The Magic Kingdom was the first of the Disney parks to open in Orlando. It opened October 1, 1971 with some familiar attractions that we still have today such as, “it’s a small world”, The Haunted Mansion, The Hall of Presidents, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and Country Bear Jamboree. Parking at the time was only 50 cents per car. For more information on opening day check out This Day in Disney History.
Attractions
A lot has changed over the last 50+ years since the Magic Kingdom opened. Many more attractions and shows have been added with the latest one being TRON Lightcycle Run that opened in Tomorrowland in 2023. Here is even more information on the Magic Kingdom.
To make your day go even more magical, you may want to add Genie+ to your ticket. Genie+ is the replacement of fastpass and gives you access to the lightning lane for many attraction. Check out the rides that offer lightning lane and more information on Genie+ at Magic Kingdom. If you are traveling without kids you may want to check out Disney Without Kids – Magic Kingdom Attractions.
If you are staying at a Disney resort you will get to take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry every day. For those at a Disney Deluxe Resorts, you may also have extended hours on select nights (typically a Wednesday). Check out the current park hours.
There are special events that take place at Magic Kingdom every year. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are very popular seasonal events that require special tickets. There are sometimes “After Hours” events as well that offer special snacks and access to attractions.
Dining
Dining at Magic Kingdom is always exciting with lots of options for quick service, table service, signature dining, and character dining. There are also dessert parties with special view of the fireworks too. There are lots of choices of dining but these are the best places to eat in the Magic Kingdom in my opinion.
Most quick service options and even some of the snack location are available for mobile order through the app. This is a great option to save time. Table service restaurants are very popular so dining reservations are highly recommended for these.
