UPDATED July 24, 2024

So much goes into planning a Disney World vacation. You have to decide when you’ll go, how long you’ll stay, which resort to stay at, and where to eat!

And it doesn’t stop there! Once you arrive at Disney World, you have to decide which attractions and rides to prioritize! And we’re here to help you through every step of that process.

Like every good DFB reader, you know that we give you the latest updates on deals and discounts to help you save money, and the pros and cons of different times of year to visit, so you’re prepared to maximize your Disney vacation time!

Now, we’re gonna dive into some of the details of Disney’s rides and attractions so you can decide which ones to prioritize during your trip.

Welcome to the Ultimate Guide to EVERY Magic Kingdom Ride & Attraction!

Are you ready to jog your brain with a little SAT logic prep? At Disney World, every ride is an attraction, but not all attractions are rides. Do you follow? Are you ready? That’s right, we’re not just discussing RIDES, though they are super important and a big component of this post. We’re looking at all of the attraction varieties you can find in Magic Kingdom:

• Rides
• Character Meet & Greets
• Shows

Character Meet & Greets

Just like the heading sounds, Character Meet & Greets are where you can come face to face with your favorite Disney friends. You can get an autograph, a hug, a high-five, and pose for photos with these friends. Some Meet & Greets have designated locations and specific times when characters are available, and you might also find some varied Character interactions throughout the park. For a full list of characters that will be in Magic Kingdom, you’ll want to check out your My Disney Experience App on your phone.

To see the character listing in My Disney Experience, follow these simple steps:

1. Open the App on your phone
2. Click on the little Location icon (it looks like a water drop with a dot in the center) at the bottom of your screen
3. At the top left on the screen, tap “Filter,” and select just “Magic Kingdom,” and then tap “Apply”
4. Next to the “Filter” option is a dropdown menu that defaults to “Wait Times.” Tap the dropdown menu and select “Characters”
5. If you tap on “Show List” on the top right of the screen, it will provide a list of each character appearing in the park that day,
6. If you select a character from that list, the App will show you where you can find that character and what time they are meeting guests.

Characters you can meet in Magic Kingdom include:

• Mickey Mouse in Town Square on Main Street, U.S.A.
• Ariel in her Grotto in Fantasyland
• Donald Duck at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Fantasyland
• Goofy at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Fantasyland
• Daisy Duck at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Fantasyland
• Minnie Mouse at Pete’s Silly Sideshow in Fantasyland
• Mirabel at the Fairytale Garden in Fantasyland
• Cinderella & Various Princess Guests at Princess Fairytale Hall in Fantasyland
• Aladdin & Princess Jasmine at Agrabrah Bazaar in Adventureland
• Anastasia & Drisella near the Cinderella Fountain in Fantasyland
• Big Al, Romeo McGrowl, Shaker, and Wendell near the Country Bear Musical Jamboree in Frontierland
• Buzz Lightyear near Buzz Lightyear Exit Courtyard in Tomorrowland
• Captain Jack Sparrow in Adventureland
• Chip ‘n Dale in Frontierland
• Peter Pan at the Neverland Map in Fantasyland
• Snow White (or other Princesses such as Mulan or Elena of Avalor) at the Town Square Theater Porch on Main Street, U.S.A.
• Stitch at Rocket Tower Plaza Stage in Tomorrowland (Roaming appearances)
• Tigger and Winnie the Pooh at the Thotful Spot in Fantasyland

If there is a big fan of one (or more!) of these popular Disney friends in your travel party, you’ll definitely want to strategize and make time in your day to get a hug and a photo with your best Disney pal!

18 Rules to Follow for Character Meet-and-Greets in Disney World

Shows

Some of the most classic Disney attractions are shows and not just rides. Let’s look at all of them and see which ones you may want to add to your itinerary during your Magic Kingdom day. All of these are indoor and air-conditioned with seating, so if you’re visiting during one of the hotter months in Orlando, you may want to visit more than one during your trip for a break from the heat!

• Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland
• Country Bear Musical Jamboree in Frontierland
• The Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square
• Mickey’s PhilharMagic in Fantasyland
• Enchanted Tales with Belle in Fantasyland
• Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress in Tomorrowland
• Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor in Tomorrowland

Most shows run between 18 and 22 minutes long. Little tykes seem particularly engaged with the fun and characters at Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, and Enchanted Tales with Belle. The Carousel of Progress and Hall of Presidents provides a mellow vibe with dim lighting and comfy chairs that may lull a little one (or complete grown-ups) into a nap. And beware of the Tiki Room. It’s all fun and laughs until the Tiki gods summon the storms, and noise-sensitive folks have a less-than-magical time.

You can experience some other shows in the parks throughout the day, just check your App for exact show times.

• Let the Magic Begin Castle Stage at Cinderella Castle
• Mickey’s Magical Friendship Faire Castle Stage at Cinderella Castle
• Casey’s Corner Pianist at Casey’s Corner on Main Street, U.S.A.
• Dapper Dans on Main Street, U.S.A.
• Main Street Philharmonic on Main Street, U.S.A.
• Festival of Fantasy Parade through Frontierland, Liberty Square, and Main Street, U.S.A.
• Flag Retreat at the Flag Pole on Main Street, U.S.A.
• Happily Ever After fireworks show in Magic Kingdom

It can be tempting to skip the shows in favor of some thrills, but some of your favorite memories might just be made singing along in Carousel of Progress, or laughing with “That Guy” in Monsters, Inc Laugh Floor!

3 Tricks to Getting the BEST View of Happily Ever After Fireworks in Magic Kingdom

Rides

Ok, we’re here! We made it to the meat of this post. All of the RIDES. And there’s no easy way to categorize these guys. Do we sort by their iconic status? Their age? Their popularity? Well, we’re gonna break it down by height restriction — because that’s the most objective way to do it!

Here are the rides that anyone can experience, no height requirement listed!

• Main Street Vehicles on Main Street, U.S.A.
• Walt Disney World Railroad on Main Street, U.S.A.
• Swiss Family Treehouse in Adventureland
• Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
• Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland
• Liberty Square Riverboat in Liberty Square
• Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square
• Prince Charming Regal Carrousel in Fantasyland
• Peter Pan’s Flight in Fantasyland
• “it’s a small world” in Fantasyland
• Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid in Fantasyland
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant in Fantasyland
• Mad Tea Party in Fantasyland
• The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland
• Astro Orbiter in Tomorrowland
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover in Tomorrowland
• Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland

Now, just because there’s no height requirement doesn’t mean these rides are for everyone. Haunted Mansion may be too spooky for kiddos who are sensitive to the dark or ghoulish delights. Swiss Family Treehouse requires quite a bit of stair climbing, so if there are little legs in your party, you might end up carrying them! Even able-bodied folks might get queasy on the Mad Tea Party’s spinning tea cups. And though Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is a super fun ride, some kiddos may feel left out of the fun or frustrated if they don’t have the coordination to shoot the laser gun through the ride, and might require some parental assistance.

And now, for the last section of rides that do have height requirements or health warnings.

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland has a height requirement of 40 inches or 102 centimeters
• The Barnstormer in Fantasyland has a height requirement of 35 inches or 89 centimeters
• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland has a height requirement of 38 inches or 97 centimeters
• Tomorrowland Speedway in Tomorrowland has a height requirement of 32 inches or 81 centimeters
• TRON Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland has a height requirement of 48 inches or 122 centimeters
• Space Mountain in Tomorrowland has a height requirement of 44 inches or 112 centimeters
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Frontierland has a height requirement of 40 inches or 102 centimeters.

Since these rides carry the most thrills, they are often also the most popular. And Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and TRON are also the newest additions to Magic Kingdom, so their popularity is even more enhanced. These are rides you’ll want to prioritize if you’re seeking some thrills! These attractions also have Rider Swap options which means that if a member of your party is unable to ride (or just unwilling to) the rest of the group can experience the attraction. At the same time, someone keeps the non-riding guest company, and then they can ride the attraction once everyone is back without having to wait in the long standby queue again.

Check with the Cast Member at the attraction entrance for your Rider Swap options!

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So there you have it! All of the Magic Kingdom attractions and what you need to know to pick your MUST-DO attractions during your vacation! Keep checking back with DFB as we sort through all of the attractions for the other Disney Parks, too!

Which of these rides & attractions made it on your list? Let us know in the comments below!