Ranking Every Ride at Magic Kingdom

Recently, I’ve provided my opinions on the best and worst rides at three of Walt Disney World’s theme parks.

However, I’ve saved the best for last. Since Magic Kingdom is the world’s most popular paid tourist destination, it deserves more attention.

So, ranking the rides at Magic Kingdom takes a bit more effort.

We’ll divide this one into parts, effectively turning the rankings into the Haves and the Have Nots.

Really, though, everything at Magic Kingdom is a blast and capable of providing you with memories that will last a lifetime.

Love what you love, my friends. This is just one person’s opinion on ranking every ride at Magic Kingdom.

25) Main Street Vehicles

Please note that I’m not including shows, as that would be a much longer list.

So, that rules out stuff like Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room and Country Bear Musical Bear Jamboree.

You’ll find one show-based attraction on this list, but that’s because it’s technically a ride.

Along those lines, the bottom of this list consists of things that are technically rides. They should all come with asterisks, though.

Main Street Vehicles is basically an old-timey carriage ride with a vague Trolley Car vibe.

The appeal of this attraction is that you’ll take in the sights of Main Street, U.S.A. from an entirely new perspective.

You have a chauffeur driver and can simply relax and take in the sights. It’s quite magical, but it’s also just a bumpy car ride.

24) Liberty Square Riverboat

Here’s the only attraction on this list that will close soon.

Disney will reclaim the land of the Rivers of America, landlocking it to expand Frontierland with a Cars-themed area.

At that point, older Magic Kingdom fans will feel quite melancholy since Liberty Square Riverboat must close.

Since 1973, this boat has provided a gorgeous view of Magic Kingdom’s landmarks. It’s a staple of each park day.

Alas, the riverboat’s days are numbered, which means we won’t get to wave to the passengers as we stand in line for Haunted Mansion.

Realistically, that’s the experience most people have with the riverboat, as it hosts a shockingly small number of daily guests.  

23) Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Who doesn’t love a good carousel? And this one claims an odd place in Disney history.

Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel first started spinning in Detroit, Michigan, in 1917.

At the time, it was known as the Liberty Carousel. Disney purchased the ride in 1967 and transferred it to Orlando, Florida.

Since 1971, the carousel has delighted guests of all ages with purity and simplicity.

This attraction has been an anchor part of Magic Kingdom for longer than most of us have been alive.

Despite its storied history, it’s still just a carousel, though. You can probably find a similar one within an hour of your home.

22) Walt Disney World Railroad

One of Walt Disney’s most memorable quirks was his love of trains. He even built miniature-sized ones in his backyard.

That’s why I feel strongly that every (main) Disney theme park should have a railroad attraction.

This form of transportation is every bit as integral to the brand as the monorail.

The brilliance of Magic Kingdom’s railroad is that it provides utility as well as beauty.

Like the riverboat, you can gaze at the splendor of Magic Kingdom. However, you can also save yourself some walking.

This park covers more than 100 acres, and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is all the way on the other side.

Rather than walking to that ride or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, you can ride the train instead. It’s scenic and stress-free.

21) Tomorrowland Speedway

We’ve got more “transportation” rides to discuss, and you’ll notice I’ve effectively ranked all of them in the same tier.

That’s because I just don’t view them as special relative to the average Disney attraction.

For a time, Autopia at Disneyland Resort felt fresh and new. At least, that’s what I’m told.

The park hosted multiple iterations of the attractions since guests couldn’t get enough of it.

By the time Magic Kingdom opened, cars were already ubiquitous, and that trend has only expanded in the 50+ years since then.

So, Tomorrowland Speedway is a relic that I still tend to ride every time I’m at the park, primarily because the lines are so short.

I consider this ride an endangered species because Disney will eventually reclaim this land for something more desirable.

The current generation of kids gets a bigger thrill from Disney Speedstorm.

20) The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

So, I perceive most of the regular transportation rides as a bit lower in quality than everything else at the park.

Then, we have the next tier, the spinner rides. They’re largely the same, although there’s one exception we’ll discuss.

Oddly, I rank The Magic Carpets of Aladdin the lowest, but I’ve probably ridden it the most.

That’s due to its location, as it’s conveniently close to Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise, and (especially) Aloha Isle.

Still, this flat ride is the blandest of the bunch.  

19) Dumbo the Flying Elephant

The location of Dumbo the Flying Elephant isn’t quite as convenient since it’s in the Storybook Circus part of Fantasyland.

I don’t spend as much time there as an adult without children, but I prefer this version of The Magic Carpets of Aladdin.

The music is great, and it’s a sneaky-great nighttime attraction due to its lighting effects.

18) Astro Orbiter

Of course, when it comes to nighttime visuals, none of the other spinners can match Astro Orbiter.

Before the opening of TRON Lightcycle / Run, Astro Orbiter anchored Tomorrowland’s skyline.

As for the attraction, the ride possesses two unique elements that differentiate it from typical spinners.

First, you stand in line on the first floor, anxiously awaiting an elevator ride to the second floor, home to the ride.

The other is that this spinner involves a bit of a different kind of spinning due to the ride apparatus. So, it looks and feels different.

17) The Barnstormer

I’m not the target audience for this junior roller coaster. Also, since I’m a tall man, I get strange looks when I try to ride it.

Still, I rank The Barnstormer a bit higher because it excels in accomplishing its goal.

This roller coaster gives kids the thrill of an adult ride, yet it’s safe, gentle, and family-friendly in design.

There aren’t many family-friendly roller coasters at major theme parks, and few of those are as good as The Barnstormer.

16) Mad Tea Party

Okay, this is probably lower than most people would rank it. I’m okay with that.

Over the years, I’ve made no secret of the fact that I consider it a vomit comet, a shock value attraction that’s grown a bit stale.

The core concept of Mad Tea Party is that you spin around in circles, making you feel as delirious as one of the characters from the book.

In that regard, the ride is a classic and a true success story. My query is more along the lines of, “Why would I want that?”

Personally, my answer is, “I really don’t.” Still, when I DO ride Mad Tea Party, you don’t want to join me.

I’m one of those sickos who spins it at maximum velocity. So, my issues with it are self-inflicted wounds.

15) Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

Technically, this one’s a ride, but it’s also the show-based attraction I mentioned.

As a throughput solution for the 1964 New York World’s Fair, Imagineers designed a brilliant moving theater.

You watch a scene, and then your seat invisibly spins you to the next scene. In terms of design, it’s high art.

With regards to the story, Carousel of Progress has (intentionally) grown a bit long in the tooth.

Yes, Disney employees dutifully update that final scene as much as possible.

However, we’re 120 years past Walt Disney’s childhood. So, that first scene feels like it comes from a lifetime ago…because it did.

I admire and appreciate Carousel of Progress more than anyone you know.

As a Disney loyalist, I also tend to ride it at least once during my vacation.

While ranking rides, I just can’t put it near the top, though.

14) The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

I feel strongly that guests overlook The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, although I understand why.

When you’re on the other side of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, you will get ignored.

It’s like sitting at the table next to a celebrity at a restaurant. Nobody’s gonna notice you.

Still, this is quietly one of Disney’s best dark rides because it’s such a faithful recreation of Hundred-Acre Wood.

You enter the pages of A.A. Milne at the story of the ride and interact with Winnie the Pooh and friends.

Nothing’s more wholesome or satisfying than that.

To a larger point, this is the dividing point for me. Everything from here on at Magic Kingdom is an A+ ride.

13) Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

I love every attraction that Disney gamifies, which says something about my personality.

You’d never guess it, but I’m secretly quite competitive. Plus, I’m a diehard gamer.

So, Space Ranger Spin hits my sweet spot as an intergalactic shooter that doubles as a theme park attraction.

