Magic Kingdom Ride Guide & Best Attractions
This Magic Kingdom ride guide reviews the best & worst attractions with numerical scores, plus info & tips for everything in Walt Disney World’s most popular park. If you’re planning a WDW vacation, you need to know which rides and shows are not to be missed, and what you can skip. (Updated May 23, 2023.)
We’ve updated this guide to Magic Kingdom attractions for 2023 now that Splash Mountain has closed and being reimagined into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Additionally, TRON Lightcycle Run has debuted and Happily Ever After has made its triumphant return. Those are two huge additions to the Magic Kingdom entertainment and ride roster, and aren’t the only things–several meet & greets and character experiences also recently returned! We’ll keep you posted on everything that’s changing in our 2023 Walt Disney World Refurbishment Calendar.
This should help give you an idea of which Magic Kingdom rides and attractions are must-see for you–which includes headliners and sleeper picks–and which ones you won’t have time to do. If you’re planning a visit to Walt Disney World in the coming year, it’s important to note that things are still changing on a weekly basis. We update this post regularly, but if you want all the latest news and updates, we recommend subscribing to our free email newsletter.
Of course, everyone’s preferences will vary. We love some classic shows that are unpopular with the general public, and you might want to skip those…or see what the quirky or irreverent appeal is. Or, you might just want an air-conditioned break from the crowds. Likewise, small kids can’t ride roller coasters, teens may not like so-called kiddie rides, etc., so we’ll also provide a brief description of every attraction to give you an idea of whether particular attractions might be good fits for your family.
Also keep in mind that this guide covers only Magic Kingdom, which is the castle park at Walt Disney World. For the other theme and water parks, consult the following:
- EPCOT Park & Attraction Guide
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios Park & Attraction Guide
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park & Attraction Guide
- Typhoon Lagoon Water Park Guide
- Blizzard Beach Water Park Guide
If you have children, you should also consult our full list of attractions with height requirements at Walt Disney World. Several of the more popular attractions in Magic Kingdom have height requirements.
Not everything on our “Top Magic Kingdom Attractions” list is a headliner or E-Ticket attraction that draws huge crowds. We think this is a good thing–popular attractions are popular for a reason, and most people won’t need to be told that they should experience them. It’s the other, less-popular attractions that round out a day in the park, and experiencing the “right” less-popular attractions can make or break your day.
A day in the Magic Kingdom is about variety, and many attractions with short line or no waits are also exceptional–just not in a ‘knock-your-socks-off’ way. You could spend all day waiting in lines to experience the “Magic Kingdom Mountain Range” multiple times each because they are thrilling, but if all you care about is thrills, you aren’t having a well-rounded experience. Doing the sleeper attraction picks also means less time spent in lines, which is always a plus.
We recommend you have at least one full day to spend in Magic Kingdom, with 2 full days being ideal. Consult our 1-Day Magic Kingdom Itinerary and 2-Day Magic Kingdom Itinerary for a step-by-step approach to your day, beyond these reviews and tips. You may have more or less time depending on how many day tickets you purchase and whether you add on the Park Hopper option (read our Walt Disney World Ticket Guide to determine which tickets are best for you).
Now let’s take a look at the best and worst attractions in Magic Kingdom…
Best Magic Kingdom Attractions
TRON Lightcycle Run (9/10) – Let’s start with Magic Kingdom’s newest ride, which is TRON Lightcycle Run. This roller coaster is set on ‘The Grid’ from the TRON films, and is like a modernized version of Space Mountain next to it mixed with Rock ‘n’ Rollercoaster. There are numerous nods to Tron throughout the indoor/outdoor roller coaster, and it has visual effects to create the impression you’re racing around The Grid. We highly recommend doing this at night–the kinetic energy and lighting of The Upload Conduit canopy is tremendous.
Note that TRON Lightcycle Run currently does not offer a standby line. See our Virtual Queue Strategy Guide for TRON Lightcycle Run or Individual Lightning Lanes at Walt Disney World: Pricing & Info for how to experience the attraction. (The virtual queue is free, whereas the Lightning Lane is a paid upcharge.) To that end, read our comprehensive Ride Review: Is TRON Lightcycle Run Worth Your Time or Money? to determine if the hassle or expensive is justified.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (9.5/10) – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is now several years old, but still the next-newest ride in Magic Kingdom and the other Individual Lightning Lane attraction after TRON Lightcycle Run. It’s also one of the most popular at Walt Disney World. The coaster’s strengths are its Audio-Animatronics, theming, and great flow. The biggest weakness is its short duration–everything about this will leaving you wanting more, and not necessarily in a good way. It’s a tad unsatisfying.
