I Had to Go to Magic Kingdom on One of Its Busiest Days — Here's How I Survived

There are certain days of the year when Magic Kingdom is slam jam packed, y’all.

Crowds entering Magic Kingdom before Christmas

Typically, those days center around holidays or big Disney events. Last year, I was assigned to be the reporter in Magic Kingdom a few times during the Christmas break, and WHEW were some of those days rough! So today, I’m sharing my survival tips, in case you find yourself in the park when it’s absolutely packed.

Arrive Early and Stay Late

I know, this is cliche advice and everyone hates it, but it really works! The least busy times of each day are the first two hours and the last two hours, especially if the fireworks have already happened and the park is staying open later. If you can manage to make it from park open to park close (or take a midday break), then you’ll be able to get more done!

Arrive at Magic Kingdom an hour (or more) before it opens to fully take advantage of rope drop, then have a plan for which rides you’ll be hitting first. Get breakfast before you arrive! Then once the fireworks end at night and people are heading out of the park, you keep going — do all the rides that you didn’t get to do earlier in the day, likely with shorter waits than they had before.

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If You Can Handle It, WALK

I know, I know, I’m telling you to get even MORE steps in Disney World, but hear me out. Sometimes, walking can help you avoid the crowds, which can also help you avoid undue stress.

Even though it’s long, we’ve used the pathway that runs from the Transportation & Ticket Center through the Polynesian Village Resort and Grand Floridian Resort to Magic Kingdom in the past when transportation crowds were heavy at the beginning or end of the day. You can also walk to the Contemporary Resort from Magic Kingdom and take transportation from there. Neither result is guaranteed to be faster, but it might be more relaxing…and sometimes that’s what matters most!

Stake Out Your Spot…OR Get Smart

If you’re going to watch any of the major entertainment offerings in Magic Kingdom on a busy day, you have two options — stake out your spot well in advance of the show, or get smart with your viewing. What does getting smart look like? It’s finding the spots that no one thinks to use.

For the Festival of Fantasy Parade, I like to watch from the area in front of the Emporium entrance, facing City Hall. This area is typically the last to fill up for the daytime parade. For Disney Starlight, it’s the opposite — go to Frontierland and Liberty Square to get last-minute spots since the parade ends in that area.

And for Happily Ever After fireworks? Try watching from the bridge to Tomorrowland, or stand behind the castle in Fantasyland. There’s sometimes overflow viewing on Market Street that offers a decent view of the fireworks. You probably won’t get a great view of the projections if you don’t stake out a spot in advance of the show, but you could still see the fireworks and hear the music.

Personally, my favorite underrated spot for watching Happily Ever After is in Frontierland and Liberty Square. I’ve sat in the sleigh in front of Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe in the past, and I’ve also caught parts of the show while riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Extra magical!

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Spend More Money (Yes, I’m Serious)

Nobody really wants to hear this tip either, but I have to say it — you’ll probably have a better day when it’s crowded if you shell out a few extra bucks for Lightning Lanes. Purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass, Single Pass, or even Premier Pass (if you’re bougie) could save you literally HOURS waiting in lines.

The lines are automatically longer on busier days, and when you don’t spend all your time waiting in line, you can fit in extra snacks, extra entertainment, and downtime to relax and actually enjoy the atmosphere of vacation. Sometimes saving up to spend a little more is worth it.

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Make the App Your New Best Friend

If you’re going to Disney World during a busy season, you BETTER download that My Disney Experience app and get to know it like you would a new best friend. Learn it inside and out, explore all its features before you go! That way, by the time you arrive in the parks, you won’t have to spend days figuring out how to make it work for you.

Primarily, you’ll be using this to check wait times, Mobile Order food, make last-minute dining reservations, check showtimes, and look for character meet and greets. However, it also offers access to maps and directions around the parks, menus for restaurants, Mobile Checkout for merchandise, and more. Once you can navigate it with ease, the app makes your trip a LOT smoother.

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Use Every Shortcut You Can

Finally, I’m going to tell you to use every shortcut you possibly can to avoid (and sometimes beat) the crowds. I have another post on our blog about all the shortcuts in Magic Kingdom, but some of the best ones include cutting through Tomorrowland Terrace, taking the pathway underneath TRON Lightcycle / Run to Storybook Circus, and using the bridge that connects the front of Adventureland to Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe and Liberty Square.

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With these tips, you’ll be able to tackle even the most crowded days in Magic Kingdom! As long as you prepare yourself in advance, you can have a wonderful visit no matter how many other folks are in the park.