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Planning a trip to Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom is a big deal. It’s hard to decide the best day to go. You want magic without huge crowds. But, when is the best day?
Our guide has all you need. We did the research and found the best days to visit. We also have tips to make your visit the best it can be. Let’s dive into the best day to go to this mammoth of a theme park!
Best Day to Visit Magic Kingdom
Thursdays are the best day of the week to visit Magic Kingdom. This is because most people start their vacation on Monday, and they’ll likely want to do the most iconic park first.
Additionally, many people end their vacation with Magic Kingdom as a last hurrah before they fly off.
Magic Kingdom also hosts several events throughout the year, many of which fall on the weekends, so definitely avoid going on Saturday or Sunday if possible.
Worst Days to Visit Magic Kingdom
By far the worst days to visit Magic Kingdom are Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. Avoid attending on these days unless you really have no other option.
Understanding Magic Kingdom’s Crowd Patterns
Magic Kingdom is the most popular park at Disney World, so no matter what, it’ll always be busy. But in our experience, Thursdays tend to see many dips in wait times.
In fact, on our last trip to Magic Kingdom, Peter Pan’s Flight saw a wait time of only 25 minutes near the beginning of our Thursday. Anyone who knows that ride knows that waiting 60-80 minutes definitely isn’t worth it, but we hopped right in line at only 25 minutes! Talk about a score!
Magic Kingdom gets extremely busy on special event days such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, so if you can avoid visiting during a festival or event, we highly recommend it. When we built our Disney World itinerary last year for our trip in September, we specifically chose a Thursday that the event didn’t fall on. This meant we had less freedom when it came to deciding when to spend our Magic Kingdom day, but the low wait times were well worth it!
Strategies for Avoiding Crowds at Magic Kingdom
Even if you visit Magic Kingdom on a crowded day, there are different strategies you can use to minimize your wait times and maximize your enjoyment:
- Use Genie+ or Virtual Queue: Book lightning lanes for the big attractions like Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and reserve your virtual queue for Tron. If you’re confident that you can ride all the big attractions, you won’t have to waste your time in their standby lanes.
- Arrive Early: Get to the park before opening time to beat the crowds. Take advantage of early morning Extra Magic Hours (EMH) if you’re staying at a Disney resort.
- Use the My Disney Experience App: Plan your day, check wait times, and make dining reservations with the app. It can help you navigate the park more efficiently.
- Take Breaks: Leave the park during the hottest part of the day (usually between 11 am and 2 pm) to rest and recharge. This can help you avoid the crowds that tend to peak during this time.
- Visit less popular attractions: Prioritize rides and shows with lower wait times, such as Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, Carousel of Progress, Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mad Tea Party, and Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid during peak hours. While everyone is standing in line, you’ll have many rides checked off your list.
- Consider a Character Dining Experience: Instead of waiting in line to meet characters, book a character dining experience. This can save you time and help you avoid crowds.
- Dine at off-peak times: Make dining reservations for early or late lunches and dinners to avoid the busiest meal times. Many guests head for lunch at noon, and then dinner around 6:00 pm.
- Avoid Parades and Fireworks: If you’re not interested in watching parades or fireworks, use this time to visit attractions. The crowds tend to gather in these areas, leaving other parts of the park less crowded.
- Use the Single Rider Line: If you’re traveling with a group and don’t mind riding separately, use the single rider line. This can significantly reduce your wait time.
- Use the Child Swap Option: If you have young children, use the child swap option. This allows one adult to ride while the other waits with the child, then swap without having to wait in line again.
- Consider a VIP Tour: If you’re looking for a more personalized and crowd-free experience, consider booking a VIP tour. While expensive, these tours often include front-of-the-line access and a personalized guide.
Optimizing Your Visit
Using a crowd calendar can help you plan the best time to visit. These tools use past information to predict how busy the park might be. This way, you can choose a date with fewer people.
Pick a day that’s not only quiet but also has good weather. Getting there early can mean shorter waits at popular rides. This helps you get the most out of your visit.
Planning ahead with crowd dynamics in mind can lead to a wonderful experience at the Magic Kingdom.
Magic Kingdom Wait Times by Day Breakdown
Here is a chart with Magic Kingdom wait times by day breakdown:
| Day | Average Wait Time |
|---|---|
| Monday | 70 minutes |
| Tuesday | 50 minutes |
| Wednesday | 55 minutes |
| Thursday | 45 minutes |
| Friday | 75 minutes |
| Saturday | 80 minutes |
| Sunday | 80 minutes |
Note: These wait times are based on historical data and are subject to change. It’s always a good idea to check the My Disney Experience app or the official Disney website for the most up-to-date wait times during your visit.
Average Magic Kingdom Attraction Wait Time
Let’s take a look at the average wait times for each attraction in Magic Kingdom so you have a better idea of when to ride each one:
| Attraction | Average Wait Time (minutes) |
|---|---|
| Seven Dwarfs Mine Train | 80 |
| Space Mountain | 65 |
| Peter Pan’s Flight | 65 |
| Jungle Cruise | 60 |
| Big Thunder Mountain Railroad | 50 |
| Haunted Mansion | 45 |
| Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin | 35 |
| Astro Orbiter | 35 |
| Enchanted Tales with Belle | 35 |
| Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh | 35 |
| Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini | 30 |
| Pirates of the Caribbean | 30 |
| Dumbo the Flying Elephant | 30 |
| “it’s a small world” | 25 |
| Magic Carpets of Aladdin | 25 |
| Tomorrowland Speedway | 25 |
| Mad Tea Party | 20 |
| Mickey’s PhilharMagic | 15 |
| Prince Charming Regal Carrousel | 15 |
| Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover | 15 |
| Enchanted Tiki Room | 10 |
| Carousel of Progress | 5 |
| Liberty Square Riverboat | 5 |
| Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse | 5 |
| Tom Sawyer Island | 5 |
| Hall of Presidents | 5 |
Final Thoughts
So now you know the perfect day to spend in Magic Kingdom. Without a doubt, Thursdays have historically shown the lowest crowds on average. This is likely because the park attracts locals on weekends and travelers on Mondays.
When you’re booking your complete 7-day Disney World itinerary, make sure to schedule Magic Kingdom on your Thursday!
Don’t stop believing in the magic!
FAQs
If you want to know more about the best day for Magic Kingdom, check out our FAQ section below.
What if I can only visit Magic Kingdom on a weekend?
If you must visit on a weekend, aim for Sunday morning as crowds tend to be lower then compared to Saturday or Sunday afternoon/evening. Use strategies like arriving early, Genie+, visiting less popular attractions during peak times, and taking mid-day breaks to avoid crowds as much as possible.
Are there any days I should absolutely avoid Magic Kingdom?
Yes, avoid visiting Magic Kingdom on Saturdays, Sundays, or any special event days. This guarantees a large crowd that can easily be avoided by visiting on a Thursday.
How much time should I budget to spend at Magic Kingdom?
Ideally, plan to spend 1.5-2 full days at Magic Kingdom to experience all the park has to offer without feeling too rushed. If you only have one day, you’ll need to be very strategic with your time and will likely have to skip some attractions.
What’s the best time of day to visit Magic Kingdom?
Mornings are the best time for lower crowds, especially if you can take advantage of Early Theme Park Entry. Evenings are also good once the daytime crowds clear out, especially on nights without fireworks.
