Welcome to Theme Park Insider! Join the community or log in
Theme Park Insider
Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube

A True Classic: The Magic Kingdom

Walt Disney World: A look at some of the classic rides in the Magic Kingdom

From Matt Babiak
Posted March 11, 2012 at 6:07 PM
This is a board for anyone to discuss what MK or Disneyland attractions they consider "classics". My list is as follows.

"Left Side"(Everything BUT Fantasy and Tomorrowland)
-Jungle Cruise, Pirates, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Tiki Room(Disneyland only)
"Right Side"
-Peter Pan's Flight, it's a small world, Dumbo, Matterorn, Space Mountain, Autopia, Buzz Lightyear


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Andy Milito
Posted March 13, 2012 at 2:50 PM
My classics:

Pirates
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Dumbo
Peter Pan
Buzz
Haunted Mansion
Jungle Cruise

From Mark Fairleigh
Posted March 13, 2012 at 4:04 PM
I love this...should do one for each Disney/Universal park. :)

My list aka my favorites:
Haunted Mansion
Hall of Presidents
Pirates
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder
Jungle Cruise
It's a Small World
Peter Pan
Space Mountain
Carousel of Progress
Buzz Lightyear

From Manny Barron
Posted March 14, 2012 at 2:36 PM
To me classic is something thats been around since the opening decade of the MK(The 70's and early 80's in Magic Kingdom) and the window for Disneyland is larger since its older(1955-mid 70's).

Having said that, while Splash Mountain is beyond awesome, it opened over 20 years after the Magic Kingdom first opened its doors. I wouldn't consider it a classic just yet but whatever it still rocks.

From David L.
Posted March 14, 2012 at 3:53 PM
I consider classics as rides you have stood the the test of time(at least 10 years) and are still enjoyable experiences that stand out. Here is a list of those who don't meet my criteria for Magic Kingdom:
-The Magic Carpets of Aladdin-this attraction is a duplicate, could be better themed, and isn't unique or very old.
-Tiki Room-The New Management version really set this attraction back so I can't say it's stood the test of time. The one in Disneyland is a classic though.
-Pooh, the new queue hasn't stood the test of time and the attraction could be so much more(see Tokyo's)
-PhilharMagic-It needs one more year...
-The Barnstormer-It need time, I don't know how the new version compares to the old, but it needs time. It also needs to have a layout that can't be found at tons of other parks...but if the new theme is good enough, time will give it a place among the classics.
-Stitch-Age and you know what...
-Astro Orbiter-Isn't unique enough to make the cut, but maybe if it was updated...
-Speedway-while it has long lines(I think due to small capacity), it isn't interesting enough to make the cut.

Those are mine!

From Manny Barron
Posted March 14, 2012 at 5:21 PM
Tiki Room is back to its old-school self at the Magic Kingdom as of late last year.

From David L.
Posted March 14, 2012 at 7:23 PM
Manny, There are differences(center piece, some missing songs according to a miceage article when the attraction reopened, and probably something else that I'm forgetting) and an attraction can't instantly become a classic after many years as a different, less worthy attraction, in my opinion of course, maybe you think otherwise.

From Manny Barron
Posted March 14, 2012 at 9:10 PM
David, I don't think it's a classic for that very same reason you mentioned. But I saw the show two or so months ago and it really feels like the Disneyland show minus water coming out of the fountain(this one had mist). I was looking for the missing song but the show seemed identical to me on both coasts.

Question for anybody- Would you consider the Country Bears a classic? Nobody has mentioned it and it's been around for decades since the park opened.

From Matt Babiak
Posted March 15, 2012 at 3:22 AM
Country Bears is an interesting one. It's old, but apparently pretty bad (I've never seen it). It doesn't have to be a great ride, but it has to be decent. Example:the carousel has been around forever, but that ride can't really be considered a "classic".

From Tom Rigg
Posted March 15, 2012 at 9:57 AM
Aside from the fountain, the Tiki rooms are now identical (unless you are counting updated lighting) The song that is missing, called the "Offenbach Number" was taken out of both shows. It was a slow, quiet song that focused on the fountain and was taken out of the DL show to pick up the pace of the show and shorten it. When they switched out the "New (Mis)Management" version they used a the exact same show from DL.

As far as classics, I would argue that anything that still has Walt Disney's hand on it would automatically be a classic: Country Bears, Tiki Room, Jungle Cruise, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan, Small World, WEDway People Mover, Pirates, Carousel of Progress, MK railroad, and Hall of Presidents (by way of Great moments with Lincoln.) While some of these weren't realized during his lifetime, Walt had some contact with all of these attractions and in some way encouraged them.

I would also add to my list: Dumbo, Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, the River Boat, Snow White, and Swiss Family Tree House.

Even though Splash is younger, I think it deserves the "Classic" title because it has defined its corner of MK and truly encapsulates the best of imagineering and Disney brand story telling.

From Dominick D
Posted March 15, 2012 at 10:40 AM
With all the opening day attractions (I'm gonna include Tiki Room since it's identical to DL), here are the ones I consider classic:

Splash
BTMR
PhilharMagic
Barnstormer
Buzz
Pooh
Pirates

From Mark Fairleigh
Posted March 15, 2012 at 10:46 AM
Manny, I wouldn't consider Country a classic. We always skip it. If "classic" just means surviving for a long period of time, than anything old is classic. To me a classic is any ride that is excellent regardless of age. Forbidden Journey, for instance, is a classic. Can a classic lose that status...yes. Splash with all it's maintenance issues could eventually lose that status if it doesn't improve down the road. As great as it is...if more often than not you have a negative experience on it, then it's no longer a classic. To use a sports analogy, Notre Dame was a "classic" program, but now it's mediocre.

From Becky Wheeler
Posted March 15, 2012 at 12:18 PM
Definitely TTA formerly known as WEDway Peoplemover, and believe it or not, Astro Orbiter. Both would be sorely missed, at least to the eye, because they've been with us since the beginning. CoP is another classic - I missed it when it was closed for a time.
Peter Pan, Small World, HM and HoP. All original, all classic.

This discussion has been archived, and is not accepting additional responses.