Your best tips for touring the Magic Kingdom

[WebmasterPete]

I was so pleased with the response I got from the "Tips for Blizzard Beach" thread, that I figured I'd ask about some other parks as well. So...tell me your best tips for touring the Magic Kingdom. How do you beat the lines? the heat? How do you keep your kids happy when the crowds are at their worst?

Thanks,
Pete

 

[PrincessDana]

Get there early!! Earlier than that even.....I'm talking seriously early!!

June 2002 my DD (then 7) and I were at MK at 7:55 for a PS at the Crystal Palace (our PS was for 8:10). We ate a great breakfast, got some super pictures in front of the castle with no one around, saw the Mouse himself (got pics and autographs) and positioned ourselves directly behind the velvet rope into Fantasyland. Once the rope dropped, we were on the first ride of Dumbo, rode the Carousel, Peter Pan's Flight X 2, Winnie the Pooh, and Snow White's Scary Adventure. We got Ariel's autograph and then headed into Toontown Fair where we rode the Barnstormer three times, toured Mickey and Minnie's houses, got Cinderella's autograph (as well as running into a LOAD of character by the train station). By the time we boarded the train, it was MAYBE 11 o'clock and we had not stood in a single line. Before the rain set in at around 2 o'clock, we had done BTMRR, Country Bears, visited Tom Sawyer's Island, went on the Haunted Mansion and had lunch.

The next day we went to the MK at opening again and it was once again empty ( we left at 10 o'clock for a PS at the Grand Floridian).

It was unbelievable and amazing. I just didn't understand where all the crowds were. SOOO, my best advice is get there early.

I'm sure lots of others have more advice....

 

[MinniMama]

I ditto everything above this has been our experience year after year- go early go early - if you do EMH leave that park by 12:00. Never stand in a line longer than 10 minutes- get fastpass go early or go late or during parades- we have walked on rides and been alone with tons of characters in toontown while main street was packed for parades. Go to same park 2 days in a row with a favorites to do list go there first especially at MK one day do splash and thunder next day do alien and space or if you have little ones do fantasy first one day then adventure land one day first. Leave or take lunch in the busy afternoon or do presidents and tom's island. Eat at el pirates if its open. Enjoy the magic slow down to let it happen don't stress over other people try to be friendly even in the face of rudeness. MK is the best place on earth!

 

[splashfamily]

We like to go back at night when the parks stay open late. We do go early in the day but leave once the parks get crowded.

Also plan your PS meals around the park hours. For example if I want to go the MK will eat at Chef Mickey and hope right on the monrail from the CR. We find it easy than the main parking lot.

We also would NOT go the park that has EH that day and go to different one. Crowds are always smaller at the other parks.

On hot days take advantage of the Hall of Presidents. The show is ~ 25 minutes and it's in a AC theater.

 

[jaccceee]

The CMs give away fast passes. Who do they give them out to? Well, I'm not completely sure but I think it's to people that talk to them. I'm pretty sure they don't go up to people passing by and say "Hey, do you want a fast pass?" I've try that and there really hard to give away.
For example, I was waiting for my FP time for Splash Mountain and so I walked over to Big Thunder Mountain and started talking to the CM working there. A few minutes later she gave me 2 fast passes. There was a 45 minute wait. We went on it twice in about a 1/2 hour.
This has happened several times.

Jackie

 

[C.Ann]

Relax.. It's not a marathon.. Sit in the shade under a tree and take in the scenery that often goes unnoticed because folks are in such a rush to "get" here or get "on" that.. Take everything in stride.. Go with the flow.. Wander around aimlessly - with no feelings of overwhelming pressure to see it all and do it all..

And remember - it's a vacation - not another "I have to do this" or "I have to do that" event.. That would be working!! LOL

 

[jgates]

This sounds pretty stupid, but.......

I bought a pack of multi colored index cards. I 'assigned' one color to each park. (I got those neon colors). Then I hoarded ideas and tips - where to stand in each park for parades, things I REALLY wanted to remember to do, to eat at etc. Before we left I took a few cards for each park and wrote out small lists to myself. On the day we went to MK I would take my 3 or 4 index cards, I would glance at it and say - oh yeah - I want to see the footprints in the cement by Tony's - the ring by the HM - stand on the side by Frontierland and head back into that as soon as parade ends to get right on carpet ride. You get the idea......

We pretty much covered everything but I still managed to not get on Tom Sawyer's island again. Otherwise, we- got Donald & Daisy's autographs, got a great spot for the MK parade, rode on Dumbo finally, went to e-nite, saw the prints by Tony's, rode in front of monorail.........you get the idea. We didn't miss out on the stuff we really wanted! I also flipped the cards over if there were notes or things I thought of in the parks for later & wrote my PS times on them too so I had them.

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad Says.................................Get there early, go straight to fantasyland, and after rope drop,(you are there early), get on Dumbo, then do all the rides in a clockwise fashion, you'll hit them all in less than an hour.
If you have a teen who wants none of this, or a grumpy DH, give him/her the admission tickets to get FP for Space, and Buzz. They may have to ride a ride or two to get both FP, to kill some time. I don't think they will mind.
Then in less than an hour you have done all of fantasyland and have FP for Space and Buzz.

The other option is, same plan, but go for FP for Splash and Big Thunder.

If you go Space then finish off tommorrowland. If you go Splash, then finish adventureland.

 

[uktigger]

hi all
wow what a great thread,keep those tips coming we are going in june 04 and i know it is going to be packed but then all you helpfull bunch came along with these touring plans and i'm gonna print them off and keep them for our trip

thanks eve

 

[coli]

comfy shoes.....

 

[julieannbabe]

Someone on here said 'don't wait more than ten minutes for a ride'.

