When To Visit Magic Kingdom During Your Vacation

Any day that you can visit Magic Kingdom is a good day. Magic Kingdom Park is the iconic park at Walt Disney World, meaning that most Guests visit it at least once during their Walt Disney World vacations.

Because of this, Magic Kingdom also tends to be the busier Disney Park. When planning your Park Reservations, you might want to consider when to visit Magic Kingdom. Some days will be better than others when it comes to crowds.

We will share the best and worst times to visit Magic Kingdom during your Walt Disney World vacation.

Best- Weekdays

When looking at when to visit Magic Kingdom, the first tip we will give is to see it during the week. If you can schedule your Magic Kingdom day for the middle of the week on Tuesday or Wednesday, these days will be less busy.

Most locals work during the week, which lowers the number of Annual Pass holders and Florida residents in Magic Kingdom. Take that into consideration when determining when you want to visit Magic Kingdom.

Worst- Weekends

It isn’t surprising that weekends are one of the busier times of the week at Magic Kingdom. As we mentioned, most locals will have more time to visit the Magic Kingdom during the weekend. These local crowds add to the already extremely popular and busy Park.

We have also noticed that many Guests head to Magic Kingdom as their first Disney Park. Because of this, we see more crowds on Sunday and Monday. If you are at all able to avoid Magic Kingdom on the weekends, do so. If you aren’t, then take time to check out our tips and tricks at How to Disney for dealing with crowds.

Best- Party Days

This one can be tricky, but if you can attend Magic Kingdom during one of the holiday parties, you can often see lower crowds. In the fall, Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party happens on select nights, and starting in November, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party takes place on special evenings.

These are both special ticketed events for only those with an event ticket to remain in the Park all evening. Typically we see Magic Kingdom close between six and seven to regular Park Guests.

Because regular Guests are required to leave early, many will choose not to head to Magic Kingdom on this day. This means crowds are often slightly lower than on regular days at Magic Kingdom.

Party days can be an excellent time to get to Magic Kingdom early and experience a lot of magic early on. When the party crowd enters the Park around 4:00 pm, you can navigate your way out or to rides and experiences with low wait times.

Even if you aren’t going to the holiday party, visiting Magic Kingdom during a Party day can be a great option.

Worst-Holidays

Magic Kingdom is extremely special and magical during the holidays, but we wouldn’t recommend visiting on the actual holiday. Christmas, New Year, 4th of July, and even holidays such as President’s Day or Columbus Day can be extremely busy.

It can be challenging during these holidays to experience the magic. Lines get long, and the crowds sometimes can be unbearable. If you head into Magic Kingdom during these holidays, you will want to ensure you have realistic expectations and a plan.

Have your food plan booked ahead of time. Know where you are going to eat and mobile order early. Know which shows and rides will have lower wait times, and make sure to hit those up. Also, consider heading out during the middle of the day. Doing that can keep you out of the crowds and make your experience less stressful.

Best-Before and After Holidays

Even though visiting during the holidays might be the worst time to visit, heading to Magic Kingdom before or after the holidays can be a great option. It is surprising that between Thanksgiving and Christmas sees a lower crowd. This is often because many are at home preparing for the holidays or waiting for the holidays to take their break.

If you can wait and head to Magic Kingdom following Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and other major holidays, you will often see lower crowds.

Worst- Middle of the Day

Magic Kingdom will generally see the heaviest crowds during the middle of the day. Groups start to build around 11:00 am and peak during those middle hours until around 4:00 pm. If you want to avoid large crowds and long lines, try to plan most of your time at Magic Kingdom outside the middle of the day.

Best- Early or Late

On the other hand, if you are looking for low crowds, heading to Magic Kingdom early in the morning or staying late at night is the best option. Guests staying at a Walt Disney World Resort can take advantage of early entry. This allows them to enter Magic Kingdom thirty minutes before opening.

Even though it is only thirty minutes, this can make a huge difference in wait times. Being just thirty minutes ahead of the crowd can allow you to experience much more throughout the day with lower times.

Evenings at Magic Kingdom also see lower crowds. If the Park stays open after the fireworks, consider sticking it out to enjoy lower groups. Those staying at a Deluxe Disney Resort can even enjoy extended evening hours on select nights. This allows Guests at these select Disney Resorts to enjoy Magic Kingdom for a few extra hours after closing.

Any day at Magic Kingdom is lovely, in our opinion, but there are a few days that might be slightly more magical than others. We hope these tips will help you determine when you want to visit Magic Kingdom during your next vacation.