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When most people think of Disney World, they immediately think of the Magic Kingdom. It is, by far, the most iconic park in the whole resort and it has the most attractions. Because of this, it is impossible to do everything in one day. So, how do you know what to do and what to skip? This list of the 10 Magical Must-Do’s in the Magic Kingdom gives you the best things to experience. This list will help you maximize your time in the park and get the most out of your day.
1. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
In Tomorrowland, you will find Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin. This is a fun ride that the whole family will love, especially if you’re competitive. This innovative ride puts you in the middle of a video game! You ride two people per spaceship and each person has their own laser gun to shoot Zurg’s targets while an on-board scoreboard keeps track of your score. You and your kids will want to ride this one again and again.
2. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
The second ride on our list of magical must-do’s in the Magic Kingdom is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, which is located in Fantasyland. It is the most unique roller coaster you will find for two reasons. First, it combines a roller coaster with dark ride scenes. Second, Disney created one-of-a-kind cars which rock back and forth during the ride. These two things add an unexpected element of fun to what would otherwise be a simple kiddie coaster. The height requirement is 38 inches, so most children will be able to ride it.
While this is not an extreme coaster that will please thrill junkies, it does contain plenty of thrills for most families. It is very popular, so you will want to ride it with a fastpass or first thing in the morning. Another bonus to this ride: the ride photo will automatically show up on your photopass account without any action on your part!
3. Peter Pan’s Flight
Peter Pan’s Flight is a cute little dark ride in Fantasyland. It is an oldie, but a goodie. You get a unique glimpse into Peter’s world by riding in a pirate ship that is sprinkled with pixie dust. The entire family will enjoy this ride. You will even love the queue for this one because it takes you through the Darling house, including the bedrooms of Wendy and her brothers. This is a very popular ride, so ride as early in the day as possible to minimize your wait time.
4. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Up next on our list of the magical must-do’s in the Magic Kingdom is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which is Disney’s version of the runaway mine train. It is more thrilling than Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but it is not as extreme as some of the other coasters at Disney World. You will find it in Frontierland. Children must be at least 40″ tall to ride this one.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is better than other runaway mine train rides because of all the details. During your “wildest ride in the wilderness,” you may see dinosaur bones, goats, a population sign, and an old man in a bathtub among other things. For a totally different experience, ride this one at night. After dark, you can see a party going on through the windows of one of the little buildings that you pass.
5. Dumbo
Dumbo is the most iconic ride in all of Disney World. Everyone must take a ride on the famous flying elephant at least once per trip! Dumbo is in Storybook Circus at the back of Fantasyland. When the ride was moved to Storybook Circus, Disney added a second spinner, which doubled the capacity of the popular ride.
Disney also added a circus tent and a “queueless” wait system. The queue takes you inside the circus tent where you can choose to wait in line or to play in the circus tent. If you choose to play, a cast member will give you a pager similar to that used in restaurants. When it is your turn to ride, your pager will go off and you can then join the ride. Since this ride is the number one must-do for most small children, this is a great way to wait for kids and parents alike! Parents can rest on benches while the kids play. Plus, the tent is air-conditioned! What can be better than that!
6. Festival of Fantasy Parade
The daily afternoon parade in the Magic Kingdom is Festival of Fantasy. This is a phenomenal parade! Words can’t do it justice. Even my husband was impressed by this parade, and he isn’t a fan of parades. The floats are huge and incredibly detailed. The highlight of the parade is the fire-breathing dragon! I highly recommend taking time out to see this parade. You can usually find good places to watch in Frontierland.
7. Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion is a dark ride in Liberty Square. Despite its name, it is not that scary. It is filled with ghosts though. The preshow is the scariest part of the entire ride. There is no height requirement, so everyone in your group will be able to ride. You will never experience another tour through an old mansion like this. This is one of my favorite rides!
8. Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover
The Peoplemover is very underrated by novice visitors. You can find it winding its way through Tomorrowland. Take the escalator up to the load platform for some wonderful views while resting your feet. There is almost never a line for this ride. This is one that everyone in the family will enjoy. It is one of the best ways to take a break from the crowds. The track will take you inside some other Tomorrowland attractions for a sneak peek. This ride is so relaxing! It is a great ride to do while your little ones are napping.
9. Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
You will find this gem of a show in Tomorrowland. It is an animated, family friendly, and interactive comedy club with Mike Wazowski as the MC. During the preshow, you can submit your own jokes which may be included in the show. Every show is different, as much of it revolves around audience participation. Many of the jokes are corny, which will appeal to kids of all ages. Plus, it’s air conditioned!
10. Jungle Cruise
The Jungle Cruise is a boat ride for the whole family. While you float through the famous rivers of the world and experience different animals and humorous scenes, your boat captain will keep you entertained with one corny joke after another. This is a fun ride anytime of day, but it takes on a whole different vibe after dark. I suggest riding it during the day and night.
Conclusion
This concludes our tour through the 10 Magical Must-do’s in the Magic Kingdom. Many families spend a lot of time in the Magic Kingdom. There is so much to do in this park that it’s impossible to do it all in one day. This list will help you maximize your time so you can experience the best of what the Magic Kingdom has to offer. Check out the magical must-do lists for Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Epcot’s Future World and World Showcase too. To book your Disney World trip, visit Disney’s website. For help planning your trip, see our step-by-step guide and the secret to a great Disney World trip. Happy travels!
P.S. Want more help planning your trip? Get FREE access to all of our Disney planning tools, including our Trip Planning Worksheet and Disney Packing List, in our Travel Resource Library. See the box below for details on how to get the password to the library.
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