The Rides at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, Part I

The Magic Kingdom is my favorite of Disney World’s four theme parks. There is just something about walking down Main Street USA and seeing Cinderella Castle in front of you, the music playing all around you, and all the cheerful hustle and bustle that is Disney. Of course we can’t talk about the Magic Kingdom without talking about all of those amazing rides. There are loads of great rides at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. So many, in fact, that I usually recommend planning to spend at least two full days at this park. I’ve put together a list of all the rides that you will find during your visit to help you put together the ultimate Magic Kingdom must do list for your group.  This list is lengthy, so it is divided into two blog posts and several YouTube videos.  Part one contains the rides that you will find in Adventureland, Frontierland, and Liberty Square.  Part two will contain the rides that you will find in Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

Rides in Adventureland

Adventureland is a great spot for diverse groups because there are no height restrictions on these rides (as of the creation of this post), and there is a diverse selection of attractions here, so you’ll be sure to find something for everyone.  From flying carpets, and jungle boat rides to an animatronic cabaret, theres fun squeezed into every corner of Adventureland.

• The Swiss Family Treehouse
  • A Self guided walking tour of the shipwrecked Swiss Family Robinson’s tree house. Super cute tour. No wheelchairs or ECV’s are permitted here, and there are quite a few stairs involved. This one is nice for a day when the lines are especially long, because the line here tends to move steadily, even on crowded days.
• The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
  • This one is a pretty standard theme park attraction, but throwing a Disney theme onto anything makes it more enticing. Each carpet will seat up to four guests, and the two in the front will control the carpet’s up and down movement, while the two in the back will be able to tit the carpet toward the front or the back.
• The Jungle Cruise
  • A definite must do! This is a slow moving boat ride through dangerous jungles. The cast members do an excellent job as your skippers here. Each one inserts their own flair, so you can ride this one multiple times and each experience will be slightly different.
• The Enchanted Tikki Room
  • An adorable indoor performance put on entirely by audio animatronics. This is colorful and lively enough to entertain the younger ones in your group, and since it is indoors with bench seating, it’s a nice break for the older ones in your group as well.
• The Pirates of the Caribbean
  • One of my all time favorites here. A slow moving boat ride that takes place in a very low light environment with a short period of total darkness (for those with sensitive ones in their group). Scenes are taken from the popular movies, and you’ll want to keep your eye out for Jack.

Rides in Frontierland

Frontierland will take you back to the wild west where you can board a runaway train, splash into a briar patch, and explore abandoned mines. If you have large age gaps in your group, you may find yourselves splitting up in this land, as there are a couple of rides with height restrictions here.

• Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • You’ll have to be at least 40 inches tall to ride this speeding train that will take you through a ghost town and cursed cavern. Great ride for thrill seekers, and this one has a couple of dark spots for those who may have sensitive ones in their group.
• Splash Mountain
  • This ride is scheduled for re-imagineering, so if you have never experienced it, you may want to put it on your must-do list before it goes away for good. It’s a classic log flume ride with theming that comes from the pages of “Song of the South”. Your ride will finish with a 5-story drop, headed for Brear Rabbit’s briar patch, where you will get wet. There is a 40-inch height requirement to ride this one as well.
• Tom Sawyer Island
  • You’ll take a ride on a log raft to reach the island where you can explore a frontier fort and secret caves. This self guided walking tour is a great escape from the crowds. You won’t be able to take a wheelchair or ECV on the island.
• Country Bear Jamboree
  • A classic Disney audio animatronic show with the fun-loving Country Bears. Another indoor attraction with stadium style seating. These types of attractions make for a nice break from the Florida heat. Plenty of room for your wheelchair or ECV here.

Rides in Liberty Square

This may be one of the smaller areas of the park, but it has some fantastic attractions.

• Hall of Presidents
  • A super impressive combination of audio animatronics and digital projection. This is one that I recommend everyone check out at least once. The audio animatronics here are very lifelike, and it is another opportunity to get out of the Florida sun.
• Liberty Square Riverboat
  • This is a half-mile tour down the Rivers of America aboard a Colonial-era steamboat. You’ll have some amazing views of the park as you circle Tom Sawyer Island. There are four decks on the boat that each have limited seating available. The best views, however, will be from standing on the upper deck, if you are able. Wheelchairs and ECVs are welcome aboard.
• Haunted Mansion
  • One of my all-time favorites! A slow moving ride that takes you on a tour through a haunted estate. No gory scenes here, but the entire tour is in very low light or darkness.

You’ll Find Loads of Fun Rides Inside the Magic Kingdom

We’ve only listed the attractions within the lands that are on the left side of Cinderella Castle as you reach the end of Main Street USA. In part two we’ll list the attractions that are in the lands on the right side. You’ll find that there is more to experience in this park than you have time for in just one day. You may want to plan two or more days at this park especially if you have younger ones in your group. Having your must-do list made and a plan for touring the park will save you loads of valuable vacation time as you visit the Magic Kingdom.

Plan ahead and make the most of your magical visit!