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A virtual visit to the Magic Kingdom at Disney World

The Happiest Place on Earth — without the long lines and hot sun

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Walt Disney World’s doors are closed until July, but if you’re feeling a little squicky about venturing to the Magic Kingdom so soon, there’s good news: If a Disney attraction exists (or existed in the time of YouTube), then chances are a high-definition video ride-through, walk-through, or POV of the attraction exists, ready to be experienced from home.

Disney parks have a lax policy when it comes to bringing cameras on rides to film the experience. As long as filming doesn’t pose a safety hazard (which it would on Hollywood Studios’ Rock ‘N Roller coaster, which goes upside down) or involve using flash on dark rides like Haunted Mansion, cast members permit visitors to use recording devices on most rides. While Disney specifically prohibits selfie sticks at the parks, GoPros, iPhones, and DSLR cameras are all allowed. (Which explains how one mad genius covertly directed an entire black-and-white thriller inside the parks.)

Ride-through and walk-through videos are a big part of theme park culture, showcasing many attractions and interactive areas of the park. The videos are so common that we were able to build an entire virtual ride through and walkthrough of the iconic landmarks at California’s Disneyland . The next logical step was Florida’s Disney World.

Like Walt himself, we never stop dreaming and building. So behold, a virtual exploration of the Magic Kingdom — the bigger, evolved version of Disneyland — broken down by land order. Yes, there is an order in which to “do” Magic Kingdom. Sorry, Dole Whip is not included (but here’s the official Dole DIY recipe if you’d like to complete the Walt Disney World experience).

Main Street U.S.A

Main street.

In Magic Kingdom, the Main Street area — designed to evoke Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri — is less about the attractions and more about the feel. It’s a quintessential part of the Magic Kingdom experience.

Disney Railroad

The railroad technically goes around the whole park, but it starts in Main Street so it goes here. Walt loved trains!

Adventureland

Jungle cruise.

The Emily Blunt Dwayne Johnson movie version of the iconic ride got pushed to 2021, but you can experience the full Disney World ride — bad jokes and puns included — through the magic of YouTube. The Florida version of this ride features carefully chosen plants designed to thrive in central Florida’s humid summers and surprisingly cool winters.

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

The Aladdin-themed ride is basically the Dumbo elephant fixture of Fantasyland, but with magic carpets instead. In Magic Kingdom, this space is used for Aladdin character meet-and-greets.

Pirates of the Caribbean

The facade of this version of Pirates of the Caribbean is inspired by Castillo de San Felipe del Morro in the Old San Juan in Puerto Rico. The ride existed before the movie series was even a thing, though recent refurbishments have added some uncanny Jack Sparrow animatronics and rethinking of a scene where women were being auctioned off.

Swiss Family Treehouse

It’s not a ride, but it is a dope treehouse. Take a breather in the middle of your Disney day to explore some trees.

Enchanted Tiki Room

Talking birds, catchy songs — what more could you want? One of the immersive show experiences at Walt Disney World, the Enchanted Tiki room is full of parrots serenading guests.

Frontierland

Big thunder mountain.

The runaway railroad ride is a staple of Frontierland across Disney parks worldwide. With sharp twists and turns, it’s one of the more thrilling rides at Disney Word. The Florida version is slightly bigger than the California one.

Country Bear Jamboree

Do you remember the Country Bears movie? Well, it exists, and so does this video of the Disney World show.

Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade

Check out some rootin’, tootin’, shootin’ action.

Splash Mountain

The benefits to enjoying Splash Mountain in the comfort of your home: no risk of ruining your custom-made Disney vacation T-shirt with Splash Mountain water! Because, of course you’ll be wearing your Disney vacation T-shirt whilst embarking on this virtual adventure.

Tom Sawyer Island

Like its Disneyland equivalent, the island is Tom Sawyer-themed. The kids still love Tom Sawyer, right?

Liberty Square

The hall of presidents.

Come for the American history lessons, stay for the life-like wax figurines. Here’s the pre-2016 version , by the way, for no particular reason.

