The Best Way to See Disney's Magic Kingdom in One Day

There is so much to do and see in Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Even the most-seasoned Disney visitors struggle to experience the entire park, even with several days spent there. But what if you only have one-day out of your busy schedule to visit?

Since this can often be the case, especially if you are attending a business or family function, we have put together a guide for enjoying the Magic Kingdom in one fun-filled day.

Plan Ahead

What time of year and what day of the week you plan on spending your day at the Magic Kingdom can potentially determine what you’ll be able to experience. If possible, try planning a visit to the park on a Tuesday or Thursday, when the crowds are usually smaller. The benefits from this can be felt in shorter lines for attractions, closer parking to the park entrance, and greater availability of even the most sought after FastPasses.

Purchase your tickets ahead of time and create your own My Disney Experience itinerary online. You can link your tickets to your account and make FastPass reservations up to 30 days prior to your visit. Use your initial three FastPass reservations wisely and try to reserve times for the most popular rides. Once you have completed your third FastPass for the day, you are then able to book additional FastPasses either from the My Disney Experience app or at a kiosk in the park.

Download the free My Disney Experience mobile app to your smartphone. This app is a huge timesaver because it provides you with the wait times for every ride at the Magic Kingdom, park hours, times of parade and firework showings, and the newly introduced online food ordering at certain quick service locations. You can also make or change FastPass reservations on the fly if you’ve previously linked your tickets.

Pack drinks and snacks so that you don’t waste time standing in line. If you do want to travel light, you can forgo bringing drinks and receive free water at a Magic Kingdom concession stand.

The Day of Your Magic Kingdom Adventure

Arrive at least 30 minutes before the park opens. If you’re carrying any bags or a purse, you will need to go through a security bag check which is located at the entrance by ticket sales. Once the rope drops and you are allowed in the park, don’t follow the crowd. Most visitors to the park tend to go right and work their way counterclockwise through the park. Go left and hit the attractions in a clockwise path instead. If you were unable to score Fast Passes for the major attractions, like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, move quickly to those rides, but be careful as this wait can quickly exceed 60 minutes soon after the park is open. You can also check out the app on your phone during the day to see if Fast Passes become available, guests are constantly adding and deleting FastPasses throughout the day, so you may even get lucky and catch a rare FastPass.

With these tips in mind, you’ll surely have plenty of fun with everything you get to experience at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.