Top 3 Best Rides At Magic Kingdom For Adults

I just came back from a trip to Walt Disney World, and I think it is essential for me to share the best rides at Magic Kingdom for adults with you. I want you to have fun at this place they claimed as the happiest on earth.

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My Disney World vacation was with a high school band group. We spent one day in Magic Kingdom, one day in Disney Hollywood Studios, one day in Disney Animal Kingdom, two days in Universal Orlando, and one day in Volcano Bay.

In the park, the kids could walk with their friends (four kids in a group.) So we adults went with ourselves. And if you have a teenage boy like me, you understand how they didn’t want us to be around. Lol. 

The night before we went to Magic Kingdom Park, my roommate and I mapped out the best rides at Magic Kingdom for adults. We realized we didn’t see many things to do in Magic Kingdom for adults.

So, we decided to explore the park clockwise after we entered the park, starting from Adventureland on the left. And we only chose the ride with a queue line of less than 90 minutes.

After visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios and waiting about two hours to ride the Slinky Dog, I think we had enough standing in the waiting line. And they closed the ride before we even got to do it!

So, here’s my version of the best rides in Magic Kingdom for adults in one day.

Best Magic Kingdom Rides Ranked For Adults

1. TRON Lightcycle / Run

2. Space Mountain

3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 

All these are my best thrill rides at Magic Kingdom. I asked several adults and kids in our group about this ranking. They agreed that these are the best Magic Kingdom rides for adults.

Now let’s see how we spent one day in Magic Kingdom so I could come up with the best rides for adults at Magic Kingdom.

Best Rides at Magic Kingdom for Adults

As I published this article, the TRON is still the hottest ride in Magic Kingdom. It started making visitors scream back in spring this year. Yes, it’s the latest one joining the Magic Kingdom attractions. 

Because it’s still new, the park opened a virtual queue twice daily for people to get a space to ride it. The first virtual queue was at 7 a.m., and the second was at 1 p.m. My friend and I were like teenagers when the clock stroke 7. She got a place, but I didn’t. How disappointed!

But I guess there’s a blessing behind it. Kids under 18 couldn’t do the virtual queue. So my son and his friends asked me to include them when I tried again at 1 p.m. And I could get in, including him and his friends.

Magic Kingdom Park, Main Street USA.

Main Street USA is the first place you enter after the entrance gate. The Cinderella Castle stands tall in the middle, where everyone stops for pictures. That’s what we did, too. You will see stores and eating places on both sides of the street.

Magic Kingdom Park, Adventureland.

From Main Street, U.S.A., we turned left to the Adventureland.

We walked through the Swiss Family Treehouse. It reminded me of my trip to Disneyland in Anaheim when I was in middle school.

On this trip, I didn’t feel a thrill anymore as I walked through the treehouse.

Next to it is Jungle Cruise. We skipped it because the queue was more than 90 minutes.

So we did Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s a fun, slow indoor ride with a small drop. 

Then we moved to Frontierland.

Magic Kingdom Park, Frontierland.

At the Frontierland, we rode the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It’s a roller coaster ride with small drops. It wasn’t as challenging as the roller coasters in Universal Studios, but we had fun riding it.

Across the Big Thunder is Tom Sawyer Island. It looked cool, but the waiting line was longer than what we agreed to spend. 

So we continued to Liberty Square.

I saw Country Bear Jamboree, which brought back a memory from my middle school trip to Disney with my father.

Magic Kingdom Park, Liberty Square.     

Here, we did the Haunted Mansion. I would say it’s so-so, although it’s one of the famous classic attractions in Magic Kingdom.

It was here when I tried the virtual queue for the TRON again. I got in, and my son and his friends were happy because they would be able to do the ride, too.

A couple of my friends did the virtual queue more than fifteen minutes after 1 p.m., and they still got in. Visitors didn’t want to miss the Happily Ever After fireworks show, so not too many tried the 1 p.m. virtual queue. That’s my guess.

If you do the virtual queue for TRON at 1 p.m., there’s a chance you will do the ride after 9 p.m., after the Happily Ever After fireworks start.

When you walk to the haunted house from the Frontierland, the Liberty Square Riverboat will be on your left. We didn’t do it, though.

After the haunted house, we had lunch at Liberty Tree Cavern. I enjoyed my baked salmon, and others also enjoyed their orders.

Have I told you that Magic Kingdom is full of families with little children? One of the craziest families I saw was a family with three under-five children, whereas one was a 1-2-month-old baby. They were sitting next to us during lunch, and the mother was pumping! 

One lady in the group has been to Disney World seven times before this trip. She told me that The Hall of Presidents in Liberty Square is a neat attraction. 