Haunted Mansion

Happy haunts await you! Each Haunted Mansion across Disney parks is themed to the area. In this case, the mansion evokes the Gothic Revival architecture of the mid-1700s, perfectly fitting in with the Revolutionary War-themed Liberty Square.

Liberty Square Riverboat

It wouldn’t be a Disney park without a riverboat. Unlike the Disneyland version, the Magic Kingdom isn’t tied to American author Mark Twain, but instead a more generic riverboat experience.

Fantasyland

The barnstormer.

A mild roller coaster tailored for kids, the Barnstormer got a revamp in 2011 after the Toontown area of Magic Kingdom closed down and turned into an expanded area of Fantasyland. Instead of being themed to take place at Goofy’s farm, it now fits more in line with the circus theme of the area (full name: The Great Goofini’s Barnstormer).

Casey Jr. Splash N’ Soak Station

Brush off your portable misting fan in order to fully recreate this experience.

Cinderella’s Castle

Cinderella’s Castle is over 100 feet taller than the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Anaheim. The castle is an iconic symbol of not just the Magic Kingdom, but Disney parks worldwide. Walking through the Cinderella Castle leads you right to Fantasyland.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

One of the hallmarks of every Disney World vacation commercial, the Dumbo ride takes (virtual) visitors to the skies.

Enchanted Tales with Belle

Added to the 2011 expansion of Fantasyland, this interactive experience is part show, part house tour. Walk through Belle’s cottage and recreate the events of the movie with Belle and her friends. The line is always long, but the attraction is really cute, and now you can skip the line and view it via video! Unfortunately, this means no audience participation, but we must all make sacrifices.

It’s A Small World

Will this song get stuck in your head after watching this video? Probably! But it’s a wholesome song, so really, it could be a lot worse.

Mad Tea Party

Take a spin on the teacups! The Mad Tea Party and the Dumbo ride are the quintessential Fantasyland attractions, and they both involve spinning. What does it mean?

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

While the ride itself has remained relatively unchanged since its opening in 1999 (where it replaced Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride), the waiting area got retooled during the 2011 expansion to have a play area for restless little children.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic

The 4D show explores some iconic moments in Disney music, with Donald Duck commandeering a magical orchestra.

Peter Pan’s Flight

To this day, Peter Pan’s Flight is one of the most popular attractions in the Magic Kingdom, a testament to the power of good Imagineering, the legacy of J.M. Barrie’s timeless tale, and the fact that edgy tweens entering their Hot Topic phase are really into it.

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Every Fantasyland has a carousel. This one just happens to be themed to Prince Charming and Cinderella. There is an unverified rumor that one of the horses, specifically one with a golden bow, is “Cinderella’s horse.” The ride was originally called Cinderella’s Carousel, but was re-themed to the less exciting Charming and given a backstory , because why not.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

One of the new attractions to open up in the Fantasyland refurbishment (and also the one ride in Fantasyland I have yet to ride on because the line is always three-hours long), the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train debuted in the second phase of 2014. It’s a fast-paced ride, similar to both Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain in how its path winds both inside and outside. The ride reuses some animatronics from the now-defunct Snow White’s Scary Adventure.

Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid

A dark ride that takes guests through Ariel’s adventure, Under the Sea opened up in 2012 following a similar ride’s debut in California Adventure. While the California one’s exterior is stylized like an aquarium (which is, uh, kinda weird but okay), the Magic Kingdom version fits in with the rest of Fantasyland and is stylized like Eric’s castle.

Tomorrowland

Astro orbiter.

If the Magic Carpets of Aladdin is Adventureland’s version of the Dumbo ride, then the Astro Orbiter is Tomorrowland’s. Soar high above the retro-futuristic land in a wee little rocket.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Unfortunately, a YouTube ride through can’t capture the sheer satisfaction of blasting moving targets, but the video does capture the neon arcade-style decor pretty well. Called “Astro Blasters” in Disneyland, this version of the attraction features less dialogue than its California counterpart.

