1 Day Plan for Magic Kingdom
If you plan your day right, you can make one day at Magic Kingdom work, but I do recommend 2 days there if you prefer a slower touring pace. I will outline below a one day plan based on my favorite attractions, and must do dining.
PLAN:
Here is a quick outline of my favorite one day plan and more detailed information will follow below:
- Arrive at Magic Kingdom one hour before park opening.
- Eat breakfast on Main Street or get a reservation at Be our Guest Restaurant for early entry. (both are open before park opening)
- great time to take photos around the entrance, Main Street, and the Castle
- or get in line first thing for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Early Morning:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (unless you have a Fast Pass + for it and don’t want to ride it twice)
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- It’s a Small World
- Little Mermaid
- Gaston’s Tavern for a snack
Mid Morning:
Use your 3 Fast Pass+ reservations made 60 days in advance for:
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Thunder Mountain
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain or Thunder Mountain (whichever you don’t have a Fast Pass + for)
- Optional: for little girls age 3- 12 book a Princess makeover at Cinderella’s Castle in Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, and plan to reserve it 180 days in advance if possible.
Lunch
Reservations at Be Our Guest Restaurant or Cinderella’s Royal Table around noon made 180 days in advance. Backup option: Columbia Harbor House, Pinoccio’s Village Haus, or Skipper Canteen. See my magical tip for booking Be Our Guest if you missed the 180 day window.
Early Afternoon:
After using the 3 Fast Pass+:
- Get a Fast Pass + for Enchanted Tales with Belle
- Haunted Mansion
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Jungle Cruise
- Festival of Fantasy Parade at 3:00 (head over at 2:30 for a spot)
Mid Afternoon:
-Make any additional Fast Pass+ reservations you can until park closing, and choose attractions from the list below until dinner time:
- character meet and greets your children may want. Click here for list and times.
- Winnie the Pooh
- Dumbo
- Mad Tea Party
- Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater
- Visit the Confectionery on Main Street for a yummy treat
- Swiss Family Treehouse
- Tom Sawyer Island
- Take in a show at the Country Bear Jamboree to rest feet
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Carousal of Progress
- People Mover
- Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin
Dinner
- Reservations around 5pm for Be our Guest, Cinderella’s Royal Table, or California Grill (preferably 180 days in advance). Second choice is Skipper’s Canteen, or Liberty Tree Tavern. I recommend a light dinner or share meals if you plan to do a fireworks dessert party after. (see below)
- Take in some shows or attractions you haven’t seen yet.
Fireworks
- Reservations for Fireworks Dessert Party at 6:45pm with Plaza Garden Viewing of the fireworks show Happily Ever After and Once Upon a Time. Best way to secure a great viewing seat.
- If extended Magic Hours are in place, ride your favorites again or any missed rides.
- Explore and shop Main Street (open after park closing)
For more details of this one day plan and steps on booking Fast Pass+ read below:
*ROPE DROP ARRIVAL:
Rope drop is the fun welcome show at the official opening of Magic Kingdom, and I recommend arriving 1 hour before park opening. The early morning hours at Magic Kingdom have much lighter crowds, and your day will go dramatically better if you avoid the temptation to sleep in. By afternoon the lines and crowds become very heavy, and it’s better to have the most popular rides out of the way. If traveling with large groups or little ones, you need to set that alarm much earlier than you think. It always takes us longer to get out of our rooms than we predicted.
Magic Kingdom allows people inside the park up to an hour before the official opening. You are allowed to go as far as the castle, where the welcome rope drop show is performed. Arriving an hour early is the perfect opportunity to stroll around Main Street, shop and eat, and snap pictures with photo pass photographers without crowds.
This is the afternoon crowd on Thanksgiving week….
Morning crowd the same day…..
