Walt Disney World With Kids (Fodor's, 2012) - Fodor's [56]
You might want to return to Main Street around noon for lunch or shopping when the stores are relatively uncrowded. But if you’re not planning to see the parade, be off Main Street by 2:30 PM. After that, it’s a mob scene.
The Magic Kingdom has interactive parades throughout the day. The parade theme changes periodically, but the daytime parades are designed to get you into the action, sometimes inviting you to dance or interact with the characters. It’s all great fun, but keep an eye on your kids. It’s easy to lose track of them in the celebration.
Helpful Hint
“Take a picture of your PhotoPass ID with your iPhone or home camera,” a dad from Michigan advises. “That way, if you lose the card, you can still find your pictures online.”
If you’re touring the Magic Kingdom late and your party splits up, choose a spot on Main Street as your meeting place. Disney cast members clear people out of other sections of the park at closing time, but Main Street stays open at least an hour after the rides. It’s the best place to reassemble the family before heading home.
Insider’s Secret
After shopping in the Magic Kingdom, either stow your purchases in the lockers beneath the Railroad Station, or have them sent to Package Pick-up next to Guest Relations if you’re a guest at a Disney resort. They will then be returned directly to the gift shop in your resort.
Fantasyland
Fantasyland, directly behind Cinderella Castle, is home to many of the Magic Kingdom’s classic kiddie rides. It’s also the most congested section of the park and, to make things even more complicated, Disney is wrapping up a major Fantasyland expansion.
Highlights of the new Fantasyland include (1) an ambitious attraction based on The Little Mermaid that will take you “under the sea;” (2) a Beauty and the Beast themed meet and greet that culminates in an interactive storytime with Belle; (3) a new Dumbo attraction to replace Mickey’s Toontown. (Never fear. Dumbo is so popular that Disney has promised not to close down the existing ride before the new one is up and operative); and (4) a full-service restaurant themed around Beauty and the Beast’s “Be Our Guest” and an adjacent quick-service restaurant that’s a nod to Gaston’s Tavern. (Despite the term “tavern,” the Magic Kingdom will remain an alcohol-free zone.) You can find updated information regarding changes and openings at www.disneyworld.disney.go.com.
Helpful Hint
Because the kiddie rides tempt them to wander off, Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland is the most likely spot in all of Disney World to lose your children.
Fantasyland Touring Tips
Visit Fantasyland either before 11 AM, after 7 PM, or during the parades.
Wait times for Dumbo, Peter Pan’s Flight, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh are always longer than for other Fantasyland rides. Visit these first or use Fastpass. When The Little Mermaid and Story Time With Belle attractions open, expect them to be mobbed.
Don’t eat or shop in Fantasyland. Similar foods and souvenirs are available elsewhere in less-crowded areas.
Park your strollers in one spot and walk from ride to ride. Fantasyland is small, so this is easier than unloading and reloading the kids, only to push them a few steps.
Fantasyland Attractions
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Map location 15
A 3-D show projected onto a mammoth screen, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, which rates high with all age groups, is one of the best attractions in Walt Disney World.
The story begins when maestro Mickey is called away from the stage and Donald steps in as conductor. He promptly loses control of the orchestra and is whisked away on a madcap journey. A slew of other Disney characters get into the act—you see Donald falling in love with Ariel, dancing with Simba, and sailing through