One day at Magic Kingdom

[Anonymous]

I'm going to be in FL for business and my husband is going to fly down and meet me with our 6 year old. We figure we'd surprise her with a day at MK.

It wasn't something we'd planned, so...if you could only do one thing at MK...

What would it be?

[Anonymous]

Space Mountain. My 7 yo loved it. I have to say, MK in itself is an experience.

[Anonymous]

Mine train

[Anonymous]

Big Thunder Mountain. Preferably after dark. My 6 yo boy enthusiastically cosigns this recommendation.

Even more amazing is after dark and during the fireworks, but not if that day is your only chance to see all of Wishes (the fireworks show at MK) from the intended vantage points on Main Street.

[Anonymous]

Depends on your kid. At 6, she was too small for big thunder mountain, but she loved the Haunted Mansion. At 10, she wasn't so into it. Mine train was great for both 10 and 4 year olds.

[Anonymous]

The Mine train will have a HUGE line (1.5 hours or more is not uncommon) so if you can get a fast pass for that, do it!

If it is a fairly warm, dry day, my kids loved Splash mountain. You will likely get wet on this ride.

My favorite ride there is Thunder mountain Railroad.

[Anonymous]

Mine train and Peter Pan. Try to get a breakfast reservation in the park before it opens. You will be let into the park early.

[Anonymous]

Are you buying tickets online? Set up your FastPasses so you can guarantee rides at certain times.

We were stuck in FL during January's snow storm, so we also did an impromptu Magic Kingdom visit. I found the Disney Park App to be hugely helpful in terms of telling us wait times, managing fast passes, photos, etc. Even for just a day, I recommend downloading it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Space Mountain. My 7 yo loved it. I have to say, MK in itself is an experience.

Be aware that Space Mountain is a single file car line, meaning she has to sit alone with you and DH in front of and behind her in separate seats/cars. My 7 year old son is adventurous, but I do not think he'd do well with this, so we decided not to waste a fast pass on it for our upcoming trip. Google "Space Mountain WDW" to see the cars...the California ride is different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Space Mountain. My 7 yo loved it. I have to say, MK in itself is an experience.

Be aware that Space Mountain is a single file car line, meaning she has to sit alone with you and DH in front of and behind her in separate seats/cars. My 7 year old son is adventurous, but I do not think he'd do well with this, so we decided not to waste a fast pass on it for our upcoming trip. Google "Space Mountain WDW" to see the cars...the California ride is different.

Agree, depends on the kid. We're doing 1 day at MK next week, and there's no way my 6-year old would handle the front to back, in the dark of Space Mountain so we didn't waste a FP on it.

Mine Train fast passes are practically gone the first day they are available.

My kids love the electric parade at night.

[Anonymous]

We did one day at Disney and covered most of the park. You don't need to choose one thing.

I grew up in FL and always went for 1 day trips.

[Anonymous]

Get there an hour before the park opens (not kidding) to be first in line. To the 7 dwarves mine train first. It's a TON of fun and will have the longest line. Then let your kid decide (but have her decide earlier, so you have a plan). Download the Disney App, it's very handy to use in the parks and gives you the wait times for all rides.

If she loves Frozen go from the mine train to the castle for their autographs (also ends up with quite the line). Get FP's for the afternoon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Space Mountain. My 7 yo loved it. I have to say, MK in itself is an experience.

Be aware that Space Mountain is a single file car line, meaning she has to sit alone with you and DH in front of and behind her in separate seats/cars. My 7 year old son is adventurous, but I do not think he'd do well with this, so we decided not to waste a fast pass on it for our upcoming trip. Google "Space Mountain WDW" to see the cars...the California ride is different.

Agree, depends on the kid. We're doing 1 day at MK next week, and there's no way my 6-year old would handle the front to back, in the dark of Space Mountain so we didn't waste a FP on it.

Mine Train fast passes are practically gone the first day they are available.

My kids love the electric parade at night.

Kids are so different, we were just there in January with kids 8 7 and 5 and all three loved space mountain! We went early and rode it three times in a row! You know your child best.

Honestly I felt like we did MK in a day….like, went on everything. It may have helped that it was a very cold day so maybe lines were shorter and we really worked the heck out of our fast passes and being at the park right at opening. My kids loved the big thunder mountain, space mountain, 7 dwarves, and we skipped all character stuff (lines ridiculous and my kid aren't into it, did it on a disney cruise 2 years ago with no lines).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Space Mountain. My 7 yo loved it. I have to say, MK in itself is an experience.

Be aware that Space Mountain is a single file car line, meaning she has to sit alone with you and DH in front of and behind her in separate seats/cars. My 7 year old son is adventurous, but I do not think he'd do well with this, so we decided not to waste a fast pass on it for our upcoming trip. Google "Space Mountain WDW" to see the cars...the California ride is different.

Agree, depends on the kid. We're doing 1 day at MK next week, and there's no way my 6-year old would handle the front to back, in the dark of Space Mountain so we didn't waste a FP on it.

Mine Train fast passes are practically gone the first day they are available.

My kids love the electric parade at night.

Kids are so different, we were just there in January with kids 8 7 and 5 and all three loved space mountain! We went early and rode it three times in a row! You know your child best.

Honestly I felt like we did MK in a day….like, went on everything. It may have helped that it was a very cold day so maybe lines were shorter and we really worked the heck out of our fast passes and being at the park right at opening. My kids loved the big thunder mountain, space mountain, 7 dwarves, and we skipped all character stuff (lines ridiculous and my kid aren't into it, did it on a disney cruise 2 years ago with no lines).

My 3 y/o was mad she wasn't tall enough for space mountain, she was only 40" when we went, but she did everything else she could (and she absolutely would've gone back to back on any of the rides).

But you know your kid. It's a bit difficult since you want it to be a surprise, but you should know if your kid wants to meet princesses and what not. Also consider the Memory Maker. It's a photo pass that's attached to your wristbands (if you get one) or your park ticket card. It's a bit pricey, but if your kid is going to meet a lot of the princesses you can get all the pictures (and the ones from the rides, or taken by staff around the park) for one price. We used it for a 4 day trip and it was without question worth every cent. We'd probably spring for it even with a one day trip and make sure to get our money's worth (roughly 20 pictures).

[Anonymous]

The main height restrictions to be aware of are 38"+ (7 Dwarves Mine Train), 40"+ (Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain), and 44"+ (Space Mountain).

I love Big Thunder Mountain but find Space Mountain too jarring.