 1am... we did 12 attractions before lunchtime.

never thought of this one but it makes sense.

The Unofficial Guide suggests this when planning your park days. I've used this advice for years.

 

[Accident]

The Unofficial Guide suggests this when planning your park days. I've used this advice for years.

How has it worked out compared to days you didn't do this? Now that I live here, you overhear more and more people and their louder than they think conversations in the parks for how they plan and why they go where they do. It's really surprising how pick based on what park is opened the longest that day.

 

[2manyprincesses]

#1 Be OK with splitting up.

Even in our family we do this all the time. I have ridden the carousel hundreds of times with little ones who are not into Space Mountain. We do our thing, they do their thing and then we meet up and do things together and everyone is happy. We have even split up in the morning. I and one of my daughters wanted to hit rope drop at Epcot several years ago and no one else wanted to. She and I went and had a great time, even poking through the shops and completing some (then) Kim Possible missions. They others slept in and met up with us later. Again, everyone is happy!

#2 Grab some ice cream and a curb.

It wasn't planned, but it has turned out to be our tradition that as the Magic Kingdom closes, we grab an ice cream, trade some pins and wait for the Kiss Goodnight. Meanwhile, everyone else is fighting their way to the exit. Yes, we COULD get back to the hotel sooner by joining the herd, but it's more relaxing and fun to just wait.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Hit rope drop, go bagless and wear comfortable shoes.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

Did not read this all but, I have been able to get 5-8 rides in an emh am at DL. I would cut my high number in half and not expect more than 4 rides in a wdw emh. I would start as early as I can choose and area knock it out. Then move to another area. My family and I like adventure and frontier land more than other lands so we will start there on our arrival night.

I also would take it slow so you can see things as you walk by. Don't over plan as many have said. I am trying not too.

 

[Love Tink]

When trying to add extra FP (after your first three), break your party down into ones and twos. In my experience, you can get almost every ride in every park that way (the few exceptions are obvious). On Sunday, I got eight extra legitimate FP after 3:00 for our party of five by breaking the group down. (Dumbo, Barnstormer, Big Thunder, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Buzz, Space Mountain, cars).

 

[LuvMyEAR]

Now this is a beautiful thread! There is just something about MK that makes my day perfect, even if I never get off Main Street!

Everything I have read here so far is true, and can contribute to someone's perfect experience. Magical fact... I think pixie dust filters into my brain when I step inside. My outlook on the world changes and I can't help but reflect on how lucky I am to be standing in that place, with some of the people I love most in the world. That we have the health, the funds, and most importantly, the desire to be there TOGETHER. Impatience and cynicism fade, and I can see the world through Mouse-shaped glasses. That is a good thing, if you are wondering.

On the more practical side, acknowledging our limitations is a key factor. DH and I keep a slower pace now, and need more breaks. We won't hold the younger generations back, and just catch up at strategic points.

 

[rontu78]

Watch YouTube videos, discuss what parts look fun and if anything looks scary and let little ones have a voice about whether or not they want to ride, then allow them to change their minds once they see it in person, if needed. I find incentives work well, though. We have a sticker chart, and my little guy gets to put a special Disney sticker next to the name of every ride he rides. The chart makes a good souvenir afterward so he can look back and see what he rode later on. We got ours as part of a Disney guide made for kids, but you could easily do a homemade version.

 

[jimmiej]

How has it worked out compared to days you didn't do this? Now that I live here, you overhear more and more people and their louder than they think conversations in the parks for how they plan and why they go where they do. It's really surprising how pick based on what park is opened the longest that day.

Works great! That's the first thing I look at when planning my days.

 

[Vowelmommy]

Plan on doing things that aren't big name attractions. Get ice cream together, ride the train, take a break on the people mover, explore the details on Main Street, book a character meal, ride the monorail etc. Even if the park is packed you can keep your pace pretty relaxed if you don't need to ride every ride.

 

[MisterBubbles]

While it is good to be at the rope drop to get a jump on attractions, the first attraction is the park opening performance. It really starts your day off right to be standing there and hear the "Good Morning" song. Very exciting and quite different from just entering even a few minutes later. Get there in plenty of time for the show.