Subdivisions are an intrinsic park of the Disney theme park experience. For example, Walt Disney World has four different theme parks or “gates” plus Downtown Disney, a pair of water parks, and even ESPN Wide World of Sports. Each of these subdivisions does something different, serving a unique purpose within the framework of the Disney campus.
Similarly, the theme parks have subdivisions. Epcot has Future World and the World Showcase, while Animal Kingdom has DinoLand U.S.A, Pandora – The World of Avatar, and several other sections. Perhaps the best example is at Magic Kingdom, which has six different sections, all of which feel like their own little worlds. Today, rather than looking at the sum, let’s examine the parts. Which attractions are the best in each of these diverse settings? What’s the best attraction at each themed land at Magic Kingdom?
Main Street, U.S.A.
Image: DisneySome themed lands are extremely difficult to select THE best attraction. When I wrote the Disneyland version of this article, Fantasyland proved challenging due to the volume of wonderful rides in that section. On the other hand, Critter Country and Main Street, U.S.A. weren’t hard at all.
The same is true of Main Street, U.S.A. at Magic Kingdom, except that it has even fewer choices for attractions. The options are the Walt Disney World Railroad, Main Street Vehicles, and Town Square Theater. With all due respect to the classic transportation options, Town Square Theater has a one-on-one encounter with Mickey Mouse, the character who started it all according to Walt Disney himself. No train ride’s beating that. See? Some of these are easy!
Adventureland
Image: DisneyNow that we’ve exited the front of the park where the options are limited, things get dicey. None of the other parts of Magic Kingdom has any “thin” areas like Critter County or Mickey’s Toontown at Disneyland. Adventureland demonstrates what I mean.
This themed land was available on opening day at Magic Kingdom back in 1971, and several of its attractions are theme park royalty. Jungle Cruise was a day one ride at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom. The Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse traces its roots back to the early 1960s, while Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room introduced the world to lifelike Audio-Animatronics. Even The Magic Carpets of Aladdin has its fair share of supporters.
I’m going to ignore all of these other options and choose something I haven’t mentioned yet. Pirates of the Caribbean was the last ride that Walt Disney worked on prior to his death. For that reason, it’s the summation of his life’s work, and it has conveniently experienced a 21st century resurgence thanks to Captain Jack Sparrow. Renovated in March of 2018, it’s fresh and new again, with an exciting new story being told of one of the most beloved characters, the Redhead. While everything at Adventureland is great, Pirates of the Caribbean towers above the rest of the contenders.
Fantasyland
Image: DisneyThe themed land at Magic Kingdom isn’t quite as stacked as its Disneyland counterpart. I’m complimenting the latter rather than insulting the former with that statement. I loved Fantasyland years ago, and Disney’s 21st century updates have made it among the finest themed lands across all Disney parks.
At Magic Kingdom’s version of (New) Fantasyland, you’ll find timeless classics and child-friendly attractions like Mad Tea Party, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, It’s a Small World, Peter Pan’s Flight, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. Amazingly, those are the ones I didn’t shortlist as being in the conversation for the best attraction in this themed land. Similarly, Enchanted Tales with Belle is adorable, and I’m addicted to Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid. Neither of them made the final cut, either.
Image: DisneyThe qualifiers as I see them are Mickey’s PhilHarmagic, Princess Fairytale Hall, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. No, these three attractions don’t have anything in common, which speaks to the appeal of Fantasyland. Theme park tourists can do so much here. At Princess Fairytale Hall, they can interact with their favorite Disney Princesses.
At PhilHarmagic, they can relive some of their favorite moments from classic Disney animated movies. At Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, they can rock and roll their way through one of the most novel outdoor coasters in the world. Personally, I’m a sucker for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and so I see it as the best part of Fantasyland. I will say that PhilHarmagic was closer to winning than you may expect, though.
Frontierland
Image: DisneyThis themed land has stronger competition than Adventureland in that it has two phenomenal attractions that rest side by side. It has a timeless show, too, and Tom Sawyer Island is the best unofficial babysitter at Walt Disney World.
Which attraction is the finest at Frontierland? I’d narrow the list down to the big three. I’m a more ardent supporter of Country Beer Jamboree than most (I even saw The Country Bears in a movie theater!), but I realize that it falls short of the big two in this section. The debate comes down to Splash Mountain vs. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which means that the debate comes down to a fun roller coaster or the ultimate splashdown.
Image: DisneyI’m a huge proponent of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, one of the best themed rides across Disney parks. I love that every version of the ride has its own back story, and the Magic Kingdom one is particularly great.
The setting is an abandoned mining town that once had a surplus of gold seekers. One day, a flash flood suddenly wiped out everything in the area, making the railroad a lonely place. The story works well, and I bust up every time I see the dude taking a bath in his tub as it floats down the river. It’s just…not Splash Mountain. Magic Kingdom has THE best version of Splash Mountain in my opinion. I’m not voting against that. It’s the class of Frontierland.
Liberty Square
Image: DisneyThis particular themed land has gotten better recently. It already claimed arguably the finest show at Magic Kingdom, the Hall of Presidents. Then, Imagineers added The Muppets Present…Great Moments in American History, something my family stumbled across during its first week. It’s delightful, although I should admit that we’re such Muppets fans that we watched the failed 2015 television series.
While I love the patriotism of Hall of Presidents, and the semi-patriotic antics of the Muppets, a ride’s the best thing at Liberty Square. No, I’m not referring to Liberty Belle Riverboat, either. Come on, this one should win almost unanimously. The class of this themed land is the Haunted Mansion, the ghoulish good time ghost story.
Haunted Mansion is longer than the Disneyland version and has a touch more panache. When people head to Liberty Square, they’re going to suffer disappoint if they choose not to visit the 99 residents of the Haunted Mansion. Anyone who skips it is a foolish mortal indeed.
Tomorrowland
Image: DisneySome would claim that Tomorrowland has an ironic name. Disney has heard these criticisms and is in the middle of reinvigorating its world of tomorrow. For now, many of its finest attractions are decades old. Tomorrowland Speedway is Magic Kingdom’s iteration of the Autopia concept from Disneyland. Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress once delighted guests at the 1964 New York World’s Fair. Even Astro Orbiter traces its roots back to the first year that the park was open.
For a future-themed section, the roots of Tomorrowland are stubbornly entrenched in the 20th century. Space Mountain dates back to 1975, and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover was something that Walt Disney viewed as the transportation of the future…in 1965. Even Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin debuted in 1998. The “modern” attractions are Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor (2007) and Stitch’s Great Escape!, which is semi-closed.
Image: DisneyWhen I narrow down the choices here, I vacillate between my own preferences and the reality of the situation. I’ve had many wonderful times at the Laugh Floor, a place where talented cast members flex their comedic muscle. I also adore the PeopleMover, the best way to catch your breath at Walt Disney World. I also love competing at Space Ranger Spin, although my wife crushes me pretty much always. But I’m also a realist. Tomorrowland IS Space Mountain to a large extent. This themed land is one of the easiest to pick a winner.
So, there you have it. These are my picks for best attraction at each themed land at Magic Kingdom. Where do you agree and disagree? Let us know in the comments!
