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Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

simpleprocedures1 | May 3, 2010 |

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Magic Kingdom is one of four theme parks at Walt Disney World, located in Orlando, Florida, and opened on October 1, 1971 as the first theme park to open at Walt Disney World. The park is similar to Disneyland in California, but on a little larger scale, encompassing more acreage, over 100 acres, yet keeping with same ideas that Walt Disney had envisioned for Disneyland, but was unable to include due to land constraints.

History

Walt Disney World in Florida was originally called "The Florida Project", and was Walt Disney's dream to build a park that included all of his ideas that he wanted for Disneyland, yet was unable to do due to the lack of land available around Disneyland. Walt Disney unfortunately died in 1966, and never saw his dream project through to fruition, but his vision was realized by his brother, Roy O. Disney, with the first park, Magic Kingdom, and subsequent other parks over the years.

Today the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World is the most visited theme park in the world, with over 17 million visitors annually. Along with the opening of the park were two hotels, the Contemporary Resort and the Polynesian Resort that are situated around Bay Lake, and have since added 2 more hotels around Bay Lake, as well as a campground.

The park originally opened with 23 attractions, and has since grown to nearly 50 attractions over the years.

Attractions:

Lands

One of the first things that you will see when visiting Magic Kingdom is the big Mickey face and ears at the entrance designed into the landscaping, as well as the Walt Disney World Railroad, and once you enter you will walk under the railroad and onto the first land, Main Street, U.S.A, and immediately see Cinderella's Castle. From there your excitement begins, and you are immediately transported back to when you were a kid. The seven lands of Magic Kingdom are:

Main Street, U.S.A.

As soon as you walk into Magic Kingdom you enter Main Street, U.S.A, the first of 7 distinct lands withing Magic Kingdom. Main Street, U.S.A. includes the famous Walt Disney World Railroad, gift shops, candy and snack stores,a barber shop, dining and other shopping venues, along with a horse and carriage ride, as well as Cinderella's Castle at the end of Main street, U.S.A. which includes statues of Walt and Mickey Mouse standing, and Roy and Minnie Mouse sitting down.

The Walt Disney World Railroad transports guests to 2 other lands in Magic Kingdom, with stops in Frontierland and Mickey's Toontown Fair, as well as it circles the entire Magic Kingdom.

Adventureland

Adventureland is themed after the foreign lands of Africa, Asia, South America, the South Pacific, and the Middle east, and includes several attractions, such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, The enchanted Tiki Room (Under New Management), the Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse, and the Pirate Tutorial. There is also plenty of dining and shopping available, and several Disney characters appear throughout the day.

Frontierland

Frontierland is themed after the Old Wild, Wild West, and includes several popular attractions, such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, the Country Bear Jamboree, as well as Tom Sawyer Island. There is plenty of dining and shopping, as well as Disney characters appear throughout the day.

Liberty Square

Liberty Square is themed after the colonial times of America, and includes one of the most popular attractions in all of Magic Kingdom, the Haunted Mansion. The other attractions include the Hall of Presidents show, and the Liberty Belle paddle wheel boat ride (great for just plain relaxing). There is plenty of dining and shopping, as well as Disney characters appear throughout the day.

Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland is themed after the future, or what the future might have been like from the perspective of people in the earlier part of the 20th Century. The attractions within Tomorrowland include Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, Astro Orbiter, the Tomorrowland Transit Authority (aptly referred to as the people mover), the Tomorrowland Indy Speedway, Carousel of Progress show, Stitch's Great Escape, and the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. There are several dining and shopping venues available, as well as Disney characters appear throughout the day.

Fantasyland

Fantasyland is themed after those that wish upon a star, and your dreams will come true. There are several attractions in Fantasyland, and they include Snow White's Scary Adventure, Dumbo's Flying Circus, the famous Cinderella Castle, Peter Pan's Flight, Mad Tea Party, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's Philharmagic, and the ever popular, It's a Small World. More new attractions are scheduled to open in the next few years. There is plenty of dining and shopping available, as well as Disney characters appear throughout the day.

Mickey's Toontown Fair

Mickey's Toontown Fair is themed after everything Mickey and his friends, and include several attractions from Mickey's Country House (a great place to see Mickey), Minnie's Country House (a great place to see Minnie), The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm, Toontown Hall of Fame, Donald's Boat, Pixie Hollow, and Judge's Tent. There is plenty of dining and shopping, as well as Disney characters appear throughout the day.

Magic Kingdom is the most popular theme park at Walt Disney World, as it offers its guests, whether young or old, the chance to be a kid. Each night there is a fireworks display over Cinderella's Castle called Wishes, and features Tinker Bell flying across the sky, as well as dazzling music and lighting.

The park is centrally located and can be accessed by car, boat, monorail, or bus. The six hotels, and 1 campground that are near the Magic Kingdom theme park include The Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, The Contemporary Resort, Bay Lake Tower at Contemporary Resort (Disney Vacation Club Resort), The Polynesian Resort, The Wilderness Lodge, The Villas at Wilderness Lodge Resort (Disney Vacation Club Resort), and The Fort Wilderness Campground. They are all situated around Bay Lake and offer a great view of Magic Kingdom.