*Breakfast:
Since your goal is early arrival to Magic Kingdom, be careful about booking character breakfast buffets at hotels. You don’t want to lose that window of low crowds and the most valuable park time, by eating a long table service meal. For breakfast we ate inside the park on Main Street an hour before opening time. You can also do hotel quick service, room service, or buy groceries ahead of time for your room. For first timers though, you may want to book a restaurant inside Magic Kingdom, which gets you inside the park at Be Our Guest Restaurant, Cinderella’s Royal Table for princess dining, or Crystal Palace for a character dining experience with Winnie the Pooh and friends. This will give you early entry in the park and closer to popular rides! But be sure to check if extra magic morning hours will interfere with your reservations. Since reservations are made 180 days in advance for these favorite restaurants, you won’t know the extra magic hour schedule yet. If it does interfere then I recommend the former options for breakfast. Be aware that going to Magic Kingdom on extra magic hour days will have heavier crowds from onsite guests all flooding to that park.
Be Our Guest Castle queue
Walking up the stairs to Cinderella’s Royal Table
Cinderella’s Royal Table is located INSIDE this castle!
*OPTIONAL:
If you have a little girl or boy between age 3-12 who would enjoy a Disney princess or prince makeover, I recommend a reservation in the magical Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Cinderella’s Castle. It’s a treasured memory for my daughters, and a great value for your money. Another option is the Pirate or Mermaid packages at the Pirates Lair in Adventureland.
Pictures below are from the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disneyland California. Visit the link above to see pics from the boutique in Magic Kingdom.
*RIDES:
For first timers, you need to know how the Fast Pass + reservations work. Read this section for more info:
FAST PASS +
It is most efficient to plan each section of your day around a land. Head to Fantasyland first, since that gets busiest later in the day. If you didn’t get a Fast Pass+ for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, then now is the time to get in line for it.
Here is a photo of the map and ride guide at Magic Kingdom:
This guide shows you ride height requirements and all the locations of attractions at Magic Kingdom numbered above:
You can also try to book a breakfast at Be our Guest Restaurant for the earliest reservation time, so it can get you in Magic Kingdom before park opening, and at the front of the line for the ride. Even if you have a Fast Pass+ for this ride, you may want to ride it again if the line is short (less than 30 minutes). *note: beware of extra magic hour days at Magic Kingdom when booking early entry breakfast reservations. They can vary from morning to evening.
Early Morning Plan:
*Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
– It is best to have a Fast Pass + for this most popular ride, but if they are sold out this needs to be your #1 priority ride to do at park opening. This is my favorite ride in Magic Kingdom. Just wish this attraction was longer!
Location: Fantasyland
Height: 38 inches or taller
Fast Pass+ offered: Yes, and recommend it for all times of the day
Thrill level 6: Smooth small drops, moderate speed. Perfect ride for kids or adults who can’t handle high intensity coasters. Similar intensity as Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Ages: Any age that meets the height requirement
Review: 10/10
*Peter Pan’s Flight
– I prefer to do this ride early in the morning without a fast pass+ so I can walk the queue and see the adorable set inside. The line gets very long even in the morning, so this is one to do first hour. Your other option is to use a Fast Pass + for it later in the day.
Location: Fantasyland
Height: any height allowed
Thrill level 2: slow ride with small drops
Fast Pass + offered: yes and needed most times of the day
Age : all ages
Review: 7/10
*Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid
– Great ride for younger children, and stunning visuals for all to enjoy. After the ride is over, you can visit Ariel’s Grotto to meet the Little Mermaid! The line usually moves fast for this one.
Location: Fantasyland
Height: any height
Age: any age
Fast Pass+ offered: yes, but usually not needed in the morning
Thrill Level 1-slow ride with no drops
Review: 7/10
*It’s a Small World
-This is a longer ride, and one I sometimes save for the afternoon to rest my tired feet.
Location: Fantasyland
Height: any height
Fast Pass+ offered: yes, but not needed in the morning
Age: any age
Thrill Level 1: slow whimsical boat ride
Review: 7/10
*Gaston’s Tavern
– Stop in for a quick snack, or to take a peek. Menu here.
Mid Morning Plan:
*Splash Mountain
-this ride may not be tempting in the morning if it’s cold outside, but if you don’t mind getting a little wet, we only had a 5 minute wait on a busy day.
Location: Frontierland
Height: 40 in. or taller
Fast Pass + offered: yes, and recommended, especially on warm days
Ages: kids, teens, and adults
Thrill Level 9: Five story drop at the end of this fun water ride, so prepare to get wet (some seats more than others).
