I just returned from Magic Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. This is the most visited theme park in the world and for good reason. Though I have been many times, I actually hadn’t been since 2014, so it was nice to return. But after this recent trip, I decided I would take time to rank the rides of Magic Kingdom. I have ridden almost every ride, most of them many times. To get started, I need to explain that this is all based on my own experience. If I put your favorite ride lower in my ranking, it doesn’t mean I hate it- I just prefer others over it. And nostalgia will also play a factor in some.
So there are officially 23 rides at Magic Kingdom, with only 22 currently operating. The Walt Disney World Railroad is currently closed due to the construction of Tron Lightcycle Power Run, so I will not include it on this list. Of the 22 other rides, I have not ridden Liberty Square Riverboat or Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress (that I can remember). And I have also never ridden Astro Orbiter or The Magic Carpets of Aladdin because they are basically the same as a more popular ride in the park. Removing these, I’m left with 18 rides to include in this ranking:
18. Mad Tea Party
This is an iconic ride at Magic Kingdom, also known as the “Spinning Teacups.” Now I love theme parks and enjoy almost any kind of ride there is, but I’m not a fan of these spinning rides at all. I have no desire to be spun around for several minutes only to feel sick for the rest of the day. I understand that many people love this ride, but it’s just not for me.
17. Prince Charming Regal Carousel
I have nothing against this ride at all. It’s another iconic one. But it’s also just a carousel. If I’m spending a lot of money to get into a theme park, I’m not going to spend my time to ride a carousel when there are much better rides. It’s great if you have kids, but I don’t.
16. Tomorrowland Speedway
I considered putting the carousel above this, and maybe I should have. The Tomorrowland Speedway is alright. I know I enjoyed it as a kid because I got to feel like I was driving a car. But as an adult there’s not much here that interests me. It’s slow, and you have to follow the track that the car is attached to. Again, I’d probably enjoy it more if I had kids.
15. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Everything from this point on is one that I’d recommend riding if you’ve never been before. The Dumbo ride was one of my favorites as a kid, but as I’ve gotten older, it’s no longer a priority for me when I visit. Every theme park has a ride like this, and if you’ve ridden one, you’ve kinda ridden them all. But this one is iconic, and I do have a lot of nostalgia for it, so I couldn’t put it all the way at the bottom. It also has a nice waiting area for kids that keeps them entertained. That wasn’t there when I was a kid, and I think it’s a great addition.
14. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
Don’t hate me for putting this this low. This is an awesome ride that I always enjoy. And I love how this ride brings you inside Space Mountain. But it’s a people mover. You kinda just sit there and ride it around Tomorrowland which is why I can’t put it any higher.
13. The Barnstormer
This was my first roller coaster as a kid, and I loved it! But it’s definitely a “first roller coaster” kind of ride as it’s meant more for kids than adults. It’s still a fun ride, but it’s not top tier Disney to me.
12. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Every ride from this point on is ranked this high because they are examples of what Disney does best: transport guests to other worlds. Disney isn’t known for its rides necessarily- it’s known for the experience, and these following rides illustrate that the best. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is a very interactive ride where you compete against friends to see who can shoot the most aliens. It’s fun, but I think it’s the lowest of this top tier.
11. “it’s a small world”
This is a very divisive ride. Many people HATE this one, while many love it. I have been on both sides of this over the years, but these days I enjoy it more for nostalgic reasons. It’s a boat ride through rooms filled with singing dolls. The song can get annoying, especially after it gets stuck in your head. But it’s an opening day attraction which was originally built for the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. I couldn’t place it in the top 10, but I put it as close as possible.
10. Under the Sea: The Journey of the Little Mermaid
I like this ride. I’ve seen some lists where it was ranked lower, and I’m guessing that may be because it’s a newer ride. But it does a decent job making you feel like you’re going under the sea and takes you through the story of The Little Mermaid.
9. Pirates of the Caribbean
This ride does an amazing job of transporting you into the world of Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s obviously a boat ride that takes you through several scenes from the movie, and the world really comes to life with realistic animatronics. And this is where I need to point out how impressive Disney’s attention to detail is from this point on. Everything you see looks like it belongs on these rides, and nothing is out of place to make the experience feel as realistic as possible.
8. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
I’m always impressed with this one when I have the chance to ride it. It takes you through the story of Winnie the Pooh and even creates the illusion of traveling through the pages of a book in the same way the movie does. And each page you visit has its own unique feel, such as the Heffalump dream sequence and the flooding scene where you actually feel like you’re floating in a honey pot through a flooded forest. It’s definitely one to check out.
7. Peter Pan’s Flight
This is a cool ride that lets you feel like you’re flying over London and eventually Neverland during the events of Peter Pan. It’s different than the other similar rides because the seat you sit in is actually hanging rather than sitting on a track, which helps with the illusion of flying.
6. Haunted Mansion
It’s very impressive how well they nailed the haunted mansion look on this ride! Again, every detail is just right, and it’s an awesome ride if you’re a fan of “scary” rides. I’m also impressed with the end of the ride where you pass in front of actual mirrors which make it look like a ghost is riding with you. It’s really cool!
5. Jungle Cruise
This ride may not technically be as impressive as some others on this list, but it’s one of my personal favorites. And it’s a different experience each time you ride it because you always get a different guide. It’s a ride that takes you through a jungle on a boat, and you get to see the backside of a waterfall, in case you were ever wondering what that looks like.
4. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
This is one of the newest rides at Magic Kingdom, and the line to get in is always very long. It’s a roller coaster that takes you through the mines that the dwarfs work in, and there are a few small drops throughout. It’s a fun ride, but I’m not sure I’d wait an hour and a half for it again.
3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a wooden roller coaster that brings you through caves and mines, as well as an Old West/frontier type area. There are some similarities between this and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, except I think this one is better all around. I like the look of it better, and the roller coaster itself is more fun.
2. Splash Mountain
Splash Mountain has always been one of my favorite rides at Magic Kingdom. It’s a somewhat controversial ride- not because of the ride itself but because of the movie it’s based off. It’s a boat ride that follows the story of Br’er Rabbit and falls down several waterfalls. Sometime soon, it will be getting remodeled after The Princess and the Frog, and I just hope that the ride itself is not changed because it’s really fun.
1. Space Mountain
My favorite ride at Magic Kingdom has to be Space Mountain! It’s so different than any of the other rides here, and the roller coaster itself is much more like a thrill ride that you’d see at regular amusement parks. But Disney has to make everything better than it would be at other amusement parks, and the theme of this one adds so much to it. It makes you feel like you’re flying through space, and the entire time all you can see are distant stars and darkness. This is a ride that I’ll always find time for when I visit Magic Kingdom, even though I’m usually stuck waiting in a long line to ride it.
Tyler's Travels 