Magic Kingdom Itinerary : A Toddler Day at the Happiest Place on Earth

What goes into a perfect day at Magic Kingdom? What are the must-dos?  A lot of these answers depend on your preferences, but I’ve put together a few options and scenarios for a Magic Kingdom Itinerary to help you plan.

A One Day Magic Kingdom Itinerary with Toddlers (4 and under)

We had a different experience with each of our children as toddlers at Disney. One loved rides and the other was obsessed with characters. In both cases, we spent most of our time in Fantasy Land as it has rides for all heights and tons of Disney Character experiences.  You might be tempted to visit every area in the park, but staying in areas that appeal to your kids the most will actually provide a better experience if you only have a day to visit. Once you break the magic 40″ height requirement, a whole new world of roller coasters opens up for you. I’ve focused on what to do before you hit that magic number.

1. Fast Passes – I recommend using your fast passes for rides with historically long lines. No toddler wants to wait an hour for a ride (or any adult I know either!)

   1. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – A fast pass is necessary to ride as waits are almost always over 60 minutes.  There is a height requirement of 38″.
   2. Peter Pan’s Flight – A ride for all heights through Neverland. This is another popular ride that you won’t get without a fast pass.
   3. Wild Card – Depending on your kid’s preferences, these are good options for your last fast pass:
      1. Pirates of the Caribbean – Fun for your Jack Sparrow fans!  You might get a little wet on this water ride. Also, be aware that it is pretty dark throughout the ride in case you have a little one who isn’t too keen on the dark.
      2. Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid – Ride through the story of The Little Mermaid.  Another one for any height and with some really great animatronics.
      3. Character Experience – You can get a fast pass for Rapunzel & Tiana, Cinderella and Elena of Avalor, Tinker Bell, or Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

2. Other Rides – These rides typically don’t have a long wait and are lots of fun for your toddler.

   1. Goofy’s Barnstormer – This was the first roller-coaster for both of our children. I didn’t recommend a fast pass since the line is typically pretty short.  The height requirement is 35″.  This is also an amazing ride during the fireworks.  When you hit the top of the ride you can see them perfectly!
   2. Dumbo – The BEST ride to wait on as it has a full playground inside. They issue you a beeper, just like at a restaurant, and you can play in the air conditioning until it’s time for you to ride.  It is also a classic Disney ride.

1. Characters – These are characters specific to Magic Kingdom and whose wait is conducive to toddlers. There are many other characters you can find in various locations throughout the Magic Kingdom.  Other favorites are Peter Pan, Buzz Lightyear, and Pooh & Tigger.

   1. Pete’s Silly Side Show – Get pictures with Minnie, Daisy, Goofy and Donald as their Side-show alter-egos: Daisy the fortune teller, Minnie and her trained poodles, Donald the snake-charmer, and Goofy the human cannonball.  This experience lets you get pictures with 2 characters at a time and you can see the characters the entire wait.  This was key to my daughter waiting in a line. If she could see the characters, she would wait all day!
      

      Madame Daisy Fortuna

      

      The Astounding Donaldo
   2. Ariel – Ariel’s Grotto allows you to get a picture with Ariel as a mermaid. All other experiences have Ariel after she’s ditched the tail. We came here one time late at night, and Ariel spent 10 minutes with our son discussing the Ninja Turtles on his shirt. She wanted to know if he could teach Crush some moves for her turtles.

2. Food – Magic Kingdom has some great food locations, especially snacks!

   1. Be Our Guest – This is largely regarded as the best quick-service meal in all of Disney and for good reason. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the food for adults is even
      delicious.  Make sure you make a reservation well in advance as it is hard to get in.
   2. Gaston’s Tavern – The cinnamon rolls!!!  These cinnamon rolls are huge and count as a snack on the dining plan.
      

      Cinnamon Roll and LeFue’s Brew at Gaston’s Tavern

   3. Sleepy Hollow – My kids are IN LOVE with Nutella, and the Nutella, Strawberry, and Banana waffle here are a huge hit.
      

      This is it…the Nutella and fruit Waffle. Don’t forget the milk!

   4. Aloha Isle – The Dole Whip is a classic Disney dessert, and you can find it at Aloha Isle. If you miss this one, you can also make your own at home with this awesome recipe: Delicious Dole Whip!
3. Extras
   1. Festival of Fantasy Parade – We love this new parade.  It covers almost all of the princesses and other favorites like Peter Pan.  A parade is a great way to get to see lots of characters in a very short period of time. Disney knows what they are doing, so the entertainment factor is definitely there.
   2. Harmony Barbershop – Harmony Barbershop does amazing haircuts, with and without pixie dust for $18.  They also have a special “First Haircut” that comes with special Mickey Ears and Certificate.  Other experiences might be too much for a toddler, but the Harmony Barbershop does a great job working with kids and is affordable.
      

      A little Pixie Dust in the Pony Tail at Harmony Barbershop

There are a million different ways to “do Disney”, which is one thing that keeps us all coming back for years! This is just one suggestion based on my several trips with kids of all ages.  You can also find other tips on some of my other blog posts: Ten Tips for Disney World with Toddlers, Disney Character Dining : Reviews from a Real Mom, and Where to Start When Planning a Disney World Vacation.