Ask It: One Magic Kingdom Land for the Day

It’s Wednesday, and time for the results of this week Ask It. You voted on the blog, you voted on Facebook, you voted on Twitter. Even better, you shared your opinions on this question:

If you could only visit one land in Magic Kingdom for a full day, which land would you visit?

The results are in, with more than 1300 votes on Facebook, Twitter, and the Blog… here’s the order from last to first:

4. Adventureland

3. Tomorrowland

2. Fantasyland

1. Frontierland/Liberty Square

Adventureland

I’m certain that there are some people who believe that visiting the Magic Kingdom without getting a Dole Whip is a crime punishable by repeated trips on It’s a Small World. So the idea of spending a whole day in the Magic Kingdom without setting foot in Adventureland might be impossible. And realistically, Adventureland has a lot to offer. On the attractions side, you’ve got classics like Pirates of the Caribbean, the Jungle Cruise, and the Enchanted Tiki Room. If you needed a break, I’m sure Disney wouldn’t mind if you took a nap in one of the rooms of the Swiss Family Treehouse.* Aside from the aforementioned Dole Whip and its cousin the Citrus Swirl, dining options are a bit limited, however Skipper’s Canteen has a wonderful menu and amazing theming — plus limited selections of beer and wine.

Tomorrowland

I could probably spend all day riding around on the Peoplemover. It is one of my favorite things to do in all of Walt Disney World. Many of the votes for Tomorrowland were high on the nostalgia factor. Even though so much of Tomorrowland has changed through the years, there’s still a lot to pull at the heartstrings. The Carousel of Progress may not have progressed from the 80s, but it is still one of the best napping spots at the Magic Kingdom. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin can provide challenge for those of us of who are video game challenged. And who doesn’t like Space Mountain?** The one place where Tomorrowland is a little iffy is in the food category. Thankfully, cream cheese pretzels are back, so at least there’s that for sustenance. Or you could always go to the ever-crowded Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café or, if it is ever open, the Tomorrowland Terrace.

Fantasyland

I may have taken some well-deserved grief for putting Frontierland and Liberty Square together, but Fantasyland could be seen as three different lands mashed together–“old” Fantasyland, “new” princess-esque Fantasyland, and Storybook Circus. With all of that, you really get the most bang for your buck in Fantasyland. You’ve got old classics–Peter Pan, Small World, Mad Tea Party. You’ve got newer attractions, such as Seven Dwarves Mine Train and Voyage of the Little Mermaid. There’s even the best themed bathrooms around at Rapunzel’s tower. There’s meet and greets, and not one, but two of the most hot-ticket dining reservations at Walt Disney World (Cinderella’s Royal Table and Be Our Guest). Breakfast means Gaston’s for a cinnamon roll. For a quick bite, several people mentioned the flatbreads at Pinocchio’s Village Haus. I love the idea of sitting next to the window where you can wave at the people on Small World. (In reality, the germaphobe in me is almost as terrified of the fingerprints on that window as I am of the honey wall in the Winnie the Pooh queue.) Arguably, when people think of Walt Disney World, they are thinking of Fantasyland. So it comes as no surprise that it was second by a razor-thin margin–dare I say it, a statistical dead heat, and perhaps even qualified as a tie with the winner.

Frontierland/Liberty Square

Yes, I know, two separate lands. To me, it’s one conceptual land — Americana through the years, from the colonial era through the wild west. Many people were surprised when they stopped to think just how much they love doing in this area. You’ve got Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain for thrill seekers. You’ve got the Haunted Mansion, Hall of Presidents, and Country Bear Jamboree for nostalgia. You can drop a handful of quarters at the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade or spend hours wandering around Tom Sawyer Island. But there were two things that came up time and time again–the eatin’ and the Muppets. Specifically, Columbia Harbor House gets rave reviews, and for good reason. The food there is some of the best counter service in the Magic Kingdom. If you prefer sit-down, swing by Liberty Tree Tavern. Ooey Gooey Toffee Cake anyone? Another great reason for this area is that it is the only one of the listed lands that has good parade viewing options. At night, you also have decent option for fireworks viewing. But I really think the Muppets are what pushed it over the top. If you haven’t seen Great Moments in History, it is worth taking the time to watch, as it is truly a great show for everyone.

An Honorable Mention has to go to Main Street USA for several write-in votes. Even though it isn’t packed to the gills with attractions, it has such charm that it has a place in the hearts of many people. There is something about grabbing some popcorn, sitting down on a bench, and watching people see the castle for the very first time. Sights like that really can make you get all misty-eyed.

So there you have it–your pick about which land you could spend a full day in at the Magic Kingdom. This was a tough question for many. I wonder if there’s a harder question to ask….

And here’s next week’s AskIt – what’s the iconic Disney snack?

Remember, it’s Disney and so calories don’t count but your votes do! We’ll have the results next week on Ask It!

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*We tried. Apparently they do mind. And a friendly shout out and thank you to Chris from Orlando from security for being so understanding.

**That would be me — the whole “don’t do roller coasters” bit, ya know? But it looks cool from the Peoplemover!