Hiya, Tara! Thanks for stopping by planDisney again with another vacation planning question. I'm happy to talk through your plans to help with your upcoming
Walt Disney World Resort vacation as it's just a few weeks away!
Your Disney day is going to be off to a great start with breakfast at
Chef Mickey's. This is one of our family favorites, as well--there are plenty of great options on the buffet for even the pickiest eaters. And of course, the main attraction is the wonderful photo ops with Mickey and friends!
After breakfast, you'll be able to take the handy walking path that connects
Disney's Contemporary Resort and
Magic Kingdom Park. You'll go through a bag check and a metal detector along this path before arriving at the main gates of the park to scan your tickets and enter for a day of fun.
Guests of Disney
Resort Hotels may enter the parks 30 minutes before the posted opening time with
Early Theme Park Entry--it's one of my favorite perks of staying on property! On most days, this means on-site Guests can begin enjoying attractions promptly at 8:00 AM, while those staying off-property will start their day at 8:30. Assuming your breakfast takes about an hour, the early birds arriving for rope drop will already be dispersed through the park by the time you arrive.
At Magic Kingdom, Guests are usually allowed to enter through the main gate before opening and then queue at either side of the "Hub" in front of Cinderella Castle (one line for early entry and one for regular entry), so the lines at the turnstiles don't back up too much. To keep things moving, I recommend making sure that your tickets are linked to your
My Disney Experience app so you can quickly scan a
MagicBand or
MagicMobile Pass and be on your way.
If your son is into
pin trading, I have often used this as a strategy to keep my kids engaged during an unexpected delay or a long line. We usually pack an assortment of pins to trade, and attaching these to a lanyard is a good activity to stay occupied. You'll also be likely to find Cast Members and other Guests open to trades which can help wait times pass more quickly!
Tara, I hope your family has the most magical time at Walt Disney World! If our planDisney crew can assist with any other questions, please don't hesitate to reach out again.
See Ya Real Soon!
Susan