Magic Kingdom first opened its gates to the public in 1971. Apparently it is the most visited park in the world so don't expect it to be quiet! Visitors to Disneyland Paris will find this park familiar as it has a very similar layout and many of the same rides. Like many of the Disney parks, it has a long narrow corridor entrance, then several lands which can be accessed via a central hub.
**GETTING THERE**
This very much depends upon where you're staying. Visitors staying at the Disney hotels, the Contemporary, Polynesian or Grand Floridian can get there directly via the monorail. Guests from the Wilderness lodge and Villas or Fort Wilderness Campground can either take a boat or bus. Other Disney guests can catch a bus directly from their hotel. If you're not staying on Disney territory you need to park in the Magic Kingdom Transport and Ticket Centre; from there you can catch a monorail or ferry to the park gates. We took the ferry. It might have taken slightly longer but it was a lot calmer and provided a nice extra experience for the children. Just a word of warning, the car parks are huge; a good tip I've heard is to take a photo of the name and number of the block where your car is parked on your phone or digital camera each morning, then just delete it at the end of the day.
Main Street USA is built to look like an idealised USA town around 1900. At the entrance to Main Street you will find the train station where you can catch a train that goes round the entire perimeter of the park. This is probably one of the worst places to catch the train though as queues can get pretty long and people don't tend to get off here unless it's later in the day so there aren't many places available on the train when it stops. I would advise if you want to ride the train - and it's lovely for younger children or just if you want to rest your feet - then catch it at one of the other stops.
As you pass into Main Street, watch out for Park Guides and entertainment schedules. These are invaluable for providing a map showing where all of the rides, restaurants and toilets are, plus they give information about what time parades and meet 'n' greets are. Don't forget to pick one up or you will definitely miss a lot of the attractions!
On the left is City Hall where you can make restaurant reservations, book a guided tour or pick up park maps if you forgot to get one. On the opposite side is Exposition Hall where you can see old Disney films and pictures. This isn't an area that greatly interests my family; they just want to get on and find the rides.
There are quite a few shops in Main Street, or so it looks from the outside. In actual fact they are all joined together instead and all mostly contain Disney merchandise, especially clothing, cuddly toys and highly expensive ornaments. On our first visit here we had a good look all along the shops as we entered. Don't make the same mistake! The shops are there all day. Rides without queues aren't! If you're there fairly early in the morning, make the most of the fact that the queues haven't built up yet and get to the rides early.
Make sure to listen carefully though; the floors above the shops are supposed to be businesses and if you listen you can hear sounds from the "dentist" and "music
teacher". If you have time, pay attention to the names printed on the upper floor windows; they are all real people who have been somehow involved in the creation of DisneyWorld. Some people may not be interested in such things, but for me it's the little details that make a trip to Disney so fantastic!
The only rides available in Main Street USA are horse drawn carriages or old fashioned fire engines that you can ride to the end of the street on. We've never bothered with this. You can walk there just as fast and there are far better attractions to experience. Unless you have a real thing about horses or fire engines, give these a miss!
At the end of Main Street is a large circle. This is part of the parade route and forms the central hub whereby you can access all other lands. Cinderella's castle lies at the end of this hub and is a quite impressive building.
During our first visit to Magic Kingdom we travelled around the park in an anti-clockwise direction visiting each ride as and when we came to it. On later visits we adopted a bit more of a strategy in order to reduce queuing time but I will describe the park in the order we used on that initial visit as the second option involved lots of zig-zagging around and would be utterly confusing.
**TOMORROWLAND**
Tomorrowland was the first land that we visited. Disney wanted this land to look like a vision of the future, however the problem with this is that the future keeps catching up! Currently Tomorrowland is styled to look like the science fiction future envisioned in the early 20th Century. The scenery doesn't really appeal to me and it would probably be one of my least favourite lands if not for the fact that it is home to a couple of my favourite rides.
The best of all of these is Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, an interactive ride through a futuristic landscape. At the beginning of the ride a huge Buzz Lightyear asks for your help to defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg before you take your place in a two person carriage with laser guns on the front. All through the ride you need to aim at targets to get a high score. Our family are quite competitive and we tend to go on a few times to try to beat each others' scores and it does take a little while to get used to the lasers and targets. Certain shaped targets give more points (I think it's the triangle and diamond shapes that give the best points but don't quote me on it). Also my son swears the way to get a high score is to keep your finger on the trigger all the time. To be honest, we're all fairly average at the game so if anyone has any tips? It is a lot of fun though and a ride you'll probably want to repeat.
