Guide to Visiting Magic Kingdom Theme Park | One Day Itinerary for Families

When you think of visiting Walt Disney World in Florida, most people will instantly connect it with visiting Magic Kingdom. The flagship park of Walt Disney World opened in 1971 and is an iconic part of the Disney experience.

Since 1971, Walt Disney World has grown considerably, as has Magic Kingdom itself, however this park is home to the many classic experiences that Disney fans have loved over the years and associate fondly with a vacation at Walt Disney World.

From riding It’s a Small World in Fantasyland to visiting some Grin Grinning Ghosts in the Haunted Mansion of Liberty Square, there is something to do here for every member of the family.

Families will especially love the ample number of rides available for the littlest of riders, with a number of rides within Magic Kingdom having no height requirement. There are also thrills, like the new TRON Lightcycle / Run and Space Mountain, that are perfect for visitors that love a great thrill ride. 

Below you’ll find some of our suggested activities for both families that are looking for lower height activities, and families with thrill seekers. Use these free printables to help you plan your day!

This theme park also has a lot of entertainment, dining, and character greet options, so families will want to be sure to plan a full theme park day at Magic Kingdom. (In fact, a lot of people even decide to swing back over for another day because there is so much to see and do.) Let’s dive in to all that there is to do at Magic Kingdom! 

Where is Magic Kingdom Located

Magic Kingdom is almost double the size of Disneyland at 107 acres and is located just next to Bay Lake inside Walt Disney World. To arrive at Magic Kingdom by car, you’ll have to park at the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC) and then take either a ferry or monorail over to the main entrance of the theme park. This is a grand way to enter the park, as you see the castle get close to you from a distance!

Guests of Walt Disney World Resorts are able to arrive via either monorail from the monorail loop resorts (Grand Floridian, Contemporary, Polynesian) or by bus from all other Walt Disney World Resorts. Wilderness Lodge also has a boat that travels to Magic Kingdom, which makes it a great extra option for arriving at the park. 

If you’ll be staying offsite and planning to park a car, you’ll want to head to the Ticket and Transportation Center parking lot. Parking passes at Walt Disney World theme parks are a one day parking pass that is good at all four theme parks for the day.

Fees range from $20-$25+ per day based on the time of year, and can go up to $50+ per day for preferred parking nearest the entrance. All lots have designated parking for guests with disabilities where a valid disability parking permit will be required to be displayed on your vehicle. Parking is complimentary for Walt Disney World Annual Passholders.

Arriving at Magic Kingdom

When you arrive at Magic Kingdom, you immediately are greeted by the Walt Disney Railroad Train Station. This train station connects you the whole distance around the theme park, and is a great way to see the entire park at once.

Most guests will want to take that walk up Main Street, U.S.A. towards the castle upon their time entering Magic Kingdom. However if you’ve visited before or this is a return visit during the same trip, hopping on the train to get to a destination in the back of the park can be a great way to quickly get there and bypass the crowds.

Walking up Main Street, U.S.A. when you see Cinderella Castle for the first time on any trip is a must do though, because it is something that no matter how often our family has visited Walt Disney World, it takes my breath way every single time!

There are many shops and dining options right on Main Street, U.S.A. – however our family typically starts out in one of the lands at Magic Kingdom and works our way back to Main Street, U.S.A. later in the evening. 

Areas within Magic Kingdom

There are six distinct areas within Magic Kingdom, Main Street, U.S.A.; Tomorrowland; Fantasyland; Frontierland; Liberty Square; and Adventureland situated around a hub of the icon, Cinderella Castle. 

Directly as you enter the theme park, you’re greeted by Main Street, U.S.A. and walking down this iconic road is a treat! Many times you’ll see old time cars scooting past you and even horse drawn carriages. It is the picture image of a modernized version of an old time downtown. There are many shops, and we like visiting the Emporium before leaving the park before the day so we do not have to carry any souvenirs around. 

Tomorrowland is to the right of central hub area just below Cinderella Castle, and you’ll find favorites here like Space Mountain (40 inch height requirement), the Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Astro Orbiters, and the new TRON Lightcycle/Run (48 inch height requirement). There are also fun shows here, at Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor and the Carousel of Progress.

With younger children, we like heading straight to Fantasyland, because as the name suggests, this is where the fantasy of magic lives at Magic Kingdom! In Fantasyland there are a number of rides without height requirements, princess meet and greets, and some fantastic snacks. There’s even a water splash pad area that operates in the warmer months back by the Dumbo ride!

