Trying to decide on the best Magic Kingdom rides to FastPass and feeling a bit overwhelmed? Don’t worry- we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you understand Magic Kingdom’s FastPass system.
We’ve got info about tiers (Magic Kingdom doesn’t use tiers the way that other parks do), ride rankings, and tips to make sure that you get the absolute most out of your time in the park.
Ideally, you’ll want to book Fastpasses for these experiences before you arrive. However, it’s still possible to book FastPasses on the day of your trip, even from inside the park.
We just would rather help you get them all secured ahead of time, so you’ll have a much better chance of locking down some of the most coveted FastPass options.
Table of Contents
How Disney FastPass Works
A few years back, Walt Disney World upgraded their paper Fastpass system and introduced a digital system called Fastpass – as a matter of fact, even classic California Disneyland is leaving the old paper passes behind.
If you’re unfamiliar with using Fastpass, we’ve created a little guide to help you along.
Magic Kingdom FastPass Tiers
It’s important to note that Magic Kingdom does not use a tier system like the other Disney World parks. However, some rides are very clearly better options for using a FastPass.
Booking Fastpass
ONLINE
Once you have your park tickets or annual passes to Walt Disney World, your My Disney Experience account will allow you to begin booking Fastpasses 30 days in advance.
For those of you staying on Walt Disney property during your trip, you can book Fastpasses up to 60 days in advance.
Before you begin booking Fastpasses online, connect all members of your party to your account. You can either set up accounts for each member of your family on your own account, or (if they have their own accounts) send email invites for each member to accept.
From there, you can select the day, the park, the time and the attraction. It’s fairly easy to navigate, but we go more in depth under “Fastpass Strategies”.
ON THE APP
The app is great to have on your phone while on the go. We suggest you download the My Disney Experience app before your trip and get familiar with it before arriving to Disney.
It’ll be a life saver in the park, allowing you to book dining and Fastpasses, check wait times, find restrooms, locate characters, mobile order your food and much more.
Whether you choose to use the website or the app, finding the Fastpasses you want can be difficult. We suggest you continue refreshing the feed and checking at multiple times throughout the day every day leading up to your vacation.
Disney will release new Fastpasses for popular attractions at random.
AT THE KIOSK
Walt Disney World does not have Fastpass kiosks in front of each ride as they did in the past. Now, there kiosk hubs in designated locations throughout each park for guests to use.
Magic Kingdom has six areas with Fastpass Kiosks – the most out of any park at Walt Disney World Resort. Two stations are located in Tomorrowland – one near Stitch’s Great Escape, and another near Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin.
You’ll find another in Fantasyland near Mickey’s Philarmagic (around the corner from Peter Pan’s Flight). The fifth one is in the Storybook Circus area, a little harder to find, in the tent by Pete’s Silly Sideshow.
The last two are in Adventureland – one by the Jungle Cruise and the other at the walkway connecting Adventureland to Frontierland.
ADDITIONAL FASTPASSES
Disney only allows you to book three Fastpass experiences at one park each day. However, if you have used all three Fastpasses for the day, you can book a fourth one. Once you’ve used that one, you can book a fifth one – and so on and so forth until the park is closed.
If you’re looking to be in Magic Kingdom for a full day, we recommend you book your first three Fastpasses before 1pm and check the app for additional Fastpasses while you eat lunch to continue the fun into the afternoon.
Fastpass Strategies
For those new to My Disney Experience, it would be worth your while to play around with it well in advance of your trip. There are several tips and tricks that will come in handy when trying to book the reservations you want.
First, new Fastpass time slots and experiences pop up randomly every single day. Do not make the mistake of looking one day and never checking back. If there is a particular experience you or a member of your party considers a “must-do” continue refreshing the feed and looking every day for that attraction.
Second, once you’ve booked a time slot for a specific ride, you can modify the time according to your plans. If you landed the highly coveted Seven Dwarfs Mine Train but it overlaps with a meal, keep checking back to see if you can modify the plans to fit your schedule.
Third, if you’re going on a slow to moderate crowd day at Magic Kingdom, check the Fastpasses throughout the day. We’ve found that Disney will release additional Fastpasses for popular rides about 2 hours before the time slot needs to be used.
RANKING THE BEST MAGIC KINGDOM RIDES FOR FASTPASS
We’ve listed every single Fastpass experience available in Magic Kingdom, starting with the ones most worth your time and ending with the ones you don’t need to worry about getting Fastpasses for.
