5 Lesser Known Magic Kingdom Attractions Your Family Will Love

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Heading to the Magic Kingdom? Here are 5 Magic Kingdom attractions that some people don’t even realize are there but that your family is sure to enjoy. Best of all, they usually have LOW waits.

Family Trips to Walt Disney World

When you are taking your children to Walt Disney World, it is easy to want to be sure that they get to see and do all the most popular attractions that everyone is buzzing about. After all, they are relying on you to be their VIP tour guide and to curate the experiences that they will love most.

Fortunately, it is highly unlikely that little ones are aware of what is popular and trending and what isn’t in terms of theme park attractions. And, since children very much live in the moment, just about every Disney experience will feel magical, and they won’t even miss the ones you skip. That is-they won’t miss it unless, of course, they are frequent Disney visitors or have helped you research your trip and know what they want to do before you ever arrive.

With that said, if you feel overwhelmed with the prospect of not being able to do everything, fear not! There are plenty of attractions that deliver a magical experience for your children. After all, there is ever so much more to enjoy than just headliners such as Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Space Mountain, and TRON. And, alot of these experiences are EASY to enjoy with no wait.

Here are 5 lesser known Magic Kingdom experiences your family can enjoy. Better yet, dreamers of ALL ages will love them, too! None of them have height restrictions. Even if you are a frequent Disney traveler, you may not have ever realized some of them were there! Take the time to take them in.

Main Street Vehicles

One of Disney World’s most charming attractions is Main Street Vehicles. It is also one that many people don’t even know about. This attraction allows you to travel back in time with a drive down Main Street, U.S.A. in a charming turn-of-the-century vehicle. You and your family can board a vintage horse-drawn trolley, double-decker omnibus, jitney car, or fire engine.

Your children might even want to try to experience a ride in more than one! After all, what could be more magical for a little one than heading toward the Castle in a fire engine?

These vehicles begin picking up Guests at select pick-up points in Town Square near City Hall. They also pick up Guests near Cinderella Castle. They drive up and down Main Street from one point to another. So, if you board at one of the Town Square locations, your ride will end at Cinderella Castle. If you hop on at Cinderella Castle, you will disembark at the other end of Main Street. Your entire ride will take about 3 minutes.

You might see very short lines of passengers lining up to await a turn at one of the pick-up points. For example, you will see a sign for the Omnibus right outside of Town Square Theatre. If you do not board the first one that comes, you will only have to wait about 7 minutes for it to be back for you unless they pause operation.

However, there are not always formal lines for these vehicles. Sometimes you just have to be in the right time and space to see one pull up and hop on. It can make for a serendipitous moment, really. Moments like these are what Disney Magic is made of.

The Main Street Vehicles do NOT do not operate during scheduled entertainment such as the Festival of Fantasy Parade. They will also pause during Castle shows.

Liberty Square Riverboat

Next up is a beloved attraction that Guests often see and hear, but many people do not realize it is an actual ride! The Liberty Square Riverboat allows visitors to cruise the scenic Rivers of America aboard an authentic steam-powered paddle wheeler! It is a charming and peaceful attraction that actually provides a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the parks.

You will see the Liberty Belle, a working reproduction of the historic vessels that ferried people up and down the mighty Mississippi, awaiting passengers at Liberty Square. She has 4 levels, and each has a mixture of (limited) seating and standing room.

If you do not see her docked and loading passengers, rest assured, she will be back soon. In the meantime, you could pop into the Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe or enjoy a snack. Once she returns, you should be able to hop right aboard with no wait.

As you ride, you will hear informational narration in the voice of iconic American author and humorist Mark Twain. He provides nostalgic stories surrounding what you encounter.

What’s more, the ride has a number of sights to be seen that can only be seen from the Liberty Belle. Some people don’t even realize they exist in the Magic Kingdom! During the adventure, you will encounter unique settings populated with Audio-Animatronics including an early American settlement, an idyllic Native American village, Harper’s Mill, Fort Langhorn, Wilson’s Cave Inn, and plenty of woodland animals.

It truly has a behind-the-scenes feel to it and provides vantage points you don’t see anywhere else in the parks. It will give you beautiful photo ops of attractions like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the Haunted Mansion, so be prepared to capture photos.

