10 Experiences Your Child Will Love at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

The Disney experience was created to entertain people of all ages in their park. But lets face it, as much fun as it is, you derive the most pleasure from seeing the smile on your children’s faces. Here are 10 Experiences Your Child Will Love at Magic Kingdom:

10. Festival of Fantasy Parade. What child doesn’t love a good parade? And as you would expect, when Disney does a parade it is just a tad bit more entertaining than when your local fire department and boy scout troop puts one on. Want proof? How about over 100 performers, a garden float 50 feet long, an airship float 32 feet high, and a Maleficent Dragon which stretches 53 feet long, is 26 feet in the air, and actually breathes real fire.

9. The Haunted Mansion. After passing by the horse-drawn hearse in front of the wrought iron gates which surrounds the 18th-century colonial stately mansion with the ghostly facade, guests are treated to a slightly different type of “interactive queue” at the Haunted Mansion. It starts with the family cemetery, complete with tombstones featuring clever epitaphs for the dearly departed. Outside of one crypt, visitors can play a creepy pipe organ while a host of paranormal activity swirls around them. Once inside, sound, lighting, special effects, and stunning three-dimensional apparitions set the tone as your personal “doom buggy” takes you through the cobwebbed library where books move, candle holders seemingly float down the hallway, and eyes in framed pictures follow your every move. Once you reach the conservatory, you encounter Madame Leota inside of the floating crystal ball. The ballroom is filled with three-dimensional ghosts dining, dancing, and dueling, while the attic contains remnants of the family that once inhabited the house. The ride ends with a trip through graveyard while “Grim Grinning Ghosts” fills the air. But beware as the ride turns toward the home stretch – apparitions jump into the “doom buggy” with you for the purposes of following you home.

8. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Located in the Frontierland section of the Magic Kingdom, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has long been a fan favorite of children at Disney World. Set as a gold mine in the mountains of the old west, the roller coaster takes riders up, over, and around rugged terrain – and through mines filled with lanterns, and even water and explosions utilized in the mining process, all rounding out the gold-rush theme from the 1800’s.

7. Mickey’s PhilharMagic. The Disney empire was built on making animated entertainment, and in Mickey’s PhilharMagic, they return to their roots. The movie follows Donald Duck through an incredible journey of Disney movie history mixed with mischief in what Disney refers to as “4D”. Combining smells and even water with the best in 3D animation brings the audience inside of the action like never before. And your children certainly won’t complain about getting off of their feet for a bit and into an air-conditioned theater during a long day in the Magic Kingdom.

6. Swiss Family Treehouse. This is an often overlooked attraction in the Magic Kingdom, but rest assured, it is a can’t miss for children. After all, it is a treehouse. And at over 60 feet high, there is so much to see, plenty of areas to explore, and it is a great way for your children to expend some energy.

5. Pirates of the Caribbean. Throughout history, swashbuckling buccaneers have captured the attention – not to mention the imagination – of children everywhere. And with a jaw-dropping 125 Audio-Animatronics figures throughout the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction, that trend is likely to continue for children in the Magic Kingdom who take the boat ride through Captain Jack Sparrow’s world.

4. Peter Pan’s Flight. You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! At least you can once you hop aboard Peter Pan’s flying pirate ship and soar over London and Neverland in Peter Pan’s Flight. Once again, Disney Imagineers make waiting in line a magical experience in itself with their renowned “interactive queue”. Your children will marvel at catching glimpses of Tinker Bell causing mischief while fluttering over, around, and through the iconic nursery of Wendy, John and Michael – leaving healthy trail of Pixie Dust in her wake of course. If their mind isn’t completely blown by that experience, it will be when they realize they can ring bells while using their shadows to “touch” the shadows of those bells on the wall. And because this ride is slow and easy, it’s perfect even for small children.

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3. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Walk across a stone bridge and through a beautiful forest with the Dwarfs’ thatched-roof cottage in the distance to access the entrance to what was designed to be both literally and figuratively, the centerpiece of Fantasyland – the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. Imagineers paid close attention to the iconic Disney movie and recreated it in exquisite detail. The train cars have a “cradle” design – allowing each individual car to rock side-to-side. This swivel action adds a little extra something to the twisting and turning of the track itself. Mid-way through the ride, the train enters a mine with the Seven Dwarfs busy mining a dazzling array of gems & jewels while sound effects, lights and holographs complete the magic. As the train returns to the loading platform you are taken past the backside of the cottage where you will catch glimpses of Snow White herself dancing inside with one of the dwarfs.

2. Enchanted Tales with Belle. Disney Imagineers took the traditional character “meet & greet” to a whole new level when they created Enchanted Tales with Belle. This one of a kind experience takes visitors on a journey through the Beast’s Castle where they encounter all of the legendary characters from Beauty & the Beast. Your adventure begins up a winding stone pathway leading to Belle’s cottage. Once inside, you encounter a genuine magic mirror on the wall which transforms into a magical portal right before your eyes. You pass through the portal and are “transported” to the Beast’s Castle where you come face-to-face with Wardrobe and later Lumiere – both of which are as fully animated in person as they are in the movie! Eventually you are taken to the library where Belle herself makes an appearance and proceeds to include the children in the show. Whether you are a 39-year-old Godmother who loves this movie or a 3 year old that has never even seen it, Enchanted Tales with Belle will be as entertaining an experience as any attraction in all of Disney World.

1. Celebrate the Magic. This show was specifically designed to draw everyone to Cinderella’s castle at the end of the night with the intent of bringing family and friends together to make memories. Show creator Steven Davison said “they all might have different experiences during the day but at night we’re asking everyone to come to the Magic Kingdom to watch what happens when family and friends all make a wish together and see what happens in the sky”. Celebrate the Magic is definitely an experience your child will love inside the Magic Kingdom. There is nothing quite like sitting in front of Cinderella’s castle under the stars while watching an incredible show of lights, pyrotechnics, fireworks, and movie magic. Nostalgia abounds as the show projected onto the castle takes you through the iconic Disney moments of yesteryear. Having your little one’s crawl into your lap and settle in for the show is priceless. Watching the reflection of the fireworks in their eyes as they stare up at the sky with their little mouths agape in awe is equally so. Listening to them “ohhh” and “ahhh” as Tinker Bell takes glittering flight from the castle through the night sky and across the park will make exactly the kind of memory for you and your children that show creator Steven Davison envisioned.

Pirates, parades, princesses, pyrotechnics, and more – the Magic Kingdom is a smorgasbord of attractions that your child will love!

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Photo courtesy of Disney Photo Snapper