Carousel of Progress

Naysayers may say that the Carousel of Progress is a boring 20-minute show, but they’re really missing out on a few big things. One, Daddy Progress , the fan name for the father figure in the show. Two, a nice, quiet dark space to sit amidst the Florida heat and rest your Disney trekking feet for 25 minutes. And three, a delightful experience taking guests through four distinct eras of technological progress, full of iconic lines (“Whew, boy, hottest Fourth of July we’ve had in years!”) and an incredibly catchy song. We stan the Carousel of Progress in this house.

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

More of a show than a ride, the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is a unique experience each time you visit, since Mike and the other monsters call out different audience members.

Space Mountain

Space Mountain, a roller coaster which hurdles guests almost entirely in the dark, doesn’t seem like it’d make for a fun ride-through video (since it, you know, takes place in the darkness of space), but you can’t have the full Tomorrowland experience without a ride on Space Mountain.

Stitch’s Great Escape!

Ever wonder how Stitch escaped after being taken into custody in the beginning of the movie? Be part of his adventure! Unfortunately, the video doesn’t capture the 4D effects, but given that one of the effects was a gross belch smell, maybe some attractions are better in video form.

Tomorrowland Speedway

Race some cars at Magic Kingdom’s race track. Lots of other Disney parks have a similar attraction under different names, but it’s all about going fast.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

It’s just a track, one might say. But do not underestimate the sure love Disney fans have for the People Mover, which takes guests behind-the-scenes in certain Tomorrowland attractions. One of the staples of the park, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover has been through a few name changes — the most recent one being the readdition of “PeopleMover” to the Tomorrowland Transit Authority in 2010.

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Take a Virtual Tour of Magic Kingdom With a Disney Imagineer and Uncover the Theme Park's Design Secrets

Join a Disney Imagineer for a magical tour of this iconic theme park.

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure , covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer.

In the latest video of our Walk With Travel + Leisure series , you can tour Disney World's Magic Kingdom with an Imagineer and uncover all the design secrets and details you might have missed during your last visit.

Join Gary Landrum from Walt Disney Imagineering as he explores this iconic park's theme — magic made real — in its immersive lands, beloved attractions, and unique restaurants. The tour starts in Town Square with a history lesson on the Disney brothers (Walt and Roy) and their inspiration for the theme parks, before heading down Main Street, U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle . The next stop is the "Partners" statue, where Landrum offers two statements that Disney legend Blaine Gibson imagined Walt saying to Mickey in the moment captured in the structure: "Look at all that we've accomplished" and "Look at all the happy people."

Next up on the tour is Tomorrowland, which is dedicated to our shared aspirations for the future, according to Landrum. He stops at the Carousel of Progress and Space Mountain, before heading into Fantasyland. Landrum shares the intricate design secrets of the Beauty and the Beast -themed Be Our Guest Restaurant. Even if you've visited the magical eatery in the past, you're guaranteed to learn something new about this restaurant's story. Then, it's off to Liberty Square and Adventureland. Did you know that Adventureland is divided into four realms? British colonial Africa, a desert oasis, Polynesia, and the southern isles are all represented in the land's attractions and theming.

The last stop is Cinderella's Castle for a tour of the exclusive Cinderella Castle Suite and all of its magical touches. From the stained-glass windows and mosaics to the antique furniture and bathroom sink, you won't believe all the elaborate details found in this one-of-a-kind room.

Elizabeth Rhodes is an associate digital editor at Travel + Leisure who loves all things theme parks. Follow her adventures on Instagram @elizabetheverywhere .

Related Articles

How to tour Magic Kingdom (without waiting in lines)

Worried about long waits for Magic Kingdom attractions?

Having well-organized touring plans that make good use of Genie+ is key to avoiding long line waits during your Disney World trip, including (and especially!) at Magic Kingdom.

Below, find Magic Kingdom touring plans , along with Genie+ suggestions to make sure you’re maximizing your time.