TIP: The back of the boat keeps you pretty dry, but the very front of the boat can soak your clothes and shoes. Having a rain poncho in your day pack is a nice way to keep dry on this ride.
Review: 10/10
*Haunted Mansion 
Location: Liberty Square
Height: any height
Fast Pass + offered: yes and recommended for afternoon time if you miss this in the morning
Ages: All ages are fine but little ones scared of the dark might be spooked at the intro in the stretching circular room.
TIP: Ask a cast member if you can skip the stretching room at the intro of the ride if you have any fearful kiddos. They will escort you past it!
Thrill level 1: slow ride in the dark
Review: 10/10
*Pirates of the Caribbean
Location: Adventureland
Height: any height
Fast Pass+ offered: yes and recommended for afternoon if you miss the short morning lines
Age: any age
Thrill level 3: small drops, darkness, boat ride
Review: 10/10
RIDER SWTICH
*with little ones that can’t do some of these rides, Disney World offers rider switch, so parents or guardians can still enjoy these attractions without having to wait in line twice. It’s not guaranteed, but currently your family members can ride the ride twice in a row when doing rider switch as long as they waited in line the first time or had a fast pass.
*NOON HOUR:
Reservations must be made in advance (180 days is ideal) and eat lunch at Be Our Guest Restaurant, or Cinderella’s Royal Table. For a magical tip on getting reservations at Be Our Guest click here. The menu for lunch at Be Our Guest was fantastic!
Be Our Guest
If you already ate breakfast at Be Our Guest, then I recommend Cinderella’s Royal Table for lunch (you will need reservations for either). The lunch and dinner menu is the same.
At Cinderella’s Royal Table you will have many of your favorite Princesses visit your table and take photos with each one inside Cinderella’s castle. Menu is here. It is a pricier meal because of the princess dining, but worth the extra cost.
This chocolate mousse was our favorite dessert of the whole Disney World trip!
I haven’t sampled their regular menu yet, but we ate Thanksgiving dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table in 2016, and it was the BEST meal and dessert we had in all of Disney World. The breakfast menu has mixed reviews, so probably best to skip that one.
If both of those are not an option, Skipper Canteen or Liberty Tree Tavern would be my next choice for table service; Pinocchio’s Village Haus restaurant or Columbia Harbour House for quick service.
*AFTERNOON:
Late morning or early afternoon is the best time to book those 3 Fast Pass + reservations (see below for more info on Fast Pass+). Depending on when you were able to book these 3 priority rides, you may have to tweak your lunch plans.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train-use Fast Pass +
Location: Fantasyland
Height: 38 inches or taller
Fast Pass+ needed: yes, all times of the day
Thrill level 6: smooth small drops, moderate speed. Perfect ride for kids or adults who can’t handle high intensity coasters. Similar intensity as Thunder Mountain Railroad
Ages: any age that meets the height requirement
Review: 10/10
Space Mountain– use Fast Pass +
Location: Tomorrowland
Height: 44 inches or taller
Fast Pass + offered: yes, and needed more most times of the day
Age: kids, teens, adults
Thrill Level 9: high speed coaster flying through the galaxy! This ride in the dark with big drops. Might be too intense for really young children or those visually sensitive to darkness to start your day with, but might be able to work up to it.
Review: 10/10
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad-use Fast Pass +
Location: Frontierland
Height: 40 inches or taller
Fast Pass + offered: yes, and recommended for most times of day
Age: young and older kids, teens, adults
Thrill Level 7: a runaway train racing through a gold-mining town, moderate speed with really fun small drops, and fast turns.
Tip: sitting in the back gives you a faster ride!
Review: 10/10
Once those are redeemed, you head for the rides below. You can start booking your extra Fast Passes for the more popular ones, like Enchanted Tales with Belle, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, or Tomorrowland Speedway.
Enchanted Tales with Belle– good use of Fast Pass+
-This presentation features Belle, and Lumiere, and you may get a chance to play a part in her special story. Wonderful attraction for children, but all ages will enjoy exploring Maurice’s cottage and workshop, and being led into the Beast’s library for the magical show!