Keep in mind that this ranking is meant to be a “best Magic Kingdom rides for FastPass” guide, not necessarily a “best Magic Kingdom rides in general” guide. Some rides at Magic Kingdom are amazing, but may have wait times or scheduling that makes it easy to enjoy them without needing a FastPass.
#1 SEVEN DWARFS MINE TRAIN
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a steel coaster ride of low intensity, great for both children and adults. It’s based on the Snow White movie, featuring the Seven Dwarfs in their mine, digging for precious jewels.
This is still the newest ride in Magic Kingdom, therefore, finding Fastpasses for this one can be extremely difficult. If you find them, book it no matter what time the slot shows – it’s likely you won’t be able to find another one later.
If you choose to wait in line for the Mine Train, expect to be here for 50 minutes to over 100 minutes on most days. The line is only partially covered and doesn’t offer too much to occupy children while waiting, so Fastpasses are a must for this one.
The Mine Train is one of our top picks in our big guide to 110 Disney World Must Do’s.
#2 PETER PAN’S FLIGHT
Peter Pan’s Flight is continuously rated #1 by guests at Magic Kingdom and often has the highest wait times of any ride in the park. It’s an entertaining ride where you board a pirate ship sprinkled with pixie dust and fly over scenes from Peter Pan.
The ride is located in Fantasyland and is one of the oldest attractions in Magic Kingdom. If you aren’t able to score Fastpasses for this one, we recommend rope dropping this or getting in line as the park is about to close.
It’s important to note that the line for this ride can be quite boring and the wait times are often between 40 minutes and 90 minutes. Children especially will not do well waiting for this one but will love the ride itself, so Fastpasses are highly recommended.
#3 BIG THUNDER MOUNTAIN RAILROAD
My absolute favorite ride in Magic Kingdom is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. The ride is themed after an old mining town in the American West during the Gold Rush, with geysers, caves and abandoned mining equipment.
Thunder Mountain is considered one of the more intense rides, so plan accordingly for certain members of your party. Adults will especially love this one as it offers more thrills than the usual Magic Kingdom rides.
If you’re concerned about this one, we’ve got a ride guide for Thunder Mountain that will help you decide if it’s tame enough for your kids.
Wait times here are typically around 30 minutes up to 90 minutes, and the line is pretty unbearable in the summer. Most of the line queue is shaded but outdoors, so be prepared to sweat this one out if you can’t find Fastpasses.
#4 SPACE MOUNTAIN
Space Mountain is another favorite of ours and would rank higher on the list if not for the fact that it is the most intense ride at Magic Kingdom, suited for older children and adults.
Space Mountain is an indoor gravity coaster, mainly in the dark, giving you the illusion of traveling through space. It’s located in Tomorrowland and is another Disney classic, replicated in multiple Disney parks.
Wait times typically start at 25 minutes but will climb to over 100 minutes. We suggest getting Fastpasses, which are relatively easy to get no matter the day. If you do wait in standby, the line queue has a few games to occupy guests.
Just like our Thunder Mountain ride guide, we have a similar one for judging the “scary factor” of Space Mountain.
#5 SPLASH MOUNTAIN
If you just spent an hour sweating in the Big Thunder queue, head over to Splash Mountain to cool off. This flume ride is a Disney classic, featuring a 50 ft drop and is guaranteed to get you wet. It’s also considered one of the more intense rides (here’s our guide to that) at Magic Kingdom.
Splash Mountain’s line queue is shaded like Thunder Mountain but it tends to be a bit cooler. It does showcase some scenery from the movie it’s themed for, Song of the South, but there is little to occupy families as they wait.
Wait times here vary significantly by season, but average about 45 minutes on a daily basis. The summer months will have higher wait times, while the winter months will have much lower wait times.
#6 JUNGLE CRUISE
Jungle Cruise takes guests on a journey through a jungle river, always led by a funny and awkward tour guide. The guide will make jokes throughout the cruise about the things you’ll see, like wild animals, angry natives and interesting scenery.
While it takes place on the water, you will not be getting wet during this ride and it’s actually an entertaining way to sit for a while between attractions.
Fastpasses appear for this one daily, but tend to be limited. Wait times will be anywhere from 25 minutes to 75 minutes, so a Fastpass is defnitely recommended.
#7 PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN
Pirates of the Caribbean is another Disney classic, created initially for Disneyland, which inspired the popular movie series starring Captain Jack Sparrow. As a matter of fact, you can find several Captain Jack’s lurking in various scenes throughout the ride.
