Spending a day in the Magic Kingdom Disney Park is magical no matter what. That said, large crowds certainly can make things slightly less magical. After all, nobody likes waiting in long queues caused by big crowds of people.
Fortunately, there are ways around those long lines. One way is to take advantage of the new Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane services. You can also do your best to show up at rope drop or stay late to avoid crowds and long waits as much as possible. Yet another option is to head to Disney World rides that simply don’t tend to see long lines.
Believe it or not, there are a surprisingly large number of Magic Kingdom attractions with short waits. Really, there is nothing wrong with these attractions, but many are lesser-known, hidden away, or simply don’t seem as exciting as the newer, more enticing rides. Of course, there is also the fact that many of them can hold a lot of Guests at one time.
Whether you’re looking to fill in some gaps in your schedule with shorter waits, or you want to fill a whole Magic Kingdom itinerary with attractions that are off the beaten path and don’t require you to queue up for ages, Magic Kingdom Theme Park has some options for you. Below are our top picks for short wait Magic Kingdom attractions. Pick and few and get ready to have the best time ever without the long waits.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Located in Tomorrowland, the Carousel of Progress actually has a very interesting history. The attraction was originally created by Walt Disney himself and presented at the 1964 World’s Fair. It was then moved to Disneyland Park before it finally made its way to Walt Disney World where it lives today.
The attraction is an audio-animatronic show that gives Guests a glimpse into the everyday lives of families in various decades over the past 120 years or so. The audience actually revolves around a circular stage, seeing different sets and performances at each stopping point.
Because the audience moves from one set to the next, and there is always an audience at each stopping point, the show can hold an enormous number of Guests at any given time. This means there is very rarely much of a wait to get in.
Liberty Square Riverboat
Riverboats play a big role in the history of America. Therefore, it only makes sense that Walt Disney World should have one.
The Liberty Square Riverboat is a huge white riverboat that features beautiful wood craftsmanship and spends its time ferrying people around the Rivers of America. This allows them to see this part of the Park from a different point of view, catching sights that can only be seen from the boat, all while listening to narration about Mark Twain’s memories of his time on the Mississippi River.
Guests can board this vessel in Liberty Square near the Haunted Mansion. They are then dropped off at the same place after a 17-minute voyage.
This is an attraction that many Guests don’t even know exists. On top of that, the boat can hold a lot of people. These things combined mean you’ll likely never wait more than 17 minutes to board.
Hall of Presidents
Although an interesting history lesson, the Hall of Presidents may not seem like the kind of attraction you’d want to visit on vacation-but it really is a fun little show to watch! Not only that, but the air-conditioned auditorium also offers a wonderful opportunity to escape the Florida sun and cool off.
The performance features an animatronic replica of every US president throughout history. Many of the presidents speak, and they are all surprisingly life-like.
The Hall of Presidents is located in Liberty Square near Haunted Mansion and is easy enough to find if you’re looking for it. That said, those who aren’t watching for the building could easily pass it up. We’re guessing a combination of not noticing the attraction, a lack of interest in an “educational” attraction, and the fact that the auditorium can hold a large number of people all work together to ensure there is never a line for this show.
Tom Sawyer Island
Looking for a place to escape the crowds and do a bit of walking? Tom Sawyer Island is just the place.
To get to Tom Sawyer Island, Guests must board a raft and take a ride across the Rivers of America. Once across, you can explore the island and all of its hidden set pieces to your heart’s content. The island used to feature an eatery, but that has been closed for years now, making it just another neat spot to explore while you’re there.
Tom Sawyer Island is fun for kids who want a chance to run and play. It’s also a great way to get away from the chaos that is often present in Magic Kingdom. That said, it doesn’t have anything to offer in the way of colorful technology or exciting rides, so it doesn’t see as many Guests as other attractions-and that is just fine for us.
Country Bear Jamboree
Located in Frontierland, Country Bear Jamboree is yet another audio-animatronics show. Most people aren’t even aware of it as they pass it by, and the auditorium can easily hold those who do notice it. This means you’ll hardly ever need to wait for more than the 15-minute runtime to get in.
The show features animatronic bears that sing and play instruments for your enjoyment. The people who made the show had an unusual sense of humor, and the song picks are definitely funny, if a bit odd and out-of-place in Disney World. Still, we love this show and make a point of seeing it often.
Related: Top 12 Ways to Escape Crowds at Walt Disney World
Enchanted Tiki Room
Finally, there is the Enchanted Tiki Room. This audio-animatronics show is located in Adventureland and is probably our favorite animatronics show in Disney World.
The entertainment begins before you ever even enter the building, as there is a silly pre-show that starts a few minutes before the doors open and sets the stage for the actual performance. Once inside, you will be treated to a musical performance full of colorful talking birds, singing flowers, and walls that come to life.
Like the other shows on this list, the Tiki Room rarely sees much of a line. There are not as many people who notice the show and stop to wait for it as you might think, and we’ve always made it into the next available show without a problem.
Honorable Mentions
There are a few other attractions that almost made it on this list. These rides and shows tend to have waits shorter than 30 minutes, but even so, they’re still almost always longer than the waits for the attractions above. These include:
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover
- Mad Tea Party
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
- The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
- Mickey’s PhilharMagic
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Which of these short wait time attractions is your favorite to enjoy at Magic Kingdom Park?