Why We Love Magic Kingdom

We have come to the fourth and final Walt Disney World theme park. Magic Kingdom has something that is truly special. It was the first park at the Resort, it has the Castle, and it has a sense of, well, magic. Over the past couple of months we have talked about why we love the different Disney World Parks (Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and Epcot). This week we have for you Why We Love Magic Kingdom!

It Came First – Magic Kingdom was the first Walt Disney World Park and because of that there is an extra bit of magic to it.

Cinderella Castle – Before you even enter the park you can see the beauty that is Cinderella Castle. The views get even better as you enter the park and make your way down Main Street and around the Castle. My favorite view of the castle is from the side next to Sleepy Hollow Refreshments.

Main Street U.S.A. – As you enter the park you’re transported back in time to a more simple time. Visit the Town Square Theater to meet Tinker Bell and Mickey Mouse. Shop for souvenirs at the Emporium, sweets at the Confectionery, and Ears at The Chapeau. Stop for a bite to eat at Tony’s Town Square Restaurant, the Main Street Bakery, the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, The Plaza Restaurant, or Casey’s Corner.

Main Street Vehicles – Travel down Main Street in style on one of the Main Street Vehicles. This is a fun and unique experience.

Harmony Barber Shop – Did you know that you can get your hair cut at Magic Kingdom? That’s right! They even have a My First Haircut package that’s really cute. The package includes a haircut and an ear hat. We did this when Christian was 1.5 and then another regular haircut when he was 2.5. It was really cute.

Lots for Young Coaster Lovers – If your kids are like mine and love to try new coasters as soon as they’re tall enough then Magic Kingdom is a great place to add a new coaster each trip. The park offers four coasters with varying height requirements. Each trip you can add a new, bigger, and faster roller coaster! Start off with Barnstormer (35in), move up to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (38in), next comes Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40in), and finally at around age 5-6 finish with adding Space Mountain (44in).

The Crystal Palace – This buffet offers stunning views of the gardens in front of the castle, as well as the castle itself. We’ve enjoyed breakfast, lunch, and dinner here, and all these meals are delicious. In addition to the delicious food guests also get to celebrate friendship with Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, Piglet, and Eeyore! A truly unique experience is dining here during the fireworks!

Snacks – If you haven’t noticed, we love food. We especially love Disney World snacks. And Magic Kingdom has A LOT of snacks to offer throughout the park. Some of our favorites include the Cinnamon Roll at Gaston’s Tavern, Sundaes and Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich from the Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, and no trip is complete without a Dole Whip from Aloha Isle.

Lots of No or Low Height Requirement Rides – For the last five years we’ve been visiting the Disney Parks with at least one little one and Magic Kingdom offers the most rides with no height requirements or requirements that little ones start to meet at around 2 – 3 years old.

Swiss Family Tree House – A lot of park guests might overlook this attraction, but our kids love walking though it! It’s a nice, at your own pace attraction, that has a lot to see, and offers great views.

Splash Mountain – This is my favorite Magic Kingdom attraction! I love everything about it – the animatronics, the music, and of course the drop! Christian was tall enough to ride it on our last trip and it was a lot of fun experiencing it with him for the first time!

Pirates of the Caribbean – This was the first ride that I rode on my first trip to Disney World when I was a kid. I still love the ride, and of course the movies!

Casey Junior Slash ‘N’ Soak Station – This is fun place to cool off on a hot Florida day!

Casey’s Corner – We love to stop by Casey’s Corner for a delicious hot dog and fries! There’s nothing better than a tasty treat with a view of the Castle!

Pecos Bill’s and Cosmic Ray’s Toppings Bars – We love customizing our burgers, nachos, tacos, etc. This is all possible with the array of toppings available at Pecos Bills Tall Tale Inn in Frontierland and Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland.

Liberty Square – I love all of the little historical details in this part of the park. It’s fun to walk though, to park photos, to ride Haunted Mansion, to eat, and to soak in the details.

Liberty Square Riverboat – Another great feature in Liberty Square is boarding the Liberty Square Riverboat for a trip to see the sights.

Tom Sawyer Island – This Island is fun to explore for adults and kids alike. We love walking along the paths, across the bridges, into caves, exploring the fort, the mill, and letting the kids burn off a little energy. 

Liberty Tree Tavern – This is my favorite table service restaurant in Magic Kingdom. My favorite holiday, food wise, is Thanksgiving, and we love to eat dinner here because it’s like Thanksgiving every day. Turkey, pork, pot roast, mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, rolls, salad, and dessert. It’s also fun to see all of the little details in each of the unique rooms that are dedicated to different Colonial American figures.

Tangled Restrooms – I’m sure you’re thinking, “why are restrooms on your list?!” Tangled is my favorite Disney movie and this little bit of the park at the edge of Fantasyland is dedicated to Rapunzel and her tower. The area outside and inside the restrooms fit the theme, and it is a lot of fun to take some time to look around. We especially love to stop by once it’s dark to see all of the lanterns lit up.

Disney World Railroad – Who doesn’t love trains?! We love to take the circle tour of the Magic Kingdom! There are also times that we like to use it to take us from Main Street to Frontierland as well. More often than not, though, we use it as an attraction and not so much a means of transportation.

The Views – There are so many amazing views in the park! Some of our favorites include the view of the Castle at the end of Main Street, the Park from the top of the hill just before you go over the drop on Splash Mountain, Tomorrowland from the People Mover, and Fantasyland all lit up at night.

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin – This one is great for little ones, especially little ones that love Toy Story! Go for a spin and help the Space Rangers and Little Green Men capture the evil Emperor Zurg! Be sure to check out your on ride photo at the end and to get your photo with Zurg in jail.

People Mover – This ride may not seem like much, but it offers a unique look at Tomorrowland from the air as well as the inside of Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin and Space Mountain.

Carrousel of Progress – “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow!” The song alone is enough to make you love (or hate) this attraction. We love it! We also love learning about the changes and advances over the years. It also offers a chance to get inside and get some AC on those really hot days.

Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor – This attraction is another one that offers an escape inside, but this time a bit of comedy awaits you. If you love jokes, Monster’s Inc., or both then you should check this one out on your next trip.

Kids Can Drive – As long as they meet the 32” height requirement kids can get behind the wheel and drive on the Tomorrowland Speedway. An adult or someone over the age of 14 is required, of course, but they’re just there to reach the pedal!

Characters – We love meeting characters and Magic Kingdom has so many to offer! Meet Mickey and his Friends, Tinker Bell, Princesses, Buzz Lightyear, Alice, Peter Pan, Gaston, and Winnie the Pooh!

Entertainment – There is no shortage of entertainment at Magic Kingdom. Parades, shows on the Castle Stage, the Dapper Dans on Main Street, Casey’s Corner Pianist, and the Main Street Philharmonic all offer something for park guest so see and hear!

Fireworks – No one does fireworks like Disney and the Happily Ever After show at Magic Kingdom is an amazing combination of fireworks, music, lights, storytelling, and magic. There are so many great places to watch the show from – but our favorites are on the Tomorrowland bridge and from behind the Castle.

Why do you love Magic Kingdom?!

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