Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World

Opened Oct. 1, 1971, the first theme park at Walt Disney World Resort sits on 142 acres with the 189-feet-tall Cinderella Castle at its center. Similar to Disneyland in California, Magic Kingdom is divided into six themed lands — Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; Frontierland; Liberty Square; New Fantasyland; and Tomorrowland. Popular attractions include Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, it’s a small world, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, “Mickey’s PhilharMagic”, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Jungle Cruise, The Hall of Presidents, Mad Tea Party, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Country Bear Jamboree, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Enchanted Tales with Belle, Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid and Princess Fairytale Hall.

  • Main Details

  • Location

    Off Interstate 4 on Walt Disney World Resort property, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., approximately 22 miles southwest of Orlando.

  • Size

    107 acres

  • Lands

    Adventureland Fantasyland
    Frontierland
    Liberty Square
    Main Street U.S.A.
    Storybook Circus
    Tomorrowland

  • Dedication Plaque

    "Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walt 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." Dedication this 25th day of October, 1971 Roy O. Disney

  • Events

  • Seasonal

    Night of Joy
    Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party
    Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

  • runDisney

    Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend

  • Attractions

  • Rides

    "it's a small world"
    Astro Orbiter
    Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
    Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
    Dumbo the Flying Elephant
    Haunted Mansion
    Jungle Cruise
    Liberty Square Riverboat
    Mad Tea Party
    Main Street Vehicles
    Peter Pan's Flight
    Pirates of the Caribbean
    Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
    Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
    Space Mountain
    Splash Mountain
    The Barnstormer
    The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
    The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
    Tomorrowland Speedway
    Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
    Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
    Walt Disney World Railroad

  • Activities

    A Pirate's Adventure ~ Treasures of the Seven Seas
    Casey Jr. Splash 'N' Soak Station
    Enchanted Tales with Belle
    Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
    Tom Sawyer Island

  • Character Meet and Greets

    Alice in Wonderland at the Mad Tea Party
    Anna and Elsa at Princess Fairytale Hall
    Ariel at Her Grotto
    Characters from Aladdin in Adventureland
    Chip 'n' Dale near The Diamond Horseshoe
    Cinderella and Rapunzel at Princess Fairytale Hall
    Daisy, Minnie, Goofy and Pluto at Pete's Silly Sideshow
    Disney Friends in Town Square
    Fairy Godmother near Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
    Gaston near His Tavern
    Merida at Fairytale Garden
    Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater
    Peter Pan in Adventureland
    Tiana in Liberty Square
    Tigger and Friends near the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
    Tinker Bell at Town Square Theater
    Toy Story Friends near Splash Mountain
    Buzz Lightyear in Tomorrowland

  • Exhibits

    Cinderella Castle
    Swiss Family Treehouse

  • Entertainment

    Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial
    Casey's Corner Pianist
    Celebrate The Magic
    Citizens of Main Street
    Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade
    Disney's Celebrate America! - A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky
    Dream Along With Mickey
    Electrical Water Pageant
    Fantasy In The Sky Fireworks
    Flag Retreat
    Hoedown Happening
    Magic Kingdom Welcome Show
    Main Street Electrical Parade
    Main Street Philharmonic
    Main Street Trolley Show
    The Dapper Dans
    The Notorious Banjo Brothers and Bob
    The Royal Majesty Makers
    Wishes fireworks nighttime spectacular

  • Shows

    Country Bear Jamboree
    Mickey's PhilharMagic
    Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
    Stitch's Great Escape!
    The Hall of Presidents
    Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
    Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room

  • Tours

    Disney's Family Magic Tour
    Disney's Keys to the Kingdom Tour
    Disney's The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains Tour
    The Ultimate Day for Young Families - Walt Disney World VIP Tour Experience
    The Ultimate Day of Thrills - Walt Disney World VIP Tour Experience
    Walt Disney: Marceline to Magic Kingdom Tour

  • Important Dates

  • Grand Opening Oct 1 1971
  • Shopping

  • Shops

    Agrabah Bazaar
    Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at the Magic Kingdom
    Big Al's
    Big Top Souvenirs
    Bonjour! Village Gifts
    Box Office Gifts
    Briar Patch
    Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin Photos
    Buzz's Star Command
    Bwana Bob's
    Casey Jr. RailRoad Mercantile
    Castle Couture
    Crystal Arts
    Curtain Call Collectibles
    Disney Clothiers
    Emporium
    Fantasy Faire
    Frontier Mercantile
    Frontier Trading Post
    General Store Candies
    Hundred Acre Goods
    Island Supply by Sunglass Hut
    Main Street Cinema
    Main Street Confectionery
    Main Street Fashion and Apparel
    Memento Mori
    Merchant of Venus
    Mickey's Gift Station
    Mickey's Star Traders
    Newsstand
    Plaza del Sol Caribe Bazaar
    Prairie Outpost & Supply
    Sir Mickey's
    Splashdown Photos
    The Chapeau
    The Pirates League
    Tomorrowland Light & Power Co.
    Uptown Jewelers
    Ursa's Major Minor Mart
    Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe
    Zanzibar Trading Co.

