2. Catch the early entertainment
A lot of the best entertainment on Main Street takes place earlier in the day. If catching the Casey's Corner piano player or a performance by the Dapper Dans interests you then be prepared in the early morning. The exact times can be found in Time Guides. You can pick these up along with a map on your way into the park.
3. Make Fastpass+ choices before you arrive
Making Fastpass+ selections before you arrive is a must, and is especially important if you are planning on riding popular attractions. For example, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is one attraction in particular that you can almost guarantee will not have Fastpass+ availability if you're checking your My Disney Experience App on the day of. Making these selections in advance is a must! Plus, you want to be enjoying the park, not on your phone all day!
4. Make dining reservations in advance
Similar to Fastpass+, making dining reservations well in advance is highly encouraged! Some of the more popular restaurants at Magic Kingdom book up almost immediately after reservations become available. There are definitely great food stations throughout the park if you want to keep a flexible schedule. However, if you're considering Be Our Guest, Cinderella's Royal Table or Crystal Palace, you'll need to book as early as possible. If table service isn't your style, you can also research the quick service options before hand to help save some time on your trip!
5. Meet & greets with your favorite characters
The meet and greets with characters are a must. Why? Because it is an amazing experience! How often do you get to hang out with Punzi and Princess Aurora?! You can use your Time Guides and map to find when and where your favorite character will be stationed. Like always, plan ahead and go meet some characters!
6. Find all the best photo ops
This can be so much fun and add a little bit of unexpected adventure to your day. Everyone has pictures in front of Cinderella's Castle. Magic Kingdom is a huge beautiful space. Find places somewhat less traveled and you'd be surprised by a unique backdrop waiting to be captured. These also make for the best memories when looking back on your trip.
7. Relax at the nearby resorts
If you are traveling with young children, you may have to take a midday break. Most people use this as an opportunity to go back to their hotel room and relax, however, depending on where you are staying that can be a complicated hike. Many of the resorts close to Magic Kingdom are a very short monorail ride away and offer some great amenities! Swing by the Grand Floridian - it is an absolutely break taking resort. You can hangout in a nice restaurant and grab a snack, look in some shops, or hang out in the vast lobby. This could be a great opportunity to relax and recharge the batteries.
8. Get to parades early to grab a spot
If catching the parades are a priority for you, then you'll want to start camping out a little early. A lot of guests start picking spots up to an hour before the start of a parade. I'd advise to grab a spot, send someone to go pick up some snacks (A Mickey Pretzel is always a great choice) and have some lunch while you wait for the parade to begin.
9. Must stay for the fireworks
This is an absolute must for any guest attending the Magic Kingdom. "Wishes" is a spectacular nighttime show that lights up the sky over Cinderella's Castle. Find a spot in front the castle or down Main Street for the best views and then sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
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