07/08/2025
Planning out my next trip to the Magic Kingdom and my daughter and I are discussing ride throughput. Here is a list of Magic Kingdom Rides and Attractions ranked Slowest to Fastest. Some surprised me, especially Peter Pan!
1. Swiss Family Treehouse (Adventureland, Walk-through)
o Throughput: ~300–500 guests/hour (estimated)
o Notes: This is a self-guided walk-through attraction, so throughput depends on how quickly guests move through the treehouse. It’s one of the slowest due to its exploratory nature and limited capacity for guests to navigate the stairs and pathways.
2. The Hall of Presidents (Liberty Square, Show)
o Throughput: ~700 guests/hour
o Notes: This is a theater-based show with a capacity of about 700 guests per 22-minute show cycle, including load/unload time. Shows run roughly every 25–30 minutes, resulting in low hourly throughput.
3. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room (Adventureland, Show)
o Throughput: ~750 guests/hour
o Notes: The theater holds around 300–400 guests per 15-minute show, with cycles running every 20–25 minutes, yielding moderate throughput.
4. Country Bear Musical Jamboree (Frontierland, Show)
o Throughput: ~800 guests/hour
o Notes: The theater seats about 350–400 guests per 15-minute show, with cycles every 20–25 minutes. Throughput is slightly higher than Tiki Room due to faster load/unload.
5. Carousel of Progress (Tomorrowland, Show/Ride)
o Throughput: ~900–1,000 guests/hour
o Notes: This rotating theater attraction has a capacity of about 240 guests per stage, with four stages and a 21-minute show cycle. Throughput is moderate due to the continuous rotation but limited by show length.
6. Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor (Tomorrowland, Show)
o Throughput: ~1,000 guests/hour
o Notes: The theater seats around 400 guests per 15-minute show, with cycles every 20–25 minutes, allowing for slightly higher throughput than other shows.
7. Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover (Tomorrowland, Ride)
o Throughput: ~1,200 guests/hour (estimated)
o Notes: This continuous-loading tram ride has a steady flow but lower capacity due to its relaxed pace and smaller vehicles. Exact figures are less documented, but it’s a moderate-throughput attraction.
8. Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street, U.S.A./Frontierland/Fantasyland, Ride)
o Throughput: ~1,200–1,500 guests/hour (estimated)
o Notes: The steam train has multiple cars with high seating capacity, but throughput is limited by the 20-minute full-circle tour and loading/unloading at three stations. Exact numbers vary by operational efficiency.
9. Haunted Mansion (Liberty Square, Dark Ride)
o Throughput: ~1,800–2,000 guests/hour
o Notes: Uses an Omnimover system with continuous loading, allowing for high efficiency. Each vehicle holds 2–3 guests, and the ride’s steady pace ensures consistent throughput.
10. Jungle Cruise (Adventureland, Boat Ride)
o Throughput: ~1,800–2,000 guests/hour
o Notes: Boats seat around 30–35 guests, with multiple boats running simultaneously. Throughput depends on the number of boats and dispatch frequency, typically every 5–7 minutes.
11. Pirates of the Caribbean (Adventureland, Boat Ride)
o Throughput: ~2,000–2,400 guests/hour
o Notes: Large boats carry 20–25 guests each, with frequent dispatches. The ride’s continuous operation and multiple boats boost throughput significantly.
12. Astro Orbiter (Tomorrowland, Spinner Ride)
o Throughput: ~2,000 guests/hour (estimated)
o Notes: This aerial carousel has 16 vehicles, each holding 2 guests. Throughput is moderate due to quick load/unload but limited by ride duration and elevator access to the platform.
13. Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (Fantasyland, Carousel)
o Throughput: ~2,000–2,500 guests/hour
o Notes: The carousel has 90 horses and can accommodate around 80–90 guests per 2-minute cycle, with fast loading/unloading, making it efficient for a classic ride.
14. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (Tomorrowland, Dark Ride)
o Throughput: ~2,200–2,500 guests/hour
o Notes: Another Omnimover-style ride with vehicles holding 2–3 guests. Continuous loading and a steady pace ensure solid throughput.