Let’s take a look…

In this article

Magic Kingdom Rides and Attractions

Welcome to the most popular theme park in the world, Magic Kingdom!

We absolutely *love* this park. No matter how many times we go, we still get goosebumps walking down Main Street, U.S.A.

There is a reason why Magic Kingdom is always at the top of the lists for Most Popular Theme Park in the World , and whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned pro, there’s always something new and exciting to discover here.

In fact, Magic Kingdom has well over 35 rides, attractions, and character meet-and-greet opportunities . But, with so many things to see and do, it can be a bit overwhelming to plan your visit.

In this guide, we’re first going to give you a list of all the available major attractions you’ll find at Magic Kingdom. And don’t worry, if you need additional information, we’ll link off to more detailed descriptions of each.

Next, we are going to give you a brief description about Genie+, including why we recommend it for Magic Kingdom. This is important to understand before you start creating your touring plans.

Then, we’ll dive into the meat and potatoes of this post – the touring plans. You can use them as is or, just use them as a basis to customize a trip that is perfect for you and your traveling companions.

Note: This list only includes characters who offer Genie+. Please refer to our Complete Guide to Characters at Magic Kingdom for the full list of available character meet-and-greet opportunities.

Before we get too far into it, make sure you check out our guide on the Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for information on every attraction and show at Magic Kingdom.

Genie+ basics

If you are already familiar with Genie+ feel free to skip down to the next section. Otherwise, keep reading and we’ll go over a brief overview. If all of this is new to you, though, we recommend you check out some of our other Genie+ resources to help get you all caught up on how this service works.

Disney Genie+ is the new FastPass+ system at Walt Disney World . Like the old FastPass+ system, Genie+ lets you cut the waits at the most popular attractions by allowing you to enter through a special line called a Lightning Lane (bypassing the longer Standby Line).

But, unlike the old FastPass+ system that was free, Genie+ costs extra; it uses a date-based pricing system, with busier times of the year being more expensive.

Currently, Genie+ starts at $15 per ticket , per day (plus tax) but the price has gone all the way up to $39 per ticket . Unfortunately, there isn’t a way to know ahead of time how much Genie+ will cost on the day of your visit. Instead, you will see the price when you go to purchase it inside the My Disney Experience app.

Why we recommend you use Genie+ at Magic Kingdom

The sheer volume of rides and attractions that offer Genie+ at Magic Kingdom makes it an easy park to recommend you purchase Genie+.

Yes, you can tour Magic Kingdom without Genie+. However, if you only have 1 day in the park or if you want to increase the number of rides and attractions you can see or do, we highly recommend you add Genie+ on to your Magic Kingdom day.

Consider also purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane selection

Magic Kingdom currently has 2 Individual Lightning Lane attractions:

• TRON Lightcycle / Run:  $20
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train:  $10-$12

If it is in the budget, purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane for both TRON and Seven Dwarfs can make touring a lot easier.

But, if you are looking to save some money, you can opt to try for a spot in the TRON virtual queue (which is free) and ride Seven Dwarfs Mine Train via the Standby Line.

Best Times to Ride Graphic To Save to Your Phone

We have a handy graphic that can help you see the recommended times to visit the attractions at Magic Kingdom.

We suggest you save this image to your phone, so you can reference it on your trip:

How touring works with Genie+:

If you are purchasing Genie+, you’ll often hear people talking about “stacking” and “churning”.

The reality is that on most days – no matter how busy it is – you’ll find yourself doing both .

You’ll see what that looks like in the touring plans we have provided below , but keep reading to learn what stacking and churning actually mean .

Stacking simply means prioritizing the grouping of Genie+ reservations together for later in the day when the standby lines are the longest.

Some people like to stack for late morning or early afternoon, but you can also stack reservations for the evening. Stacking works well if you are planning to spend all day in 1 park, but it is also a popular technique to use if you are planning a late start or if you are hopping to a different park.