Tragically, I’m terrible at it. Like, I’m really, really bad. I tend not to re-ride this one.

Therefore, when I come back at a different date, I’ve forgotten where everything is.

Meanwhile, my wife typically has 200,000 points before I’ve even hit anything.

Space Ranger Spin is terrible for my self-esteem, but I love it anyway.

12) “it’s a small world”

Ah, the classics.

Several of the remaining rides are inexorably linked with a Magic Kingdom visit.

Amongst the icons, I prefer “it’s a small world” the least, which isn’t a negative.

If anything, this lower ranking speaks to the overwhelming quality of the others.

I kinda fall in the middle on the “it’s a small world” discussion anyway, though.

As a Mary Blair superfan, I’m in awe of the artistry displayed in every room here.

I love looking for the Easter eggs Disney has hidden in plain sight, like the moon and sun placed carefully in each room.

Even without those, it’s such a gorgeous ride with a treasure trove of engrossing visuals.

As for the song, well, I’ve probably heard it a few thousand too many times…

11) Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid

While ranking everything at the park, I found that there’s a pretty clear line of demarcation, at least from my perspective.

I had no problem identifying the top ten rides, although ordering them paralyzed me with indecision.

The order proved a bit more challenging with the second wave of attractions.

I ultimately settled on Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid as the best of the rest.

From what I’ve seen, most voters wouldn’t agree with my rankings, and that’s okay!

The Little Mermaid remains my favorite Disney Renaissance film, and this dark ride perfectly distills the story to its finest elements.

Imagineers have highlighted the love story, the threat of Ursula, the joys of living under the sea, and the film’s happy ending.

This one’s among my favorite dark rides ever. It’s not fancy, but it’s faithful to the script. That’s all I want and need.

10) Space Mountain

Let’s be clear. Anything that’s among the top ten rides at Magic Kingdom is clearly in the world’s top 100 theme park attractions.

Most of the rides we’re about to discuss fall in the top 50, and several would make the top ten.

Since we’re doing a single person’s opinion rather than a poll, my results won’t align with the consensus.

That point shines through with Space Mountain, which is arguably the most influential theme park attraction ever.

This thrill ride triggered the coaster wars that have driven theme park growth for generations now.

I gush praise about all elements of it, especially the psychology of Space Mountain.

Due to the sensory deprivation, you feel like you’re whizzing through space at light speed.

In reality, you’re going less than 30 miles per hour. It’s a mind-bending experience…but it really hurts my back.

9) Jungle Cruise

In the time before we called them Dad Jokes, Jungle Cruise had mastered the art of the pun.

While we all know about the back side of water by now, that’s merely the most famous punchline during an endless onslaught of unfunny humor.

We love Jungle Cruise for its silliness and willingness not to take anything too seriously.

In a way, this is an aspirational ride for Disney in that it was the first re-themed attraction in park history.

Disney once tried to play Jungle Cruise straight, but the cast members revolted. We’re eternally grateful that they did.

Despite all the positives, the ride can still be hit and miss, as your enjoyment will depend on the quality of the cruise skipper.

8) Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Casual Disney fans will view this ranking as far too high, while the fanatics will argue that it’s too low.

For many of us, PeopleMover has provided solace on crowded and/or hot days for decades now.

Then, we have the other two points in its favor.

First, it’s one of the most historically significant attractions at Disney.

Additionally, it’s exclusive to Magic Kingdom since Disneyland foolishly closed its version.

People rarely list this ride among the best park exclusives, but I would argue that it ranks near the top of the list.

7) Peter Pan’s Flight

This attraction wins the honor of being the highest ranked of Disney’s original theme park attractions.

That statement applies to Magic Kingdom and Disneyland as well, as the original version debuted in 1955.

Then, Magic Kingdom added its take on Peter Pan’s flight in 1971.

For more than 50 years now, the attraction has anchored Fantasyland.

Throughout that time, it has reminded tourists of Walt Disney’s greatest fantasy – flying through the air.

