There are TONS of opinions out there when it comes to Disney World!
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We love to ask our readers what they think, getting opinions on things like character dining, popular attractions, and even hot topics. It’s usually pretty fun to hear the variety of responses, and it’s a great way to get to know our followers better. Not too long ago, we asked our readers “What’s the worst ride in Magic Kingdom?” and they had a LOT of things to say!
Because we wanted to get even MORE opinions than just those of our readers and followers, we decided to cross-reference the most popular answers with ratings for the attractions on TripAdvisor. Surprisingly, not all the ratings and comments lined up between DFB fans and the general population!
Astro Orbiter
One of the most shared responses to our question was “Astro Orbiter!” If you’re not familiar with the attraction, it’s the Dumbo-style spinner ride that flies above Tomorrowland. The landing platform is on top of the PeopleMover, so you have to take an elevator to the top. Typically, we see pretty short wait times for the spinner attractions, but this one can sometimes be longer, considering how much time it takes to load.
Astro Orbiter
And it seems that some of our readers are disenchanted with this attraction, and it was one of the lowest-rated Magic Kingdom rides on TripAdvisor as well, with a rating of 3.5 out of 5.
Many people on TripAdvisor suggested that this ride wouldn’t be good for those who are afraid of heights OR guests who get motion sickness, due to its spinning. Others thought that it simply wasn’t worth the wait.
Tomorrowland Speedway
Garnering about the same number of responses as the Astro Orbiter was the “worst ride in Tomorrowland,” AKA the Tomorrowland Speedway. This one also has a 3.5 rating on TripAdvisor and is NOT popular among our readers. Many of our readers wish that Disney would “just switch the cars to electric, already,” with several saying “the fumes are too strong.”
Tomorrowland Speedway
Another follower shared that they believe the ride just takes up too much space.
“it’s a small world”
Ah, we’ve arrived at the attraction we knew would probably make it onto the list since you either love it or hate it — “it’s a small world.” Despite ranking low among our readers, it managed to get a 4-star rating on TripAdvisor.
it’s a small world
Besides the song, we’ve also been told by readers that the ride needs an update, and “the Disneyland version is better”. With the attraction clocking in at over 10 minutes long, that’s a good bit of time to spend on one ride, and considering that Splash Mountain is close to the same length, many of our followers would rather do that. (Splash Mountain was one of the most popular choices for “best ride in Magic Kingdom.”)
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The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
“It’s Dumbo, but with carpets” was the general consensus for this attraction in our readers’ replies. Since both this ride and Astro Orbiter made our list, we can guess that many people really prefer the OG spinner, Dumbo.
Magic Carpets of Aladdin
TripAdvisor gave it a generous rating of 4, but the majority of the comments compare the ride to Dumbo. Your time is valuable on a Magic Kingdom day, and if you have to pick a spinner ride, most people seem to go with the original! (Although, we will admit that the spitting camels and tilting the carpets are both super fun!)
The Barnstormer
Clocking in at the shortest ride in Disney World, we’re not surprised that The Barnstormer landed here. Also, this one is really made for the kiddos. The coaster is also not designed to fit adults very well, so it can be uncomfortable for taller people to ride.
The Barnstormer
This one also earned a 3.5 on TripAdvisor, with most reviewers agreeing that it’s “not bad for kids, but not really an adult ride.”
Peter Pan’s Flight
Of all the rides that appeared on this list, Peter Pan’s Flight is probably the one we were most surprised to see answered so often. The most common answers from DFB fans were “it’s too short,” “needs an update,” and “you wait WAY too long for what you get.”
Peter Pan’s Flight
Even though it rated 4 stars on TripAdvisor, many of the reviewers agreed that the wait was too long or not worth it. This ride routinely gets wait times of over an hour, so comments on long waits were expected!
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Mad Tea Party
The last answer that was given frequently by our readers was Mad Tea Party, and we bet you can guess why! This one is not popular amongst those who get motion sick, because the entire ride is literally just spinning in circles inside of circles.
Mad Tea Party
It seems, however, that the people on TripAdvisor tended to disagree! The ride achieved a 4-star rating and reviewers called it “a classic Disney ride” and “fun for the whole family.” Maybe the people who get motion sick just aren’t reviewing this one?!
Cinderella Castle
Well, that wraps up our list of “Worst Rides in Magic Kingdom,” at least, according to our readers and TripAdvisor. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest in news from Walt Disney World, especially as we head into Magic Kingdom’s 50th Anniversary!
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When it comes to It’s A Small World, I am in the hate it crowd. However, if the boats were updated with laser guns , and the characters and scenery with targets (like Buzz Light Year), and you racked up a score for every target you hit, I would be in the love it crowd😊
I don’t hate it’s a small world, only because my granddaughter liked it and when I am on it, it makes me think about her.
A lot of the rides people don’t like, I feel, are made for the littler kids. My 5 year old loves the “driving cars” ride. Barnstormer was a favorite of hers too and we took her on it twice in one day! Last time we were there she was disappointed we didn’t go on the carpets but, she didn’t let us know until we were on the monorail back to the car! lol My husband loves Peter Pan but, hates it’s a small world lol.
