Let’s be honest. Planning a visit to a world-renowned theme park like Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, which offers almost 40 attractions (including rides, shows, character greetings, and more), is daunting at best.
We completely understand the desire to squeeze as much into your Disney visit as humanly possible for the price you’re paying to be there and those magical memories you’re excited to make.
But with most visitors planning for just one day at Magic Kingdom, attempting to experience everything becomes almost impossible.
Now, let’s cut to the chase.
Some experiences cannot be missed, while others can be saved for a future visit.
We’ll give you all the details on which attractions are considered the “best” at Magic Kingdom so you can choose what to prioritize and plan for during your limited time in the park.
Anything we don’t include can be considered a cherry on top of your already magical visit!
Coasters & Classics
Widely considered the best rides in the park, these attractions (listed in no particular order!) are absolute musts for the ultimate Magic Kingdom experience.
If a ride has height requirements, it’s listed next to the name!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (40”)
Famous for its at times jarring track and rootin’-tootin’ theming, BTMR falls firmly under cult favorite attractions. It’s not a very fast or intense coaster, but younger miners (get it?) might find the cave scene to be loud and dark.
Pro Tip: Ask a Cast Member (politely!) to ride in the back row! You might have to wait a few minutes extra, but we think the experience is worth it.
Space Mountain (44”)
Blast off through space with another Disney World classic! And despite being unable to see a dang thing during the ride, this attraction ranks highly as a personal favorite.
Theoretically, Space Mountain’s twists, turns, and drops could be considered mild, but the darkness and lack of visibility might heighten the intensity for coaster newbies.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Unlike the previous two on this list, POTC is a slow-moving yet swashbuckling boat ride through another one of the immersive and detailed dioramas OG Disney is famous for.
This all-heights, all-ages attraction is considered a classic for a reason!
The Haunted Mansion
One of the most famous rides at Magic Kingdom, your trip on the slow-moving “Doom Buggy” will take you through haunted scenes that are both campy and visually entertaining – but not actually too scary. While it’s a dark ride with spooky themes and smaller visitors might be nervous, we still recommend it to everyone!
TRON Lightcycle/Run (48”)
With its immersive ambiance, impressive queue, and utterly smooth ride experience, TRON is a great introduction to bigger rollercoasters.
We find it worth the hype and headache of paying for a Single Pass Lightning Lane or figuring out a strategy for the standby line..
Cons? We enjoy it so much that we wished it lasted longer!
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (40”)
Set in the bayou with a glittering and jazzy Mardi Gras theme, join Princess Tiana and her friends on a log flume journey that ends with an exhilarating splash.
Tiana’s may have upgraded the same former Splash Mountain track (RIP), but don’t let the final drop deter you from riding – it’s not nearly as bad as it looks! But if you don’t believe us, you can watch other people on the ride and see how much they’re smiling at the end.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (38”)
Still a mega-popular attraction, we agree that SDMT is worth the experience. The impressive Snow White theming, interactive queue, and smooth, moderate-level track make this coaster exciting enough for kids ready to try an attraction that’s a little on the bigger side.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Who doesn’t love the idea of riding through a Buzz Lightyear video game? Compete against your partner (or against your best score) to fire lasers at targets ranging from easy to nearly impossible inside a ride vehicle that you can turn and spin yourself.
This is a fun ride for everyone! Even for those of us with terrible aim… #StarCadetforLife
Quintessential Classics
There are just some rides you see and immediately think “Disney World.”
Fewer people might consider these as high-priority attractions, but we still consider them must-dos, especially for younger kids, lovers of Disney animation, and first-time visitors!
Peter Pan’s Flight
Hop aboard a magical pirate ship as it sets sail across scenes from Peter Pan. Easy, breezy, and slow-moving, this is a good ride for the kids or even just taking a load off.
On a different note, we have to admit that the standby queue’s immersion and theming for this attraction is almost as entertaining as the ride itself!
“it’s a small world”
While this gentle boat ride features a catchy tune (it’s more of an earworm, to be honest), it has also likely sparked countless heated debates across families over the decades on whether or not it was actually worth riding.
We say yes, if only for the original Disney experience! Either ya love it or ya hate it, but either way, you get a ~15-minute air-conditioned break.
