Magic Kingdom is by far the most popular and iconic theme park in the world where enchantment and imagination collide! From the iconic Cinderella Castle to the iconic and classical rides that dot the landscape, there’s something truly magical about this park. Not to mention some really fun and cool attraction additions from over the years.
Whether you’re seeking heart racing thrills, immersive dark rides, or something a little more gentle, you’ll be sure to find something fun and magical that will put a smile on your face
Join me as I’m going to rank all of the top attractions and rides at Magic Kingdom from best to worst. Please just remember that this is entirely my personal opinion and preferences, especially if I rank something too low or too high 🙂
So with that being said, here are the best rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park!
Best Rides at Magic Kingdom
Here’s my ranking of the best Magic Kingdom rides:
Best Magic Kingdom Thrill Rides
Here are my favorite thrill rides at Magic Kingdom, ranked:
1. Space Mountain
Space Mountain is an iconic indoor roller coaster where you hop aboard a sleek spaceship-inspired coaster and blast off into space. With darkness all around and twinkling stars above, you’ll twist and turn through space-age tunnels, zipping past galactic sights at seemingly warp speed.
When I think about the best ride at Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain always comes to mind. Although it doesn’t have the speed and appeal of TRON, there’s just something about this iconic ride. Sure it’s not as good as Disneyland’s or Disneyland Paris’, but it’s still a fun rollercoaster that I always need to ride during every visit.
- Category: Thrill Ride, Big Drops, Dark
- Height Requirement: 44 inches or taller
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Tomorrowland
2. TRON Lightcycle / Run
TRON Lightcycle Run is a fun, high speed roller coaster where you get to enter the grid and speed across a wolf with no horizons.
Instead of roller coaster carts, you’ll climb on to a lightcycle where you’ll race again the Grid’s most menacing programs.
Although this ride is super short, the 60 mph launch makes up for it, especially if you ride it at night.
Just make sure to join the virtual queue or buy an Individual Lightning Lane Selection (ILL) before they sell out.
- Category: Big Drops, Thrill Ride, Dark
- Height Requirement: 48 inches or taller
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes (Individual Lighting Lane)
- Location:
3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is the wildest ride in the wilderness for sure!
After you descent into an abandoned mine shaft, you’ll board a train and work your way up, around, and through the mountains, doing dynamite and falling boulders, as you swoop around turns and drop into canyons.
Just make sure to grab the last row for the most fun!
- Category: Thrill Rides, Small Drops
- Height Requirement: 40 inches or taller
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Frontierland
4. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Step aboard a swinging rustic mine train as you race through the diamond mine from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
The family-friendly roller coaster is pretty fun but in my opinion, it’s never worth the wait time. Instead, I would just buy an Individual Lightning Lane to save yourself some time. Or better, make it the last ride of the day (or the first if you rope drop).
- Category: Thrill Rides, Small Drops
- Height Requirement: 38 inches or taller
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes (Individual Lightning Lane)
- Location: Fantasyland
5. Mad Tea Party
Spin around in a giant teacup and tail though a wonderland of song and color.
Mad Tea Party is such an iconic ride that you must do at least once to get the full Disney parks experience.
I also can’t believe there’s no height requirement.
- Category: Spinning
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Fantasyland
6. The Barnstormer
The Barnstormer is by far the best beginner rollercoaster for kids.
You’ll climb aboard a wacky stunt plane and hold on tight as you take the skies with Goofy before landing safely during the grand finale.
- Category: Small Drops
- Height Requirement: 35 inches or taller
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Fantasyland
7. Astro Orbiter
Astro Orbiter is Dumbo on minor steroids.
On this ride, you’ll board a 2 passenger spacecraft that levitates and spins high in the air giving you one of the best views of Magic Kingdom.
Although this ride is considered a slow ride with no height requirement, during the decent of the rockets, you actually feel it in your stomach which is kinda surprising.
- Category: Slow Rides, Spinning
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: No
- Location: Tomorrowland
Best Magic Kingdom Gentle Rides
Here are all of the gentle rides at Magic Kingdom, ranked:
1. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
If there’s one ride that I always go on no matter what, it’s always the PeopleMover.
This 10 minute tour of Tomorrowland aboard a mass transit system of the future is by far the best way to relax, take in the sights, and even avoid the crowds.
- Category: Slow Rides
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: No
- Location: Tomorrowland
2. Haunted Mansion
Climb on to a gloomy Doom Buggy as your private guide, the Ghost Host, takes you through the cadaverous realm of an eerie haunted estate home to ghosts and other supernatural surprises.
And if it’s your first time, don’t worry it really is not scary at all.
- Category: Slow Rides, Dark
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Liberty Square
3. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Hop on a spinning XP-37 star cruiser as you blast the glowing “Z” targets with your infrared laser canon in order to defeat the Evil Emperor Zurg, all while trying to score the coveted 999,999 points.
This ride is pretty fun and competitive. But I just wish you could see the laser better. If this was more like Midway Mania, it would be a game changer.
- Category: Slow Rides, Spinning
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Tomorrowland
4. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Hop aboard Dumbo as you soar high in the sky on this classic attraction where you get to control whether if you want to fly high or stay low.
- Category: Slow Rides, Spinning
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Fantasyland
5. Pirates of the Caribbean
Board a weathered barge as you take a treacherous voyage to the 17th century where pirates and privateers ruled the seas and ransacked Caribbean seaport towns.
Just make sure to keep an eye out for Captain Jack Sparrow.
This indoor boat ride is one of those rides you can never skip.
- Category: Slow Rides, Small Drops, Dark
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Adventureland
6. Jungle Cruise
Embark on a river cruise aboard a canopied tramp steamer piloted by your trust and comedic skipper who will expertly navigate you through the exotic rivers across Asia, South America, and Africa.
