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The Barnstormer: Ride Guide

  • Writer: Erica Caldwell
    Erica Caldwell
  • Feb 9
  • 2 min read
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Pink badge with text "Best For Little Guests" and a red party popper icon.
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Sign for "Peter Pan's Flight" with colorful characters flying over clouds against a bright blue sky and whimsical, colorful background.

The Barnstormer is a fun little coaster that will give your littles a great first experience for a rollercoaster!


Quick Summary

  • Park: Magic Kingdom

  • Land: Fantasyland

  • Ride Type: Kids Coaster

  • Height Requirement: 35"

  • Lightning Lane: Lightly Recommended on Busy Days


What is The Barnstormer?

The Barnstormer is a short, kid-friendly coaster themed after the one and only Goofy. Each cart fits two guests. You will fly high above the circus in Storybook Circus! The ride is approximately 53 seconds long, and there is a simple lap bar.

Is The Barnstormer Scary?

  • This ride is a very rough, loud coaster. The noise might scare little guests.

  • Even though it is a short coaster, some little guests might be frightened by heights and sharp turns.

  • Overall, The Barnstormer gets a Scare Score of 3/10.

Best Times to Ride The Barnstormer

  • The Barnstormer maintains relatively short waits unless it's a busy day in the parks.

  • Good alternative ride while other guests in your party ride TRON (next door).

  • Average wait times for this ride are around 5-20 minutes.

Lightning Lane vs. Standby: Is It Worth It?

Due to the extremely short wait times, I would say the Lightning Lane is not worth it! If this ride is very important to the little guests in your party, then it might be worth reserving a time if you want to ride it at a specific time. Otherwise, Lightning Lanes are not worth it.


If the standby line is very long, I wouldn't recommend taking the time to stand in line for this ride. It's only 53 seconds long, and it is a very calm coaster for most people, so it is not worth standing in line.

Nearby Snacks, Bathrooms, & Break Spots

Bathrooms: There are bathrooms next to The Barnstormer in the big barn.


Snacks: There are tons of snacks (and break spots) in Storybook Treats (the big tent). They sell baked goods and normal Disney packaged snacks.


Break Spots: There is a lot of outdoor seating across the way from The Barnstormer next to Storybook Treats. It is not fully shaded, but it's usually very quiet!

Pro Tips

  • If there aren't many people waiting in line, you can ask to go again without getting out of your seat!

  • Guests too small for The Barnstormer (or don't want to ride) can tour the Smellephants around Storybook Circus, which are elephant statues that smell like different parks of the circus.

The Barnstormer is a fun little coaster that is perfect to introduce little guests to coasters. It's short and fun and usually has a short wait. While it isn't worth a Lightning Lane or a long standby wait, it's still a good ride to enjoy during your visit.


Planning your Magic Kingdom day and want help deciding which rides fit your family best? I help plan stress-free Disney trips and would love to help. My services are free to you!


Want to read more about Magic Kingdom? Check out these posts and pages...


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