Asking for help here, as I look ahead to updating our Visitors Guide to Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom: https://www.themeparkinsider.com/reviews/magic-kingdom/
Here is what I have now under the "Itinerary" section. First up, my intent with theme park itineraries is to provide basic advice that keeps visitors from getting lost and stuck in the worst queues imaginable. It is not to provide a step-by-step attack plan that inevitably stresses people out when they can't stick with it, because life just does not follow plans, as much as we might like.
That said, additional details, enhancements and advice would be welcomed. Please submit your suggestion for an MK itinerary in the responses. Thanks!
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CURRENT VERSION: Disney's hotel guests get 30 minutes of early access to each of the resort's four theme parks every day. So hotel guests should plan on an early start each morning to take advantage of empty queues. Unfortunately for guests staying off site, this new early admission policy means that they no longer have any opportunity to be the first to enter any Walt Disney World theme park in the morning.
The longest wait here throughout the day tends to be Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, so even with Disney's hotel guests getting a head start, it's still a good candidate to make your first ride when the park opens. The next-worst queue is Peter Pan's Flight, though if you wish to skip that attraction, there's better use of your time elsewhere in this park. If Pan's a must, though, hit it after Seven Dwarfs.
Space Mountain, TRON, and Jungle Cruise are the next longest waits in the park. We recommend doing Space Mountain as soon as you can in the morning, perhaps after Seven Dwarfs. But leave Jungle Cruise until mid-afternoon, when the parade draws crowds away from many attractions. Or go for it later in the evening, when crowds come down across the park. It's a great ride at night, too.
After Space Mountain and TRON, cut back across the hub to Haunted Mansion and then pick up rides as you wish, at your convenience.
On most days, you don't really need to buy your way into Disney's Lightning Lanes to experience the top attractions in the park, though we would consider getting a Lightning Lane Single Pass for TRON and Seven Dwarfs before buying the Lightning Lane Multi Pass in the Magic Kingdom on its busiest days.
Agreed Francis 24 - The amount of planning you need to visit Disney is absurd. We don't reserve or plan a thing when going to Universal / Hard Rock. Flash a room key, skip the lines on everything but Hagrids. Flash a key at Mythos, get priority seating.
No reservations needed at Citywalk, Three Broomsticks, Leaky Cauldron... even during peak Summer.
We have always been right-handed tourers of MK (and left-handed tourers of Disneyland), but haven't visited the park since Tron has opened. Based on what I have been reading, it sounds like trying to rope drop Tron doesn't really make much sense as that coaster's standby line quickly swells to over an hour, and even with that it does not seem like the Space Mountain lines have subsided much. While it might make sense to rope drop 7DMT, I just don't think that coaster is really worth all the effort, and there are few other top attractions nearby that garner big lines aside from Peter Pan, so from a logistical perspective cutting some waiting time at those 2 attractions might increase your touring efficiency, but you'd then have to make a decision whether to go to Tomorrowland or Adventureland/Frontierland in midday, finishing with the other side of the park in the afternoon/evening (and likely having to cross the hub during the afternoon parade).
That's why I'd probably recommend rope dropping TBA (or BTMRR until it closes in January) and then making your way back through Adventureland (riding POTC, JC, etc...), and then cutting through to Liberty Square to HM before walking through Fantasyland midday. It seems that saving Tomorrowland for later in the day can lead to shorter waits because guests naturally gravitate to the western side of the park (and hub) for parades and fireworks (and to cool off at TBA), so there tends to be a slight decrease in waits after 3-4 PM.
Obviously, nothing is fool proof, and YMMV, but that's the strategy I would follow given the current conditions and trends.
My last visit to Magic Kingdom was back in 2021, but here's what I'd probably say based on what I've heard regarding the current status of the park. Those with more first hand experience will probably be able to confirm or refute whether this is a good idea.
These seem to be the typical wait time tiers at the park right now...
Tier 1 (average 60-90 minutes): Jungle Cruise, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Tron Lightcycle, Town Square Theater
Tier 2 (average 45-60 minutes): Ariel's Grotto, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight, Pete's Silly Sideshow, Princess Fairytale Hall, Space Mountain, Tiana's Bayou Adventure
Tier 3 (average 30-45 minutes): Buzz Lightyear, Pirates of the Caribbean, Winnie the Pooh
Tier 4 (average 20-30 minutes): Astro Orbiter, Barnstormer, Dumbo, It's a Small World, Journey of the Little Mermaid, Magic Carpets, Tomorrowland Speedway, Walt Disney World Railroad (Fantasyland)
Tier 5 (average 10-20 minutes): Country Bear Musical Jamboree, Enchanted Tiki Room, Hall of Presidents, Laugh Floor, Liberty Square Riverboat, Mad Tea Party, PhilharMagic, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, Walt Disney World Railroad (Frontierland/Main Street)
Tier 6 (average 0-10 minutes): Carousel of Progress, Swiss Family Treehouse, Tom Sawyer Island
Additionally, Tiana's Bayou Adventure is still operating on a virtual queue, which restricts when the attraction may be experienced. Historically, unlike previous virtual queues this one has not generally been overly challenging to enter, but those wishing to experience this attraction need to be flexible and ready to ride when called.
For routing your day, you need to decide whether Fantasyland or Tomorrowland is more important. You will be able to hit one with relatively moderate waits, but will need to either resign yourself to long queues at the other or purchase Lightning Lane access to avoid them. If Fantasyland is more important, begin with Seven Dwarfs Mine Train followed by Peter Pan's Flight, then go for any of the character meet and greets you wish to see. If Tomorrowland is more important (or Fantasyland simply isn't that important to you), start with Tron Lightcycle followed by Space Mountain. Regardless of which start you're choosing, plan to be at the parking lot an hour before opening to ensure a good position for the park's rope drop.
Once you've completed your opening attractions, head to Adventureland and tour the park sequentially from there. Return to whichever land you didn't start with either during the afternoon parade or the last two hours of the day for your best chance at shorter wait times.
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Planning the perfect Walt Disney World itinerary--- Tip #1 Go to Universal :)
Sorry I had too :)
I have no real input since we rarely visit Disney but we had a great time at an after hours party at Hollywood Studios. Maybe worth mentioning that if available its a great way to visit the park with minimal lines. We really want to try the Magic Kingdom after hours now when were back in Orlando.
Maybe also good to mention to book lunch / dinner reservations in advance if people are planning on going to sit down restaurants to avoid having to wait at the door for too long.