Dumbo, The Flying Elephant at Walt Disney World
Dumbo, The Flying Elephant, is a spinner-style attraction at Magic Kingdom. Dumbo is located in the Storybook Circus section of the park.
This article will cover riding Dumbo during your Walt Disney World vacation. We’ll look at Genie+ options, the best times to ride, and other details.
Most children will want to ride Dumbo and similar spinner attractions a handful of times during your vacation. And some adults will too. Guilty.
This article was updated on April 17, 2022.
Here are the quick reference details for Dumbo.
| Dumbo, The Flying Elephant | Magic Kingdom |
Location: | Storybook Circus |
Disney Height Requirement: | None |
Eligible for Disney Genie+ | Yes |
Ride Type: | Spinner |
Seats Per Vehicle: | Two or possibly one adults with two small children. |
Disney Rider Switch: | None |
Good For: | Children |
Scare Factor: | Low |
Must-Do List: | Medium |
Perfect For: | All Ages |
Special Mention: | There is a play while you wait area inside the circus tent. It makes an excellent spot for small children to take a break. |
Dumbo, The Flying Elephant
Most children will want to take a spin on Dumbo, the Flying Elephant, when they visit Magic Kingdom Park. The latest version of Dumbo opened a while back with the addition of Storybook Circus.
Magic Kingdom’s Dumbo has two spinners that sit side by side. One is dedicated to Lightning Lane, while the other is for guests riding standby.
When you enter Dumbo’s standby line, you’ll follow the path toward the right and enter the giant circus tent.
A cast member will ask if you want to play or ride. This area is known as the “play while you wait” area.
Many parents bring their children back here to play. Therefore, if you need to take a break somewhere where the kids can run free, this is the place.
The area is set up like an indoor playground surrounded by bleacher-style seating. If you are visiting on a busy day, the cast member will give someone in your group a pager. When the pager goes off, it’s time to return for your ride on Dumbo.
If you don’t want to play, inform the cast member, and you can continue through to the regular line.
Keep this play area in the back of your mind in the event of a rain shower or storm. It is the perfect place to kill a little extra time while staying dry.
When Dumbo initially re-opened in this newer location, it was extremely busy at specific points during the day. So the idea of the play area was to allow guests to have a little fun time instead of standing in line.
These days the wait time for Dumbo, the Flying Elephant, is rarely over 20 minutes. Of course, there might be a few exceptions. But thankfully, the attraction has a decent capacity with two spinners.
When it’s time to board the spinner, parents must sit on the outside. A single lap restraint (belt) goes over everyone in your vehicle.
Additionally, you’ll find a lever that makes each elephant go up or down during the ride. This setup is similar to the Magic Carpets spinner ride in Adventureland.
Lastly, there is a fun photo opportunity outside the attraction. A solo Dumbo sits between the two spinners but is not part of the line.
Children can sit inside the elephant and test it out. It also gives you plenty of time to take a few photos instead of trying to when you are boarding the ride.
Dumbo, the Flying Elephant, is a lot of fun. I always like to remind parents that this is the kind of attraction that children dream about riding.
And who can blame them? I love it too.
Take Dumbo out for a spin during the daytime and then again after dark. The spinner is a little extra pretty in the evening.
Dumbo is pretty much considered an attraction you can ride anytime. However, wait times will be significantly shorter before lunch and after sunset.
If you ride during the last hour or so of the park open, you can usually stay on the ride a couple of times if other guests aren’t waiting. The same goes for the nearby Barnstormer.
Related: Goofy’s Barnstormer Kiddie Coaster
The following attractions are located in the immediate area of Dumbo, the Flying Elephant.
- Under the Sea Journey of the Little Mermaid
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- Cinderella Castle at Magic Kingdom
Are you planning to spend a decent amount of time at Magic Kingdom on your next trip? Then, you might consider staying in the middle of the magic at one of the resorts near Magic Kingdom.
They are detailed in these reviews:
- Disney’s Polynesian Resort Review
- Grand Floridian Resort Review
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort Review
- Bay Lake Tower Review
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Lastly, our most popular reviews include the timeline of Loungefly Disney backpacks and the list of best Disney Springs Restaurants.
I hope this article was helpful in providing details for riding Dumbo during your next vacation.
In the comments: Do you have any questions about Dumbo, the Flying Elephant? Do you remember this classic attraction from your childhood?