This is an indoor water ride that will not necessarily get you wet, but don’t quote us on that. It’s a great way to cool off during the hot day and wait times here will vary from 25 minutes to 65 minutes each day.
The line queue for Pirates is another that you don’t want to get stuck in for long periods of time. Thankfully, Fastpasses are fairly easy to find for this one.
#8 THE HAUNTED MANSION
The Haunted Mansion is one of the most iconic attractions that Disney has created. It’s a humorous yet eerie ride that is best suited for older children and adults, but wouldn’t necessarily be considered creepy or scary.
The line queue can be quite fun if you can’t find Fastpasses. It’s got several graves and tombstones with funny sentiments, graveyard games and lots of hidden things that Disney regulars try to spot.
Fastpasses can be moderately easy to get for this one and the wait times will typically range from 30 minutes to 60 minutes.
This is a classic and it’s another can’t miss if you’ve never experienced it.
#9 BUZZ LIGHTYEAR’S SPACE RANGER SPIN
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is actually a game inside a ride. The ride vehicle has a laser gun for each guest to shoot targets for points, all to defeat the evil emperor Zurg.
It’s got a fun Toy Story space theme throughout the ride and Buzz Lightyear himself will often pop up near the ride entrance for meet and greets.
The line is often pretty long and wait times can be anywhere from 25 minutes up to 60 minutes on most days. If you or your children are fans of the Toy Story movies, definitely plan on a Fastpass for the Space Ranger Spin.
#10 THE MANY ADVENTURES OF WINNIE THE POOH
Winnie the Pooh and friends host this fun ride for families, telling the story of the blustery day (Winds-day). It’s a very cute ride, perfect for small children and families, with a little wind and a little bounce.
The line queue is designed for young ones with plenty of games and activities for them to get their hands on. We’ve listed this ride lower due to the fact that it’s probably the best line for children waiting in standby at Magic Kingdom.
Wait times for the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh typically range from 20 minutes to 60 minutes.
#11 MEET CINDERELLA & ELENA OF AVALOR AT PRINCESS FAIRYTALE HALL
The most popular meet and greet is with Cinderella & Elena of Avalor. When you choose this experience, you’re guaranteed to meet both princesses at one location complete with photopass photographer to capture the moment.
Getting a fastpass is great for meeting Cinderella & Elena, especially for young ones, as the line is not very fun to wait in. Wait times range from 20 minutes to about 50 minutes.
However, if you’d prefer to use your valuable fastpasses on other attractions, we suggest going early in the morning or late at night for the lowest wait times possible.
#12 MEET RAPUNZEL & TIANA AT PRINCESS FAIRYTALE HALL
Almost exactly the same as the last character meet-up, this experience will provide the chance to meet two additional princesses – Rapunzel and Tiana. A photopass photographer is stationed at this location, as well.
As mentioned before, if another experience is more important to you, try to get in line for Princess Fairytale Hall early or late in the day for the shortest wait times.
#13 TOMORROWLAND SPEEDWAY
Tomorrowland Speedway is nostalgic for some and popular with young kids, but almost never worth a very long wait. If your children are dying to drive their own vehicle, we highly recommend a Fastpass for the Speedway instead of waiting in the grueling sun.
The Speedway is a race track where kids can drive their own cars (with adult supervision), but the cars are unbearably slow. Wait times can be anywhere from 10 minutes to 50 minutes in a slightly covered outdoor line queue.
#14 IT’S A SMALL WORLD
It’s a Small World is the most iconic ride at Walt Disney World and Disneyland alike and is worth going on at least once during your vacation. With that said, wait times are usually low enough not to require a Fastpass.
However, if you or a member of your party have never done it before or you anticipate high crowd levels on the day you plan to visit, we recommend Fastpassing this one.
The wait is usually 10 to 20 minutes long on most days, but it’s not unheard of for it to reach 50 minutes on very busy days. Pro tip: watch the screens at the end of the ride to see if your name is highlighted in the “goodbyes”.
#15 MEET TINKER BELL AT TOWN SQUARE THEATER
Tinker Bell makes an appearance alongside Mickey at Town Square Theater in her usual green dress and pixie shoes. A photopass photographer is present and ready to capture the moment you meet her in Pixie Hollow.
Wait times vary, but they typically go from 10 minutes up to 50 minutes depending on the season and the time of day.