This roller coaster dark ride hybrid has a 38″ height requirement, but is very smooth and should not bother those with mild fears of heights. On average, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has the longest wait time of any attraction in Magic Kingdom at 70-120 minutes depending upon crowd levels. That’s the bad news.
The good news is that it does not have a virtual queue, and there are several ways to beat the crowds and have a significantly shorter wait. Doing it early or late are the obvious options–see our dedicated Ride Guide to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train for strategy about when to do it and when to avoid it.
Pirates of the Caribbean (10/10) — Pirates of the Caribbean is a boat-ride back in time to the days when pirates ruled the Caribbean. The attractions features Audio Animatronics pirates, including Captain Jack Sparrow, engaging in swashbuckling mayhem. The ride now has a re-imagined auction scene with a new redheaded female pirate.
This is great fun for guests of all ages (the darkness and gunfire might scare really young children). It contains great detail, tons of characters, a catchy song.
Haunted Mansion (10/10) — The Haunted Mansion is a slow-moving dark ride that is home to 999 happy haunts that are dying to meet you. No further explanation should be necessary.
If you aren’t familiar with the premise of the Haunted Mansion, you’re probably living under a rock. In the Haunted Mansion, the ghosts are the more jovial, singing type, so it shouldn’t startle young children, but it is dark. This is another attraction that you can do whenever.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (9/10) — A guest favorite, Big Thunder Mountain a roller coaster themed as a runaway mine train on a ride through the barren landscape of the Old West. Hang onto your hats and glasses, because Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is “the wildest ride in the wilderness!” Do it relatively early or late at night.
Space Mountain (8/10) — Space Mountain is a dark roller coaster through outer space. There’s cool theming here, a blast-off tunnel, and music to enhance the experience. It also has interesting post-show scenes in space. This roller coaster has a 44″ height requirement. Prioritize Space Mountain early in the morning or late at night.
Enchanted Tales with Belle (9/10) – An elaborate character encounter in New Fantasyland, the draw of Enchanted Tales with Belle really depends upon the guest. Everyone will be impressed by the technology utilized in it, and there are a couple of real ‘wow moments’ that make this a must do. With that said, only small children and their parents (viewing it through the eyes of their kids) are likely to enjoy the actual experience, which is a bit hokey. Nevertheless, it’s a great evolution of the meet & greet concept, and is sure to leave a lasting impression on its target audience.
Festival of Fantasy Parade (9.5/10) – This is the first Magic Kingdom daytime parade in a long time that I’ve loved. It is ambitious, and large in scale and scope. The parade floats are all large, detailed and have a lot of substance to them. The float that has captured everyone’s attention is the steampunk-esque Maleficent float, and this is understandable because it breathes fire.
The Brave, Tangled, Peter Pan, and Monstro floats are similarly well done. Add to this performers in costumes that have a lot of detail, a catchy soundtrack, and a great energy, and you have a parade that’s a real winner. Check out our Festival of Fantasy Parade Tips post for best viewing places and more.
Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire (8/10) – The newest Cinderella Castle daytime stage show in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, having debuted last spring. This is similar to past ‘smile and dance’ shows on the castle stage, and arguably a bit better. Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire drops the pretense of a plot, and lets the show exist just for the sake of existing, as a fun festival with Mickey and various characters dancing and singing. The costuming is also pretty good, and there are seasonal variations of the show, adding to its rewatchability.
Happily Ever After (10/10) – There is no more fitting of a way to close a day in the Magic Kingdom than with fireworks. The new fireworks show is Happily Ever After, which replaced Wishes. As we write in our Happily Ever After Review, this is one of the best fireworks shows Disney has ever done, anywhere. It is absolutely not to be missed.
We recommend viewing Happily Ever After from Main Street USA. The specific best & worst spots are shared via color-coded map with accompanying explanations in our Magic Kingdom Fireworks Viewing Guide. There are also a few ‘hidden gem’ locations if you want to get away from the crowds.
