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

What to Pack for a Trip to Walt Disney World

A lot of first time Disney travelers are unsure of what to pack. Here I will explain what I and others bring and why they will be helpful. (There will be a more detailed entry later on non-wearable items you should pack.

Clothing

If you are visiting between April and October, I recommend packing very light clothing - thin fabrics, shorts and small tops (Disney has a policy against shirtless men). The combination of humidity and heat work together to bring the temperatures up to sweltering levels - I cannot stress enough that you mustn't bring heavy fabrics. On my last trip, we brought a friend who was insistent on wearing shoes at all times and heavy fabrics. She ended up with blistered feet and made a beeline for every single splash fountain! Aside from summer months, you do still need to pack a pair of pants and a light jacket because there may be a few slightly chilly evenings, and you will find everywhere to be highly air conditioned. In the winter, the temperature does drop near freezing, so you likely don't need a winter coat, but you won't be in a t-shirt either.

Swimwear

For women, a one piece swimsuit is a nice thing to bring with you if you want to ride some of the more intense waterslides at Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach without damaging your swimsuit (The vertical drop slides are the ones you need to worry about here). The wave-pool at Typhoon Lagoon is notorious for making off with your swim bottoms, so wear a two piece at your own risk! Buckles and other metal pieces are not allowed, so keep that in mind.

Footwear

This is a big one. Your footwear will play an important role in your comfort for the duration of your stay. If you choose to wear shoes, your feet will sweat. Wear moisture wicking socks to prevent blisters, because it's unlikely that they'll heal before you go home! (TIP: Bring a ziplock baggie of different sized bandaids. The last thing anybody wants is to spend 5 hours at the Magic Kingdom in the sweltering heat with a chafing blister on their foot!) Runners are the most popular shoe worn in Walt Disney World, but be sure to bring a spare pair in case you get caught in the rain or go on a water ride. Crocs are another very popular option, worn by kids and adults alike in Disney - very useful footwear because they can be worn on the water slides. Personally, I wear flip flops although many would disagree with their comfort. I wear ergonomic flip flops with arch support by Reef while in Walt Disney World and highly recommend them for the long days if you enjoy flip flops.

Extras

I'm a huge fan of drawstring backpacks. Light and expandable, these can be found in the parks and Downtown Disney for around 20$. They're great for packing a swimsuit, towel, camera and wallet and stowing quickly on rides, perfect for younger guests. For parents carrying snacks and extras, a large durable beach bag comes in very handy. Disney does sell a few of these, but it is advisable to bring one from home as they can be hard to find and there is not much selection.

It's not a trip to Walt Disney World without passing a few lobster red people, don't be one of them! I'm loyal to the Coppertone 80-100 SPF Sunscreen spray sold at the waterparks and Neutrogena SPF 100 oil free facial sunscreen, both of which do an excellent job of protecting skin from the sun's harmful rays. (TIP: Be vigilant with sunscreen if you go snorkeling, it's one of the easiest ways to develop an bad sunburn) I always pack a bottle of aloe vera as well, as it's easy to miss a spot or neglect your sunscreen when you're having fun.

Bring a hat! In the Florida sun, you will get a sunburn in a day or less without protection and we often forget our scalps. Disney sells a variety of hats, so you may want to buy one in the parks. I always pack a few straw hats! Your eyes need protection too, so make sure you bring a comfortable pair of sunglasses or you may find yourself spending the trip hunting for a pair.

The Lobby at the Polynesian Resort

One last tip: If you're flying in, pack a swimsuit, a change of clothes and comfortable park walking shoes in your carry on luggage. Always bring your tickets and the address of your hotel. If your luggage goes missing, you will not want to miss out on a day at the parks on top of lost luggage.

Happy Packing!

Disney World in May

My absolute favorite Month of year to visit Disney World in is May. This month is fantastic for so many reasons and I highly recommend visiting at this time of year if it is your first trip!

As a Canadian born in the wrong climate, I can't get enough of the Florida heat. In May the temperatures tend to hover around 30C (86F), although cold bouts of 23C (73F) do occasionally happen. As the month heats up, temperatures rise to 35C (95F) - making for the perfect trip to Typhoon Lagoon. To first time Disney guests who don't enjoy the heat, don't worry! Disney keeps their shops, rides and restaurants so air conditioned that you feel a refreshing blast as you walk past the entrances. (TIP: To keep your party comfortable in line on the hotter days, invest in a portable fan that sprays mist.)

Not only are the temperatures wonderfully moderate in Orlando in May, but there is less risk of being rained out of a park than in the summer months. The storms in Orlando can come up quickly, but disappear with equal speed. I recommend visiting the water parks in the morning and leaving in the early afternoon for the theme parks - when it is most likely to rain. Many of the rides in Disney World are built indoors, so pick up a poncho and carry on! (TIP: When a storm begins, all of the Disney stores sell ponchos. These are great for protecting clothes on a late night trip down Splash Mountain on a not so warm night and for braving the rain while everybody else takes shelter!) The warm air makes for a very comfortable walk in the rain, and the lines will be much shorter. My favorite theme park to visit on a rainy day is the Animal Kingdom, because you can often ride the Kilamanjaro Safari and Expedition Everest without a fastpass and little wait. The greenery is also spectacular in the rain, particularly around the rivers.

Another bonus of Disney World in May is that it is regular season, meaning that you'll often find great discount codes to use when booking - significantly reducing the cost of your trip. In previous years I have saved up to 30% on Moderate resorts during May!

The May crowds are thinner than in the Summer, although towards the end of the month, more families do begin to show up. As the month progresses, Disney opens up more Extra Magic Hours evenings and the closing times of Extra Magic Hours are often later. You'll find even find the Magic Kingdom open until 3AM at least once in May, leaving the park calm and leaving you to ride your favorite rides with little wait!