A Pocketful of Pixie Dust

Image via Wikipedia

This article is the first in a series to help you beat the queues at each of the Walt Disney World theme parks - I’m going to start with the Magic Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom tips are based on our experiences visiting this park over several years and I hope they help you and your family spend less time in lines and more time enjoying the magic!

Tip 1 - arrive early

This isn’t often the easiest thing to do when you are on vacation - but it is the most important tip - you need to be at the gate with tickets in had about 20-30 minutes ahead of the scheduled opening time. This is even more important in peak season.

If you are travelling by car then you need to factor in extra travelling time. The Magic Kingdom is the farthest park to drive to, and then you have to park your vehicle, catch the tram to the Transportation and Ticket Centre and then take either a boat or the monorail to the park gate. This part of the journey can take 20-30 minutes! You therefore need to be arriving in the parking lot about an hour before official park opening.

If you are staying on Disney property then take the monorail or the bus to the park gates.

Tip 2 - use a touring plan

To maximise the magic and minimise time in lines we follow a plan, and visit the attractions in a specific order. The plans can be purchased over at touringplans.com - at the time of writing a 12-month subscription will cost you just $7.95 - and believe me it is worth every cent! The plans are easy to follow and will help you beat the crowds.

If you haven’t already sign up for the allears.net newsletter which often includes a discount code for the Touring Plans website - it’s a free newsletter packed full of useful advice.

Tip 3 - enjoy the parades and fireworks

The folks at Disney certainly know how to put on a good show - and the parades and fireworks at the Magic Kingdom are not to be missed. Here’s some top spots to enjoy the magic from:

• The afternoon parade - watch this from anywhere on Main Street. It can get quite hot so try and find a shady spot (which are snapped up early). Grab a seat on the kurb and rest your weary legs while you wait for the parade. It’s also a good time to enjoy a cake from the bakery or a cone from the Ice Cream Parlour.
• SpectroMagic - The first parade of the evening starts on Main Street and arrives in Frontierland about 15 minutes after the scheduled start time. Don’t spend hours staking out a spot on Main Street - head to the Shooting Arcade in Frontierland and pick a spot just outside - there are some great planters that make comfy seating and good viewing points. You should be able to snag a spot about 15 minutes ahead of the parade arriving.
• Wishes - this fireworks show is second to none - there are various good spots. The best is the middle of Main Street outside Casey’s - but in peak season this can get really crowded. Try the bridge to Tomorrowland for a good view of the fireworks and Tinkerbell’s flight. One of our favourite spots is outside the Crystal palace restaurant - the path goes round a central planter and there’s often a Photopass cast member taking shots of the castle with a tripod. The railings make a good leaning support while you enjoy the spectacular shoow.

Tip 4 - avoid the mass exodus

After the fireworks the world and his wife heads for the exit - to avoid the crush why not grab an ice-cream and a table outside of the Ice Cream Parlour - you can spend some quality downtime with your family discussing the days highlights and then leave the park when it’s less chaotic.

If you must leave at the end of Wishes then the shops on the right side of Main Street (as you face the exit) are joined together inside - making for an easier escape!

Tip 5 - experience Big Thunder Mountain by night

This coaster is my personal favourite - but ride it at night and it’s a whole different experience. The trains move faster at the end of the day (something to do with the grease heating up on the tracks) and in the dark your senses make it seem faster still. Give it a try!

And there you have it - some tips to help you experience the Magic Kingdom’s magic. To avoid missing the great tips to come for the other parks be sure to sign up to my RSS feed or if you’d prefer have updates sent to your inbox.

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