Another popular ride in Tomorrowland is Space Mountain. If you've been on this ride in DisneylandParis it's not the same ride but it is still a rollercoaster in the dark. I have read that it only travels at 28 miles an hour but it feels as if it's a lot faster. The big downside to this is that we queued...and queued...and queued and by the time we got on the ride it didn't feel worth it. Most of the family would go on again, but we would definitely go really early in the day, but my husband wouldn't ride ever again. He's not much of a coaster fan though. This ride has height restriction (3ft 8).
An unexpected favourite ride was the Carousel of Progress. This ride appears to be a theatre when you go in and sit in the audience to watch an animatronic man talking about technology through the ages. The twist is that as you move through the years the audience seats move while the stage stays still. It was quite an interesting ride - not nearly as boring as it sounds - and an escape from the sun. The song played as the seats change is quite catchy too!
Other rides in this area are a slightly less than impressive. Tomorrowland Indy Speedway is a track with small cars on that you can drive yourself, although this is a bit misleading as the cars are actually on a rail and all that can be controlled is the speed - even this is not really fast. I would probably skip this unless you have someone who is desperate to ride. Also, you are quite likely to get bumped from behind so the ride is not recommended for pregnant ladies.
A second attraction that's not really worth it is Stitch's Great Escape based on the film Lilo and Stitch. The basic premise of this attraction is that you are joining a space prison service and are helping transport Stitch who is a prisoner. Unfortunately he escapes and due to special effects it appears that he is all around you. Some of the effects are quite unpleasant and much of it takes place in the dark so not a ride for those who are afraid of the dark or claustrophobic. Although this ride doesn't throw you about at all it still has a height restriction (3ft 2) probably because of the possibility of small children being scared.
Two rides that aren't especially thrilling but are suitable for smaller children are the Astro-Orbiter, which is basically a set of rocket shaped carriages that go round and round. Riders can control the rockets and make them go up and down. Think Dumbo ride but high in the sky. A final ride is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority which is a slow-moving ride high in the sky. It wouldn't be very exciting for older children or teenagers but there generally isn't a queue and you do get to peep inside Space Mountain.
Since we visited a new attraction based on Monsters Inc has opened which is some kind of comedy show but I can't comment on whether it's worth seeing.
**FANTASYLAND**
After leaving Tomorrowland we came across Fantasyland which is a huge attraction for small children. The whole area looks like a pretty fairytale and most of the rides are aimed at under ten year olds. We sampled them all as our daughter was only six at the time. Without smaller children I would definitely still visit but it wouldn't be the first land I went to. This land can also be accessed by going through Cinderella's Castle at the end of Main Street if your family want to visit there first.
The best attraction in this area was a 3D film show called Mickey's Philharmagic. I don't want to give away the plot but it has a lot of clever special effects and features scenes from all of the favourite Disney films. The whole family really enjoyed this one and my daughter begged to go back the whole holiday.
Many of the other rides in this area are the usual sort of fairground rides given a Disney twist, including a Cinderella's carousel, Alice in Wonderland's spinning teacup ride and Dumbo's ride which though only a rotating ride in flying elephants that go up and down is inexplicably popular and soon has enormous slow-moving queues! Other rides in Fantasyland are basically rides through scenes from famous films such as Snow White, Peter Pan (another popular one!) and Winnie the Pooh. All of these rides are great for little ones - although the witch pops out in Snow White... a lot! - but they were a big yawn for our ten year old.
The final ride in Fantasy land, It's A Small World, is quite unique; a boat ride through animated singing dolls dressed as all the different nationalities who sing one of the most irritatingly catchy tunes known to the modern world. Again, my older son hates it, but it's an iconic ride and a trip to Disney wouldn't be the same without a trip on it.
