Magic Kingdom Overview

INTRODUCTION -- The MAGIC KINGDOM, which covers 107 acres, opened on October 1, 1971. It's been dubbed "The Most Magical Place on Earth!" and is home to seven themed lands, and dozens of attractions that appeal to all ages.

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.

-- October 1, 1971
Dedication plaque on Main Street, USA
by Roy O. Disney

LAY OF THE LAND: The Magic Kingdom is laid out like a wheel, with the hub centered directly in front of towering Cinderella Castle. Pathways act as the spokes leading to the following themed areas:

Main Street, U.S.A. -- Inspired by Walt Disney's memories of his hometown, Main Street U.S.A. is a re-creation of early 20th century small-town America, on a 7/8 scale. There are quaint shops, a town hall, fire station... even an old-style barbershop.

Adventureland -- An exotic mix of jungles, wild animals, pirates and a Middle Eastern bazaar, Adventureland is home to several of the Magic Kingdom's best-known and best-loved attractions, including Pirates of the Caribbean and Jungle Cruise.

Frontierland has all the adventure and excitement of the Wild West, including the wet wonders of Splash Mountain and the wild thrills of roller coaster Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Liberty Square honors this country's colonial heritage with the Hall of Presidents. It is also home to the ever-popular Haunted Mansion.

Fantasyland is the quintessential fairytale experience with castles, princesses, pixies and boys who won't grow up.

Mickey's Toontown Fair is THE place to meet Mickey, Minnie and the gang up close and in person. Geared specifically to the littlest park-goers, there's even a kid-sized coaster, The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm.

Tomorrowland is a look at the future where you can battle aliens at Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, or hurtle through the universe on a high-speed coaster at Space Mountain.

KIDS AND CHARACTERS

Magic Kingdom is THE place for children to meet and greet their favorite characters. Consult your daily Guide Map and Times Guides for times and locations.

Magic Kingdom Characters At A Glance
Character Meet and Greet FAQ!

What's New?

Tiana's Showboat Jubilee! -- Starting October 26, Magic Kingdom guests will be treated to first-ever appearances by Princess Tiana, star of the upcoming Walt Disney Pictures animated feature film, The Princess and the Frog. In addition to meet and greets, Princess Tiana, Prince Naveen and other characters from the motion picture will star in Tiana's Showboat Jubilee!, performed three times daily until January 3, 2010. A Mardi Gras-style procession through Liberty Square leads the cast to the Liberty Belle Riverboat dock, where Princess Tiana sails away singing and dancing.

Pirates League -- The Pirates League set sail at Magic Kingdom on June 29. Each guest checking in at the plunder-filled recruitment office gets an official pirate name. Next step is the Muster Station where – after applications of beards and eye patches, scarves and scars, earrings and gold teeth – the new recruits leave their old identities behind. After speaking the pirate oath, the new shipmates have their official “pirate portrait” taken before being turned loose on an unsuspecting Adventureland – and no doubt feeling right at home at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. Boys, girls and grownups ready for the pirate life start the process by calling 407-WDW-CREW. Packages start at $49.95 plus tax.

Move It Shake It Celebrate It! -- It's party time when a cast of Disney characters, stilt walkers and other performers processes down Main Street, U.S.A. toward Cinderella Castle to high-energy tunes such as "Breakout" and "I Like To Move It." Five floats decked out as gift-wrapped packages are part of the procession, and near the castle, Mad Hatter, Genie, Lumiere and Sebastian -- the life and light of the party -- pop out of four huge boxes. They join about a dozen other Disney characters headed by Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse to mix and mingle and dance in the street with Magic Kingdom guests during a 12-15-minute party scheduled to take place three times daily. This show/parade began performances on February 13, 2009.

The Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade replaced Disney Dreams Come True Parade in January 2009, to coincide with the new "What Will You Celebrate?" program.

Pixie Hollow - To celebrate the animated film "Tinker Bell," Disney’s most famous fairy and four of her best friends are featured in a meet-and-greet experience called Pixie Hollow in Mickey’s Toontown Fair at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World Resort. Tinker Bell, made famous in the 1953 Disney animated classic “Peter Pan,” for her “hostess” role in Disney television specials and for “flying” above the Disney theme parks, is joined inside Pixie Hollow by four fairy friends: Fawn, an animal fairy; Iridessa, a light fairy; Rosetta, a garden fairy; and Silvermist, a water fairy.

Crystal Arts -- This shop, which sells Arribas Brothers crystal items, is on the site of the former Market House.

The Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique -- A boutique salon that transforms little girls into Disney princesses with hairstyling, make-up, and manicures. This location (the first boutique is located in Downtown Disney's World of Disney store) opened in the Magic Kingdom in Cinderella Castle in September 2007.

The Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor -- Guests find the power of laughter in an engaging and interactive new adventure inspired by Disney-Pixar's "Monsters, Inc." as they match wits with the one-eyed hero Mike Wazowski and his friends. The attraction debuted in Tomorrowland in March 2007.

Dream along with Mickey, the Castle Forecourt Stage Show, replaced Cinderellabration. It debuted September 30, 2006.

NEW "immersive experiences" throughout the Magic Kingdom during Disney's extended "Year of a Million Dreams":

-- Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate Tutorial (Adventureland). Train to become a pirate. Looking for new recruits, Captain Jack and his mate Mack lead guests through a series of pirate skill tests to prove their mettle. Who is craftiest at wooden swordplay? Who can flash their most menacing pirate grimace? Faster than you can say "Yo, Ho, Yo, Ho, the Pirate's Life for Me," the big moment arrives: getting officially sworn in with the Pirate's Oath to become honorary buccaneers of Captain Jack's famous Pirate Crew.

What's Next?

Walt Disney World recently announced a major expansion of Fantasyland, which will also entail the closing of Mickey's Toontown. The expansion will effectively double the size of Fantasyland by 2013. The first phase of this expansion involves the closing of Toontown, so that new areas can be built. In the first new area, there will be spots featuring Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Belle. Also featured will be Beast's castle, which will include a new restaurant that will be counter service during the day and table service by night. Another part of the first phase of the expansion will be the doubling of Dumbo, and a new interactive, three-ring circus tent that will effectively eliminate queues for this popular attraction. In addition, you'll be able to journey under the sea with Ariel, The Little Mermaid, in her very own attraction (which will also open at Disney's California Adventure). The first phase of the expansion should be concluded in 2011. The second phase of the expansion, which should be finished by 2013, will be the construction of Pixie Hollow, featuring Tinker Bell and her fairy friends.

For more details on this announcement, click HERE.

What's Going... Going... Gone...?

Disney's Dreams Come True Parade replaced the Share a Dream Come True parade in the summer of 2006 (the latter debuted in October 2001). It was replaced by the Celebrate a Dream Come True Parade in January 2009.

Let's Have a Ball! The Happily Ever "After Party" (Fantasyland) -- ended in mid-2007.

Woody's Cowboy Camp (Frontierland) and "Main Street Family Fun Day Parade" (Main Street, U.S.A.) were part of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration, and ended with that program's run, at the end of 2008.

High School Musical Pep Rally -- Wildcat Fever and the popular High School Musical tunes have moved to the Disney-MGM Studios as of January 22, 2007!

Cinderellabration, an adaptation of Tokyo Disneyland's popular show, opened May 5, 2005, as part of the Happiest Celebration on Earth (Disneyland's 50th anniversary celebration). Its final performances will be on September 16, 2006.

The Sword in the Stone Ceremony gave its final performances on Tuesday, August 15, 2006.

Timekeeper was officially closed in February 2006.

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