In Fantasyland you’ll also find a number of rides without height requirements, like Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid, Mad Tea Party, It’s a Small World, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Prince Charming Regal Carousel. 

Liberty Square is a small area in the back of the theme park, but it is home to Haunted Mansion, one of Disney’s most well known rides. This ride has no height requirement, but is dark on the inside so it may be scary for some younger riders. Also located in Liberty Square are the Liberty Belle paddlewheel boat and The Hall of Presidents, along with a number of eateries and shops. 

Frontierland is home to the wildest ride in the west, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40 inch height requirement) Country Bear Jamboree (closing January 27, 2024 through reopening in summer 2024), and Tom Sawyer Island. There’s also a small arcade shooting range and some food stands you won’t want to miss! (This is where you find turkey legs!) 

Finally in Adventureland, you’ll find Disney fan favorite ride, Pirates of the Caribbean. It will have you singing “Yo Ho Yo Ho” before you know it! There’s also an occasional spotting of Jack Sparrow roaming the area as well. Adventureland is also home to Jungle Cruise, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Swiss Family Treehouse, and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. Also be sure to grab a Dole Whip while you’re in this area! 

Dining at Magic Kingdom

The flagship Walt Disney World theme park has some very memorable table service dining experiences! From dining with princesses inside Cinderella Castle at Cinderella’s Royal Table, to meeting Winnie the Pooh and friends at The Crystal Palace, there are a number of options to have a memorable meal in the theme park. 

Table Service Restaurants

Our ratings of the table service restaurants inside Magic Kingdom based on experience, not price! Would be as follows:

1. Cinderella’s Royal Table
2. The Crystal Palace
3. Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen
4. Liberty Tree Tavern
5. Be Our Guest
6. Tony’s Town Square Restaurant
7. The Plaza Restaurant
8. Diamond Horseshoe

Our top three favorite table service dining inside Magic Kingdom is heading back to Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen for a delightful adventure of a meal, dining with the princesses inside Cinderella Castle, and hanging out with Pooh and friends at The Crystal Palace.

Each of these restaurants provide a unique experience for your family based on your preferences. One thing is for sure, there are plenty of options within Magic Kingdom to satisfy your whole family! 

You’ll note that Be Our Guest falls just outside our top three, it’s worth mentioning that at one time this meal would have been higher on our list.

After a number of menu changes and the fact that this meal isn’t true character dining (the Beasts does walk through the hall, but does not stop at tables) and carries almost the same price as the actual two character dining meals inside Magic Kingdom, those now knock out top ranking for experience. (If not value as well!)

Quick Service Restaurants

There are a number of different quick service options within Magic Kingdom, which offer a lot of variety but can sometimes be hit or miss if you visit them during busy times. 

• Aloha Isle – Adventureland
• Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies – Tomorrowland
• Casey’s Corner – Main Street, U.S.A
• Cheshire Cafe – Fantasyland
• Columbia Harbour House – Liberty Sqaure
• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe – Tomorrowland
• The Friar’s Nook – Fantasyland
• Gaston’s Tavern – Fantasyland
• Golden Oak Outpost – Frontierland
• Liberty Square Market – Liberty Square
• The Lunching Pad – Tomorrowland
• Main Street Bakery – Main Street, U.S.A.
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe – Frontierland
• Plaza Ice Cream Parlor – Main Street, U.S.A.
• Prince Eric’s Village Market – Fantasyland
• Sleepy Hollow – Liberty Square
• Storybook Treats – Fantasyland
• Sunshine Tree Terrace – Adventureland
• Tortuga Tavern – Frontierland

Often times at Magic Kingdom, we select quick service locations based on what is close by. Many of the locations offer mobile ordering, and the nice thing about this theme park is that there are TONS of food options – so you will not go hungry while you’re here!

Entertainment and Shows at Magic Kingdom

So many great shows to see at Magic Kingdom, your family’s favorites will depend on your preferences, but we tend to enjoy going to the Enchanted Tiki Room, Carousel of Progress, and Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor.

Check out these many entertainment options:

• Country Bear Jamboree – newly refurbished!
• Mickey’s PhilarMagic – Fantasyland
• Enchanted Tales with Belle – Fantasyland
• Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor – Tomorrowland
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress – Tomorrowland
• The Hall of Presidents – Liberty Square
• Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room – Adventureland

They work great for a quick stop in the air conditioning, resting your legs, and enjoying some fabulous entertainment!

Tips to Make the Most of Your Disney Day

Most families will set aside at least one day to visit Magic Kingdom and you will likely want to maximize your time here. This park is fairly easy to navigate with it’s hub and spoke design, and you should be able to quickly orientate yourself with a map from the front of the park or using the My Disney Experience map app on your phone. 

