Have you ever wondered what the oldest ride at Disney World is? It’s a question that sparks a lot of discussion, and while there may be different interpretations, we believe we’ve found the answer. One attraction stands out, having been around for decades longer than any other ride in the park. Let’s take a closer look at all 23 attractions that opened on the first day of Magic Kingdom and reveal our pick for 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 five decades 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 Michigan. The carousel later moved to Olympic Park in Maplewood, 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 when it became part of Magic Kingdom, its origins make it the oldest ride in terms of age, having been in operation for over 100 years.

That said, there’s some room for debate. While Prince Charming Regal Carrousel is the oldest in terms of its construction, there are other opening-day attractions that could be considered older in the context of their Disney heritage. For example, The Jungle Cruise and Mad Tea Party were both opening-day attractions at Disneyland in 1955, which means they predate Magic Kingdom’s opening and could be viewed as older when comparing the two parks.

However, when considering the oldest 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 its completion. 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 rides 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 in name but contained the same rides found in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square.

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.

  1. Walt Disney World Railroad (Main Street Station)
  2. Main Street Vehicles (Omnibus, Fire Engine, etc.)

Adventureland

  1. Jungle Cruise
  2. Swiss Family Treehouse
  3. Tropical Serenade (now Enchanted Tiki Room)

Frontierland

  1. Country Bear Jamboree
  2. Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes (closed in 1994)
  3. Mike Fink Keel Boats
  4. Diamond Horseshoe Revue

Liberty Square

  1. The Hall of Presidents
  2. The Haunted Mansion

Fantasyland

  1. Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel (now Prince Charming Regal Carrousel)
  2. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  3. “it’s a small world”
  4. Mad Tea Party
  5. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (closed in 1998)
  6. Snow White’s Adventures (later renamed Snow White’s Scary Adventures, closed in 2012)
  7. Skyway to Tomorrowland
  8. Mickey Mouse Revue (closed in 1980)

Tomorrowland (partially completed on opening day)

  1. Grand Prix Raceway (now Tomorrowland Speedway)
  2. Skyway to Fantasyland
  3. Flight to the Moon (became Mission to Mars in 1975, closed in 1993)
  4. 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, offering scenic boat rides on the Rivers of America.

  • 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Submarine Voyage: Opened October 14, 1971, providing an underwater adventure through the “sea of mystery.”

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

  • Flight to the Moon: Opened December 24, 1971, taking guests on a simulated journey to outer space before becoming Mission to Mars in 1975.

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

  • Peter Pan’s Flight: Opened October 3, 1971, just a couple of days after the park’s grand opening.

  • Tom Sawyer Island: This area didn’t open until April 1973, nearly two years after Magic Kingdom debuted.

  • Swan Boats: These boats weren’t available until 1973 and were retired in the 1980s.

  • Skyway to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland Station: Opened shortly after Magic Kingdom’s debut and closed in 1999.

  • Mickey Mouse Revue: This audio-animatronic show debuted in 1971 but moved to Japan in 1980 and closed soon after.

  • The Three Mountains: Space Mountain (1975), Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (1980), and Splash Mountain (1992) weren’t part of the opening lineup.

While these attractions weren’t ready at Magic Kingdom’s opening, they would go on to become some of Disney World’s most iconic experiences.

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!

Click below for free help planning your trip!

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!