How to get the most out of Disney’s Magic Kingdom with toddlers and little kids

Last updated on August 17, 2024

Magic Kingdom is the most iconic of the Disney parks – it’s what most people expect when they think of Disney. Home to the Cinderella Castle and Disney parade, it’s a place that kids dream of. And its enchanting lands, classic rides and beloved characters make for a magical trip. 

The park is designed with little ones in mind, offering a blend of gentle rides, colourful shows, and plenty of opportunities for character interactions. And while there are some rides for older kids and adults (like the incredible TRON Lightcycle Run), the majority of rides are great for all ages.

Here’s my guide to visiting Magic Kingdom with toddlers and little kids, including the best rides, shows, food, and places to play – plus practical advice on how to make the most of your day.

Guide to Disney World with toddlers and little kids

I’ve also written a detailed guide to getting the most out of all of Disney World with toddlers and little kids, which covers things like the best time to go, how to choose which parks to visit, how to avoid the queues, including a guide to using Disney Lightning Lane Multi Passes (formerly Genie+), and how best to navigate the humongous Disney property. I suggest reading that too to cover all the basics.

And don’t miss my individual guides to Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom too. And don’t forget Universal Orlando!

And also see our full 2-week Florida itinerary for how to see a bit more of the state beyond the theme parks.

What is Magic Kingdom?

Magic Kingdom is the first and most iconic of the four Disney World theme parks (although Disneyland California was the very first). It opened in 1971 and is designed to transport guests into a world of fantasy and adventure, with six themed lands set over 107 acres. From the fairy tale settings of Fantasyland to the wild frontiers of Frontierland, and the futuristic landscapes of Tomorrowland, no detail is spared and it’s the production value of Disney that really brings the magic.

There are over 40 attractions at Magic Kingdom, including some of Disney’s most famous rides, like Space Mountain and Pirates of the Caribbean. But it’s as much about the shows, parades, and character interactions as it is the rides, making it a perfect destination for toddlers and little kids. 

Is Magic Kingdom good for toddlers and little kids?

Magic Kingdom is arguably the best Disney World park for toddlers and little kids, offering the most attractions tailored to young children. While the park can be a sensory overload at times, the variety of gentle rides, interactive shows, and character meet-and-greets provide plenty of ways to balance excitement with relaxation. Plus it has the castle, so it’s what kids expect when they think of Disney. 

While I think all the Disney parks have elements that make them great for little kids, if you’re only going to do one, then Magic Kingdom is the obvious choice. 

How to navigate Magic Kingdom with toddlers and little kids

How to get to Magic Kingdom

Most people going to Magic Kingdom will have to go via the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC). From there you get a boat or monorail directly to the park. The ride on both the ferry and monorail is short, but I prefer the ferry as you get great views of the park and castle (which is particularly special at sunrise just before rope drop).

You can park at the TTC, and this is also where shuttle buses and ride shares will drop you off.

If you’re staying at the Polynesian Village Resort, Grand Floridian Resort or Contemporary Resort, you can get the resort monorail to Magic Kingdom. It runs as a loop in this order:

TTC – Polynesian Village Resort – Grand Floridian Resort – Magic Kingdom -Contemporary Resort – TTC

How to get around Magic Kingdom

Once inside the park, it’s fairly easy to navigate. The park is organized around the central hub of Cinderella Castle, with paths leading to the different themed lands. 

If you’re travelling with kids under around 6, I recommend bringing or renting a stroller, as the park is large and little ones will tire quickly. You can hire single or double strollers at the park entrance. Mobility scooters are also available for hire if needed.

The six themed lands in Magic Kingdom are:

• Main Street, USA: The charming entrance to the park, designed to look like a turn-of-the-century American town.
• Adventureland: A tropical area with jungle-themed attractions and the iconic Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
• Frontierland: Themed around the American Old West, featuring attractions like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
• Liberty Square: Reflecting Colonial America, with attractions like the Haunted Mansion.
• Fantasyland: The heart of the park for little kids, home to Cinderella Castle and many character meet-and-greets.
• Tomorrowland: A futuristic area with attractions like Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.

A note on Baby Care Centers

Located in all Disney parks, these centers offer a quiet place to feed, change and take care of your little ones. The Baby Care Center in Magic Kingdom is near the Crystal Palace restaurant.

