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Guide to Frontierland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

Frontierland represents a step back to the old west.  It’s a wild place where bank robbers, runaway trains, and every lawless person in the country roams.  Here in our Guide to Frontierland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, we’ll review the good, the bad, and the ugly of this great western-themed land.  The guide covers the various attractions, food, shops, and more that you can find.

This land within Magic Kingdom has what Tomorrowland lacks, which is great consistency in theme throughout its attractions.  It features a couple of Magic Kingdom’s headliner attractions, along with some other fairly fun places to explore.  It also has several great options for dining and entertainment.

Attractions

Splash Mountain

The first headliner attraction in Frontierland, Splash Mountain represents Disney’s spin on the old-fashioned log ride.  Themed to the story of Br’er Rabbit, you’ll see him have a good old time, while Br’er Bear and Br’er Fox a trying to chase him down.  The attraction features over 100 talking or singing animatronics.  The music features many classic Disney tunes like “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”, “Ev’rybody’s Got a Laughing Place”, and “How Do You Do?”.

All of this designed to make you not think about the 5-story drop coming at the end of the ride.  Be warned, you will likely get wet on this ride.  The closer you are to the front of the log, the wetter you will get.  Sitting in the very front will possibly get you soaked.

Attraction Duration: 18 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: Yes

Minimum Height:  40in (102cm)

Seating Set Up: Your log holds 2 people per row, up to 8 in a log

Rider Switch Available: Yes

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  Moderate for little kids, low for others.  Much of the ride is in the dark and it does have the one large drop.  But it’s over before they know it.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The second of the two headline attractions in Frontierland, Thunder Mountain first opened in 1980.  It has been a fan favorite ever since.  This attraction takes you into an old abandoned mine, where you discover a locomotive.  But it’s not just any locomotive, it might just have a little something up its sleeve.  The mountain itself is designed to remind guests of Monument Valley, with the striking stalagmite formations.  They make for some great caverns for your train to dart through.

Much like all the Disney World roller coasters, this attraction features some great theming from the moment you enter the queue to the time you exit the ride.  Great little touches are about, you just have to look for them.  Water geysers, falling rocks, buzzards, and more.  You’ll feel like you are indeed out in the old-time west.

This attraction features another one of the really good queues for waiting.  They have interactive features where you can do things like set off dynamite, watch old home movies, and more.  These are great features that help us kill time with our kids when we are in line.

The train car is a bit small, taller guests, or those with long legs may have a hard time fitting into the car.

Attraction Duration: 3 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: Yes

Minimum Height:  40in (102cm)

Seating Set Up: 2 riders per train car, 3 if they are smaller kids

Rider Switch Available: Yes

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  Moderate.  This ride moves at a good pace and a few parts are in the dark.  Not too many big drops or the like, but it has plenty of hard turns.

Tom Sawyer Island

This attraction allows you to explore a remote land of woods and adventure, much like pioneers did many years ago.  Inspired by the characters Mark Twain created, you can explore the secret hideaways of the island.

This is a great place to let everyone stretch their legs after standing in line for a while.  Kids can explore the island while parents can watch from a further distance.  You can climb hills, make your way over a barrel bridge, and more.  There are maps placed all over the island so you know where you are at all times.

Kids love this attraction because of the interactive nature of it.  Finally, an attraction they can climb all over after mom and dad have been telling them to quit climbing on things all day!  We’ve all been there, right?

You do have to take a log raft across the water to get to the island.  That’s kind of how islands work.

Attraction Duration: N/A

FastPass+ Availability: No

Minimum Height:  None

Seating Set Up: N/A

Rider Switch Available: No

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  Low.  There are some dark caves that kids may not like.

Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade

This attraction is a fun little shooting gallery.  Little kids love to come here and try shooting at the many targets.  Some of us adults have a good time with it too.  It’s one of the few attractions in all of Disney World where you have to actually pay to play.  All you need is a buck for you and a kid or two, but still, it’s a little annoying to use that we have to pay to do this.

The gun you use is a replica .54-caliber Hawkins buffalo rifle.  Be advised there are no prizes here.  Just shoot and you’re done.

Attraction Duration: However long it takes you to fire off all your rounds.

FastPass+ Availability: No

Minimum Height:  None

Seating Set Up: N/A

Rider Switch Available: No

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  None

Country Bear Jamboree

This old-fashioned hoe-down is one of the original Magic Kingdom attractions.  And if we’re being honest, it shows.  After almost 50 years the show isn’t much different.

It features a group of singing hillbilly bears.  The best thing we can say for it is that it buys you about 20 minutes in air conditioning and off of your feet which can be invaluable on a hot summer’s day.

