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Top 10 Must Do's at the Magic Kingdom


The Magic Kingdom was the first park to open at Walt Disney World on October 1, 1971.  Known as "the Most Magical Place on Earth," the Magic Kingdom has consistently had the most visitors annually than any other theme park worldwide.  The park consists of 6 wonderfully themed lands; Advenureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland and Main Street, U.S.A.  Standing at 189 feet tall is the park's icon, Cinderella Castle, which provides a spectacular backdrop for the nighttime fireworks show.

The Magic Kingdom has the most attractions of any of the four parks and perhaps that is why I had such a hard time narrowing down the Must Do's to only 10!  Since it was just too difficult to pick only 10 Must Do’s, there are a couple of honorable mentions that are worth noting.

10. Meet Characters
You can't go to the Magic Kingdom without meeting at least one character!  From Princesses to Mickey and pals, there is no shortage of characters throughout the park.  In addition to classic Meet and Greet locations, you can also see characters in parades and stage shows.

9. Eat Snacks 
The Magic Kingdom is home to many favorite snacks that are must eats.  You can find the Dole Whip in Adventureland, Funnel Cakes at Sleepy Hollow in Liberty Square, grab a hot dog from Casey's Corner, and get all sorts of tasty treats from the Main Street Confectionery.  There are so many wonderful snacks to choose from!  Take a moment on your next visit to enjoy the atmosphere of the Magic Kingdom with your favorite snack.

8. TRON Lightcycle / Run
The newest attraction at the Magic Kingdom is a major must-do!  Inspired by the Disney sci-fi film, TRON: Legacy, you'll enter the Grid on your very own Lightcycle for a high-speed adventure.  Hold on to your hats because TRON Lightcycle / Run is one of the fastest roller coasters at any Disney theme park in the world!  This attraction is only accessible through a virtual queue or by purchasing an individual Lightning Lane so if you want to ride, make sure you are prepared to join the virtual queue or pay to ride. 

7. Haunted Mansion
This classic attraction has been home to 999 happy haunts since opening day in 1971.  The Haunted Mansion is a slow, dark ride located in Liberty Square where guests board a Doom Buggy to tour this haunted home.  You'll pass through classic scenes like the portrait chamber and the graveyard.  It may be a little scary for young guests but the ghosts are truly harmless. 

6. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Take flight aboard a flying elephant for a
magical flight above Storybook Circus.  This is a classic attraction that it is a favorite to this day.  During the New Fantasyland expansion, Dumbo received an upgrade and now has two sets of rotating elephants and a circus themed play area to entertain the kids while you wait for your turn to fly.  You're never too old for a ride on Dumbo.  This is a major Must Do for kids and kids at heart!

5. Pirates of the Caribbean  
"Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for Me"  This attraction inspired the Pirates of the Caribbean movies and now the movies have inspired updates to the attraction.  Keep an eye out for Captain Jack Sparrow as you board your boat and sail on your swashbuckling voyage through Caribbean seaport towns.  This is another classic attraction that's not to be missed.   

4. "it's a small world"
It's hard not to sing along while riding this classic attraction. It's also hard to get the song out of your head! "it's a small world" combines the musical talents of the Sherman brothers with the artistic direction of Mary Blair to create "The Happiest Cruise That Ever Sailed." During this 10 minute journey, guests travel through scenes representing all seven continents and containing over 300 traditionally dressed dolls spreading the message of cultural unity and harmony. This timeless attraction is a must do and singing the song is part of the fun!

3. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
This family friendly roller coaster brings you into the mines "where a million diamonds shine" and where you can see the Seven Dwarfs hard at work singing "Heigh Ho." It's a very popular attraction that is not to be missed.

2. Peter Pan's Flight
Set sail aboard your very own flying pirate ship on this classic attraction located in Fantasyland. Begin your journey in the Darling children's nursery as you make your way to Never Land where you see classic scenes from Peter Pan like Mermaid Lagoon and Skull Rock. This is a favorite attraction among guests so it's recommended that you visit early in the day.

1. Double Mountain Whammy
Ok, this is technically 2 Must Do's but I needed to include both of them and I didn't have enough remaining spots in my Must Do list! The Double Mountain Whammy consists of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain.  There is nothing more exciting than when you are first tall enough to ride these attractions. These mountains are major Must Do's!

Honorable Mentions
Happily Ever After
There is no better way to end a night at the Magic Kingdom than by viewing fireworks!  This 18 minute nighttime spectacular is just that; Spectacular!  The show features lights, lasers and special effects in addition to projections down Main Street, U.S.A.  Grab a spot early where you can see the castle and the sky for best viewing.  It's one of those Disney experiences that bring tears to my eyes every time.

Festival of Fantasy Parade
It is a truly magical and fantastical display of characters from Fantasyland.  The parade includes a mix of innovative floats, brightly colored costumes and original music full of whimsy and imagination.  Floats include Flynn Rider and Rapunzel on a Tangled inspired float, Peter Pan and Wendy aboard a flying pirate ship, and Maleficent as a fire breathing dragon.  It's a truly spectacular parade!

It's no surprise that the Magic Kingdom is one truly magical park. It has so many classic attractions, many of which Walt Disney helped design when they opened at Disneyland Park. It was truly difficult to narrow down this Must Do list because there are just so many wonderful attractions at the Magic Kingdom.

What are your family's Must Do's?



Ashley has been a Disney Parks fan from an early age and loves anything vintage Disney. You can email Ashley at ashley@kingdomkonsultant.com.
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Comments

  1. CarissaMarch 12, 2015 at 5:48 PM

    I LOVE Celebrate the Magic. Not enough people realize just how great it is!! You're right, it's one of the most magical things I've ever seen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AshleyMarch 12, 2015 at 9:06 PM

      That show brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. The technology is just so amazing! And I love the song that goes along with it.

      Delete

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