by Wishes Diva
Many of you who frequent Disney blogs are probably familiar with all the tips out there for families, or traveling with children. But what about those of us who are planning a visit without children in tow? Well, have no fear! This is for you!
My husband and I are in our early 20’s and have frequented Walt Disney World five times in the past three years. These tips have been crucial in helping us make the most out of our trips, and I hope they can be helpful to you as well!
Below, you will find my top seven “magical” planning tips Magic Kingdom that will make it a successful trip!
- FastPass+. Booking these will be a life saver for you and your party. They can be reserved 30 days in advance on the My Disney Experience app on your smart phone or tablet, provided you have your park tickets ahead of time. You will have the option to choose three different attractions from the list they provide. I would suggest choosing the “big” attractions that you have to do, and that you know will have significant wait times. My personal choices are Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain and Haunted Mansion. Also try and select times early in the morning, that way you can try and get more Fast Passes after you use the original three!
- Plan on arriving early. I know this is something that you have probably read everywhere else. But it’s the truth. Getting to the park early (as soon as the gates open), can save a ton of time. The park will be far less crowded and the lines will be shorter, especially in certain parts of the park. This leads me to my next tip…
- Head to the left first. In all of my experiences, if you head to the left first you will be virtually alone. My husband and I have literally been the only ones walking through Liberty Square, and were the first ones to meet Chip and Dale in their morning set by using this tip. I would suggest heading all the way around toward Frontierland to start. This way you can hit Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain first, and then work your way back toward Adventureland and Liberty Square. Throughout the morning the wait times through these areas should be relatively short, and definitely shorter than if you were to wait until afternoon to hit these attractions.
- Catch some shows. Magic Kingdom has some great entertainment options, and two of my favorites are the Main Street Philharmonic and the Dapper Dans. Main Street Philharmonic is a small marching band that plays a variety of Disney favorites and are very entertaining! The Dapper Dans are a barbershop quartet that sing and perform in a vaudeville style. Both groups have a few performance times throughout the day so check the park’s Times Guide to catch them! Also try and check out the fireworks show. This show has two parts to it: Celebrate The Magic (a 3-D projection show that takes place on the castle) and the Wishes nighttime spectacular fireworks! If you’re a parade person, the afternoon show, Festival of Fantasy, is pretty spectacular and the nighttime parade, the Main Street Electrical Parade, is a classic. Some performance times can vary based on the season so be sure to check the park’s Times Guide for accurate times for each show.
- Take an afternoon break. I know most people think that this applies just to groups traveling with kids. But I can tell you from experience that taking a break around 2pm in the afternoon can make a world of difference. Whether you nap, or go and lay by the pool at your resort, taking a break will help regenerate you to be ready to stay in the parks until close. Typically my husband and I will take a nap and shower during this time of day to help us cool off, and you will avoid being around other guests when they are at their grouchiest! When you are ready to hit the park again, head for Tomorrowland first.
- Save New Fantasyland for the evening. This is an especially good tip if you plan on being in the park until park close as many of the families will file out after Wishes (the evening fireworks show). This is the perfect time to hit the rides in New Fantasyland that the inner child in you wants to ride but is not willing to wait for. We have personally walked on “It’s a Small World”, Peter Pan’s Flight and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh late at night after the fireworks are over. It’s worth it!
- Close the park. If you are someone who can stay up late, do it. Being in the park after the Main Street Electrical Light parade ends (check the Times Guide) is definitely worth the late hours. You can also take advantage of short wait times during the evening shows if you aren’t a parade/fireworks person. The wait times for almost every attraction will decrease significantly. Typically when I am in the park this late I try to do rides in New Fantasyland or visit Princess Fairytale Hall to see my favorite leading ladies and avoid waiting in horrendous lines throughout the day. This will save you the long waits of the afternoon, and still allow your inner child to ride and experience the magic!
I truly believe that these tips will help you experience Magic Kingdom to it’s fullest. They have definitely been helpful to my husband and I during multiple trips and have allowed us to enjoy our time at the most magical place on earth!
