The original. The park that opened on October 1, 1971, christening this amazing place called Walt Disney World. The design and concept of Magic Kingdom is based upon Disneyland, and many people interchange the two. While they have similar attractions, they cannot fairly be compared.

There is a level of grandeur that Disney was able to conjure in the construction and vision of "The Florida Project" which could not be achieved in its West Coast counterpart. Does that make it better? No. Just different.

Magic Kingdom is a park that trades on nostalgia: fairytales, the home of pirates and cowboys and astronauts, and a harkening back to pinnacle moments in America's history, both around the time of the nation's founding, and a turn of the 20th century small town.

A major complaint about this park is that it feels old and staid. There is truth in that, but whereas the other three parks are continually (to varying degrees of success) reinventing themselves or adding new additions, Magic Kingdom stays the same. It's a park for everyone, and is successful because it touches us in the place where it matters most: the idyllic vestiges of childhood. And attendance shows that people will glady come for the memories: Magic Kingdom is the most visited theme park in the world.

Magic Kingdom does a great job signposting the experience when you get here. Literally signposting. Before you enter the park, you pass a small but obvious sign that reads:

For me, that sign is a benediction. A reminder to breathe, and step forward into an exciting place of make believe. And I cry every time. So check your cynicism at the door, and read on.

You can walk from:

• Contemporary Resort.

You can boat from:

• Wilderness Lodge;
• Fort Wilderness;
• Polynesian Resort;
• Grand Floridian Resort; and
• The Ticket and Transportation Center (TTC, all who drive their own vehicle to the Magic Kingdom must also go through here to access Magic Kingdom).

You can monorail from:

• Contemporary Resort;
• Polynesian Resort;
• Grand Floridian Resort;
• TTC;
• Shades of Green Resort (via bus to TTC; and
• Epcot (via monorail transfer at TTC.

You can bus from:

• All other Disney resorts; and
• All other Disney theme parks.

As with all Disney Parks, you will go through Bag Check (and possibly a randomly selected metal detector check as well), and then scan your Magic Band or ticket to enter the park.

You will enter through the train station onto Main Street, U.S.A.. Just up ahead at the end of Main Street is Cinderella Castle. The design of Magic Kingdom is a wheel, with spokes leading to each of the various lands. Whichever direction you pick is full of adventure and fantasy!

Your first stop on the way in should be to pick up a Guidemap and Times Guide. The map will help you get around (although I find Magic Kingdom on the easy side to navigate), and the Times Guide will give that day's schedule for parades, nighttime shows, other entertainment, and character meet and greets.

Magic Kingdom has a standard FP+ system, and the rides you can reserve include the following:

This is...nearly every attraction at Magic Kingdom! There's good reason for this: FP+ not only helps with crowd distribution, but because many of the Magic Kingdom's guests are younger, this cuts down on wait times for their growing but maybe not there yet patience.

If you can't grab a FP+ for an attraction, does that mean you should skip it? NOPE. Keep an eye on wait times, and know that wait times are often shorter during both parades and fireworks.

Don't overlook the attractions that don't offer FP+, either! This includes some of the most classic rides and attractions.

Magic Kingdom is segmented into six "lands," each with its own flair and charm.

Main Street, U.S.A.

Main Street, U.S.A. is your entry point into Magic Kingdom, and meant to harken back to small town America around the turn of the 20th century. It's full of street entertainment and shops, dominated on one end by the Flagpole and the other end by the main hub gardens and Cinderella Castle. Many guests speed through this area on the way to the marquee attractions. I'm guilty of that myself, but try to always come back and spend some time just wandering the streets.

Protip: the majority of shops on either side of Main Street are connected inside, which provides an alternate (albeit, sometimes expensive!) path up Main Street if it is crowded.

Adventureland

I love Adventureland. It might be my favorite. Although I might say that about a lot of things. As you leave Main Street, U.S.A. and turn left, you enter an area of thick vegetation, and your inner explorer begs to be let out to play. Highlights here include Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and The Enchanted Tiki Room.

Frontierland

Through an archway not far from Pirates of the Caribbean, the jungle vegetation gives way to a work dominated by wooden sign posts and cowboy hat wearing pioneers. Welcome to Frontierland, harkening back to the days of the Gold Rush and Western Expansion, dominated by two of Magic Kingdom's three mountains, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain. You might even stumble into the Country Bear Jamboree for a knee-slapping, washboard playing, hokey good time!

Liberty Square

Continuing to the right from Frontierland, the pavement changes to red with a section of brown concrete running through the middle. That's how you know you've entered Liberty Square. Ask a cast member what the brown concrete river represents, if you haven't figured it out already... For some relaxing attractions, check out the Liberty Belle Riverboat or The Hall of Presidents, or walk just a little futher along to experience another one of Walt Disney World's classics, The Haunted Mansion.