  • Dining

  • Quick Service Restaurant

    Be Our Guest Restaurant (Lunch)
    Casey's Corner
    Columbia Harbour House
    Cosmic Ray's Starlight Café
    Gaston's Tavern
    Golden Oak Outpost
    Main Street Bakery
    Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
    Pinocchio Village Haus
    Sleepy Hollow
    The Friar's Nook
    The Lunching Pad
    Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant
    Tortuga Tavern

  • Table Service Restaurant

    Be Our Guest Restaurant (Dinner)
    Liberty Tree Tavern
    The Plaza Restaurant
    Tony's Town Square Restaurant

  • Character Dining

    Cinderella's Royal Table
    The Crystal Palace

  • Kiosks

    Aloha Isle
    Auntie Gravity's Galactic Goodies
    Cheshire Café
    Cool Ship
    Liberty Square Market
    Plaza Ice Cream Parlor
    Prince Eric’s Village Market
    Storybook Treats
    Sunshine Tree Terrace

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The Magic Kingdom theme park - Disney's first theme park in Florida - has seven themed lands featuring attractions built around wonder, fantasy and fun. It also features food locations and merchandise locations. 

Details

History

The Magic Kingdom park opened Oct. 1, 1971, and soon after was dedicated on Oct. 25. Many celebrities were on hand for the festivities, as well as Walt Disney's entire family. Arthur Fiedler conducted the World Symphony Orchestra at the base of Cinderella Castle. Roy O. Disney stood with Mickey Mouse in Town Square and read the dedication plaque. The park opened with six themed lands:Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; Frontierland; Liberty Square, a land originally planned for Disneyland; Fantasyland; and Tomorrowland. (Mickey's Birthdayland was created in 1988 to honor Mickey Mouse's 60th birthday, and eventually changed its name to Mickey's Starland in 1990. In 1996, the land changed again to Mickey's Toontown Fair.)

Eventually, all the lands came together with their own unique themes. Ordinary buildings were cloaked with intricately designed exteriors and interiors. Details were installed and the final coats of paint were put on. Imagineers used an architectural trick called "forced perspective" to make buildings look taller than they actually are. They shrunk windows, balconies and even furniture on the second floors and shrunk any third floors even further to achieve the illusion of tall buildings climbing far into the sky. To complete the feeling of being in a three-dimensional movie, background music was created for each particular land, as if it was part of any film's soundtrack. In the end, it took more than 9,000 workers to build the world's most famous vacation resort.

Location

The Magic Kingdom park occupies 107 acres. It is located off Interstate 4 on Walt Disney World Resort property, Lake Buena Vista, Fla., approximately 22 miles southwest of Orlando.

Dining & Merchandise

Food locations are situated throughout the Magic Kingdom park, with character dining opportunities located at The Crystal Palace at Main Street, U.S.A., and Cinderella's Royal Table at Fantasyland. Priority seating for full-service restaurants can be made at City Hall on the day of visit or in advance by calling 407/WDW-DINE.

Major Attractions

Walt Disney World Railroad (1971): A grand circle-tour of the Magic Kingdom park aboard an authentic steam train.
Mad Tea Party, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and Peter Pan's Flight (all 1971): Attractions inspired by animated Disney film classics. 
It's a Small World (1971): Hundreds of doll-like figures sing and dance in their native costumes. 
Jungle Cruise (1971): Board from a last-outpost river landing to observe curious gorillas, playful Indian elephants in their daily bath and frolicking hippos created in life-like realism by Disney artists. 
Country Bear Jamboree (1971): The zaniest troupe of singing bears ever assembled celebrate old-time music with a foot-stompin' beat. 
Hall of Presidents (1971): The most impressive moments in American history are presented in life-like realism with all of the nation's chief executives on a single stage through the three-dimensional magic of Audio Animatronics. 
Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Revue (1971): Where dance-hall ladies and elegant gents sing and dance. 
The Haunted Mansion (1971): The liveliest collection of ghosts ever assembled for all to see as they travel through ancient rooms. 
Pirates of the Caribbean (1973): Aboard buccaneer launches, adventurers travel through mysterious grottos, then plunge down a waterfall and into the midst of a pirate battle for control of a harbor town. 
Tom Sawyer Island (1973): Log rafts take guests across the river where Injun Joe's Cave, the Magnetic Mystery Mine and old Fort Sam Clemens await exploration. 
Space Mountain (1975): Action, speed and perpetual motion await as guests "blast off" into night skies for a twisting, diving "return-to-earth" aboard miniature space shuttles. 
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (1980): A wild ride on a runaway mine train. 
Splash Mountain (1992): A log-flume ride with one of the world's longest flume drops -- a five-story, 47-degree descent reaching speeds of nearly 40 mph.
The Barnstormer (1996): A kid-sized roller coaster zips and zooms through Goofy's Wiseacre Farm in crop-dusting biplanes. 
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (1998): Board your star cruiser, grab hold of your laser cannon and help Buzz defend the universe from the Evil Emperor Zurg. 
The Enchanted Tiki Birds-Under New Management (1998): Hollywood featherweights Iago, from Disney's animated feature "Aladdin," and Zazu, from "The Lion King," have become the new landlords of this classic attraction, creating a witty, upbeat show filled with old and new choreographed musical numbers. 
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (1999): The whole gang's here, joining guests on a journey into the Hundred Acre Wood. 
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (2001): Genies, flying carpets, magic lamps and Middle East mystique inspires this new attraction.
Mickey's Philharmagic
Stitch's Great Escape!
Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Coaster

Entertainment & Shows

Daily entertainment in every "land" includes:
Disney Festival of Fantasy parade.
Main Street Electrical Parade nighttime parade with spectacular lighting effects. 
"Wishes" fireworks presented nightly above Cinderella Castle
The Dapper Dans barbershop quartet on Main Street, U.S.A.
Character greetings throughout the park.
Themed holiday entertainment.
High school bands, dance and musical groups from throughout the world.