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!
The one thing that Disneyland had that Disney World doesn’t…
“WARNING. YOU HAVE INVADED THE ELECTRONIC REALM OF THE MASTER COMPUTER PROGRAM. PREPARE FOR THE GAME GRID OF TRON.”
Classic! And don’t forget:
“YOU HAVE ESCAPED TRON’S GAME GRID FOR NOW, USERS. BUT TAKE HEED, NEXT TIME YOU MAY NOT FARE SO WELL.”
Then you went past Autopia with the Polynesian-like music playing…
Go Disneyland PeopleMover Thru the World of TRON!
I think if every attraction had a TRON segment, the world would be a better place. Just imagine it on Tom Sawyer Island! 😉
We already have the Magnetic Mystery Mine. It only works on the Peoplemover.
Resting at hall of presidents right now..thanks really appreciate all ur advise!
Perfect attraction for the Fourth of July. Hope you’re having a great trip! 🙂
I agree with most of your ratings, but would rank Buzz Lightyear higher. We do it multiple times each trip and everyone from my 71-year-old mom to my 9-year-old daughter loves it. We’ve never had an issue with the guns not working. With FP+s in hand for Splash & Space Mountains and BTMR, we hit Buzz first thing at 8 am last week and walked right back in for round 2, then finished off our day at 12:30 am with one more round.
I meant goggles
How is carousel of progress outdated? Do we have Google’s that make us feel as those we were in the game? Or ovens that we can control with our voice? I don’t know about you but that’s a big no for me, I love carousel of progress it’s a classic! I would hate to see it go!
I was just wondering what kind of camera/lenses that you use for all your pictures because they’re incredible 🙂 thanks
and I LOVE your website, I can’t wait to start planning our Disney trip
As a frequent visitor of Disneyland and having just spent 4 days as a first timer at Disney World, I can say without exception that the Magic Kingdom in Anaheim is magnitudes better. The Pirates Ride has a much larger drop at DL and has a lot more ambiance, especially the restaurant and fireflies and even smells. There is WAY more detail in this and the Haunted Mansion rides (and others) in California. There’s no Matterhorn at DW (the replacement is Exhibition Everest in Animal Kingdom I suppose). The circus area seems cheap and the whole park is in a word lame in comparison. However Disneyland has no Epcot, Hollwood Studios or Animal Kingdom, all of which are MUCH more enjoyable and with more detail than the MK at Disney World. Disappointed in MK big time.
Hi Rick,
Any recommendations for a frequent Disneyland visitor as well visiting the Magic Kingdom? We want to do the best rides and attractions that we dont have here at Disneyland and save the rides that we have and aren’t different than DL for last.
I liked Stitch’s Escape better back when it was Alien Encounter. I understand the reason to change it to be more kid friendly but it was way more creepier when it was alien encounter.
Thanks for this post. It is very helpful for first-timers like my family.
This summer will be three years in a row of Disney parks for my husband and I, and I’m really glad I’ve had a chance to read through these posts and comments. About half of the top rides you’ve listed are ones we haven’t made time for in the past. I will definitely make time this year!
As a child I had a terrible experience on Splash Mountain (nearly broke my nose, covered myself in blood!) and I cried throughout Peter Pan’s Flight because I thought we were truly that high in the air… It was very fun to go back and “conquer” those rides! Now it’s time to make some new memories.
Here’s hoping you’re now brave enough to do Peter Pan’s Flight! 😉
My younger daughter can not even get past the queue for the Haunted Mansion. The music played outside sets a very scary tone…and it works on her every time.
As for Mission Space…I waited outside as my husband and older daughter went on the orange experience…the looks on their faces were priceless. Needless to say they will NEVER do that again!
By the way…I have three kids ranging from 6-12…and we agree with all of your assessments!
We are visiting in early June and I was wondering if you have any advice. I have been to Disney several times, mainly when I was a child, but we are going with our children this year and my disabled 7 year old step daughter. I was wondering if you have any advice or information when visiting with a handicapped child that may make hers and our experience better. Thank you!
Great reviews–I agree with most of your ratings. I would give Enchanted Tales with Belle a 10, though, maybe an 11, at least for the first visit. We thought it was magical, and I went through it with two adult daughters. We couldn’t wipe the smiles off our faces–it is Disney at its finest, and I hope there are more interactive attractions like this one to come. Hands-down our favorite attraction of our five-day visit.
I’d also bump up the rating for Barnstormer on my score card, for this reason–it’s the only coaster I can go on with my kids, since I have problems with motion sickness. And I’ve been able to go on it with them since they were little, so we’ve made a lot of happy memories (and several videos) on that attraction. The new queue is much more interesting than the old one, too, and we’ve never had to wait in it very long. It was very creatively integrated into Storybook Circus as well. The theming of that whole area gets another 10 in my book.
Interesting perspective on Enchanted Tales with Belle, especially coming from all-adults. I don’t know why, but I guess we just expected more substance to the main show. The build up to that point is excellent, but the main show was a bit of a letdown, we thought. Good to hear from others, though. It helps provide some balance to our opinions! 🙂
Tom, I agree with both you and Sue on your ratings for Enchanted Tales with Belle. For my first time to Disney since 2006, I absolutely loved Enchanted Tales for its ambiance, atmosphere, details, and innovation for a character experience. BatB is one of my favorite Disney movies, so naturally I was thrilled to see a new attraction devoted to the story. However, given those high expectations I was somewhat dissapointed in the lack of substance of the main part of the attraction–more depth to the content would have been appreciated. All of the guidebooks I read before my trip alluded that this attraction was just as much for children as for adults, but I found the superficiality of the story-telling part of the attraction a bit of a detterant for going again. This attraction definitely is more for children.
