There are no questions here about whether there's enough for kids to do. More frequently, the questions asked involve maximizing time and family fun. Luckily Disney knows the pain of thousands of parents who have been forced to fight withering heat and annoying crowds in order for their little darlings to have the chance to wait 70 minutes in line for the Peter Pan ride (fastpass highly suggested).
Not that crowded.
Luckily, there are some features in place to help with this situation. We've already covered fastpasses (please tell me you get that fastpasses are an important part of a happy Disney vacation), but one ride was always difficult to get on based upon its extreme popularity and poor loading ability.
Yes, the classic Dumbo was always a sure bet for a long line in the sun, but you just have to do it because no matter how lame of a ride it actually is, a Disney vacation is not "real" until you have a photo of the kids in a flying elephant. Well, during its recent re-vamp of Fantasyland, Disney updated Dumbo with significant improvements. There are now twin dumbo circles, meaning the ride loads twice as fast. Additionally, you see that big tent? It hides this:
An air conditioned play area.
That's right, now when you come up to Dumbo there's no more fear of sweating and crying and misery. A cast member will hand you one of these jobbies, more frequently seen at eating establishments:
And you can wait for it to go off in coolness while your kids climb all over the big top. Apparently, the only difficulty is corraling your kids once your time arrives. Similarly, the Haunted Mansion, Winnie the Pooh (fastpass recommended), and Space Mountain (fastpass highly suggested) also have interactive queues, though not as convenient as Dumbo's. Many other rides throughout Walt Disney World have interesting lines which, if nothing else, can help you keep the kiddies entertained while they do have to wait.
One thing you can't get fastpasses for (yet, I hear they're coming) is the parades and fireworks. The Magic Kingdom has fireworks every night and, although some spots are considered prime viewing areas, you can pretty much see them from anywhere in the park. The Handlers watched them from behind the castle the other night which was pretty cool, as that way you get the fireworks lauching on both sides of you. Regardless, people start staking out their spots for these things 1+ hour before the event. That's an hour of lost riding time the Handlers just cannot condone. Also, parades are lame.
Some are less lame than others.
However, there are usually 3 parades per day. One is at 3pm, one is before the fireworks and one (which is exactly the same as the one before the fireworks) is at the very end of the day. If you or your children simply must see a parade, just do remember that it will be difficult to get a good spot unless you stake one out beforehand (or stay up for the very last one). Also, the parades shut down whole areas of the park and make it difficult to move around. So, if you have someplace to be (for a fastpass, for instance) it's best to make sure you're on the right side of the road before it begins.
Personally, the Handlers see the cast members putting up the tape and ropes in preparation for a parade and run the other direction.
You might also be worried about the heat. In just about every park there are stations in various areas with misters or water play features to help you and your little ones keep cool.
Disney is not about having you collapse from heat exhaustion (a not uncommon problem, we saw some EMS guys with a stretcher just yesterday). You are allowed to bring non-alcoholic drinks in non-glass containers into the parks. There are water fountains all over. Pretty much every food stand you see is willing and able to provide you with a free glass of cold water upon request. Please, if you're feeling hot, do something about it. Wear a hat. Put on sunscreen. Buy one of those fan/mister contraptions that are so popular.
Finally, for those of you who are gaming fans, Disney has developed something to entertain you as well. It's called Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom and it is, at it's most basic, a collectible card game. You get cards from the fire station (they're free, but you can buy more if you become obsessed) on Main Street, then you go around to different points on the map and use the cards to interact with hidden video screens.
The cards contain "spells", which you use to defeat villans. And, of course, you can trade for better or rarer cards with random junkies.
Magic the Gathering, eat your heart out.
Although this is fun, the Handlers are not certain they'd suggest it for a first time visit. For one, you need to have a pretty good knowledge of the Magic Kingdom already to find all the hidden places, and it's kind of a time suck. You need that time for rides, damnit!
So there you go, your personal guide to the Magic Kingdom.
*Technically, Disneyland.
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