Wade’s, Ryan’s, Caitlin’s, Heather’s, & Tammy’s Guide to the Magic Kingdom




Opened on October 1, 1971, the Magic Kingdom (along with the Contemporary Resort, the Polynesian Resort, & Fort Wilderness) was Walt Disney World (WDW) until Epcot opened in 1982. Officially nicknamed “the most magical place on Earth,” the Magic Kingdom was the second Disney theme park & is the most-attended theme park in the world. Still in development on Walt Disney’s death on December 15, 1966, WDW is located 15 miles southwest of Orlando, FL. The dedication delivered by Walt’s brother Roy O Disney at the park’s opening runs thus: “Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney ... and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney’s dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place ... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn—together. Dedicated this 25th day of October, 1971.”


Ticket & Transportation Center
Entrance
Main Street USA
Central Hub & Cinderella Castle
Adventureland
Frontierland
Liberty Square
Fantasyland
Mickey’s Toontown Fair
Tomorrowland

Transportation & Ticket Center





After leaving your car in the parking lot, the first area of importance at the Magic Kingdom to which you will come on foot or by tram is the Transportation & Ticket Center (TTC). At this location, if you haven’t already done so, you may purchase passes for the Magic Kingdom or other WDW parks, and you will select either the ferry or monorail for your journey to the Magic Kingdom.




Entrance





After riding the monorail or ferry, you will arrive at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom. Walk through the entrance, and you will find yourself on Main Street USA.


Main Street USA





Themed after small-town America circa 1900, Main Street USA serves as the gateway to the Magic Kingdom. With no major attractions, Main Street USA has many restaurants & gift shops. Main Street USA leads only to the central hub.








Central Hub & Cinderella Castle





The iconic Cinderella Castle, which with TinkerBell & Mickey Mouse himself is one of the primary symbols for the Walt Disney Company, dominates the far side of the central hub. Radiating from the central hub, like the spokes of a wheel, are four walkways. The two on the right (counter-clockwise from the point at which you enter the hub from Main Street USA) lead to Tomorrowland. The second walkway on the left (clockwise around the hub) leads to Liberty Square. And the first path on our clockwise tour of the Magic Kingdom, leads to Adventureland.


Adventureland





Adventureland has three points of entry: from the central hub (left), from Liberty Square (not pictured), & from Frontierland (right).



Upon entering from the central hub, the first major attraction encountered is the Swiss Family Treehouse on the left. Next, on the right, you will see the Magic Carpets of Aladdin.



Proceeding forward, on the left you will find the Jungle Cruise. Continuing on, you will encounter the Enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management) on the right. Finally, Adventureland’s last major attraction is Pirates of the Caribbean on the left.


Frontierland





Frontierland has only two points of entry: from Liberty Square (left) & from Adventureland (right). Frontierland is one of two lands at the Magic Kingdom that does not connect to the central hub.



Frontierland is somewhat L-shaped. If you proceed from Adventureland and continue straight, then you will encounter Frontierland’s two main attractions, Splash Mountain & Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (both on the left). On the right, (directly opposite Big Thunder Mountain Railroad) you will pass the queuing area for the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island.



If you take one of the rafts across the Rivers of America, you will find yourself on Tom Sawyer Island—also part of Frontierland. (The island is actually adjacent to Liberty Square as well.) If, while exiting Adventureland, instead of going straight, if you take a right toward Liberty Square, you will find the Country Bear Jamboree to the right.




Liberty Square





Among the smallest of the Magic Kingdom’s districts & possessing only two major attractions, Liberty Square, rather oddly, has a total of four ports of entry: from the central hub (right & left), from Frontierland (not pictured), from Adventureland (not pictured), & from Fantasyland (not pictured).

Liberty Square is, in fact, really just a continuation of Frontierland with essentially the same theme—early America.

Liberty Square exists only at the Magic Kingdom.



Proceeding forward, away from Frontierland & toward Fantasyland, you will encounter the Liberty Belle Riverboat loading area on the left.



To the right of the Liberty Belle landing, is the Hall of Presidents—the exterior of which is modeled after Independence Hall.



