About The Magic Kingdom
Disney's Magic Kingdom is one of the most iconic places on Earth. Opened on October 1st, 1971, the Magic Kingdom is a timeless theme park that many refer to as the Happiest Place on Earth and a must visit park when visiting Central Florida.
The Magic Kingdom features six lands that are all circled around Cinderella's Castle in a spoke-like pattern. Each land has a unique theme and feel and all of the attractions, shops, restaurants, and other entertainment are tailored around that theme and feel.
The Magic Kingdom features six lands that are all circled around Cinderella's Castle in a spoke-like pattern. Each land has a unique theme and feel and all of the attractions, shops, restaurants, and other entertainment are tailored around that theme and feel.
Getting to the Magic Kingdom
There are many ways to get to the Magic Kingdom park. If you are traveling in by car, you will be parking at the Transportation and Ticket Center (See info on Transportation and Ticket Center below) and from there you will have to take a ferry boat or monorail to the front of the Magic Kingdom park. However, the Disney Resort buses drop you off at a bus stop right at the front of the Magic Kingdom park.
From I-4 Eastbound
If you are driving in from I-4 Eastbound, the best way to get to the Magic Kingdom is to get off at Exit 62 (Florida 417N toward Airport/Disney World/Celebration) and follow the signs towards Disney World. Once following the signs towards Disney World, that takes you to World Drive and leads you right to the Transportation and Ticket Center parking lot.
From I-4 Westbound
If you are driving in from I-4 Westbound, the best way to get to the Magic Kingdom is to get off at Exit 67 (Epcot Center Drive) and follow the signs to the Magic Kingdom. From Epcot Center Drive, you will go under the "Welcome to Walt Disney World" sign and then stay to the left at the fork in the road. From there you will have to merge into the right hand lane to go onto World Drive towards the Magic Kingdom. That leads you right to the Transportation and Ticket Center parking lot.
From Florida 417 Southbound
If you are driving in from Florida 417 Southbound, the best way to get to the Magic Kingdom is to get off at Exit 6 (International Drive towards Epcot Center Drive) and follow the signs to the Magic Kingdom. From Epcot Center Drive, you will go under the "Welcome to Walt Disney World" sign and then stay to the left at the fork in the road. From there you will have to merge into the right hand lane to go onto World Drive towards the Magic Kingdom. That leads you right to the Transportation and Ticket Center parking lot.
From Walt Disney World Resorts
If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, the best way to get to the Magic Kingdom is by Disney Bus or Monorail. If you are staying at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Grand Floridan Resort, you can take the Resort Monorail to the Magic Kingdom. From any other Walt Disney World Resort, bus transportation is offered.
From Non-Walt Disney World Resorts
If you are staying at a resort that is not a Walt Disney World Resort, bus transportation may be offered. If so, buses take you to a bus drop off spot at the Transportation and Ticket Center. If bus transportation isn't offered, you can drive to the Magic Kingdom and park at the Transportation and Ticket Center by following the directions from I-4 Eastbound, I-4 Westbound, or Florida 417 Southbound above.
From I-4 Eastbound
If you are driving in from I-4 Eastbound, the best way to get to the Magic Kingdom is to get off at Exit 62 (Florida 417N toward Airport/Disney World/Celebration) and follow the signs towards Disney World. Once following the signs towards Disney World, that takes you to World Drive and leads you right to the Transportation and Ticket Center parking lot.
From I-4 Westbound
If you are driving in from I-4 Westbound, the best way to get to the Magic Kingdom is to get off at Exit 67 (Epcot Center Drive) and follow the signs to the Magic Kingdom. From Epcot Center Drive, you will go under the "Welcome to Walt Disney World" sign and then stay to the left at the fork in the road. From there you will have to merge into the right hand lane to go onto World Drive towards the Magic Kingdom. That leads you right to the Transportation and Ticket Center parking lot.
From Florida 417 Southbound
If you are driving in from Florida 417 Southbound, the best way to get to the Magic Kingdom is to get off at Exit 6 (International Drive towards Epcot Center Drive) and follow the signs to the Magic Kingdom. From Epcot Center Drive, you will go under the "Welcome to Walt Disney World" sign and then stay to the left at the fork in the road. From there you will have to merge into the right hand lane to go onto World Drive towards the Magic Kingdom. That leads you right to the Transportation and Ticket Center parking lot.
