Mad Tea Party
Opened: October 1, 1971
Location: Fantasyland in between Tomorrowland Indy Speedway in Tomorrowland and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Fantasyland
Extra Magic Hours: Morning, Evening
FASTPASS: No
Type: Spinning tea cup
Similar To: Unique
Requirements: None
Scary Factor: Low. This ride isn’t scary, but it’s liable to make people prone to motion sickness extremely uncomfortable. Even people that don’t normally have problems with motion may be slightly uncomfortable, especially if you choose to spin your individual tea cup. My recommendation would be to skip the Tea Party if you have serious motion sickness issues and make sure everyone riding in the same cup is on the same page as far as spinning the individual cup. If you don’t want to spin fast then don’t get in the same cup as a child who wants to spin as fast as they can. Neither of you will have any fun.
What to Expect: The queue for Mad Tea Party is mostly covered, but it’s still hot in the summer months because it doesn’t block the sun out from the sides. Once you make it to the front of the line you will be placed in an oversized tea cup that seats 2-4 people, depending on the size of the individuals. The cups spin mildly no matter what, but there is a turntable in the middle of the ride that can be turned to spin the individual tea cup even faster. There isn’t much more to it than that.
Where to Sit: It doesn’t matter which Tea Cup you choose. Have the heavier guests sit on one side to spin either faster.
When To Go: Mad Tea Party doesn’t see excessive wait times, even if it loads slowly. Visit after the major Fantasyland/Tomorrow priorities. Wait times usually don’t hit 15 minutes until after 11am. If you can’t visit before 11am, try again after 8pm when wait times decrease again. During the 3pm Parade is another good time to visit. Avoid between 12pm – 3pm and 4pm – 6pm if possible because wait times will be longest during those stretches.
Expect to Wait: Wait times are usually 15 minutes or less before 11am. In the afternoon, 20 to 25 minute waits are possible. After 9pm, waits are usually down to the 15 minute or less range again.
Length: 90 seconds
Rating: 5/10
Commentary: This is another midway-style carnival ride with a Disney theme. It’s mildly fun, but certainly won’t make or break most vacations. If you can ride with a short wait and don’t mind a little spinning then it’s a go. If the line is long or you don’t enjoy spinning then you’re probably better off skipping. The late evening and Extra Magic Hours are your best bets.