Attraction Duration: 16 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: No

Minimum Height:  None

Seating Set Up: Small theater rows of bench seating

Rider Switch Available: No

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  None

Walt Disney World Railroad

Hop aboard one of four 1920s era steam engine locomotives.  Okay, technically not all the engines were built in the 20s, but 1916 is close enough.  Take a 1.5-mile journey around the outer edges of Magic Kingdom.  There are two additional train stations, one in Fantasyland (near Barnstormer) and one in Main Street, U.S.A (near the park entrance).  Trains should get to the station every 5-10 minutes.  The four engines are named:

  • Walter E. Disney, named after Walt Disney
  • Lilly Belle, named after Walt’s wife, Lillian
  • Roy O. Disney, named after Walt’s brother
  • Roger E. Broggie, named after an original Imagineer who led the railroad project at Walt Disney World Resort

Attraction Duration: 20 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: No

Minimum Height:  None

Seating Set Up: 3 to 5 riders per bench

Rider Switch Available: No

Single Rider Available:  No

Anna and Elsa had a great time dancing during The Frontierland Hoedown.
Anna and Elsa had a great time dancing during The Frontierland Hoedown.

Entertainment

Entertainment is pretty limited in Frontierland.  There’s only one thing to watch.

The Frontierland Hoedown

Each day, a group cast members assemble in front of the Country Bear Jamboree and have a little hoedown.  Square dancing and some fun are had by everyone.  Times vary, so check your park information the day you get to Magic Kingdom.

Dining

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café

Stroll right in and saddle up for some western grub at Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Café.  This quick-service restaurant sounds like western food is featured here and you probably expect to pick up a hamburger and hotdogs for a meal.  You’d be right if this was a few years ago.  However, they changed the menu to carry Mexican style cuisine.  They didn’t change the name of the restaurant though, so it’s a little off for us, but we can look past that as it’s a pretty good place to eat (for counter service in Magic Kingdom).  It’s admittedly a low bar though.

Disney does appear to try new items here pretty often, so make sure you check out the menu every once in a while, as things can come and go.

Location: Just to the southeast of Splash Mountain, on your left, as you head towards Adventureland

Table Service or Quick Service:  Quick Service

Menu: Click Here

Cuisine Style: Mexican

Price Range: Inexpensive (Adults can eat for under $15/person; kids for under $10/person)

Hours:  10:45 AM to 9:00 PM

Mobile Orders Accepted: Yes

Dining Plan Eligible:  Yes

Dining Plans Accepted: All

Dining Plan Credits Required: 1

Golden Oak Outpost

Golden Oak is a pretty basic food stand.  There’s no seating or really cover here.  You’ll be getting your food to go.  It’s a pretty limited menu of chicken nuggets, fries, and the like.

Location: Along the far west walkway between Adventureland and Frontierland

Table Service or Quick Service:  Quick Service

Menu: Click Here

Cuisine Style: American

Price Range: Inexpensive (Adults can eat for under $15/person; kids for under $10/person)

Hours:  11:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Only operates seasonally)

Mobile Orders Accepted: Yes

Dining Plan Eligible:  Yes

Dining Plans Accepted: All

Dining Plan Credits Required: 1

Shops

Like all of our other pages in this guide, we’re not going to hit every shopping location.  These are just the ones that are more noteworthy.

Splashdown Photos

Located on the exit walkway after you ride Splash Mountain, this small shop has some fun gifts in it.  You can pick up some good Splash Mountain themed items here.  You don’t have to ride Splash Mountain to get here, just go in the exit walkway.

Briar Patch

Another good souvenir shop that is a decent size so the assortment is better.  You can get Thunder Mountain and Splash Mountain themed souvenirs here.

Frontier Trading Post

The Frontier Trading Post has a lot of western wear and Native American related items.  Most the this is pretty blah in our opinion.  If you’re into pin trading, this is a good shop for you.

Wrapping Up our Guide to Frontierland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

With that, we will wrap up our guide to Frontierland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.  While not the largest land in Magic Kingdom, it packs a punch with two major attractions and great theming.  Is Frontierland your favorite park in Magic Kingdom?  If so, let us and our community know why down in the comments section below.

If you are interested in the other lands of Magic Kingdom, you can use the links below to skip to our guides to those areas of the park.  Otherwise, you can head back to our Disney World Trip Planning Guide to explore more of what Disney World has to offer.

Guide to Main Street, U.S.A.

Guide to Fantasyland

Guide to Tomorrowland

Guide to Adventureland

Guide to Liberty Square

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