My first time at Magic Kingdom was magical

I feel almost overwhelmed trying to organize my thoughts about my first time at Magic Kingdom. Writing about it might not fully capture the magic we experienced. I did vlog the trip, but editing will take time. With all the footage I have, it might turn into a one-hour documentary. A great keepsake, but I don’t want to rush it. I need to pour as much creativity (and questionable transitions) into the edit as possible.

For now, the best I can do is share photos and recount the day. Originally, we planned to visit on Tuesday, but the weather had other plans. So, we switched to Monday. It was chilly, but the sun was out—ideal Disney weather (or as ideal as it gets when you’re power walking across a kingdom).

I have to say, without my friend Lauren—who’s been to Disney so many times that she probably dreams in Genie+ reservations—my first time at Magic Kingdom wouldn’t have been as smooth. The Disney magic got to me. I finally understand why people go multiple times a year (and why their wallets cry in response). If I can make that happen in the future, I absolutely would.

Arrival & First Impressions

We arrived early, around 8:30 AM, at the Transportation and Ticket Centre. From there, we took the monorail. In hindsight, arriving at 8:00 AM would’ve been the pro move, so we could sprint toward a popular ride before the wait times became ridiculous.

The monorail was jam-packed. No seats. Just standing room and loud kids who had more energy at 8:30 AM than I will ever have in my life. But it was exciting to pass Disney’s Contemporary Resort and the Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on the way.

At this point, I wasn’t expecting to be blown away. I had spent hours watching YouTube videos, reading Reddit posts, and studying ride strategies like it was a university exam. I was prepared to be skeptical.

But then, we arrived.

My husband and I speed-walked—almost competitively—toward the entrance. It wasn’t too busy, but I quickly realized something—I had no idea how to enter the park.

Everyone else scanned their fingers or tapped their MagicBands, casually walking in like seasoned pros. Meanwhile, I was standing there, confused, fumbling for my phone, and wondering why the mouse wanted my fingerprints.

Not a fan of that.

Thankfully, the gate attendant was lovely. She handed me a Tiana-themed ticket card, which made everything better. My husband got Finding Nemo

Stepping Into the Magic

We finally made it inside, and I did not expect the early 20th-century vibes. But Main Street, U.S.A. felt like stepping back in time—old-school but oddly familiar.

Then, the smells hit me.

Popcorn. Baked goods. The faint aroma of overpriced snacks I knew I’d end up buying.

And then, Cinderella Castle came into view. It was huge but somehow smaller than I expected. My brain couldn’t compute. It looked too perfect—like an Instagram filter in real life.

We didn’t linger because we had a mission—get to Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid before the crowds took over. The castle area was relatively empty, so I took a ton of photos.

Meeting Princess Tiana and Rapunzel

As we continued past the castle, we saw a vintage-looking carousel, a theatre, and Princess Fairytale Hall. Then, we spotted Princess Tiana’s meet-and-greet!

Obviously, we had to go.

After waiting only 5 to 10 minutes (which, in Disney time, is basically instant access), it was finally my turn. Not only did I get to meet Princess Tiana, but also Rapunzel!

Both of them were so in character that I completely got lost in the moment. It was fun to play along and chat with them like we were in an actual Disney movie.

Their costumes? Absolutely stunning.

Rapunzel recommended a dance class, but I immediately forgot the name because I was too mesmerized by her perfectly styled hair. Tiana told us to visit Golden Oak Outpost for her famous beignets, which—obviously—I trusted without question.

The entire experience was pure Disney magic. In my vlog, you can literally see the exact moment I mentally reverted to childhood. My eyes glazed over, and I fully gave in to the good vibes for my first time at Magic Kingdom.

The amount of serotonin and joy I felt in that moment? Off the charts.

Tomorrowland Adventure

On the way to Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid, we took a quick detour to Mad Tea Party. It was short but sweet—the perfect little warm-up ride.

Then, we had our first run-in with Disney rules.

Something you may not know if its your first time at Magic Kingdom is that selfie sticks are banned, which we learned when a cast member aggressively told my husband to put his away. Like, really aggressively. No Disney smile. No “Have a magical day.” You’d think he tried to smuggle in a full tripod and lighting kit with the way they reacted.

At this point, we needed coffee.

Enter Joffrey’s Coffee. We grabbed a Shakin’ Jamaican (a cold brew with vanilla and caramel) and the Strawberry Mocha Latte. Both were really good—smooth, rich, and exactly what we needed to fuel our non-stop Disney speed-run. Honestly, 10/10 coffee experience. Highly recommend.

Tomorrowland was really cool. The background music in each area of the park adds so much to the immersion, and Tomorrowland was no exception. You genuinely feel like you’ve stepped into some kind of retro-futuristic world where everything is chrome and the year is 2075.

In Tomorrowland, you’ll find:

Space Mountain (did not ride—will explain why in my next post)
Tomorrowland Speedway (which is not fast at all)
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Lilo & Stitch references (which I appreciated)

Everything fits into the space and futuristic theme, which I loved.

We skipped Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, which in hindsight was a terrible decision because the wait times were basically non-existent. Rookie mistake.

Instead, we went on Tomorrowland Speedway, where my husband drove. It was so slow that at one point, I think a toddler on foot could have overtaken us. No exaggeration—we were basically idling down the track.

That’s it for Part 1! Next up: Ride or Regret? The Thrill, Chaos & Laughter of Disney Attractions, where I break down every ride I loved (and the one that shook me). Stay tuned!