Guide to Tomorrowland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom

Next to Fantasyland, Tomorrowland is probably the most iconic land within all of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.  At least in our opinion.  Well known attractions and a unique retro-futuristic design make it something almost everyone knows.  Here in our guide to Tomorrowland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about this part of the park.  The guide covers the various attractions, food, shops, and more that you can find.

When it was initially conceived, Tomorrowland was meant to represent a vision of the future.  A great idea, but if you’re an economic entity like Disney, there’s one problem.  The future is continually evolving.  If it is really about the future, that means constant refurbishments or wholesale renovations.  Clearly, that wasn’t going to work for Disney.  So, they took a step back in the mid-1990s and took a turn that was designed to make it more “timeless.”  That turn was to make Tomorrowland land about a “future that never was.”

Today Tomorrowland is an amalgamation of attractions that don’t really hold together in a coherent theme.  At least in our opinion.  Attractions that cover gas-powered cars, rockets, space rangers, and looks back at how the past has evolved, don’t sync together all that great.  Not to say that there aren’t some must-see attractions here, there certainly are.  In our opinion, if there was one place that could use some work in Magic Kingdom, this is it.  It will get a bit of a boost in a few years when the new Tron ride opens.

Tomorrowland Attractions

There are truly two headliner attractions in this part of the Magic Kingdom and then a few timeless classics, that may not be the most innovative these days, but will still appeal to visitors.

Space Mountain

While Space Mountain isn’t an original Magic Kingdom attraction, it has been around long enough many people think it is.  Opened in 1975, it actually was an original idea of Walt Disney.  However, the technology of the 1960s wasn’t quite up to par with what Walt wanted.  This is probably the ride that is most associated with Tomorrowland.  Frankly, we can’t imagine Magic Kingdom without it.

The ride rockets you into the far reaches of space. You’ll hurdle past stars, satellites, and more on this roller coaster.  During the development of Space Mountain, Disney Imagineering brought in Mercury 9 and Gemini 5 astronaut Gordon Cooper for help with the ride.  He served as a consultant, ensuring that the experience incorporated much of the learnings NASA had at the time about space and space flight.

This ride is a favorite of many and is unique in a few ways.  First, it is one of the only rides at Disney World where you ride in your row alone.  Nobody else will be next to you.  Second, this is one of the few attractions that are present at every Disney theme park around the globe.

Attraction Duration: 3 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: Yes

Minimum Height:  44in (112cm)

Seating Set Up: 1 rider per rocket

Rider Switch Available: Yes

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  Moderate.  Little kids probably won’t be tall enough to ride and shouldn’t as they won’t have a parent seated next to them. It’s in the dark, like total darkness.  There are lots of flashing lights in the beginning as you launch into space.  The ride doesn’t have any large drops, but turns can be abrupt, and you can’t see them coming due to the dark.

Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin

A relatively new ride, at least in the grand scheme of Magic Kingdom, Buzz is really popular.  Based upon the characters from the smash hit Toy Story, you’ll join Buzz on his mission to defend the universe from the evil Emperor Zurg.  How?  Well you board a two-person XP-37 star cruiser that is armed with two laser cannons.  Fire your lasers at the “Z” labeled targets the collect points and defend the universe.  Have a friendly competition against the other person in your star cruiser, but you can also see what other people have done that day at the end of the ride.

You can control the rotation of your space cruiser while shooting.  Get more points for hitting the targets that are farther away.  Your ending score also determines your rank within Star Command.

Attraction Duration: 4 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: Yes

Minimum Height:  None

Seating Set Up: Your star cruiser holds two people

Rider Switch Available: No

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  Low.  The ride is in the dark, but your surroundings are lit up with florescent painted characters and scenes.  Some of the characters you are shooting your lasers at are not so nice-looking monsters.  Younger kids (under five years old), like our youngest daughter, could become frightened and refuse to help you in your quest to defend the galaxy.  If this happens, you must keep fighting for the good of the universe!

Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress

Carousel of Progress is an attraction that newcomers to Disney may find a bit blah, but long time Disney fans find great nostalgia in.  Those highly interested in Wal Disney, the man, also find it a great experience.  The attraction first debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York.  At that point it was known as Progressland.  After the World’s Fair, the attraction was moved to Disneyland until 1973, when it was then relocated to Disney World.

There’s a reason that it is called “Walt Disney’s” Carousel of Progress.  Walt was heavily involved and directed the full creation of this attraction.  While the ride has undergone some minor updates since its inception, it is still a great window into Walt’s eye on the future and his belief or even hope for it.  Walt was so interested and hopeful for the future that he envisioned a whole land dedicated to it at Epcot.

During the ride, you will see animatronic characters from the same family, progress through the decades of the 1900s, while commenting on the technological advances of the era.  This happens while you rotate around a circular stage featuring four different scenes.  The first scene starts in the early 1900s, with the second advancing to the late 1920s, the third in the 1940s, and then we make a significant leap to “present-day.”  Present-day is a bit loose as many of the things they reference are very 1990s concepts.  Maybe they’ll do a refurbishment at some point and bring it up to real present day, but you get the idea.

