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{{about|the theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort|other Disney theme parks informally called "Magic Kingdom"|Disneyland (disambiguation)|other uses|Magic Kingdom (disambiguation)}}
{{refimprove|date=June 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2013}}
{{Infobox amusement park
| name = Magic Kingdom
| image = [[File:Magic Kingdom Logo.svg|90px]]<br>[[File:Cinderella castle day.jpg|200px]]
| caption = [[Cinderella Castle]], the icon of Magic Kingdom.
| resort = [[Walt Disney World|Walt Disney World Resort]]
| location = [[Bay Lake, Florida|Bay Lake]]
| location2 = [[Florida]]
| location3 = [[United States|U.S.]]
| coordinates = {{coord|28|25|07|N|81|34|52|W}}
| theme = [[Fairy tale]]s and Disney characters
| homepage = {{URL|http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/|Official website}}
| owner = [[The Walt Disney Company]]
| operator = [[Walt Disney Parks and Resorts]]
| opening_date = October 1, 1971
| closing_date =
| season = Year-round
| slogan = The Most Magical Place On Earth
}}
{{DWR}}
'''Magic Kingdom Park''', commonly known as '''Magic Kingdom''', is the first-built of the four [[theme park]]s at the [[Walt Disney World|Walt Disney World Resort]] in [[Bay Lake, Florida|Bay Lake]], [[Florida]]. It opened on October 1, 1971. Designed and built by [[Walt Disney Imagineering|WED Enterprises]], its layout and attractions are similar to [[Disneyland|Disneyland Park]] in [[Anaheim, California]], and is dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters. In 2013, the park hosted 18.58 million visitors, making it the most visited theme park in the world for the fifth consecutive year.<ref name="2013 attendance">{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2013 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/pdf/TEAAECOM2013.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|accessdate=June 4, 2014|year=2014}}</ref>

The park is represented by [[Cinderella Castle]], a replica of the fairy tale [[castle]] seen in the [[Cinderella (1950 film)|1950 film]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Still shot of Cinderella Castle in 1950 movie|url=http://i2.listal.com/image/2129802/500full.jpg|accessdate=November 28, 2012}}</ref>

==Dedication==
{{quote|''Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney... and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire ''Disney'' organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place ... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn&nbsp;— together.''|[[Roy Oliver Disney]], October 25, 1971<ref>{{cite web|title=Magic Kingdom 1971 Grand Opening (Video)|url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxXv9gr1cis|website=[[Youtube]]|accessdate=27 June 2014}}</ref>}}

==History==
Although [[Walt Disney]] had been highly involved in planning [[Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (concept)|''The Florida Project'']], [[The Walt Disney Company]] began construction on Magic Kingdom and the entire resort in 1967 after his death. The park was built as a larger, improved version of [[Disneyland|Disneyland Park]] in California. There are several anecdotes relating to reasons for some of the features of Walt Disney World, and Magic Kingdom specifically. According to one story, Walt Disney once saw a [[Frontierland]] cowboy walking through [[Tomorrowland]] at Disneyland. He disliked that the cowboy intruded on the futuristic setting of Tomorrowland and wanted to avoid situations like this in the new park.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.hiddenmickeys.org/WDW/MagicKingdom/Secrets/General/Underground.html | title=Fun Facts of Magic Kingdom's Underground Complex | work=www.hiddenmickeys.org | year=1995 | accessdate=May 3, 2007}}</ref> Therefore, Magic Kingdom was built over a series of tunnels called [[utilidor]]s, a [[portmanteau]] of ''utility'' and ''corridor'', allowing employees (called "cast members") or VIP guests to move through the park out of sight from guests.

Because of Florida's high water table, the tunnels could not be put underground, so they were built at the existing grade, meaning the park is built on the second story, giving Magic Kingdom an elevation of {{convert|107|ft|m}}. The area around the utilidors was filled in with dirt removed from the [[Seven Seas Lagoon]], which was being constructed at the same time. The utilidors were built in the initial construction and were not extended as the park expanded. The tunnels were intended to be designed into all subsequent Walt Disney World parks, but were set aside mostly because of financial constraints. Future World at [[Epcot]] and [[Pleasure Island (Disney World)|Pleasure Island]] each have a smaller network of utilidors.

Magic Kingdom opened as the first part of the Walt Disney World Resort on October 1, 1971, commencing concurrently with [[Disney's Contemporary Resort]] and [[Disney's Polynesian Resort]]. It opened with twenty-three attractions, three unique to the park and twenty replicas of attractions at Disneyland, split into six themed lands, five copies of those at Disneyland ([[Main Street, U.S.A.]], [[Adventureland (Disney)|Adventureland]], [[Frontierland]], [[Fantasyland]], and [[Tomorrowland]]) and the Magic Kingdom exclusive of [[Liberty Square (Magic Kingdom)|Liberty Square]]. The Walt Disney Company promised to increase this number with a combination of replicas and unique attractions. While there is no individual dedication to Magic Kingdom, the dedication by [[Roy O. Disney]] for the entire resort was placed within its gates.