Country Bear Jamboree (8.5/10) – A stage show featuring Audio Animatronics singing bears from the South, Country Bear Jamboree is a love it or hate it attraction. If you surveyed a random sample of Disney guests, a good portion would probably disagree with our score for Country Bear Jamboree. They’re wrong.
Country Bear Jamboree is a nuanced, sharp, and irreverent show that many guests and kids will appreciate. It loses a point here is because the show was shortened to remove the best jokes and because of the bears’ condition. Do Country Bear Jamboree whenever.
Jungle Cruise (8.5/10) — Jungle Cruise is a boat ride through the rivers of Adventureland that encounters hippos, lions, and piranhas, etc., along the way. The real highlight here is the non-stop zingers of the skippers who pilot the boats. If you don’t appreciate dry, intentionally corny, or self-aware humor, you may not like Jungle Cruise. We’ve seen a number of guests exit the Jungle Cruise with confused looks on their faces. It is highly skipper-dependent. If you get a poor skipper, this could be a 4/10 ride–our 8.5 rating assumes a good skipper. Do this earlier in the day.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room (8/10) – Enchanted Tiki Room is a 15-minute musical serenade from Audio Animatronics birds in a theater-in-the-round. You’ve probably heard these catchy songs before; the fun music of this attraction, and its history, makes it an attraction not to be missed. The theater is dark, but it should be fine for kids.
Peter Pan’s Flight (9/10) — This attracts some of the longest lines in Magic Kingdom; arrive right at park opening or right before park close, you might consider skipping Peter Pan’s Flight. It’s iconic because it takes guests in “flying” ships above London and Neverland, which is what makes this attraction magical. However, it’s older and needs both a track replacement and scene modernization. The new interactive queue does help make the long wait in line more bearable.
‘it’s a small world’ (8.5/10) — The iconic attraction featuring the children of the world and that song. Again, unless you live under a rock, you’re familiar with it. Lines are never all that long, it’s good for guests of all ages, and is a relaxing boat ride. Experience this whenever.
Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid (8/10) – This Little Mermaid dark ride is one of the most popular rides in the park, but high capacity and its location prevent lines from ever getting too long. There are a couple of cool scenes and Audio Animatronics, and the queue is really cool, but it doesn’t quite deliver on the potential of a modern dark ride. Do this early-on after other Fantasyland dark rides, or towards the end of the day.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant (7/10) – Relocating and doubling the iconic Dumbo spinners has considerably eased wait times. It’s a classic and rite of passage for all kids, but thanks to enhanced lighting and short waits, it’s now a fun night-time attraction for guests of all ages.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic (8/10) – A 3D montage film mostly from the “Disney Animation Renaissance” cleverly tied together with Donald Duck. Children of the 90s are sure to love this film, but really, anyone should enjoy it. Do it whenever–we recommend it as an escape from afternoon heat.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover (8/10) – This is here because it’s a no-wait, slow-moving diversion that offers nice views of Tomorrowland, pure and simple. It makes for a good rest, and for most people, that’s it. If you’re looking for an attraction that’s more of an engaging experience, go elsewhere. We love it, but we’re not the norm. Note that it does go through Space Mountain, so a portion of it is in the dark, which might scare kids. Do this whenever–it’s best at night when the neon of Tomorrowland is lit
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor (7/10) – A screen-based show during which monsters interact with and tell jokes to guests. Laugh Floor can be hit or miss, largely depending upon guest interaction quality. Kids will laugh at the “standard” jokes told by the monsters, adults will laugh at the interactions between monsters and kids (and adults). Shy guests may not like it due to uneasiness about being picked on. Do this whenever.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress (8/10) – An Audio-Animatronics stage show with scenes in different eras showcasing technological innovations. This is one of our favorite attractions (a must-do for us) in the Magic Kingdom, so it pains me to put it on “the rest” list, but we enjoy it for nostalgia’s sake. The last scene is woefully outdated and Carousel of Progress probably won’t appeal to average guests–although older guests will likely enjoy the trip down memory lane.
Walt Disney World Railroad (8/10) – A relaxing train ride around the Magic Kingdom, albeit with not a ton to see. Needs some dinosaurs, but then again, doesn’t everything?!