Other attractions in Fantasyland are a little less well-known and tucked away where you might not come across them. Ariel the mermaid can be found for photos and autographs in her watery grotto; little girls tend to like this attraction... as do Dads! Also Belle from Beauty and the Beast tells her story in a little walled garden. What's nice about this is that she chooses children to come and help and as there aren't usually a lot of people there they have a good chance of being picked. Our ten year old was mortified when she asked him to join in and dress like Gaston; our six year old was devastated not to be asked to join in. You can't win!
**MICKEY'S TOONTOWN FAIR**
The newest land in Magic Kingdom can only be reached on foot via Fantasyland, although it does have a train station. Again this is a land primarily aimed at small children and features Mickey and Minnie's homes where visitors can walk through and see where they live, plus a mini roller coaster which is ideal for a child's first experience on a roller coaster. If they don't like this, they won't like any other coaster in the park. A further attraction is Donald Duck's boat, where children WILL get wet - great for hot summer days but not so nice in winter. Despite having younger children we didn't spend a lot of time in Mickey's Toontown Fair as our family felt there was a lot more fun to be had elsewhere in the park.
**LIBERTY SQUARE**
Moving back through Fantasyland you come to Liberty Square. This is a fairly small area that has three attractions. Our family favourite is the Haunted Mansion, one of two Disney rides where the ride spawned the film (the other being Pirates of the Caribbean). Not as scary as it sounds this is a clever twist on a ghost train. On first riding our six year old was scared but the anticipation is more frightening than the actual ride. A second attraction is the Hall of Presidents, a film of US history followed by a roll call of animatronic Presidents. Although the robotics are very clever a lot of this went over our heads (not being American) and it was incredibly boring for the children. I think I probably still would go back though, if only to see what they do with President Obama. A final ride in this area is the Liberty Belle riverboat, a peaceful ride on a mock paddle steamer. A good ride for older people or those with very tired feet!
**FRONTIERLAND**
Ah, finally, into my husband's favourite land where he can indulge his fantasies of being a cowboy and enjoy the toe-tapping country music. Frontierland is themed like a western town and is the setting for two of Magic Kingdom's most popular rides. Splash Mountain is a log flume ride through the setting of Brer Rabbit stories, culminating in a huge splash at the end. Don't let that put you off though; the drop looks worse than it actually is. The final "mountain" in Magic Kingdom is Thunder Mountain, a fast paced ride on a runaway mining train. Again, it looks scarier than it feels and is a ride that my non-roller-coaster-loving husband is more than keen to ride. Also from Frontierland you can catch a raft to Tom Sawyer's Island where children can run about and let off steam to their heart's content. Finally, you can visit the Country Bears Jamboree, where animatronic bears deliver a whole host of country and western songs. We didn't visit this attraction but apparently it's good for toddlers so it'll definitely be somewhere we go when we visit again.
**ADVENTURELAND**
Adventureland is one of the most exotic areas of Magic Kingdom, with a jungle like atmosphere and an Arabian market area. It hosts one of the most famous of all the Disney rides, Pirates of the Caribbean, a water ride through scenes of pirates rampaging and pillaging. It's a great ride but the darkness of it scared my little one the first time she rode. It has an excellent song though and you'll be Yo-ho-ho-ing for ages afterwards. Another favourite is the Jungle Cruise, a boat ride that miraculously takes you down several of the world's most famous rivers. It's worth it for the banter from the boats' skippers which is corny but amusing.
If you have younger children, Adventureland also hosts a Dumbo-esque ride The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, where children are in charge of making their magic carpet fly up and down as they spin round and round. Watch out for the camel - he spits! Finally, pay a visit to the Enchanted Tiki Room, full of singing birds, but with a twist as it's been taken over by Iago from Aladdin and Zazu from the Lion King. If you're feeling really energetic, try climbing the treehouse from the Swiss Family Robinson, but be warned, there are lots of steps - not suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs or anyone not entirely fit.
**What else is there to do there?**
If all that isn't enough for you, there are always characters to be found. In Magic Kingdom there a variety of characters that are always there, for example Mickey Mouse can almost always be found in the judging tent behind his house. At the entrance of Mickey's Toontown Fair there is a large shop, inside of which are three character lines to meet various characters, usually on a theme. When we went, my daughter several of the Disney Princesses and the characters from Winnie the Pooh all in one fell swoop.
