Travel for Kids: Magic Kingdom Orlando



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		Disney World - Magic Kingdom Park


		The Magic Kingdom Park at Disney World is classic Disney – Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, Tomorrowland, and Main Street, USA. There's so much going on every day of the year, and something for everyone in the family. Parents and kids alike will find the Magic Kingdom a world of its own.


Before you go			What to wear – Florida is famous its balmy weather, maybe too good. In summer, all that excited running around under the sun can be a lot for little ones – wear hats or caps and bring sunscreen. And, you're going to do a lot of walking, so wear comfy shoes or sandals.

			What to bring – Bring your camera or video camera. Pack water, juice packs, snacks for a quick (and inexpensive) break during the day. Freeze drinks the night before so they'll be cool when you get to them mid-day. Strollers are available for rent at the park, or you can bring your own.

While you're there			Getting to the Park –

			Once you've parked your car, it's miles to Magic Kingdom entrance. Trams provide transport from the parking lot to the ticket entrance. From there, take the monorail (speedy) or ride the ferry across the Seven Seas Lagoon to the park entrance.

			Tip: At the parking lot, before you get on the tram, check to be sure that you have your tickets, cell phones, camera, etc. If you've forgotten anything, it's a long way back (and time consuming) to retrieve things from your car. Also, write down the section and row where you've parked, to make it easy to find your car at the end of the day.

			At the Entrance –

			Daily schedule and park map – The most valuable things for planning a trip to the Magic Kingdom are the daily schedule and the park map. It really is impossible to do everything in one day in the park, but by planning a little, you can avoid both the stress of struggling to do too much and the disappointment of missing the things you really want most.

			Strollers – Stop at Guest Services and rent a stroller. You won't have to haul your own and no matter how excited a kid is, the park can be exhausting.

			Lockers – Get a locker on Main Street to stow purchases and any extra things you don't want to lug around all day.

			Foreign language guidebooks – You can purchase guidebooks in other languages at the City Hall.

			Walt Disney World Railroad – A good way to get started? Take the colorful Walt Disney World Railroad around the Park as soon as you get in. It'll give everyone a taste of the park, and might be just the cool-down you need after a trek to get there. The train goes all the way around the park in a loop, or you can get off in Toontown.

			Magic Kingdom Park – Start by looking at the map of the Magic Kingdom. It's laid out in different areas, each with its own theme, rides and performances. You might be able to cover the whole park, but don't even imagine you can do everything everywhere in one day. Plan a general route through the park, and choose a few must-dos in each section. You can always change your mind if one thing looks better than another when you're there – but at least you'll have a livable schedule and you won't miss anything really special. (Before going, we let our kids each pick their own special "must do" in each area.) Tip: For popular rides, get a FASTPASS timed ticket.

			Main Street, U.S.A. – As soon as you enter the gate, you're in a fantasy version of a middle-America small town main street circa 1900, complete with an ice cream parlor and confectionary shop. For short trips down Main Street, ride a streetcar pulled by Belgian draft horses, a "horseless carriage" or an old style fire engine.

			Rides – Your schedule should include where and when to do the rides. Each area of the park has rides and attractions for both little kids and big ones. Little kids will enjoy the rides in Fantasyland. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Indy's Speedway are a hit with bigger kids.

			If you have kids of different ages or with different characters (one hates heights, the other craves excitement), you might want to pair up likely "ride partners," but do enjoy the park as a family – make sure to choose a few everyone will go on together For example, the Haunted Mansion is exciting for little ones, campy for the bigger kids, and everyone will have fun with Pirates of the Caribbean.

			Other attractions – Don't go nuts trying to go from one blockbuster ride to the next or timed activity, especially if you have small kids. Take a break.

			Let the kids climb on a big old-fashioned fire engine, take a ride on the carousel, play in Minnie's Country House kitchen. Run around Tom Sawyer Island and get lost in Injun Joe's Cave (Frontierland), explore the Swiss Family Treehouse (Adventureland), try to pull out the Sword in the Stone.

			Play areas and picnic tables – Pooh's Playful Spot is a delightful outdoor play area for little kids, where they can sit inside the "Hunny Tree," crawl through logs, splash in a water play area. In Toontown, there's a play area with bright colored slides and playhouses (even the big kids like to play here) and water play on Donald's Boat.

			At the top of Tom Sawyer Island is very nice picnic table in the trees, as well as pint-sized tables next to Pooh's Playful Spot.

			Live shows and parades – Check out the daily schedule for the day(s) you'll be in the Park. Live entertainment changes often: parades, dance, light shows, etc. Use the daily schedule to help you plan rides and meals around the live entertainment. Crowds for parades are big, so get there early, a spot where little ones will have a good view, or plan on putting them on your shoulders. Check your Times Guide for the schedule.

			The SpectroMagic Parade features Disney characters and crowds are big so find a spot where little ones will have a good view, or plan on putting them on your shoulders.

			Wishes Nighttime Spectacular musical fireworks is an extravaganza that will leave little ones' mouths open (and maybe yours, too).

			Live music – Throughout the park, there's a variety of live music, from Dixieland jazz and brass bands to bluegrass and steel drum bands. When you hear music playing, find a bench or cafe table, rest your feet, and enjoy.

			Photo with a Disney character – Have your photo taken with your favorite Disney character – Mickey, Minnie, Snow White, Goofy, Pooh Donald Duck, Ariel, Cinderella, etc. Look for characters at Fantasyland, Toontown, and Adventureland. An unforgettable souvenir.


			Tips for enjoying the Magic Kingdom

			Lines and FASTPASS – Get to the park early in the morning, and go on the popular rides first, to avoid lines later in the day. However, your bet best for popular rides is the free FASTPASS. Go to the ride, check the time for the next FASTPASS entry, insert your ticket, and out will come a FASTPASS ticket with a time stamped on it, e.g. 2:00pm. Go off, do other things, come back at 2:00pm and get in the FASTPASS line – you'll go on the ride without a long wait.

			Meeting spot – If you're splitting up to go on different rides, have a central meeting spot planned out. Both the Walt and Mickey statue or Cinderella's Golden Carousel are good (check the map and you'll see why).

			Having a pre-planned meeting spot is also a good emergency plan for accidental separations. Disneyland has a pleasant Lost Children waiting room, and provides translators for major languages. Lost Children is on Main Street, next to the First Aid Center.

			Infants and toddlers – The Baby Care Center on Main Street is an oasis. There are pint-sized tables to feed toddlers, and comfortable chairs for mothers to feed their infants. Have a toddler who's not quite potty trained? There are are small size toilets, just for them. You can also buy diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, etc.


			Fun food –

			The Magic Kingdom does a good job of providing a big variety of places for meals and snacks, and everything is slanted towards pleasing young palates. Besides hamburgers, hot dogs and pizza, there's Mexican food, noodle bowls, soups, salads and pasta. Of course, there are snacks galore – ice cream and candy, popcorn, lemonade, sodas, smoothies. Stop for fresh fruit at the Farmers Market in Toontown.

			Shopping –

			Kids always love Mickey or Minnie Mouse ears, and princess costumes are a big hit with girls. Disneyland characters are small and inexpensive, and special souvenir from Disneyland. Don't wait to do your shopping until the end of the day, that's when everyone does it and the lines are long.

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