The Magic Kingdom

Whether you want to stroll down turn–of–the–century Main Street, U.S.A., or blast off into tomorrow in Tomorrowland, The Magic Kingdom is the theme park for you. Opened in 1971 — and modeled after the original Disneyland in California — The Magic Kingdom was the very first theme park to open in Walt Disney World.

Making up The Magic Kingdom are seven themed “lands”. They are: Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown Fair, and Tomorrowland. Each land and their attractions are listed below. Note that there are restaurants all throughout The Magic Kingdom. To learn more about food offerings, go to the restaurants page on this site.

The rankings

For each attraction listed, there is a ranking signified by a graphic Disney ball. The rankings go between 1 ball to 5 balls — 5 being the highest/best rating. To better understand the ratings, you should understand that all attractions have been rated by someone who is in her late 30’s, thoroughly enjoys roller coasters and high–speed attractions, and has no children. Note that in the tables that follow, the “official” description category is the description that is offered on the Walt Disney World web page; I have added my own, personal, opinions to help you in your decisions.

Main Street, U.S.A.

Modeled after Walt Disney’s home town of Marcelene, Missouri, this turn–of–the–century street is the first “land” one encounters upon entering The Magic Kingdom. There are hardly any “rides” here; rather, Main Street, USA, serves more as the gateway to draw visitors in to the “hub” of The Magic Kingdom. Cinderella’s Castle is located in the center of the hub; from there, the other lands are arranged like spokes on a wheel.

The attractions of Main Street, USA, are listed below:

Attraction	The “Official” Description	Ages	Rating	My Comments
Walt Disney World Rail Road	All Aboard! This narrow–gauge steam train takes you on a nostalgic one–and–a–half mile journey around the Magic Kingdom® Park. Board the train for a trip directly to Frontierland or Mickey’s Toontown Fair, or take a relaxing round trip. It’s the perfect introduction to our happy place.	All age groups		This is a great ride when you want to cool off in the afternoon; when you want to get acclimated to the park; and for when you want to leave, but don’t want to walk all the way back to the entrance (or especially if you want to avoid parade crowds). Note that the train makes three stops en route: Main Street, USA, Frontierland, and Mickey’s Toontown Fair.
Horse–drawn Carriages, Omnibus, Jitney, Horseless Carriage, and Fire Engine	Take a trip in turn–of–the–century style. Your one-way ride down Main Street, U. S. A. takes place in the new–fangled contrivance of your choice: horse car, omnibus, jitney, horseless carriage, or fire engine.	All age groups		Cute if there are no lines, but you can get to where you’re going faster by walking.

Back to top

Adventureland

Mysterious drum beats, singing tikis, and a ride through the jungle sum up what’s in store in Adventureland.

The attractions of Adventureland are listed below:

Attraction	The “Official” Description	Ages	Rating	My Comments
Swiss Family Treehouse	There hasn’t been a treehouse this amazing since the movie. Come see where the winding branches take you in this one–of–a–kind tree.	All age groups		This is a fun — albeit outdated — attraction. Guests walk up into the infamous treehouse. Note that this attraction is not handicapped accessible, and those who have difficulty breathing may wish to bypass this attraction.
Jungle Cruise	Travel on the rivers of four different continents. See exotic animals, zany explorers and ancient ruins as your skipper leads you deep into the jungle. Be prepared for surprises along the way, your skipper’s sure to regale you with humorous tales of danger.	Younger children may be frightened, but all age groups should be OK		OK, so it’s cheesy and outdated (especially since the opening of Disney’s Animal Kingdom). But, it still has a special place in my heart! This is a boat ride that was modeled after the Kathryn Hepburn / Humphrey Bogart movie, “The African Queen.” Note that lines for this boat ride can get quite long. Also note that if you elect to ride this attraction at night, there is little (if any) lighting, which makes it impossible for you to see anything. Note that this is a Fastpass attraction.
The Enchanted Tiki Room — Under New Management	Join Iago and Zazu on their latest adventure as managers of the Enchanted Tiki Room. Don’t worry, you’ll still have the chance to sing along with the original Tiki Room song as well as new popular favorites.	All age groups	*	Sorry, I wasn’t a fan of the old version of this attraction, and therefore haven’t seen the new one.
Pirates of the Caribbean	Yo ho, yo ho! A pirate’s life for me! Take a wild voyage through secret caverns and fierce sea battles as you join up with the rowdiest crew that ever sacked the Spanish Main. It’s a boat ride through classic Disney adventures populated with almost countless Audio–Animatronics® figures.	Some younger children may be frightened		This classic Disney attraction still does it for me! (Although, I must say, that the one in California is much better!) You ride through a Caribbean town that has been taken over by bumbling pirates. Think of it as “It’s A Small World Gone Bad”!