I know Prince Charming’s carousel is just an “ordinary carousel” to some but I still believe the ambiance of Disney, the castle looming over it, the intricate differences between each horse, and the (alleged) fact they are repainted regularly (I’ve heard nightly but I can’t buy into anything without confirmed facts, right? ;)) scores it higher on the list for me. But then again, I love carousels 😀 Another great post!
I think that’s a very fair point! There have been a number of times when there has been no wait at the end of the night and we take a spin on the carousel–and those have been some great times thanks to the ambiance you describe. Still tough for me to recommend it to the general park-going public, but I *personally* agree with you! 🙂
I understand ^^ there isn’t exactly ground breaking technology involved, but I’m glad to see the magic of it isn’t lost on you and your wife. It certainly isn’t lost on us!
last time we went the wicked stepmother and stepsisters from Cinderella were on the carousel with us!! very, very fun for the kids.
I loved Winnie the Pooh-rode it a few times in our 2 days at MK, and I can’t wait to ride The Little Mermaid-I’ve watched the video several times already. So they’re not maybe rides for me. I also LOVE Peter Pan’s Flight! But the biggest thing you flubbed on is that you said there are NEVER ANY LINES FOR THE TREEHOUSE!!! We got there at opening and my aunt who has been many times INSISTED on starting with the treehouse, which had an AWFUL LINE of over an hour! She would NOT BUDGE because she swore her route was the fastest! If it was me, I would have come back to the treehouse after the rest of adventure land! But after that, there were NO LINES! Until we got to Splash Mountain (an hour) and BTMRailroad (1.5 hours), then Peter Pan (45 minutes), and Space Mountain (1.5 hours). I TOLD HER those are the rides to ride FIRST and she WOULD NOT LISTEN!! But anyway, the treehouse also gets AWFUL LINES IN THE MORNING and the people move SOOOO SLOW that it takes FOREVER TO GET THROUGH THE THING!!!
Tom,
I know you are trying to be even keeled on this, but it is ok to give your true 10/10 for the People Mover. My young kids and my wife and I (young kids at heart) love this ride. It would hurt our trip if we couldn’t ride this multiple times per trip. It is an ambiance ride (great views of the park, Space Mountain with the lights on once in awhile, cath the MSEP at night while riding it, etc) in an ambiance park. Most people, at least to me, seem to forget about experiencing the atmosphere and are so focussed on accumulating as many rides per day. As for MSEP, our first trip was June of 2010, it played 2x per night when we were there. It was instant must experience for us. One addition to this is the Kiss Goodnight you have mentioned before. This is right up there with the fireworks/Castle projection for me. It is a nostalgic, near tearing up moment, especially with your children. It is that emotion that makes this place so special. Thanks for all of your work.
Best,
Ryan
Fairly accurate list but let’s be honest it should be characterized as a “without kids” guide. Belle, little mermaid, Winnie the Pooh and Peter Pan are all pretty great for the little ones. And as a parent they are worth the wait. It’s all my little ones talked about before and after therefore they were very worth fast passes in my mind. Waiting an hour for little mermaid vs 5 min?
As for whether something is worth using FastPass+, since you only get 3, the criteria for that is based solely on wait times. If you’re only do rides with kids (e.g. no Space Mountain, Splash, etc.), use a FastPass+ on Little Mermaid. If you’re doing everything, that’s a mistake.
I respectfully disagree on the ‘without kids’ assessment. If I rated those attractions for the teens and up demographic, here would be their scores:
Enchanted Tales with Belle: 5/10 (scores points only for the tech)
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh: 4/10
Peter Pan’s Flight: 6/10 (scores higher because it has a certain charm–even for adults–thanks to the flying ships)
Little Mermaid dark ride: 5/10
I’m not saying that these attractions aren’t worth it for kids–I realize kids love them and also that kids are the target demographic. However, impressing kids isn’t always a difficult task. Not only that, but kids are unpredictable. If you polled ten thousand parents, I can almost guarantee that every single (non-height restricted) attraction would be the favorite for someone’s kids. I know of kids whose favorite attraction in all of Walt Disney World is Stitch’s Great Escape. That doesn’t make it an objectively ‘good’ attraction for kids.
Part of the problem is that Walt Disney World has no truly ‘killer’ Fantasyland dark ride that would show just how antiquated and unimpressive its current lineup is. The closest thing would be Splash Mountain, which is much more impressive than any Fantasyland dark ride. I don’t think it’s too hard to look at Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, etc., and see how much more elaborate those are than Fantasyland dark rides, and rate the Fantasyland ones with that in mind, though.
I agree that this seems more like a “without kids” list.
I’d bump Tom Sawyer’s Island up to a must-see. Well, you did rate it 7, so I guess there was a pretty high cut-off for must-sees – a lot of good attractions in MK. At least, I think lines aren’t usually long, and you can spend as much or as little time there as you like, so it really comes down to what are the must see mini-attractions ON Tom’s Island. #1: the caves, #2: the barrel bridge, #3: the pop-guns upstairs in the fort (try to get the one that faces Thunder Mountain so you can shoot at other tourists).
Hands down, my favorite attraction in MK is Philharmagic. I could spend the whole afternoon watching that show over and over, probably because (being a 25 year-old) it showcases all the movies I grew up with. Splash Mountain & Space Mountain are obvious classics and fan favorites, but I actually love the Buzz Lightyear ride. It reminds me of a ride in Universal just like that but is Men In Black-themed. Always love a ride that ends with bragging rights.
Great list, as is the EPCOT/World Showcase list. My Disney gripe is always the long lines and the crowds. I am a Florida resident and try to go on off-peak days and times, but it still always seemed jammed. My biggest gripe is double-wide strollers and electric carts that slow down movement… and make me wonder, “How did America get so fat?”