Are you planning a one day Magic Kingdom itinerary and not sure where to start? This guide offers tips and tricks for planning one day at Magic Kingdom at Disney World.
Do you want to spend one day in Magic Kingdom and see all the best rides and attractions? This Magic Kingdom touring plan will help you plan your day at the Walt Disney World park .
Magic Kingdom is located at the Walt Disney World park in Orlando, Florida. It is one of the four theme parks. The others are Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
It is the first Disney theme park in Florida and has classic attractions like Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, and it’s a Small World.
Most guests plan one or two days at Magic Kingdom during their Disney vacation itinerary. Be sure to consider your Disney budget and Disney Vacation Cost for a Family of Five.
When planning your 1 day at Magic Kingdom itinerary you need to consider a few things before you arrive at the park.
What You Need to Know to Visit Magic Kingdom for 1 Day
There are a few questions you need to ask yourself when planning a visit to Magic Kingdom.
Is it a low, moderate, or high crowd day?
Deciding the best time to visit the Magic Kingdom, and considering crowd levels, can have an impact on how many attractions you can experience in one day. You can check crowd levels here.
What attractions does everyone in your group want to ride?
Do they meet the height requirements? Are there any attractions or rides you want to skip? You can check out our top picks for the best rides at Magic Kingdom to get you started.
What will the weather be? Do you want to be at the parks mid-day in July?
Weather is very unpredictable in Florida and rain can roll in without warning.
The temperature is very hot and humid during the summer months and warm with cooler evening and mornings during the winter. For full details on visiting in summer read this: Walt Disney World in August Tips | Why You Should (or Shouldn’t) take a Summer Vacation to Disney World
Map of Magic Kingdom
Before you visit the Magic Kingdom it is important to take a look at the Magic Kingdom map.
This will give you an idea of the layout of the park and help you have a better understanding of the itinerary for Magic Kingdom you are planning.
Magic Kingdom is laid out with a central hub and paths going out from there to each area of the park.
Magic Kingdom Layout
Magic Kingdom is laid out like a hub and spokes park. This means there is a center with paths leading out in other directions towards the different lands.
There are 5 distinct lands at Magic Kingdom. They are Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.
Fantasyland is the most popular area and often where you want to start. This has rides like Peter Pan’s Flight, Winnie the Pooh, and Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train. You will also find Dumbo, it’s a Small World, and The Little Mermaid.
Tomorrowland has Space Mountain, Tron Lightcycle, and Buzz Lightyear.
Frontierland has Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Opening summer 2024, formerly Splash Mountain) and Big Thunder Railroad.
Adventureland has Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise.
Liberty Square has the Haunted Mansion and the Hall of Presidents.
All of the lands have more attractions but those listed are the most popular.
Now that you have gone over all of the important details to planning your Magic Kingdom itinerary you can start planning your day.
Magic Kingdom Theme Park Tickets
You also want to check ticket prices and hours before you arrive. Magic Kingdom one day ticket price starts at $109.00 a day.
This price depends on the date of your visit and can change.
Hours also vary by the time of year. Shorter daily hours are in the lower crowd days and off-season, or on days where there is a special event.
Special events like Disney After Hours Boo Bash and Disney Very Merriest After Hours are ticketed events and have earlier than normal park closing times.
Guests need a separate ticket to attend the events. If you are not planning on attending the special events pick a different day for your Magic Kingdom visit.
If you are staying on-site check out the Early Theme Park Entry hours for the park. These are early or later hours for guests staying at a Disney resort.
You Might Like to Read: 5 Benefits of Staying at a Disney Resort (+3 Reasons to Stay Off-Site During Your Disney Vacation)
Genie+ at Magic Kingdom
Genie+ at Magic Kingdom is the new program replacing Fastpass+ at Magic Kingdom. FastPass+ is being retired and a new system Genie+ is replacing it.
Disney Genie is a complimentary service offered through the My Disney Experience App that will allow guests to customize and create their visits to the Disney parks.
In theory this will help guests know the best times to visit attractions that they want to see and do. This is a new service launching in October 2021.
In regards to replacing FastPass it will offer an add on service called Genie+.
Genie+ is an upgraded service that will allow guests to make reservations for popular attractions one at time on the day of visit. This is very different than the 60 days in advance guests were used to with FastPass.
Guests will enter the attractions through the Lightning Lane. Once they have entered an attraction they can make their next attraction reservation. This varies in cost from $15.00-$20.00+ per day per person.
