THE BEST RIDES IN MAGIC KINGDOM – and what to skip!
If you’re on a tighter schedule and not planning on spending more than a day in the park, you’ll need to know what rides are really worth the wait. Here’s a full review of the best rides in Magic Kingdom! If you manage to get through them all, use your extra time to cross of some of these Magic Kingdom bucket list items!
THE MUST DOs
SPACE MOUNTAIN
Blast off on this space themed, high speed rollercoaster. This is probably the most intense ride in Magic Kingdom but it is sooo cool. Part of what makes this ride so thrilling is you can’t see the track ahead of you. It’s totally dark except for glowing stars and lights that flash all around you. The premise of this ride is you are an astronaut being blasted into the ends of outerspace, and it really feels that way! Although this ride is intense, its not uncomfortable and you wont come off feeling like you broke your neck or back! You will want to use a Fastpass for this one, the line can get insane.
SNOW WHITE’S SEVEN DWARFS MINE TRAIN
Be immersed in the story of the seven dwarfs as you rush through the mountain on this exciting rollercoaster. The design of these cars allow them to sway side to side for an extra thrill around corners. Mine Train isn’t nearly as fast as Space Mountain but keeps the excitement with a fun back story . If you love the Dwarfs and the classic Disney use of animatronics, you’ll really enjoy this ride. With clever lighting and detailed costumes, the characters really come alive in this adventure !
I enjoy riding the Mine Train at night when the scenery is all lit up and you get that late night breeze. The line dies down a little if you wait till the later hours of the day to ride! However, Disney has always been good at keeping us entertained in line and as expected, the queue for this ride is very interactive. You’ll be singing HI HO HI HO the rest of the day!
THE HAUNTED MANSION
Haunted Mansion is a slower moving ride through an old victorian style house that has been taken over by ghosts . I’m a huge thrill seeker so it says something when a slow ride makes it in my top favourites list. This ride has so much detail and story to it, its definitely a can’t miss and easily one of the best rides in Magic Kingdom. The ending has a really quirky surprise you will love! Bonus, this is one that everyoneee will enjoy, not just the ride warriors.
BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN
Here’s another rollercoaster I really like to ride at night! Something about being rushed around the mountain with stars in the sky and the sounds of the park just gets me!
Thunder Mountain is similar to Seven Dwarf’s but more thrill and less story. This one doesn’t have any super huge drops or loops so it’s not overly intense. It does however have some quick corners and small hills that will give you that floating in your seat feeling.
PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Pirates of the Caribbean is a story telling, slow moving boat ride. But don’t worry, you are not likely to get wet! Follow along as the boat takes you through a pirate’s life featuring Captain Jack Sparrow himself. Your boat will travel through dark caves to scenes of pirate battles, buccaneers & sunken ships ! Very immersive, great use of animatronics and fun for everyone in your group.
SPLASH MOUNTAIN
Log flume ride featuring characters from Disney’s Song of the South . You’ll get a good laugh watching the story unfold as Bear and Fox try to catch the rabbit. There are 3 little drops and a final 52 ft drop! You will get wet, grab a rain poncho if you want to stay dry!
Once you’ve conquered the thrills listed above , you should move onto these next rides. Although these aren’t the BEST rides in Magic Kingdom they are still very popular and can create lines that aren’t always worth the wait. So, if you are running short on time feel free to skip these ones!
Jungle Cruise -River boat tour through the jungle. Firstly, load onto your boat with other riders and your personal tour guide. Then laugh and enjoy the comics of your guide and the jungle animals as you take sail.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin – Shooting arcade style ride. Become a space ranger and fight space invaders! Compete against others in your group to hit the high score! This is a slower moving ride which allows you to shoot as many aliens as possible. However, if you want more of a thrill you can spin your car by a hand control .
Peter Pan’s Flight – Take flight with Peter and Wendy in this dark slow moving ride. Once loaded into your own pirate ship, you will be suspended over the city of London. After this, take off to soar over mermaids & far away lands. Lastly, help Peter Pan defeat Captain Hook!
It’s a Small World – One of Disney’s original rides first showcased at The World Fair. A slow moving indoor ride featuring music , dancing and culture from around the world. Travel from country to country as you sing along to the Small World tune.
What I really like about this ride is the costumes! The little characters are dressed in clothing unique to their region and culture. My appreciation for this came after I watched an episode of Imagineering on Disney+. They put so much thought and research into these costumes. As a result, the characters are a piece of art! Above all, this is just one of those rides thats such a classic, you have to try it once.
HOPE YOU HAVE AN AMAZING DAY RIDING THE BEST RIDES AT MAGIC KINGDOM. Use the icons at the top of this post to share on pintrest and social media! Furthermore, follow me on instagram for a daily dash of Disney! http://www.instagram.com/decideddisney