Stacking Genie+ reservations works best during less busy times of the year, when Genie+ reservations at most attractions last the longest.

This includes anytime Genie+ can be purchased for less than about $25 per person, per day.

Here’s how stacking Genie+ reservations works:

• At 7 a.m., book an attraction that runs out of Genie+ reservations the fastest, regardless of what that return time is. You can see what we recommend in the graphic above.
• Use Early Entry to ride at least 1 of the available popular attractions (onsite guests only)
• Plan to ride several things in the first couple of hours without Genie+, unless, of course, your first Genie+ return time is during those first 2 hours. If it is, ride it as soon as possible, and then select your next G+ for an attraction that has the return time already pushed into the time of day you are trying to stack for. (Early afternoon until evening works best.) The goal is to stack your Genie+ reservations back-to-back. They can overlap, just make sure you allow enough time to get from one attraction to the next.
• As the standby lines build, ride some of the “anytime” attractions listed in the graphic above or meet characters and continue selecting Genie+ reservations with return times as close to your already stacked Genie+ reservations as possible.
• When the time comes, start using your stacked Genie+ reservations, keeping in mind that it may be possible to fill any gaps by churning attractions with Genie+ reservations remaining.

Churning simply means focusing on snagging Genie+ reservations as close together as possible. You should still prioritize the most popular attractions, but your primary focus is selecting rides with return times as close as possible to the current time, vs. stacking them up for later in the day.

Churning Genie+ reservations works best during the busiest times of the year, when Genie+ reservations run out at all attractions faster and when the lines for even the least popular rides are long.

This includes all major holidays and anytime Genie+ prices creep up over $25-$30 per person, per day.

Here’s how churning works:

• At 7 a.m., book an attraction with a return time as close to park opening as possible
• Use Early Entry to ride at least 1 of the recommended attractions (onsite guests only)
• Continue selecting Genie+ reservations with return times as close to the current time as possible, filling in gaps by riding “anytime” attractions or meeting characters
• Eventually, you may find that all return times are pushed several hours out. Make sure to prioritize your must-dos and begin stacking return times for later in the day.
• Keep an eye on the wait times for popular attractions you were unable to get a Genie+ reservation for, and jump in those lines once they drop to an acceptable level.

IMPORTANT : We’ve included example return times for G+ reservations in the touring plans below, but, keep in mind that you can NOT select your return times for Genie+ . Depending on the time you make your selections and the overall crowd levels, your return times may be earlier or later.

For that reason, you’ll need to stay flexible when you get to the parks and be ready to pivot or adjust your touring plan on the fly.

Early Entry at Magic Kingdom (Arrive before park opening)

Early Entry at Magic Kingdom can be a bit chaotic, especially when compared to the other 3 parks, where things tend to be more organized.

But, even though Early Entry at Magic Kingdom can be incredibly stressful, it is still a must-do if you want to maximize your day.

At Magic Kingdom, there are 3 attractions we recommend you head towards if planning to attend Early Entry:

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• Peter Pan’s Flight
• Space Mountain

Which one you should choose will ultimately depend upon how you plan to spend the rest of your day touring. Make sure to review the information below for our thoughts on that, and definitely check out our Complete Guide to Early Entry and Rope Drop at Magic Kingdom for more tips and strategy.

How to get to Magic Kingdom for Early Entry

Here’s our advice on what time you should be heading to the parks based upon how you plan to get there. If your goal is to be at the very, very front, we recommend you err on the side of following the earlier times listed:

While we used to recommend arriving at the bus stop 60 to 75 minutes before Early Entry begins, after testing the timing out many times, we now recommend 90 minutes. That 90-minute window is especially important if you:

• want to be on the first bus (which we recommend), or
• if you are staying at a large resort like Art of Animation, Pop Century, or the All-Stars, or
• if you are staying at a resort with multiple internal stops, like Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs.

Expect the first bus of the day to arrive between 1 hour to 75 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry starts . The goal is to be on the first bus of the day, and the lines for the buses will get very long, very fast. Arriving 90 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry will get you to the front of the pack, and likely on that first bus.

