This park has the most rides. I like to start in Tomorrowland and work my way around to Adventureland. Only Tomorrowland and Fantasyland will be open during the early hours for resort guests. If you do not arrive for the early half hour, I recommend starting in Adventureland or in Liberty Square with Haunted Mansion. 

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Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Tiana's Bayou, and Tron tend to have the longest waits. Either plan to hit these early, or wait till the end of the night. Other popular rides are Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Peter Pan, and Jungle Cruise. Jungle Cruise lightning lane has been filling up the fastest, followed by Peter Pan. 

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CHARACTERS:

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The easiest way to locate characters throughout the day is right on the app. If you go to the map screen, you can filter for just characters. If you switch it to list mode, it is easier to read. Mickey is in the Town Hall on your right as you enter the park. There are princesses in Fairytale Hall and Mirabel has her own spot to the right of the castle. Buzz and Stitch are frequently on stage in Tomorrowland and Jack Sparrow is across from his ride.

 

Character cavalcades go down the parade route. They will start where Frontierland and Adventureland meet right in front of Tiana’s Bayou. Then, they will go through Liberty Square and down to the castle. From there, they will go straight down Main Street and end at the park entrance. Don’t worry if it’s raining, a rainy day cavalcade with our favorite mouse will make its way through the park. Listen for the music to change as a sign that it is on its way.

 

Festival of Fantasies parade has returned to Magic Kingdom and normally has two showtimes daily. Check the app for exact times. There is also a lightning lane available for better viewing.

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Happily Ever After, the fireworks show, is nightly at Magic Kingdom. The only exception is on nights when there are Halloween or Christmas parties. If you are traveling between mid-August and New Years, make sure you check the dates of the parties if you want to see the fireworks and plan accordingly. ​​

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Food:

 

Seated Dining:

• Skipper's Canteen - This is my favorite in this park, but is not for picky eaters

• Plaza Inn - This is right on Main Street and has American Cuisine

• Character meals:

  • Be Our Guest - The Beast​

  • Cinderella's Royal Table - Variety of Princesses

  • Crystal Palace - Winnie the Pooh and Friends.

Quick Service: 

• Pecos Bills - This will have tex mex fare and is in a great location to catch the cavalcades or parade if you are seated outside. 

• Cosmic Ray’s - This has a great selection of traditional park food. 

• Columbia Harbor House - Love the options here for lighter fare. 

• Casey’s Corner - Has great hotdogs, including a vegan sausage option, and has a pianist, plus great castle views

Favorite Snacks: 

• Sleepy Hollow. They have breakfast and lunch waffle sandwiches. It’s in Liberty Square and you can mobile order. The sandwiches are large and definitely shareable. 

• The Spring Roll cart on your way to Adventureland. It is only there on busy days and weekends. The cheeseburger ones are my favorite. 

• Dole Whip - It comes in various flavors throughout the park. Most flavors are allergen free. Aloha Aisle and Sunshine Terrace have my favorite flavors. Storybook Treats will have a specialty cone or float. Do not mobile order this, the wait time is much longer.

• Popcorn - Buy a bucket on your first day. You can refill it for $2.50 throughout your entire stay at all the parks. It’s allergy friendly too.