The first, and as of today, only land added to the original roster of lands in the park was [[Mickey's Toontown#Magic Kingdom|Mickey's Toontown Fair]]. The land originally opened in 1988 as Mickey's Birthdayland to celebrate Mickey Mouse's 60th birthday. Later the land was renovated as Mickey's Starland and eventually to Mickey's Toontown Fair. The land was home to attractions such as [[Mickey's House and Meet Mickey|Mickey's Country House]], Minnie's Country House, [[The Great Goofini|The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm]], and Donald's Boat. It closed on February 12, 2011 to make way for the expansion of Fantasyland. The Walt Disney World Railroad station in Mickey's Toontown Fair, which opened with Mickey's Birthdayland in 1988, was closed for the duration of the construction. In 2012, the space where Mickey's Toontown Fair sat reopened as a part of Fantasyland, in a sub-land called the Storybook Circus, where the Dumbo the Flying Elephant was relocated. The Barnstormer was remained and was re-themed to [[The Great Goofini]].<ref name=FLEupdate12-10-2010>{{Cite web | last = Smith | first = Thomas | title = New Fantasyland Expansion Update | date = December 10, 2010 | url = http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2010/12/new-fantasyland-expansion-update/ | accessdate = December 10, 2010}}</ref>

Since opening day, Magic Kingdom has been closed temporarily because of four hurricanes: [[Hurricane Floyd|Floyd]], [[Hurricane Frances|Frances]], [[Hurricane Charley|Charley]], and [[Hurricane Jeanne|Jeanne]]. It was also closed from mid afternoon September 11, 2001 to September 12, 2001 due to the [[September 11 attacks|9/11 terrorist attacks]].<ref>"[http://disneyreporter.110mb.com/disneyreporter/transporter/wdw/mk/index.htm Magic Kingdom]" Disney Reporter&nbsp;– Where the Magic Lives</ref>

"Magic Kingdom" was often used as an unofficial nickname for Disneyland before Walt Disney World was built. The official tagline for Disneyland is "The Happiest Place On Earth", while the tagline for Magic Kingdom is "The Most Magical Place On Earth". In 1994, to differentiate it from Disneyland, the park was officially renamed Magic Kingdom Park, but is known as Magic Kingdom. Like all Disney theme parks, the official name of the park does not start with an article ("the"), though it is commonly referred to that way, and a sign on the railroad station at the front of the park reads "The Magic Kingdom".

==Lands==
{{main|List of Magic Kingdom attractions}}
Magic Kingdom is divided into six themed "lands." It is designed like a wheel, with the hub in front of [[Cinderella Castle]], pathways spoke out across the {{convert|107|acres}} of the park and lead to these six lands.<ref>[http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/ Disneyworld.disney.go.com]</ref>
The {{RailGauge|3ft|lk=on}} [[Narrow gauge railways|narrow gauge]] [[Walt Disney World Railroad]] runs along the perimeter of the park and makes stops at [[Main Street, U.S.A.]], [[Frontierland]], and [[Fantasyland]].
<gallery widths="150px" heights="115px">
File:Main Street, Horse & Carriage 1.jpg|<center>'''Main Street, U.S.A.'''</center>
File:Adventureland at Magic Kingdom.jpg|<center>'''Adventureland'''<br>(exterior of Tortuga Tavern)</center>
File:Thunder wdw.jpg|<center>'''Frontierland'''<br>(theming for ''[[Big Thunder Mountain Railroad]]'')</center>
File:Hall of Presidents MK.JPG|<center>'''Liberty Square'''<br>(Hall of Presidents)</center>
File:Fantasyland Bavarian architecture.jpg|<center>'''Fantasyland'''<br>(Bavarian theming)</center>
File:WDW-Tomorrowland sign.jpg|<center>'''Tomorrowland'''</center>
</gallery>

===Main Street, U.S.A.===
{{main|Main Street, U.S.A.}}
[[File:Mainstreetflorida.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Main Street, U.S.A., with [[Cinderella Castle]] in the far distance.]]
Symbolically, Main Street, U.S.A. represents the park's "opening credits," where guests pass under the train station (the opening curtain,) then view the names of key personnel along the windows of the buildings' upper floors. Many windows bear the name of a fictional business, such as "Seven Summits Expeditions, [[Frank Wells|Frank G. Wells]] President", with each representing a tribute to significant people connected to the Disney company and the development of the Walt Disney World Resort. It features stylistic influences from around the country. Taking its inspiration from [[New England]] to [[Missouri]], this design is most noticeable in the four corners in the middle of Main Street, where each of the four corner buildings represents a different architectural style. There is no opera house as there is at Disneyland; instead, there is the Town Square Theater. Also, this is where Christopher George Weaver, the "mayor" of Main Street U.S.A., and one of the park's most important figures, resides.