This attraction is great for a mid-afternoon break from the sun.  It lasts for 21 minutes. That’s a beautiful 21 minutes of air-conditioned, sitting on your behind, resting your feet time. It’s the most prolonged rest you will find in Tomorrowland or all of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for that matter.  We find it a great place to hit around 3:00 or so, usually combined with before or after FastPass+ reservations for Buzz or Space Mountain.  There is rarely a long wait here so that you can duck in opportunistically.

Attraction Duration: 21 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: No

Minimum Height:  None

Seating Set Up: Small theater rows of seating

Rider Switch Available: No

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  Low.  The ride is in a dark theater, and the room slowly rotates around the center stage.

Tomorrowland Speedway

You’ll be off to the races in small gas-powered cars at the Tomorrowland Speedway.  The attraction is an original opening day ride from when Magic Kingdom opened.  Back then it was called Grand Prix Raceway. There’s something about a racetrack, even a small one, that excites kids and adults alike.  This track is a little less than half a mile long.  Its very kid-appropriate as the cars don’t go too fast (less than 10 miles per hour), and there is a guide rail in the middle to make sure they don’t go careening into another car.

If you have young kids, this could very well be the first time they ever “drive” a car, and they won’t forget it.  The ride is known to produce huge grins on the face of children as they get to do something they’ve only watched their parents do for all of their young lives.  Fair warning though, young kids can’t control the cars well, and you usually end up bouncing off the guard rail the whole time.  Who of us hasn’t heard the words “I do it myself!”?  If your young kid doesn’t want help, it could make the ride a bit rough. 

Try not to hit this attraction during the middle of the day.  There isn’t much shade to be found in the queue or on the track.  It can be blazing hot here.

Attraction Duration: 4 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: Yes

Minimum Height:  Must be 32 inches (81 cm) to drive when accompanied by someone at least 54 inches (137 cm).  Guests above 54 inches (137 cm) can drive by themselves

Seating Set Up: 2 people per car

Rider Switch Available: Yes

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  None.  A pretty simple ride and the cars don’t go that fast.  The cars can be loud however in the loading and unloading area.  Our youngest is pretty sensitive to noise, and she doesn’t like that aspect of it.

Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor

If you’ve seen the movie Monsters, Inc., you know at the end the monsters realize that making little kids laugh is a far better strategy for collecting power than scaring them.  Hmm, maybe we should have put a spoiler warning on that, but if you haven’t seen the movie in 20 years, our guess is you weren’t going to get to it.  This show builds on that premise as the monsters are here to put on a show for you to collect electricity.

This attraction uses the same technology that Turtle Talk with Crush does at Epcot, although we like that attraction better.  What makes the attraction unique is that it isn’t the same show every time.  How?  Well, we don’t know how exactly the technology works, but a Disney cast member is voicing the characters live at the theater and adjusting as the show goes on.  They follow a general script or progression for the show, and as they interact with guests, they take the show wherever it leads.

Younger kids usually find this attraction very entertaining.  Adults and older kids may think they are listing to “dad” jokes.  The caliber of the Disney employee voicing the performers can make a big difference in the quality of the experience.  You can also submit your own joke via text before the show.  Depending on how good it is, they may use it in the show.

This is another good attraction for a hot afternoon as it is reasonably long in length and air-conditioned.

Attraction Duration: 14 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: Yes

Minimum Height:  None

Seating Set Up: Small theater rows of seating

Rider Switch Available: No

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  None

Astro Orbiter

The Astro Orbiter is basically the Dumbo ride without any of the charm of Dumbo, or the great queue.  Oh, and it’s taller and faster (we think).  Ride in a rocket ship high above Tomorrowland.  You do get some great views here, but that’s about as good as it gets.

If you are a bigger person, fitting in the rocket with someone else can be a challenge.  You may need to ride alone.

Attraction Duration: 2 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: No

Minimum Height:  None

Seating Set Up: 2 people per rocket

Rider Switch Available: No

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  Low.  The ride moves at a decent pace, and it is much more elevated.  People scared of heights may not enjoy it. Don’t think of it as being as tall as Dumbo; it is probably three times higher in the air.  The rocket ship also tilts a little, giving some people a bit of a feeling that you are going to fall out of it.

Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

For those of you with young kids, you may recognize the Tomorrowland Transit Authority name from the Disney Junior’s show Miles from Tomorrowland.  This is far less exciting than that cartoon, which our girls really enjoyed.  Now, just because it isn’t exciting, doesn’t mean it’s not worth catching a ride.  Au contraire!

The people mover is a tram-like conveyer of people.  It was intended to be a vision of what mass transit could look like, using a magnetic propulsion system.  It is technically a ‘linear induction’ powered track.  We like magnetic propulsion better.  Magnets pull the cars along the track.  We think its design is one of the things that make Tomorrowland at Disney’s Magic Kingdom special.

What makes this attraction useful are two things.  One, its 10 minutes in the shade and off your feet, so it’s an excellent way to take a break during a hot day.  Two, you get to weave your way inside Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear, where you can check out the happenings in them.  You also get a narrated tour that gives you lots of fun information about the park and how it has changed over the year.  Taking a nap here can help you recoup as well.