Plan to get to your monorail stop about 60-75 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry. For reference, the Resort Monorail Loop goes:

• Transportation and Ticket Center
• Polynesian Resort
• Grand Floridian Resort
• Magic Kingdom
• Contemporary Resort

When traveling by car, plan to arrive at the parking lot entrance about 70 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry. If the parking lot booths are not open at that time, you should be able to just wait for them to officially open up. But, don’t show up too early because they may not let you wait for the booths to open and instead will force you to turn around and come back closer to opening.

• Read more about Parking at Disney World

Important note: The Magic Kingdom parking lot will often open up a bit earlier, sometimes closer to 90 minutes before Early Entry begins.

If traveling by boat, 60-75 minutes before Early Theme Park Entry is probably good.

Walking? You’ll have it the easiest!

Guests that walk are typically allowed to line up at the tapstiles around 60 minutes before the park opens for Early Theme Park Entry. If you want to be at the front of the pack of the walkers, plan to arrive ahead of that. (If you arrive before they begin allowing people to line up at the tapstiles, you’ll be held back by security.)

Important things to know about touring Magic Kingdom

• Magic Kingdom has the most attractions of any park. You can see and do a lot in 1 day, but for an even  more   relaxed experience, 2 days will be better.
• This is also a great park for Genie+, and if it is in your budget, we definitely recommend you purchase it.
• Magic Kingdom Genie+ Priorities (book these first!)

• Remember that if you plan to drive to Magic Kingdom, you’ll need to allow extra time to make your way over from the Transportation and Ticket Center to the front of the park.
• Some attractions at Magic Kingdom have height requirements . If you are traveling with little ones, make sure you take advantage of Rider Switch .

Magic Kingdom touring plans

Plan to spend more than 1 day at Magic Kingdom.

If time allows, you will probably want to spend 2 days at Magic Kingdom theme park (maybe even 2.5 days).

We like to organize touring plans by hour because minute-by-minute touring plans can make you feel like you’re running from place to place without any flexibility, but grouping them by hour can at least give you some sense of timing as you plan.

Remember, though:

These plans are just examples of how to put together your day. Because of the uncertainty of return times with Genie+, you may find your day going a little bit differently – and that is okay!

Here are some example Magic Kingdom touring plans.

General 2-Day Magic Kingdom Touring Plan Day 1:

7:00 a.m. Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane recommendations:

• 1st Genie+ Reservation: Jungle Cruise
• Optional Individual Lightning Lane Pass: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (aim for late morning)
• Optional Virtual Queue AND/OR Individual Lightning Lane Pass: TRON Lightcycle / Run (aim for evening, so you can ride at night)

As soon as your next booking window is open, book the following Genie+ reservations in this order:

• Big Thunder
• Pirates of the Caribbean

Good Genie+ Options for Later in the Day

Depending on your return times for your first 3 Genie+ reservations, you may have time later in the day to book some additional passes. These Genie+ passes are often available until later in the afternoon or evening, and are all good options if you have time or room in your day to use them.

Note: Some of the attractions below are already a part of this 2-Day Touring Plan, so only select them if you weren’t able to ride them during the recommended time OR if you’d like a 2nd ride with minimal waits.

• “it’s a small world” 2
• Haunted Mansion 2
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin 2
• See Mickey at Town Square Theater
• Meet Cinderella & a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Meet Tiana & a Visiting Princess at Princess Fairytale Hall
• Pirates of the Caribbean 1
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh 1
• Tomorrowland Speedway 2
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid 1

1 Part of the touring plan for Day 1 2 Part of the touring plan for Day 2

Arrive to Magic Kingdom no later than 30 minutes BEFORE Early Theme Park Entry

Early Theme Park Entry:

First hour:.

• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• The Barnstormer

Second Hour:

• Meet Ariel in her Grotto
• Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
• Mad Tea Party

Third Hour:

• Use Genie+ for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Rest of the Day:

• Use Genie+ at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Use Genie+ at Pirates of the Caribbean
• Use Virtual Queue or Individual Lightning Lane at TRON
• “it’s a small world” (would be a good choice for Genie+)
• Characters (check for available Genie+ reservations)
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic
• Any of the other Genie+ attractions you were able to snag
• Parades/fireworks

General 2-Day Magic Kingdom Touring Plan Day 2:

• 1st Genie+ Reservation: Space Mountain
• Optional Individual Lightning Lane Pass: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (if you didn’t ride it on Day 1 or you’d like to ride it again)
• Optional Virtual Queue AND/OR Individual Lightning Lane Pass: TRON Lightcycle / Run (if you didn’t ride it on Day 1 or you’d like to ride it again; aim for evening, so you can ride it at night)
• Haunted Mansion
• Enchanted Tales with Belle

Depending on your return times for your first 3 Genie+ reservations, you may have time later in the day to book some additional passes. These Genie+ passes are often available until later in the afternoon or evening, and are all good options if you have time or room in your day to use them:

1 Part of Day 1 touring plan 2 Part of Day 2 touring plan

Early Theme Park Entry

• 7 Dwarfs Mine Train (if you didn’t purchase an ILL) *If you aren’t riding Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Rope Drop Buzz and then go to Astro Orbiter.
• Astro Orbiter
• Buzz Lightyear
• Tomorrowland Speedway
• Carousel of Progress
• Space Mountain with Genie+
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority – PeopleMover
• Monster’s Inc., Laugh Floor
• Haunted Mansion with Genie+

Rest of the Day

• Use Genie+ at Enchanted Tales with Belle

General 1-Day Magic Kingdom Touring Plan

• Individual Lightning Lane Pass: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (aim for late morning)
• Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
• If off Peter Pan’s Flight at least 15 minutes before the rest of the park opens, head to “it’s a small world”, otherwise, head towards Haunted Mansion right at Rope Drop
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
• Jungle Cruise with Genie+
• Enchanted Tiki Room OR Country Bears Jamboree OR Magic Carpets of Aladdin
• Lunch (eat early to avoid long lines)
• Churn as many Genie+ passes as possible, filling in with anytime attractions that rarely have lines or need Genie+

Good attractions for churning:

• Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Good anytime attractions (rarely have long lines):

• Country Bear Jamboree
• Enchanted Tiki Room
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
• Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel

Our Experience Touring Magic Kingdom

We like to test out touring whenever possible, both with and without using Genie+.

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of how a recent day at Magic Kingdom looked. One of us toured with Genie+, and the other without:

We have an entire write-up on how our days went, where we go in-depth about exactly how we put our entire touring plan for that day together.

Read about them here:

• Touring Magic Kingdom WITH Genie+
• Touring Magic Kingdom WITHOUT Genie+

Links to our other touring plans

Planning to visit the other 3 parks? Check out our touring advice for those below:

• How to tour EPCOT
• How to tour Hollywood Studios
• How to tour Animal Kingdom

VIDEO: Touring Magic Kingdom with (and WITHOUT) Genie+

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What You May Not Know About The Secret Tunnels Under Disney's Magic Kingdom

M any casual guests of Disney World might walk around the Magic Kingdom without ever realizing there's a network of subterranean work happening beneath their feet. It's the world's most-visited theme park, but the bulk of the Magic Kingdom's visitors only experience its staged, above-ground fantasy world. Much of the park's backstage area is in a system of tunnels underground. This won't be news to hardcore Disney fans who are familiar with the concept of the Utilidor, or utility corridor, below the park. It's been the stuff of tabloid tales for years, but Disney itself has confirmed that this nine-acre service tunnel loop exists. The only thing secret about it is what truly goes on down there.

The Magic Kingdom offers a five-hour walking tour where visitors can go behind the scenes and see part of the Utilidor — for a price. However, no camera or phone usage, even by Disney Cast Members, is allowed inside. This leaves the Utilidor with a certain lasting mystique. There are only a few old publicity photos and guerilla videos of it from decades past floating around online.