Main Street is lined with shops selling merchandise and food. The decor is early-20th century small-town America, inspired by Walt Disney's childhood and the film ''[[Lady and the Tramp]]''. City Hall contains the Guest Relations lobby, where cast members provide information and assistance. A working [[barber]] shop gives [[haircut]]s for a fee. The Emporium carries a wide variety of Disney souvenirs such as plush toys, collectible pins and Mickey-ear hats. Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and The Plaza Restaurant are table-service locations. At the end of Main Street is Casey's Corner, where guests enjoy traditional American [[ballpark]] fare including hot dogs and fries while watching old cartoons on the bleachers. The Main Street [[Confectionary]] sells sweets priced by their weight, such as candied apples, crisped rice treats, chocolates, cookies and fudge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=469|title=Main Street Confectionary, Magic Kingdom|accessdate=April 29, 2010|publisher=[[Walt Disney World]]}}</ref> Most windows bear the name of people who were influential at Disney parks. An example of a classic Main Street, U.S.A. attraction is the {{RailGauge|3ft}} narrow gauge Walt Disney World Railroad, which transports guest throughout the park, making stops at Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, and Frontierland. The railroad's previous stop at Mickey's Toontown Fair was replaced by the Fantasyland stop in 2012. Main Street, U.S.A. also has the [[Main Street, U.S.A.#Magic Kingdom|Main Street Vehicles]] attraction, which includes a {{RailGauge|3ft|lk=on}} [[Narrow gauge railway|narrow gauge]]<ref>[http://www.tramway.com/bs/tramsderwelt2013.pdf Zeitschrift Blickpunkt Straßenbahn (Tram Focus Magazine) - Trams of the World 2013]</ref> [[tram]]way with [[horsecar|horse-drawn streetcars]], and several old-fashioned motor vehicles.

In the distance beyond the end of Main Street stands [[Cinderella Castle]]. Though only 189 feet (55m) tall, it benefits from a technique known as [[forced perspective]]. The second stories of all the buildings along Main Street are shorter than the first stories, and the third stories are even shorter than the second, and the top windows of the castle are much smaller than they appear. The resulting visual effect is that the buildings appear to be larger and taller than they really are.

The park contains two additional tributes: the ''Partners'' statue of [[Walt Disney]] and [[Mickey Mouse]] in front of [[Cinderella Castle]] and the ''Sharing the Magic'' statue of [[Roy Oliver Disney|Roy O. Disney]] sitting with [[Minnie Mouse]] in the Town Square section of Main Street, U.S.A. Both were sculpted by veteran Imagineer Blaine Gibson. In 2012, Disney replaced the shop in the Firehouse with a sign up for the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game.

===Adventureland===
{{main|Adventureland (Disney)}}
Adventureland represents the mystery of exploring foreign lands. It is themed to resemble the remote jungles in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America and the South Pacific, with an extension resembling a Caribbean town square. It contains classic attractions such as [[Pirates of the Caribbean (attraction)|Pirates of the Caribbean]], the [[Jungle Cruise]], [[Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room]], the [[Swiss Family Treehouse]], and [[The Magic Carpets of Aladdin]].

===Frontierland===
{{main|Frontierland}}
[[File:Splash Mountain at Magic Kingdom.jpg|thumb|right|220px|''[[Splash Mountain]] in Frontierland]]
In Frontierland guests can relive the [[American Old West]], from the romanticized [[cowboy]]s and [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]], to exploring the mysteries of the Rivers of America. It contains classic attractions such as [[Big Thunder Mountain Railroad]], [[Splash Mountain]], and the [[Country Bear Jamboree]].

===Liberty Square===
{{main|Liberty Square (Magic Kingdom)}}
Liberty Square is based on an [[American Revolution]]ary colonial town. The Magic Kingdom's Rivers of America hosts the ''Liberty Belle'' riverboat. Liberty Square is home to classic attractions such as the [[Haunted Mansion]], the [[Hall of Presidents]], the [[Liberty Belle Riverboat]], and a sign up location for [[Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom]] behind the Christmas shop.

===Fantasyland===
{{main|Fantasyland}}
Fantasyland is themed in a medieval-faire/carnival style, in the words of Walt Disney: "Fantasyland is dedicated to the young at heart and to those who believe that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." Classic attractions include [[It's a Small World]], [[Peter Pan's Flight]], [[The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (attraction)|The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh]], [[Mickey's PhilharMagic]], [[Prince Charming Regal Carrousel]], and [[Mad Tea Party]]. Fantasyland was recently expanded to nearly double its size and new attractions and other guest offerings were added. The last attraction to be opened is the [[Seven Dwarfs Mine Train]]. The ride is set in the mines that the dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs work in. It features a new ride system which simulates the swaying and tipping one would expect to experience in a mine cart. This opened May 28, 2014.

====Storybook Circus====
Part of Fantasyland, Storybook Circus is located at the former site of [[Mickey's Toontown Fair]], and is based on elements from ''[[Dumbo]]'' and the [[Mickey Mouse universe]]. Attractions include [[The Barnstormer]] and [[Dumbo the Flying Elephant]], which was removed from its former location on January 8, 2012. Also included is the Casey Jr. Splash n' Soak Station (a water play area themed to Casey Jr., the train from ''Dumbo''). Storybook Circus began soft openings on March 12, 2012, with more parts opening on March 31.