Genie+ Attractions at Magic Kingdom
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- “it’s a small world”
- Jungle Cruise
- Mad Tea Party
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Space Mountain
- The Barnstormer
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
Individual Lightning Lane at Magic Kingdom
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Tron Lightcycle
Guests that do not want to use the paid service can use the regular lines. During low crowd days upgrading to the Genie+ service may not be necessary.
Tron Lightcyle does not offer a standard line. Guests enter the virtual queue (free of charge) or purchase the individual lightning lane.
Magic Kingdom is one the parks that guests will benefit the most from purchasing Genie+ for their visit.
There are many attractions and if you are visiting for one day this would be a huge help in experiencing all the most popular attractions.
Things to Know About Magic Kingdom
Can you see all of Magic Kingdom in one day?
No. I have visited Magic Kingdom numerous times and you can’t see everything that is at the park.
There is so much to do and new things are always being added. Most people will never see all of Magic Kingdom.
This leads me to my next question I often get.
Is one day at Magic Kingdom enough?
Yes and No! One day at Magic Kingdom is enough if you prioritize what you want to see and do and have a plan. We always create a flexible plan for visiting Magic Kingdom.
We also make sure to include everyone’s “must do” attractions at the top of our list. There are things we miss when visiting one day but if you only have one day you can still have a great visit.
Also keep in mind that you are at Disney World. You won’t do everything but you can enjoy the things you do get to do!
What are the best days to go to Magic Kingdom?
The best days to go to Magic Kingdom are going to be any day that has low crowds. Avoid weekends and holidays. If you can visit on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday that is best.
How much is a ticket to Magic Kingdom?
Magic Kingdom ticket cost starts at $109.00 a day depending on the time of year you visit and how many days of tickets you purchase.
How much is parking at Magic Kingdom?
Parking at Magic Kingdom is $25.00 a day. On-site guests park for free.
Are there scary rides at Magic Kingdom?
Most rides at Magic Kingdom are fine for all ages. We took my 1` year old on Pirates of the Caribbean and he loved it! All kids are not the same, only you will know what is best for your kids.
Haunted Mansion and the roller coasters may be too scary for some kids. I go into more details in this article: Best Rides at Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom One Day Itinerary
Where to Start Your Magic Kingdom Touring Plan
Guests will want to start their day with the most popular attractions. The longest lines will be at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Peter Pan.
If you want to do both start with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and then head to Peter Pan.
I suggest eating a quick breakfast at your hotel before you arrive. This will maximize your time to ride the attractions once the park opens.
If you are headed to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train you want to head to the right of the castle where guests will be held and walked to Seven Dwarfs at Mine Train.
This is the procedure they have been doing recently but be aware things can change. You can always ask a cast member where to go and what time things will officially open.
Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom (Morning/Arrival)
Rope Drop is what it is called when guests arrive before official park opening. At some parks they allow guests in before official opening and others are exactly at opening.
Arriving at rope drop allows you to be ahead of the crowds.
There are a few ways to arrive at the Magic Kingdom. Guests staying on-site can take bus transportation from their resort to the entrance.
If you are staying at a Magic Kingdom resort, like the Grand Floridian, you can take a boat or the monorail to the front entrance.
Guests staying off-site will park at the Transportation and Ticket Center. This is the Magic Kingdom parking lot hub. From there you will take a ferry or the monorail to the front entrance.
Currently the opening schedule allows guests into the park 1 hour before park opening. Guests can explore Main Street U.S.A and grab breakfast at the Main Street Bakery. Shops are also open. This is also a great time to take photos in front of Cinderella’s Castle.
The park attractions do not officially open until around 9:00am (or whenever park opening is that day.) Guests will begin to line up at the entrance to the land where they will start their day.
There used to be a show opening up the park but that has not returned.
After Seven Dwarfs Mine Train ride Peter Pan’s Flight, then Winnie the Pooh, and the Little Mermaid attraction. Then ride Dumbo and the Barnstormer.
After you can go do the rest of the attractions in Fantasyland. They are the Tea Cups, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Prince Charming’s Carousel, and it’s a Small World.
If you are trying to ride the most popular rides at Magic Kingdom and you don’t mind the extra walking, we like to ride Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland.
If you really don’t mind walking we will skip Dumbo and Barnstormer and head over to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Now that my kids are teens, yes visiting Disney with teens is fun, we backtrack the park a lot.
We usually start our day with rope drop and then get as many of the popular attractions done before lunch that we can.
Take advantage of the My Disney Experience app to check wait times and plan your day.
Arriving early, before official park opening, will allow you to get so much done.
Afternoon at Magic Kingdom
After lunch we will check the My Disney Experience app for the ride times.
