I have a guilty confession—for most of my life, I couldn’t stand Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
I know. It pangs of heresy. I was an epic Walt Disney World addict who didn’t like their flagship park. There were a dozen reasons why. While I have always enjoyed the classics—Pirates of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, and Space Mountain—Magic Kingdom lost its appeal for me shortly after childhood. Particularly as I burgeoned into my teenage and young adult years, it just seemed like Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom represented a bigger but-not-better version of Disneyland. While rides like the Indiana Jones Adventure, the updated Space Mountain, and the Matterhorn captured my imagination in the California park, Magic Kingdom seemed a tired copy in comparison, a noble monument clinging to the threads of yesteryear but going nowhere.
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)
There was another reason. As I imagine many Walt Disney World veterans feel, it drove me batty when people would return from Walt Disney World and say they would never go back, only to find out they spent their whole vacation at Magic Kingdom (usually in July). Many assumed Walt Disney World only had one park or that the other three parks must be exactly the same. My number one piece of advice during those years to everyone except families with small children was to limit their visit to the Magic Kingdom to a half day and spend the majority of their trip in Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. The other three parks seemed leagues better in every aspect—better dining, more imaginative attractions, better appeal for all ages…
All of that has changed the past five years.
Against all expectations, something shifted in this Disney-curmudgeon’s perspective of Magic Kingdom. Despite long-held skepticism, Magic Kingdom won back my affection as worthy of its place as Disney’s premier park. I went from tolerating it as a half-day jaunt to genuinely loving my visits there. Maybe you are a Magic Kingdom skeptic like I was. Here’s what changed for me and why it might be time to give Magic Kingdom another chance to win your heart back too.
1. More than just a Disneyland copy
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
My biggest issue with Magic Kingdom over the years was that it seemed to have an identity problem. Walt’s dream of replicating Disneyland on a grander scale was achieved beautifully, but through much of the 90’s and early 2000’s, it was hard to not feel like if you had visited Disneyland, you had already seen the best of Magic Kingdom. While Magic Kingdom has always had differences from its California cousin, those divergences just weren’t pronounced enough for a family without kids to spend more than a day.
However, in 2012 something shifted dramatically that would alter the landscape of Magic Kingdom forever– the opening of New Fantasyland.
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
The grand scale, rich detail, and breadth of concepts integrated into New Fantasyland caught me completely by surprise. I do not have kids, but I found myself lingering in this new area, curious to explore, remembering fondly the Disney classics of my childhood like Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid. Recent hits like Tangled and Brave were celebrated alongside classics like Peter Pan and It’s a Small World. The addition of Gaston’s Tavern alone felt revolutionary for the previously stagnant Fantasyland– an attraction where kids could banter with one of Disney’s most iconic villains but adults were the ones who truly got the jokes. Even the Seven Dwarf’s Mine Train proved a surprisingly respectable roller coaster compared to the “kiddie coasters” of Disney’s past children’s areas.
More and more, little details are blooming that give Magic Kingdom an identity all its own apart from Disneyland: small things like the Muppets show in Liberty Square or the surprisingly-hilarious Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire. Even more exciting is the news of attractions to come like the Tron Lightcycle Power Run. More and more, it seems like Magic Kingdom has truly come into its own, simultaneously acting as a bastion to cherished classics and a land of opportunity for new stories waiting to be told.
2. A return to childhood
Image: Disney
A fair amount of my bias against Magic Kingdom was fueled during my teenage years. Epcot stimulated my mind and taste buds, Disney’s Animal Kingdom had the unpredictable elements of nature as well as the thrills of Expedition Everest, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios seemed custom designed with adolescents in mind. In Magic Kingdom, however, there was not much for teens and young adults but nostalgia and a few thrills in Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, and the noble (but somewhat failed) attempt to win young scare-seekers, the ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter.
However, with age comes perspective. While I could always appreciate the sentiment of lifelong classics like Pirates of the Caribbean and even Peter Pan’s Flight, it wasn’t until I reached my thirties that I came to recognize one of Magic Kingdom’s superpowers—the ability to transport you back to the wonder of childhood.
All Disney’s parks do this to some degree but none quite like Magic Kingdom. Particularly if you grew up watching Disney films and visiting Disney parks, there is something beautiful about the way Magic Kingdom causes you to remember.
You can watch the transformation of Tomorrowland from the peaceful tracks of the Peoplemover. You can taste fond memories in a giant rice treat at the Main Street Confectionary or smell them in the scent of a Frontierland turkey leg. You catch yourself singing along to “A Pirate’s Life for Me” or lip syncing familiar ride narration like, “Space shuttle, this is flight safety. Keep your hands on the handrail or inside the vehicle and remain seated while in motion. You are cleared for launch.”
