Whether you haven’t been to Disney World in years or you find yourself enjoying a stroll down Main Street often, there’s something fairly new at Disney’s Magic Kingdom that you won’t want to miss. It’s an interactive game and scavenger hunt of sorts, one that will get both kids and adults alike extra excited about a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth!
With the help of my daughter, I’ve created this guide to Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. The scoop on what it is, how to begin, where it’s located, and most of all, how to enjoy it.
Guide to Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom
Last year, we visited Magic Kingdom during two separate trips. I’ll be honest, it wasn’t until our second trip that we even noticed the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom. Why? It’s not exactly an “attraction” or “ride” but an interactive adventure which takes you all over the park. In fact, I guarantee you pass by people engaging in it all day long without realizing what they are doing. I also guarantee you walk right by Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom portals without even knowing it. Read on to find out how. (It’s so cool)
If you love scavenger hunts and the idea of helping the wizard Merlin fight the evil forces of Disney villains (and don’t mind free Disney souvenirs), then Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is for you. Our last family day at the Magic Kingdom was spent going on a few rides of course, but mostly running from land to land playing this.
One Park Only – Magic Kingdom
Head to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, for right now this is the only theme park where this is available.
Next, become an apprentice sorcerer and help the wizard Merlin fight the forces of evil!
Why?
Hades, god of the Underworld, is looking to make Magic Kingdom park his new summer home. But first, he must reassemble the Crystal of the Magic Kingdom, whose 4 shards are scattered in hidden locations throughout the park. A brigade of Disney baddies is helping him retrieve the pieces, and it’s up to you to stop them!
Become an Apprentice Sorcerer – Start Here
To become an apprentice sorcerer, head to one of 2 locations, the best being the Firehouse on Main Street, U.S.A.! It’s to the left as you enter the park. That makes it really easy to stop in before you get on with your day and gives you the option of trying the game out. At a minimum, just stop by to get the FREE Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom spell cards!
A second location is in Liberty Square.
It is in these locations where you’ll be given all the tools you’ll need to help you on your adventure.
There’s hardly ever a wait in my experience.
MagicBand Link Up
First thing they’ll do is link up the game to your MagicBand.
Does everyone in your party need to link up? No. In fact, we only had my daughter link up her MagicBand since we wanted her to be the one in charge. If you have multiple children, it might be good to have them all link up and then take turns at each portal or stop along the adventure.
Free Souvenirs Just for Stopping By
Next, you’ll be given two very important items:
- Merlin’s mystical map
- Spell cards
The map will show you the locations of various missions throughout Main Street, U.S.A.; Adventureland; Fantasyland and Frontierland. (Note: Tomorrowland is missing from the adventure – at least for now)
Spell Cards are used during each mission to challenge Hades and his henchmen (aka Disney villains). Each time you visit Magic Kingdom you can get a new spell card package. Each package comes with several spell cards inside. These look like trading cards and be warned, I have seen grown men sitting near portals with binders full of cards. They like to trade.
These are incredibly fun to collect and don’t cost a thing. So even if you aren’t sure that your kids will enjoy the game, be sure to stop by and sign up just to get the spell cards for fun. A great souvenir!
(I even got a pack to bring home to my daughter when I visited Magic Kingdom in February for the Zootopia Press Junket)
Follow the Map and Find the Keyholes and Portals
After signing up, as an apprentice sorcerer, you’ll need to follow the map to find locations for your missions. You’ll discover that you’ve been passing these all along without realizing it.
See this keyhole – this is one of the things waiting for you at every location. A keyhole which will read your MagicBand and………
This Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom logo is the other thing you’ll spot at each mission. You will stand in this circle every time after you’ve scanned your MagicBand into the keyhole.
Ah, but where’s the portal? You know, the portal from which Merlin will tell you of your mission. You know, the portal where you’ll fight off Disney villains?
The portals are hidden throughout Magic Kingdom………………….
Here’s one in Adventureland, near the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.
