Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Magic Kingdom · Fantasyland
Overview
Dumbo runs two full ride systems side by side, 16 elephants each, a change that came with the 2012 Fantasyland expansion and noticeably eases the wait compared to the single-unit spinners elsewhere in the park. The ride itself is exactly what the name promises, a gentle lever-controlled float above Storybook Circus, and nobody rides it for the ride.
ParksLog verdict
The flight itself is two minutes of nothing, and that's fine; watching a toddler fly an elephant for the first time is the whole transaction. With two ride systems the line moves faster than it looks, but no version of this ride is worth twenty minutes of standing still.
About this experience
Soar high in the sky—and see an elephant fly—on a whimsical flight aboard Dumbo.
Best for
- Families with toddlers and young children
- First-time Magic Kingdom visitors
- Disney classic film fans
Tips
- Ride at dusk when the colorful lights illuminate the elephants beautifully for photographs
- Ride early or late in the day; with two ride systems running, waits stay manageable most of the time
Details
History
One of Magic Kingdom's original day-one attractions from October 1971, Dumbo ran as a single-unit spinner for four decades before the 2012 Fantasyland expansion added the second ride system and the adjacent play-area queue.
Fun facts
- Magic Kingdom's Dumbo features two side-by-side units with 16 elephants each, making it one of the largest Dumbo spinners at any Disney park
- The 1941 animated film that inspired this ride was Disney's fourth feature film and one of its shortest, at just 64 minutes