There's too much in the park to easily do in a single day. It's probably more of a one-and-a-half or two-day park. That said, this is a one day itinerary post, and there are a few approaches you can take to have one very good nearly perfect day at Magic Kingdom.
Because Magic Kingdom is often the number one park on visitors' lists, they'll hit it first on their trip. If they arrive on a weekend, that makes it a Sunday or Monday! Generally, Tuesdays through Thursdays are much less crowded than other days of the week.
However, most people can also go and take a nap and then come back and enjoy the extra magic hours at night. So you're more likely to have more people during the nighttime extended hours than daytime. However, it is still less crowded at night, and the weather is better once the sun goes down.
The following tips will help you make the most of Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom. Arriving at the Magic Kingdom 30–60 minutes before official opening ensures the shortest possible waits for rides. Off-site guests, who aren't eligible for Early Theme Park Entry, should arrive 30 minutes before official opening on all days.
If you have Early Entry, you'll probably want to start with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan's Flight, or Space Mountain. We discuss the details of these rope drops in more detail in our dedicated Magic Kingdom Early Entry and Rope Drop post.
Magic Kingdom has fireworks every night of the year. Most of the time they are free with your park admission. However, there are a few nights in the fall and winter where you'll need a special ticket.
Between the rides, stage shows and other entertainment, there is a ton to see and do at Magic Kingdom and the pressure to experience everything can be anxiety-inducing, to say the least. Admittedly, to truly see and do it all at Magic Kingdom, you do need to spend at least two days.
Jeans do not belong in the Disney World parks, in our opinion. By this we mean jean pants, and a lot of jean shorts. They might be fine if you're just popping in the parks for a few hours, but if you're planning on going from rope drop until close, do not wear jeans, friends! Cute, but not for a park day!
You Can Bring a Backpack to Disney ParksWith the exception of a couple attractions, every ride at Disney will have a small pouch for you to stow your backpack, or space at your feet. Your trusty bag can take on all the adventures Disney has to offer with you!
Suitcases, bags, coolers or backpacks, with or without wheels, larger than 24 long x 15 wide x 18 high (61 cm x 38 cm x 46 cm) are not allowed in any theme park or water park. Loose or dry ice is not permitted in these containers. Re-usable ice packs are recommended.
You Can Bring a Backpack to Disney ParksWith the exception of a couple attractions, every ride at Disney will have a small pouch for you to stow your backpack, or space at your feet. Your trusty bag can take on all the adventures Disney has to offer with you!
If you are visiting the Walt Disney World Resort outside the busy holiday season (or the 4th of July), 30-45 minutes early can get you a “good” fireworks viewing spot for a family of 4.
Parades and nighttime firework shows at Magic Kingdom are a definite must-see during a visit to Walt Disney World. They are extremely popular, which means they are also very frequently crowded. But – don't stress! We have tips to help you find the perfect spot to enjoy them.
The typical hours for Magic Kingdom's are 8AM or 9AM to 10PM or 11PM, but hours vary even beyond that. On nights where Magic Kingdom hosts an After Hours or holiday party event, the park may close earlier than other days.
Mondays and Fridays are hit-or-miss with crowds because you'll find that there are still many Guests who are kicking off their vacations or getting one more day in before returning home. Saturdays and Sundays are usually the busiest days of the week.
Saturdays and Sundays are usually the busiest days of the week. I've had some of my favorite times at the Resort during the summer months and major holidays, but to be on the safe side, you'll want to avoid those days because there will be many families squeezing in the magic while they're out of school.
Go EarlyIf you want to avoid long lines there's no simpler way than to wake up early and get to the park before it opens. Whether you have access to early entry or not, being at the park entrance before it opens will save you lots of time. Usually, you can get in 2-3 rides during the first hour of park operation.
Starting over in Magic Kingdom, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train had the longest average wait time with 66 minutes. Last week the average wait time was 68 minutes, so the time stayed pretty steady since then.
Between the rides, stage shows and other entertainment, there is a ton to see and do at Magic Kingdom and the pressure to experience everything can be anxiety-inducing, to say the least. Admittedly, to truly see and do it all at Magic Kingdom, you do need to spend at least two days.