Back to top

Frontierland

“Born on a mountain top in Tennessee…”. So goes the first words of The Ballad of Davey Crockett, and so explains the theming in Frontierland.

The attractions of Frontierland are listed below:

Attraction	The “Official” Description	Ages	Rating	My Comments
Diamond Horseshoe Saloon Revue	This honest–to–goodness western saloon features dancing girls, comedians, and troubadour sing–alongs.	All age groups		This is a nice place to pop in and grab a cold drink and see some entertainment. There are no lines, as this is not an attraction, but just a nice place to cool off on a hot day.
Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade	Use infrared rifles to hit targets and trigger silly sight and sound gags.	All age groups		Nothing more than an arcade game.
Country Bear Jamboree	Country and western music will never be the same after you see Wendell, Big Al, and Liver Lips perform. Twenty life–sized banjo–pluckin’ bears give it their all in this classic Disney attraction.	All age groups		This is a foot–stompin’, hand–clappin’ attraction that features singing bears. If the lines are long, wait to enjoy this attraction at a later time.
Tom Sawyer Island	Walt Disney himself designed this out–of–the–way retreat. You’ll be transported by boat to Tom Sawyer’s Island, and immersed into the homespun world of Mark Twain. There are dirt trails and creaky barrel bridges to explore, even fun spots like Harper’s Mill and poke around Injun Joe’s Caves.	All age groups		This is a nice and quiet place to escape the hustle and bustle of the afternoon. It is also a terrific place to let the kids run wild! There are caverns to explore, barrel bridges to cross, and air guns to pop. There is even a restaurant with a covered porch that overlooks The Rivers of America where park–weary parents can relax.
Splash Mountain	Hop a hollowed–out log and follow Brer Rabbit into HIS laughin’ place. Inside you discover a critter–ful world that has you singing Zip–A–Dee–Doo–Dah until you are sent screaming into the Briar Patch on a five–story drop.	Guests must be 40" tall to ride		If you can tolerate the five–story drop (and that’s just one of the drops in this attraction), then you should definitely not miss this attraction. The ride itself (drops aside) is a beautiful experience with colorful characters and memorable songs. Note that this is a Fastpass attraction.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad	Zip in and out of a deserted gold mine on a runaway train. It’s a swervy, curvy roller coaster ride through steep mountain passes, into caves, under falling boulders, and on to Tumbleweed, a flooded mining town. Ride it again and again to take in all the wacky Disney touches.	Guests must be 40" tall to ride		This is a roller coaster with a theme: you are in a mining train when an earthquake hits, which makes the train go out of control. Note that lines for this attraction can get extremely long.

Back to top

Liberty Square

Think of Philadelphia in 1776 and you’ve got an idea of Liberty Square.

The attractions of Liberty Square are listed below:

Attraction	The “Official” Description	Ages	Rating	My Comments
The Hall of Presidents	Don’t miss this one–of–a–kind Disney classic. It’s a sweeping tribute to the office of the presidency and the history of America. You’ll see all 42 presidents gathered to hear the words of Abraham Lincoln.	All age groups		Although this sit–down, theater–style attraction is suitable for all age groups, young teenagers and kids may get bored. However, for us older types, there is nothing like the Presidential roll call when all the Presidents are standing together on one stage.
Liberty Belle Riverboat	Tour the Rivers of America aboard this authentic three–tiered paddleboat.	All age groups		If the lines aren’t too long, and there just happens to be a boat in the dock, this is a great ride. Otherwise, wait until the lines diminish before waiting for this one.
The Haunted Mansion	Foolish mortals. Enter an 18th century mansion and encounter 999 grim grinning ghosts on a not–so–scary ride that includes a zillion classic details. The ceiling. Is it moving up? The eerie Madame Leota. The incredible phantoms of the ballroom. And those hitchhiking ghosts. Hurry ba–aaack.	May frighten young children		This is a haunted house — Disney style. Which means it’s not too frightening for young kids, and not cheesy for adults. Note that if you see a long line, the lines for this attraction do tend to move fairly quickly.

Back to top

Fantasyland

Situated in the courtyard of Cinderella’s Castle, Fantasyland brings back every childhood memory. From the sounds of the carousel to the smell of cotton candy, Fantasyland brings out the kid in all of us. Please remember that I am a “kid–less adult” rating these rides.

