Magic Kingdom Touring Plan — One Day Guide at Disney World

photo credit: Disney Enterprises, Inc.

When you visit Walt Disney World, your most important day might be the one you visit the Magic Kingdom. The flagship park is a symbol for the whole resort destination to millions of people. It’s not only the best known Disney park, but it’s also the most popular, especially among families. That means it can get crowded. These days, Disney admits much fewer guests into the park for the sake of social distancing, but with new hurdles such as extended lines and slower ride cycles, it’s all the more important to adopt new strategies for how to enjoy the entire park in one day. This updated Magic Kingdom touring plan will help you get the most out of the experience while you are there so you don’t get thrown by the new procedures. Speaking of which, Make sure you get a reservation through Park Pass in addition to your valid park ticket.

photo credit: Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Be Prepared

The Magic Kingdom is the easiest park to navigate due to the famous hub and spokes model. You tee up at the Plaza after passing through a turn of the century Main Street USA and from there you can choose to explore different worlds at their gateways. Those worlds in turn are interconnected, so getting around the whole park is very convenient if you plan your route accordingly.

photo credit: Disney Enterprises, Inc.

If you like to use the Walt Disney World Railroad to get to the back of Frontierland or Fantasyland you’ll need to prepare another route in your new Magic Kingdom touring plan. The Railroad is still unavailable during the continued construction on Tron: Lightcycle Power Run. The best approach is to start at one side and go around to the next. However, the biggest attractions are on the furthest ends, which means you may need to bypass some scenery if you want to catch some e-ticket rides early on. Fast Pass Plus is not available, however, you may be pleasantly surprised that most attraction queues are minimal as crowds have generally been well below the new capacity limits.

photo credit: Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Know the Park Schedule

Before you visit the park, check the open and close times on the schedule. Get up early in the morning to make sure you are ready and at the gate when the park opens. You want to be among those who get there early so you can get to the big attractions like Splash Mountain, Big Thunder, or Space Mountain before the lines form. In Fantasyland, target Peter Pan’s Flight, The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and The Haunted Mansion.

photo credit: Disney Enterprises, Inc.

If you decide to break up your day and go somewhere else in the park, use the new directions feature on the My Disney Experience app. It will show you the fastest route on your map. If you really want to avoid crowds, steer clear of weekends, those are the dates that are more popular and may slow you down if you want to experience the whole park. Hours are much shorter now, so you have to leverage the lower ticket sales.

New measures are in place to promote health and well-being in table-service restaurants at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Cast members wear appropriate face coverings at all times, while guests can only remove their face coverings while sitting at their table. (Matt Stroshane, photographer)

Plan Your Meals Around Your Day (or Your Day around Your Meals)

You can make dining reservations 60 days in advance. Your Magic Kingdom touring plan should focus on eateries and where they are in the park. Time your day so that you are in certain places at mealtimes. If you don’t have reservations for table service, use the mobile order feature on My Disney Experience. You should still plot your path around the eateries you wish to dine at.

Princess Tiana is part of “The Royal Princess Processional” debuting July 11, 2020, as part of the phased reopening of Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Disney princesses will travel through the park several times daily. (Olga Thompson, photographer)

All Three Relaxation Stations

Disney Requires masks for cast members and guests ages two and up. You must wear them at all times unless stationary and eating while maintaining a social distance. To complete your Magic Kingdom touring plan, you should know the rest stops. If you have to take a break from wearing your mask, the Magic Kingdom has three relaxation stations. One is by Golden Oak Outpost near Splash Mountain. Find the one in Fantasyland by Pete’s Silly Sideshow, which Disney temporarily closed along with other character meet and greets. Near the Plaza by Cinderella Castle, there is another relaxation station at Tomorrowland Terrace. These are great places to take a break throughout your day.

Above all, enjoy your day! Do you have any more tips for spending one day at the Magic Kingdom during these challenging times?

photo credit: Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Save money by picking up your Disney souvinirs before you leave–think tees, Mickey ears, and more. Find them at Amazon or the Disney Store online.