How to plan your time at Magic Kingdom with toddlers and little kids

We have general tips on how to plan a Disney World trip with kids in our main Disney post. This includes advice on prioritizing rides, being flexible, thinking about naps/break times, and choosing your first ride wisely.

When making a plan for Magic Kingdom, consider the layout of the park. Try to group attractions and shows together by location to minimize walking. I also recommend thinking about the pace of your day, alternating rides with shows and character meet-and-greets. This will help keep energy levels up.

How to reduce your wait times at Magic Kingdom

See our main Disney World post for lots of tips on how to reduce wait times at Disney – including using Disney Lightning Lane Passes (formerly Genie+), single rider lanes, and doing rope drop – but here are some specific tips for Magic Kingdom.

Which is the best first ride to choose at Magic Kingdom?

Your choice for your first ride at Magic Kingdom will depend on whether or not you have early entry, a Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass and are willing to pay for a Lightning Lane Single Pass for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. 

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the most popular first ride because it isn’t included in the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and always has a long line. You can, however, buy an Lightning Lane Single Pass for it. The price varies day by day, but it can cost around $20 per person. To save money, it’s a good option for a first ride if you have early entry.

But if you’re travelling with little kids, the chances are they won’t want to/can’t ride the mine train – you have to be at least 38” to ride, plus many little kids will be too scared.

Another popular first ride option is Space Mountain, but again you probably can’t do this one with little kids unless they are exceptionally brave and over 44”.

The most popular option for a first ride for people visiting Magic Kingdom with toddlers and little kids is Peter Pan’s Flight. The lines for this are always long (normally at least 50 minutes), so it’s a good one to get out of the way. However, it is included in the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, so you could choose that as your first Lighting Lane selection instead, and then ride a whole bunch of less popular rides first thing. 

For example, we went straight to Peter Pan at early entry rope drop, but still had to wait about 20 minutes to get on the ride. Luckily, we still had time after this to quickly ride the Barnstormer and It’s a Small World with no line. But if we hadn’t chosen Peter Pan, we’d have been able to do even more.

On really busy days, if you want to ride both Jungle Cruise and Peter Pan’s Flight, it’s worth doing one at rope drop because both are Tier 1 rides, so you can only choose one for your first lightning lane selections. Otherwise you run the risk of one of them selling out (we booked Jungle Cruise at 7am and the next available slot for the day we wanted to visit was 6pm! If we’d made it our second selection, it would likely have sold out/been too late for the kids.

If you have early entry, but not a Lightning Lane Multi Pass, ride Peter Pan and then head straight for Jungle Cruise at the official park opening time as it doesn’t open until then, and this is another wildly popular ride. Or, if you get on Peter Pan quickly, do Winnie the Pooh straight after as the lines also get long for this.

A final option is the Astro Orbiter because it isn’t included in the Lightning Lane Multi Pass and the lines can get pretty long. I’d argue that it isn’t worth it because it’s so similar to Dumbo and Aladdin – but if your kids’ hearts are set on it, getting on it earlier in the day is a good option to avoid lines (it had a 45-minute wait at midday on the day we were there).

Is the Lightning Lane Multi Pass worth it at Magic Kingdom with toddlers and little kids?

If you’re going to Magic Kingdom with little kids, I think getting a Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass is a huge sanity saver. Most children have a low tolerance for queuing and the multi pass will help minimise your time spent in line and help you fit in a lot more attractions. 

Practically all the rides at Magic Kingdom are included in the multi pass, which helps spread out the demand. The only ones that aren’t included are:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• TRON Lightcycle / Run 
• Astro Orbiter
• PeopleMover
• Meet Silly Sideshow characters (Goofy and Donald)

You can buy a Lightning Lane Single Pass for both the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON Lightcycle / Run.

Here’s a full list of the rides included in the Disney World Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Magic Kingdom in alphabetical order and divided into Tier 1 and Tier 2. Remember this is subject to change at any time, so do check the app/website for what’s on offer when you visit.

I explain how to use lightning lane passes in detail in my post on Disney World with little kids. In brief, for your first three lightning lane selections, you can choose one Tier 1 ride, and two (or all three) Tier 2 rides.

Tier 1

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Jungle Cruise
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Space Mountain
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Tier 2

• Barnstormer
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• Haunted Mansion
• “it’s a small world”
• Mad Tea Party
• Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

Our Lightning Lane strategy for Magic Kingdom with little kids

We had 1.5 days at Magic Kingdom so I knew the pressure was off when it came to trying to ride everything in one day. However, that first day was still quite stressful as the park was much busier than predicted, so a lot of my original plans had to be adapted.

