By Julie Boehlke
Magic Kingdom
As America's favorite amusement park--and perhaps the world's---Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom is filled to the brim with adventure, magic and plenty of things to see and do. The park is the brainchild of the late Walt Elias Disney. The park opened on October 1, 1971, and has made dreams come true ever since. The interesting thing about the most magical place on Earth is that the park is set up like a clock---or wheel. Each "land" inside the park spokes out from the central majestic castle. All seven lands have different themes and different characters that make appearances. This is a park that is easy to get around in though it is often crowded.
Features
One of the main features upon entry to the park is Cinderella's Castle, off in the distance. To get there, guests must walk down the paved brick streets of Main Street USA, which is lined with dozens of quaint all-American sweet shops and stores. From there, guests can choose to go to one of the following---Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Mickey's Toontown and Tomorrowland. Some of the main attractions are Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, The Haunted Mansion, It's a Small World and Stitches Great Escape. Magic Kingdom is very clear on ride precautions and height requirements.
There are plenty of places to eat at Magic Kingdom and most restaurants are themed. Some popular hot spots are Cinderella's Royal Table, The Crystal Palace and the Liberty Tree Tavern. There is plenty of entertainment at Magic Kingdom including character meet-and-greets, Toontown Hall of Fame and the Wishes Nighttime Spectacular---one of the biggest fireworks displays at Disney World.
Pros and Cons
Among several pluses to the Magic Kingdom Park is the "magic hour option." This allows designated guests to visit the park an hour before the park opens to the public and up to three hours after the park closes. There are some restrictions, such as guests must have a Key To The World card and be staying at a Walt Disney World resort. There is also a "park hopper option" in which guests can hop to park to park each day without having to pay extra.
The "fast pass" is another good option that eliminates the need to wait in long lines. The lines at Disney World can be grueling, and not every ride offers the fast pass option. Some riders have to wait over 90 minutes to get on a ride. While there is a ton to see and do at this all-American park---there are also a lot of rides and attractions that can easily go unnoticed. Some are hidden behind others or winding paths leads to their entryway. Grabbing a map is essential to ensure every corner of the park is being utilized. Often rides are closed for maintenance---the park map will inform guests which rides may be closed.
Food can be very pricey. Eating with Cinderella starts at $36 per person. Most of the popular restaurants are very difficult to get into without a reservation, although reservations can be made up to a year in advance.
Bottom Line
The bottom line with Magic Kingdom is that it is full of excitement for kids of all ages. The park is safe as there is plenty of security and monitoring throughout the entire Disney area. There are several things for adults and non-riders to enjoy such as Liberty Center, which has a colonial parade daily at noon. The famous monorail drops guests off at the park and provides one of the resorts many modes of transportation for guests. The fireworks show is a must-see for young and old alike.
The part also offers plenty of photo opportunities for families to create a lovely scrapbook. There are dozens of professional photographers available to capture the treasured moments of the event if you don't have a camera with you.
Resources
About the Author:
Julie Boehlke is a seasoned copywriter and content creator based in the Great Lakes state. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists. Boehlke has more than 10 years of professional writing experience on topics such as health and wellness, green living, gardening, genealogy, finances, relationships, world travel, golf, outdoors and interior decorating. She has also worked in geriatrics and hospice care.
Photo Credits:
http://www.sxc.hu/photo/790646
