The Magic Kingdom

The Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World is the centerpiece of the entire resort. As such, I feel that it deserves to be broken up according to the areas of the park to give it a more in-depth look. There is however, a bit of general information about the park, which I will detail here. (TIP: Visiting the Magic Kingdom before doing anything else is a wonderful way to start your trip right. Whatever your tradition may be, walking up Mainstreet USA towards the castle for the first time is a very special experience.)

Transportation

Being the main park in Walt Disney World, no method of transportation is spared when it comes to the Magic Kingdom. You can visit this park via boat, monorail, bus and car! All methods of Disney transportation come in quite a timely manner, I have rarely experienced any late buses and the cast members have been wonderful about looking into when the bus was coming if the wait was significantly longer than usual. The monorail can be ridden from The Polynesian Resort, The Contemporary Resort, The Grand Floridian Resort and the Transportation and Ticket Center. Note that from the transportation and ticket center, you can also take a different monorail to Epcot. The boats embark from Fort Wilderness, The Wilderness Lodge and Bay Lake Towers at the Contemporary Resort- also note that they often service multiple resorts before reaching the Magic Kingdom. If you are traveling to the Magic Kingdom after nightfall by boat, give yourself ample time to arrive. We have been held up for quite some time due to the Water Parade! Bus service runs to all of the Walt Disney World Resorts. If you are staying at a Downtown Disney area hotel, be sure to take the monorail to one of the nearby hotels and take the bus to Downtown Disney from there for the quickest route home.

Hours

The Magic Kindom is generally open the latest out of all of the parks, a perfect pick if you use the park hopper + water parks, fun and more option on your tickets. In the warmer months, it generally closes at 10PM at the earliest and with Extra Magic Hours can stay open until up to 3AM! (TIP: I consider Extra Magic Hours on their own to be worth staying on property, particularly in the summer months when the crowds are high during the day. If you're a night owl like me, this may be the best option for you) The Magic Kingdom opens early in the morning - approximately 9AM - as all of the parks do, for all of you early birds. The rope dropping is but a legend in my household!

Look forward to my next post, where I will highlight Mainstreet USA, the entry point of the Magic Kingdom

The Animal Kingdom

The Animal Kingdom is - in my opinion - the second best theme park in Walt Disney World, coming up closely behind the Magic Kingdom. It has exhilarating rides, lush greenery everywhere you look, privacy and a variety of areas that are appropriate for all ages. Be sure to pick up a map at the entrance and make a beeline for the Fastpass booth at either Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris or the Kali River Rapids!

Immediately after entering the park, you will be plunged into the tropical forest that is Discovery Island. One of my favorite sections of the park, I can't emphasize how beautiful and tranquil this area is. Animals and waterfalls are tucked into every corner and the canopy overhead shades you from the sun and rain.

Don't Miss out on these Rides

Expedition Everest - This ride is perfect for those who won't go near the roller coasters at Universal Studios (Me!), but still want a heart pumping ride. Expedition Everest begins at a calm pace until you reach the peak of the mountain. I'll leave what happens at the top a surprise for first time riders, but you do end up flying backwards down the mountain at a tremendous pace! This ride is refreshing on a hot day and a Fastpass is a must. Aside from the Kali River Rapids, the wait for this ride is often the longest in the park and you will be waiting outdoors for most of it! This is one of those instances where a water fan is a life saver. We have braved the 1 hour + standby line on a 35 degree day with the aid of a water fan keeping us cool. The line also winds through some pretty neat scenes, so you'll certainly find ways to stay entertained!

Kilimanjaro Safaris - This is always a difference experience! Venture to Africa and explore the vast expanse of land filled with exotic animals and settings. There are a few surprises and you may end up caught behind a herd of gazelles at some point!

Kali River Rapids - On a hot day, there is no better ride at The Animal Kingdom than the Kali River Rapids. You'll travel through lush lands as you get soaked from head to toe (bring a change of shoes or wear flip flops, as you are not permitted to ride barefoot!) There will be a sealed compartment to protect you belongings, but they still may get wet. (TIP: Pack zip-lock bags of a few different sizes. They're a fool proof way of ensuring your electronics are always protected, whether you're on a water ride or in the rain!)

Dinosaur - Despite having spent a good deal of time traversing The Animal Kingdom, I did not experience Dinosaur until my trip in May of 2011. This ride throws you into the Jurassic period, on a mission to find an Iguanadon..if only it were that simple! As you drive, you'll be chased by the terrifying larger than life Carnotaurus, as well as a few other dinosaurs. I would not recommend this ride for younger children, unless they love a good scare!

That's all for my quick overview of The Animal Kingdom! Next, I will be writing about one of the two most visited waterparks in the entire world - Typhoon Lagoon.

Thanks for reading!