Best Magic Kingdom Rides-Top Disney World Rides 2023

Since opening in 1971, Magic Kingdom has welcomed visitors year after year and is the most visited theme park in the world with over 20 million people visiting annually. There are many things to love about the park from the enchanting feeling of standing beneath the iconic Cinderella’s Castle and meeting your favorite Disney characters to indulging in your favorite Disney treats or spending time perusing merchandise in the Emporium Shop. However, it wouldn’t even be considered a theme park without the best Magic Kingdom rides!

In this article, we are going to explore the best Magic Kingdom rides and see how they rank against each other. We will touch on what each attraction entails and whether they are worth waiting hours for or if they can ultimately be skipped. We will also cover the basics for each ride such as opening date, park location, age group, height requirements, and Disney Genie+ integration.

Alright, make sure your lap bar is firmly secured because here we go!

Best Magic Kingdom Rides: Overview

Now, it can certainly be difficult to rank a new headline attraction like Tron against a Disney classic like It’s a Small World. So, to even the playing field, we are going to split out the rankings by the following categories:

• Headliners & Thrill Seekers: These rides are geared towards adults and older children and are the top-tier attractions in the park.
•  Fun for the Whole Family: These rides are great for almost everyone in the party, although some of them may scare very young children.
• For the Little Ones: These rides are really meant for young children and parents to enjoy together. Although, the young at heart are still welcome!
• Shows, Movers, & Other Attractions: These aren’t all rides per se, but are enjoyable shows and attractions that encompass Walt Disney’s passions and imagination.

Let’s jump into the first category to see which one wins the prize for the best headliner and thrill-seeking Magic Kingdom ride!

Best Magic Kingdom Rides: Headliners & Thrill Seekers

A visit to Magic Kingdom, for me, isn’t complete unless I hit all the headline attractions. Collectively, they are the newest and most thrilling rides, and because of that, they host the longest wait times. Riding all of them could easily eat up the majority of your day, but with some good planning and some help from Genie+, you can experience them all. I recommend trying to do so if your interests, traveling party, and time allow.

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#1 – TRON Lightcycle Run

Opened: April 4, 2023 

Location: Tomorrowland 

Age Group(s): Kids, Teens, Adults 

Height Requirement: 48 inches or taller 

Genie+: Individual Lightening Lane; Virtual Queue

TRON Lightcycle / Run is the newest addition to Magic Kingdom and is based on the 2010 film, TRON: Legacy. This high-speed rollercoaster will have you shooting out of the gates and into the neon lights of TRON as you ride your own Lightcycle. Tron Light Cycle may be on the shorter side of ride length but it takes the top spot for best Magic Kingdom ride in this category as it is the most thrilling and technologically advanced rollercoaster in the park. As of writing this article, TRON Lightcycle / Run does not have a standby line. You’ll have to get lucky snagging a spot in the virtual queue or pay an additional cost to gain access. After some time, the virtual queue will be removed, and the standby line will open. You can expect this ride to have long wait times for years to come.

Be sure to check out our Tron Lightcyle virtual queue guide to make the most of your visit!

#2 – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Opened: May 28, 2014

Location: Fantasyland

Age Group(s): Kids, Tweens, Teen, Adults

Height Requirement: 38 inches or taller

Genie+: Individual Lightning Lane

Before TRON came along, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train held the top spot as the newest ride in Magic Kingdom. This rollercoaster follows the story of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. It has a unique ride system that allows each car to sway, similar to a mine cart. Even though this attraction made its way into the Headliners & Thrill Seekers category, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is actually quite accommodating to all ages when compared to other rides within this grouping. It also hosts a fun queue line that will keep kids entertained, which is necessary given the relatively long wait times for this ride.

 #3 – Splash Mountain/Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Opened: October 2, 1992; New version opening 2024

Location: Frontierland

Age Group(s): TBD

Height Requirement: TBD

Genie+: TBD

Splash Mountain has permanently closed and will be replaced with Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. The log flume structure and ride system will remain but will be reimagined with a storyline based on the 2009 film, The Princess and the Frog. The original version followed Br’er Rabbit and his country critter friends from Song of the South. In the reimagining, you can expect a great storyline paired with some thrilling drops. Oh, and be prepared to get wet! We are excited to ride this once it reopens in late 2024 and that’s why we ranked it where we did. 