A note on Tron Lightcyle/Run

We had early entry the first day we visited, so I decided to try joining the virtual queue fr Tron at exactly 7am but it was already sold out, and I also didn’t get a space at the second release at 1pm. On our second day, I bought a lightning lane for Tron as soon as I was eligible to book as I wanted to be sure we wouldn’t miss out.

Our first Lighting Lane selection

My first Lightning Lane Lighting selection on day one was Jungle Cruise (Tier 1), but the first available slot was 6pm. I kept it to begin with but then decided to just try again on our second day as it wasn’t a huge priority and I thought the kids would be too tired by 6pm. This dilly-dallying wasted a bit of time. In hindsight, I wish I’d booked Peter Pan as our first Lighting Lane and then jumped on a bunch of less popular rides at rope drop.

Our Magic Kingdom itinerary

This is roughly how our first day went. I’ve adapted it a little to reflect recent changes to the lightning lane system.

Before our visit: Make first three lightning lane selections: Jungle Cruise (6pm), Winnie the Pooh (10am) and Buzz Lightyear (10:30am).

7am: Try to join TRON virtual queue but it’s sold out. 

7:30am: Arrive at the park and head straight to Peter Pan – wait 20 minutes to ride it.

8am: Ride Barnstormer with standby lane (10 mins) and buy a snack at Cheshire Cafe. 

8:30am – 11am: Cancel Jungle Cruise reservation and use lightning lanes to get on a succession of rides fairly quickly: Dumbo, Teacups, Tomorrow Land Speedway, Buzz Lightyear, Monsters Inc Laugh Floor and Winnie the Pooh. All of the lightning lane bookings for these rides were almost immediate, but the normal lines were up to 40 minutes, so we definitely saved a lot of time with lightning lanes.

11am: Ride train to Frontierland to get ready for Festival of Fantasy parade. Find spot in front of Casey’s Corner so we can eat some takeout food while waiting for the parade.

12pm: Watch parade

12:30pm: Watch Enchanted Tiki Room show

1pm: Walk through Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse

1:30pm: Meet Mickey Mouse 

1:30pm – 3:30pm: Use lightning lanes to ride Little Mermaid, It’s a Small World and the carousel. 

4pm: Watch Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire 

4:30pm: Leave Magic Kingdom

On our second day at Magic Kingdom, we spent the second half of the day there after EPCOT, booking our Lightning Lane reservation for Jungle Cruise in advance and reserving a lightning lane for TRON too.

We then used lightning lanes to jump on a couple of rides in the park as and when we wanted in between reservations. This included Buzz Lightyear, It’s a Small World and Aladdin. We could also have easily gone on Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted House, but the boys were just too tired.

Quick Guide to the Best Rides for Toddlers and Little Kids at Magic Kingdom

Here’s a quick guide to the rides at Magic Kingdom and their suitability for different ages and fear levels. 

Bear in mind these are broad strokes and all kids have different levels of fear. For example, my 6-year-old is terrified of heights and fast rides, but loves 3D experiences even when they’re scary. On the other hand, my 3-year-old loves going fast and being up high but is petrified of 3D rides and the dark! 

You know your kids best, so read the more detailed descriptions below and see what might suit them. You can watch ride videos on YouTube to get a better idea of exactly what they’re like.

The most gentle rides for toddlers and little kids

• Dumbo the Flying Elephant
• It’s a Small World
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
• Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
• Jungle Cruise
• Mad Tea Party
• Mark Twain Riverboat

Magic Kingdom rides that might be scary for nervous/very little riders

• Astro Orbiter 
• Barnstormer (35″/89cm or taller)
• Haunted Mansion
• Pirates of the Caribbean
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (40″/102cm or taller)

Magic Kingdom rides for more confident and older children

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40″/102cm or taller)
• Space Mountain (44″/112cm or taller)
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (38″/97cm or taller)
• TRON Lightcycle / Run (48″/122cm or taller)

Descriptions of all Magic Kingdom rides for kids

Rides in Fantasyland

Peter Pan’s Flight

This is one of Disney’s so called ‘dark rides’ which takes you on an indoor journey through classic Disney scenes. Fly over London and Neverland in a magical pirate ship. This ride is beloved for its enchanting scenery and gentle motion, making it perfect for little ones. It’s an ideal introduction to ‘dark rides’ as there’s nothing scary about it at all. Only problem is it’s super popular so the line is always long.