Other Magic Kingdom Rides
Astro Orbitor (6/10) — Spinner ride similar to Dumbo. Elevated location makes this a fun pick, especially at night if lines are shorter.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (6.5/10) — Buzz Lightyear enlists your help in an interactive and competitive game-attraction to save the universe in this blast-em-up, ride-through adventure. It’s like a ride-through video game, and is fun. Lines fluctuate greatly for this and can be very long, but generally aren’t too bad at the end of the day.
Tomorrowland Speedway (4/10) — Kids might like it as it gives them a chance to drive; save for that, it’s really not a good attraction. The smell of exhausting and loud puttering of engines can both be very off-putting.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (6.5/10) — An okay dark ride, but there’s a good chance kids will have more fun playing in the queue than on the actual ride. This is a popular attraction, but is not worth a long wait time; do it early or late in the day when lines are short, if at all.
Barnstormer (4.5/10) – A roller coaster only for kids who want to prove themselves on a coaster, but are too short for other coasters. Everyone else should avoid this due to long waits, short duration, and lackluster visuals. It has a 35″ height requirement.
Mad Tea Party (5/10) – A fun and iconic whimsical ride, although there’s really nothing more to this experience than a similar one at a local fair.
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (4.5) – Ordinary carousel. Okay at night if there’s no wait and you have time to kill.
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin (3/10) – Yet another spinner. Do Astro Orbiter or Dumbo instead.
Liberty Square Riverboat (7/10) – Relaxing way to float around Frontierland, but like the Tomorrowland Transit Authority or the Walt Disney World Railroad, it’s justa an ambiance ride.
Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (7/10) – Fun area that can be quickly explored as a nice change of pace from doing rides. Never any waits, do it whenever.
Tom Sawyer Island (7/10) – An entire island play area for kids that harkens back to a bygone area. It’s really well done, and a great place for kids to blow off energy. Adults may enjoy the tranquility of the island, too. Doesn’t feel like a theme park.
Hall of Presidents (7/10) – Hall of Presidents is a stage show featuring Audio-Animatronics of all United States Presidents, plus a ‘preamble’ video. The revised version of this attraction features the current POTUS making a speech. Regardless of your feelings about him, he’s just a small part of a larger show about the office of president. All things considered, Hall of Presidents is a powerful and educational attraction. It’ll make you feel less guilty about pulling your kids out of school for a Disney trip! 😉
This leaves out random pieces of entertainment, character meet & greets, and a few other seasonal offerings, but it should cover every attraction on a Magic Kingdom park map. If you have the time, try as much as you can, as you’ll likely disagree with us on at least a few of these attractions.
If you are unsure of how to tackle planning for Walt Disney World, we recommend contacting a no fee “Authorized Disney Vacation Planner” (basically, Disney’s term for a travel agent) to get a quote and to help you plan. They get their commission from Disney, so none of the authorized (key word) planners will charge you for booking their trip and helping. Here’s one such recommended Authorized Disney Vacation Planner!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? If you’re interested in learning more about hotels, our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page is a good place to start. For where to eat, try out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. If you want to save money on tickets or determine which type you should get, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. OurWhat to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at unconventional things you should take on your trip. Once you arrive at the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides” are great for determining what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of these topics and so much more, the best place to start is our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!
Your Thoughts…
Which Magic Kingdom attractions are your favorites and which do you skip? Do you agree or disagree with our ratings? If you haven’t visited Walt Disney World yet, which Magic Kingdom attractions are you most excited about? Hearing from you is half the fun, so please share your questions and thoughts in the comments!
We just did our first wdw trip, but as Southern Californians visit Disneyland at least monthly. I was SO happy to see the PeopleMover, Country bears, Carousel of Progress, and the MSEP since we don’t have them anymore. I thought it was just nostalgia, but our kids really enjoyed these as well and had never experienced them in California.
Your kids sound like they have good character! 🙂
Except the Disney World PeopleMover doesn’t have a TRON segment.
Thanks for this list! Pirates of the Caribbean has a drop in the dark that can catch any unknowing person off guard. Kids (and anxiety ridden adults) may not like that so much. 🙂
I love Country Bear Jamboree. *there’s blood on the saddle* I used to live in LA and had an AP to Disneyland. The one thing I missed most from WDW was the bears.