Using Lightning Lane at Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom is a great park to utilize the Lighting Lane service to maximize the number of rides that you can do, since there are a number of rides here. During the busiest times of the year, it will become a higher priority to consider getting this additional purchase service.

Individual Lightning Lane passes can be purchased for TRON Lightcycle / Run and if this ride is a “must do” for your party, we would recommend trying for the virtual queue and then if you’re unable to get a time, grabbing an Individual Lightning Lane. 

The way to tour at Magic Kingdom always varies widely depending on the age, height, and preferences of our children at the time we visit.

Typically we always start going around the park counter clockwise and then make our way around the park. The exception would be with very little ones, we would head straight back to Fantasyland and that is where we would spend the majority of our day. 

Sample One Day Itinerary for Magic Kingdom

Depending on the ages and heights of the members of your party may vary the preference of which rides you will want to make a priority.

We will split the itinerary into two sample itineraries to give you ideas for two different family scenarios. Download our free Magic Kingdom theme park day itinerary printables below and get both itineraries to use to make your own family trip plans!

Typically wait times at Magic Kingdom run in the 30-45 minute range for most rides. This means that you can typically ride around 8-10 rides in a day, with breaks for meals and entertainment.

Suggested Itinerary for Thrill Seekers

Get an Individual Lightning Lane for TRON Lightcycle / Run.

Early Entry Priorities for Thrill Seekers

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• TRON Lightcycle / RUN

If you missed any of the rides in the sequence earlier, the end of the evening is a great time to be able to circle around to those. If you’re wanting to catch the fireworks, you’ll want to head to your viewing spot by 8:30pm for a show time of 9pm.

This itinerary assumes that you’ll be getting an Individual Lightning Lane for TRON Lightcycle / Run and will be working that into the schedule (mid-afternoon works great, around the Tomorrowland Speedway time) based on availability.

Suggested Itinerary for Families with Small Children and/or Shorter Heights

Magic Kingdom has lots to do for little ones! There are many rides that have no height requirement and a number of rides with a minimal height requirement.

When traveling with little ones that may need more breaks and may not be tall enough to ride bigger rides (or family members of any height, that just don’t want to ride them!) – your focus will be a bit different than thrill seeking families with thrill rides as a priority.

If you have a variety of preferences within your travel party, we like the “divide and conquer method” within our own family – as we have two people that prefer thrill rides and two people that prefer tamer rides.

So make sure you family has a means of communication between the two parties (texting and calling should work fine!) and split off your thrill seekers if need be.

Early Entry Priorities for Low Height Requirement Riders

• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Meeting Mickey for an early photo op

After dinner, it’s a bit of choose your own adventure, but if you have littlest of littles, you may be thinking to head back to the resort. Or if your kids have taken some great stroller naps – you may be ready to finish off the evening strong.

With the itinerary for lower height requirement rides above, I cut off the whole back of the park, which is filled with either thrill rides (Big Thunder Mountain Railroad) or rides that may be spooky for younger children (Haunted Mansion).

Use the train that runs along the outside of the theme park to take a break and see these areas from a distance. The train is also a great way to get from one side of the theme park to the other when you have tired feet!

After dinner is a great time to do some shopping and touch back to the area where you would like to do a few more things. Entertainment like Enchanted Tales with Belle can be a fun way to cap off the evening for little ones, although it typically has a closing time that is earlier (around 7pm) than the park closing time.

We especially like riding the Astro Orbiters in Tomorrowland in the evening, Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover at sunset, and riding The Magic Carpets of Aladdin while the fireworks are going off is a hidden gem experience as well!

If you’ve managed to stay in the park all day, finish the evening off with some shopping and staying for the evening fireworks show! Happily Ever After Fireworks typically happen at 9pm on non-party and non-weather inclement evenings.

Planning Your Day at Magic Kingdom

As you can see, there is more to do in Magic Kingdom than you’ll typically be able to cover in a single day!

Use the itineraries above to choose what will be the best fit for your family, and we recommend planning at least one day of your trip to enjoy this theme park. If you are thinking about taking two days in a single theme park, Magic Kingdom would be the theme park we would recommend planning multiple days in for families.

This park is a must visit for our family and we enjoy exploring this imaginative theme park every time we are there, as a core memory part of our Disney experiences!

Visit our other theme park guides to plan out all of your Disney days!

• Guide to Visiting EPCOT
• Guide to Visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Guide to Visiting Disney’s Animal Kingdom