Disneyworld Planning 101 – Do Magic Kingdom Last..

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Disneyworld Planning 101 – Do Magic Kingdom Last..

What? That is blasphemy! How can you say that? Before you riot against me and boycott the Chip and Company website let me explain…

One thing I have learned over the years from being a parent and from having a very strong willed little 4 year old princess is how to keep the peace. We joke all the time and actually found a shirt that says “Irish Temper Italian Attitude”. That sums her up to the T. So when planning our Disney vacations I have learned one valuable lesson that if your a parent it would be wise to follow.

**Do the Magic Kingdom last**

Once you take your little one to the Magic Kingdom they will care less about the other parks. Mind you they will have a few things they like about each park, for example our little one loved Playhouse Disney Live at Hollywood Studios, Nemo the Musical at Animal Kingdom, and for some strange reason Space Ship Earth at Epcot. But she absolutely was in love with the Magic Kingdom. All the rides, the sights, the sounds, it is just magical to a little one.


Don’t get me wrong I love all the Disney Parks and there are tons of things to do at each park for kids, but once your kids get a glimpse of Cinderella’s Castle and experience the sights, sounds, and enchantment of the Magic Kingdom there is no going back.

Most people start their vacations on the weekend. We like to arrive on Saturday and if you track any park attendance websites like Easy WDW or Touring Plans they will tell you Magic Kingdom is the park to avoid on the weekends.

Quick tip – Avoid parks that have Extra Morning Magic Hours as they will be the most busiest park that day. Unless you can get there at Rope Drop I would avoid them.

So my suggestion would be to get the other 3 parks out of the way first. Figure out what your children like the best in each park and visit those rides or attractions several times. If you plan it right you can visit the Magic Kingdom in the evening on the 3rd night and take in one of the night time parades or firework shows.

Quick tip – If you can wait, breakfast at Crystal Palace before rope drop on the fourth day will land you in the park before everyone else for some excellent photo opportunities. We have lucked out many times by getting a picture of the castle without anyone in it!

Our plan off attack for the parks usually goes like this:

Day 1 – Hollywood Studios

Day 2 – Epcot

Day 3 – Animal Kingdom till 5pm, dinner at one of the monorail resorts, then Fireworks at MK

Day 4 – Magic Kingdom

Day 5 – Magic Kingdom

Day 6 – Magic Kingdom

Day 7 – Magic Kingdom

Just kidding about the last 4 days 🙂

This is just one of the tricks I have learned from my countless visits to the park. It’s a great way to see the other parks when they are less crowded, and to allow your children to experience the Magic Kingdom for the rest of their visit which you know they will want to.

Hope this helps you keep the peace too.

>>Chip


D2T-1

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Chip is the owner, editor, and writer of Chip and Company. When he is not writing about Disney News or Planning Tips, you will find him counting down the days to his next Disney Vacation.
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7 thoughts on “Disneyworld Planning 101 – Do Magic Kingdom Last..

  1. well with a little one in town you cant really ride Everest 🙁
    I missed out last trip..

    I think Disney needs to have kid play areas near the big rides so parent swap could benefit both parents

  2. I’m with AJ in that I, oh–I mean my kids, need to see Cinderella Castle first. You definitely have a great point, however, it’s just that I know I’m not strong enough visit anywhere but Magic Kingdom first!

  3. Ak! Animal Kingdom a HALF DAY park?? Oh my dear lord… you guys are missing out. I’ve spent 2 FULL days there on one trip once! Of course, being into photography helps, I love photgraphing that park. And dinner at Yak and Yeti yum. And nemo and festival of the lion king need to be done, and the parade…. and everest at least twice (in my top 3 favorite rides in the park), and all the little paths and trails to see the animals (including all the ones around the tree) take time plus the safari. I also love primeval whirl, which doesn’t look like a whole lot of anything but is a ton of fun!
    Anyways, I’m probably not going to change your mind but I’ve been to the park with many different people and no one has ever been bored with the full day (even with evening extra magic hours).

  4. I hear ya, but I still have a built-in need to see the castle as soon as possible when I go under those purple arches! 🙂

  5. that is a half day park
    we usually go there and do a few shows and then hit up dinner next door at Boma then shoot over to MK on the 3rd night in time for Spectromagic

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