How we rode 24 rides at Magic Kingdom in ONE DAY!

Spending a day at Magic Kingdom is always magical, but riding 24 rides in one day takes a bit of strategy and planning. Here's how we did it, along with some tips and tricks to help you maximize your time and make the most of your Disney adventure. *If you are reading this after July 24, 2024, some of these tips may not work anymore as Disney releases a new system for riding rides

Plan Ahead

Make a List of Must-Do Rides

• Before your trip, make a list of the rides you absolutely don't want to miss. Prioritize these rides in your plan. We often sit down and watch YouTube videos of the rides and always prioritize the newest rides for our family.

Use the My Disney Experience App

• Download the My Disney Experience app to get used to it, link tickets if other family members are also using the app.

Be There for Rope Drop

• Arrive at the park at least 30-60 minutes before the park opens to be among the first in line when the gates open. You can get in and walk all the way to the castle, take pictures with very few people in the park and drink your coffee and eat your breakfast while waiting. We did not stay on property the last two times we've stayed. While I know this does not get us early entry, we still got 24 rides in without the extra 30 minutes of early entry. This gives you a head start on popular rides with shorter wait times. I'll share another post on my strategy for that -coming soon!

Early Entry for Resort Guests

• If you’re staying at a Disney Resort, take advantage of early entry benefits to get into the park before it officially opens to the public. I could see this being really beneficial, but we have loved our AirBnb stays the last few times because we have more space with our teens.

Start with Popular Rides

• Head to the most popular rides first thing in the morning when wait times are generally shorter. For example, start with rides like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train or Space Mountain. This WAS our plan last week. We planned to head straight to Seven Dwarfs, but as I watched the time go up, we decided to PIVOT and head to Adventureland instead. That part of the park was NOT open for early entry so we had to wait at that rope for another 30 minutes. But getting there early enough we were first in line and since we walk ridiculously fast, we were the first boat of the day for Jungle Cruise. We then hopped over to Pirates of the Caribbean before heading to our LL for Tiana's Bayou Adventure.

Utilize Genie+ and Lightning Lane

• Use Genie+ at Magic Kingdom without a doubt! It costs somewhere between $20-29 per day from what I have seen. I woke up at midnight on the day we were going to the park to buy it and I think it was cheaper than what I thought! After July 24th, you'll be able to book up to 3 rides in advance.

Group Rides by Area

• Plan to tackle rides in one area of the park before moving on to the next. This minimizes walking time and maximizes ride time.

Monitor Wait Times

• Use the app to keep an eye on wait times and adjust your plan as needed. If a ride has a shorter wait time than expected, take advantage of it.

Ride During Parades

• While many guests watch parades, head to popular rides. Wait times often drop significantly during these events. Sometimes you can get stuck though, so be careful!

Evening Rides

• During and after the fireworks, many guests start to leave the park. This is a great time to hit popular attractions with shorter wait times. We've caught a short line for Big Thunder Mountain before during the fireworks and it was amazing!!
  

Be Prepared for Changes

• Ride closures or unexpected delays can happen. Stay flexible and adjust your plan as needed.

Enjoy the Experience

• Remember, you're at Disney World! Take time to enjoy the magic and make memories, even if you don’t hit every ride on your list.

Our epic 24 ride day was definitely tiring...but SO WORTH EVERY SECOND! But we hadn't been to Disney World in 8 years! We've gone to Disney land 3 times since our last visit to the Florida park, so we wanted to maximize as much as we could. Any our kids are teenagers, so getting around the park is a lot easier these days without strollers!