Mickey's Toontown Fair closed permanently on February 11, 2011, to make way for Storybook Circus. Some elements of Mickey's Toontown Fair were demolished, and others were re-themed to fit the [[circus]] concept. An expanded Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride was built, with an interactive queue, and a second Dumbo ride was built next to it, in order to increase capacity. The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm was re-themed to "The Great Goofini". A big top area was built for meet-and-greets, called [[Pete's Silly Sideshow]]. This attraction features Goofy as a stuntman, Minnie as a magician, Daisy as a fortune-teller, and Donald as a snake-charmer.

====Enchanted Forest====
[[File:Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid - Magic Kingdom.jpg|thumb|right|220px|Fantasyland's dark ride ''[[The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure]]'']]
With the completion of Storybook Circus and Enchanted Forest, Magic Kingdom Park now covers 133 acres.<ref name="FLEupdate01-20-2011">{{Cite web | last = Smith | first = Thomas | title = Update on New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park | date = January 18, 2011 | url = http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2011/01/update-on-new-fantasyland-at-magic-kingdom-park/ | accessdate = January 20, 2011}}</ref>

Included is a new [[The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure|dark ride]], themed to Disney's 1989 film ''[[The Little Mermaid (1989 film)|The Little Mermaid]]'', that originally opened at [[Disney California Adventure]]. There is also an area themed to Disney's 1991 film ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'', featuring [[the Beast's Castle]] with the new dining experience Be Our Guest Restaurant (offering quick-service lunches and table service dinners), as well as [[Gaston (Beauty and the Beast)|Gaston's]] Tavern and [[Belle (Disney)|Belle's]] cottage.<ref name=FLEupdate01-18-2011>{{Cite web | title = Disney World’s Fantasyland expansion | publisher = WOFL FOX 35 | date = January 18, 2011 | url = http://www.myfoxorlando.com/dpp/attractions/disney/011811-disney-announcements | accessdate = January 18, 2011}}</ref> This portion of the New Fantasyland officially opened on December 6, 2012. [[Snow White's Scary Adventures]] was removed to build Princess Fairytale Hall, a meet-n-greet. Opened on May 28, 2014, another part of the New Fantasyland featuring an attraction themed to ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs]]'', which features [[Snow White (Disney)|Snow White]]'s cottage and The [[Seven Dwarfs Mine Train]] roller coaster ride, the first roller coaster to move in a wobbling motion on track.<ref name=FLEupdate01-18-2011/>

===Tomorrowland===
{{main|Tomorrowland}}
Tomorrowland is set in an intergalactic city, a concept of the future as seen from around the 1950s: rockets, UFOs and robots, etc. In the words of Walt Disney: "Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the door of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future." Classic attractions include [[Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)|Space Mountain]], [[Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress]], [[Astro Orbiter]], [[Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover]] and the [[Autopia|Tomorrowland Speedway]]. Other current attractions include [[Stitch's Great Escape]], [[Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin]], and [[Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor]].

==Transportation and Ticket Center==
{{See also|Walt Disney World Monorail System}}
[[File:WDW MonorailYellow MK.jpg|thumb|left|Monorail is one of two ways to get from the parking lot to the park]]
Magic Kingdom lies more than a mile away from its parking lot, on the opposite side of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon. Upon arrival, guests are taken by the [[Trackless train|parking lot trams]] to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), which sells tickets to the parks and provides transportation connections throughout the resort complex. It also has a small gift shop and the central lost-and-found facility for all four theme parks.

To reach the park, guests either use the [[Walt Disney World Monorail System]], the [[Staten Island Ferry|Staten Island-style]] ferryboats, or [[Disney Transport|buses]], depending on the location of their hotel. The three hotels closest to Magic Kingdom, [[Disney's Contemporary Resort]], [[Disney's Polynesian Resort]], and [[Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa]], use either the ferry or monorail system to travel to Magic Kingdom. Guests staying at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground can also ride a dedicated ferry boat to the Magic Kingdom docks. The other hotels take buses to travel to the park. The three ferries are clad in different trim colors and are named for past Disney executives: the ''[[William Everett Potter|General Joe Potter]]'' (blue), the ''[[Richard F. Irvine]]'' (red) and the ''[[Joe Fowler|Admiral Joe Fowler]]'' (green). The main monorail loop has two lanes. The outer lane is a direct nonstop loop between the TTC and Magic Kingdom, while the inner loop has additional stops at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort, and [[Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa]]. Epcot is accessible by a spur monorail line that was added upon that park's opening in 1982.

