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Credit: Disney Here’s why you should reconsider getting in line for this classic Disney World ride.
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When people think of Walt Disney World and the Disney theme parks in general, they think of icons like Cinderella Castle, Space Mountain, “it’s a small world”, and the Haunted Mansion. However, Disney World is also home to numerous modern-day marvels, with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind being a great example.
Other notable attractions in Disney World include The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, and Expedition Everest.
While all classic in their own way, perhaps Disney’s most iconic theme park ride is Dumbo the Flying Elephant. This family-friendly spinner ride has entertained and delighted generations of guests, serving as an unofficial mascot of both Walt Disney World and Disneyland.
However, while fun and colorful, there are plenty of reasons why this classic attraction is worth skipping.
Its Length
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Right off the bat, we have to mention just how short Dumbo the Flying Elephant actually is. No, we aren’t talking about the elephant itself, but the attraction’s total ride time. Dumbo clocks in at just a little over 60 seconds, which is not a lot, even for other family-friendly attractions.
Some of Disney World’s other rides are short, namely The Barnstormer and Peter Pan’s Flight, but both offer more fun, thrills, and immersion than what Dumbo can provide.
Its Location
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Guests will find Dumbo the Flying Elephant inside Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland, a hub dedicated to Disney’s collection of princesses and fairytales.
Other notable attractions located here include Peter Pan’s Flight, “it’s a small world”, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, and Journey of the Little Mermaid. While none of these attractions are exceptionally long or thrilling, they all offer far more in the way of theming and immersion than Dumbo.
Its Queue
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What truly makes Dumbo the Flying Elephant such an unappealing ride for some is how long its line can get. While being a very tame, kid-focused attraction, Dumbo remains one of Magic Kindom’s more consistently popular rides. As we’ve said many times here at Inside the Magic, time is the most valuable resource during a vacation, especially at Walt Disney World.
With so many rides and attractions to pick and choose from, doing everything there is to do at all of Disney World’s four theme parks can be nearly impossible for the unprepared, without even factoring in Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, Disney’s two water parks, and Disney Springs, Disney’s outdoor shopping and dining district.
For young children, Dumbo the Flying Elephant can be a great “early” ride” for them to experience, but for everyone else, there’s little reason to hop aboard for a magical right when so many other attractions exist.
As we mentioned earlier, Walt Disney World is home to an impressive list of dark rides, thrill rides, roller coasters, and other attractions, with several more additions on the way.
There’s Other Versions
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The last reason why Dumbo is so unremarkable is that Magic Kingdom has two other rides just like it. Just a stone’s throw away in Adventureland, guests will find The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. This spinner ride offers riders the exact same experience, giving them control over how high or low they ride. Aside from the Aladdin theming, everything about this is the same as Dumbo.
Tomorrowland also has its own spinner ride, Astro Orbiter. This attraction also spins guests around, though at a considerably taller height, giving it an edge over Dumbo and Aladdin. Astro Orbiter still isn’t a “quality” attraction in the same sense Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Jungle Cruise are, but it certainly packs more of a punch than the other spinner rides in Magic Kingdom.
Do you agree or disagree with us? Let us know in the comments!