No matter your age, Magic Kingdom has a remarkable ability to hit the rewind button in our imagination…
3. Through the eyes of a four-year-old
Image: Disney
The biggest turning point for me—and I would guess this may be true for many—was when I finally got to see Magic Kingdom from the perspective of a child.
We had the indescribable pleasure of celebrating our four-year-old niece’s birthday at Walt Disney World. This was quite a few years back—New Fantasyland was still under construction. We arrived before opening gate, where the family gave our little princess one of her first surprises from her “Magic Backpack” (a trick we’ve mentioned on Theme Park Tourist before). She watched the opening gate show with star-struck eyes, unable to stop gaping and smiling. I am not a particularly emotional person, but as the Main Street Railroad train rolled in with Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and friends in tow, I actually caught myself tearing up.
I had not been on most of the attractions in Fantasyland since I was a kid. There were no words for how much fresh life was breathed into these attractions by the presence of my tiny niece. Every ride became an unprecedented adventure. Dumbo really got to fly. We really did ride rockets into space. We swayed on Mary Poppins’ Carousel and journeyed straight on ‘til morning on Peter Pan’s Flight. Even It’s a Small World suddenly seemed like a delightful picture of an ideal world where we all get along.
Taking a child to Magic Kingdom for the first-time changes everything if you have been a park skeptic. Yes, factors like the temperament of a child or crowd levels can affect this—we were fortunate to visit in the off-season. Even if you don’t have children of your own, take a moment on your next visit to watch some of the little ones and pay attention to their reactions. Kids have a remarkable gift for making the mundane seem magical again.
4. Appeal to introverts and explorers
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@mykingdomforamouse Instagram)
One of the reasons I always preferred Epcot and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (and even Disney’s Hollywood Studios, to a degree) to Magic Kingdom was that the latter seemed to be the worst park to visit as an introvert. Even in the off-season, Magic Kingdom was usually more crowded and tended to draw the surliest parkgoers. Also, it felt like if you had explored it once, you had seen it all. There was so much more to discover in other parks, so many more details to take in.
Even in this regard, Magic Kingdom won me back as a fair contender. Part of the incredible achievement of New Fantasyland, for example, is the incredible sense of immersion and detail. It is surprisingly easy to get lost, and there is so much to take in, from the looming of the Beast’s castle to the replica of the festival square from Tangled. An Instagrammer could find shots to fill an entire year of content in New Fantasyland alone.
I was shocked when I realized how many refuges Magic Kingdom had for introverts. I found a favorite place to relax and reflect on the Tomorrowland Peoplemover. I took my time exploring the high flets of the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse in Adventureland. Even on a busy day, I could catch a quiet moment to gather my thoughts in the upstairs of Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square. Oh, and I discovered Dole Whip Floats. I don’t know how I ever lived without stopping to savor the creamy decadence of a Dole Whip Float.
Image: Jett Farrell-Vega
The true hidden treasure this introvert had been missing out though was Tom Sawyer Island. You could visit Magic Kingdom a hundred times and still miss it. I had written off Tom Sawyer Island as a playground for children. I had no idea it was just as much a playground for adults. If you want a quiet moment to recharge, you can’t beat its patios and gentle rocking chairs. At the same time, you can’t help but tap into the spirit of exploration on Tom Sawyer Island. Every creepy old shed and rickety stairwell becomes a new adventure. Indeed, venturing into Injun Joe’s cave prompted the most fun I’ve ever had writing an article.
6. A park (finally) for all ages
Image: Disney
Once upon a time, I had assumed that Magic Kingdom was a fun place to visit, but only a potential favorite park of families with small children. As of 2017, my opinion has completely changed.
It is true that Magic Kingdom is one of Disney’s finest parks for families with kids. However, they have done a fantastic job creating a park where an entire family—even those without kids—can have a magical day. Teenagers who previously may have only enjoyed Space, Splash, and Big Thunder Mountain have an ever-increasing range of choices to fill a Disney day. They can revisit Disney classics from their childhood in New Fantasyland, have a laugh visiting Gaston, banter with Jack Sparrow in Adventureland, or enjoy a goofy scare at the Haunted Mansion.
Adults without kids can still enjoy all the same fun attractions and nostalgia mentioned previously but now also have access to a wider range of unique dining opportunities. Be Our Guest is a treat for any visitor, both during lunch and dinner, and we’ve praised Jungle Navigation Skipper Canteen’s charm as a great place to have a laugh and enjoy some Disney atmosphere for all ages.
Magic Kingdom may not have become my favorite park, but against all odds, it has once again become a park that I love to visit. If your past experiences were mundane or bittersweet like mine, it may just be time to consider giving Magic Kingdom another chance to win a place in your heart.
Were you a Magic Kingdom skeptic who was won back? What caused you to fall in love with Disney’s flagship park again?
