Why should you go there and how do you do it right?

The parade is the highlight of the admission. The River Carnival Show takes place at 8:30 p.m. in the River Palace, a covered parade hall, and lasts 45 minutes. It features a procession of enormous, illuminated floats. On some announced dates, there is a second performance at 6:30 p.m. Cell phones are not allowed inside, so you can fully enjoy the parade instead of filming it. Visitors are visibly moved afterward.

The area resembles a vibrant Thai theme park, complete with shops, game booths, street performers, and the "Kingdom of Lights," a walk-through light park that opens after the main parade. The "Bird of Paradise" buffet is open from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The park recommends arriving at least 90 minutes before the parade to allow ample time for dining and sightseeing.

On the official ticket website, admission including a buffet dinner costs 2,500 baht for adults and 2,400 baht for children. Admission alone costs 2,100 baht, and a combination ticket including a show and buffet at Phuket FantaSea is available for 3,700 baht or 3,600 baht, respectively. The two parks alternate evening hours, so the combination ticket covers two evenings. Children between 101 and 140 cm tall are admitted free of charge (without a seat). Rides and games cost extra on top of the ticket price; please factor these costs into your budget if you are traveling with children.

Carnival Magic is located on the Kamala side of the west coast and is open only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 5:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. Parking is free, and after the parade, shuttle buses run back to hotels until around midnight.