15. Mickey’s PhilharMagic (Fantasyland, 3D Show)
o Throughput: ~2,500 guests/hour
o Notes: The theater seats around 500 guests per 12-minute show, with cycles every 15–20 minutes, allowing for high throughput compared to other shows.
16. Tomorrowland Speedway (Tomorrowland, Ride)
o Throughput: ~2,500–3,000 guests/hour (estimated)
o Notes: Cars hold 2 guests each, with multiple cars on the track. Throughput is high but limited by the ride’s length (about 5 minutes) and loading process.
17. Magic Carpets of Aladdin (Adventureland, Spinner Ride)
o Throughput: ~2,500–3,000 guests/hour
o Notes: Similar to Astro Orbiter, with 16 vehicles holding 4 guests each. Quick cycles (about 1.5 minutes) and efficient loading boost throughput.
18. Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Fantasyland, Spinner Ride)
o Throughput: ~2,800–3,200 guests/hour
o Notes: Features two carousels with 16 vehicles each, holding 2 guests per vehicle. Short ride cycles and dual tracks increase throughput significantly.
19. Mad Tea Party (Fantasyland, Spinner Ride)
o Throughput: ~3,000 guests/hour
o Notes: 18 teacups hold 3–5 guests each, with quick 1.5-minute cycles and efficient loading, making it one of the higher-throughput spinner rides.
20. The Barnstormer (Fantasyland, Roller Coaster)
o Throughput: ~3,000–3,500 guests/hour
o Notes: A short roller coaster (1 minute) with trains holding 16 guests. Fast dispatch times and continuous operation ensure high throughput.
21. Peter Pan’s Flight (Fantasyland, Dark Ride)
o Throughput: ~3,200–3,500 guests/hour
o Notes: Continuous-loading suspended vehicles carry 2–4 guests each. Despite high demand and longer wait times, the ride’s design allows for strong throughput.
22. “it’s a small world” (Fantasyland, Boat Ride)
o Throughput: ~3,500–4,000 guests/hour
o Notes: Large boats hold 20–25 guests, with multiple boats running simultaneously. The ride’s continuous operation and long track make it one of the highest-throughput attractions.
23. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Fantasyland, Roller Coaster)
o Throughput: ~3,500–4,000 guests/hour
o Notes: Trains hold 20 guests, with multiple trains running. The ride’s 2.5-minute duration and efficient loading maintain high throughput despite its popularity.
24. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Frontierland, Roller Coaster) – Closed for refurbishment as of January 6, 2025
o Throughput: ~4,000–4,500 guests/hour
o Notes: Trains hold 30–35 guests, with multiple trains running simultaneously. The 3.5-minute ride and fast dispatch times make it a high-throughput coaster. Currently closed until 2026.
25. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Frontierland, Log Flume)
o Throughput: ~4,500–5,000 guests/hour
o Notes: Replacing Splash Mountain, this ride uses large log flume vehicles carrying 8–10 guests each, with multiple logs running. The 10-minute ride duration is offset by high capacity and frequent dispatches.
26. TRON Lightcycle / Run (Tomorrowland, Roller Coaster)
o Throughput: ~4,500–5,000 guests/hour
o Notes: Trains hold 28–32 guests, with multiple trains and a short 2-minute ride duration. The launch coaster’s efficient loading and high demand push throughput to the top tier.
27. Space Mountain (Tomorrowland, Roller Coaster)
o Throughput: ~5,000–5,500 guests/hour
o Notes: Dual tracks with trains holding 12 guests each (6 per rocket) allow for very high throughput. The 2.5-minute ride and continuous operation make it one of the park’s most efficient attractions.
28. Under the Sea – Journey of The Little Mermaid (Fantasyland, Dark Ride)
o Throughput: ~5,500–6,000 guests/hour
o Notes: This Omnimover ride uses continuous-loading clamshells (2–3 guests each) and a 6-minute track, making it the highest-throughput ride in Magic Kingdom due to its design and capacity.
