Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Guide to Magic Kingdom Attractions

When thinking of Walt Disney World, most people's mind immediately goes to Magic Kingdom.  There are rides for everyone from toddlers to grandma.  Even if you're a ride chicken, there are plenty of rides to ride at Magic Kingdom.

Here's a guide to every attraction (and soon to be attraction) at Magic Kingdom.  Magic Kingdom is broken down in to different "worlds".  I'm going to travel through Magic Kingdom in a clockwise direction.

Main Street USA

Main Street USA is where you are as soon as you walk into Magic Kingdom.  This area is mostly shops and restaurants.  There are normally a good bit of characters throughout this area and you can meet the only Mickey that talks in Town Square Theater.


Adventureland

The first "world" you come to is Adventureland.  There are many attractions in this area that are suitable for the entire family.

Swiss Family Treehouse
This ride is modeled after the treehouse in the movie Swiss Family Robinson.  There is no real ride aspect to this.  You will be doing a lot of climbing up stairs and walking through different rooms.  There is a cool view from the top of the treehouse.  If you want to do this, wait until later in the day.  Not exciting enough to wait in line for.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Not available
Fear Factor: If you're scared of heights, I wouldn't recommend it.

Magic Carpets of Aladdin
You ride around in a circle on magic carpets.  Is fun for little kids, but not terribly exciting for adults.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available, but line isn't normally long enough to worry about it.
Fear Factor: If you're scared of heights or get dizzy from spinning, I wouldn't recommend it.







Enchanted Tiki Room
Show with animatronic birds hanging from the ceiling that sing.  Not a terribly interesting show, but it's inside so it's nice if you want to get out of the sun.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Not available
Fear Factor: It's dark inside, so some kids might not like that.  For adults, it's not scary at all unless you're terrified of fake birds.

Jungle Cruise
You hop on a boat with a skipper for makes corny jokes while riding around on a river full of animatronic animals.  It's a classic Disney ride and one of my favorites.  Don't worry, you will not get wet on this ride.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available.  If this ride is a must do for you and the park is going to be busy, a FP might not hurt.  But you can ride it early morning or in the evening without much of a wait at all.
Fear Factor: Warn the kids ahead of time the animals and story are fake, but nothing scary at all about this ride.

Pirates of the Carribean
A boat ride through a village of animatronic pirates.  Line and ride are both inside and air conditioned, so great for those hot times in the park.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available.  Lines can get long, so if it's a must do, FP might not be a bad idea.
Fear Factor: The ride gets pitch black and there's a small drop at the beginning.  This drop makes me a little anxious, but it's really not that bad.


Frontierland

The next "world" is Frontierland.  This area has some more thrill rides that Adventureland. 

Country Bear Jamboree
Inside singing show put on by animatronic bears.  Really outdated show, but it's air conditioned, so if you're hot, it's a great place to stop!

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Not Available
Fear Factor: Not scary at all

Splash Mountain
Boat ride with 4 or 5 small drop and then a huge drop at the end.  You are very likely to get wet.

Height Requirements: 40"
FP+ Available: Available.  This ride gets very busy, so if you want to ride it, I would highly recommend a FP.
Fear Factor: I personally won't ride this ride because the huge drop scares the crap out of me.  If drops and heights don't bother you, then you will be fine.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
This is a tamer roller coaster through mountains and caverns.

Height Requirements: 40"
FP+ Available: Available.  This ride gets very busy, so if you want o ride it, I would highly recommend a FP.
Fear Factor: There are no large drops, inversions, or anything like you would see on the bigger roller coasters.  It also doesn't go too terribly fast.  This is one of the few roller coasters I am willing to ride.

Tom Sawyer Island
The only way to get here is to ride a raft.  It's essentially a giant island that has walking trails and fun things for kids to play with.  This usually opens later and closes earlier than the rest of the park, so if you want to do it, visit mid-day.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Not Available.
Fear Factor: Nothing scary about it


Liberty Square

Only a couple attractions in our new "world", Liberty Square.

Liberty Square Riverboat
This is a real boat that takes you on a tour around Tom Sawyer Island.  Very cool to see the sights throughout the area.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Not Available
Fear Factor: Nothing scary about it.  The boat doesn't go very fast, but if you are very susceptible to sea sickness, I probably wouldn't ride it.

Haunted Mansion
Clamshell tour through a mansion that is haunted by ghosts.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available.  Can get busy, so if you must ride, a FP might not be a bad idea.
Fear Factor: The opening area makes me a little anxious because they squeeze a ton of people into a little room and close all the doors.  If you're not claustrophobic though, then this shouldn't bother yo.  It is a dark ride, so it may scare some small children.


Fantasyland

This area has a ton of attractions, especially for the little ones.  This area was recently updated with some new attractions (and a new one soon to open).

It's a Small World
Boat ride through different rooms with singing animatronics from around the world.  The song will be stuck in your head for the rest of the day!

