1 day at Magic Kingdom – The Ideal Itinerary

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Written By Carlos Braga

The trip is already running and you will only have 1 day in Magic Kingdom to be able to enjoy? Don't worry!

Our 1-Day Magic Kingdom Itinerary provides a step-by-step itinerary for an ideal day at Walt Disney World.

With attraction strategies to minimize queue time and maximize efficiency and avoid crowds.

During our ideal itinerary, these are the attractions we would do, the restaurants in which we would have the meals and the quiet moments that we would like to enjoy.

We emphasize that this is a generic route and that it can serve the vast majority of visitors. Especially those who don't know the park yet.

However, if you would like something more elaborate, contact us for our consulting and assembly of the custom script! So we can put together a complete script every day for your group profile!

While efficiency is a major goal, this 1 day script at Magic Kingdom focuses on making as many attractions as possible, as well as enjoying the Disney environment and its details, which make the Magic Kingdom the most popular theme park in the world.

Our ideal itinerary for the Magic Kingdom is somewhat subjective, as it covers our favorite activities during our 'perfect day'.

This plan assumes a one-day visit to the Magic Kingdom with moderate crowds. Even on busier days, all of this will be slightly more difficult.

No matter when you visit, it's optimized and ordered so that your waits in line are minimized, and certain things are programmed for the best experience.

Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom

FastPass + for the Ideal Roadmap for just 1 day at Magic Kingdom

FastPass+ throws an extra difficulty into this one-day Magic Kingdom roadmap. As not all guests will have access to all FastPass+ selections based on their travel reservations.

Importantly, you need FastPass+ if you want to see as much of the Magic Kingdom as possible.

Our most ?objective? of FastPass+ are:

Other good options include Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean.

For more FastPass + tips, read our FastPass + complete guide to Walt Disney World.

Early morning attractions

Fantasyland – We know a lot of Fantasyland stuff is listed as FastPass+ top picks, but these were the “objective” top picks.

We like to start the day at Fantasyland and already make short-term attractions, all close to each other, which develop long lines later.

Doing the Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh and Under the Sea early morning may allow you to save FastPass+ selections for Magic Kingdom “mountain” attractions, which are located throughout the park.

Even if Enchanted Tales with Belle If you don't have a very long line after you've finished everything, it might be a good time to do that too.

Morning snack

It's never too early for ice cream, is it? Those are words to live by when you're on vacation in the Walt Disney World.

Since you're in fantasyland, why not take the Peter Pan Float?

According to the Disney Food Blog: “With a base of Key Lime ice cream, this colorful float is perfect for lemon lovers and out there. And topped with a red chocolate feather in honor of Peter Pan.”

For Magic Kingdom purists, the age-old debate is Dole Whip v. Citrus Swirl (Choose your allegiance wisely).

I love them both, but I'm recommending the Peter Pan Float just to get away from the same things out there about these snacks at the Magic Kingdom!

FastPass + First Round

At this point, you should start using your FastPass+.

We hope you were able to book the attractions we recommended earlier in the post.

We highly recommend booking your first “round” of FastPass+ from 10am to 11am, 11am and noon to 9pm. This means you can book more FastPass+ earlier in the day, which is a good idea.

Attention: SUPER TIP! That's because, after using your 3 fastPass+ scheduled, you can schedule one more. After using this new one, you can schedule another one again and use it until the end of the day.

Late morning attractions

Disney Classics: Late morning is a good time for Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Then go to the Haunted Mansion and “It's a small world” before going to lunch.

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It's probably excessive to schedule a bathroom break in the itinerary, but the Tangled Bathrooms adjacent to “It's a small world” are one of the best bathrooms at Walt Disney World. Yes, we also indicate a good bathroom in your itinerary!

Lunch

Be our Guest – It's still so popular it's hard to book for table service dinner, but the good news is you can grab a counter service lunch here.

Scheduling is also required, but this one is much less crowded!

The theming and attention to detail are great here and the food is ambitious for a restaurant at Magic Kingdom.

The restaurant has several options of dishes and we cover it with all the details, including prices, in this post: Be Our Guest

And of course, be sure to check out the west wing!

afternoon attractions

Time to see some classic Disney “theaters”!

Well, mid-afternoon is when any Disney theme park has its longest lines. So take a break from the attractions with these shows that are simply too amazing for the general public to understand.

You have options like Country Bear Jamboreand is Carousel of progress, and if you like these attractions, you are probably a highly intelligent person with a great sense of humor.

There is also the Hall of Presidents it's the Mickey's PhilharMagic.

This is also a good time for the Festival of Fantasy Parade.

Pinocchio-village-haus-upper level

More Snacks

Friar´s Nook Snack
Friar's Nook Snack

Divide the above theaters into two groups with this snack in the middle.

It is important that you do this right, so pay close attention!

First go to Friar's Nook and grab some snack of your choice. We recommend the Tater tots with chicken and Buffalo sauce. They are like wonderful mini rostis potatoes with chicken and sauce. I think it's easier to put a picture below:

With your chosen snack in hand, walk to the Pinocchio Village Haus.

Finally, head upstairs and enjoy your snack in this peaceful spot overlooking Cinderella's Castle. You may never want to leave this place, BUT there are still other things to do.

New Shows

The third part of the “theatres” are two of the most recent attractions at the Magic Kingdom, the Cinderella Castle show, the Mickey's Royal Friendship Faire and The Muppets Present. Great Moments in American History.

We recommend both in the late afternoon, because they are completely outdoors, with no shade. So it's best to avoid seeing it under the scorching midday sun.

Also, there are two different Muppet shows that happen randomly. But usually the last two days of the day are different from each other, so you can watch both versions of this excellent show without the guesswork.