I agree with PhilharMagic being a must see. Unless you’re the last people in the door to a completely packed theater and are stuck in the corner of the front row. My neck hurt from trying to see the show. 🙂
Love Country Bear Jamboree? You must be highly intelligent! 🙂
With a lot of the theater shows, how long you wait is entirely dependent upon when the next show starts. If you arrive at the last minute, that can mean having a poor seat, but that’s usually not the case.
Tom, I agree with you about the Carousel of Progress and the People mover (which we still call the Wedway People mover, just like Hollywood studios will always be MGM to us). We always go on them for a little break and no trip is complete without them. Even my 15 year old loves it.
Whoa, whoa, whoa. You raised a 15-year old who still loves Carousel of Progress and the TTA? Now *that* is some good parenting. Most teens are too cool for Disney completely, let alone the “dorky” rides! 🙂
Hey I’m wondering how they treat a 1 year old in the enchanted tales with Belle? Do you know how we could do a photo in the way they que up the kids? I watched your video on youtube and there weren’t really young ones.
The 1-year old wouldn’t participate in the show, but there’s no reason you couldn’t hold the child while getting a photo with Belle at the end.
My 5 year old son was freaked out by Enchanted Tales with Belle. He’s an odd one, but I love him. My one year old was too young to participate in the “story”, but entered the photo queue and hammed it up.
I agree that Peter Pan’s Flight is overrated. Nobody should wait in line for more than 30 minutes (let alone 60+ a lot of times) for a 2.5 minute ride.
However, I am curious as to why you say it’s “incredibly outdated.” I don’t disagree (seeing as how it’s original to the park), but I was wondering what ideas you might have that would bring it up to date. Possibly a re-imagining of the ride with updated, new technology ride vehicles?
“Those who can’t Imagineer, critique on the Internet.” <-- That describes me! 😉 I don't think the ride system needs replacing--it's a classic. It's the show scenes that need updating. Fluid and dynamic AAs. Fiber optics (or whatever is used on Mystic Manor), etc.
Love that you’ve put out a list like this. Looking forward to the rest of the parks so I can point friends here who are planning trips. I also look forward to a Disneyland version so that it’ll help me when planning mine and my husband’s first trip out there in 2015 or ’16!
Here are the Disneyland Resort versions –
Disneyland: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/disneyland-best-rides/
DCA: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/best-disney-california-adventure-rides/
Thanks!
When we were there last September, our POTC boat was stuck for about 20 minutes – I still can’t get the song out of my head! 🙂
Yeah, unfortunately on that ride (and ‘small world’) the wait in line might not be the only wait you have…
We also got stuck during The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and were walked out through the attraction by a CM – my 10 year old son ranks that as the best part of the whole trip! 🙂
This happened to us in April 2012, and was the highlight of our day because we had to be escorted out through a secret door, (cast members in waders came through and pulled each boat to an emergency exit) and given a blank fastpass. It was weird to see the robots moving with no soundtrack and all of the lights on! We got to see a lot of behind the scenes at wdw!!
Tom–tell us how you really feel about the Country Bear Jamboree. 🙂
When I was young, my parents would always make my brother and I sit through the Hall of Presidents. Now I can’t wait to make my son sit through it while appreciating it so much more as an adult.
My actual opinion would involve too much cursing at those who don’t like it. This *is* the restrained opinion! 😉
While not a huge fan of the CBJ myself, my all-time favorite sentence ever uttered in the history of the world happened in the MK regarding the Country Bears… While walking the lady and her husband in front of us were having a heated discussion and she turned to him and shouted, “Da**it, Carl! Where else are we going to be able to see singing bears?!”
Made my entire trip and is a phrase I’ve worked into my everyday life. 🙂
That’s an awesome line. The ultimate trump card in any argument, I’d say. 😉
I agree with everything except echanted tales, if grading it “for what it is”, (a character meet experience for kids), it is definitely a 10. Every other chacter meet gives you 1-2 minutes of interaction time and its over. This one gives you lots of interaction time (however, it is structured through the story telling helping the kids interact, which isn’t bad if your child normally freezes up in the presence of royalty), and you really feel as though you’ve walked into beast’s enchanted castle! And the mirror thing? Awesome 🙂
I think that’s a fair point, and I toiled over whether to bump its score up a bit. My reservation is the difficulty of doing it without FastPass+ and that I think the main show might be a little bit uninspired, even from the perspective of kids (I could be wrong on that). I’ll give it some more thought and possibly revise.