You’ll quickly spy the Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom logo circle on the ground, which my daughter is standing upon. To her right, on a crate and under the lantern, you’ll spy a keyhole where she first had to scan her MagicBand. Once her MagicBand was scanned, she quickly stood on the circle and waited for the portal to open…..ahem, magically appear. You can see it here, but trust me, the average Disney goer would have passed by here without taking another look as when the portal is turned off, it looks just like a Disney building. Ah, the Disney magic!
But now that you are schooled in all things about Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, you will see the logo circles on the ground, keyholes and portal locations everywhere you go!
Here is another mission and portal location in Fantasyland, just on the other side of Cinderella’s Castle. Once again you see the logo circle on the ground and the keyhole on the left. Where’s the portal? This time it’s inside the store window. Clever!
Here’s a closeup of what a portal looks like as it’s activating. This one happens to be in a store window on Main Street.
Here’s a photo of another mission and portal spot in Fantasyland, just to the side of Mickey’s PhilharMagic attraction.
On the left is what the location looks like before activation. On the right is what the location looks like after you scan your MagicBand. During this mission, it looks like the Evil Queen makes an appearance (or is that Maleficent?).
Complete as many or as few missions as you wish; Merlin and the keepers of Magic Kingdom park are grateful for any help they can get! And speaking of help, a different Disney pal will pop up to guide you on each portion of your quest—and congratulate you as you thwart each Disney Villain.
Cruella De Vil, Jafar, Ursula, Scar and many more mayhem makers will be doing their best to get to each crystal shard before you do, so hold onto your proverbial wizard hat and get ready for spellbinding adventures at every turn!
Keep your spell cards ready as you’ll need them to use at each portal location to fight off the villains. You’ll choose a card when told and hold it up in front of the portal and VOILA, watch to see what happens. From animal spells to warrior spells, from monster spells to fairy spells, these cards will help you along the way.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is included in your theme park admission….yes, it’s all Free!
Have you played Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom yet?
Wondering exactly why you should stay ON Disney Property? Read all about it in my post Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Secrets Revealed!
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Can you still get a pack of cards in Liberty Square? Where do you get them in Liberty Square?
Heading back soon and I will check!
I played it once, and we have not managed to do it since.
Question on the card pack you get. Is each pack a random set of cards, or are they a specific set? So for example if I get a set and the rest of my family gets a set are we guaranteed to get all different cards each time we get new sets? Or are they more like Pokemon cards where even though you have 10 sets it’s possible that between the them we could have duplicate cards?
Great question. In our experience (getting new packs each trip), the cards are random. We have some duplicate cards, but no duplicate packs. Not familiar with Pokemon cards, but I hope that helps. 🙂
Hello, if you do not speak English, can you play?
Great question, and one I don’t know the answer to. I would check with the Cast Members at the firehouse. You can obviously play as far as getting free packs of cards, I just don’t know if the missions can be activated in other languages by your Magic Band.
Disney truly thinks of everything. This is amazing. I had never heard of it prior to your post and I honestly just want to fly there now to do this. So fun! Thank you for sharing!
Does anyone know if you can continue to play during extra hours? We won’t be purchasing an extra hours ticket for rides, but I know they don’t kick you out. You can shop and trade pins, just can’t ride unless you purchase a ticket or if you are staying on campus. Just curious if we could keep playing though sorcerers.
Craig, that’s a very good question, one I personally don’t know the answer too. I would imagine that you could, but you might want to ask a Cast Member to be sure.
I know at special events like Halloween and Christmas they don’t allow you past main street unless you have purchased a band for that days event. I am less certain about magic hours.
Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom, Agent P at Epcot and A Pirate’s Adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas are just AWESOME!!!!
Looks like so much fun! Will check this out when I go next time!
Wow! This looks like a great time! 🙂
My son and I played this when we were at Magic Kingdom in 2013. We had so much fun. It’s a great way to see the park. We also enjoyed the Agent P game in EPCOT.
You know I haven’t yet played Agent P in Epcot! Similar, I’m guessing Tammy?
