Hey-Howdy-Hey, Laura! What a treat it is to welcome you here to planDisney and answer your question about the best time to visit Magic Kingdom next April. Now, I have to confess that I believe any day is a good one to visit one of the four theme parks at Walt Disney World, but I will put my panelist prowess to the test to see if there's a particular day that will be best for your visit.
I have some pretty good news for you right off the bat, as the dates you are visiting are after the spring break rush around the Easter holiday and right before the Memorial Day unofficial
kickoff to summer. The cheerleading event you describe will most likely have the participants visiting the parks toward the end of their time in Disney World, but there's no guarantee that they'll all go to
Magic Kingdom. Plus, regular guests from all over the world will be sprinkled in as they enjoy their vacations. Long story short, I think it's best to visit Magic Kingdom when it best fits into the rest of your trip's itinerary.
There are quite a few ways to manage crowds while visiting the theme parks, and some of them even allow you to plan ahead of time. For instance, you may want to explore purchasing one or more
Lightning Lane Pass options which will permit you to either pre-book a series of rides or pay a fee to experience the most popular attractions with significantly reduced wait times. There's even a pass that will allow you to enter every Lightning Lane queue one time at one park on one day without scheduling at all! Amazing!
Another strategy that I've used is to zig when other guests in the park zag. My wife is a teacher and I worked in education for a long time, and our lunch on the school schedule was at 10:30AM. Since we're rope-dropping park warriors who get to the entrance of Magic Kingdom as early as possible, 10:30 is a solid lunch time for us. Match that up with a
mobile order and there's no stopping our family! We can grab a snack at the traditional lunch hour when other people are settling in for a table service meal or parking their strollers for a midday break. Try and plan your breaks slightly earlier or later than the traditional times and you'll be surprised how much time you can save.
Finally, there are quiet areas of Magic Kingdom that are perfect for quick escape from the throng of people if it becomes a little overwhelming. My absolute favorite spot to hang out for a moment is the small courtyard behind Liberty Tree Tavern and Ye Olde Christmas Shop. The benches and shade provide the perfect atmosphere to just enjoy being in The Most Magical Place on Earth!
I hope this helps you plan an incredible day at Magic Kingdom, Laura! If you're seeking additional tips or suggestions, you know where to find me. I am wishing you a fabulous visit to Disney World.
Stay magical,
Scott