If others agree with you, I hope they share!
I love Jungle Cruise at dusk. The low light makes the cheesiness of it a little less apparent, and makes it overall a more fun experience to me.
I absolutely love the electrical parade, but it could be a nostalgia thing. We also think philharmagic is awesome!
I think nostalgia is a big part of the appeal for MSEP. I wonder how first-time guests feel about it (especially the music). I think the concept is a cool thing, regardless.
I took a first timer to see the MSEP and she was thoroughly annoyed by the music to the point where she vehemently disliked the entire parade. Spectro = 10/10! I would love for them to get a new nighttime parade in there, but with the daytime parade updates coming first, we may be waiting awhile.
Yeah, it’s not happening anytime soon. I think Dreamlights in Tokyo is a good template for how you modernize a night parade while still maintaining its charm and nostalgic appeal. That parade still features a bit of the Baroque Hoedown, but it’s not as dominant, and the actual parade tech is pretty awesome.
A few weeks ago I made my second trip to WDW, along with my brother, for whom this trip was a first time. On my first trip in 2006 I didn’t see MSEP, so this time around marked the first time for the parade for both of us. We both thoroughly enjoyed MSEP–the lights, floats, and music. On our second evening at MK we caught the parade three separate times, by which point we became frustrated with it, not so much because of the parade itself (although the music does get old after a while) but because it inhibits travelling the park in so many ways. As much as I enjoyed the parade numerous times, I would have liked to have seen Spectromagic in its place once or twice.
I love the music to the Electrical Parade! In fact, during the recent 24-hour event at MK,I not only got up at 1am to watch the parade (again) on the live feed, but had the music playing from another window using a YouTube video! Can’t wait to see it again during my next visit.
The last time my mom was in WDW, Spectromagic was the nighttime parade. She thought it was the coolest thing in the world. Recently, I brought her back while I was working there, and she was SO disappointed by MSEP. She didn’t realize it was a different parade, so it wasn’t a nostalgia thing.
I couldn’t agree more – skipping or falling asleep during the Hall of Presidents show is DISTINCTLY unpatriotic!! The American Presidents are a fascinating bunch, especially considering the humble roots so many of them sprang from. And a little star-spangled patriotism never hurt anybody!
It’s like Calvin’s dad always said: making your kids watch the Hall of Presidents builds (their) character.
Great article!
As a huge fan of the Haunted Mansion, I would warn that there are often little kids that cry and need the “chicken exit” because of the black out, scream, and hanging corpse in the stretch room. While adults will absolutely understand the humor woven into even the early portions of the ride, the ghosts don’t go full-on party until the cemetery scene. The first half of the ride leaves some doubt about their intentions.
Many kids are completely ready for the Mansion pretty young, but others are definitely not.
This is a very individualized situation.
I never thought of that (and somehow, have never experienced any crying kids in that room), but it’s an excellent point. I’ll revise accordingly.
Ditto – my seven year old will ride any roller coaster, yet the HM stretching room scared the life out of her.
When I was a kid, I remember having a death grip on my dad’s arm, eyes glued shut during the Stretch Room portion of Haunted Mansion. I never took the chicken exit, but I never much opened my eyes during that ride either.
Absolutely. My 7-year-old was spooked by the stretch room and blackout and needed the chicken exit. My 9-year-old stayed on the ride–but just barely–and but didn’t enjoy it much. The ride is more intimidating than I remember (from 30-plus years ago). When I was around their age, I loved it.
I love rides they are fun. By the way do you know that I am a kid.
“Astro Orbitor (6/10) — Spinner ride similar to Dumbo.”
Except higher in the air, tilted at a 45° angle, and much faster! This was mildly terrifying to have my 2.5-year-old on (for me, not her). 🙂
Same here, Kevin – we rode it for the first time last September, and I had a vice grip on my daughter (despite the logical part of my brain knowing that it was perfectly safe!).
