Whether or not you’re visiting Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for the first time, you don’t want to make these mistakes.

Planning a trip to Disney World is a long and thorough process, but that doesn’t mean small details can’t slip through the cracks. It’s easy to make mistakes that can make you look like a rookie, especially at Magic Kingdom. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered with a few tips you need to know about!
Trying to avoid looking like a newbie at Magic Kingdom? Don’t make these 5 mistakes!
Not Being Familiar with the TTC
Transportation to and from Magic Kingdom isn’t super simple. There’s no parking lot right out front and you can’t just take a rideshare to the front gates.

Instead, you’ll need to be familiar with the Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC). This center is the hub to get you to Magic Kingdom from the parking lot, hotels, or other spots along the Disney World property.

The TCC offers monorail, ferryboat, and other types of transportation to the park, and you can learn more about these options and how they work by clicking the guide below!
Walt Disney World’s Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC)
Not Making Dining Reservations
While Magic Kingdom doesn’t offer the premier dining experiences at Disney World, it does have a few good sit-down options. However, if you intend to just show up and dine, you’re making a mistake.

Advanced Dining Reservations 60 days out from your visit are STRONGLY recommended. Otherwise, you run the risk of not finding any sit-down options during your day. There are only a few options in the park, so they fill up FAST.

If you’re reading this and have already made the mistake of not reserving dining, try hitting up Liberty Tree Tavern, which can be hit or miss in terms of lucking into a table.
7 Unspoken Rules About Table Service Restaurants at Disney World
Not Rope-Dropping Fantasyland
While rope-dropping — the process of showing up to a park before it opens in order to get great wait times for popular rides — is a crapshoot, skipping Fantasyland rides for something bigger like TRON Lightcycle/Run could be a mistake.

While there are some small rides in the land that aren’t worth stressing over, it does house juggernauts like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Peter Pan’s Flight.

Both of these attractions can rack up a hefty wait time, so it’s never foolish to hit them up first.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Family coaster that goes both in the dark and outside with animatronics
Trying to Get a Fireworks Viewing Spot Last-Minute
Oh, you poor, poor soul. You tried to get a spot to see the fireworks last minute and the location was…less than ideal.

Few things are more popular at Disney World than the fireworks spectacular, and so you can expect folks to camp out for awhile. Some even arrive as early as TWO TO THREE HOURS before the show starts.

Now, we’re not saying you need to forfeit a good chunk of your day to get a good fireworks viewing. In fact, skipping the show altogether is a good way to take advantage of lower wait times. But if you insist on good viewing, pick your spot AT LEAST 30 to 40 minutes before the spectacle starts.
Favorite Spots to Watch Fireworks
Hunting for Booze
Yes, Disney World is much more friendly today when it comes to alcohol than it was in the past, but that doesn’t mean you’re going to find alcohol abundant in Magic Kingdom.

You won’t find booze at quick-service or counter-service locations. Instead, you’ll need to visit a table-service restaurant to find cocktails and other alcoholic beverages.

Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen is one of the more reasonably priced restaurants at Magic Kingdom and a solid choice if you want some good eats and a drink.
Jungle Navigation Co., Ltd. Skipper Canteen Restaurant
Services: Table Service
What are some tips you have to avoid looking like a first-timer at Magic Kingdom? Let us know and continue to follow us here at AllEars for all the latest from Disney World!
10 Transportation Mistakes That Scream “This Is My First Trip to Disney World”
What are some other mistakes you can make at Magic Kingdom that make you look like a newbie? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Rope dropping 7dmt is often a mistake, they tend to have the just issues early in the day. Now “close dropping” it is the power move. 😁