It’s A Small World

This classic boat ride features dolls from around the world singing the iconic (many would say annoying) song. It’s gentle and colorful, making it a hit with toddlers and little kids. I love this ride – partly for the nostalgia, but also because it’s so darn cute! Otis and Arlo loved it too – both at Disneyland and Disney World (so from age 2-6 at least).

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Join Pooh and friends on a gentle journey through the Hundred Acre Wood. This ride is filled with colourful scenes, playful music, and charming animatronics, making it perfect for young children. Our kids are huge Winnie the Pooh fans, so this was a big hit in our family.

Mad Tea Party 

Spin around in a giant teacup in this classic Disney ride. While it can be a bit dizzying, the ability to control the spinning makes it a fun choice for toddlers and kids. Steve has to do this one as it makes me feel sick!

Barnstormer 

This is a good entry-level rollercoaster, but is still pretty fast so might be a bit much for very nervous riders. My 3-year-old loved it, but our 6-year-old was scared.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

This family-friendly roller coaster is one of the most popular rides in the park. It’s a step up from the Barnstormer, so if your kids were scared of that then this will definitely be too much. But if they liked the Barnstormer, this is a good next step. 

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

This is a classic carousel ride and a cute one to ride if there’s no line. It’s suitable for all ages with stationary carriages as well as horses that move up and down.

Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid

This gentle ride takes you through scenes from The Little Mermaid with colourful animatronics and music from the movie. It’s a delightful experience for any Little Mermaid fans (big hands up from me!).

Rides in Adventureland

Pirates of the Caribbean

Did you know the Pirates of the Caribbean films are based on this ride?! Set sail on the classic boat ride through a pirate-infested Caribbean island. While the dark scenes and pirate battles might be a bit intense for very young children, older kids will likely enjoy it. It also has two small drops, so factor those in when deciding if your kids will like it.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Similar to Dumbo the Flying Elephant, this ride lets you soar on a magic carpet around a giant genie bottle. It’s a gentle, fun ride that’s suitable for all ages. The only thing that might put some children off is the height, but you can control your carpet to be on the lowest level if wanted.

Jungle Cruise

This boat ride takes you on a humorous tour through various jungle scenes with animatronic animals. It’s famous for its silly humour and is one of the most popular rides in the park so always has a long line and the lightning lane sells out quickly. I’m afraid I don’t really get the hype! Also, because it’s a lot about the skippers’ humour, most of that will go over little ones’ heads. That said, it’s many peoples’ favourite ride, so you might love it too!

Rides in Frontierland

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

A runaway mine train roller coaster that’s a bit too thrilling for little children. It’s pretty fast and has lots of twists and turns.

Tom Sawyer Island

Take a raft ride to this play area where kids can explore caves, bridges, and fortresses inspired by Mark Twain’s famous stories. It’s a great place to let toddlers run around and burn off some energy. That said, it’s not hugely exciting so some kids might prefer a play area.

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

This opened after I visited Disney World, so I haven’t ridden it yet, although I did ride the old Splash Mountain version. It’s a classic log flume ride with a 50ft drop. You have to be 40” to ride, so one that’s best for taller kids.

Rides in Liberty Square

Haunted Mansion

This spooky but fun ride through a haunted house is filled with “999 happy haunts.” While the ghosts are more whimsical than frightening, the dark scenes might be too intense for very young children. I remember being scared of this as a 7 year old.

Mark Twain Riverboat

Enjoy a relaxing and scenic ride aboard a classic riverboat around Tom Sawyer Island. It’s a gentle way to see the park from a different perspective. For me, it’s one of those “nice to have” rides – good if you have some spare time but not worth prioritsing.

Rides in Tomorrowland

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Join Buzz Lightyear in this interactive ride where you can shoot lasers at targets to defeat the evil Emperor Zurg. It’s fun for all ages and lets kids (and adults) compete for the highest score. This was one of our kids’ favourite rides.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

A gentle ride that takes you on a tour above Tomorrowland. It’s a relaxing break from the crowds and has good views of the park. It’s not really worth a big queue though.

Space Mountain

A dark, high-speed indoor roller coaster through outer space. It’s one of the most thrilling rides in the park, so is best suited to older kids who enjoy fast rides.

