8 Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for Families (All Rides Have Short Lines!)
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Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for Families
My family goes to Disney World every 2-3 years, and Magic Kingdom is usually the most difficult park to navigate. It is so, so crowded, it’s huge, and there are so many rides and attractions to choose from (unlike Epcot).
If you are traveling with your family to Disney World and aren’t sure which rides at Magic Kingdom will be crowd-pleasers, have no fear.
Whether you are traveling with grandparents, tweens, kids under the age of 10, or adults in their 20s and 30s, I have you covered.
Best Rides at Disney's Magic Kingdom
This guide with the best family friendly rides at Magic Kingdom includes
- The best rides at Magic Kingdom for families
- The best rides at Magic Kingdom for adults with the shortest lines
- The best family-friendly rides for grandparents
- Rides and attractions at Magic Kingdom with wait times under 20 minutes
8 Best Rides at Magic Kingdom with Short Wait Times
Alright. Let the fun begin! Here are my picks of the best family-friendly rides at Magic Kingdom.
This list of the best rides at Magic Kingdom for families includes rides with relatively short lines, so these rides are perfect if you did not purchase a Disney Genie+ pass.
#1 Best Family Friendly Ride at Magic Kingdom: Buzz Lightyear
If you get to the parks early (or go late in the evening) and are going to choose 1 ride for the entire family to enjoy, go with Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. Seriously. Buzz Lightyear at Magic Kingdom is a crowd pleaser.
My mom (a grandparent in her 70s) loves it, my brother (in his 30s loves it), and my nephews (ages 7 and 9) love Buzz Lightyear.
Plus, Buzz Lightyear usually has a wait time of under 20 minutes if you go first thing in the morning or late at night.
★ #1 best ride at Magic Kingdom (a must do!)
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for kids ages 5 and up
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for adults (even guys in their 20s and 30s who hate Magic Kingdom)
Best Family Ride at Disney You Can Enjoy More than Once: Monster’s Inc. Laugh Room
You may think that the Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor attraction/show is cheesy, but it’s actually GREAT!
The show is different each time, and the cast members who tell the jokes switch it up each time.
This show will have your little kids laughing like crazy and the adults in your family laughing too.
Tip for Magic Kingdom: After you go on Buzz Lightyear, hop on over to Monster’s Inc. Laugh room. Both rides at Magic Kingdom are right next to each other in Future World.
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for toddlers and little kids
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for adults who are a kid at heart
Best Family Ride at Disney for Kids and Adults 10 and Up: Haunted Mansion
I absolutely LOVE Haunted Mansion, and my sister loves it too. If you are visiting Magic Kingdom around Halloween or Christmas, you will be in luck…the ride gets special decorations for the holidays.
If you go first thing in the morning (before 10:30am), the line for Haunted Mansion is usually under 20 minutes and you won’t need a Disney Genie+ ticket.
Note: Do NOT take kids under the age of 10 on this ride. My sister took my nephews (age 7 and 9) and they thought it was too scary.
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for young adults
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for teens
Best Ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for Family Meltdowns: Tom Sawyer Island
If your family has had enough of Magic Kingdom and wants peace and quiet, escape to Tom Sawyer Island.
Tom Sawyer Island is literally a little island in Magic Kingdom with walking paths and mini caves.
My nephews could spend 2-3 hours on Tom Sawyer Island just running around and are perfectly happy.
Benefit: Absolutely NO lines for Tom Sawyer Island and no Disney Genie+ pass needed at all. 😊
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for boys ages 4-11
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for energetic kids to run around
Best Ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for the Entire Family: Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean is a slow-moving water boat ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom.
If you go on the ride after 7pm, the wait time is almost always under 20 minutes at Magic Kingdom.
★ Best Ride at Magic Kingdom for Kids Ages 5 and Up
★ One of the best rides at Magic Kingdom for adults
Best Family Ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for Nostalgia: It’s a Small World
You may think that It’s a Small World is cheesy at Magic Kingdom, but the ride is actually really good! Disney updated the ride recently, so all the singing kids and decorations look new.
My nephew was having a bad day and having a meltdown in the parks. We took him on It’s a Small World and he loved it and it cheered him right up!
★ One of the best rides at Magic Kingdom with no height requirement
★ One of the best rides at Magic Kingdom for toddlers
★ One of the best rides at Magic Kingdom for kids ages 3-11
Best Family Ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for a Hot Day: Splash Mountain
Splash Mountain can get a long line on hot summer days, but the line is usually under 30 minutes if it is cooler or if you go first thing in the morning.
Splash Mountain is actually my personal favorite ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom. I used to go on it 2-3 times!
Note: You WILL get very wet on Splash Mountain. So bring a poncho and only go if it is hot, or if you are brave. Splash Mountain also tends to break down frequently, so if it is open – go on it!
★ One of the best rides at Magic Kingdom for tweens and teens
★ The best ride at Magic Kingdom to cool you down on a hot day
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for mom or dad to take the kids
Best Family Friendly Ride at Disney for a Thrill: Thunder Mountain Railroad
I stay far, far away from Space Mountain at Disney’s Magic Kingdom, but I do love Thunder Mountain Railroad.
When my dad was living, Thunder Mountain Railroad was his favorite ride (and he was in his 70s at the time).
If you want a roller coaster that is fun but won’t make you sick, Thunder Mountain is the ride to go on.
Note: Thunder Mountain Railroad can get rough at times, so don’t take the grandparents on it. It may hurt their neck.
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for families with teens
★ Best ride at Magic Kingdom for adults that want a thrill, but not too much of a thrill 😉
Summary – The Best Family Friendly Rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom with Shortest Lines
In summary, the best family friendly rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom are Buzz Lightyear, Monster’s Inc Laugh House, Haunted Mansion, Tom Sawyer Island, It’s a Small World, Splash Mountain, and Thunder Mountain Railroad.
Best Family Friendly Rides at Magic Kingdom with Shortest Lines Under 20 Minutes
Buzz Lightyear
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Haunted Mansion
Tom Sawyer Island
It’s a Small World
Splash Mountain
Thunder Mountain Railroad
The Best Rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for Families Travelling with Boys Under 10
If you have a boy under the age of 10 traveling with you, he may like these rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom the most.
Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for Boys
Buzz Lightyear
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Tom Sawyer’s Island
Splash Mountain
Thunder Mountain
Tomorrowland Speedway
The Best Rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom for Families Traveling with Girls Under 10
These rides at Disney’s Magic Kingdom have short lines and are usually liked by girls under the age of 10.
Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for Girls
Buzz Lightyear
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor
Splash Mountain
Thunder Mountain Railroad
Tomorrowland Speedway
Bell’s Beauty and the Beast
What’s Your Favorite Ride at Disney’s Magic Kingdom?
What’s your favorite ride at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for families?
I’d love to hear from you!
Please leave a comment below with your favorite ride, as well as any questions you may have about Disney’s Magic Kingdom or planning a family trip to Disney World.
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