If ride wait times are short we head to those attractions. If the park is very busy we head back to our resort for pool time or to relax in our room.
If it is busy and you don’t want to leave the park consider watching a show. There are a few indoor attractions that rarely see long lines.
These are Mickey’s PhilharMagic, The Tiki Room, The Carousel of Progress, and Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor.
Magic Kingdom at Night
One of my favorite times to be at the parks are at night. The parks light up and the crowds are usually lower than mid-day. Magic Kingdom has a nightly fireworks show.
If you do not care to see the nightly fireworks show use this quieter time to ride the most popular attractions.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is busy all day long but if you skipped it in the morning consider riding at night for less wait times.
Dining at the Magic Kingdom
Dining is not great at Magic Kingdom but it is not terrible either. We don’t usually spend time doing character meals or sit-downs when we have 1 day at the park.
These meals take 1.5-2 hours of your park day. If you have 2 days at Magic Kingdom you may want to make reservations for a sit-down meal.
We try to beat the lunch rush and eat before noon. One way to save on waiting in lines at the parks is to take advantage of mobile ordering.
Mobile Ordering at Disney allows you to order your meal from your phone, before you arrive at the restaurant.
This is a free service to all guests at the park and one we take advantage of often. Check out this article for full details on How to Use Mobile Ordering at Disney World.
Magic Kingdom has table service dining options that you need to make reservations for as well as quick service options.
A few of our favorite dining options at Magic Kingdom:
- Be Our Guest (Fantasyland, Check reservation availability here.)
- Casey’s Corner (Main Street U.S.A)
- Cosmic Star Ray’s Starlight Cafe (Tomorrowland)
- Peco’s Bill Tall Tale (Frontierland)
- Pinocchio Village Haus (Fantasyland)
- Columbia Harbour House (Liberty Square)
- Jungle Navigation Co. LTD Skipper Canteen (Adventureland, Check reservation availability here)
- Cinderella’s Royal Table (Cinderella’s Castle, Reservations here.)
- Crystal Palace (Main Street U.S.A., Reservations here.)
- Tortuga Tavern (Adventureland)
Related Post: Best Quick Service Meals at Disney World
When deciding where to eat at Magic Kingdom you need to know what are of the park you will be at around lunch time and do you need a reservation for the restaurant.
There are quick service and table service options at the Magic Kingdom that fit all budgets and food preferences.
All menus are on the Walt Disney World website. I suggest looking them over before you arrive at the parks.
Shows at the Magic Kingdom
There are daily shows and entertainment options at the Magic Kingdom throughout the day. If seeing a parade is a top priority on your Magic Kingdom itinerary I suggest checking the times on the My Disney Experience app and creating an itinerary that works around the show times.
Characters at the Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom has character meet and greets for Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Daisy Duck, Donald Duck, Goofy, and Pluto.
You can also meet Mirabel from Encanto, Princess Tiana, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and Belle. Guests can often find Jack Sparrow, Peter Pan, and Aladdin as well.
Be sure to use the My Disney Experience App to find your favorite characters times and place.
Now that you have considered your options and all the different things to see and do at the Magic Kingdom it is time to put it all together.
I am a planner and I like to write out a flexible schedule for our visit.
At times this may change but I like being prepared going into our day at Magic Kingdom.
Below I am sharing a sample Magic Kingdom 1 day itinerary we used. It allowed us to see and do many of our favorites.
I want you to know that it is near impossible to get everything done at the Magic Kingdom in 1 day. We have visited numerous times and there are still things we have never done.
With that being said, we always have an amazing day at the park.
Focus on the experiences you have and what you do get to enjoy as a family and you will have an amazing day at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
Sample Magic Kingdom 1 Day Itinerary
7:00am-7:15am: Catch bus from resort to Magic Kingdom. Pick a time the night before that you want to leave by. Pack your park bag and get ready at night to have less stress as you get out the door.
7:30am -7:45am: Arrive at Magic Kingdom. Go through bag check/security. We typically eat a small breakfast while we wait to get into the parks or when we get to Main Street. This is usually granola bars or dry cereal.
8:20am-8:30am: Line up at the entrance to the area you will start your day at. We started at Fantasyland. Look at the map and go to the entrance of the land you would like to start at.
9:00am: Park Opens!! This is the order we did all the rides including meals. By arriving early we were able to get 7 attraction done before lunch. This was on a moderate crowd level day.
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
- Dumbo
- The Barnstormer
- Space Mountain (older kids), Buzz Lightyear (Younger Kid)
- Lunch: Be Our Guest at 11:05am. We had reservations and we ordered our meal before we arrived at the park. Doing this will save you time waiting to order when you arrive.
