Have you ever wondered which is the oldest ride at Disney World? It’s a question that sparks plenty of debate among fans—mostly because the answer depends on whether you’re counting “opening day” status or the actual age of the ride equipment. While many fans point to the park’s 1971 debut, one attraction stands out for a history that predates the Florida Project by over 50 years. Let’s take a closer look at the original experiences that welcomed guests on opening day and reveal the fascinating story behind Disney World’s oldest ride.

Walt Disney World’s Oldest Ride

While all 23 opening-day attractions at Magic Kingdom share the distinction of opening on October 1st, 1971, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel can rightfully claim to be the oldest ride at Walt Disney World—thanks to its impressive history that stretches back more than half a century before Magic Kingdom even existed.

The Prince Charming Regal Carrousel was originally built in 1917 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. Back then, it was known as The Liberty Carousel and was first installed at Belle Isle Park in Detroit, Michigan. The carousel later moved to Olympic Park in Irvington, New Jersey, before Disney acquired it and brought it to Magic Kingdom in 1971.

Although it was re-themed and renamed Prince Charming Regal Carrousel (originally Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel), its origins make it the oldest ride, having been in operation for nearly 110 years as of 2026.

That said, there’s some room for debate. While Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is the oldest in terms of construction, there are other opening-day attractions that could be considered older in terms of their Disney heritage. For example, “it’s a small world” and the Carousel of Progress (which moved to Florida in 1975) both debuted at the 1964-1965 New York World’s Fair. This means their designs and audio-animatronics predate the Magic Kingdom by seven years.

However, when considering the oldest physical ride at Walt Disney World, Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is still the clear winner, with its storied history predating any other ride at the resort.

Disney World’s Opening Day Rides

Walt Disney initiated his “Florida Project” in 1965, but did not live to see it completed. On October 1, 1971, Magic Kingdom opened to the public as the first theme park at Walt Disney World Resort. Along with Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Resort hotels also opened at this time.

On its opening day, Magic Kingdom featured 23 attractions. Many of these experiences were based on existing attractions from Disneyland, while a few were unique to Magic Kingdom. These 23 attractions were distributed across six themed lands. Each of these lands had a counterpart at Disneyland, except for Liberty Square, which was unique to Florida at the time.

It's A Small World

List of Opening Day Attractions at Magic Kingdom (1971)

On October 1, 1971, Magic Kingdom opened to a crowd of 10,000 guests, featuring 23 rides and attractions. Over the next few months, several more attractions were added. Here are the 23 Magic Kingdom rides and attractions that were available on opening day:

Main Street, U.S.A.

  • Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street Station)
  • Main Street Vehicles (Omnibus, Fire Engine, etc.)
  • Main Street Cinema (closed in 1998; later repurposed)

Adventureland

  • Jungle Cruise
  • Swiss Family Treehouse
  • Tropical Serenade (now Enchanted Tiki Room)

Frontierland

  • Country Bear Jamboree
  • Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes (closed in 1994)
  • Mike Fink Keel Boats (closed in 2001)
  • Diamond Horseshoe Revue
  • Frontierland Shootin’ Gallery (permanently closed June 23, 2024)

Liberty Square

  • The Hall of Presidents
  • The Haunted Mansion

Fantasyland

  • Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel (now Prince Charming Regal Carrousel)
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • “it’s a small world”
  • Mad Tea Party
  • Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (closed in 1998)
  • Snow White’s Adventures (later renamed Snow White’s Scary Adventures, closed in 2012)
  • Skyway (connecting Fantasyland and Tomorrowland; closed in 1999)
  • Mickey Mouse Revue (closed in 1980)

Tomorrowland

  • Grand Prix Raceway (now Tomorrowland Speedway)
  • Circle-Vision 360: America the Beautiful (closed in 1984)

Additionally, some shops and entertainment offerings were part of the experience, but they weren’t classified as attractions.

Hall of Presidents

Which Rides Were NOT Part of Disney World’s Opening Day?

Not all of Magic Kingdom’s classic attractions were ready for the park’s grand opening. Here’s what was missing, listed chronologically:

  • Admiral Joe Fowler Riverboat: Opened October 2, 1971. Later replaced by the Richard F. Irvine (later the Liberty Belle), the attraction permanently closed on July 7, 2025, for the new “Cars” expansion.

  • Peter Pan’s Flight: Opened October 3, 1971, just two days after the park’s debut.

  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Opened October 14, 1971, offering an adventure through the “sea of mystery.” It closed in 1994.

  • America the Beautiful: Debuted November 25, 1971, showcasing a cinematic view of the United States. Now closed.

  • Flight to the Moon: Opened December 24, 1971, before becoming Mission to Mars in 1975. No longer operating.

  • Tom Sawyer Island: Opened May 1973, nearly two years after the park debuted. It permanently closed on July 7, 2025.

  • Swan Boats: These boats debuted in May 1973 and were retired in 1983.

  • Pirates of the Caribbean: Didn’t open until December 15, 1973, a few years after Magic Kingdom’s debut.

  • Space Mountain: Opened January 15, 1975, as the first of the “Three Mountains” completed.

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Opened November 15, 1980, bringing “the wildest ride in the wilderness” to Frontierland.

  • Splash Mountain: Opened July 17, 1992. It was re-imagined as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in 2024.

While these attractions weren’t ready for opening day, they became some of Disney World’s most iconic experiences. Many have since closed, but classics like Peter Pan’s Flight and Pirates of the Caribbean remain beloved additions to the park.

Start Planning Your Disney World Trip

For more on rides at Disney World, see our Longest Rides at Disney World, Magic Kingdom Rides, Epcot Rides, Animal Kingdom Rides, Hollywood Studios Rides, Disney World Shows, and Disney World Rides for Children pages.

You might also be interested in seeing the oldest rides at Disneyland in California.

And if you’re ready to experience these great historic Disney rides in person, see our Disney Travel Agents page to learn why you should use a Disney travel agent. It may end up being cheaper to use a Disney travel agent like those at The Vacationeer!

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Thanks for reading our list of the 23 Disney World opening-day attractions and our analysis of the oldest ride at Disney World. Have a magical day!

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