Pictures from the early 1970s, when the Magic Kingdom first opened, showed costumed characters riding golf carts down a long, industrial tunnel, crisscrossed with overhead pipes, like something out of a James Bond villain's lair. Security is tighter now, and it's been a long time since anyone posted fresh Utilidor pics. If you want to see it today, your best bet is Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour.

Read more: The 40 Most Mysterious Places In The Whole Entire World

Unlock The Utilidor With The Keys To The Kingdom

When you enter the Magic Kingdom, you can see how the flower bed with Mickey Mouse's face slopes upward to the Walt Disney World Railroad station on Main Street, U.S.A. Once you hit Main Street proper, the incline is gradual enough that it obscures how you're walking uphill on the second floor of a huge construction complex. Technically, the Utilidor is ground-level and everything else was built on top of it, using dirt recovered from the Seven Seas Lagoon (that manmade body of water where ferries take visitors from the parking lot to the Magic Kingdom).

The Keys to the Kingdom Tour meets every half hour from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m., just inside the Magic Kingdom at the Town Square Theater. It's designed to reveal lesser-known tidbits about the park's development history and operational procedures. The Utilidor allows offstage Cast Members and supplies to stay out of sight while moving through the Magic Kingdom. Below ground, an automated vacuum collection system even pipes trash along unseen, so as not to break the fantasy spell for guests.

While the Utilidor is the main draw, it's only one part of the tour, which includes lunch and VIP rides aboard attractions. The tour runs $129 to $149 plus tax, and you'll need a separate park ticket in addition to that. The price of a one-day ticket varies depending on the day; it starts at $109, but there are ways to save on Disney tickets.

What You Won't See On The Tour

As the Most Magical Place on Earth, Disney World is full of attractions that spark the imagination. What's left out of view in the Magic Kingdom can also fuel some imaginative urban legends, but don't expect to see Walt Disney's cryogenically frozen body preserved under the Pirates of the Caribbean on the Keys to the Kingdom Tour. Your tour guide will unspool trivia and point out hidden Mickeys, but they probably won't lead you past half-costumed characters who are taking smoke breaks with their heads off in the Utilidor, either.

It's true, by some accounts, that character costumes are confined to the Utilidor and can't leave park property. Yet some areas remain off-limits to guests, the same as a "Staff Only" door would be at any other workplace. Behind closed doors, the Utilidor reportedly has an employee salon called Kingdom Kutters and a cafeteria called the Mouseketeria, complete with a Subway franchise for sandwiches. These are modern vestiges of "Uncle" Walt's original plan for EPCOT as an experimental community with some inner workings hidden below the surface.

While Tripadvisor reviews of the Keys to the Kingdom Tour are generally positive, some express disappointment with the mundane reality of what they saw. Maybe it's no coincidence that the tour's name nixes the word "magic," since it might ruin the Disney magic for some people. Others may leave satisfied, with a fresh eye for some interesting things missed on your last Disney World trip.

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Walt Disney World Railroad - Main Street, U.S.A.

All aboard.

Take your seat on 1 of 4 meticulously restored, vintage narrow-gauge steam trains—originally built between 1916 and 1928—and enjoy a relaxing 20-minute, 1.5-mile scenic round-trip tour.

It’s a convenient—and nostalgic—way to get around Magic Kingdom park!

Find a Station You can board or disembark at any of 3 stations:

• Near the entrance to the park on Main Street, U.S.A.
• The Frontierland station
• The Fantasyland station

Walt’s Lifelong Passion

A noted train enthusiast, Walt Disney built his very first railroad in his backyard. The Carolwood Pacific Railroad, a 1/8-scale train, debuted in 1950 and featured a custom-built, steam powered locomotive that encircled his property.

Delighted with his miniature backyard railroad, Walt decided to share his love of trains with the whole world. The result was the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad, a favorite of Guests since the park opened in 1955.

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