Disney's Magic Kingdom Park – the heart of the Walt Disney World Resort – has so many attractions, but which ones are the BEST?
In this post, we’ll spotlight the Best Rides at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park. These are the rides we think every guest should experience at least once! After that, we’ll delve into the park’s full roster of experiences to help you construct an even more magical itinerary for your upcoming vacation.
Let’s dive in…
Overview
Disney's Magic Kingdom Park has the most rides of the Walt Disney World Parks. With over 30 attractions ranging from a peaceful riverboat to iconic classics like “it’s a small world” all the way to intense thrill rides like Space Mountain or Tron Lightcycle / Run, there is definitely lots for guests of all ages to see and do here.
There are a total of 5 Lands at Magic Kingdom and the entire park is based around a hub-and-spoke layout, with Cinderella Castle being the hub and all the lands as the spokes that branch out from there. For most people, this layout makes Magic Kingdom one of the easiest parks to navigate:
Adventureland (5 Attractions)
Fantasyland (12 Attractions)
Frontierland (5 Attractions)
Liberty Square (3 Attractions)
Main Street, U.S.A. (1 Attraction)
Tomorrowland (8 Attractions)
Due to the number of attractions plus all the character meet-and-greet opportunities at Magic Kingdom, we usually recommend that people try to spend at least 2 DAYS (if they can).
The BEST Rides at Disney's Magic Kingdom Park
The list below isn’t arranged in any particular order; we found it practically impossible to rank these attractions because each one holds a special place in our hearts and offers a unique magical experience. (But if we had to pick our MOST favorite of all it would have to be The PeopleMover. You’ll see why we love it below).
Jungle Cruise (Adventureland)
Spoiler alert....you will see the amazing, the colossal, the stupendous...."8th wonder of the world".....the back side of… water! O2H, O2H, O2H! (If you know, you know.)
This is truly a CLASSIC attraction starring some of the "punniest" Cast Members in all of Walt Disney World Resort.
Who doesn’t want to sail on a boat, while infamous Jungle Cruise Skippers tell the corniest "dad" jokes you've ever heard, as you take an exotic journey across Asia, Africa, and South America? The Jungle Cruise is a family favorite!
Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland)
You can’t beat Pirates. It’s so good, in fact, that you can find different versions of the ride at multiple Disney theme parks across the globe.
While it may be better at some parks compared to others, you really can’t go wrong with the savvy boat ride that takes you through the Caribbean alongside untrustworthy pirates.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Frontierland)
Be sure to hold on to your hats and glasses, as this is truly "The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!" Really, it is!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad may not be the original mountain of Magic Kingdom (that title goes to Space Mountain), but it will forever be one of the BEST mountains.
Haunted Mansion (Liberty Square)
"Welcome, Foolish Mortals, to the Haunted Mansion. I am your host, your ghost host." Well, not really, but you should most definitely visit the Haunted Mansion to meet the real ghost host an embark on a chilling adventure through the halls of this expansive mansion.
The Haunted Mansion will forever be a Magic Kingdom staple. It’s spooky, fun, and friendly all at once (minus that one moment in the stretching room — if you know, you know).
But, it’s one ride that we can never get enough of and will always "hurry baaaaaaack" to!
"it's a small world: (Fantasyland)
“It’s a small world after all! It’s a small world after all! It’s a small world after all! It’s a small, small world!”
Do you have the song stuck in your head yet? If not, you will after you get off the slow-moving boat ride. It sure is catchy.
This is far from the most exciting attraction at Magic Kingdom, but it’s one of the original rides that started it all thanks to Walt Disney, himself. It even debuted on opening day.
Peter Pan's Flight (Fantasyland)
"And away we GOOOOOO!"
Believe it or not, but Peter Pan’s Flight is one of the most popular rides at Magic Kingdom. Waits build quickly and will remain long throughout the day.
It’s a cute ride that transports you to Neverland and tells the story of Peter Pan, the Darlings, and Captain Hook in a succinct and magical way.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Fantasyland)
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train may not be an original mountain of Magic Kingdom, but it’s one of the most popular rides for good reason.
Where else can you board a mine car (that swings) and then take off up and down thrilling hills? While we do wish the roller coaster was a tad longer, it’s makes for an amazingly fun time.
You will "Hi, Ho" your way through the caves on this exciting ride that perfectly celebrates Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street, U.S.A., Frontierland, and Fantasyland)
All aboard! It’s time to discuss why the Walt Disney World Railroad is one of the best attractions at Magic Kingdom.
First of all, Walt Disney loved trains, so it’s a great way to honor him and keep his memory alive.
The train serves as the perfect in-park transportation, is a mellow attraction, is a way to see unique views of the park, and so much more.
We can’t get enough!
Space Mountain (Tomorrowland)
An indoor roller coaster that travels through space in the dark? Yes, please!
Space Mountain might be an oldie, but it sure is still a goodie that we can’t get enough of.
This is certainly a thrill ride. It doesn’t go upside down, but it is very rough and jerky (warning to those over 40!). Not everyone will love it, especially the kids and older members of the family. But, let us tell you why we think it’s one of the Magic Kingdom greats.
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (Tomorrowland)
"Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow."
If we had to pick a #1 favorite ride at Magic Kingdom, it just may be the PeopleMover.
Why? Well, it literally moves people around in a car that travels on a track around Tomorrowland at a decent speed, while giving guests the chance to see both the land and park in a whole new way.
TRON Lightcycle / Run (Tomorrowland)
TRON Lightcycle / Run is as fast and as exciting as it looks. Even though there aren’t any inversions or spinning ride vehicles, the roller coaster is intense.
You go as fast as 60 mph! Woohoo! It’s one of the fastest coasters at any Disney theme park in the world. We just wish the ride was a bit longer, we never want it to end!
TIP: Your hair style probably won’t survive that speed. But, who cares, because TRON is so much fun! Overall, it’s very smooth. It’s similar to the thrill-level of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.
Looking for more information on when we recommend you visit each of the rides above? Check out our post on the Best Times to Ride Every Magic Kingdom Attraction or visit these posts for a complete list of Disney's Magic Kingdom Park Rides & Attractions and/or Complete Guide to Genie+ at Walt Disney World.
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