#4 – Space Mountain

Opened: January 15, 1975

Location: Tomorrowland

Age Group(s): Kids, Tweens, Teens, Adults

Height Requirement: 44 inches or taller

Genie+: Yes

When thinking of Tomorrowland, Space Mountain is the first thing that comes to mind. Its iconic exterior façade houses an indoor rollercoaster that will have you zipping past stars while completely in the dark. Even though it only clocks in at 27 mph, it is quite thrilling since you cannot see when drops or turns are coming your way.

#5 – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Opened:  November 15, 1980

Location: Frontierland

Age Group(s): Kids, Tweens, Teens, Adults

Height Requirement: 40 inches or taller

Genie+: Yes

Even though Big Thunder Mountain Railroad falls at the bottom of this category, it by no means is a ride to miss. This rollercoaster will transport you to the wild west on a runaway train. It reaches speeds of 35 mph and has tight turns around set pieces that were inspired by Bryce Canyon in Utah.

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Best Magic Kingdom Rides: Fun for the Whole Family

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Park was designed with families in mind and so this category will explore attractions that the whole family can enjoy together. Most of the rides in this category are also a must-do as was in the last section. However, a few may be worth skipping or saving until the end of the day when wait times are shorter. Let’s see which ones are the best Magic Kingdom rides for the whole family.

#1 – Pirates of the Caribbean

Opened: December 15, 1973

Location: Adventureland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the most beloved Disney rides in any park. It is a slow-moving dark ride that sets you on a boat adventure amidst animatronic pirates in the middle of the 17th-century Caribbean. The ride even inspired one of the most successful movie franchises of all time with the same name. While Pirates of the Caribbean could be scary for very young children, it is mostly playful and will have you singing “Yo Ho” along to the music of A Pirate’s Life for Me. In my opinion, this is the best Magic Kingdom ride in the family-friendly category.

#2 – Haunted Mansion

Opened: October 1, 1971

Location: New Orleans Square

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

The haunted mansion carries visitors through a haunted house-type dark ride with a unique Omnimover ride system. Each “Doom Buggy” takes riders through haunted, yet jovial, scenes, each of which features an array of neat special effects. Similar to Pirates of the Caribbean, the ride may be scary for very young children, but it is mostly light-spirited.

#3 – Jungle Cruise

Opened: 1971

Location: Adventureland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

The Jungle Cruise sets tourists along a river journey through the waterways of jungles around the globe. Everyone will be delighted as the quippy skipper points out animals and natural wonders all while delivering some of the most eye-rolling dad jokes of all time. The kids will love seeing the animals while the adults will laugh at the awful jokes being told.

#4 – Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

Opened: October 7, 1998

Location: Tomorrowland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is a fun and engaging ride that tasks riders with helping Buzz to defeat his arch nemesis, Zurg. Each rider is competing to get a high score by shooting laser beams at small targets throughout the ride environment. Although the technology is outdated compared to similar rides in other parks, this ride will have you wanting to ride again and again to see if you can beat your previous score.

#5 – “it’s a small world”

Opened: 1971

Location: Fantasyland

Age Group(s): Any height

Height Requirement: All ages

Genie+: Yes

No trip to Disney would be complete without a ride on “it’s a small world”. This slow-moving boat ride will take you through scenes of animatronic children from around the world singing the tune of “its a small world”. It was originally designed for the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair and, given its popularity, was brought to Disneyland and subsequently Magic Kingdom. The ride isn’t thrilling, but it brings up feelings of nostalgia and is iconically Disney which is why it beats out the last two rides in this category. “it’s a small world” is typically a walk-on later in the evening, so I wouldn’t choose to spend valuable time waiting for it during the day.

#6 – Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid

Opened: December 6, 2012

Location: Fantasyland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

Under the Sea is a great ride but falls towards the bottom of this category. It is not that it is bad in any particular way, it just gets beaten out by others on this list. I personally enjoy riding this towards the end of the evening when there is little to no wait. The ride is relaxing and takes you on a retelling of The Little Mermaid. My favorite part is the “Under the Sea” scene – it gets me dancing every time!

