Best Places to Sit on Magic Kingdom Rides

Did you know that depending on where you sit on a ride, it can change your entire ride experience? When choosing where to sit, your seat placement can give you a better view, make your ride more thrilling or even be smoother for those who get motion sickness. Believe it or not, the very front row is not always the best seat on every ride. Here is a complete guide on the best places to sit on your favorite Magic Kingdom rides.

Tomorrowland

Carousel of Progress

The Carousel of Progress is such a wonderful attraction. The history and nostalgia factor make this ride one of the most beloved in all of Walt Disney World. To find the best seat on this attraction, you should be one of the first people in the theater. If you can find a seat towards the front in the middle of the row, you’ll be able to take in every little detail of the show. The seats in the center of the theater are great too!

Space Mountain

Space Mountain is a thrilling, high speed adventure through outer space. There are three seats in a row per car and two cars per “rocket”. To experience a more thrilling ride, you will want to sit in the back seat of the back car. To experience the best view, you’ll want to sit in the first seat of the first car.

Fantasyland

The Barnstormer featuring the Great Goofini

The Barnstormer is the kiddie coaster over in Fantasyland. This little coaster can still be pretty thrilling for small children, depending on where you sit. If you are riding with a small child who is scared of roller coasters or is riding for the first time, the front seat is the best as it allows them to take in the experience and it doesn’t feel as fast. If your child is a thrill seeker, the back row is great because the ride feels a little bit faster, and you’ll feel every twist and turn. 

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a fun children’s ride based on the Winnie the Pooh stories. If you are riding with children, you’ll want to ride in the front row of the Hunny Pot. Riding in the back row will obstruct their view. There are a lot of colorful and fun scenes for kids to enjoy and the front row will allow them to see everything.

“it’s a small world”

“it’s a small world” is not only one of the most classic and beloved rides in Walt Disney World, but it is also a rite of passage for first time guests! It has something to look at in all directions throughout the entire ride so there really isn’t a bad seat! To have the best view, however, you should try to sit on the exterior of the ride bench. This ensures that you won’t have to look around people to see the cute and colorful scenes of the ride. If you are riding with children, the front row is the best and it will give them the best view.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic

Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a fun attraction that will make you feel like you’re right in the middle of some of your favorite classic Disney Movies. This 4-D show offers some really cool effects and amazing animation! Although many people race to get a seat in the front row because they believe that’s the best seat, that is not true. The best seats are actually in the middle-back of the theater. You will have a better view of the show and it will be easier for your eyes to adjust to the 3-D screen. 

Prince Charming Regal Carousel

Prince Charming Regal Carousel is the Cinderella themed Merry-Go-Round in Fantasyland. It features beautiful artwork from Cinderella and plays instrumental versions of your favorite Disney songs. Since the ride rotates in a continuous circle, there really isn’t a bad seat on the ride. If you want the best, unobstructed views of Fantasyland, it is best to sit on a horse that’s on the outside.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a Snow White themed roller coaster that is among the most popular rides in all of Walt Disney World. There are consistently long waits, and it is easy to see why. This ride is a lot of fun and is very smooth for a roller coaster! For this ride, the back row is the best if you want a more thrilling ride. The back row gives you more speed and more drops! If you want a less intense experience, the front row is the place to be.

Adventureland

Jungle Cruise

The Jungle Cruise is a hilarious and “punny” boat ride through the Jungle. The Skippers that take you on your journey really make this ride amazing. If you want the full experience of this ride, look for a seat in the front of the boat near the Skipper. Not only will you be able to hear the hilarious jokes a little better, but you will also have a great view and maybe even be a part of a joke or two! 

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean is another great classic at Magic Kingdom. In fact, it is one of the most popular and iconic rides of all time. Much like “it’s a small world”, there are scenes on both sides of the boat so there’s really not a bad seat. The best seat, in my opinion, is on the end seat on either side of the ride benches. Again, if you have children, the front row is a great choice because not only will they have an un-obstructed view, but they can see what is coming next as well!

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

The Tiki Room is a fun show filled with singing birds, flowers, and tiki gods! There are things happening all around you so there are a lot of great places to sit. The best place to sit, however, is in the back row. The tiki gods are placed near the back, and you are also able to see the whole show all at once. You will have a good time at this show, and I guarantee you will have the song stuck in your head for the rest of the day!

Frontierland

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad aka “The Wildest Ride in the Wilderness” is one of the best rides at Magic Kingdom. This wild coaster has a lot of fun and crazy twists and turns- which makes sense because you are literally on a runaway train! With most roller coasters, the back seat is the best place to sit if you want the biggest thrill. The ride feels faster and much more thrilling. The front row is still a great place to sit but it is much less thrilling than the back row. 

Country Bear Jamboree

The Country Bear Jamboree is a country music stage show featuring singing bears! Since the stage is pretty big and wide, the best place to sit is in one of the middle rows. You can see all the animatronics the best from the middle rows, and I’ve heard the acoustics are better! Sitting too close to the front will make it harder to see the whole stage at once. 

Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain is a log-flume attraction that will be sure to take you to the laughing place! It is hard not to smile when you are going down the exciting, 52.5-foot drop! If you are going on this ride, chances are you know you will be getting wet at some point during the ride. If you want to put the “splash” in Splash Mountain and you don’t mind getting wet, sit in the front row. Sitting in the front row will ensure that you get wet! If you want to stay on the drier side while on this ride, sit in the back row. You may still get wet in the back row, but not nearly as wet as you would if you sat in the very front. 

Liberty Square

The Hall of Presidents

The Hall of Presidents is a 25-minute-long show which takes us through the history of our nation featuring the Presidents of the United States of America. The show takes place in a very large theater and features three huge digital projection screens. There are a lot of animatronics in this show and if you’d like to have a great panoramic view, it is best to sit towards the middle of the theater. The animatronics of the Presidents are very impressive and life-like and if you want to admire them up close, the front row is the best place to do so. 

Liberty Square Riverboat

The Liberty Square Riverboat is an enormous riverboat that takes guest for a relaxing boat ride around the Rivers of America. During the boat ride, guests are free to walk around the boat. Every spot on this boat has a great view. The front of the boat is a great choice if you’d like the best view of Frontierland and Liberty Square. If you’d like a great view of Tom Sawyer Island, stay on the right side of the boat.

Flying Rides

The Flying Rides at Magic Kingdom include Astro Orbiter, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. All these ride vehicles will give you the exact same experience no matter where you sit. They all offer great views but if you like to take pictures, the outside seat is the best on these types of rides.

Omnimover Attractions

The Omnimover Attractions at Magic Kingdom include Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, The Haunted Mansion, Under the Sea: Journey of the Little Mermaid and Peter Pan’s Flight. These attractions give you the same ride experience no matter where you are seated on the ride. The ride will actually move you for you to get the full ride experience and to see what you are meant to see.

Other Rides

The remaining rides at Magic Kingdom don’t have a specific category and they also offer the same view no matter where you sit. These rides include Tomorrowland Speedway, Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover and Mad Tea Party. There is really no difference to your ride experience based on where you choose to sit on these rides.

Overall

Now that you know the best places to sit on each ride, it is time to head to Disney World to test it out! Knowing where to sit on your favorite rides can make your ride experience even more enjoyable! Where do you like to sit while on your favorite Magic Kingdom rides?