If you’re planning your first Disney World trip to Magic Kingdom with kids and feeling slightly overwhelmed… you’re in the right place! I’ve got the perfect “How to Have the Best Disney World Magic Kingdom Trip” guide right here for you packed with Disney Magic Kingdom tips and Disney Park essentials!
Trust me when I say, you do not want to walk into Magic Kingdom with kids unprepared and without a game plan. This post outlines my Disney World strategy for how to have the Best Disney World trip with kids!
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Disney World with Kids Doesn’t Have to be Stressful
I’ve learned this the hard way: Disney is magical — but only if you have a plan. Not a minute-by-minute spreadsheet. Just a smart, realistic strategy that keeps meltdowns low and magic high. This is the guide I wish another mom handed me before our first trip.
In this post, we’re going through the Disney Park Magic Kingdom with:
- Tips to beat the crowds
- Lightning lane tips
- Disney essentials you need to pack
- The rides to prioritize by age with height requirements (so no surprises in line)
- Where to actually eat
- Character highlights
- Entertainment must-sees
This blog post shares Magic Kingdom tips, so if you are visiting other parks too, be sure to check out these related posts:
- How to Have the Best Disney World Trip with Kids
- Disney World with Kids: Magic Kingdom Tips and Tricks (you are here)
- Disney World with Kids: Animal Kingdom Tips and Tricks (*coming soon)
- Disney World with Kids: Hollywood Studios Tips and Tricks (*coming soon)
- Disney World with Kids: Epcot Tips and Tricks (*coming soon)
Let’s jump into it!
Tips to Beat the Crowds at Magic Kingdom
If you want to beat the crowds, you need to know that Magic Kingdom is consistently the busiest park at Walt Disney World. Below are a few strategies to beat the crowds and ensure you get to do everything you want while at the park.
- Arrive 30-45 minutes before rope drop and head directly to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or TRON
- Book Lightning Lane Multi Pass for your top must-do rides
- Do Fantasyland first in the morning when lines are shortest
- Visit popular rides again after the evening parade when crowds thin out
- Use the My Disney Experience app to monitor live wait times throughout the day
Lightning Lane Tips
When it comes to Lightning Lane, things can get confusing! There are 3 types of Lightning Lane passes you can get: Single Pass, Multi Pass, or Premiere Pass. Let me break down the differences for you:
With the Single Pass, you can purchase a lightning lane pass for:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- TRON Lightcycle / Run
With the Multi Pass, you can purchase a lightning lane pass for one of the below rides:
- Jungle Cruise
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Space Mountain
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
PLUS 2 from this list of rides, or all 3 can be from this list:
- The Barnstormer
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — Opening April 8
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Haunted Mansion
- “it’s a small world”
- Mad Tea Party
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
With a Premiere Lightning Lane Pass, you can get a one-time entry to every available Lightning Lane experience in one park for one day. You also don’t have to schedule these ahead of time, which is a huge perk!
You can purchase passes up to 7 days in advance if you are staying at a Disney Resort, or 3 days in advance for all other guests.
👉 Grab My Disney World Must-Haves
Some of my favorites are shown below! You can click the images to find all direct links but a few Disney World essentials for us are:
- Belt bag (small enough to take on rides easily but fits all the essentials!)
- Portable fan (don’t forget this!)
- Anti-chafe stick (necessary… ask me how I know)
- Shorts with lining (also necessary… trust me!)
- Large Disney water bottle (gotta stay hydrated in Disney style!)
Rides to Prioritize at Magic Kingdom
Like I mentioned above, this is definitely a park you want to rope drop if at all possible! That will give you a headstart on the lines and allow you to get to some of the more popular ones before the lines fill up. You will also want to use your Lightning Lane pass on rides with longest typical wait times to minimize standing in line and maximize fun!
Best Magic Kingdom Rides for Toddlers & Young Kids (Under 7)
These rides are perfect for little ones who do not like fast moving coasters and the best part is they do not have any height requirements!