Some general Fantasyland notes: most every attraction will have very long lines, especially during peak seasons and peak hours of the day. If possible, try to visit Fantasyland when the park first opens, or late in the evening (when all the other little kids have gone to bed).

The attractions of Fantasyland are listed below:

Attraction	The “Official” Description	Ages	Rating	My Comments
Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel	What’s the oldest Walt Disney World® attraction? This magnificent carousel — built in 1917. You just can’t resist the gentle charm of saddling up a horse and spinning to the jaunty rhythm of classic Disney music. Choose your steed carefully. No two of the horses are exactly alike.	All age groups		This is a merry–go–round and as such, the lines can get long. Note that each horse is white; Walt Disney said that everyone who rides this carousel are “good guys” and good guys always have white horses.
The Legend of the Lion King	Simba’s world comes to stunning life — live on stage — in this incredible retelling of the story of The Lion King. The theatrical show features all of your favorite Lion King characters and unforgettable music, plus the magic of puppetry, animation, and special effects.	All age groups		This is not your typical Audio–Animatronic® attraction. All the characters — Simba, Rafiki, Timon and Pumba, etc. — are actually puppets. This makes the characters seem to come to life, as their movements are not mechanical. This is a not–to–be–missed attraction.
Peter Pan’s Flight	You can fly! You can fly! You can fly! Douse yourself with pixie dust and take a fantasy voyage to Never Land. You’ll ride in a flying version of Captain Hook’s ship that sweeps you up above the streets of London and into the classic tale of Wendy, John, Michael, and the one and only Peter Pan.	All age groups		This is a lovely ride through the story of Peter Pan. You feel like you’re really flying in Captain Hook’s ship. Note that people who fear heights might be disturbed by this attraction, as you feel as if you’re higher than you actually are.
It’s a Small World	Take that legendary boat ride around the globe on this musical tour of nations. Hundreds of international dolls sing and dance to the famous “it’s a small world” medley. After it’s over, just try to get that tune out of your head.	All age groups		Little kids love this one. And, I must admit, it is a nice place to sit and relax and cool off on a hot day. However, as the description to the left points out, the song will stay with you for at least the rest of the day, if not the rest of your vacation!
Dumbo, the Flying Elephant	Soar high above Fantasyland atop the world’s most popular pachyderm. The smiles are absolutely contagious.	All age groups	*	I have never done this ride so I cannot rate it. I will say, however, that the lines for this attraction are probably among the longest in all of Fantasyland, since this is not a continual loading ride. (Again, the whole ride must stop to let passengers disembark, embark, and then have the cast member check everyone’s seatbelts.)
Mad Tea Party	Board a giant tea cup and revolve your way through the wacky Mad Hatter Tea Party. You control how fast you spin. How mad are you feeling?	All age groups, however if you are prone to motion sickness, you may opt to pass this one	*	I have never done this ride so I cannot rate it.
The Many Adventures of Pooh	Visit all your friends from the Hundred Acre Wood. It’s the ride in which you get put in the middle of Pooh’s blustery day. You’ll bounce along with Tigger. Float through a floody place with Piglet. Even enter the mysterious world of Heffalumps and Woozles. It’s a willy nilly silly good time.	All age groups	*	I have never done this ride so I cannot rate it. This attraction took the place of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. Note that this is a Fastpass attraction.
Snow White’s Adventures	Heigh ho! This is classic Disney. Hop a mine car through this enchanting retelling of the age–old fairy tale. You’ll meet up with Snow White, the Evil Queen and all Seven Dwarfs. Just watch out for anyone offering apples.	May be too frightening for young children		This is a nice ride–through attraction that tells the story of Snow White.

Back to top

Mickey’s Toontown Fair

Everything is “small and bubbly” in Mickey’s Toontown Fair. This newest land is aimed right at the 2–6 year old kids. Again, being far too old for this area, I have not experienced any of these attractions. Therefore, I do not want to make a guess for their ratings.

