First Timers Guide to Disney World Series: Magic Kingdom

By Jordan Puyear | gargoyle@flagler.edu

“There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, shining at the end of every day. There’s a great big beautiful tomorrow, just a dream away.” A song heard frequently at the wondrous park that is Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, Florida. As one of the biggest tourist attractions, Walt Disney World is a family friendly adventure just waiting to be explored. The only problem is that there is so much to do that first timers get overwhelmed with what to do in the time that they are visiting. You are about to experience a step-by-step guide to get the full Magic Kingdom experience.

As you walk through the entrance of the park, make sure to fully experience the first feature that Magic Kingdom has to offer, Main Street USA. Stop in the stores on Main Street, which includes shops such as the Main Street Candy Shop, the Bakery, and other stores that stock Disney merchandise. However, before anything else, snap a picture of you and your party in front of Cinderella’s Castle.

Start out your day with going to Crystal Palace, an all-you-can-eat breakfast, where you can interact with Winnie the Pooh and his friends as you dine. Not only is the atmosphere perfect for the beginning of the day, but also the food is flavorful, fun and filling. After this breakfast, you will definitely be converted into a breakfast eater.

After your eventful breakfast, if you really want to see all that Magic Kingdom has to offer before walking your feet off, ride the Magic Kingdom train which will take you on a quick journey around the entire park of Magic Kingdom. If you want to dive head first into Magic Kingdom, make your way to the first land of the day, which is Tomorrowland and step into futures past. Board rides such as Buzz Lightyear’s Space Adventure and Stitches Great Escape, but if you are looking for a more thrilling roller coaster, board your own personal rocket ship on Space Mountain.

On your walk to Fantasyland, make sure to ride our first staple of Magic Kingdom, and that is the Mad Tea Party Teacups. WARNING! If you are not good with excessive spinning, ride this ride at your own risk.

Before you hit Fantasyland, detour to the newly renovated Storybook Circus where you will find a circus themed wonderland filled with enjoyable rides for younger children and a comfortable atmosphere for adults. Rides to embark include Goofy’s Barnstormer, and our second Magic Kingdom staple, Dumbo.

After your trip to the Circus, it’s a hop, skip and a jump to the near Fantasyland where you will experience the classic Disney family rides, such as Winnie the Pooh, It’s A Small World, and Peter Pan. WARNING! If you choose to ride It’s A Small World, make sure you are prepared to have that song stuck in you head the rest of the day. HINT! One of the longest lines in Disney World is Peter Pan, so you should get a FastPass for Peter Pan if you don’t want to stand in line for at least an hour.

If you want to take a break from standing in lines for rides, you can cut through Cinderella’s Castle and watch the Festival of Fantasy Parade. There you will find a fire-breathing dragon, a hot air balloon, and a Frozen float.

Once the parade is done with, Liberty Square is close by where you can pick up your mid-day snack. At the Liberty Square Market, you can pick up a baked potato, or baked sweet potato, perfect for the mid-day munchies that will not weigh you down. Also, you can find at other Liberty Square kiosks our third Magic Kingdom staple that is the turkey leg, a hunk of meat that is pure protein and will fill you up until dinner.

After Liberty Square, you are a step away from Frontireland where you can find the other two mountains of Magic Kingdom, Big Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain. WARNING! You will get wet on Splash Mountain, so where a poncho if you don’t want to be soaked the rest of the day.

After Frontireland, you have arrived at the last land of Magic Kingdom, Adventureland. There you will find the exciting rides such as the Magic Carpets of Aladdin and the Jungle Cruise. WARNING! You will have to sit through some really lame, but funny, puns during the Jungle Cruise, so be prepared.

Finally, you’ve made it through the entirety of Magic Kingdom, and you probably want to have a quick dinner so you can make it in time for the fireworks. Our third Magic Kingdom staple is actually a food establishment. For dinner, enjoy classic American style hotdogs and french fries at Casey’s Corner. If you are looking for something sweet, go to Sleepy Hollow where you can get a giant cookie sandwich or a loaded waffle sundae.

After you have finished your meal, pick the perfect spot for your viewing of the Main Street Electrical Parade, perfect for dark Florida nights, and Wishes, a Magic Kingdom specific firework extravaganza. HINT! A great place to view the firework is at the top of the Main Street train station depot.

After your entire day exploring Magic Kingdom, you will most likely be tired and will be ready to head on back to hotel and rest up for the next day of family fun at Walt Disney World.