But I’ve been to Washington, D.C., Mount Vernon Estate, Gettysburg, and several other historical places around the country, so I skipped it. If you haven’t been to DC, I suggest you watch this 25 minutes show.

Magic Kingdom Park, Fantasyland.

After lunch, we continued to Fantasyland.

First, we did It’s a Small World because the waiting line was shorter than in Peter Pan’s Flight. 

When we left It’s a Small World, the waiting line in Peter Pan was even longer. It was 120 minutes. Crazy! 

But I noticed families with little children were waiting patiently, even though the weather was hot and humid during our visit.

For fun, we rode the Prince Charming Regal Carrousel. It’s perfect for relaxing your feet, too. The guys in the group preferred to rest under the shades, though. Haha.

During our visit, the carrousel had the shortest queue time in the park. Besides, it could carry a lot of people in one round.

On our way to Tomorrowland, we saw the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train on the left. We didn’t try it. My son said it was okay. After spending time in Universal Studios the previous two days, I guess that’s what you got. “It’s okay.”

Magic Kingdom Park, Tomorrowland.

We skipped a lot of attractions either because it didn’t appeal to us or the wait time was long.

Tomorrowland was the last part of the park we visited. It is also where The TRON is. 

We had plenty of time before the TRON, so we did Space Mountain. 

Space Mountain is an indoor roller coaster with big drops. We were as if blasting off on a rip-roaring rocket into the furthest reaches of outer space in the dark. If you’re not comfortable with total darkness or big drops, I don’t suggest you do this ride.

Then we watched the comedy at Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor. I was so tired by this time, and I thought I could use this time for napping. Boy, I was wrong. It was so funny. The host engaged with one of the band boys who happened to watch the show. Then one of the guys in our group also got engaged with the host. Don’t skip this show when you are in Magic Kingdom.

While waiting for our turn to do the TRON, two guys did the Tomorrowland Speedway. It’s a nostalgic drive, and we saw several adults do it, too.

At Tomorrowland, you may want to do Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin for the fun of it. Or, ride the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover. It’s like transportation in the future but doesn’t expect it to move fast like in the movies. We saw several band kids sitting in the people-mover, but we didn’t do it. I think it’s a good place for resting your feet, too.

As expected, The TRON Lightcycle / Run was one of the best rides at Magic Kingdom for adults also for teenagers, based on my son’s and his friend’s opinions.

The TRON is a high-speed adventure on your very own Lightcycle. There are six Lightcycles, and you will race against the Grid’s most menacing program through darkness and a quick trip outdoors.

It was so much fun that we wished we could do it again. “Awesome! Cool!” that’s what we said after the ride.

TRON Lightcycle / Run is one of the fastest coasters at any Disney theme park in the world. You must try to get your space in the virtual queue.

When we left the TRON, the Happily Ever After fireworks show had started. We were supposed to meet on Main Street USA with the rest of the group, but we were late. So we watched the fireworks show from the very back.

So, Is Magic Kingdom also the Happiest Place on Earth for Adults?

My answer is NO.

But it all depends on your personality and who you are with when visiting Magic Kingdom.

I was visiting with a group of high school band kids, ranging from 9th graders to seniors. Parents didn’t have to escort them. So my trip to Disney World Park was like Disney Vacations for adults.

There aren’t too many rides for adults, and we didn’t care about meeting Mickey and his friends.

Magic Kingdom was also the most crowded theme park compared to Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

We didn’t go to EPCOT, but I figure it’s not as busy as Magic Kingdom. And it was hot and humid in Orlando.

Fortunately, Magic Kingdom has the TRON, Space Mountain, and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. These are Star Wars attractions at Disney Hollywood Studios, Avatar in Animal Kingdom, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT.

Some people may not agree with me, but you will find it yourself. Let me know what you think after you visit Disney World Magic Kingdom.

We did have fun, though.

Magic Kingdom Hours

Park hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with early entry from 8.30 a.m. to 9 a.m. and extended evening hours from 10 p.m. to 12 a.m.

Early entry is only for guests staying at Disney World Resort hotels and select other hotels. Valid theme park admission, park reservation, and Resort ID are required.

We stayed in one of the Universal Studios resorts, so we didn’t get the early entry to Disney World.

Note that not all attractions are open during early entry. Of the top three best rides at Magic Kingdom for adults, only Space Mountain is operating during the early entry period. And the attractions are subject to change and may not always be operational.

That’s why it’s crucial to view details about the attraction on the Disney website or My Disney Experience mobile app.

The extended evening hours are for guests who stay at a Disney Deluxe Resort, Disney Deluxe Villa Resort, or other select hotels. 

Most of the time, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Space Mountain are operating during extended evening hours.

Guests who stay at the resorts mentioned above will have additional opportunities to join virtual queues for TRON Lightcycle / Run at 6 p.m. 