Across from the Hall of Presidents are the Liberty Tree & a full-sized replica of the Liberty Bell. On your left, as you continue ever forward, you next will find the Haunted Mansion. Proceeding on, you will next find yourself magically whisked into Fantasyland.


Fantasyland





As the Magic Kingdom is the heart of WDW, so in many ways, Fantasyland is the heart of the Magic Kingdom. With more attractions than any two other sections of the park (excepting Tomorrowland), Fantasyland has three points of entry: from the central hub (not pictured) either around or directly through (although this path is not always open to guests) Cinderella Castle, from Liberty Square (left), and from Tomorrowland (right). For some reason, the entrance to Fantasyland from Liberty Square is not marked (nor is the entrance to Liberty Square on the opposite side), as are the majority of transitional paths throughout the Magic Kingdom.



The first thing you will come upon on the left, after exiting Liberty Square and entering Fantasyland, is the loading area for the Skyway to Tomorrowland, defunct since 1999. Turning right, you will find it’s a small world to the left, and immediately across the way from it, on your right, you will see Peter Pan’s Flight.



Moving inexorably forward, you will come to Mickey’s PhilharMagic on the right & The Pinocchio Village Haus restaurant on the left.



Just a bit past that, Fantasyland opens up. In the center of this open area are Dumbo the Flying Elephant & Cinderella’s Golden Carousel.



On the far left is Ariel’s Grotto, and on the far right is Cinderella Castle itself. Moving beyond this opening, you will encounter Snow White’s Scary Adventures on the right.



Proceeding forward, on the right you’ll discover the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Immediately across from this is the Pooh’s Playful Spot play area.



Pictured on the left is a view of the attraction 20,000 Leagues under the Sea (which closed in 1994) as seen from the Skyway to Tomorrowland (also closed). Ariel’s Grotto & Pooh’s Playful Spot lie on part of the area which 20,000 Leagues under the Sea used to occupy.

Continuing forward to the very fringe of Fantasyland as it gives way to Tomorrowland is Fantasyland’s final attraction—the Mad Tea Party. If you turn right, you’ll enter Tomorrowland (and run immediately into Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe), but if you continue forward, you will eventually reach Mickey’s Toontown Fair.


Mickey’s Toontown Fair





Mickey’s Toontown Fair—the only new land added to the Magic Kingdom since park opening & by far the smallest district in the park—is essentially an elaborate character greeting area with no major attractions. Mickey’s Toontown Fair is on the edge of the park at the junction of Fantasyland & Tomorrowland. This section of the park has just one point of entry (from Fantasyland) and is one of two lands that does not communicate with the central hub.



Moving through Toontown you first will encounter the very pink Minnie’s Country House on the left. Next, also on the left, you will find the Toontown Hall of Fame.



Finally, last house on the left is Mickey’s Country House, behind which is the Judge’s Tent wherein you can meet, get autographs from, & be photographed in the presence of the eminent rodent/corporate symbol. This, together with Minnie’s Country House, are, in fact supposed to be the Florida vacation homes of the mice, with their full-time houses being in California.


Tomorrowland





Tomorrowland technically has three points of entry, although one is trivial: from Fantasyland (left) & two from the central hub (right, one not pictured).



Tomorrowland is a sprawling area, the least linear of the park’s sections. The quantity of attractions in Tomorrowland rivals that of Fantasyland. As you turn right, leaving Fantasyland, you will see to your left the Tomorrowland Speedway. Behind the Speedway is Space Mountain.



As you continue moving forward, you will encounter the Astro Orbiter & the Tomorrowland Transit Authority on the left. Proceeding forward, you will discover to your left Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.



On your right will be Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Taking the walkway to the right at Buzz Lightyear & moving along, you will see the Monsters, Inc Laugh Floor on the left & Stitch’s Great Escape on the right. Continue walking forward on the path, cross the stream, and you will find yourself back in the central hub at the first spoke counter-clockwise from Main Street USA. You have completed your clockwise circuit through each land of the Magic Kingdom!






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