Peter Pan was also his favorite childhood story and is one of Disney’s best classic animated films.

Peter Pan’s Flight remains a faithful adaptation that cast members plus to keep it modern.

6) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Now, we start the final run of Magic Kingdom Mountains.

We previously discussed Space Mountain, and we’ll have two more in the top five.

So, in my opinion, half of the top six rides at Magic Kingdom are mountain-themed.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has held down the fort at Frontierland for more than 30 years now.

Even as the rest of the themed land has dwindled in popularity, guests have still made the long walk to the two mountain rides here.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad justifies the effort due to its immersive Western theming and quietly aggressive ride experience.

There’s a reason why park officials plan to leave this roller coaster alone even as Frontierland changes.

5) TRON Lightcycle / Run

I’ll be honest. I didn’t quite know what to do with this one.

If I put it too high, I’m guilty of recency bias.

Conversely, a lower ranking would be absurd because it’s Magic Kingdom’s alpha today.

The only real complaint about Tron is its length, which didn’t stop me from ranking Slinky Dog Dash high at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Everything else about the experience, save for the ride cart itself, is nearly perfect.

This ride has anchored Shanghai Disneyland for nearly a decade, and it will do the same at Tomorrowland for years.

4) Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

The same statement applies to Tiana, albeit with a caveat.

This is a modified version of Splash Mountain with better theming.

I acknowledge that’s a controversial opinion in some circles, but it’s true.

Disney has employed new Imagineering innovations to create an entirely immersive experience based on the story of The Princess and the Frog.

While there was a lot of speculation about the quality of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure before it opened, we’ve heard nary a peep since then.

That’s because it’s such a gentle, upbeat attraction, precisely what you’d expect at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

3) Haunted Mansion

The next two attractions would top any decent list of Magic Kingdom rides.

They’re not just iconic. They’ve also stood the test of time.

Haunted Mansion has amused and terrified guests since the 1960s.

While many attractions since then are undeniably scarier, including a now-extinct one at Magic Kingdom, Haunted Mansion still features a shocking amount of axe murder for a Disney ride.

I’m a bigger fan of the fun parts, though.

I’m always in awe of The Stretching Room and own a shocking amount of Doom Buggy merchandise.

My favorite part of this ride is that Disney keeps adding to it, most recently the Hatbox ghost materializing on the East Coast.

Occasional enhancements like this one keep the ride alive, which may be a misnomer.

2) Pirates of the Caribbean

Before reading this list, you probably assumed this one would be in the top three. The only question was where.

I’m not trying to trick anyone. I adore the classics just as much as you do.

Disney created a masterpiece, and while its true home will always be Disneyland Park, it’s somehow better located.

That’s because many pirate stories occurred in this area, especially near Florida’s Treasure Coast.

Also, while I realize that Johnny Depp has become a divisive personality in some circles, let’s all admit the truth.

The Captain Jack Sparrow character is among Disney’s greatest creations ever.

I’d argue it’s either Jack Sparrow or Elsa.

1)    Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

I’m oddly sentimental about this attraction.

My wife and I spent 10 days at Disney for a wedding anniversary while Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was in technical rehearsals.

At the time, Disney wasn’t as advanced with its technical rehearsal methodology.

You just had to be lucky enough to be standing in the area near the ride for brief windows.

We went 0-fer until the final day of our trip. Mere hours before we prepared to leave, a kindly Cast Member let us ride.

So, for my wife and me, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a couple’s ride.

To a larger point, it’s just plain fun, which is what I want Disney rides to be.

The swaying motion of the ride cart differentiates it from any other coaster, and it even includes a spectacular dark ride segment.

I like shiny objects just as much as the next person, and this underground mine is overflowing with pretty rocks.

Look, there’s a reason why everyone runs to this ride first thing in the morning and the lines stay crowded all day.

For a decade now, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has been the most popular ride at Magic Kingdom. It also happens to be my favorite.

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