- It’s A Small World
Splash Mountain- Big Thunder Mountain
- Enchanted Tiki Room
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Festival of Fantasy Parade at 3:00pm We watched in Frontierland. Find a spot 45-30 minutes before. This is a good time to grab a Dole Whip in Adventureland to enjoy while you wait. Remember to use mobile ordering!
- The Haunted Mansion
- Princess Fairytale Hall, Currently unavailable.
- Dinner at Cosmic Rays Café
- Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor
- Any Attractions we missed or wanted to ride again
- Finish with finding a good spot around Cinderella’s Castle to watch nightly show.
With this Magic Kingdom itinerary we were able to experience the most popular Magic Kingdom attractions. We spent most of our time experiencing rides and didn’t do as many characters.
Most of the rides and attractions are for families with kids of all ages, but I added a few extras below that you may want to ride if you are planning a day at Magic Kingdom with Toddlers or for adults.
Another ride that has picked up in popularity is the Jungle Cruise. It has been recently updated and the new movie release has increased the wait times.
You also need to add Tron Lightcylce into your day if you would like to ride. This was not yet open on this visit.
If you want to ride the Jungle Cruise with minimal wait times you may want to head over to it after Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
Magic Kingdom Itinerary for Toddlers
- Meet Characters like Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy, and more at different locations through the park.
- Ride the Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Play in the Dumbo Playground
- Casey Jr. Splash n’ Soak Station
- Mickey’s Philharmagic
Magic Kingdom Itinerary for Adults
- The Hall of Presidents
- Carousel of Progress
- Mickey’s Philharmagic
- Jungle Cruise
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain
Magic Kingdom 2 Day Itinerary
If you have 2 days at Magic Kingdom you can take more time to explore the parks and not feel rushed to fit everything in. Below is our 2 day Magic Kingdom Itinerary we did in August of 2021.
Magic Kingdom Day 1:
- 7:30am Leave our resort for the bus to Magic Kingdom. Park opens at 9:00am.
- 8:10am Through the ticket gates and into the park.
- 9:06am In line for Peter Pan
- 9:18am Line up for Winnie the Pooh. Winnie the Pooh broke down before we could ride. We received a FastPass for any attraction in the park, except Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. From there we watched the My Disney Experience app for best wait times and planned our attractions.
- The Little Mermaid
- Barnstormer (3x)
- Dumbo
- Buzz Lightyear
- Lunch at Columbia Harbour House
- it’s a Small World
- Splash Mountain (Used our FastPass)
- Back to resort to rest
- 5:40pm Returned to Magic Kingdom
- Dinner at Peco’s Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- PeopleMover
- Left for the night. We didn’t stay for the evening show but this would be a good time to find a spot for the show if you plan to stay.
Magic Kingdom Day 2:
- 8:30am Lined up around Fantasyland entrance for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
- 9:10am Ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
- 9:45am Haunted Mansion
- 10:20am Splash Mountain
- 10:45am Big Thunder Mountain
- 11:00am Mobile Ordered Lunch at Cosmic Rays (This is actually my least favorite place to eat, check menu before you go.)
- 11:45am Grabbed a snack and coffee from Cheshire Cat Café, Watched a Character Cavalcade near the castle.
- 11:55am Tried Winnie the Pooh, again it broke down!
- Carousel of Progress
- Returned to Resort for a Break
- 5:40pm Back to Magic Kingdom
- Dinner at Columbia Harbour House. We ordered our food before we left our resort. When you arrive at the restaurant you click the I’m Here button in the My Disney Experience App.
- Jungle Cruise
- Splash Mountain
Magic Kingdom Tips
We had 2 full days at Magic Kingdom with breaks and it worked out really well. Don’t be afraid to take a few hours to relax mid-day.
Magic Kingdom has the most rides and attractions. I highly suggest doing a little research before you arrive so you know what you want to ride.
If you plan on doing a table service/character meal it will take time out of your day. These are one of the things I suggest you prioritize.
If you have your heart set on a meal at Be Our Guest you may have to skip some attractions.
That is okay because that is not one way to do Magic Kingdom. Plan your day with attractions that work for your family.
If you can plan 2 days at Magic Kingdom. It will allow you to take time to see and do everything, especially if it is your first visit to Disney World.
Magic Kingdom is a park that families can enjoy all together. From toddlers to adults, and everyone in the middle, there is something for everyone at Magic Kingdom.
This one day Magic Kingdom itinerary is flexible and works best when you prioritize what works best for your family. Use this as a guide to plan the best day at Magic Kingdom for your family.