From Walt Disney World Resorts
If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort, the best way to get to the Magic Kingdom is by Disney Bus or Monorail. If you are staying at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Grand Floridan Resort, you can take the Resort Monorail to the Magic Kingdom. From any other Walt Disney World Resort, bus transportation is offered.
From Non-Walt Disney World Resorts
If you are staying at a resort that is not a Walt Disney World Resort, bus transportation may be offered. If so, buses take you to a bus drop off spot at the Transportation and Ticket Center. If bus transportation isn't offered, you can drive to the Magic Kingdom and park at the Transportation and Ticket Center by following the directions from I-4 Eastbound, I-4 Westbound, or Florida 417 Southbound above.
Magic Kingdom Park Hours
Map of the Magic Kingdom
Click on the park map below to open a larger image in a new window.
Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC)
The Transportation and Ticket Center is one of the main transportation hubs at Walt Disney World resort. If you are driving to the Magic Kingdom, taking a bus from a non-Disney resort, or taking a Taxi/Uber/Lyft, the main parking lot is located at the TTC.
The parking lot is huge and is made up of two main sections and several sub-sections. The two main sections are the Heros Section and the Villains Section and each sub-section indicates specific row numbers and a Hero or a Villain.
The Heros section is indicated on the picture with the color blue. And the sub-sections are Aladdin (rows 200-208), Woody (rows 100-109), Peter Pan (rows 209-225), Simba (rows 110-126), Rapunzel (rows 226-237), and Mulan (rows 127-146). The Villians section is indicated on the picture with the color red. And the sub-sections are Zurg (rows 400-409), Jafar (rows 304-311), Scar (rows 410-426), Hook (rows 312-328), Cruella (rows 427-437), and Ursula (rows 329-339). A courtesy Tram services each section and most sub-sections so that you don't have to walk from your car to the TTC. However the Trams do not service the disability parking section which is closest to the TTC. |
Once you walk up or take the tram from the parking lot to the main section of the TTC, the first thing you will have to go through is baggage check/security. Every bag is subject to search and every person is subject to walk through a metal detector. In addition to looking for weapons of any kind, the security team is looking for other prohibited items as well such as selfie sticks. So be sure to keep those items locked in your car before entering the screening area.
After going through baggage check/security, you have two options to get to the Magic Kingdom. You could hop on the Monorail or the Magic Kingdom Ferry Boat. The Monorail is the faster mode of transportation, but it's also more popular so if the line is real long, it might be quicker to get to the front gate of the Magic Kingdom by taking the ferry boat. If you do choose the Monorail, you could ride on the Express Monorail which takes you directly to the Magic Kingdom Monorail Station (going through Disney's Contemporary Resort), or you could ride on the Resort Monorail which from the TTC will stop at Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Grand Floridan Resort and Spa, and then the Magic Kingdom Monorail Station. If you choose to take the Ferry Boat, there is only one to choose but you could ride on the second level or the first level of the Ferry Boat.
Whatever way you choose to get to the Magic Kingdom, you are sure to have a magical start to your day!
After going through baggage check/security, you have two options to get to the Magic Kingdom. You could hop on the Monorail or the Magic Kingdom Ferry Boat. The Monorail is the faster mode of transportation, but it's also more popular so if the line is real long, it might be quicker to get to the front gate of the Magic Kingdom by taking the ferry boat. If you do choose the Monorail, you could ride on the Express Monorail which takes you directly to the Magic Kingdom Monorail Station (going through Disney's Contemporary Resort), or you could ride on the Resort Monorail which from the TTC will stop at Disney's Polynesian Resort, Disney's Grand Floridan Resort and Spa, and then the Magic Kingdom Monorail Station. If you choose to take the Ferry Boat, there is only one to choose but you could ride on the second level or the first level of the Ferry Boat.
Whatever way you choose to get to the Magic Kingdom, you are sure to have a magical start to your day!