Orlando 2026 May 8–17
Day 8 Fri, May 15
🏰 Magic Kingdom WDW

Magic Kingdom — Headliner Day

Big Disney day. LL Multi Pass strongly recommended. Be Our Guest dinner. Stay for fireworks.

All Magic Kingdom info
Rides, heights, dining, characters

Park hours

Open
9:00 AM
Close
10:00 PM
Fireworks
10:00 PM
  • Happily Ever After moved to 10 PM start (post April 19, 2026).

Source: Disney Food Blog

Rope drop

At the gate 45 min before open. Walk to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, then Peter Pan's, then ride LL momentum.

Must do (9)

  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (38" — LL)
  • Space Mountain (44")
  • Big Thunder Mountain (40")
  • Peter Pan's Flight (LL — line is brutal)
  • Haunted Mansion
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
  • It's a Small World
  • TRON Lightcycle/Run (48" — paid LL Single Pass only)
  • Happily Ever After fireworks (~9pm)

All rides (10)

  • Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
    38" ⚡ LL Multi moderate

    Worst standby in the park. LL

  • TRON Lightcycle / Run
    48" ⚡ LL Single extreme

    Blocks: Bowen, Briggs, Louie

    Paid LL Single Pass only (VQ retired Sept 2024). Buy at 7am, 3 days out.

  • Space Mountain
    44" ⚡ LL Multi thrill

    Blocks: Briggs, Louie

    Indoor coaster in the dark.

  • Big Thunder Mountain
    40" ⚡ LL Multi moderate

    Briggs cleared.

  • Splash / Tiana's Bayou Adventure
    40" ⚡ LL Multi thrill

    Big drop, you will get wet.

  • Peter Pan's Flight
    ⚡ LL Multi mild

    Brutal standby. LL

  • Haunted Mansion
    ⚡ LL Multi mild
  • Pirates of the Caribbean
    ⚡ LL Multi mild
  • It's a Small World
    ⚡ LL Multi mild
  • Goofy's Barnstormer
    35" ⚡ LL Multi mild

    Tiny kid coaster.

Meals (5)

  • Be Our Guest Needs reservation
    Potential walk-up only — we didn't book. Inside the Beast's castle.
  • The Crystal Palace (character buffet) Needs reservation
    Potential walk-up only — we didn't book. Pooh & friends character buffet at the end of Main Street.
  • Columbia Harbour House Quick
    Best crab roll in the park.
  • Gaston's Tavern Quick
    Turkey legs, cinnamon rolls.
  • The Lunching Pad (Tomorrowland) Quick
    Solid quick lunch + break spot.

Express / Lightning Lane

LL Multi Pass priority order:

  1. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
  2. Peter Pan's Flight
  3. Big Thunder
  4. Space Mountain (or Jungle Cruise)

LL Single Pass: TRON Lightcycle/Run — paid only (VQ retired Sept 2024). Buy at 7am, 3 days out.

Shows & parades (8)

  • Happily Ever After 10:00 PM
    fireworks Cinderella Castle

    Stake out Hub grass 45 min ahead. Plan 30+ min crowd exit.

  • Disney Starlight: Dream the Night Away 8:45 PM, 11:00 PM
    parade Main Street → Frontierland

    New nighttime parade.

  • Festival of Fantasy Parade 3:00 PM (once daily — was 12+3, now just 3)
    parade Frontierland → Main Street

    12 min, weather-dependent.

  • Disney Adventure Friends Cavalcade 10:30 AM, 11:45 AM
    cavalcade Frontierland → Liberty Sq → Main St

    Includes Bruno, Miguel, etc. (Mornings only after Apr 6, 2026.)

  • Mickey's Magical Friendship Faire 12:45, 1:55, 3:55, 5:25, 6:30 PM
    show Cinderella Castle Forecourt Stage

    ~22 min, outdoor.

  • Dapper Dans 9:00, 9:50, 10:55, 12:40, 1:30, 2:15, 3:45
    show Main Street U.S.A.

    Barbershop quartet.

  • Casey's Corner Pianist 11:05, 12:20, 1:30, 2:40, 3:35, 4:35, 5:55 PM
    show Main Street U.S.A.

    Ragtime piano.

  • Flag Retreat 5:00 PM
    show Town Square flagpole
Live show times
My Disney Experience TouringPlans live times

Times above are typical patterns — confirm in the app or TouringPlans on the day.

Rain backup

Lots of indoor (Pirates, Mansion, Small World, Pooh, Carousel of Progress, Hall of Presidents). Fireworks may cancel — check My Disney Experience.

Notes

Height blocks

  • Bowen (46”): out at Tron (48”)
  • Briggs (42”): out at Tron, Space Mountain (44”)
  • Louie: out at Tron, Space Mountain

Single rider: none. Use rider switch (parent swap).

Fireworks: stake out Hub grass 45 min before. Plan 30+ min exit.