Visiting Magic Kingdom 101: From Entrance to Adventureland

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Visiting Magic Kingdom 101: From Entrance to Adventureland

I do Magic Kingdom almost ritualistically each visit. I have my must do’s, my go to’s and my stand-by’s. Nothing is written in stone, and like the financial adviser commercials say, not all members will see the same results. This is the route that has worked best for me, both for efficiency of the mind and body.

Magic Kingdom is always the first park I visit. To me and the family it is not a visit until Magic Kingdom has been done. It is the park that everyone thinks of when going to Disney World. Growing up this was the park you saw in the commercials and on Disney Channel, so this is “DISNEY”.

MAGIC KINGDOM ENTRANCE

There are many ways to arrive, those will be discussed another day. For now we will assume that I have just had my Magic Band scanned and stepped in and are looking up at the Walt Disney World Railroad Main Street Station. If we are really lucky a train is pulling into station, to give us the true magical feeling.

Walking through the tunnel I grab my usual 5 Magic Kingdom Guide Maps, one for the butt pocket, one for the wife, one for camera bag, one to collect and one for standby. As we continue through the tunnel, the Main Street Music funnels in and that feeling everyone gets when entering Magic Kingdom, the 1st or 101st time begins to blossom…

MAIN STREET USA

Main Street opens up right in front of you, the outside world and all your stress begin to fade away.

Now head down Main Street USA, avoiding any Photo Pass opportunities, it is too early, too crowded and line is too long. Nope for us it is a quick walk down or up, Main Street taking in the splendor of Cinderella’s Castle. The Main Street USA music begins to blend into the music of a show in front of the castle (at least in my head it does).

We reach the end of Main Street USA. Now comes the point that separates all Disney Visitors. Do you Turn left to Adventureland, Right to Tommorowland, forward and left for Liberty Square or forward and right to Fantasyland. In my observation there really are only two popular choices, Adventureland and Tomorrowland, I have found even Fantasyland-ers, will tend to go through Tomorrowland (I don’t know why, it just happens).

ADVENTURELAND

At Doing Disney With Mark, it is a hard left to Adventureland. Why Adventureland? For one less people making there way along the walkway and across the Adventureland Bridge. My personal belief is that this section in hidden or camouflaged from view. As opposed to Tommorowland with it’s wide open view of the Astro Orbiter and Space Mountain. These attractions draw guest like flies to a light. Adventureland is a hidden gem.

Upon crossing the bridge, if it is early in the morning, I consider stopping at Sunshine Tree Terrace, for a Citrus Swirl Float. I am not a fan of Ice Cream Soda Floats but Fanta Orange Soda, draws me to try this icy treat every few visits. If the days are warm, expect to wait on an unusually long line for such a small counter area. But do not fret if the line is long, just move along…There will always be many treat ahead. Disney is full of good treats.

The Magic Carpet's of Aladdin

I bypass the Swiss Family Treehouse. As much as I enjoy it, it will eat a lot of time for very little reward. Instead I continue on to the Marketplace crossroad. At the crossroad you need to do some quick surveillance. To your left you look down to the Jungle Boat ride line, in front is The Magic Carpet Ride of Aladdin, and beyond that in the distance is Pirates of the Caribbean.

If the line to Jungle Cruise is short, that is a must do, so hit that first. However if that line is long and the wait is anything over 45 minutes, see what the line is to Magic Carpet.

Jungle Cruise Lion Den

Magic Carpet has a fast queue and is a quick ride. If you have any child under 10, then it is most likely a must do, or if you are a grown kid, same thing. If Magic Carpet wait time is more than 30 or 35, definitely skip as that is a hot line to wait in.

Pirates Red Head

WHAT TO DO…WHAT TO DO???

So Jungle Cruise and Magic Carpet are long waits, check your handy dandy My Disney Experience app and check the wait time for pirates, unless it is more than an hour or an hour and 10 minute wait hit that ride. The line is inside and AIR CONDITIONED, the queue is wide so you shouldn’t be crowded. With any luck you get off this ride and the other lines have dropped as the heat of the day has grown and you can now go back to Jungle or Carpet and instead of 30 minutes it might be 10 to 15 minutes. The Trifecta for Adventureland is Jungle Cruise walk on (less than 15 minutes), to Magic Carpet (less than 15), and then Pirates (anything less than 40 minutes).

If you can’t do all three try two, but at last resort at least do Pirates.

Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room Don’t forget that Adventureland is home to Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. Doing Disney With Mark Rules for Walt Disney World for The Tiki Room: If you have never experienced it you must do it or you have not visited the park officially. On a side note: if you see it is going to or already is raining, head for it, it is a 15 minute show, which means 20 plus minutes out of the rain, considering line, load in and show.