==Attendance==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
!2008 || 2009 || 2010 || 2011 || 2012 || 2013 || Worldwide rank
|-
| 17,063,000<ref name="2008 attendance">{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2008 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.org.id.tue.nl/ifip-tc14/documents/TEAreportThemeparks-2008.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|accessdate=November 20, 2012|year=2008}}</ref> || 17,233,000<ref name="2009 attendance">{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2009 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.themeit.com/etea/2009report.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|accessdate=November 20, 2012|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20100602032710/http://www.themeit.com/etea/2009report.pdf|archivedate=June 2, 2010|year=2009}}</ref> || 16,972,000<ref name="2010 attendance">{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2010 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.themeit.com/etea/2010Report.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|accessdate=November 20, 2012|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20110719072840/http://www.themeit.com/etea/2010Report.pdf|archivedate=July 19, 2011|year=2010}}</ref> || 17,142,000<ref name="2011 Report">{{cite web|url=http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/Theme%20Index%202011.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|accessdate=November 20, 2012|year=2011|title=TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report}}</ref> || 17,536,000<ref name="2012 Report">{{cite web|url=http://www.aecom.com/deployedfiles/Internet/Capabilities/Economics/_documents/2012%20Theme%20Index%20Combined_1-1_online.pdf|publisher=Themed Entertainment Association|accessdate=January 19, 2014|year=2013|title=TEA/AECOM 2012 Global Attractions Report}}</ref>|| 18,588,000<ref name="2013 attendance">{{cite web|title=TEA/AECOM 2013 Global Attractions Report|url=http://www.teaconnect.org/pdf/TEAAECOM2013.pdf|publisher=[[Themed Entertainment Association]]|accessdate=June 4, 2014|year=2014}}</ref>|| 1
|}

==Planned film==
Marc Abraham and Eric Newman of [[Strike Entertainment]] were scheduled to produce the film.<ref name=varietynovember>Graser, Marc. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118027299 "Jon Favreau enters Disney's 'Magic Kingdom'"], ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'', November 10, 2010. [http://www.webcitation.org/5v00gTWGB WebCitation archive].</ref> Writer-producer [[Ronald D. Moore]] had previously written an original script for the project, which the studio eventually declined to use, stating that Favreau and a new [[screenwriter]] would develop a new script.<ref name=varietynovember /> On June 20, 2011, novelist [[Michael Chabon]] signed on to write the film's script.{{citation needed|date=January 2014}} As of 2014, Favreau is currently directing the 2015 adaption of The Jungle Book, but still expresses interest in percussing the project. [http://www.slashfilm.com/magic-kingdom-jon-favreau-update/]

==See also==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
*[[Disneyland]] ([[Anaheim, California]])
*[[Disneyland Park (Paris)]] ([[France]])
*[[Hong Kong Disneyland]] ([[Hong Kong]])
*[[Rail transport in Disney Parks]]
*[[Shanghai Disneyland Park]] ([[China]])
*[[Tokyo Disneyland]] ([[Japan]])

{{col-2}}
Fiction set in the Magic Kingdom:
*''[[Adventures in the Magic Kingdom]]'', a 1990 video game for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]
*''[[Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom]]'', a 2003 science fiction novel by [[Cory Doctorow]]
*''[[The Kingdom Keepers]]'', a 2005 novel by [[Ridley Pearson]]
{{col-end}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=40em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/ Official section within the Walt Disney World website]
*{{RCDB|4597}}

{{Walt Disney Parks and Resorts}}
{{Walt Disney World}}
{{Magic Kingdom}}
{{WDW Coasters}}
{{Theme Parks of Florida}}
{{Navigation Applause Award}}

{{coord|28|25|07|N|81|34|52|W|region:US-FL_type:landmark_source:frwiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Walt Disney Parks and Resorts]]
[[Category:Magic Kingdom| ]]
[[Category:Walt Disney World]]
[[Category:1971 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Amusement parks in Greater Orlando]]
[[Category:Visitor attractions in Greater Orlando]]

Revision as of 16:11, 27 June 2014

This article is about the theme park at the Walt Disney World Resort. For other Disney theme parks informally called "Magic Kingdom", see Disneyland (disambiguation). For other uses, see Magic Kingdom (disambiguation).

Magic Kingdom
File:Magic Kingdom Logo.svg
Cinderella Castle, the icon of Magic Kingdom.
LocationWalt Disney World Resort, Bay Lake, Florida, U.S.
Coordinates28°25′07″N 81°34′52″W / 28.41861°N 81.58111°W / 28.41861; -81.58111
OpenedOctober 1, 1971
OwnerThe Walt Disney Company
Operated byWalt Disney Parks and Resorts
ThemeFairy tales and Disney characters
SloganThe Most Magical Place On Earth
Operating seasonYear-round
WebsiteOfficial website
Walt Disney World
Theme parks
Water parks
Other attractions and areas
Resorts
Affiliated services
Transport

Magic Kingdom Park, commonly known as Magic Kingdom, is the first-built of the four theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida. It opened on October 1, 1971. Designed and built by WED Enterprises, its layout and attractions are similar to Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, and is dedicated to fairy tales and Disney characters. In 2013, the park hosted 18.58 million visitors, making it the most visited theme park in the world for the fifth consecutive year.[1]

The park is represented by Cinderella Castle, a replica of the fairy tale castle seen in the 1950 film.[2]

Dedication

Walt Disney World is a tribute to the philosophy and life of Walter Elias Disney... and to the talents, the dedication, and the loyalty of the entire Disney organization that made Walt Disney's dream come true. May Walt Disney World bring Joy and Inspiration and New Knowledge to all who come to this happy place ... a Magic Kingdom where the young at heart of all ages can laugh and play and learn — together.