Astro Orbiter

This high-flying ride is a similar concept to Dumbo and gives you a great view of the park. But it’s a bit faster, and much higher up than Dumbo, so might be too intense for very young children.

TRON Lightcycle / Run 

One of the newest rides at Magic Kingdom, TRON Lightcycle / Run, is incredible fun. You get to ride on a high-speed lightcycle inspired by the TRON movies. You have to be 48” to ride it, plus it’s really fast, so better for older children or very brave and tall small ones!

Character experiences at Magic Kingdom

Meeting characters is a highlight for many toddlers and young kids, and Magic Kingdom has loads of opportunities. The problem is, because it’s the park that’s most popular with young kids, it also has the longest lines for characters. For example, we would have had to wait at least 40 minutes to see Winnie the Pooh at Magic Kingdom, but we only waited about 10 minutes at EPCOT.

You can no longer use lightning lanes for character meet-and-greets, which means there is no way to avoid the lines.

These are the characters you can meet at Magic Kingdom. Again these are subject to change. The best thing to do is to use the My Disney Experience app, which tells you where all the characters currently are and what time they’ll be appearing.

• Mickey at Town Square Theater
• Cinderella and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Ariel at Her Grotto
• Princess Tiana and a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall

• Winnie the Pooh and Tigger at the Thotful Spot near the Winnie the Pooh ride
• Daring Disney Pals at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Storybook Circus (normally Minnie, Daisy, Donald and Goofy)
• Peter Pan near his ride
• Mirabel from Encanto at entrance to Fantasyland
• Chip and Dale by the Rivers of America in Frontierland
• Stitch in Tomorrowland
• Merida at the Enchanted Glade Gazebo in Liberty Square
• Alladin and Jasmine at Agrabah Bazaar in Adventureland 
• Captain Jack Sparrow near Pirates of the Caribbean
• The Town Square Porch on Main Street, USA often has visiting characters too

For a way to see lots of characters at once, go to the parade. You can’t meet the characters here, but you’ll often get a wave and sometimes that’s enough, especially for little kids. 

And a final, albeit expensive, way to guarantee a character meeting is through booking some character dining. There are two options in Magic Kingdom: Cinderella’s Royal Table to meet princesses or The Crystal Palace to meet Winnie the Pooh.

Best shows for toddlers and kids at Magic Kingdom

Mickey’s PhilharMagic

I love this show so much – I think it’s one of the most underrated attractions at Disney! The 3D show features scenes and songs from Disney classics like The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and The Lion King. It’s a delightful experience with loads of familiar songs that can’t help but bring a smile to your face.

Enchanted Tiki Room

This is a true Disney classic. It’s a charming little show in a big tiki hut with animatronic singing birds, flowers and tikis. It’s a fun, air-conditioned break from the heat and perfect for little ones who love music and bright colours.

Festival of Fantasy Parade

Watching the Disney parade is an absolute must in my opinion, and even more so if you’re with little kids. It features floats and characters from various Disney films and is the perfect way for kids to see lots of their favourite characters in one place, complete with music and dancing.

Happily Ever After fireworks

This spectacular fireworks show is a must-see for most people at Magic Kingdom. Held in front of Cinderella Castle, it features a stunning display of fireworks, projections, and music from Disney movies.

It’s on pretty late, around 9pm, so not ideal for little kids unless you’ve perhaps managed to get them to nap during the day. Some of the hotels have views of the fireworks, but it’s never going to be the same as being there.

Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire 

This lively stage show takes place in front of Cinderella Castle and features Mickey Mouse and friends from various Disney stories. They perform to classic songs and it’s a great way to see some characters and take a break between rides. 

Belle’s Enchanted Tales

An interactive storytelling experience where kids can join Belle and other characters from Beauty and the Beast in retelling the classic story. It’s a magical, immersive experience that little ones who love princesses or Beauty and the Beast will love.

Country Bear Jamboree

A fun, musical show featuring animatronic bears singing country tunes. I’ve seen it before, but when we went most recently it was closed for refurbishment. It will be interesting to see how it’s updated. 

Other ways to have fun at Magic Kingdom with toddlers and little kids

Play Areas

Magic Kingdom is a bit short on play areas in comparison to EPCOT and Animal Kingdom, but there are some good, albeit fairly small ones. Firstly, the Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station in Storybook Circus has water play, perfect for cooling off on hot days. 

