One Day in Magic Kingdom Disney World Itinerary and Tips
I recently visited Disney World for two days at the end of my epic east coast USA road trip. During these two days in Disney, I spent one day in Magic Kingdom and one in Hollywood studios. Each day was packed with attractions, sightseeing, and Disney treats.
Since Disney World is so large, choosing what to do in one day can be tricky. This guide helps make this easier by outlining what to do in Magic Kingdom in one day. It explains what rides to hit first, how to leverage the lightning lane system, the best snacks and other great Magic Kingdom Disney World tips.
Keep reading to learn how to plan your one day in Magic Kingdom itinerary.
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Magic Kingdom One Day Itinerary
While there are many different ways to plan a one day Magic Kingdom park itinerary. The below itinerary is my ideal day. However, changes can be made based on the below travel guide to suit your interests.
Early Morning: Arrive at park 45 minutes before rope drop to get through security and entrance. Shop main street until 10 minutes before rope drop.
Rope Drop: Wait at rope 10 minutes before opening to be first to the attractions. Ride Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain.
Mid-Morning: Hit lightning lane rides as you gather reservations, following the below strategy.
Lunch: Mobile Order from a quick service restaurant and find a shady table for a break.
Afternoon: Enjoy some air-conditioned attractions such as Carousel of Progress, Enchanted Tiki Room and Small World. Get any available lightning lane reservations, then ride those attractions.
Dinner: Use reservation for dinner at Be Our Guest.
Evening: Take advantage of shorter lines to hit favorite attractions again, then enjoy the fireworks show.
Travel Tips for 1 Day at Magic Kingdom
1. Plan Ahead:
- Make an itinerary and prioritize the attractions, shows, and character meet-and-greets you want to experience.
- Reserve dining and FastPass+ options early to secure your preferred choices.
- Check the park hours and show schedules in advance to maximize your time.
2. Arrive Early:
- Arriving at the park before it opens (“rope drop”) allows you to experience popular attractions with shorter wait times.
- Consider a character breakfast reservation for early entry to the park.
3. Use Genie+ Wisely:
- Take advantage of Disney’s Genie+ system to reserve access to select attractions, entertainment, and character meet-and-greets in advance.
- Prioritize popular rides and experiences to reduce waiting times.
4. Stay Hydrated and Take Breaks:
- Florida can be hot and humid, so stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
- Take breaks in shaded areas and air-conditioned attractions to avoid overheating and exhaustion.
5. Enjoy the Magic and Be Patient:
- Embrace the magic of Disney and take time to enjoy the little details, like the hidden Mickey Mouse symbols.
- Be prepared for crowds and potentially long lines, and maintain a positive attitude.
Bonus Tip: Download the “My Disney Experience” app to check wait times, make dining reservations, and access a digital map of the park for real-time navigation.
My top three choices for the genie+ lightning lane are Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Splash Mountain.
Check out Disney’s website for the latest lightning lane attractions and to create your own priority list.
Lightning Lane and Genie+ for Magic Kingdom
If you are planning a Disney World vacation, chances are you have come across mention of Genie+ and lightning lanes.
For a first timer, this system can be super overwhelming. If you are familiar with Disney’s fastpass system, Genie+ is essentially the newest version of it. First, here are some definitions that may help:
Disney Genie – The Disney Genie is an AI tool on the Disney app that helps you plan your day in a Disney park. The tool starts by collecting your interests, then suggests a daily itinerary that will help you visit those interests throughout the day. This tool is great in concept, but I think planning on your own will be the best use of time.
Genie+ – Genie+ is a paid service, around $15 per person, per day that allows you to access lightning lanes throughout the day.
Lightning Lane – A lightning lane is a priority lane that can be accessed in two ways. 1) Booking a timeslot using Genie+ and 2) purchasing an individual lightning lane. Individual lightning lane are offered for a few attractions per park and cost additional money.
Genie+ in Magic Kingdom Strategy
If you only have one day in Magic Kingdom, I highly recommend purchasing Genie+. The lightning lane wait times are typically 10 minutes or less, compared to 40+ minutes in the standby line.
If you purchase Genie+, there are some restrictions to consider:
- You can begin reserving lightning lanes when the park opens the day you plan to visit
- You can only hold one lightning lane reservation at a time. Choose reservations that are early in the day so you have time to redeem multiple.
- Individual lightning lane reservations do not count toward your one reservation at a time quota.
To use Genie+ in Magic Kingdom, I recommend the following strategy:
The goal is to redeem as many lightning lanes as possible, on the rides you most want to hit.
- If you are interested in the individual lightning lane attractions, purchase them at the start of the day
- Make a list of the top 3 genie+ lightning lane attractions you want to hit
- Once reservations open for the day, book whichever ride in your top 3 has the earliest return time
- Once you hit this ride, get another lightning reservation that has the soonest return time. This may or may not be a ride in your top 3, depending how the time slots are filling up.
- Continue reserving additional lightning lanes as soon as you can, until you ride them all.
- If you are unable to catch a time slot for your priority 3 rides, plan to visit them at the end of the day when the standby lines are shorter.
Currently, the individual lightning lane attractions for Magic Kingdom are Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train and TRON.
Best Rides to Rope Drop in Magic Kingdom
Rope drop is the opening procedure for Disney parks each morning. Guests are allowed into the park before official opening.