PARADE
You don’t want to miss the Festival of Fantasy parade at 3:00pm (check times). A great location to sit is in Frontierland near Thunder Mountain, and you can usually find a spot there about 30 minutes before the parade starts. Main Street is the most difficult area to find a viewing spot because people line up much earlier, but you can try sitting under the train station at the front of Magic Kingdom. It’s a fabulous location, shaded, and you can hop on the train after the parade is over to avoid the crowds.
Look how close we were to the characters sitting near Frontierland!
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Location: Fantasyland
Height: any height
Fast Pass+ offered: yes
Age: any age
Thrill Level 1: slow ride
Review: 6/10
Dumbo
-Even though there is a Dumbo ride at Disneyland here in California, we loved seeing the different queue at Magic Kingdom. There are TWO Dumbo rides at MK, and a fun play area under the tent while you wait in line.
Location: Fantasyland
Height: all heights
Fast Pass+ offered: yes, and needed after morning hours
Ages: all
Thrill Level 2: slow ride, spins and goes up and down with control
Review: 10/10 (I have a special place in my heart for Dumbo so my rating is a little biased)
Mad Tea Party
-This is a cute ride with great theming we skip at Magic Kingdom since we have the same one here at Disneyland, but it’s fun for kids. Duplicate attractions are something for West Coaster’s to factor in to their day plan. You may want to focus on rides that are unique to Magic Kingdom or a little different than Disneyland if you only have one day there. If you have time and the line is short, I recommend it.
(Tea Cups at Disneyland )
Location: Fantasyland
Height: any height
Fast Pass + offered: yes
Age: any age
Thrill Level 1: spinning tea cups, not for those that get queasy easy
Review: 6/10
Meet Mickey at Town Square Theater
-A great opportunity to meet Mickey Mouse, and perfect for younger children. Located on Main Street.
Confectionery on Main Street
-A perfect place to stop for some character themed treats! This old fashioned candy shop is a must see during your day.
Tomorrowland Speedway
-This attraction brings back wonderful memories of my childhood. The ride is in need of an update, but the joy you feel as a child to drive your own car makes it worth it. I have to giggle when I see grown adults getting in these cars without children. (we also skip this ride when visiting Magic Kingdom since we have this at Disneyland) 
Location: Tomorrowland
Height: 32 inches or taller
Age: all ages, but little ones may need an adult chaperone. One of my children was terrified to control the car herself and cried most of the ride, even with me sitting next to her.
Fast Pass + offered: yes, and this ride can get very long lines as the day moves on.
Thrill Level 1: slow ride
Review: 5/10
People Mover
-This ride brings so much nostalgia to me. We used to have this tram at Disneyland when I was a child, and I miss it dearly! Perfect ride to rest your tired feet and take a voyage above Tomorrowland! For those that can’t ride Space Mountain, this is a good option since a portion of the ride goes inside that building. 
Location: Tomorrowland
Height: any height
Age: all ages
Fast Pass + offered: no
Thrill Level 1: slow moving tram
Review: 6/10
Swiss Family Treehouse
-I have always dreamed of living in a tree house like this, and it’s a must do anytime we visit. Based on the classic Disney film Swiss Family Robinson, this walk through tour allows you to explore the living quarters of the Robinson family tree house. I was happy to see the original treehouse, since Disneyland changed it’s theming to Tarzan. 
Location: Adventureland
Height: any height
Fast Pass + offered: no
Age: all ages
Review: 10/10
Tom Sawyer Island
-A great place to let your kids run around and explore, inspired by the stories of Mark Twain. We enjoyed seeing the differences between the Disneyland Tom Sawyer Island and this one.
Location: Frontierland
Height: any height
Fast Pass + offered: no
Age: all ages
Review: 9/10
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
-The theming is not a personal favorite of mine (I prefer Toy Story Mania at Hollywood Studios), but kids enjoy firing the laser gun in this competitive game.
Location: Tomorrowland
Height: any height
Fast Pass + offered: yes
Age: all ages
Review: 4/10
Country Bear Jamboree
-We loved this funny show, and it’s great spot to rest your tired feet!
CHARACTER MEET AND GREETS
-For toddler aged children, you will want to plan less rides and more character meetings with your Fast Pass+. When I took my 2 year old, she was so enamored with all the characters that she wouldn’t let go of them! We had to modify our plans so that she could meet them all.