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available, but not necessary.  Ride this early in the morning or in the evening for barely any line.
Fear Factor: Nothing scary at all

Peter Pan's Flight
Ride vehicles are suspended from the roof and you "fly" through the different scenes.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available and highly recommend.  This is a very popular ride and it almost always has long lines.
Fear Factor: Mostly in the dark, so may scare small children.  Rides are suspended from the ceiling, so it may make you a little anxious if you're scared of heights.

Mickey's Philharmagic
3D movie featuring music from various Disney movies.  Great to visit in the afternoon to get out of the heat.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available, but not necessary
Fear Factor: Nothing scary about it, but if 3D imagery bothers you, I would skip it.

Journey of the Little Mermaid
Clamshell ride that takes you through scenes from The Little Mermaid. 

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available.  Since this is a newer ride, lines can get long, so I would recommend arriving early or getting a FP.
Fear Factor: Ursula may be scary to little children, but nothing else scary about it.

Prince Charming Regal Carousel
Standard carousel ride.  The evil step-sisters from Cinderella are often found around this ride.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Not Available
Fear Factor: Nothing scary about it.  Moves slowly.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Board a honey pot and travel through the dreams of Winnie the Pooh.  There is an interactive play area for children in the standby line.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available, but ride in the morning or evening and the line isn't too bad.
Fear Factor: Not scary at all, but there is a section with spinning and brightly colored parts that may make you dizzy.

Mad Tea Party
Classic Disney ride.  You board a tea cup and it spins you around and around.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available
Fear Factor: You would never get me on this ride.  I would be sick in two seconds.  If spinning in circles doesn't bother you, then go ahead and ride it.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Board and elephant and go around in circles in the air.  A lot like the Magic Carpets of Aladdin.  Another classic Disney ride that kids love.  Indoor play area that is only available if you use the standby line.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available, but you can't use the play area from the FP line.
Fear Factor: It doesn't go very high, but some people might not like it.

Barnstormer
A very, very short roller coaster made for kids.  I find this ride really rough on the back and neck, so I will not ride it.

Height Requirements: 35"
FP+ Available: Available, but not necessary.
Fear Factor: Not scary, but can be rough on adults

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (available in Spring 2014)
Roller coaster that seems like it will be a lot like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.  The cars on this ride will rock side by side.

Height Requirements: Not sure yet
FP+ Available: Available and I highly recommend it since it will be the newest ride when it opens.
Fear Factor: Not sure since it's not open yet


Tomorrowland

Last "world" of Magic Kingdom is Tomorrowland.  This is one of the more popular areas of the park, so either do it first thing in the morning or late at night.

Tomorrowland Speedway
Get in a "racecar" and ride around the track.  Not a fast ride at all and you don't have control of the car because it's on a track.  Fun for kids, not so much for adults.

Height Requirements: 32" to ride, 54" to drive
FP+ Available: Available.  The line for this ride can get long, so if your kids really want to ride it, get a FP or ride first thing in the morning.
Fear Factor: Not scary at all.

Space Mountain
An indoor roller coaster in the dark.  There are no inversions, but there are tons of drops and sharp turns.

Height Requirements: 44"
FP+ Available: Available and highly recommended.
Fear Factor: If you don't like roller coasters, drops, or the dark, don't go on this ride.

Astro Orbiter
Same idea as Dumbo and Magic Carpets, but a lot higher and a lot faster.  You have to take an elevator to get up to the platform.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Not Available
Fear Factor: If you're scared of heights, definitely do not ride this ride.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover
This is one of my favorite rides.  You board a train like vehicle and it takes you on a tour above Tomorrowland.  It actually takes you into some rides like Buzz Lightyear and Space Mountain.  Very cool to ride when Space Mountain is closed for repairs because you can see it with the lights on.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Not Available
Fear Factor: Not scary at all.  Parts are in the dark and there are a few sharp turns, but nothing to be afraid of.

Carousel of Progress
20-30 minute ride in a rotating theater that takes you through the decades to show how technology has changed.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Not Available
Fear Factor: Not scary at all.

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin
You board the ride vehicle and shoot at "Z"s to earn points.  You compete against the person in the vehicle with you.  You have control of how your vehicle spins throughout the ride.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available and recommended.  The line can get long.
Fear Factor: Not really scary at all.  The turning of the vehicle can be jarring, but you have complete control over it.

Stitch's Great Escape
This is one ride at Magic Kingdom I will never ride again and would never recommend anyone ride.  You get secured down in a seat and Stich appears and you go through a multi-sensory experience where he burps in your face.  Not enjoyable at all.

Height Requirements: 40"
FP+ Available: Not Available
Fear Factor: Just don't even bother

Monsters, Inc Laugh Floor
An interactive comedy show with the monsters from the movie.  You can text in jokes that may be shared during the show.

Height Requirements: None
FP+ Available: Available, but not necessary.  The theater can hold a ton of people and you will likely only wait the time between the next showing.
Fear Factor: Funny, not scary.


As you see, most rides at Magic Kingdom are pretty tame, with a few thrill rides thrown in there.  A very enjoyable park for every body!

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