Dinner

Columbia Harbor House
Columbia Harbor House

Columbia Harbor House – Our standard procedure for these tour itineraries is usually one quick-service meal and one table-service meal.

However, for this 1 day at the Magic Kingdom it will be different given the large number of attractions that are worthwhile at the Magic Kingdom. So we're saving time by dining at Columbia Harbor House.

Excellent seafood options, plus the quaint and somewhat secluded (or perhaps underused is a better term) upstairs seating area makes this an easy choice.

We love grabbing a table by the window, recharging, and watching the Magic Kingdom bustle outside.

night attractions

Astro Orbiter, Dumbo, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train are the six attractions we most recommend doing at night for a superior experience.

That's an ambitious list, but lines get shorter later in the night. Astro Orbiter and Dumbo are the wildcards you might have to skip.

However, at the end of the night it is possible to have only 10 minutes or less of waiting for them.

About the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, let's cover this below.

night shows

Once Upon a Time
Once Upon a Time

The new fireworks show, Happily Ever After, and the Once Upon a Time projection show are the nightly entertainment at Magic Kingdom.

Try to see both. Well, they're both beautiful!

We recommend watching the Happily Ever After fireworks and sticking around for Once Upon a Time. It is best to check the show times.

Due to the projection-heavy nature of both shows, it's sensible to go a little closer to Cinderella Castle than you would to Wishes' predecessor Happily Ever After.

Somewhere between Casey's Corner and the Companions statue will be the sweet spot. We usually watch very close to the casey so we have a good view of the projections and fireworks.

Although. don't be afraid to get even closer to Cinderella's Castle.

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While a closer spot prevents you from seeing some of the pyrotechnics, it's an excellent angle for projections, spotlights, and castle effects.

Also note that Happily Ever After is incredibly popular and will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future.

On our visit in February, we noticed that its popularity was starting to wane a bit, but this also occurred on weekdays during low season.

I believe that Spring Break and summer will be crowded in Main Street for the fireworks one more time.

Because of this, we recommend booking a spot around 45 minutes before the fireworks.

Park lock

How long you have after this is highly variable based on parking hours.

If you are lucky enough to participate in a night of Extra Magic Hours, it may take a few hours. Jackpot! In addition to the attractions, this is a great time to enjoy the details of the Magic Kingdom as it empties.

The Swiss family Robinson Treehouse, followed by a walk on the promenade along the Rivers of America, departing from Splash mountain towards the Haunted Mansion, it's a surprise here.

Another Cat Leap: Queuing for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train 1 minute before Magic Kingdom closes can be a direct hit.

You basically avoid the massive 1 hour long queues all day by standing in line as late as possible and you will literally feel yourself saving time in line, after all, the park will already be closing.

Once you're done, the Magic Kingdom will close, but be aware that stores on Main Street are typically open an hour after the park closes, so it's time to do your souvenir shopping.

At the very least, make sure you stay 30 minutes after the Magic Kingdom closes so you can see The Kiss Goodnight at Cinderella's Castle, which is the perfect way to end a day at Walt Disney World!

Kiss Godnight - Magic Kingdom
Kiss Godnight – Magic Kingdom

Completion of your 1 day at Magic Kingdom

If you can make up to 75% of the stuff in this 1 day script at Magic Kingdom, you're pretty much sure to have a great day at the Magic Kingdom.

That's our guarantee! I take this opportunity to point out that any day you are at the Magic Kingdom must be amazing. So if you don't have a lot of fun, look for your inner magic more deeply heeheh.

Although this itinerary covers most of the park in a single day, in a truly ideal world we recommend that the park be done in 2 days.

Soon we will write an ideal 2 day script in magic kingdom.

That's because that's how much time you should spend in the Magic Kingdom ideally.

Currently, this is still the only park at Walt Disney World that we believe requires two days to do everything without rushing. Although Hollywood Studios will very soon become a 2-day park as well.

You can do the other parks in one day each. If you have two or more days, enjoy all of the park's attractions.

 
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We hope the post was enlightening and helped you better plan this 1 day at Magic Kingdom. If you still have any doubts, don't hesitate to let us know in the comments.

If you need something more complete, contact us for a consultancy or custom script!

I hope again that this post helped you in your research for your trip to Disney or Orlando.

As a way to help us keep the blog going, we just ask you to help us by sharing this publication and subscribing to our social networks as Facebook, Instagram or Youtube channel.

In addition to helping us, we are sure that there you will find hundreds of useful posts for your trip!

About the Author Carlos Braga:

Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.

My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.

During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!

I hope again that this post helped you in your research for your trip to Disney or Orlando.

As a way to help us keep the blog going, we just ask you to help us by sharing this publication and subscribing to our social networks as Facebook, Instagram or Youtube channel.

In addition to helping us, we are sure that there you will find hundreds of useful posts for your trip!

About the Author Carlos Braga:

Unparalleled experience in Orlando and Disney! As a former Universal Orlando team member and a passionate devotee of the magic of Disney, I have become a true Orlando travel expert. Before becoming a renowned travel consultant dedicated to Orlando, I had already made hundreds of visits to the parks, cultivating my knowledge and passion mainly over the last 7 years as a consultant and specialist in Disney travel.

My journey into this enchanted world began in 1995, when I took my first trip to Orlando. Since then, my love for Disney and the city has only grown. In 2023, we celebrate the sixth anniversary of 'Partiu Disney Parks', consolidating our role as one of the main sources of information about Disney and Orlando Parks.

During these six years of existence, we have continued to offer quality and updated content, being the reliable source for all those looking for essential information to plan their trip to Disney and Orlando. With my vast experience and passion for this magical destination, I am here to guide you every step of the way towards the most incredible Orlando and Disney experience!

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