#7 – Tomorrowland Speedway

Opened: October 1, 1971

Location: Tomorrowland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: To drive alone, drivers must be at least 54 inches. Driver who are at least 32 inches can drive, but only if with someone over 54 inches.

Genie+: Yes

When I think of “Best Magic Kingdom Rides,”  the Tomorrowland Speedway does not come to mind and is one I would prioritize last. Tomorrowland Speedway is in some ways a version of go-karts. That being said, I think kids and young teens tall enough to drive will love the opportunity to do so. But, the thrill of driving go-karts can be achieved outside of Disney World and so, in my opinion, the time is better spent on headliners or other higher-ranking attractions within this category.

Best Magic Kingdom Rides: For the Little Ones

If you are looking for the best Magic Kingdom rides for your little ones, you will probably spend the majority of your day in Fantasyland. 7 out of the 9 rides that I have included in this grouping are in this area. The rides in Fantasyland are geared towards small children, are mostly gentle, and have storylines based on the fairytales that we have all come to know and love from Disney. What’s more, you will find plenty of character meet and greets in this section of the park, making for a fully rounded day. Now, some of the rides mentioned in other categories may also be suitable for your little ones, like “it’s a small world.” Conversely, some of the rides in this category are suitable for the whole family. We just have to draw the line somewhere to form groupings that make sense.

 #1 – Peter Pan’s Flight

Opened: 1971

Location: Fantasyland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

Taking the number one spot for best Magic Kingdom rides in this category is Peter Pan’s Flight. This has long been a favorite of parkgoers and for good reason. You will board a pirate ship that sails not on water but into the night sky flying high over a sleepy London town. You’ll want to do this ride first thing or get a Lightning Lane pass as lines throughout the day can be long. Adults and young kids alike will enjoy this ride which is why it comes in at number one.

 #2 – Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Opened: 1971

Location: Fantasyland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is based on the animated classic film, Dumbo. Here you sit atop your own circus elephant in the aerial carousel-style ride. You can move the elephant to fly high or low making it fun for young kids to take control of the height they are flying. While it may not be super thrilling for adults, it certainly can be for young kids and it is a classic, which is why it ranks high on the list.

 #3 – Mad Tea Party

Opened: 1971

Location: Fantasyland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

Here you can ride in a spinning teacup in a scrambler-style ride, straight out of Alice in Wonderland. You can take control and determine how fast or slow you want to spin. The ride will typically seat two adults with two or three kids per teacup, depending on everyone’s size. This is another Fantasyland staple that continues to rank high for young kids.

 #4 – The Barnstormer

Opened: October 1, 1996; Updated ride opened in March of 2012 with new theming

Location: Fantasyland

Age Group(s): Preschoolers, Kids

Height Requirement: 35 inches or taller

Genie+: Yes

The Barnstormer is the only other roller coaster in Fantasyland, besides Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. If your little ones aren’t tall enough or game enough to ride Seven Dwarfs, then The Barnstormer is a great alternative. The ride is themed to Goofy and has you flying along in stunt airplanes.

 #5 – Astro Orbiter

Opened: 1974

Location: Tomorrowland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: No

Astro Orbiter is the first ride that is outside of Fantasyland within this category. The ride is similar to that of Dumbo the Flying Elephant but themed to space. Also, the ride sits atop The Lunching Pad restaurant and the PeopleMover making for incredible views of Tomorrowland and even Cinderella’s castle. I highly recommend trying to ride this one at night as the park lights up.

 #6 – The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Opened: 1999

Location: Fantasyland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh falls in the middle of the pack for best Magic Kingdom rides in this category. It is a slow-moving dark ride that puts you in a Hunny Pot as you follow Winnie and friends through the Hundred-Acre Wood. It will delight kids but doesn’t offer much for the adults traveling along. Given its similarity to Peter Pan’s Flight, in that it is a slow-moving dark ride, I would prioritize Peter Pan over this one. It also does not have a Lightning Lane, so if the standby queue is longer than 30 minutes, I’d recommend skipping it.