In Magic Kingdom, guests are welcome to explore main street USA and shop the stores before opening. Cast members will line up with rope barriers at the entrance to each land then will “drop” the rope at park opening time.
Rope dropping your favorite rides is the best way to hit a few attractions with little to no line. The best rides to rope drop are either your favorites or the lightning lane attractions with late return times.
Rope dropping these rides will help you save your lightning lane eligibility for other rides throughout the day.
Since ride line will be shorter first thing in the day, choose from the above list of lightning lane eligible rides as these are notorious for long lines during peak hours.
Dining Reservations for Magic Kingdom
In addition to making lightning lane reservations, it is important to book dining reservations ahead of your one day in Magic Kingdom.
Disney dining reservations can currently be booked 60 days in advance for all guests. Check the Disney website for the updated dining reservation window.
Popular restaurants will fully book up within the first couple hours of reservation availability. Since you will only have one day in Magic Kingdom, it is important to snag your day of restaurants quickly.
Some of the best reservations to snag in Magic Kingdom are:
- Be Our Guest Restaurant– Themed like the Beauty and the Beast castle, with multiple dining rooms with different décor. Great place to see Beauty and the Best characters and enjoy high-end food.
- Cinderella’s Royal Table-A unique dining venue inside of Cinderella’s castle, this restaurant is one of the best places to meet the princesses.
Tip – Use the Mouse Watcher service to help snag hard-to-find reservations
What to Eat in Magic Kingdom
If you are anything like me, a day in Magic Kingdom will include as many snacks as possible.
The below sweet and savory snacks are my favorite treats in Magic Kingdom. Share each item with a friend of family member so you can try a bit of everything.
- Mickey Pretzel
- Mickey Ice Cream Bar
- Cheeseburger and Pizza Egg Rolls outside Adventureland
- Casey’s Corner Corn Dogs
One Day Magic Kingdom Attraction Bucket List
I keep mentioning that this 1-day Magic Kingdom itinerary will help you hit all the highlights of the park. But you might wonder, what are the highlights?
This list of attractions are the best rides and shows in the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World. If you experience all of these, I’d consider your day a success.
Top Magic Kingdom Attractions:
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Haunted Mansion
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- It’s a Small World
- The Jungle Cruise
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- The Enchanted Tiki Room
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Monsters Inc Laugh Floor
- The Hall of Presidents
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
- Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Disney World Hotels Near Magic Kingdom
One of the best ways to save time with only 1 day in Magic Kingdom is by staying on property nearby. Unlike Disneyland, the parks at Disney World are very spread out and can take up to an hour to get between.
Staying near Magic Kingdom could save up to two hours of commuting time! Below are my favorite Disney resorts near the Magic Kingdom theme park.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✅ Short ferry ride to Magic Kingdom
✅ Overwater villas and family suites
Polynesian Village Resort
Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is a tropical paradise located in the heart of the Walt Disney World resort. From its lush tropical gardens to its iconic Polynesian architecture, this resort captures the magic and beauty of the South Pacific islands.
You can enjoy on-site dining at one of several restaurants or relax at two swimming pools with slides. Between the luxury amenities and perfect location, you cant go wrong with staying at the Polynesian Village Resort for your 1 day at Magic Kingdom.
The Grand Floridian
The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is a luxurious, 5-star resort located in Disney World. It has extraordinary suites with breathtaking views of Cinderella Castle and Seven Seas Lagoon, as well as a variety of amenities such as a full-service spa, poolside cabanas, and fine dining.
It also located only one monorail stop away from Magic Kingdom, so guests have easy access to the park and all its attractions.
Packing List for One Day in Magic Kingdom
Preparation is the key to success when it comes to a Disney vacation. I suggest packing the below items to help maintain your comfort the entire day in the park.
That way, you will not have to head back to your hotel for anything during the day.
- Portable charger– Your phone will be your guide around the park. You will likely use the Disney app for your Disney World tickets, Genie+, mobile food order and to check wait times. To keep your phone from dying, bring a portable charger.
- Portable fan– Disney World can be extremely hot and humid. Pack a portable fan to help stay cool during the day.
- Reusable water bottle– Another way to stay cool and hydrated is by packing a reusable water bottle. There are water fountains for refills throughout the park and all quick service restaurant will provide ice water for free.
- Fanny pack– A fanny pack is the easiest way to hold your Disney World resort essentials. It can be worn on some rides and easily fits in the baggage area on others.
In addition to the essentials listed above, the below outfits and accessories are great for Disney World Magic Kingdom. Find clothes that showcase the characters and themes of Magic Kingdom such as the princesses or Mickey and friends.
Shop these Magic Kingdom outfit ideas
FAQ – One Day Magic Kingdom Touring Plan
Yes, Magic Kingdom can be done in one day! Start early with rope drop to ride the top attractions with short lines. Then, use lightning lanes to bypass long wait times during the peak of the day. Finally, stay later when rides get shorter once again to hit the last rides on your Magic Kingdom bucket list.
If you only have one day in Disney World, I recommend spending it in Magic Kingdom. This park has a ton of the top attractions and is the most iconic of the Disney World parks.
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Summary of One Day in Magic Kingdom
The key to a successful Disney world vacation is doing research, planning, then going with the flow.
Book Magic Kingdom dining reservations ahead of time so you do not have to stress during your trip. Decide which rides are the most important to hit, and visit those first.
Then, once you are in Disney, go with the flow, soak in the magic and have fun.
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