Attraction Duration: 10 minutes

FastPass+ Availability: No

Minimum Height:  None

Seating Set Up: Seats up to 4 per car

Rider Switch Available: No

Single Rider Available:  No

Kid Scare Factor:  Low. It’s elevated, so some might not like the heights, but it’s a slow-paced ride.

Tomorrowland Entertainment

Believe it or not, Tomorrowland doesn’t have any regularly scheduled entertainment options around the land.  A rarity for Disney World.  We do suggest you check your time’s guide, though, just in case any unplanned events take place.

Tomorrowland Dining

Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Café

Cosmic Ray’s is one of the more popular eateries in Tomorrowland. It’s also pretty basic food that features hotdogs, hamburgers, and the like.  They do have rotisserie chicken and a pulled pork platter, which gives you a few options for some variety.  The atmosphere and lack of lots of options in Tomorrowland are what keep this place busy.  Here you will find Sonny Eclipse, an alien lounge singer who plays songs and generally entertains guests in the building.  Mobile order availability makes this location very appealing.  Seating can sometimes be a challenge here, though.

Make sure you know what “bay” (line) you are standing in.  Not all bays serve all menu items.  The last thing you want to do is wait all that time and realize you were in the wrong line.

Location: On the border between Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, just across from the Tomorrowland Speedway

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:  10:00 AM to 10:00 PM

Mobile Orders Accepted: Yes

Dining Plan Eligible:  Yes

Dining Plans Accepted: All

Dining Plan Credits Required: 1

Tomorrowland Terrace Restaurant

Tomorrowland Terrace is a pretty non-descript place to grab an equally non-descript bite to eat.  Chicken strips, burgers, they’ve got your typical theme park fare.  For our money, there are better places to eat.

Note that this restaurant is not open year-round, so check the operating hours on Disney’s website for the days you are going to be there.  Disney says it’s open seasonally, but at this point, it is rarely open.

One thing Disney has started doing here is offering a nighttime dessert party, where you can grab something sweet and watch the fireworks of Happily Ever After from the restaurant.  However, this is an upcharge event that you do have to pay for.

Location: Right where cross into Tomorrowland from Main Street, U.S.A.

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:  Varies seasonally

Mobile Orders Accepted: Yes

Dining Plan Eligible:  Yes

Dining Plans Accepted: All

Dining Plan Credits Required: 1

Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies

This snack location in Tomorrowland focuses on your sweet tooth.  Much like Storybook Treats in Fantasyland, this is ice cream centric fair.  Sundaes, milkshakes, and smoothies are the norm.

Location: In the middle of Tomorrowland, near the Astro Orbiter and Stitch’s Great Escape!

Table Service or Quick Service:  Quick Service

Menu: Click Here

Cuisine Style: American – snacks only

Price Range: Inexpensive (The snacks are $6 or less)

Hours:  10:30 AM to 10:00 PM

Mobile Orders Accepted: No

Dining Plan Eligible:  Only for snacks

Dining Plans Accepted: All, only for snacks

Dining Plan Credits Required: 1 snack credit

The Lunching Pad

This quick-service location serves up a pretty limited menu, with a mix of snacks and heartier meals.  At The Lunching Pad you can get one of the great Mickey Pretzels with cheese sauce.

Location: Right underneath the Astro Orbiter.

Table Service or Quick Service:  Quick Service

Menu: Click Here

Cuisine Style: American

Price Range: Inexpensive (Entrees are less than $12 per person)

Hours:  10:00 AM to 9:00 PM

Mobile Orders Accepted: Yes

Dining Plan Eligible:  Yes

Dining Plans Accepted: All

Dining Plan Credits Required: 1

Cool Ship

Cool Ship is a quick service location that is essentially a small food stand, with a very limited menu.

Location: On the northeast side of the Astro Orbiter

Table Service or Quick Service:  Quick Service

Menu: Click Here 

Cuisine Style: American

Price Range: Inexpensive (Most items are less than $10 per person)

Hours:  11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Mobile Orders Accepted: No

Dining Plan Eligible:  Only for snacks

Dining Plans Accepted: All, only for snacks

Dining Plan Credits Required: 1 snack credit

Tomorrowland Shops

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

Mickey’s Star Traders

This is one of the largest shops in all of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, not just Tomorrowland.  It carries a good variety of merchandise.  You can look into the shop from the Tomorrowland Transit Authority.

Merchant of Venus

If you’re in the Magic Kingdom and looking for Star Wars film-related items, this is your place.

Tomorrowland Light & Power Co.

This souvenir shop carries some good Tomorrowland themed merchandise.  You can also create customized magic bands and cell phone cases here.

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

With that, we will wrap up our guide to Tomorrowland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.  While it doesn’t have the most attractions, it certainly has a handful of them that you are going to want to fit into your trip. What’s your favorite part of Tomorrowland?  How do you feel about the theming consistency?  Drop down into the comments section and let us know.

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.  Here are the other guides we have to the lands of Magic Kingdom.

Guide to Main Street, U.S.A.

Guide to Fantasyland

Guide to Frontierland

Guide to Adventureland

Guide to Liberty Square