Magic Kingdom opened its doors on October 1, 1971, as the first of four parks at the Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Over the last five decades, its earned the recognition as the largest theme park in the world. When Walt Disney set his eyes on Florida as home to Disney World, it was as a result of the popularity of Disneyland in California. While Disneyland was a very popular destination for tourists, it had been realized that only 2% of visitors to the park came from East of the Mississippi River.
Walt Disney knew he wanted to expand on what had been created in Anaheim, California and make Disney World 10 times the size of Disneyland. Today, it covers more than 40 square miles in central Florida and has grown into an entertainment complex that includes four theme parks, two waterparks, golf courses, a shopping destination, and more than 25 resort hotels.
Magic Kingdom is built around Cinderella’s Castle, with a focus on fairy tales and the most classic of Disney characters. Fun fact: The park itself is also built over a series of tunnels called utilidors, allowing cast members to move through the park out of sight of guests.
Tourism and its impact on Orlando
Walt Disney is considered the “Happiest Place on Earth” and Orlando could be considered one of the most visited places on Earth. On an annual basis, tourism to Orlando generates upwards of $47 billion in visitor spending and fuels more than 463,000 jobs across Central Florida. In 2020, 35 million visitors came to Orlando, which was down by nearly 50 percent from 2019 when 75.8 visitors traveled here prior to COVID-19.
As the world continues to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, Orlando continues to return to more normal numbers when it comes to tourism.
The Most Visited Theme Park in the World
Walt Disney world is considered the most visited theme park in the world, with more than 15 million visitors in 2020. Magic Kingdom alone welcomed 6.9 million of that in the same year. Magic Kingdom is the largest of the four theme parks, boasting the most attractions, and nostalgia that is unparalleled to any other. Families come from all over the world to visit Main Street, USA, Cinderella’s Castle, and all the other whimsical attractions that make Magic Kingdom the best of the best.
Magic Kingdom does just that… allows children young and old to get lost in the magic of Disney World. Imaginations run wild and dreams are made here.
All to See and Do at Magic Kingdom
Magic Kingdom is divided into six themed lands: Main Street, USA, Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland.
Main Street, U.S.A. is themed as an early-20th century American town, inspired by Walt Disney’s childhood home of Marceline, Missouri. Main Street is lined with shops selling merchandise and food with Casey’s Corner being a favorite of many.
Adventureland represents the mystery of exploring foreign lands and is themed to resemble the remote landscapes of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America and the South Pacific. Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise are probably the most visited rides in Adventureland.
Frontierland is a portrayal of the American Old West, including cowboys and Native Americans and his home to some of the best roller coasters Disney World has to offer: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain.
Liberty Square is inspired by colonial America during the American Revolutionary War. Liberty Square is home to such attractions as the Haunted Mansion and The Hall of Presidents.
In the words of Walt Disney, “Fantasyland is dedicated to the young at heart and to those who believe that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true.” Its most famous attractions include It’s a Small World, Peter Pan’s Flight, and the Mad Tea Party.
Tomorrowland is themed as an intergalactic city, a concept of the future (much like EPCOT) inspired by the optimism and scientific advancements of the Space Age and Atomic Age. Here you find Space Mountain, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, and a favorite of all: Tomorrowland Speedway.
Tips from a Floridian on Navigating Magic Kingdom
Summer months are a great time to visit Magic Kingdom and one of the reasons is due to the extended hours you’ll find the theme park open. This allows for you to get as much bang for your buck when visiting this magical destination. One of the coolest things you can see at Magic Kingdom is the “rope drop” which happens bright and early as the park opens to welcome guests.
Line up fast passes for Magic Kingdom as soon as you can, which means, as soon as you purchase your tickets for the park. You do this through the Disney World app. Booking fast passes in advance will ensure you save time at your favorite rides. Protip: You can also view line wait times while at the park to know which rides or attractions are easiest to see or do at that very moment.
If you’re looking to save money on food and beverages while there, pack a cooler or snack bag… yes, this is allowed! As long as you keep your cooler or bag within the dimensions provided by the park, you can pack breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks. We definitely recommend trying some classics though, like Mickey shaped ice cream bars or the giant Mickey shaped soft pretzels so you get the full experience while there.
Plan time to rest and relax when needed. Magic Kingdom is a huge park with so much to see and do. For families with small children, this can get a little overwhelming. To avoid meltdowns by your littlest ones, take time for them to stretch their legs and cool off at the splash pad in Fantasyland or enjoy one of the many indoor, air conditioned shows. Another favorite for “rest” time at the park is the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover.
Stay Off-Site to Save Money when Visiting Magic Kingdom
Choosing to stay off-site at an Orlando vacation rental allows for you to not only save money but also enjoy the luxuries of home when not at the theme parks. It also allows for you to fully soak up downtime to re-energize between theme park or other Orlando attraction visits during your vacation. Experiencing Magic Kingdom is sometimes a once-and-a-lifetime thing for many, so allowing yourself to soak it all in while here is important to enjoying yourself and your visit.
4700 Millenia Blvd #360