Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Opened: October 1, 1971
Location: Fantasyland
Extra Magic Hours: Morning, Evening
FASTPASS: No
Type: Carousel
Similar To: TriceraTop Spin, The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
Requirements: None
Scary Factor: Zero
What to Expect: Dumbo the Flying Elephant is a hub and spoke midway style ride with a central hub and 16 Dumbo-themed vehicles that spin slowly counter-clockwise. Each Dumbo holds two people (or potentially three very squished people) that can control whether the vehicle travels up or down with a control stick.
When To Go: If Dumbo is a priority then you’ll want to head here as quickly after Park opening as possible. The line is excruciatingly slow moving and extremely long in the afternoon. Unlike other popular rides like Splash Mountain or Space Mountain, there is also no FASTPASS option so you’re stuck in line no matter when you go. Seriously, if Dumbo is a must-ride for your group then this is one you’ll want to get to as quickly as possible. You may also want to check back in the final hour the Magic Kingdom is open or during the final hour of evening Extra Magic Hours when most of the young kids are already in bed. The parade or fireworks may also be a good time if you’re willing to potentially miss those events, but the line may be so long that a short lull in traffic won’t do much good.
Expect to Wait: Oh lord, you’re in for one unless you ride during a recommended time. Dumbo is one of the three slowest loading rides at the Magic Kingdom. It’s also one of the most popular because kids are somehow born with the innate and undying desire to ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant before their sixth birthday. Expect waits to balloon to 60 minutes within an hour of the Magic Kingdom opening and in the 90 minute range in the afternoon, unless the Park is extremely uncrowded. Lines may be even longer during Holiday season.
Length: 90 seconds
Rating: 2/10 for most adults, 10/10 for preschool age children
Dumbo 2.0: The Fantasyland expansion is bringing a new Dumbo ride to the Magic Kingdom, complete with two separate rides connected by a large circus tent.
Commentary: Dumbo is a favorite among preschool age children and they are going to want to ride it. This presents a problem if your group also wants to ride the headlining rides. I would recommend visiting Dumbo the Elephant first thing if it’s a must-do. Not only will you not have to listen to “Mommy, when will we ride Dumbo?” all day, but you’ll also get the ride with the worst queue done without a long wait. You can always FASTPASS the other rides throughout the day if necessary. Dumbo is also situated right in the middle of the Magic Kingdom, so you can also choose to move towards either Space Mountain or Splash Mountain next or ride the other Fantasyland rides (namely Winnie the Pooh, Peter Pan’s Flight, Cinderella’s Golden Carousel, and Indy Speedway) with minimal wait. If your group consists of people that don’t care much about whether or not they ride Dumbo, I would save it for the end of the evening or during evening Extra Magic Hours. You do not want to find yourself in this line in the middle of the day. Also note the short duration of the ride. It is over much too soon.