— Roy Oliver Disney, October 25, 1971[3]

History

Although Walt Disney had been highly involved in planning The Florida Project, The Walt Disney Company began construction on Magic Kingdom and the entire resort in 1967 after his death. The park was built as a larger, improved version of Disneyland Park in California. There are several anecdotes relating to reasons for some of the features of Walt Disney World, and Magic Kingdom specifically. According to one story, Walt Disney once saw a Frontierland cowboy walking through Tomorrowland at Disneyland. He disliked that the cowboy intruded on the futuristic setting of Tomorrowland and wanted to avoid situations like this in the new park.[4] Therefore, Magic Kingdom was built over a series of tunnels called utilidors, a portmanteau of utility and corridor, allowing employees (called "cast members") or VIP guests to move through the park out of sight from guests.

Because of Florida's high water table, the tunnels could not be put underground, so they were built at the existing grade, meaning the park is built on the second story, giving Magic Kingdom an elevation of 107 feet (33 m). The area around the utilidors was filled in with dirt removed from the Seven Seas Lagoon, which was being constructed at the same time. The utilidors were built in the initial construction and were not extended as the park expanded. The tunnels were intended to be designed into all subsequent Walt Disney World parks, but were set aside mostly because of financial constraints. Future World at Epcot and Pleasure Island each have a smaller network of utilidors.

Magic Kingdom opened as the first part of the Walt Disney World Resort on October 1, 1971, commencing concurrently with Disney's Contemporary Resort and Disney's Polynesian Resort. It opened with twenty-three attractions, three unique to the park and twenty replicas of attractions at Disneyland, split into six themed lands, five copies of those at Disneyland (Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland) and the Magic Kingdom exclusive of Liberty Square. The Walt Disney Company promised to increase this number with a combination of replicas and unique attractions. While there is no individual dedication to Magic Kingdom, the dedication by Roy O. Disney for the entire resort was placed within its gates.

The first, and as of today, only land added to the original roster of lands in the park was Mickey's Toontown Fair. The land originally opened in 1988 as Mickey's Birthdayland to celebrate Mickey Mouse's 60th birthday. Later the land was renovated as Mickey's Starland and eventually to Mickey's Toontown Fair. The land was home to attractions such as Mickey's Country House, Minnie's Country House, The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm, and Donald's Boat. It closed on February 12, 2011 to make way for the expansion of Fantasyland. The Walt Disney World Railroad station in Mickey's Toontown Fair, which opened with Mickey's Birthdayland in 1988, was closed for the duration of the construction. In 2012, the space where Mickey's Toontown Fair sat reopened as a part of Fantasyland, in a sub-land called the Storybook Circus, where the Dumbo the Flying Elephant was relocated. The Barnstormer was remained and was re-themed to The Great Goofini.[5]

Since opening day, Magic Kingdom has been closed temporarily because of four hurricanes: Floyd, Frances, Charley, and Jeanne. It was also closed from mid afternoon September 11, 2001 to September 12, 2001 due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.[6]

"Magic Kingdom" was often used as an unofficial nickname for Disneyland before Walt Disney World was built. The official tagline for Disneyland is "The Happiest Place On Earth", while the tagline for Magic Kingdom is "The Most Magical Place On Earth". In 1994, to differentiate it from Disneyland, the park was officially renamed Magic Kingdom Park, but is known as Magic Kingdom. Like all Disney theme parks, the official name of the park does not start with an article ("the"), though it is commonly referred to that way, and a sign on the railroad station at the front of the park reads "The Magic Kingdom".

Lands

Main article: List of Magic Kingdom attractions

Magic Kingdom is divided into six themed "lands." It is designed like a wheel, with the hub in front of Cinderella Castle, pathways spoke out across the 107 acres (43 ha) of the park and lead to these six lands.[7] The 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Walt Disney World Railroad runs along the perimeter of the park and makes stops at Main Street, U.S.A., Frontierland, and Fantasyland.

  • Main Street, U.S.A.
    Main Street, U.S.A.
  • Adventureland (exterior of Tortuga Tavern)
    Adventureland
    (exterior of Tortuga Tavern)
  • Frontierland (theming for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad)
    Frontierland
    (theming for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad)
  • Liberty Square (Hall of Presidents)
    Liberty Square
    (Hall of Presidents)
  • Fantasyland (Bavarian theming)
    Fantasyland
    (Bavarian theming)
  • Tomorrowland
    Tomorrowland

Main Street, U.S.A.

Main article: Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A., with Cinderella Castle in the far distance.

