Magic Kingdom Attractions Ranked by Tiers
Magic Kingdom dominates the theme park industry.
That’s not hyperbole. It’s remained the most popular theme park in the world throughout the 21st century.


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Throughout the years, Disney has upgraded the park often, adding new attractions to the classic ones from the 1970s (and before!).
When you visit this park, you’ll face an overwhelming number of choices. So, I’ve created some tiers to help you decide which ones you should prioritize.


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Please note that these are just one person’s opinions. Nobody’s right or wrong on any of these.
They’re all based on subjective opinion…except Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. You must love that coaster, or we can’t be friends.


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The A-List
Settling on the crème de la crème at Magic Kingdom proves challenging. After all, this ride is overflowing with classic theme park attractions.
I mean the ones with name recognition that also live up to the hype. Honestly, I could have included 15 attractions in this tier without hesitation.
However, that tactic would have defeated the purpose of this exercise. You want to know which attractions tower above the others.
Obviously, my thoughts here won’t match your own. Still, I’d rank the best of the best at Magic Kingdom as:
Haunted Mansion


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Pirates of the Caribbean
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Space Mountain


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Splash Mountain
I initially only included three attractions as The A-List, but that total appeared too slow.
At the risk of infuriating my wife, something I do with some regularity, I’ll confess that Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean were the final two inclusions.
So, my instincts indicated that Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, and Splash Mountain are the best three overall rides here.
I’m actually not as much of a Space Mountain fan as I was a quarter-century ago. Still, its lingering impact and unique ride structure have stood the test of time.
As for Splash Mountain, Disney should re-theme it to remove the negative elements, but it’s still a flawless attraction beyond the distasteful Song of the South association.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has stood as the alpha at Magic Kingdom since its inception. So, I feel like these three attractions require no explanation.


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Upon reflection, I added Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean because A) they’re incredible and B) they’re theme park royalty.
Still, the line of demarcation between the top five and the next five is almost non-existent.

Iconic and Familiar
Here are several attractions that possess name recognition but don’t claim the same level of reverence as the attractions I listed.
You can think of them as slightly thornier roses than the ones we just discussed.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad


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It’s a Small World
Jungle Cruise
Peter Pan’s Flight
Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
All five of these attractions could just as easily slot under The A-List. But, frankly, I wanted to position the PeopleMover and Peter Pan’s Flight there.
However, I readily acknowledge that I’m more passionate about these attractions than the average Disney fan.
In truth, I think the most divisive listing here is Jungle Cruise, which many people would place in the top group. Its average wait times definitely support that notion.
Personally, I think it’s a ride that offers plenty of comfort and constant, free-form entertainment. You never know what will happen each boat ride.
Still, the dialogue doesn’t change that much, even with ad-libbing Skippers. So, I couldn’t get past the sameness of it.
As for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and It’s a Small World, one’s a masterpiece of a roller coaster, while the other features the most recognizable music in the world.

Okay, there’s Happy Birthday first, but then it’s It’s a Small World second.
Very Good/Underrated
Here’s where evaluations grow more challenging and that much more subjective.
What follows is a list of attractions that either I love or know that my ‘ohana does.


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Three of them consistently remain among the most underrated attractions across Walt Disney World.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin


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Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor


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Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid


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So, let’s talk about the first one. I like Space Ranger Spin fine, but I’d rank it far behind Toy Story Mania! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Why did I list it here? People cannot get enough of this ride. Whenever I stand in line for it, I can’t help but notice the glee on everyone’s faces.


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That thrill of competition and the ability to aspire to 999,999 points drives people to this ride repeatedly.
With PhilharMagic, you’re watching the Disney Renaissance’s greatest hits, a collection of the best scenes from the 1980s and 1990s…but with Donald Duck!


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Monster, Inc. Laugh Floor does nothing but make people laugh throughout its show. This one’s like the Dole Whip of Disney shows. It’s fun and reliable.
As for Journey of the Little Mermaid, I view it through the same lens as The Seas with Nemo & Friends.
You rarely wait for long in line, the air conditioning is cooler than most rides for thematic purposes, and it’s a very solid dark ride.


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Fun But Forgettable
Look, I love everything at Walt Disney World…now that a construction crew has demolished Primeval Whirl.
Still, some attractions don’t possess the same lofty reputations as others. It’s like comparing Ant-Man to Iron Man.
People really like Ant-Man, but he’s no Iron Man. He’s not even Hawkeye.
Similarly, people really like The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, but…
Oops, I just spoiled one. Here’s the list of Fun But Forgettable Magic Kingdom attractions.

Country Bear Jamboree


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Mad Tea Party
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
I’ve slotted two of these here due to their historical significance, which is admittedly a strange thing to do for this category.
However, you WILL have fun at Country Bear Jamboree, almost despite yourself. It’s so stubbornly upbeat and silly. Plus, Walt Disney worked on this ride.


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Speaking of which, Carousel of Progress includes Disney’s name because he beamed with pride whenever discussing the attraction.
As a historian and technology evangelist, Uncle Walt believed that the Carousel of Progress prophesied the future even as it revealed the recent past.


Photo Credti: wdwthemeparks.com
You’ll enjoy the ride during the occasional Magic Kingdom visit. However, I wouldn’t recommend it each time you’re at the park.
I suspect that Mad Tea Party counts as the most controversial listing here. Yes, you could argue for its inclusion in either of the previous two sections.


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Personally, I think it’s a classic ride that has slowly diminished in value due to generations of knockoff iterations.
You’ll find something like this at every theme park and even some carnivals. That reduces its appeal some, as does the Protein Spill factor.


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I Mean, It’s a Disney Attraction…
Again, I would never call a Disney attraction bad. Okay, I totally would for Superstar Limo and a few other extreme exceptions.
Overall, Disney has established the highest possible standard for theme park attractions, though.


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At Magic Kingdom, competition remains particularly fierce. So, some attractions naturally fall a bit short of that high bar. The list includes:
Astro Orbiter


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The Barnstormer


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Dumbo the Flying Elephant
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin


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Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Tomorrowland Speedway


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I don’t think most of these will strike you as controversial. For example, Astro Orbiter, Magic Carpets of Aladdin, and Dumbo are three iterations of the same ride.
The Barnstormer delights small children, but it’s a roller coaster with training wheels, not one for adults.
Similarly, I love the classic element of the carousel, but you can find these in most tourist traps.
The only reason why you wouldn’t is that the industry has since developed better rides.
Speaking of which, you WILL find better versions of Tomorrowland Speedway at most tourist traps. It was once an anchor part of theme parks.
Today, I think of such car rides as relics of a previous tourism industry, just like carousels.