Both the Winnie the Pooh and Dumbo rides have play areas within the queue. The Dumbo one is more extensive and has some good slides and play equipment. The rules change, but it’s currently optional to go into the play area. In the past, everyone in the line had to go in and you were given a pager that buzzed when it was time for you to ride. 

Note that if you use the Lightning Lane, you skip the play area section of the Winnie the Pooh line (this is what happened to us, which annoyed our sons!). 

Tom Sawyer Island is also somewhat of a play area, but there’s no actual play equipment – just caves and a little fort to explore. 

Wander around the themed lands

This is fairly obvious, but one of the joys of Disney World is simply wandering around and enjoying all the impressive theming of each land. Take a break between rides to have a walk around and soak it all in. You may even see some characters or street shows along the way.

Where to eat in Magic Kingdom with toddlers and little kids

Magic Kingdom isn’t known for its food in the same way EPCOT is and I think it has the least creative offering of all four Disney parks in Florida. Also note that no alcohol is served in the Magic Kingdom. 

All that said, it does have some great kid-pleasing options, plus some fun character dining opportunities. We tend to favour the quick-service options when with kids as they’re casual and quick and you can often order ahead on your mobile to save time.

Here are some of our favourites:

• Pinocchio Village Haus – located in Fantasyland, this quick-service restaurant offers kid-friendly options like flatbread pizzas and nuggets. You can see the It’s a Small World ride from some of the seating areas. They even have signs you can hold up to the riders with instructions like ‘Give someone a high five’, ‘Clap’, and ‘Touch your nose!’. 
• Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn – this quick service restaurant is a great place to grab lunch while waiting for the parade to start. We got a takeout and ate it while saving a good viewing spot on the pavement just in front.
• Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café – a Tomorrowland quick-service favourite, it features an extensive menu and entertainment by Sonny Eclipse, an animatronic alien lounge singer. The kids had mac and cheese and we had burgers.
• Sleepy Hollow – for Mickey shaped waffles
• Gaston’s Tavern – for huge cinnamon rolls
• Main Street Bakery – for Mickey cupcakes and cinnamon rolls
• Aloha Isle – to try the famous pineapple Dole whip
• Cheshire Cafe – for colourful, fun pastries (be warned they look better than they taste!)
• Casey’s Corner – for hot dogs
• Be Our Guest Restaurant – we didn’t eat here but it’s a really popular option. You dine in a  beautiful restaurant inside Beast’s Castle with French-inspired cuisine. It’s fairly fancy so we didn’t think it worth it with little kids.

There are also two character dining options at Magic Kingdom:

• The Crystal Palace: A buffet-style restaurant where you can meet Winnie the Pooh and friends for breakfast, lunch or dinner
• Cinderella’s Royal Restaurant – a chance to dine in the Disney castle and meet a host of Disney princesses (character appearances are subject to change)

Best Places to stay near Magic Kingdom with kids

I’ve written a full guide to all the best places to stay at Disney World, which helps make sense of all the options.

But here’s a quick overview of options for Magic Kingdom. By far the most convenient place to stay is one of the Magic Kingdom Resort Area hotels, which have easy access to the park via the monorail. The downside is that these are Disney’s deluxe hotels so they are quite expensive to stay at. They are:

• Disney’s Contemporary Resort: Located within walking distance of Magic Kingdom, this hotel features modern amenities and great dining options, including Chef Mickey’s where you can dine with Mickey and friends (we splashed out on this and loved it!).

• Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: A tropical-themed resort with a beautiful pool and Ohana, one of Disney’s most popular restaurants. We visited this hotel and it had a lovely vibe and setting.
• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: An elegant, Victorian-themed resort with luxurious amenities.

For budget-friendly options, consider staying at one of the Disney Value Resorts, such as:

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort: This resort features larger-than-life movie-themed decor and a fun pool area.
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort: Known for its family suites and themed areas inspired by Disney and Pixar films, this is a great choice for families. We stayed here and loved it – the kids say it’s the best hotel they’ve ever stayed at!

You could also stay off-site for an even more budget option. We stayed a couple of nights at the Drury Plaza Hotel near Disney Springs. Guests still get early access and complimentary bus transportation to the parks.

Buy Your Disney World tickets now

To make the most of your visit, purchase your tickets in advance and consider adding the Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass to your package. This will help you maximize your time and experience more of what Magic Kingdom has to offer. Undercover Tourist and Get Away Today often do good deals, especially if you book your hotel with them too.

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