OTHER:
*these attractions below are only recommended on 1 day plan if you have extra down time, or for West Coaster’s who want to replace a duplicate Disneyland ride with one of these below:
- Carousel of Progress-all ages, any height, slow ride in Tomorrowland
- Monster’s Inc Laugh Floor-Fast Pass+ offered, all ages, interactive show
- The Muppets Present…Great Moments in American History-all ages, show in Liberty Square
- Barnstormer-Fast Pass+ offered, small coaster in Fantasyland for pre school age and older, 35 inch height or taller
- Regal Prince Charming Carousel-in Fantasyland, all ages and heights
- The Magic Carpets of Alladin-Fast Pass+ offered, any ages, all heights, slow ride in Adventureland
- Walt Disney Railroad-any age, all heights, located on Main Street, slow ride
- Liberty Square Riverboat-any age, all heights, located in Liberty Square
- Hall of Presidents-any age, all heights, an animatronics show located at Liberty Square
- Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire-any age, character performance on Main Street
*DINNER:
Try and eat around 5:00pm so you can have time (and room in your belly) for the Fireworks dessert party at 6:45pm. Our favorite is Be our Guest (the Beast is in the castle for table service dinner) or Cinderella’s Royal Table inside Cinderella’s castle. Both of these restaurants need to be booked 180 days in advance for dinner. If they are sold out of reservations, you can also try booking 1-3 days before. Guests are required to give 24 hours notice if they cancel a reservation or there is a cancellation fee, so new times often open up days before.
The lunch menu is my favorite of all 3 meals at Be Our Guest, so if you had your pick of times, book Cinderella’s Royal Table for dinner, and Be Our Guest for lunch. Caveat: the Beast is not at the Be Our Guest restaurant for lunch or breakfast. They don’t guarantee he will be there at all dinner times, but that is the only meal he does visit.
Second choice would be Skipper’s Canteen or Liberty Tree Tavern.
Be Our Guest
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Another backup option is to leave the park and walk over to the Contemporary Hotel (or hop on the monorail) for reservations at the classy California Grill on the 15th floor for a dinner or dessert. It has incredible views of Magic Kingdom, and you can watch the fireworks show from the observation deck. The sushi is fantastic, and it’s a must do restaurant while at Disney World. The monorail goes right inside this hotel! It’s close enough that you can make it work on a one day plan, and walk back to Magic Kingdom after. Your view of the fireworks show and projections is a much better experience inside Magic Kingdom though, so I recommend California Grill if you have 2 days at Magic Kingdom.
Magical Tip: If you book a brunch or early dinner reservation at California Grill, you can return to the observation deck that night to view the fireworks with a special pass. You don’t have to book your meal the same time as the fireworks to gain access.
California Grill is located on top of the Contemporary Hotel
*FIREWORKS SHOW Happily Ever After:
A spectacular way to end your night at Magic Kingdom! Don’t miss this beautiful show!
If it’s in the budget, I recommend booking the Plaza Garden Viewing Dessert Party to watch the fireworks. You get a premium reserved viewing location, and yummy desserts to end your night with. It will save you the frustration of finding a spot to sit for fireworks.
*SHOPPING:
Shops stay open after park closing time. If you are not too fatigued after fireworks, we love to shop on Main Street after the show to let the kids pick out some treasures. They have usually been window shopping throughout the day to choose their souvenir so this is a special part of the night for them (for little ones it’s better to shop in the afternoon).
*Word of Caution: Ride plans will need to be modified based on the ages or desires of the children. For example, we learned that taking your 5 year old on Space Mountain for their first ride in the park was not wise, and she ended up in tears. She would have been fine if we had warmed her up for that ride, and thankfully she did great the rest of the day on all the other attractions. But not all children can handle intense rides, so be prepared for anything. When dealing with a child fearful of rides, they might want a day plan focused more on character attractions, and shows. It’s important to be flexible and open to changes with your children should unexpected issues arise. Most older children will want more intense rides and less characters. Patrons of Disneyland may want to skip the rides that are the same in California and focus their day plan around attractions unique to Magic Kingdom My one day guide is based only on our favorite attractions.
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