The Hardest Decisions You’ll Have to Make in Magic Kingdom

No trip to Disney World is really complete without spending some time in the park that started it all in Central Florida: Magic Kingdom! Disney World’s original park is filled with things to do, from classic rides and attractions to diverse dining options.

That begs the question, what decisions do you have to make on your Magic Kingdom day that are tougher than others?

Trust us, you’ll have some decisions to make, because it’s nearly impossible to do it all in one day!

Where do you eat?

No matter which park you visit, you’ll need to decide where to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (don’t forget about all of those important snacks throughout the day, too!). Magic Kingdom has a wide variety of Quick Service and Table Service options for a variety of budgets, appetites, and preferences.

Is your day going to be packed full of rides? In that case, stopping for a quick bite to eat at a Quick Service restaurant may be a better option. If you want a longer break in the middle of the day, consider booking an Advance Dining Reservation at one of the park’s Table Service restaurants.

See how AllEars readers ranked all the Table Service restaurants in Magic Kingdom here!

Do you eat inside or outside the park? 

There’s another food option that you may or may not be considering: do you even eat in Magic Kingdom in the first place? Magic Kingdom is surrounded by some of the best resort hotels on Disney World property, each with great dining options that rival, if not exceed, the dining options in the theme park.

For example, you can easily hop on the Monorail and head to Disney’s Contemporary Resort to have dinner at California Grill or Chef Mickey’s. Or you can stroll along the new walkway to the Grand Floridian and eat lunch at Grand Floridian Cafe. Dining at the resorts expands your options considerably, plus it gives you a nice break from the noise and crowds of the park!

What rides do you prioritize?

There are so many headliner attractions in Magic Kingdom; it’s hard to do it all in just one day! From family-friendly thrill rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Space Mountain to classic dark rides like Peter Pan’s Flight and “it’s a small world,” you may have a tough time deciding which rides to prioritize.

Sit down with your family ahead of your vacation, and make a list of the top three rides each person wants to experience on your Magic Kingdom day — hopefully there is some overlap and you all want to see the same rides! From there, make a plan of attack, and review the ways you can avoid long lines.

Do you go left or right?

The age old question when visiting Magic Kingdom is simply this: where do you start?! No matter where you travel, all roads begin and end along Main Street, U.S.A. Once you reach the hub, do you go left and head into Adventureland? Or do you go right and head into Tomorrowland? Don’t forget the third option: walking through the castle and heading into Fantasyland.

The decision depends largely on what you want to experience first and “get out of the way,” so to speak. Do you want to ride Space Mountain as early as possible before the lines get long? If so, turn right. Is it a family tradition to hit up Pirates of the Caribbean first? Then take a left. The choice is yours, and frankly, there’s no wrong decision!

What is your favorite thing to do in Magic Kingdom? Let us know in the comments!

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