Other characters can be found periodically in places associated with them, such as Alice in Wonderland characters around the Spinning Teacups, Brer Bear and Brer Fox lurking around Splash Mountain and we had great fun meting Captain Hook and Mr Smee at the entrance to the Pirates of the Caribbean. My daughter was wearing a Tinkerbell hat which was promptly stolen and turned inside out by Hook so we couldn't see Tinkerbell. My daughter was very much tickled by this and still talks about it now. The characters I like finding best though are the ones just randomly wandering. We leaped off the train when we saw Cruella de Vil in Toontown even though we'd been planning on going to Main Street USA.
Every day in Magic Kingdom offers parades, including the afternoon Dreams Come True parade and the evening Spectromagic, which is more characters and a LOT of lights! People seem to start waiting for parades quite early so if parades aren't you're thing take adventage of the fact that the queues at rides are smaller. A word of warning - if you're planning on leaving close to parade time, go early. You can't cross a parade route to get out of the park and it's a long, long walk going all the way round, believe me!
Each evening ends with the Wishes fireworks display, which isn't your average fireworks display combining pictures and music from Disney films with the fireworks. Be warned it is VERY crowded when leaving just after the fireworks. Keep tight hold of children or lurk around the shops for a little while until the crowds die down!
If you're really interested in Disney, there are a number of behind the scenes tours you can take, ranging in price from the tour hour Family Magic Tour for $27 to the $199 Backstage Magic tour that goes behind the scenes at three Disney Parks (not Animal Kingdom) . This tour is only suitable for over sixteens. We haven't been on any of these tours but I would love to!
**OPENING TIMES**
Parks open and close at different times throughout the year, opening later in summer months. The Disney website lists opening hours a few months in advance.
Eating at the park can be as expensive as you want to make it. You can buy cheap snacks at a variety of places or if you really want to push the boat out, dine at Cinderella's Royal Table in the castle. This will need to be booked well in advance though. Information on places to eat and a guide to prices ($, $$ or $$$) is available from the park guides found at the park entrances.
Character dining is also available which is a chance for your child (or you!) to meet their favourite characters while having a meal which can be time saving but costly. Some character meals need to be booked in advance so check before you go.
It's supposedly not permitted, but it is possible to take in your own food which works out even cheaper. Also remember to take empty water bottles an d fill up at the many water fountains around the parks.
**What else might I need to know?**
Consider visiting over more than one day. All the main rides can be done in one day (we did it - once!) but it's fast paced, tiring and makes for a long day.
If things are getting too much for anyone, consider going back to the hotel for a swim or a nap. Early starts and late nights can take their toll and we saw more than one child being yelled at. Call that a holiday?
Use FASTPASS. This is a brilliant idea. Feed your park tickets into a machine near a Fastpass ride and receive a ticket with a stated time to come back. Come back at that time and get on the ride with a much smaller wait. You are only supposed to get one fastpass at a time but can usually get another one a couple of hours later, or when the first one has been used. Fastpasses run out early on the most popular rides so don't wait too long.
To avoid the queues, eat earlier or later than normal lunchtimes, then you can ride while others eat and eat while others ride!
If it's your birthday while you're there, take your passport and show it at customer services for special park perks.
**Would I recommend going?**
Yes, yes, yes and yes! I can't recommend it enough, though I am a huge Disney fan. There's something there for the whole family, whether it's rides, shows, parades or just the scenery. There are plenty rides for all ages, although none of them are ultra-scary thrill rides. A factor that I really like is the fact that everything is so clean and the attention to detail is fantastic. Customer service is exceptional and nothing is too much trouble for staff. Queues are well managed and even when there is a bit of a queue, usually the queueing area has so much to look at that you don't notice the wait. The only problem is that once you get home, none of the theme parks you visit, including Disneyland Paris ever seem to live up to it. Plus some people just don't like things to be so Disney perfect, though that isn't a problem for us. If you get the chance, just go!
Also posted on Dooyoo under the same name
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I have only been to Disney Paris but it was amazing, even for me as an adult. I can only imagine the one in Florida it's much better and I hope I'll manage to get there as well one day. Brilliant review X
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Advantages: Excellent trek leader, activities, flexibility and facilities. Disadvantages: Expensive pre-trek hotel night, cooking and cleaning for yourself and putting up tents
Renza 03.10.2009 (03.10.2009)
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