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Tuesday 12 March 2024
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How to Tour the Magic Kingdom (Part 2)

If you missed it, here’s Part One of “How to Tour the Magic Kingdom.”  In it, I told you how to tour 4 lands before lunch time!  Now, we’re moving on to what can be accomplished after lunch through Closing…

Afternoon Touring:
  • Between Noon and 3 PM is the most crowded and hottest part of the day at the Magic Kingdom!  Some people (including me) choose to head back to their Disney Resort for lunch and an afternoon break (nap or swim.)
  • If you choose to stay at the park – no problem!  Return to Liberty Square, Frontierland and Adventureland and hit many of the less popular attractions such as: Hall of Presidents, Country Bear Jamboree, and the Tiki Room.  All of these attractions are indoors and air conditioned!
    • Intermix the above “air conditioned” attractions with these others: Aladdin’s Flying Carpet Ride, Swiss Family Robinson Tree House, and Tom Sawyer’s Island.
    • Visit some Characters if you’re into that!
  • If you went back to your Resort for a break – consider eating an early dinner there so you can maximize your evening touring time at the Magic Kingdom.
Evening Touring:  
(You’re either coming back from a break at your hotel, or you’ve just finished your afternoon touring.)
  • Head to Tomorrowland!  Pick up a FP for Space Mountain.  Ride these less-popular attractions while you wait for your FP time to approach: Tomorrowland Transit Authority, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, and Carousel of Progress.  
    • Grab a FP for Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin once you’re allowed (by now it may not even be necessary if there’s less than a 20 minute wait.)  Return to Space Mountain and ride it.
  • Eat dinner whenever your ready for it.  ðŸ™‚
    • If you took a mid-day break and ate an early dinner… head back to any attractions you may have missed but want to see – the lines are likely shorter by now.
  • View the Main Street Electrical Parade (check your times guide).  
    • If you’re not into the parades, this is a great time to hit headliner attractions that you want to ride again!
  • The Magic, the Memories, and You is an evening show at the Castle.  Again, if you skip this you’ll be able to hit more attractions with little wait times.

Closing Touring:

  • Wishes Fireworks takes place right at park closing.  It’s worth the watch.
  • Once the fireworks commence, the park attractions close-down.  Many people rush to the exit at the end of the fireworks show.  I say, DON’T do that!  Here’s why:
    • All of the Gift Shops remain OPEN for one hour after the Park’s closing time!  This is a great time to shop if you’re looking for souvenirs.  Or grab a sweet treat from the Main Street Bakery while you’re waiting for the crowds to thin out.
    • See the “Kiss Goodnight” from the castle!  About 30 – 45 minutes after the park’s official closing, the castle lights up with special colors, and a special goodnight message is played.  It’s a fun and simple treat to see that many others haven’t!
    • If you’re staying at a Disney Resort and have hung around the Magic Kingdom for a bit after closing, chances are your bus ride isn’t going to be so packed on the ride back – you’ll likely have a seat on the bus which is a plus after walking all day.
      • I understand that with small children these “late night” tips aren’t going to work.  That’s okay… you can look forward to these treats in the years to come!
I know I didn’t include every attraction in this touring plan.  There’s so much to do and see, that it’s hard to do it all in one day.  Just swap out my suggestions with your “must see’s” early on in the day, then return to those “lands” in the afternoon or evening for the less popular attractions that you’d like to experience.

Finally, use an Itinerary Chart to help plan out your day(s) in the Park.  Figure out what you want to see and where to eat.  You don’t have to follow it to a “T,” but it sure helps to have at least something in place. 

I hope you take a few of these ideas to try out, if not the entire plan.  But most of all, I hope you truly enjoy your time spent at Disney’s Magic Kingdom!




    Terri is owner, creator and an author for WDW Hints. She enjoys taking less-traveled paths of WDW and sharing her lesser-known discoveries with you!