- It’s a Small World” — a gentle boat ride the entire family will adore
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant — the classic! Kids can control how high Dumbo flies
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh — sweet and slow, perfect for little ones
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel — beautiful horses, zero wait most of the day
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin — interactive laser shooter, great for ages 3+
- Mad Tea Party — spinning teacups are wild fun for kids who love to spin
- Under the Sea — a slow moving musical adventure with the Little Mermaid
Just know, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger spin is closed for refurbishment as of today but plans to reopen on April 8th!
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Best Magic Kingdom Rides for Older Kids (7+)
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — a super in-demand ride, book Lightning Lane early!
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — currently closed for refurbishment
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — super fun water ride (formerly Splash Mountain)
- Haunted Mansion — spooky, funny, and iconic — older kids absolutely love it
- Space Mountain — indoor roller coaster in the dark, classic Disney thrill
- TRON Lightcycle / Run — the newest and fastest ride at Magic Kingdom, a must!
- Pirates of the Caribbean — classic boat ride through swashbuckling adventure
Height Requirements to Know
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — 38″
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad — 40″
- Tiana’s Bayou Adventure — 40″
- Haunted Mansion — any height
- Space Mountain — 44″
- TRON Lightcycle / Run — 48″
- Pirates of the Caribbean — any height
Keep in mind that just because your little one is tall enough to ride some of these rides, doesn’t mean they will enjoy every ride. Use your discretion and if you think it may be too scary, it’s ok to opt-out.
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Best Restaurants at Magic Kingdom for Families
Table Service
If you plan to eat at any of these restaurants, I highly recommend you make reservations ahead of time.
- Be Our Guest Restaurant — dine inside Beast’s enchanted castle; book 60 days out
- Cinderella’s Royal Table — princess character dining inside the castle; books up fast
- The Crystal Palace — Winnie the Pooh character buffet, perfect for young kids
Quick Service (Mobile Order These!)
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn & Cafe — mostly Mexican inspired food with “build your own bowl” options
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe — lots of kid-friendly foods here
- Pinocchio Village Haus — several flatbread options as well as kid-friendly choices here
Sweet Treats
- Aloha Isle — the place to visit for the famous Dole Whip
- Gaston’s Tavern — where you will find the most amazing cinnamon rolls ever!!!
- Ice Cream Carts — positioned around the park and the best place to find a Mickey Ice Cream Bar
Last, but not least!! Don’t forget the Spring Roll Cart. This is located near the entrance of Adventureland and their Cheeseburger Spring Rolls are certainly worth the hype!
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Magic Kingdom Characters to Prioritize
Character meets are a highlight for kids at Magic Kingdom. Here are where to find favorites:
- Cinderella & Elena — Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland
- Mickey & Minnie Mouse — Town Square Theater on Main Street U.S.A.
- Tinker Bell — Town Square Theater (alternates with Mickey)
- Buzz Lightyear & Woody — appear near Stitch’s Great Escape in Tomorrowland (check app for times)
Pro tip: Character meet times change daily. Always check the My Disney Experience app the morning of your visit for current meet locations and times.
Don’t forget these must-haves for character meet and greets! An autograph book so your little ones can have their favorite characters sign their book! It makes for such sweet memories they can look back on! Also, grab a pair of mouse ears to make character photo ops more magical!
- Autograph book for Disney character signatures
- Budget Friendly Mouse Ears – tons of styles to choose from!
Must-See Magic Kingdom Entertainment
Finally, the entertainment! Below are some of the best parades and shows you need to catch in Magic Kingdom.
- Festival of Fantasy Parade — daily afternoon parade through the park, incredible floats
- Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire — castle stage show with classic Disney characters
- Happily Ever After Fireworks — the Magic Kingdom nighttime spectacular is breathtaking; stake out your spot on Main Street 45 minutes early
- Main Street Electrical Parade — check the app for seasonal showings
If you are also visiting Animal Kingdom, check out my favorites by clicking the image below and here is a link to my Animal Kingdom Park Guide: *Park Guide post coming soon
I hope you enjoyed this Magic Kingdom park guide! I tried to make it as comprehensive as I could! Be sure to save it for later and share it with a friend who might need it.
I hope you have the most magical Disney trip ever!
Megan