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A Day at The Magic Kingdom

On our last trip to Florida, I was so excited to take my son to the “Happiest Place on Earth”, Walt Disney World’s The Magic Kingdom! It was his first time there but my 10th (at least). I was so pumped to share my love of Disney with him and as a bonus, my dad joined us! Seeing the happiness on his face reminded me of my first Disney trip in the mid-90s(photos at the end!). So, having had the best day, I thought I would share it with you all in this blog post. Below you will find my outline for the perfect first day at the Magic Kingdom!

Please note: There are many amazing rides/attractions at the Magic Kingdom, these are just the few that we did on my Son’s first trip. Keep in mind he is only 3 so I didn’t include many of the more thrilling rides.

Disclaimer: Affiliate links are used, which means if you purchase via my link I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you! I only recommend products I use and love

General Information on the Magic Kingdom

Located in central Florida, the Magic Kingdom opened in 1971. Called the “Happiest Place on Earth”, the Magic Kingdom is divided into six themed lands and covers over 100 acres. The main icon of the park is the towering Cinderella’s Castle which sits in the center of the park. As you enter the park you make your way down Main Street U.S.A., looking directly at the castle. The other lands include Adventureland, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square- all complete with unique themed rides and attractions! Throughout the park, you can also find a variety of parades and Disney character meet and greets! Make sure to end the night with the fantastic Happily Ever After Firework Show!

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Prince Charmings Regal Carousel

The first ride we went on for the day was the classic Disney Carousel! This colorful ride is filled with majestic horses just waiting to be sat upon for this fun ride. There are 90 wood carved ornate horses and one lovely chariot. This classic ride was inspired by Disney’s Cinderella! The entire ride itself was built in 1917 and came to Walt Disney World in 1971.

We waited in line for about 25 minutes as they were not running fast passes at the time due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. My son didn’t mind though! There was great people watching and he loved seeing the ride go around and around. He liked riding it even more! Children of any age and height can partake in this great children’s ride!

Mickey’s Philharmagic

Up next, we wandered across the square to see Mickey’s Philharmagic! This attraction, by far, was my son’s favorite, and still likes to watch the film on YouTube. This 3D show features Mickey, Donald Duck, and Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Hat. Donald twists and turns through various Disney movies attempting to retrieve the hat. These include Aladdin, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and many more. This show has tons of laughs and cute moments.

For this show, we waited virtually no time at all. We were shuffled through two spectacularly decorated waiting areas before we were seated in the theatre space. The show itself lasted roughly 12 minutes with a few special Disney special effects and surprises throughout.

Under the Sea- Journey of The Little Mermaid

We then walked toward the back of the Magic Kingdom and decided to hop on The Little Mermaid ride! This attraction brings you on a musical journey through Ariel’s journey all while riding in a clamshell. The ride is full of special effects, dancing fish, and classic characters from the movie including Ariel, Flounder, Scuttle, and Sebastian! My son loved this ride and danced along to the music the entire time! It is a can’t miss for kiddos of all ages.

You can also meet Ariel in her Grotto right next to the ride!

Dumbo’s the Flying Elephant

Next up, another Disney classic, Dumbo the Flying Elephant! Based on the 1941 Disney Classic this attraction takes you high in the air on your very own personal elephant. You can even control the Elephant by making him fly high or stay down low. This ride is perfect for kiddos of any height/age. I rode with my son on this one because he was just a little small to ride alone- it worked out perfectly!

After the ride, make sure to check out some of the other “Big Top” themed attractions within the Storybook Circus area including Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station and Big Top Souvenirs! You can even catch some of your favorite characters at Pete’s Silly Slide Show!

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Up next, we walked over to Tomorrowland to check out Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin! Buzz is one of my son’s favorite characters so he was super excited to meet him while we waited in line. On this ride, visitors are armed with a laser to fight off the Evil Emperor Zurg and save the galaxy! You ride in your own XP-37 star cruiser, which can be controlled and moved throughout the ride. Each time you hit one of the “Z” targets you get points! It was really fun to see how many points we could all get!

Pro Tip- If your kiddo loves Toy Story as much as mine does, make sure to be prepared for the gift shop at the end. I had the hardest time getting my son out of there! He just wanted to look at all the fun toys!

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

We then made our way over to one of my personal favorites, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress! Now you might be thinking, this isn’t really a kid ride, and you would be right! But by this time in the day, we were hot and getting tired- we needed a break! On this ride, you get to sit in the air conditioning the entire time and enjoy the show. It lasts roughly 20 minutes and my 3 year old stayed seated for 80% of it.

Throughout this classic Disney experience, visitors travel through the 20th century and marvel at the evolution of technology and advancements. The entire show is done with Audio-Animatronic people, which Disney is famous for. You will get to see everything from how gas lamps worked to modern-day virtual reality technology. Plus, with the ride’s trademark song, ” There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”, you will leave feeling entertained and educated!