Symbolically, Main Street, U.S.A. represents the park's "opening credits," where guests pass under the train station (the opening curtain,) then view the names of key personnel along the windows of the buildings' upper floors. Many windows bear the name of a fictional business, such as "Seven Summits Expeditions, Frank G. Wells President", with each representing a tribute to significant people connected to the Disney company and the development of the Walt Disney World Resort. It features stylistic influences from around the country. Taking its inspiration from New England to Missouri, this design is most noticeable in the four corners in the middle of Main Street, where each of the four corner buildings represents a different architectural style. There is no opera house as there is at Disneyland; instead, there is the Town Square Theater. Also, this is where Christopher George Weaver, the "mayor" of Main Street U.S.A., and one of the park's most important figures, resides.

Main Street is lined with shops selling merchandise and food. The decor is early-20th century small-town America, inspired by Walt Disney's childhood and the film Lady and the Tramp. City Hall contains the Guest Relations lobby, where cast members provide information and assistance. A working barber shop gives haircuts for a fee. The Emporium carries a wide variety of Disney souvenirs such as plush toys, collectible pins and Mickey-ear hats. Tony’s Town Square Restaurant and The Plaza Restaurant are table-service locations. At the end of Main Street is Casey's Corner, where guests enjoy traditional American ballpark fare including hot dogs and fries while watching old cartoons on the bleachers. The Main Street Confectionary sells sweets priced by their weight, such as candied apples, crisped rice treats, chocolates, cookies and fudge.[8] Most windows bear the name of people who were influential at Disney parks. An example of a classic Main Street, U.S.A. attraction is the 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Walt Disney World Railroad, which transports guest throughout the park, making stops at Main Street, U.S.A., Fantasyland, and Frontierland. The railroad's previous stop at Mickey's Toontown Fair was replaced by the Fantasyland stop in 2012. Main Street, U.S.A. also has the Main Street Vehicles attraction, which includes a 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge[9] tramway with horse-drawn streetcars, and several old-fashioned motor vehicles.

In the distance beyond the end of Main Street stands Cinderella Castle. Though only 189 feet (55m) tall, it benefits from a technique known as forced perspective. The second stories of all the buildings along Main Street are shorter than the first stories, and the third stories are even shorter than the second, and the top windows of the castle are much smaller than they appear. The resulting visual effect is that the buildings appear to be larger and taller than they really are.

The park contains two additional tributes: the Partners statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in front of Cinderella Castle and the Sharing the Magic statue of Roy O. Disney sitting with Minnie Mouse in the Town Square section of Main Street, U.S.A. Both were sculpted by veteran Imagineer Blaine Gibson. In 2012, Disney replaced the shop in the Firehouse with a sign up for the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom game.

Adventureland

Main article: Adventureland (Disney)

Adventureland represents the mystery of exploring foreign lands. It is themed to resemble the remote jungles in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, South America and the South Pacific, with an extension resembling a Caribbean town square. It contains classic attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room, the Swiss Family Treehouse, and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin.

Frontierland

Main article: Frontierland
Splash Mountain in Frontierland

In Frontierland guests can relive the American Old West, from the romanticized cowboys and Native Americans, to exploring the mysteries of the Rivers of America. It contains classic attractions such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and the Country Bear Jamboree.

Liberty Square

Main article: Liberty Square (Magic Kingdom)

Liberty Square is based on an American Revolutionary colonial town. The Magic Kingdom's Rivers of America hosts the Liberty Belle riverboat. Liberty Square is home to classic attractions such as the Haunted Mansion, the Hall of Presidents, the Liberty Belle Riverboat, and a sign up location for Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom behind the Christmas shop.

Fantasyland

Main article: Fantasyland

Fantasyland is themed in a medieval-faire/carnival style, in the words of Walt Disney: "Fantasyland is dedicated to the young at heart and to those who believe that when you wish upon a star, your dreams come true." Classic attractions include It's a Small World, Peter Pan's Flight, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey's PhilharMagic, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel, and Mad Tea Party. Fantasyland was recently expanded to nearly double its size and new attractions and other guest offerings were added. The last attraction to be opened is the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. The ride is set in the mines that the dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs work in. It features a new ride system which simulates the swaying and tipping one would expect to experience in a mine cart. This opened May 28, 2014.

Storybook Circus

Part of Fantasyland, Storybook Circus is located at the former site of Mickey's Toontown Fair, and is based on elements from Dumbo and the Mickey Mouse universe. Attractions include The Barnstormer and Dumbo the Flying Elephant, which was removed from its former location on January 8, 2012. Also included is the Casey Jr. Splash n' Soak Station (a water play area themed to Casey Jr., the train from Dumbo). Storybook Circus began soft openings on March 12, 2012, with more parts opening on March 31.

Mickey's Toontown Fair closed permanently on February 11, 2011, to make way for Storybook Circus. Some elements of Mickey's Toontown Fair were demolished, and others were re-themed to fit the circus concept. An expanded Dumbo the Flying Elephant ride was built, with an interactive queue, and a second Dumbo ride was built next to it, in order to increase capacity. The Barnstormer at Goofy's Wiseacre Farm was re-themed to "The Great Goofini". A big top area was built for meet-and-greets, called Pete's Silly Sideshow. This attraction features Goofy as a stuntman, Minnie as a magician, Daisy as a fortune-teller, and Donald as a snake-charmer.