Surely that is impossible! WDW is one of the biggest attractions in the world where people come from all over.

FP - what a great idea - use it when you can.

Also I cannot stress enough to get there early.

It always amazes me when you see people strolling in there at 11am!

 

[ryley26]

sit down before you go with all your family members and decide what to ride. I was shocked when my dd 8and ds 6 did not want to ride winnie the pooh or snow white or contry bears this allowed us to skip these and go on others instead. get there early before opening what on main street till park opens. you have to go to frontierland or tommowland first. knock off major rides first . This year rode buzz 3times space mountian twice peter pan small world,haunted house, thunder railroad and splash mountainall before one oclock. for longer waits in line gameboys are life savers. we bought our kids new games before we left for thw plane and parks and had no whinning waiting.

 

[buckeye]

I'll second what previous posters have said (no harm in repeating because if you see something written multiple times, you get the idea that it's important )

Get there EARLY--try to be one of the first through the gate!

Then, because you got so much done early, stop and smell the roses. Chat with the CMs--not just to get FP's, but because they are interesting people with interesting things to tell you. Take pictures with some. We always seem to be first at the ropes before rope drop and get all kinds of interesting tips and tidbits from the CM's holding the rope.

Get to where you want to watch the parade early. Bring a snack and rest there. Then when you see the CMs bringing the rope to rope off the crowd, have your kids go right up to the rope and then they'll have a front row seat.

If you start to feel grumpy and tired, take a break!!!!! There's no point in pressing on, if you aren't going to feel the magic!

 

[eeyoreforever]

I did exactly the same thing as Jgates posted about the colored index cards for each park. These are for my trip in 5 days. They will fit in my fanny pack and I will be sure not to miss all the little things that I'm sure I would never remember to look for otherwise. So, Jgates-yours was not a stupid idea. Hoping to find a few more tips on here to add to my cards before I leave!

 

[erikthewise]

-- If you possibly can, go during Value season (slower times of the year). This makes more difference than everything else put together.
-- In general, avoid weekends if you can. Sunday morning EMH is OK, but be prepared to leave after lunch if it gets too crowded.
-- If you want to be a commando (it's not a crime!), buy the Unofficial Guide.
-- If you're staying on-property and have the time, instead of spending one or two full days at MK, consider spending several half-days.
-- Don't forget you can eat lunch at Cinderella's Castle! The four of us ate there for $44, and it was good food, wonderful service, and a view! How much did you just pay for those burgers and fries? Bet it was at least $30! (Advance PS highly recommended, but you can always walk up and ask.)
-- Haunted Mansion is popular, but due to its location it may be one of the last to get busy if the park starts to get crowded.
-- When it does get crowded and you need some space to breathe and get out of the sun, try Tom Sawyers Island, the riverboat cruise, or the railroad.

I don't like lines, but I think I've spent more time waiting in line for Tomorrowland Speedway than anything else.

 

[mommystieg]

We usually spend 2.5-3 days at MK so I divide the park into sections. On day 1 we might do Adventureland and Frontierland, day 2 is Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, etc. I also make a list of must see/do things for each day and take that with us into the park. We only get FPs if the posted wait time is more than 25 minutes. We catch the afternoon parade one day and then the next day we are in MK we can do several rides with little or no wait during the parade. We normally go in early June and this plan has worked for us so far. If you want to get there early, try to avoid the whole TTC thing--we found that experience a little to chaotic for us. Use the resort bus instead, it drops you off at the gate.

 

[crazymomof4]

THANKS, WebmasterPete!

The timing of your "Best Tips For......." threads couldn't be any better. I'm just re-reading & editing all of my park info files and by checking out your threads I'm getting some tips to add that I may have otherwise missed.

crazymomof4

 

[deb305]

Our MK trips:
- Harbor House for lunch. Go upstairs its seldom busy and the air conditioning is really cold. There are windows to look out at the Riverboat
-Avoid eating outside at Pecos Bill , the Kamakazi (sp) birds will dive for your food, and are very precise in bombing those who won't share
- If staying on site watch fireworks from your bus stop. You get to see them, but will get back to your resort a few hours earlier.
-Check with City hall for meet and greet times and character lists. You can avoid standing in line at Mickey's fair to see him or his friends
-Great place for Characters is in front of the castle after the parades.
-Grab an early seat on the ground in front of the stage for Cinderella's show. It's great for the kids.

 

[WebmasterPete]

These are great! Keep'em coming

Pete

 

[nataliesdaddy]

To make a pseudo early entry day for yourself get 8am PS seatings at CRT or CP - you may not be able to do squat but you will be inside the park first way before anyone else unless you take a long time eating.

Always cluster activities in zones or regions of the park

always show up early prior to gate opening - the jump you get on the day that way can't be made up in any other way - kid you not that way we averaged 11 to 12 activities a day before leaving the park at 2 o'clock. then resting or swimming and going back in the evening for a casual pass at the park and rides.

Use fast passes

if staying at a resort do not miss e-ride night

if you have young children that like the characters be ready and flexible to spend as much time as they want getting autographs and pictures - my kid no matter what we are doing it all comes to an end if she sees a character... off she goes to meet and greet for autographs and pictures... be prepared for this if you have young ones - frankly when the crowds build and ride waits are long the characters are a godsend - my daughter can be compeletly absorbed in that one activity for incredibly long periods of time.

If you do not have oozles of money for water and other ways to cool off - bring large water bottles with clip on belt attachments

if you can - bring serious buying power with you whether cash or resort card or credit card - I have learned - women are genetically designed for shopping - it really is an activity all unto itself which they could spend the entire day doing and yet only buy one or two things... I have found as long as there are stores my girlfriend and daughter could remain involved all day long being completely oblivious to everything else