Are you looking for the best rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom that you absolutely can’t miss on your trip?
No worries, you’re in the right place!
The Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World is one of the most visited theme parks in the entire world. With that can come long lines to get on attractions.
While the urge to try to do everything at Magic Kingdom in one day can be strong, I highly recommend not doing that.
There’s so much to do at the park that it simply cannot be done in one day.
Instead, try hitting some of the top attractions in one day, then going back a second day to get on and experience everything else.
If I only had one day at Magic Kingdom, the following seven attractions are the ones I would want to ride and suggest that you do too!
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1. Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland)
One of the most iconic attractions at Magic Kingdom is Pirates of the Caribbean located in Adventureland.
The attraction takes guests on slow moving boat past scenes with pirates hosting an auction, having a cannon battle and more.
Eagle-eyed fans of the movie series of the same name might notice Captain Jack Sparrow lurking around in some of the scenes.
This ride is great for anyone who loves pirates, or just wants a break to sit inside in the air conditioning for a few minutes on warm summer afternoons.
Hipster Power Tip: The best time to get on Pirates of the Caribbean with a minimal wait is first thing in the morning or later in the evening.
2. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Frontierland)
When I think of rides that cannot be missed, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is always first on my list.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure Ride is based on Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog” film and replaced Splash Mountain at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland.
You’ll then join Tiana and Louis on a quick bayou adventure to find the missing music for her party!
After getting off the ride, you’ll have the theme song stuck in your head the rest of the day.
Note that the signs mentioning you will get wet on this ride are true, even if you sit in the back row of the log.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is a fun ride for anyone who enjoys flume rides and wants to be immersed in a story along the way. Making it one of the best rides at the Magic Kingdom.
Hipster Power Tip: The best time to get on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is any time of day when it’s super hot. The line typically moves quickly meaning you’ll be splashing down in no time.
3. Haunted Mansion (Liberty Square)
We have to be honest in saying that Haunted Mansion at Magic Kingdom is one of the best attractions at Walt Disney World.
The fan-favorite attraction has become very popular in years past with people dressing up like some of the characters in the portraits from the Stretching Room.
From the moment you enter the queue you’re told a story about the ominous house on the hill.
This attraction might not be suitable for little kids as there are some scary parts, especially near the beginning of the ride.
Hipster Power Tip: The best time to hop into a Doom Buggy and get a tour of the Haunted Mansion is early in the morning before the park gets too busy. The line typically stays long throughout the day and into the evening.
4. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (Tomorrowland)
There’s really nothing like a leisurely ride around Tomorrowland, and the PeopleMover is the only way to go.
Seeing the futuristic land, going into Space Mountain, and seeing Cinderella Castle from high above the park is worth waiting in line for.
The attraction seats groups into little open-air pods that make up a larger train.
The PeopleMover is the best attraction to hop onto in the middle of the afternoon when you need a little break.
Hipster Power Tip: Often times the wait is very short letting you walk right up the ramp and into a seat. If you ask the cast member at the end of the ride nicely they might even let you ride a second time around if the line isn’t too long.
5. Peter Pan’s Flight (Fantasyland)
Fantasyland is filled with attractions that many people remember from their childhood from it’s a small world, to Peter Pan’s Flight.
The latter of the two is not to be missed while touring Magic Kingdom. The whimsical ride allows you to board a magical ship and experience the story of Peter Pan.
The line for Peter Pan’s flight gets long very quickly, and often getting to the park early will not make a difference in the amount of time you wait.
Hipster Power Tip: The best time to ride is actually at night when many families have already left the park for the day.
6. The Mad Tea Party (Fantasyland)
It wouldn’t be Magic Kingdom without the spinning tea cups of The Mad Tea Party.
In fact, almost every Disney “castle park” around the world has their own version of this attraction.
On this ride, you’ll sit in an oversized, very colorful teacup and spin as fast or as slow as you desire.
Be warned that fast really does mean fast and you’ll need a few seconds to regain your composure when you’re done riding.
Hipster Power Tip: There’s really no best time to ride this because the wait fluctuates throughout the day. I suggest to keep checking the My Disney Experience app to see when the line is short and if you’re nearby, hop on!
7. Tron Lightcycle/Run (Tomorrowland)
The coaster hangs out by Space Mountain in Tomorrowland, and you can totally spot it from the Peoplemover and the Tomorrowland Speedway.
TRON hooks you up with a cool motorbike vibe, making it a fun ride for everyone.
They even made the bikes look like the ones from the movie! But, just a heads up, there’s not really a storyline to it.
Ride Stats for TRON Lightcycle/Run at the Magic Kingdom
- Lift/Launch System: LIM Launch
- TRON Ride Height: 78 ft
- Speed of TRON Ride: 59.3 MPH
- 4 G Forces
- TRON Length: 3,169 FT
- Time: 2 Minutes
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3 Simple Tips to Remember For Your Magic Kingdom Visit
Now that you know what the best Magic Kingdom rides are, let’s go through a few tips to make your trip fantastic!
1. Arrive early!
The worst part about any Disney vacation is likely waking up very early to get to the parks right when they open.
But your early wake up time will be rewarded with low wait times, giving you the ability to get on more attractions during the day.
2. Keep track of everything on the My Disney Experience app.
This is where you’ll see what park you have a reservation for on what day, what time your dining reservations are, all of your Disney PhotoPass pictures will be here, and more.
This is the number one tool you will use on your vacation. Do not leave home without downloading this onto your phone.
3. Take a break in the middle of the afternoon.
Magic Kingdom gets very busy, no matter what time of year, between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m.
To stay calm, cool, and collected during your time at the park plan to take a break back at your hotel room in the middle of the day. Take a nap, hop in the pool, or grab lunch.
Head back to the park around dinner time when people are starting to leave for shorter wait times for popular attractions like the ones on our list.
Are you planning a Disney vacation soon? Read the Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!
My Final Thoughts on Enjoying the Best Magic Kingdom Rides
As you can see, Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park shows the past and present imagination and innovation of the Disney empire.
The attractions are not only great for older fans but also for new fans in the making.
Now that you know what our must-do Magic Kingdom rides are, let us know what yours are in the comments section below.
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
Contributors
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
About the Author
Megan is a theme park expert and frequent traveler to magical places. She covers all things Disney and Universal and runs marathons for fun.
She thinks you can tell a lot about someone by the name of their signature lipstick, and hers is NARS Dragon Girl.
(Original Article Date: February 18, 2021/Updated by Editor on September 25, 2024)