Jungle Cruise

We then wandered back across the park to Adventureland where we hoped on the Jungle Cruise! This ride takes visitors on a scenic (and funny!) boat tour on the rivers of Asia, Africa, and South America. Along the way, you will see exotic animals (all animatronic), waterfalls, and even some of the “locals”. My son’s favorite was the bathing Elephants- he thought they were so funny.

Pro Tip– If you’re going during the holiday season, make sure to experience this ride. They actually decorate within the ride itself- it’s so cool!

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Next, we enjoyed a show at Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room! This show features tropical birds, tiki gods, and colorful flowers that come to life and sing throughout the show! There are over 200 audio-animatronic performers in all. For this show, we waited about 10 minutes near a beautiful waterfall. The show itself lasts roughly 15 minutes.

My son loved this one- he thought all the birds, bright colors, and lights were so cool. Until the thunder part came, which scared him… So make sure you know this is coming near the end. Still, such a great experience and really can’t be missed!

Pirate’s of the Caribbean

We then ventured over to the Pirates of the Caribbean! On this ride, you board a 17th-century style boat and experience the rough and rowdy scenery of the Pirates. Visitors get to sail past the haunted Dead Man’s Cove, navigate between cannon fire, and visit a seaside town engulfed in flame. In recent years, due to the extreme success that was the Pirates of the Caribbean movie franchise, you can even see some of your favorite characters throughout the ride, including Captian Jack Sparrow!

This ride is extremely popular so I suggest getting a fastpass or getting their early! We waited about 30 minutes without a fastpass with the park at 35% capacity.

Pro Tip- There is a big drop ( in the dark) at the beginning so make sure you a prepared for that! It’s fun, but if your little one isn’t expecting it it can be scary for them.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

After Pirates, we thought we would take a nice break and go back to a “kiddy” ride. Also, in Adventureland is the Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride. Visitors can fly high over the ground on a brightly colored, enchanted magic carpet. You can even control your carpet by making it go high or stay lower to the ground. The views of the themed bazaar and Adventureland below are really cool. For this ride, we waited about 10 minutes without a fastpass.

Pro Tip– Watch out for the “spitting” Camel!

The Haunted Mansion

For our last attraction of the day, we went on the Haunted Mansion ride! Visitors climb aboard a moving “Doom” buggy for a journey through the mansion. You even have your very own “Ghost Host” that follows you along the way. On the journey, you will visit a haunted graveyard, the grand ballroom, and even see part of Madame Leota’s seance room. Make sure to look at the mirror at the end to see if you can spot some hitchhiking ghosts!

Pro Tip- This is a slow-moving ride that is very kid/first-timer friendly! Nothing really pops out at you along the way. My 3 year old son enjoyed it the entire time because I called them “friendly” ghosts. 🙂

There are so many amazing rides and experiences to partake in on your first trip to the Magic Kingdom. It’s so hard to choose! You will notice that I did not include any of the classic thrill rides because my son was just too little. If you are looking for a thrill check out this post!

You might also enjoy my blog post on the Top Things to do at the Magic Kingdom Post Covid-19, check it out here!

Or if you are bound and determined to ride EVERY ride in the Magic Kingdom- check out this post from A Little Bit of Pixie Dust!

What to Eat

There are a million great places to eat at The Magic Kingdom, everything from top-notch luxury dining to fun Mickey themed snacks! We found ourselves very busy on this particular day so didn’t stop to eat as much as we probably should have but what we did have was amazing!

We enjoyed the following:

• Goofy Gummy Treat in Fantasyland
• Mickey Shaped Pretzel at the Storybook Circus
• Vanilla Carmel Shake with Curro in Tomorrowland
• Mickey Ice Cream Float in Tomorrowland
• Popcorn in Adventureland
• Dinner at Tony’s Town Square– amazing spaghetti and meatballs! Plus, it’s located right next to the exit so you can make it quickly to Disney transport after dinner.

If you are interested in seeing more amazing Disney food, make sure to follow disney_foodie_girl on Instagram!

Check out more Disney posts-here!

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Old School Disney Photos

Here are just a few photos from one of my childhood trips to Walt Disney World.

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About the Author

Sara Moore

Travel Blogger at WanderMoore | Website | + posts

Hi my name is Sara and I am the creator of WanderMoore! 🙂 I started WanderMoore in early 2020 after leaving a full-time job in the Communications/Marketing field to stay home and raise my kiddos, Mila and Liam. I wanted something fun to work on in my free time and WanderMoore has become one of my biggest passions! Thank you for reading my post! I can't wait to share more of my travel adventures with you 🙂

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