All in all, the cruise is about a half mile long. It takes about 17 minutes to complete. That said, you may want to visit a restroom before you board. The attraction does have limited operating hours. It typically opens by 11 am and closes by 7 pm. However, times are subject to change, so check the schedule.

Tom Sawyer’s Island

Another Disney World attraction that is hidden in plain sight is Tom Sawyer’s Island. People walk right by without even realizing there are caves, a windmill, a fort, and a playground to be explored! This island, naturally, is inspired by the works of American Author Mark Twain. It is part ride and part self-guided tour.

First, visitors must travel by raft to get to the island. You will see the loading dock in Frontierland across the way from Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Here, you will board a log raft for a piloted trip across the Rivers of America and disembark at Tom’s Landing. When you wish to leave the island, visit Tom’s Landing again for a raft ride back to shore!

There is a restroom on the island near your drop-off point. Make note of its location just in case.

Once you are on the Island, there are all kinds of things to explore. You can wander dusty dirt roads lined with tall trees, explore whirling mills, and amble across creaky suspension bridges. Navigate narrow passages amid secret mined caves and uncover a frontier fort. You will even find a playground.

If you are feeling weary, be sure to take a rest at Aunt Polly’s. The porch is also a great place for viewing the parade at a distance. During peak season, you might even be able to purchase a yummy treat at Aunt Polly’s, but it is not open for dining very often.

All in all, it is easy to get lost in exploration. Little ones may want to spend a good deal of time here enjoying the fun and engaging in letting their imaginations play for a bit. Best of all, they do not even need to be familiar with Tom Sawyer to enjoy it. Read more about it in Donna’s post.

The attraction has limited hours and is typically only open from 11:00 am to 6:00 pm. Be sure to check the hours as they are subject to change.

This and the Liberty Square Riverboat are both excellent choices to enjoy mid-day when the parks are at their most crowded and the temperatures are at their highest.

Mickey’s PhilharMagic

Next, you might enjoy taking in a show. There are several shows in the Magic Kingdom including Country Bear Jamboree, The Enchanted Tiki Room, and Carousel of Progress, all of which are great to experience. But, Mickey’s PhilharMagic is a fun family show with characters that will be most familiar to your children.

Mickey’s Philharmagic is a 3D show. Disney magic meets Disney music in this spectacular 12-minute, fantasy adventure starring Donald Duck. You will find it in Fantasyland just behind Cinderella Castle. It takes place in a dark, temperature-controlled theatre, so it is a splendid break from the elements!

It does require 3D glasses to enjoy. You might also experience little splashes of water and a few “gotcha moments”, so take all that into consideration as you decide whether it is right for your child.

During the show, you will enjoy “Be Our Guest” from Beauty and the Beast, “Part of Your World” from The Little Mermaid, “I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” from The Lion King, and “You Can Fly” from Peter Pan—plus more. In fact, a song from Coco was recently added.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

Finally, stop in Tomorrowland to enjoy a classic Walt Disney World Attraction. This ride allows Guests to embark on a 10-minute tour of Tomorrowland aboard this mass transit system of the future!

Durring this narrated tour, you will go behind the scenes of attractions like Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin and Space Mountain. You will also get a unique peak at TRON, Astro Orbitors, and the Tomorrowland Speedway. Disney history fans wil enjoy seeing the architectural models of Progress City, the prototype for EPCOT.

This ride is relatively slow, though it does accelerate a bit. It also has moments of darkness.

It is a great ride expecially for children who are too small to ride Space Mountain but wish they could get in on the fun. PopleMover does go directly through Space Mountain for long enough to give them a taste of it.

It is another amazing ride to take should you need a break from the crowds and the heat. While it does typically have a low wait, the line can ocasionally grow longer. However, know that the line typically moves quickly, barring a ride breakdown.

Want More Planning Tips?

Do you want more planning tips for travel with children? Be sure to check out some of these topics:

Do you know someone who is traveling to Walt Disney World who would like to know about these great attractions? Be sure to send this to them. Do you love any of these attractions? What other lesser-known Magic Kingdom rides and experiences do people need to know about? Let us know in the comments.