I had no idea about this! My son would love it but we were just at Disney in the summer so I’ll have to remember this for the next time. thanks for the tips.
my family is going this year. Im sharing all your Disney posts with them,
What kind of “mission”. Can you give an exemple? Cause my children don’t speak english and I asking myself if they can enjoy the game anyway. Thank you for your greats advices!
Catherine. Great question. The missions, given by Merlin through the portals, are in English. That said, it’s pretty easy to tell when it’s time to fight the villains (and hold up your free cards to defeat them). When you initially sign up for the interactive game, I would ask them at the station if there are maps in different languages, etc. Knowing that they activate the game through your Magic Bands, I bet it’s possible that Disney knows to change the language since you have to scan your Magic Band when you approach a portal. Ask a CastMember when you sign up and get your free cards!
I look forward to this when I go to Disney World on Halloween!
I love this game. My brother and I (both adults) stumbled across it several years ago. It is great fun if you want to do something other than wait for rides, or as we often do a half day before catching a flight home. (You will get your exercise)
Things to know:
First you can get additional cards three ways.
*Finish a level in one day (its something like seven villains defeated). When you have defeated all the villains on a level you can go back to the fire station for an extra pack.
*Visit to the fire station once a day. You can get a new pack of cards each day no matter how many villains you have defeated so a park hopper can be very useful (note you do have to play one round so that the game recognizes you are in the park)
*purchase add on packs from the Disney stores. There are four and this is were I have found rare cards. It also gives instructions for playing an at home game and shows you all the cards available (except for special event cards.
There are special event cards such as Halloween and Christmas party cards that are only handed out at those events. If you go to either event look for the person handing them out in front of the fire station.
There are three levels (I was told by a very knowledgeable 10 year old)
Your game is kept in memory for about two years so if you go back you can start at your same level.
If you have kids that want to collect cards have the adults sign up also. You need to play one game in order to keep things active but to get extra cards you can help your kids out.
There is a cast member standing outside the Fire Station that has a book for both pin trading and card trading.
Great tips about the finishing a level in one day! Did not know that one 🙂
I finished all the levels in one day last. Do you think when I go this year, I should go back to the firehouse and scan my band and I will be able to pick up another game? Or will it be the same as I already did?
That’s a great question Wendy, one I don’t know the answer too as we are still working on our game (we do a little each trip). I would definitely go to the firehouse and ask the cast members there when you arrive. Have you collected all the cards? At a minimum, you will be able to get more cards every day!
Hello! I actually have heard of this scavenger hunt, which is not surprising since I’m a Disney fanatic. However, I didn’t really know what it was until I read your post. Sounds like a lot of fun – even for an adult like myself. I’ll definitely add this to my Disney Parks’ Bucket List. Thanks for taking us along on this quest. 🙂
Thanks Candis!! Fellow Disney fanatic myself 🙂
Yes! We love this at Disney we play it in between rides and sometimes in the middle of the day when the lines are long. It’s very fun and gives us something to do when we don’t want to wait for long. It is good for kids of all ages, it helps problem solve stuff.
Great idea for playing when the lines are long Anslee!!
Hey, this looks like so much fun!
Does it work without magic bands?
Thanks
Yes, Maria! They have an option if you don’t have a MagicBand! They’ll walk you through it all when you sign up! You’ll love it!
It should also be noted that available for purchase Disney has booster packs. The booster packs give you more cards (including rare ones) but also give you a villain board and rules to play against that villain at home.
My hubby and daughters are in the process of trying to collect all the cards and each of the different booster packs. We are local and its something that is easily done after/between fastpasses even when crowds run high.
Yes – I just got back and took more pictures, including one of the board game! I’ll be updating soon. Thanks for the info!
I had no clue this existed. How fun!
This is such a great tutorial. I had no idea they were even around the park. How cool! Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome Meghan. We just got back from another trip and got more cards! Always a fun experience!
My family has not played this, but we are going to in November, when we go to Disney, now that we know about it. Sounds like a lot of fun and the best part is that it doesn’t cost extra! Thanks for sharing.