 #7 – The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

Opened: May 24, 2001

Location: Adventureland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

The Magic Carpets of Aladdin is the only other ride inside this category that is outside of Fantasyland. It is in Adventureland and is themed to the Disney classic, Aladdin. Along with Dumbo the Flying Elephant and Astro Orbiter, it too is an aerial-style carousel but has you flying in magic carpets instead of flying elephants or rocket ships. Given its ride system is no different than the other two rides mentioned, I’d recommend skipping if you have already done the others.

 #8 – Prince Charming Regal Carrousel

Opened: 1971

Location: Fantasyland

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: No

Back in Fantasyland, Prince Charming’s Regal Carrousel is a typical merry-go-round attraction. Each rider sits atop one of the 90 noble horses. Given a standard carousel-style ride can be found outside of Disney World, I wouldn’t prioritize this over other rides that can only be experienced within Disney. That being said, if your little ones really enjoy this type of ride, it is worth experiencing within the most magical park in the world.

 #9 – Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station

Location: Fantasyland

Age Group(s): Preschoolers, Kids

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: N0

This attraction isn’t a ride, but a water play area for the kids. It is themed to a circus steam train that shoots out water instead of steam from the engine. It is a great place to cool off from the central Florida heat, but it falls at the bottom of the best Magic Kingdom rides for the little one’s list given it is not actually a ride. You may want to bring some dry clothes or even a bathing suit for your kids if you plan to let them get soaked!

Best Magic Kingdom Rides: Other Shows and Attractions 

Outside of the typical rides you think of, Magic Kingdom also has other types of shows and attractions that can still be a lot of fun. We’ve decided to rank the top ones for you here. This particular list will not be exhaustive but still covers the major must-dos in our opinion.

#1 – Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Opened: July 1, 1975

Location: Tomorrowland 

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: N0

The PeopleMover, as it is commonly referred to, is a classic and favorite among Disney fans. At the time of its opening, it was meant to highlight the emerging technology that was meant to inspire the way cities were built. Today, it is still a nice ride to enjoy while taking in the sights and sounds of Tomorrowland. It’s a really nice way to relax and escape the heat. Plus, it offers some really neat views of the castle!

#2 – Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Opened: 1971

Location: Adventureland  

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: N0

The tiki room became famous as it was the first Disney attraction to use the emerging technology of audio-animatronics. When it opened, it was heralded as an attraction that was fun and interactive. Today, the tiki room is a staple of Disney culture and certainly worth a trip. It’s another great escape from the heat too! The show is still pretty much in its original state and can be fun for the little ones. Heads up! There is a thunderous scene, but it shouldn’t be too bad for the kids.

#3 – Mickey’s Philharmagic

Opened: October 8, 2003

Location: Fantasyland   

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: Yes

Mickey’s Philharmagic is a theatre-based attraction that takes you through a magical Disney music adventure in 3D! I like it because it’s the perfect way to cool off, sit, and still enjoy Disney magic. The movie was recently updated to include new music from the latest movies so you’ll be sure to recognize and sing along to your favorite tunes, new and old!

#4 – Walt Disney World Railroad

Location: Several stations throughout the park    

Age Group(s): All ages

Height Requirement: Any height

Genie+: No

As one of the first things you see when entering Magic Kingdom, the railroad certainly had to make our list. Inspired by Walt Disney’s love for trains, this ride takes you around the Magic Kingdom with stops on Main Street USA, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland. If you decide to do the full loop, it’s a pleasant 1.5 miles and a relaxing way to beat crowds and get around the park!

Best Magic Kingdom Rides: Final Thoughts

And there you have it! That is my personal rankings on most of the rides and attractions at Magic Kingdom park. Tastes and desires vary, but hopefully, this guide gives you enough of an idea to help you plan your next visit. Don’t forget to include some yummy food and snacks throughout your day, too! We’ve got a full roundup here that is similar to this guide if you’re wondering where to eat!

All said and done, it’s not hard to have a wonderful time in Magic Kingdom. It’s one of my favorite Disney parks for all that it offers. So, get your list ready and start mapping out your day!

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