Completely agree. I have slight trouble with motion sickness, so I know Mission Space Orange Team is a never again. However, on our recent trip Astro Orbitor almost did me in and we ride this every time. Maybe it’s how my son was leaning on me, but thought I was going to pass out!
Great synopsis. I agree with most of your ratings. We love Barnstormer, for the exact reason you said–it got our 5-year-old to try roller coasters (she quickly graduated to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which she rode 7 or 8 times!). I completely agree with you on Stitch’s Great Escape. Fortunately we knew to avoid that one with our daughter. As a side note, if you do a list forAnimal Kingdom attractions, the same warning should go on the Bug’s Life show. It’s too intense for the younger crowd, which we found out the hard way.
Enchanted Tales with Belle is great for anyone with younger kids, particularly “princesses in training.” The last time we were on Carousel of Progress, it got stuck (wouldn’t rotate) and we ended up seeing part of it twice. I think that ride has run its course, and I would love to see something new in its place, though my husband would likely side with the nostalgics of it.
Yeah, Barnstormer definitely has its place for kids like yours. I’m just suggesting that anyone *not* in that situation should definitely avoid it. If your kids can do the ‘advanced’ coasters, there’s no point in dealing with the often long lines of Barnstormer.
Carousel of Progress has been getting ‘stuck’ too much recently. Something definitely needs to be done with it. As much as it pains me to say, if they aren’t going to maintain it, maybe it’s time for a replacement. Although, if Tomorrowland (movie with George Clooney) does well, maybe its scene with Carousel of Progress will give the attraction a spike. That would be awesome!
I love all of these rides, and plan to visit each and every one of them when I come down to Disney by myselfnext time.
I agree with you that Peter Pan is overrated. I tend to skip it unless forced to go on it by another member of my vacation party. It is such a short ride as well. I would give Hall of Presidents a lower rating. I prefer the American Adventure in Epcot over Hall of Presidents any day. While the Hall of Presidents is nice, it is hard not to fall asleep during.
I just saw that you said it is good for when the unpatriotic need a nap. Don’t get me wrong-it is a great show about the US however the American Adventure with songs and different sets is more my kind of thing.
I’m just kidding about those who fall asleep during Hall of Presidents. It can be tough not to, especially after a busy morning. I also prefer American Adventure, although I love both.
Weirdly, I have never fallen asleep during the Hall of Presidents but have every time during the American Adventure. And so does the friend I travel with. We both love the show so my only guess is that all the walking without shade in the World Showcase makes us more tired than we think. I don’t know.
Love the list.
I really like the carousel of progress, maybe it’s the history, maybe it’s the short lines. Either way, I hope they keep it going for a long time.
Yes, the Carousel of Progress is corny, but I love it. I prefer the older theme song (“Now is the Best Time of Our Lives”) to the current song (“There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow”).
I think both songs are great. I find it interesting that the song changed as society’s view of the future changed for the better.
“There’s A Great, Big, Beautiful Tomorrow” was the original song – at the 1964 New York World’s Fair and at Disneyland for years. It stayed with the show when it first transferred to Disney World and was later replaced by “Now is the Best Time of Our Lives.” Cooler heads prevailed, originalists won the day and the true song of this spectacular attraction was finally put back in. Sadly, the arrangement of the current incarnation is no where near as rich as it originally was. Hear it on the compilation album, The Music of Disney: A Legacy in Song.
“Dinning plan” YOU SLAY ME.
If you see anyone spell it that way, you can safely assume they don’t like Country Bear Jamboree. Also assume that they’re fans of Captain EO and Downtown Disney. 😉
Im a Disneyland annual pass holder, and had an opportunity to visit WDW a year ago. The Bear jamboree was definitely one of our favorite attractions and we’re quite puzzled why if Disneyland has a critter country and a hungry bear restaurant… Where’s our bears? I was quite pleased to finally have a better perspective on the two ‘kingdoms’ and although bigger in size WDW is definitely not ‘better’ than Disneyland as many claim. Next goal Paris 😉
Francisco – Disneyland used to have a Country Bear Jamboree (2 theaters!) in Critter Country (it actually used to be “Bear Country”. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh replaced it. There are still nods to the Country Bears throughout the land.
Disney Springs now? You should do a review about what you think about the name change