Trip Report Part 2: June 20, 2025 / Magic Kingdom

Question

Lightning Lane pre-arrival selections: Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin (passed 20 min standby), Haunted Mansion (passed 50 min standby), Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (passed 80 min standby)

Lightning Lane additional selections: Jungle Cruise (passed 45 min standby), Space Mountain (passed 40 min standby)

Standby queues: Peoplemover x2 (walk on), Little Mermaid (walk on), Winnie the Pooh (waited 15 mins), Meet Tiana & Rapunzel at Princess Fairytale Hall (waited 10 mins), Peter Pan’s Flight (waited 35 mins), it’s a small world (waited 15 mins), Pirates of the Caribbean (waited 20 mins), Tiki Room (8 mins until show), Country Bear Jamboree (2 mins until show), Carousel of Progress (walk on)

Food: Everything Pop food court, The Plaza Restaurant, Primo Piatto

Usually we are rope drop people, but yesterday was such a long day that we decided we would not rope drop today. We really wanted this trip to be about relaxing and taking it easy so we did not even set an alarm. I was up around 6am anyway! We took our time getting up and about and went to the food court to actually sit down and eat breakfast. The loaded totcho bowl was delicious. Then we waited about 5 minutes for the Magic Kingdom bus, and our timing was perfect so that we did not get caught up in the resort guest rope drop or the off-site guest opening. Easy, breezy entry through security and the tap points!

Took some photos on Main Street before heading into Tomorrowland and walking right onto the Peoplemover. We stayed seated for two lovely rides in a row before tapping into our first Lightning Lane at Buzz Lightyear. Then we headed into Fantasyland and walked onto Little Mermaid before hopping into the standby queue for Winnie the Pooh. It said 30 minutes but we only waited about 15. Tiana and a “visiting princess” had a short wait right next door at Princess Fairytale Hall so we hopped in line and were happily surprised to find Rapunzel there with her, she is my sister’s favorite!

Peter Pan was showing a 45 minute standby queue so we hopped in, figuring the covered indoor queue would be a good place to spend some time as the sun was bright and the temps were rising. This was the first time I did Peter Pan through the standby queue in a long time, I had never seen the children’s bedroom walkthrough, it is so cute! Went right across the way to it’s a small world next, before finding a shady spot to relax and wait for our lunch reservation at the Plaza. Lunch here was way better than I remembered! It has been a while since I ate at the Plaza. Milkshakes, loaded fries, cool air conditioning and best of all, we took our time and missed the passing rain shower.

After lunch we used another Lightning Lane at Haunted Mansion, then ended up with a great parade viewing spot when we came out. Once the parade passed we were able to go to our Tiana Lightning Lane, it felt good to get splashed! Did a little shopping before catching the Country Bears, then using our Jungle Cruise Lighting Lane. Cut back to Tomorrowland for our last ride of the day at Space Mountain with one of our additional Lightning Lane grabs.

Shopped our way up Main Street through the Emporium before heading to the bus stops where we played a little game. Which resort bus would come first? That’s where we would have dinner. Lo and behold, it was Riviera, which was perfect for us! Quick service dinner at Primo Piatto was delicious, and the skyliner was right there to get us quickly and efficiently back to Pop. Grabbed some desserts at the food court before calling it a night. I was actually really impressed with how much we were able to do without rope dropping!

Answer

It sounds like your June 20th visit to Magic Kingdom was a perfect mix of relaxing and efficient touring without the pressure of rope drop. Skipping the early wake-up allowed you to enjoy a calm breakfast at Everything Pop food court, where the loaded totcho bowl set a satisfying start to the day. Timing the bus perfectly meant you avoided the congestion at park opening, making entry smooth and stress-free.

Starting in Tomorrowland with the PeopleMover was an excellent choice, giving you a gentle, breezy ride while the park was still relatively calm. Using your pre-arrival Lightning Lane for Buzz Lightyear right after kept the momentum going without feeling rushed. Fantasyland standby experiences like Little Mermaid (walk-on) and Winnie the Pooh (half the posted wait) provided a mix of classic attractions with minimal wait, while the Princess Fairytale Hall meet-and-greet added a special moment for your sister’s favorite character.

Opting for Peter Pan’s Flight via standby helped you take advantage of the indoor queue during the peak sun, and the surprise of the children’s bedroom walkthrough made it a memorable experience. Following this with it’s a small world allowed for a relaxing, shaded transition before lunch. Lunch at The Plaza was a highlight, combining comfort, air conditioning, and tasty food to recharge.

Lightning Lane attractions efficiently used: Buzz Lightyear, Haunted Mansion, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain.
Standby rides enjoyed with minimal waits: PeopleMover, Little Mermaid, Winnie the Pooh, Princess Fairytale Hall, Peter Pan’s Flight, it’s a small world, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tiki Room, Country Bear Jamboree, Carousel of Progress.
Restaurants visited: Everything Pop food court, The Plaza Restaurant, Primo Piatto for quick-service dinner.

The afternoon strategy of using Haunted Mansion Lightning Lane, securing a prime parade viewing spot, and riding Tiana’s Bayou Adventure afterward was a great way to enjoy entertainment without feeling rushed. Shopping and smaller shows like Country Bears provided breaks in between rides. Using Jungle Cruise and Space Mountain Lightning Lanes later in the day ensured you hit major attractions with manageable waits.

Parade viewing and entertainment: Excellent timing post-Haunted Mansion to catch the parade, plus Country Bears for a relaxing show break.
Shopping strategy: Strolling up Main Street through the Emporium provided a calm end-of-day activity.
Evening dining and return: Quick-service at Primo Piatto at Riviera Resort, convenient skyliner return to Pop Century, and dessert at the food court.

Overall, this trip report illustrates that even without rope dropping, careful planning with pre-arrival and additional Lightning Lanes, combined with strategic standby use, allows a full, enjoyable Magic Kingdom day. Prioritizing breaks, indoor shows, and timed dining contributed to a comfortable pace while still hitting many highlights. The mix of rides, character interactions, food, and shopping made for a well-rounded, memorable park experience.

Trip Report Part 2: June 20, 2025 / Magic Kingdom

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