Mad Tea Party
If a dozen spinning teacups don’t scream Disney, we don’t know what will. This ride is a hit among kids and families, especially when you snap that perfect teacup photo. We recommend re-visiting or another ride after dark for the atmosphere.
Fair warning: if you’re prone to motion sickness, we might skip this one!
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Climb into a honey pot and make your way through scenes featuring Pooh and pals in the Hundred Acre Wood and beyond.
Sweet, timeless, and gentle, this attraction is another one to curb your Disney nostalgia.
Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid
Ride a clamshell “under the sea” as you progress through the story of The Little Mermaid with Ariel and friends.
Full of colorful scenes, engaging animatronics, and music from the film, this attraction is perfect for princess-obsessed kiddos or those who originally watched The Little Mermaid on VHS. 🙋
Kiddie Classics
Magic Kingdom is arguably one of the better parks at Disney World for younger children, as it offers the most rides without height restrictions.
(Of course, some still have minimum height requirements, but we’ve designated those below.)
Here are several must-do attractions for groups traveling with kids!
Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Another charming Disney attraction, this ride is suitable for all ages and makes for some pretty cute photos to boot. Gentle controls allow you to raise and lower your Dumbo elephant while soaring (not too high!) through the air.
Bonus for parents: the queue for Dumbo also offers one of our favorite play spaces around Disney property! You don’t even have to ride to let your kids burn off some of that post-Dole Whip energy.
The Barnstormer (35″)
Themed to Goofy and his stunt airplane, we consider The Barnstormer the best introductory roller coaster in Disney World for kids.
This ride has a fully visible track, is lots of fun, and, most importantly, is over quickly if your kid isn’t having it!
Enchanted Tales with Belle
Disney World offers some pretty fantastic shows that are perfect for downtime between rides, midday heat breaks, and engaging entertainment.
Be sure to make time to see this adorable and interactive show themed after Beauty and the Beast! It’s perfect for little ones, anyone obsessed with Belle, or first-timers to Magic Kingdom.
Tomorrowland Speedway (32″)
Ever wonder what kind of driver your 6-year-old would be? Well, you can find out on the Tomorrowland Speedway!
Each car seats two and drives on a track with a guide rail, so you can rest assured that even if your kid hits the pedal to the metal, you won’t veer out of your lane or be going much faster than 7 mph.
It’s totally worth the ride just to see how excited the kids get to drive!
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Similar to the ride mechanics of Dumbo, you and your little ones will control a magic carpet that you can raise high enough to see how long the line for Dole Whips is at Aloha Isle. Watch out for the spitting camels.
Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Sometimes, a simple ride on a carousel can be healing. A ride on Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel is one of our favorite downtime activities, regardless of age. Enjoy a ride at night for the extra magical ambiance!
Bonus: If you’re willing to skip out on the Main Street USA fireworks projections and watch the show from back here, you’ll get some incredible photos of a near-empty Fantasyland at night!
Honorable Mentions
Last but not least, we wouldn’t give up any of the above attractions for the following, but if you can squeeze them into your day, go for it!
Jungle Cruise
Well established as a cult favorite amongst Disney park goers, this slow-moving boat ride through the animatronic jungle is quirky fun, especially when your Skipper steals the show.
We don’t necessarily feel it’s worth the long lines it draws but if it’s high on your priority list, we recommend saving it for early morning, at the end of the night, or when lines are posted under 25 minutes (or a midday Lightning Lane!).
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
A Monsters Inc.-themed comedy show featuring Mike Wazowski and other animated monsters, this show is interactive with the audience and tends to be a hit with kids.
We’d save it for when other wait times are high or if you are looking for a short break. (Otherwise, we might skip this in favor of Turtle Talk with Crush at EPCOT—a similar-style show but typically a better experience!).
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Perfect for downtime between other rides or something cute to do if you’re in the area, this short 3D (technically 4D) show is interactive and fun, especially for younger kids or those who love Disney animation.
Remember…
Treat this as a loose guide to complement your ride ideas and priorities! The attractions we included are based on overall guest demand and satisfaction and some of our own personal experiences that we would just as soon share with our families and friends planning trips to Magic Kingdom.
If you have your heart set on a particular attraction that did not make it into this post, ride it anyway! We’re here to help you create your own magic on our website.