Essential Guide to Magic Kingdom from Disney Experts

If you are planning a trip to Magic Kingdom it is important to do your homework! This is the most popular Disney World park full of really great rides & attractions, but if you don’t understand the ins & outs of the park, you might miss the best parts. That is why we’ve written this guide to Magic Kingdom.

Our Essential Guide to Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom was the first of the Walt Disney World parks, opening in 1971, some 16 years after Disneyland first opened its gates in 1955!

Similar to all the Disney parks around the world, the centerpiece is a castle. For Magic Kingdom, the main park landmark is Cinderella’s Castle.

The castle is home to Cinderella’s Royal Table restaurant, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and houses some of the most beautiful mosaics in all of Disney World.

Magic Kingdom Map & Park Layout

Like Disneyland, Magic Kingdom is divided into themed lands.

While they have some similar rides & attractions, there many things that are unique to this park.

Main Street USA

Walt Disney Railroad
City Hall
Fire Station
Main Street Chamber of Commerce
Harmony Barber Shop
Town Square Theater
Main Street Bakery (Starbucks)
Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
Various Stores & Boutique Shops

Adventureland

Pirates of the Caribbean
Jungle Cruise
Swiss Family Treehouse
Enchanted Tiki Room
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
The Pirates League, A Pirate’s Adventure – Treasures of the Seven Seas.

Frontierland

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (formerly Splash Mountain)
Country Bear Jamboree
Tom Sawyer Island
Walt Disney World Railroad Station

Liberty Square

Haunted Mansion
Liberty Square Riverboat
The Hall of Presidents.

Fantasyland

Cinderella Castle
“it’s a small world”
Peter Pan’s Flight
Mad Tea Party
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Fairytale Garden
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Mickey’s PhilharMagic 3-D movie experience
Walt Disney World Railroad
Dumbo, the Flying Elephant in Storybook Circus
Barnstormer Coaster
Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station water play area
Fantasyland Train Station
Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
Ariel’s Grotto
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Princess Fairytale Hall
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Tomorrowland

TRON Light Cycle Run
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Space Mountain
Tomorrowland Speedway
Astro Orbiter
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

Magic Kingdom Restaurants

Magic Kingdom is known for having some really amazing restaurants.

Whether you are looking for quick service, table service or character dining, you will find it all in this park!

Be Our Guest Restaurant is a table service restaurant inside Beast’s Castle that has a set menu of French inspired dishes and is also where guests can see Beast.

The Crystal Palace is an all-you-can-eat American buffet with Winnie the Pooh and friends.

Cinderella Royal Table at Magic Kingdom — Courtesy Disney

Cinderella’s Royal Table is a table service restaurant where guests get to dine inside Cinderella Castle with Cinderella and friends.

Liberty Tree Tavern is located in Liberty Square and features a family style meal that resembles a traditional American Thanksgiving dinner.

Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen is a table service restaurant located across from Jungle Cruise that serves us an eclectic array of dishes inspired from the travels of the skipper himself.

The Diamond Horseshoe is an all-you-can-eat Saloon Feast that features American specialties with live musical performances.

The Plaza Restaurant is an American table service restaurant that makes guests feel as though they are dining in the turn of the century.

Tony’s Town Square is a Lady and the Tramp inspired table service restaurant featuring Italian favorites in a bistro setting.

Casey’s Corner is a small corner hotdog counter service restaurant that pays homage to the poem Casey at Bat.

Columbia Harbour House is located in Liberty Square and serves up New England inspired seafood platters.

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe in Tomorrowland has all your fast food favorites: burgers and chicken tenders along with salads.

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe located in Frontier land has some great Wild West options like Fajitas and Tacos.

Pinocchio Village Haus is the largest quick service restaurant in Fantasyland and serves pizza along with pasta.

There are more counter service restaurants where you can grab a quick bite on the go, but these are the restaurants where you will find full meals with indoor seating.

Best Meet & Greet at Magic Kingdom: Pete's Silly Sideshow

Magic Kingdom Character Meet & Greets

There is no shortage of characters in Magic Kingdom! Here is who you can see along with where you can find them!

Main Street USA

Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater

Tomorrowland

Buzz Lightyear
Stitch

Adventureland

Aladdin & Jasmine at Agrabah Bazaar
Captain Jack Sparrow (Currently Closed)

Fantasyland

Alice (and sometimes Mad Hatter &/or Rabbit) in Wonderland at the Tea Cups
Ariel at her Grotto near Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid ride.
Minnie, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, and Goofy at Pete’s Silly Sideshow
Gaston at his Gaston’s Tavern
Mirabel at Fairytale Garden
Peter Pan near the ride
Rapunzel at Fairytale Hall
Tiana at Fairytale Hall
Elena of Avalon at Fairytale Hall
Cinderella at Fairytale Hall
Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore, and Piglet at Thotful Spot
Belle at Enchanted Tales with Belle
Fairy Godmother (or Step Mother & Sisters) Behind Castle in Fantasyland

Frontierland

Chip & Dale
Country Bears

Mickey Mouse at Festival of Fantasy Parade — Courtesy Disney

Magic Kingdom Parades & Calvacades

Festival of Fantasy is the main parade at Magic Kingdom and features stunning floats and many of your favorite Disney characters.

You will want to get a front-row seat for this parade!

Miguel on Adventure Friends Calvacade Float

Adventure Friends Calvacade happens each evening and showcases many of your favorite Disney Pixar characters along with some other characters that you won’t see anywhere else!

Magic Kingdom Night Show

Happily Ever After is the nighttime show that takes place at Cinderella Castle. It begins with a state-of-the-art projection show set to music that lights up the castle and Main Street USA!

The night show ends with a magical fireworks extravaganza.

It is something that you won’t want to miss seeing while at Magic Kingdom!

Special Events in Magic Kingdom

Throughout the year, Magic Kingdom puts on special events. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might get to experience one of these:

Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party

Starting on select nights in August through November, Disney’s Halloween party is a chance for the whole family to enjoy celebrating this not-so-scary holiday!

Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party

From early November through January 1st, Magic Kingdom transforms into a winter wonderland during Disney’s Christmas Party.

On select nights, you can eat free holiday treats, watch a special holiday parade featuring Santa Claus and see a night show full of holiday cheer!

Disney Villains After Hours

This special event runs on select nights Feb-July after Magic Kingdom closes for the day. Guests get to see their favorite Disney Villains and experience unique entertainment.

Is It Possible to do Magic Kingdom in one day?

Magic Kingdom can be done in one day, but if you have the time, I would suggest you plan to spend two days at this park.

There are so many great rides & attractions in Magic Kingdom and you won’t want to miss out on experiencing everything the park has to offer.

The best way to do it all in Magic Kingdom is by using Lightning Lane Service.

This will save you time and get you quick access to the rides with the longest queues.

With two days in Magic Kingdom, you can easily divide the park into 2 areas: Adventureland, Frontierland & Liberty Square for one day and Fantasyland and Tomorrowland in the second.