Fantasyland

Have you run into a four year old dressed like a princess yet? No worries, they're all right here in Fantasyland. If you've ever wanted to step into a Disney cartoon, you found the place to do so. "Old" Fantasyland is a collection of dark rides, including it's a small world and Peter's Pan's Flight, while "New" Fantasyland, first opening in 2012, is home to Seven Dwarves Mine Train, the castles from both Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid as well as Storybook Circus, aimed at the youngest guests. Or youngest at heart, because I never escape riding Dumbo the Flying Elephant at least once a trip.

Tomorrowland

Somewhere near The Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland you begin to hear the unmistakable sounds of Tomorrowland Speedway, and you know you are no longer in a fairytale. Tomorrowland stands in bleak contrast to the rest of the decor of Magic Kingdom, with sleek white buildings invoking a decidedly urban vibe.

While home to some excellent attractions, such as Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, and Carousel of Progress, Tomorrowland is problematic. As I suppose any long-term project would be that is dedicated to the future of tomorrow - the moment it's conceived, it is already in the past. Truthfully, I don't spend much time in this area, preferring the wistfulness of the other areas of Magic Kingdom.

My Magic Kingdom days start early, arriving about an hour before park open. I'll go through bag check and get my Magic Band scanned, and then find a good place to chill just outside the gate for the Magic Kingdom Welcome Show, which happens roughly 20 minutes before official park opening time. There are dancers, the mayor of Main Street comes out to say hi, a bunch of characters come riding in on the Walt Disney World Railroad, they countdown to opening and then shoot off fireworks. I cry every time.

Pro tip: get some breakfast to-go (I usually pick up a chocolate croissant and a bottle of orange juice) while at your resort to put in your park bag, then have some breakfast while waiting for the park to open. Neato!

Once in the park, I head back towards Frontierland via Liberty Square to ride my favorite ride in Magic Kingdom, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Hopefully it will be the first of two or three rides on BTMR today.

Next stop? Adventureland, for Jungle Cruise followed by Pirates of the Caribbean. Then a detour to Aloha Isle for a Dole Whip, which I'll snack on on my way to The Haunted Mansion.

Then I'm off back to Frontierland to use my first FP+ reservation for a second ride on BTMR. I warned you. It's my favorite.

Next stop? Fantasyland where I'll have FP+ reservations for Peter Pan's Flight and Seven Dwarves Mine Train. Once I check in for my last FP+, I'll jump on MDE to see if I can grab another reservation in Fantasyland for right after, or see how long the wait times are for both it's a small world and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Lunch time! If I decide to stay in the park, I'll head to Columbia Harbour House in Liberty Square for their Chicken and Fish combo plate, or ofter to Cosmic Ray's in Tomorrowland for their roasted chicken plate. If I leave the park, I'll walk over to Contempo Cafe at the Contemporary Resort for a roast beef sandwich and one of their delicious cupcakes.

After lunch I'll take a spin on the Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover and catch a performance of Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor before heading back to Main Street to look through the shops and enjoy some of the entertainment before watching the Festival of Fantasy Parade, which happens every day beginning at 3pm.

After the parade I'll head to The Hall of Presidents and then see what new FP+ reservations I can make.

For dinner, my heart belongs to Jungle Navigation Co. Ltd. Skipper Canteen, the newest table service restaurant in Magic Kingdom. After dinner I'll head next door to The Enchanted Tiki Room. By this time it's probably nearing sunset, which means it's time to climb Swiss Family Robinson Tree House to see Cinderella Castle and Space Mountain lit up and get some pictures.

About forty minutes before posted show time, I'll head back to the main hub and take my perch on the fence on the corner of the path that leads to Adventureland (straight up from Casey's and Crystal Palace) to stake out my viewing place for Celebrate the Magic and Wishes. I apologize to anyone who ends up watching both of these shows with me: I cry every. single. time.

When Wishes is over, I'll stay on my perch for about fifteen minutes while the crowd pushes towards the exit. But am I going to the exit? NOPE. I'm headed back into Adventureland to do a last walk through of the park, stopping at any attractions I missed or want to ride again. This usually includes a second ride on Jungle Cruise, a third ride on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and whatever else strikes my fancy before I get back to Main Street from Tomorrowland.

Then it's time to head to the bus stop to get back to the resort, get about five hours of sleep, and get up and do it all again the next day.

Note: my perfect day does not include any character meet and greets. This, for me, is not a priority. But if I did want to meet characters, I would be sure to stop and see Mickey Mouse at Town Square Theater, and Merida at Fairytale Garden. Be sure to check your Times Guide for that day's character schedule.

It also does not include two of the most popular rides in the park, Splash Mountain and Space Mountain, because I am a chicken. These I suggest doing at the beginning or very end of the day, or reserving FP+ either in advance or throughout the day.