Disney World Magic Kingdom 2026 Review

Disclosure

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For our second park, we chose Magic Kingdom. We actually didn't have any "must-do" rides at this park that were available at rope drop, so we took our time to get photos in front of the castle and rode the carousel. 

Click here to read about our first day at Hollywood Studios, or continue below for our reviews of the rides, shows, and food in Magic Kingdom. 

Rides

Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

This was our first ride, as it was one of the few that was open at rope drop. It's your typical carousel, and being one of the few on in the morning, we got our first picks. 

It's a Small World

This is another ride that has a pretty short wait time throughout the day, but it was open at rope drop, so we chose to hop on it as it is a classic and a very kid-friendly ride.

Jungle Cruise

This was our third ride and the one we got on once it opened because we knew lines could get long later in the day. It had a 10-minute wait, but it didn't feel that long as we got on pretty quick. 

Haunted Mansion

My child thought this would be too creepy, so only my husband went on the ride. It had a pretty steady "13 minute" wait all day, so it's pretty much a walk-on. It's one of his favorite rides. 

Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

Under the Sea had about a 25-minute wait when we got to it and was probably the longest wait time we had for the day. My child ended up liking this ride, and we did it again around 9 PM. It was a walk-on in the evening, so I would recommend saving this one for the end of the day. 

Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

This was my child's favorite ride, and she rode it twice. It moves a lot faster, especially on the turns, than I remember, so I didn't go on a second time. This one usually only had around a 10/15 minute wait. 

Walt Disney World Railroad

When we went, the full loop was closed, and they were using it as a shuttle between Main Street, U.S.A. and Fantasyland. We mainly chose to ride it just to avoid walking, so it worked out for us, and we only waited about 10 minutes. My child enjoyed that Stitch was one of the conductor voices. 

Shows

Rainy Day Cavalcade

This parade only happens if rain is expected, which will lead to them canceling their main afternoon and evening parade. 

We were a little disappointed when we saw this parade because we knew it meant that there might not be a big parade later. But at the same time, it was kind of a unique experience because they don't do this mini parade on a regular, sunny day. 

Enchanted Tiki Room

Every time we went in the past, we've also skipped this. As my child wasn't into thrill rides, we decided to view this show. By the time we got in line, the pre-show was already going, so we didn't have to wait more than 10 minutes before being let into the room. 

Now that we know it's just singing animatronic birds, it's not all that exciting, and we could definitely pass in the future. However, on a hot day, it is a nice way to sit down and cool off. 

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

This was a fun comedy show, but unless you're looking for a place to sit and cool off, it's skippable. The show relies on audience participation too, so not the best if you have anxiety, as they randomly select people to put on the screen.

Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade

The rain held off, and we did get to watch the Festival of Fantasy Parade. It's a great way to see all the characters, and the floats are beautiful. 

Happily Ever After

If you have little ones, best to get there early or be prepared to hold them. This show heavily relies on projections on the castle, making it hard for kids to see with all the adults in front. 

It's a really cool show, but I found myself struggling with what to look at. I tried to focus on the projections, as I've seen fireworks before, but the loud booms distracted me, and I found myself looking up. 

If you have magic bands, they also light up during the show, so that was also a tad distracting as my child kept looking down at hers. 

I would definitely watch it again, but it's one of those shows that will probably need multiple viewings in order to see everything.

Characters

My child wasn't into princesses or any of the characters at this park, so we didn't do any meet-and-greets this time. However, we did catch glimpses of Tigger and Stitch.

Food & Drinks

Note: We had the Disney Quick Service Dining Plan, so all the places we ate at accepted the plan. 

Columbia Harbour House

We had the lobster rolls, which tasted good, but it's not something I would go out of my way for to get again. It is one of the pricier eat options for the Quick Service Dining plan, so a great option if you're trying to maximize your credits. 

For drinks, we got the Minute Maid® Lemonade Slushy, which was refreshing on a hot day. 

Our child had the grilled shrimp skewer, but she filled up mostly on her sides, and we ate some of her shrimp. It was pretty tasty. 

Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe

This ended up being one of our favorite restaurants of the whole trip. I had the 1/3 lb Bacon Cheeseburger and my husband had the Truffle-French Onion Burger. We both tried the Lunar Lemonade, which was excellent. 

Our child had the Cheeseburger, and while she was only able to eat half of it, it was the first meal that she didn't complain about. She would eat it again.

Storybook Treats

Originally we came here for the Rapunzel Sundaes, but sadly, we were told the machine was broken, so I have yet to experience it. Our child did try the Aurora Cone though, and she loved it. 

In Summary

Highlights:

Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe

Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade

Happily Ever After

Disappointments:

Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away

• There was a 9 PM and an 11 PM parade. We chose to skip the 9 PM parade to sneak in some more rides, but then the 11 PM parade got canceled because there was a slight sprinkle during the fireworks show, so we ended up missing it completely.

Rapunzel Sundae

Space Mountain

• Not really a disappointment, but more of a regret. My husband skipped the ride at the time because he didn't think he was into thrill rides. Only after he rode Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at Epcot did he realize he liked coasters, so now it's on his list to do if we ever go again.