The Magic of Magic Kingdom

 

Magic Kingdom never fails to amaze us. All of us have a great time every time that we are there. On this trip we were able to go back several times! Each time we had new adventures and experiences. It was also fun to see that we happened to see people we knew throughout our trip! Totally random, but fun!

First advice for Magic Kingdom is: Have a PLAN! It makes your day better and less stressful when you know what you want to do beforehand. Do your research on which rides you want to try and where you want to eat. This will help guide you throughout the day. Genie+ and Lightning Lanes are so worth the price! Especially if you have children, it makes your day more smooth and you can ride all the rides you want to experience during the day. 

Magic Kingdom is designed to sit away from the parking lot. There are really 4 ways to get there: 1--Park at the Transportation and Ticketing Center and ride the Monorail. This is a great option for seeing the Cinderella Castle as you come up to the entrance. 2- Park at the Transportation and Ticketing Center and take the large Ferry. This provides a ride straight across the lake and fits more people. 3- Take a bus from a Disney Resort. Buses Drop you off at the gate, so it is the option with the least walking. But you do have to fold your stroller on a bus. 4- Take a smaller boat from one of the Magic Kingdom resorts. 

We stayed at several of the Disney Resorts in the Magic Kingdom area. Our first was the Polynesian Resort. We loved it! It reminded us of home. It was themed well. So much to do in the resort itself and you can watch the fireworks from the beach! 

Apparently I wanted to have my eyes closed! This photo is from Liberty Tree Tavern, one of the best places to eat on property. 

In Adventureland there is a pirate scavenger hunt. It is SO much fun for people of all ages. You can get a treasure map from the small booth near the gift shop of Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Then you use your Magic Band or ticket to follow clues around the area. As you find the clues, there is an interactive experience that allows you to see moving pieces, new tales, and more clues. Our two Muggles loved it and we did the whole thing several times. There are 6 maps and treasures, it was fun to break into groups and race! 

Our family loves the classic rides. Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, It's A Small World, Splash Mountain, Jungle Cruise (the line is always SO long that I started to not like it so much), and the Tiki Room. We also love to ride all three Mountains--Splash, Big Thunder, and Space together! 

Our next stop was Cabins and Fort Wilderness. It was a bit of a change coming from the Polynesian. But it had some perks to it as well. It was nice to park right next to the cabin instead of a long walk from a parking lot. The golf carts were SO much fun too! It was nice to get out into nature a bit after being in the hustle and bustle of people all day. 

It was Koala Bear's birthday while we were there, so of course, we had to decorate!

Eating at Cinderella's Royal Table is a fun experience. It is a bit pricey, but still fun. We decided to do it for Koala Bear's birthday!

We tried different vantage points for the night show. We found our favorite spot was by the Hub on Mainstreet just across from Walt. There is a bit of a rise so it makes it easier to see. 

For the first time we went over to the Tom Sawyer island. It was a great place to escape the crowds for a moment and explore. The kids loved running around and seeing the area. 

We ate at Chef Mickey's in the Contemporary resort. It was fun to see all of the characters. 

It was fun to be there while all of the decorations are still up! We made sure to go to the Grand Floridian and see the Gingerbread House!

We were lucky to snag an unplanned dinner reservation to Storybook Dining at Wilderness Lodge! It was a fun experience.