I followed the creation and history of “It’s a Small World ” since the World Fair days and have always been impressed by the art and innovation of the small group of imagineers that put this attraction together. It is an attraction that I ride multiple times whenever I am in the Magic Kingdom and it takes me back to simpler times in Disney history. One of my favorites along with Big Thunder Mountain.
I agree from an adult point of view most of those rides are on the lame side. But, if you have young children or grandchildren that can’t go on space mountain or any of the rides that have height requirements, these are wonderful rides for the younger set. There is nothing more precious and exciting than going through it’s a Small world and your 4 year old grandson points at the twirling geese and says “guck”. Thank you Disney for providing rides that old and young can enjoy. Those rides let you see the world through the eyes of the young. And for the record, as a 69 year old I still enjoy a ride through It’s a Small World.
I 100% agree about the Speedway. Ugh. It smells like a lawnmower and if I want to drive that slow and not get anywhere I’ll just drive on I4. I love Peter Pan, and it’s a personal favorite but I won’t wait an hour for it. Small World is okay, and if the line is short enough it’s a nice cool place to sit for a bit when it’s super hot.
Keep in mind, Walts dream was to provide family entertainment for young and old. Small world allows the elderly to return to their youth and rejoin their younger family members in the land of what if and wonder. It is truly a magical experience and I can’t wait to ride it once again with my grandson. That said, the speedway definitely needs an upgrade and some careful reimagining for sure. Electric cars are most definitely in step with the “Tomorrowland Speedway” theme…
I love being immersed in Mary Blair’s and Alice Davis’s visually stunning work on It’s a Small World. At the time Small World was created, many companies – including Disney – had incredibly sexist, discriminatory hiring policies. These two women were early standouts in their fields. The music does get annoying but I have no problem tuning it out. For me, the eye candy is worth the earworm.
Jen, I’ve never agreed more with a sentence that included both “candy” and “worm”.
I think if you surveyed kids the results would be very different
After they change Splash Mountain to the Princess and the Frog, that one can go. They are taking a great ride away to be politically correct. A lot of people will miss it.
While I find a lot of the dislike listed by many has more to do with number of times at the park and age, I find that most the rides fit someone at some point in there life. I’m in the category of “I’m over the small world” especially after raising to kids and having to ride it more times that I ever wanted but one ride I will always enjoy is the “Mad Tea Party”, this is for exactly the reason most hate it. In my family it was a ride of passage. We rode it to see how dizzy and maybe sick we could make each other and that was passed down to my kids. My father loved that ride and his love of being dizzy was passed on to his grand kids who still think of him every time we even see the ride.
Linda, no doubt!
If Peter Pan is such a bad ride, why does it have the longest line? I love Peter Pan!!!!
I went on Jungle Cruise recently. The changes to the displays were nice However, the cast member ruined the ride for me by screaming so loud it drove the sound into distortion. It hurt my ears. I thought I was going to have damage to my hearing. There was no way to get her to lower the volume. I really was looking forward to the new version of the ride. Now I can’t imagine ever riding again. PLEASE TURN DOWN THE VOLUME!!!
I like most if those I don’t know why people have to be so negative for vintage rides
We love the haunted mansion especially at Halloween time we love all rides we r Disney lovers have been all our life’s yes Mickey and Minnie we love u the cutest couple n the world he is the president and Minnie is the First Lady of Disney world we all know that
My husband loves to get us n the tea cup ride and spin it so fast to c how dizzy he can make me and then my head really spins and it is so much fun and have to wait a few to get out so I can get my head to stop spinning it’s a right of passage it’s makes my head spin thinking about it
Yes that is right once they take a way splash mountain that is Being done to b political correct and we tired of that nothing but nit picking things apart and the people that r doing that ha e nothing better to do than destroy things that the most likely haven’t even been on and if they don’t like it then don’t go the attraction our world is n trouble enough with out all this going on there’s a lot of us that enjoy that attraction so leave it alone for years people have gone to Disney world and have loved it and my family have been going there for over 40 years when there was just the magic kingdom and still go there and tired of people complaining about this attraction there r more of use that love it b happy that Disney is still open cause that was a heartbreak when it was fighting just to stay a float and now it’s open and for us to go enjoy it
I don’t spend much time at MK anymore but the worst ride there would be Little Mermaid, that’s just an [redacted]. Tomorrowland Speedway looks more fun than it is, it’s just slow, smelly and purposely hard to control. Seven dwarfs mine train is overrated, Winnie the pooh and buzz light year underrated.
Living seas with Nemo and friends is horrific, as is watching turtle talk. Probably the worst ride at Disney in Florida.
Barnstormer should be torn down and replaced by the Beauty and the Beast ride from Tokyo Disneyland.
My family loves the little mermaid n the magic kingdom and they need bring back the spectro magic night parade it was the best parade that they Disney has ever had