Again, the extended evening theme park hours and available attractions are subject to change without notice.

Magic Kingdom Tickets

As I published this article, the cheapest day ticket is $109+ on several dates in August and September. 

You will pay more if you add the Park Hopper option, lightning lane, meal plan, etc.

Lightning Lane Entrances At Walt Disney World Theme Parks

A Lightning Lane entrance is a queue available at select attractions and experiences. Disney’s guests can purchase to save time in line.

To use a Lightning Lane entrance, a guest must select an arrival window through the My Disney Experience mobile app before embarking on the attraction or experience.

Some Lightning Line entrances are offered through Disney Genie+ service. Other may be purchased individually (a la carte.) You can buy either or both options.

If you purchased a Disney Genie+ service, select two to three attractions or experiences from its list that are not for individual purchase. But you can only use a Lightning Lane entrance once per day per attraction or experience. If you want to experience the attraction or watch the show again, you must use the regular standby line.

You can also purchase a Lightning Lane entrance for a specific attraction that you can’t buy by Disney Genie+. You may purchase individual Lightning Lane entries for up to two experiences per day, one experience at a time.

Attractions with Lightning Lane entrances may vary by date, are subject to change or closure, are limited in availability, and have no guarantee on the day of your visit. You must check the Disney website or My Disney Experience app regularly.

Here’s the thing. Prices for Lightning Lane vary by date, attraction, and park throughout the year. Prices may be lower on some days and higher on other days.

Where to Eat in Magic Kingdom?

You will find restaurants in every region of Disney World. There are quick service restaurants, table service, buffet, and character dining.

I’m sure you have read several articles about the best restaurants in Disney World. They are most likely to suggest you do advance dining reservations. 

From my experience, it’s not the best thing to do on your first time at Disney.

If you do advance dining reservations, you must plan your trip at Disney based on your dining reservation time and place. You have to check and calculate the waiting line length of attractions to match your dining reservation schedule. It will be a pain.

Just do like we did. When you are hungry, look for nearby restaurants. There must be one that has a table for you.

Besides, a lot of restaurants take online orders. Use the My Disney Experience app from your cellphone. Choose the restaurant location, set your arrival time, and place your order. You can pay with a credit card, debit card, Disney Gift Card, Disney Rewards Redemption Card, Apple Pay, or Disney dining plan.

Once you arrive at the restaurant, select the “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” button so they can prepare your meals. You will receive a notification when your order is ready.

When we were there, we went to the restaurant where we wanted to eat. We placed our order while waiting in line and clicked the “I’m Here, Prepare My Order” right away. It didn’t take time for them to prepare the orders.

What To Prepare Before Your Trip Do Disney World

After you buy the tickets, don’t forget to download the My Disney Experience app. It will help you a lot even before your trip. You can learn about the attractions and shows in Disney and plan your itinerary with the app.

If able, stay at one of the Disney Resorts. It’s not because you may get an early entry or extended hours at the end of the day only, but it will save you lots of time, too. Traffic was terrible on the highway to Disney World during our visit. We lost about an hour in the park because of it.

You may decide what souvenir you want to buy, but you want to buy more when you get to the park. Nothing’s wrong with that, but make sure your wallet is ready. Haha. 

Some bloggers or friends may suggest you buy the dining plan. You will spend around $50 per day which includes two meals, one drink, and one snack.

I ate a big breakfast so I could eat lunch around 2 p.m. After that, I didn’t feel hungry anymore. I only drink water and I could refill my water bottle easily. With that, I spend between $20-$25 per day for meals.

Besides, you can bring snacks, fruits, and water to the park. 

If you spend more than one day in the park, don’t forget to splurge on one meal or treat. After all, you are on vacation.

It may rain every month in Orlando. Don’t forget to bring a light rain jacket that folds easily into a small pouch. Or bring a poncho as I did. It’s small and didn’t take a space in my backpack. You can always toss it at the end of the day.

We visited Walt Disney World in the first week of June. It was hot and humid. A pair of fast-dry shorts and a T-shirt were perfect. I added a hat and a friend had a cool towel to put around her neck. But we think the neck fan would be wonderful. We saw lots of people with it, young and old.

Because you will walk a lot from you arrive until you leave the park, wear comfortable sandals or walking shoes. I wore my hiking shoes because it has a wide-toe box. And it’s my daily shoes. I prefer shoes to sandals because the park is crowded. The thought of people stepping on my toes didn’t make me comfortable wearing sandals.

And don’t forget the sunscreen. My son got sunburned while I turned darker. 

That’s it! Have fun and enjoy these best rides at Magic Kingdom for adults! The most popular rides at Magic Kingdom!

The TRON Lightcycle / Run – Space Mountain – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad