What’s Great at Magic Kingdom, and What Needs Work?
Over the past few weeks, we’ve glanced at Walt Disney World’s theme parks.
We want to determine what’s good and what needs work at the various parks.
I’m saving EPCOT for last because it still has one addition, CommuniCore Hall & Plaza, coming in June.
So, an evaluation now would be a bit premature. Instead, we’ll skip to the best of the best.
What’s good and what needs improvement at Magic Kingdom, the most popular theme park in the world?
This topic feels particularly significant since we know that expansion is coming to Magic Kingdom soon.
That’s Disney’s way of saying that park officials believe something needs work. Let’s pinpoint what that is.
Needs Work
I’m starting with the negatives this time because I want to be blunt.
Magic Kingdom doesn’t need anything. It’s as close to perfect as the theme park experience allows.
You and I might have various quibbles about certain aspects – and I’m about to express three of mine – but they’re fractional.
Overall, the idea of improving Magic Kingdom is effectively an attempt to perfect it, something that’s not even possible.
Disney deserves commendation even for trying. Many businesses rest on their laurels when they become this dominant.
The fact that Disney hasn’t settled is why we all love the Mouse.
The Crowds
But there IS one very good reason why Disney wants to expand this park.
At this point, the demand at Magic Kingdom often dwarfs the supply, which leads to crowd sizes like these.
Management wants a bigger Magic Kingdom to spread these tourists around a larger space.
That strategy should reduce bottlenecks while expanding attendance and, thereby, revenue.
If not for the crowds, I’m confident Disney officials would be content to leave Magic Kingdom as it is for a while.
Well, Disney might not be, but every other corporation in the world would hang the Mission Accomplished flag and call it a day.
Lack of New Rides
Okay, I do have a couple of nitpicks about Magic Kingdom, but they’re minor in the grand scheme of things.
The first is that after Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened in 2014, Magic Kingdom mostly stayed the same for a decade.
Since then, the only new attraction of note is Tron Lightcycle / Run, which is admittedly a biggie.
Soon, we can add Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and Country Bear Musical Jamboree to the list.
Many fans would describe those attractions as variants rather than entirely new experiences, though. Prove us wrong, Imagineers!
Otherwise, Magic Kingdom has offered a sameness for years now.
I understand why, but I’m particularly excited about expanding here since some areas demand reinvention.
Frontierland
Specifically, I’ve previously discussed the dearth of offerings at Frontierland.
The thematic concept of a ghost town has become far too accurate due to the lack of attractions.
Currently, Frontierland consists of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tom Sawyer Island, and a shootin’ gallery.
We could include the Rivers of America boat rides as well, but you get the point. It’s pretty much Big Thunder Mountain and a playground.
Not coincidentally, I give credence to rumors suggesting that Disney might trim Rivers of America.
This strategy would empower Disney to add more attractions in this area and possibly even re-theme Frontierland.
In recent years, Disney Experiences has shown a willingness to uproot anything that isn’t working.
At the moment, I suspect most fans would describe Frontierland as the weakest link at Magic Kingdom.
Restaurants Could Be Better
Here’s a little thing, but it matters to many. Most of us eat at the park during a Magic Kingdom visit.
When we do, our options are wide-ranging but mostly mediocre.
I’ll prove this with a theoretical. How many Magic Kingdom restaurants would you genuinely miss if they closed?
There’s a sameness to many of them, right? Sure, a few Quick-Service locations like Columbia Harbour House and Casey’s Café are distinctive.
Similarly, you’ll never forget dining at Cinderella’s Royal Table, Skipper Canteen, Be Our Guest, or Liberty Tree Tavern.
Would you say the same of Crystal Palace, Tony’s Town Square, or The Plaza? Yes, some would, but how many would say so emphatically?
Disney restaurants are the best in class in the theme park industry.
Magic Kingdom isn’t the park where we prove that statement, though.
I think the park could do better and would like Disney to mix things up here. Do you agree with that or like what’s there?
Good
“Everything else” is a lazy response to what’s good at a theme park.
At Magic Kingdom, the statement is also factually correct. No entertainment activity becomes popular by accident.
To be the best theme park in the world, Disney has constructed an exceptionally great entertainment destination.
You’ll appreciate the achievement when you step on Main Street, U.S.A., and embrace the magic of the Disney Bubble.
Rides
I mentioned Tron and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, the newest roller coasters at the park.
Even so, I’d argue that the timeless attractions at Magic Kingdom provide the nostalgia that drives attendance.
No Disney park visit could be complete without rides on Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, It’s a Small World, and Haunted Mansion.
Magic Kingdom hosts the classics, but it marries them with E-ticket attractions added gradually over time.
Not coincidentally, Magic Kingdom rivals its older sibling, Disneyland Park, in terms of sheer volume of rides.
Remarkably, only three or four of them are anything less than triumphant experiences.
Everything serves a purpose, fills a niche, and satisfies a demand. It’s just a brilliantly designed theme park.
Shows
Magic Kingdom’s shows are also outstanding, covering various entertainment options.
I’m an evangelist for Mickey’s PhilharMagic, one of the best show attractions ever.
At Magic Kingdom, you’ll also find the original of this kind, Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress.
Disney designed this for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, which means it’s seven years older than the park that hosts it!
Of course, Disney shows embody a wider range of activities than simply attractions.
We’ve also got the daily parades, Cavalcades, and nighttime presentations.
All these options make Magic Kingdom feel vibrant throughout the day. It’s a living, breathing place you can visit when you need joy.
The shows are integral to this vibe, and management understands that.
So, we get the unique combination of classics like Carousel of Progress and modern fireworks shows that change before they can grow stale.
Character Experiences
Finally, we have the character interactions, which are arguably the most memorable parts of a Disney theme park visit.
Disney officials know this, which explains why you’ll often find characters right by the front gate at Magic Kingdom.
You enter the park, step onto Main Street, U.S.A., and you never know who you might to see.
Personally, I know I’m stopping if the answer is Marie or Stitch. Otherwise, my wife won’t speak to me for the rest of the day.
Later, we’ll walk to the spots where our favorites like Merida, Mirabel, and Mickey Mouse congregate.
Disney has thoughtfully given Mickey his own special hosting area just inside the park, knowing full well it’s the first stop for many of us.
During the pandemic, social distancing requirements prevented guests from hugging the characters.
Absence made everyone’s heart grow fonder, as the waits at places like Princess Fairytale Hall have increased lately.
Everyone knows that the character greetings put the magic in Magic Kingdom.
Those interactions are but one of many reasons why this park really doesn’t need any work at all…but Disney is gonna plus it anyway!
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