#16 THE BARNSTORMER
The Barnstormer is located in a portion of the park that is often overlooked called Storybook Circus. It’s in the back corner of Magic Kingdom behind Tomorrowland before you reach Ariel’s Grotto in Fantasyland.
This is a kiddie-approved roller coaster featuring Goofy and an airplane contraption he’s made himself. The Great Goofini pilots a very short trip through the barn and over the woods.
Wait times are fairly low, usually between 15 minutes and 45 minutes even on the busiest days – mostly because the ride is so short, funneling more people through.
#17 MEET MICKEY MOUSE AT TOWN SQUARE THEATER
The Mouse himself can be found multiple times in the day at Town Square Theater right at the front of the park before you approach Main Street U.S.A.
Wait times for meeting Mickey vary from 15 minutes to 40 minutes and a photopass photographer will take a picture of you and the family with him.
#18 ENCHANTED TALES WITH BELLE
Enchanted Tales with Belle is a great way to not only meet Belle in her beautiful yellow ball gown, but also help her to tell the story of how she came to the castle and met the Beast. This experience is great for children, who get the chance to volunteer as actors for the story.
Wait times for this one are typically between 10 minutes to 40 minutes, according to the busyness of the park. Most of the line is covered and indoors and is a little easier for families to wait in.
Fastpasses are normally available for this experience and we recommend getting them to bypass the wait entirely.
This attraction is a great choice pre/post a meal at Be Our Guest, one of our favorite Magic Kingdom restaurants (for lunch and also for dinner).
#19 DUMBO THE FLYING ELEPHANT
Dumbo the Flying Elephant is also located in Storybook Circus and sees lower wait times simply because of less foot traffic. It’s a classic carousel-style ride where guests can pilot their own elephants, going up or down while flying.
Families will enjoy this one most and wait times can range from 15 minutes to 40 minutes on most days.
#20 MAGIC CARPETS OF ALADDIN
Magic Carpets of Aladdin is another carousel-style ride in the middle of Adventureland. It’s not hard to miss with the large golden camel at the front spitting on guests as they walk by.
Similar to Dumbo, guests riding the carpets can pull their vehicle up or down as the ride goes round in circles. Wait times are slightly lower than Dumbo, usually between 10 minutes and 35 minutes.
#21 UNDER THE SEA: JOURNEY OF THE LITTLE MERMAID
Journey of the Little Mermaid is a slow-moving seated ride, built for families, that children will particularly enjoy. It takes you through lifelike animatronic scenes from the Little Mermaid movie with Ariel, Ursula and under the sea creatures.
The ride is continuously moving, so wait times tend to be lower than others, averaging 5 minutes to 35 minutes. However, if you want to guarantee no wait at all, a Fastpass is the way to go.
#22 MEET ARIEL AT HER GROTTO
Ariel’s meet and greet is located next to Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid in her own little section of Fantasyland at the back of the park. Her Grotto is a great depiction of the sea caves and beaches of Eric’s castle from the Little Mermaid movie.
Wait times to see Ariel are usually not bad, averaging 20 to 30 minutes on most days. This is another photo opportunity, with a Disney photopass photographer there to capture the magic of the moment.
#23 MONSTER’S, INC. LAUGH FLOOR
We love Monster’s Inc. Laugh Floor but don’t rank it any higher than this simply because the theater can accommodate so many people, it keeps the wait times low.
This is an indoor stage show that changes each time you visit. Monsters from Monstropolous host a stand-up comedy show, involving members of the audience in a humorous manner that will leave even the most stoic chuckling on their way out.
It’s definitely worth the experience, but not worth using a Fastpass. Wait times are usually about 15 minutes no matter the season or time of day.
#24 MAD TEA PARTY
Another true Disney classic, replicated from Disneyland’s famous attraction. Mad Tea Party is great for families and only lasts a short while, keeping wait times pretty low.
No need to fastpass this one! Wait times usually won’t pass 35 minutes even on the busiest days.
#25 MICKEY’S PHILARMAGIC
Mickey’s Philarmagic is a 3D indoor movie that could use an update. It’s a fine way to cool off and pass time between attractions, but it’s not extremely entertaining. Therefore, wait times can get as low as 5 minutes and usually don’t climb past 15 minutes.
LOOKING FOR MORE DISNEY WORLD TIPS?
If you thought this was helpful, take a look at our big list of Magic Kingdom Tips & Secrets. It covers everything from parades, fireworks and entertainment to favorite restaurants and little known secrets about Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.