EDIT – Unfortunately, Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom came to an end in January 2021. We can only hope that Disney have a bigger and better replacement up their sleeves, as it will be sadly missed by our family.
A trip to Walt Disney World is one of the most fun things you can do as a family! But let’s face it – the costs can stack up pretty quickly! However, there’s one little-known activity in Magic Kingdom that won’t cost you a penny (beyond your park entrance!) – plus your kids get some cute, free souvenirs to take home! It’s called Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom, and it’s a kind of interactive scavenger hunt mixed with a role-playing battle with the Disney Villains! It’s a great way to while away a few minutes in between fastpasses or waiting for dining reservations. And our kids absolutely love it!!!
THE BASIC PREMISE
The Disney Villains are trying to take over Magic Kingdom – OH NO!!! The only way to stop them is to find the portals they’re coming through, and use your Disney good-guys and their “spells” to stop them in their tracks! Merlin is in charge of the fight, and will help you as much as he can, but it’s up to you! And the added bonus – the Disney good-guys are on super cute collectible cards!!!
GETTING STARTED
Getting started couldn’t be easier. Just head to the firehouse on the left-hand side of Main Street, USA, (it’s on the entrance square, before you get to the stores), and you’ll see a banner out front advertising it. Once you get inside, they’ll register a game on to your magic band – you simply tap the band to the little lock symbol on the desk, like you’d tap on a Mickey circle to redeem one of your fastpasses, and then they’ll give everyone in your party a pack of five free cards! We’ve never had to queue for more than 60 seconds to start a game or get new cards, so don’t think you’ll be waiting for ages like some of the bigger attractions! There’s a “practice portal” right there in the firehouse, so everyone can have a go at battling/card holding before you get on your way, but it’s really simple – you just hold a card out towards the portal, so it can register which good guy spell you’re using! You even get Merlin telling you when to do it! Once you’re good to go, you’ll get given some handy maps showing the vague portal locations, and the cast member will tell you which one to head to first.
FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT!
Off you go to save the Kingdom!!! Finding the portals is so much fun – they’re disguised as store windows, and tucked away in corners, with stroller parking, and even in restaurants! Just keep your eyes open for that lock and the Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom symbol! When you find the portal you’re looking for, tap your band, and the portal will spring to life, with Merlin telling you what’s going on! He’ll tell you when to hold out your card to defend the kingdom – you get to pick which of your cards to use – then, blam, the villain is foiled in their attempt, and Merlin will tell you where to head to next! Each good-guy spell card has a different effect – everything from fireballs or coconuts raining down on the baddies, to clouds of soot, loud ringing bells and dynamite! Our kids love seeing what each card does, because the Villains react differently to different cards!
OTHER THINGS TO KNOW
There’s 70 cards to collect (not including the special event cards) and you can get a pack of cards per person every day you visit Magic Kingdom – so if you go back for a second day (or third day – lucky you!), pop into the firehouse and get yourselves some more cards! Some are more rare than others! They also produce special cards for attendees of special events like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, so if you’re going to one of these, head to the firehouse to pick up your limited edition card before you start your fun! You can also buy extra card packs in one of the stores on Main Street, should you wish to boost your collection, and special binders to keep them in, but they’re really not necessary – the free cards are more than good enough for playing with. There’s often a cast member stood outside the firehouse with cards to swap, which is great if you’ve got kids that are in to pin trading (or if you’ve got a lot of doubles!). We’ve even come across other park goers who are willing to trade cards, though the look on one guy’s face when I pulled out our disorganised little sandwich baggie of mixed up cards was priceless!
We love playing Sorcerer’s of the Magic Kingdom! It’s a really fun distraction for in between rides, and stops the kids wanting more ice cream or to go in the shops quite so much! They all think collecting the different cards is brilliant, and swap between themselves to get the funniest spells, so it gives them something to do in the ride queues too. Even though it’s not a big headliner attraction, it’s a really fab addition to the Disney Parks.
Join in and have fun saving the kingdom on your next trip!!!
A Different Way To Go 