The attractions of Mickey’s Toontown Fair are listed below:

Attraction	The “Official” Description	Ages	Rating	My Comments
Mickey’s Country House	Here’s your chance to tour the cartoony abode of the big cheese himself. Play in the giant–sized garden or poke around the garage. And for a personal meeting with Mickey, just visit the Judge’s Tent behind Mickey’s House. See ya real soon.	All age groups		I have walked through this attraction and it is very cute. Note that you do not have to continue on to the Judge’s Tent to see the character show.
Toontown Hall of Fame	Your favorite classic Disney characters are here all day. Stop by and share a special one–on–one “hi ya” and “howdy–do”.	All age groups
Minnie’s Country House	Visit Minnie’s Country House. It’s decorated in her favorite color: pink! You’ll even get a chance to play around in her kitchen.	All age groups
The Barnstormer	Here’s a special thrill especially for kids. Board Goofy’s cropduster on a mini roller coaster ride through Goofy’s corn field and ultimately right through his barn.	Guests must be 35" tall to ride
Donald’s Boat	Play around in an interactive fountain, anchored in a duck–pond blue playground. There are lots of hidden surprises all around.	All age groups		This is a cute walk–through attraction where kids (and adults alike) can run around and play. There are surprises like squirting water and noise–makers to delight kids of all ages.

Back to top

Tomorrowland

Imagine the view of tomorrow… as seen through the eyes of yesterday.

The attractions of Tomorrowland are listed below:

Attraction	The “Official” Description	Ages	Rating	My Comments
The Timekeeper	Join Timekeeper and 9–eye on a zany look at the past, present, and future. Circle–Vision 360 film technology is combined with Audio–Animatronics® figures and special effects for a one–of–a–kind experience that’ll have you laughing out loud — when you’re not gasping with awe.	All age groups	*	Can’t comment since I haven’t experienced this attraction.
The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter	Brace yourself for a sensory thrill hatched from the imaginations of Disney and the one and only George Lucas. An experiment goes dangerously awry when an Alien is accidentally teleported into the room, in the dark. So if you feel its hot breath on your neck, try not to make any sudden moves.	Must be at least 44" high to experience this attraction. Note that portions of this attraction take place in total darkness. As a result, this attraction is not suitable for everyone.		This is a cool attraction. Alien Encounter takes place in the former Mission to Mars building and uses high–tech, state–of–the–art technology to scare the beejeebers out of you! Note that the lines are long since this is not a “continual loading” ride (you must wait for a show to completely end before it’s your turn). This is best experienced first thing in the morning, during parades and fireworks shows, or last thing at night.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin	Pilot your own star cruiser as you save the galaxy from the sinister Emperor Zurg. Spin through outer space scenes and fire your laser cannon at interactive targets. With practice you may be able to score enough points to place you in the ranks of Galactic hero.	All age groups		This is a really cute ride. Riders (2 per car) each have a laser gun at targets. The car spins around (which you control using a joy stick) so you can find as many targets as you can to rack up points. The points don’t really mean anything, but it’s fun to try to get as many as you can. Note that this is a continual loading ride, so lines may move quickly. (This is one of the newer rides in The Magic Kingdom so lines do build.)
Tomorrowland Transit Authority	Powered by a linear induction motor —whatever that is — it’s mass transit straight out of science fiction. Take a leisurely ride through Tomorrowland. You’ll be treated to a glimpse of Space Mountain, ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.	All age groups		This is a terrific attraction for when you want to cool off, sit down and relax, and maybe get a glimpse of all the other attractions (including peeking at the Space Mountain lines). This is a continual loading ride, so waits are usually short, if non–existent.
Astro Orbiter	Hop aboard the rocket you’ve always dreamed about piloting. You’re surrounded by whirling planets as you ease back on the control stick and zoom your own spacecraft high above Tomorrowland. Hey, this is fun.	If you are afraid of heights, this may not be the ride for you	*	Can’t comment since I have never experienced this attraction.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress	Debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair. This classic attraction takes you on a tour of the technological progress from the beginning of the 20th Century to the near future. The theater actually revolves around four scenes peopled entirely by Audio–Animatronic® figures.	All age groups		I like this ride, even though the more I see it, the more I hate to admit that it is probably time for Disney to let it go. This is a theater–in–the–round, where you sit in your theater seat and move around the “actors”. Like the Small World song, this is another tune that will stick with you throughout the day.
Space Mountain	It looms 180 feet over the horizon, beckoning experienced thrill seekers and weak–kneed one–timers alike. Go ahead. Jockey this rocket ship ride through the inky blackness of outer space. Everything’s scarier in the dark, especially roller coasters. So don’t be afraid to scream your head off.	Guests must be 44" tall to ride		This is a cat–n–mouse–type roller coaster in the dark. It is a fun ride and if you like roller coasters, you shouldn’t miss it. Note that this is a Fastpass attraction.
Tomorrowland Speedway			*	Can’t comment since I have never experienced this attraction.

Back to top