Enchanted Forest

Fantasyland's dark ride The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure

With the completion of Storybook Circus and Enchanted Forest, Magic Kingdom Park now covers 133 acres.[10]

Included is a new dark ride, themed to Disney's 1989 film The Little Mermaid, that originally opened at Disney California Adventure. There is also an area themed to Disney's 1991 film Beauty and the Beast, featuring the Beast's Castle with the new dining experience Be Our Guest Restaurant (offering quick-service lunches and table service dinners), as well as Gaston's Tavern and Belle's cottage.[11] This portion of the New Fantasyland officially opened on December 6, 2012. Snow White's Scary Adventures was removed to build Princess Fairytale Hall, a meet-n-greet. Opened on May 28, 2014, another part of the New Fantasyland featuring an attraction themed to Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which features Snow White's cottage and The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train roller coaster ride, the first roller coaster to move in a wobbling motion on track.[11]

Tomorrowland

Main article: Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland is set in an intergalactic city, a concept of the future as seen from around the 1950s: rockets, UFOs and robots, etc. In the words of Walt Disney: "Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the door of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future." Classic attractions include Space Mountain, Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress, Astro Orbiter, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and the Tomorrowland Speedway. Other current attractions include Stitch's Great Escape, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor.

Transportation and Ticket Center

See also: Walt Disney World Monorail System
Monorail is one of two ways to get from the parking lot to the park

Magic Kingdom lies more than a mile away from its parking lot, on the opposite side of the man-made Seven Seas Lagoon. Upon arrival, guests are taken by the parking lot trams to the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTC), which sells tickets to the parks and provides transportation connections throughout the resort complex. It also has a small gift shop and the central lost-and-found facility for all four theme parks.

To reach the park, guests either use the Walt Disney World Monorail System, the Staten Island-style ferryboats, or buses, depending on the location of their hotel. The three hotels closest to Magic Kingdom, Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort, and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, use either the ferry or monorail system to travel to Magic Kingdom. Guests staying at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and Disney's Fort Wilderness Campground can also ride a dedicated ferry boat to the Magic Kingdom docks. The other hotels take buses to travel to the park. The three ferries are clad in different trim colors and are named for past Disney executives: the General Joe Potter (blue), the Richard F. Irvine (red) and the Admiral Joe Fowler (green). The main monorail loop has two lanes. The outer lane is a direct nonstop loop between the TTC and Magic Kingdom, while the inner loop has additional stops at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Polynesian Resort, and Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Epcot is accessible by a spur monorail line that was added upon that park's opening in 1982.

Attendance

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Worldwide rank
17,063,000[12] 17,233,000[13] 16,972,000[14] 17,142,000[15] 17,536,000[16] 18,588,000[1] 1

Planned film

Marc Abraham and Eric Newman of Strike Entertainment were scheduled to produce the film.[17] Writer-producer Ronald D. Moore had previously written an original script for the project, which the studio eventually declined to use, stating that Favreau and a new screenwriter would develop a new script.[17] On June 20, 2011, novelist Michael Chabon signed on to write the film's script.[citation needed] As of 2014, Favreau is currently directing the 2015 adaption of The Jungle Book, but still expresses interest in percussing the project. [1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "TEA/AECOM 2013 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2014. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  2. ^ "Still shot of Cinderella Castle in 1950 movie". Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  3. ^ "Magic Kingdom 1971 Grand Opening (Video)". Youtube. Retrieved June 27, 2014.
  4. ^ "Fun Facts of Magic Kingdom's Underground Complex". www.hiddenmickeys.org. 1995. Retrieved May 3, 2007.
  5. ^ Smith, Thomas (December 10, 2010). "New Fantasyland Expansion Update". Retrieved December 10, 2010.
  6. ^ "Magic Kingdom" Disney Reporter – Where the Magic Lives
  7. ^ Disneyworld.disney.go.com
  8. ^ "Main Street Confectionary, Magic Kingdom". Walt Disney World. Retrieved April 29, 2010.
  9. ^ Zeitschrift Blickpunkt Straßenbahn (Tram Focus Magazine) - Trams of the World 2013
  10. ^ Smith, Thomas (January 18, 2011). "Update on New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom Park". Retrieved January 20, 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Disney World's Fantasyland expansion". WOFL FOX 35. January 18, 2011. Retrieved January 18, 2011.
  12. ^ "TEA/AECOM 2008 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2008. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  13. ^ "TEA/AECOM 2009 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  14. ^ "TEA/AECOM 2010 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  15. ^ "TEA/AECOM 2011 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2012.
  16. ^ "TEA/AECOM 2012 Global Attractions Report" (PDF). Themed Entertainment Association. 2013. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  17. ^ a b Graser, Marc. "Jon Favreau enters Disney's 'Magic Kingdom'", Variety, November 10, 2010. WebCitation archive.
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