As long as you have a good skipper that has great jokes, you’ll be sure to have a great time. But if not, it will be the longest ride of your life.
- Category: Slow Rides
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Adventureland
7. Mickey’s PhilharMagic
A 12-minute 3-D show inside a theater with a 180 degree wraparound screen that features iconic scenes and songs from popular Disney and Pixar movies.
I feel like this attraction doesn’t get the love and respect that it deserves because it’s so fun, especially with some of the water and air jump scares.
- Category: 3D Show
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Fantasyland
8. Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid
Hop on board a moving clamshell as you become part of Ariel’s musical adventure through scenes from the animated classic.
- Category: Slow Rides
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Fantasyland
9. Peter Pan’s Flight
Board your flying ship as you follow Petter Pan thought the iconic scenes from the iconic animated film, as you slowly descend in to Never Land and swoop into Pirate’s Cove.
I honestly don’t understand how and why this ride has such a long wait. It still to this day boggles my mind.
- Category: Slow Rides, Small Drops
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Fantasyland
10. Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor
Get ready for the most stressful 20 minutes of your vacation as you participate in this interactive comedy show starring Monsters, Inc. and company. Just watch out as you can instantly be part of the show.
- Category: Show
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Tomorrowland
11. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Travel though the Hundred-Acre Wood in an oversized Hunny Pot as you get lost i the pages of Winnie the Pooh’s classic tales.
- Category: Slow Rides
- Height Requirement: No
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: None
- Location: Fantasyland
11. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Travel though the 20th century as you follow an American family over 4 generations of progress and watch as technology slowly changes their lives tomorrow.
This ride is the best attraction to relax and cool down on. Plus the song is pretty catchy 🙂
- Category: Slow Rides
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: No
- Location: Tomorrowland
12. Tomorrowland Speedway
Take the wheel of a gas powered car as you cruise along a scenic miniature motorway. If you have little ones that always wanted to drive a car, this is the best ride for them!
- Category: Slow Rides
- Height Requirement: 32 inches or taller
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Tomorrowland
13. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Ride on one of the 90 wood carved horses as you gallop through Fantasyland on this royal carousel.
- Category: Slow Rides, Spinning
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: No
- Location: Fantasyland
14. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Flying high over Adventureland on a 4-person enchanted carpet ride, similar to what you’d experience on Dumbo.
You can raise the magic carpet up and down or tip it front and back, depending on which row you are seated in.
- Category: Slow Rides, Spinning
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Adventureland
15. Hall of Presidents
Learn about the formation of the United States’ Constitution as you hear from a few past and present presidents.
- Category: Show
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: No
- Location: Liberty Square
16. “it’s a small world”
A whimsical boat ride past a jubilant chorus of children from around the globe.
Good luck getting the song out of your head after riding it!
- Category: Slow Rides
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: Yes
- Location: Fantasyland
17. Country Bear Jamboree
Clap along as 18 audio animatronic hillbilly bears play and sing during this 16 minute show.
I honestly don’t get the hype.
- Category: Show
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: No
- Location: Frontierland
18. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Watch as over 225 choreographed exotic bird audio-animatronic performers, tiki statues, and flowers come to life in this Disney classic which debuted at Disneyland in 1963.
- Category: Show
- Height Requirement: None
- Genie+ or Lightning Lane: No
- Location: Adventureland
Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for Genie+ and Lightning Lane
In my opinion, it’s pretty difficult to recommend which rides you need to prioritize when making Genie+ selections because everyones preferences are so different.
But if I had to pick a few rides that you must ride, they would be:
- Space Mountain
- Big Thunder Mountain
- Haunted Mansion
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Peter Pan’s Flight (I don’t like this ride but the wait time is always crazy long)
And when it comes to purchasing Individual Lightning Lanes, I recommend that you buy one for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (since the wait time is unbearable) and TRON at night. You can always opt for the free virtual queue for TRON but I prefer having a designated return time window.
Magic Kingdom Character Experiences
Here are all of the characters that you can meet, greet, and see at Magic Kingdom:
- Mickey Mouse (Town Square Theater)
- Cinderella and a Visiting Princess (Princess Fairytale Hall)
- Rapunzel (Princess Fairytale Hall)
- Tiana (Princess Fairytale Hall)
- Elena of Avalon (Princess Fairytale Hall)
- Belle (Enchanted Tales of Belle)
- Ariel (Ariel’s Grotto)
- Winnie the Pooh (The Thotful Spot)
- Tigger (The Thotful Spot)
- Donald, Goofy, Daisy, and Minnie Mouse (Pete’s Silly Slideshow)
- Captain Jack Sparrow (Adventureland Stage)
- Jasmine (Agrabah Bazaar)
- Aladdin (Agrabah Bazaar)
- Chip ‘n Dale (Storybook Circus)
- Peter Pan (near Peter Pan’s Flight)
- Anastasia and Drizella (Cinderella Fountain)
- Mirabel from Encanto (Fairytale Garden)
- County Bears (Country Bear Jamboree)
- Buzz Lightyear (Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin Exit Courtyard)
- Snow White (Town Square Theater Porch)
- Eeyore, Tigger, Pooh, Piglet (Crystal Palace character meal)
- Cinderella, Ariel, Snow White, Jasmine, Aurora (Cinderella’s Royal Table)
- Beast (Be Our Guest)
All of these characters have specific meeting times so please check out the daily schedule on the My Disney Experience app.
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So how’d I do? Are there any attractions or rides at Magic Kingdom that you would rate higher or lower? If so, please let me know by leaving a comment.
Thanks for reading and hopefully this ranking helped you learn more about the best rides at Magic Kingdom, while also making it easier to plan out your Magic Kingdom park attraction priorities!
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