Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, Disney World

Frontierland is one of the six lands that make up the Magic Kingdom at Disney World. This land is themed to resemble the early 19th century wild Western Frontier.

Frontierland is home to popular attractions that include a roller coaster through a gold mine, an arcade, and a railroad stop. A new attraction, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, replaces the former Splash Mountain in 2024.

If you have visited Frontierland at Magic Kingdom, you know there’s much to do here. It’s where you’ll find classic attractions like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Tom Sawyer Island.

And by all means, let’s not forget that Frontierland is home to the Country Bear Jamboree., an audio-animatronic performance originally invented by Walt Disney Imagineering.

Here’s a preview of what all the land has to offer:

Attractions

  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
  • Country Bear Jamboree
  • Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade
  • Tom Sawyer Island
  • Walt Disney World Railroad Station
  • Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (Coming Soon)

Dining

  • Golden Oak Outpost
  • Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe
  • Westward Ho

Retail

  • Big Al’s
  • Frontier Trading Post
  • Prairie Outpost and Supply

Entertainment

  • Festival of Fantasy Parade Starting Point

Frontierland Review

Unlike Adventureland, where all the attractions are good for anyone, Frontierland currently has one ride with height restrictions. Formerly, there were two until Splash Mountain closed.

There are plenty of things for everyone to do and experience while touring the land. We’ll start with one of my favorites.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is one of those attractions that always puts a smile on my face. If we are going to get personal, I might as well share a little secret with you.

This ride always makes me feel like I’m in one of those Disney commercials you see on television.

You know, the one with the train flying by on the tracks full of people having fun with their families? The most recent version has a few grim grinning ghosts docking at the Grand Floridian. But that’s a neighboring land, not Frontierland.

Anyway, something about flying around these fast tracks leaves me erupting with laughter. I can equate that feeling of looking up and smiling when I’m away from my Disney home and see one of these ads somewhere. It’s a feeling that keeps me coming back.

This Frontierland roller coaster has a 40″ height requirement. There’s also a warning sign out front with a few advisories you might want to take into consideration before riding.

While riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, you can expect to encounter sharp turns, sudden stops, and drops. The drops are mild compared to a larger roller coaster like Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom.

Personally, I think that if you have a younger child that meets the height requirement, they will probably end up enjoying the ride. However, you know your child better than anyone.

There is an observation area where you can see a portion of the ride if you desire. Just walk up to the area where guests are exiting, and you’ll see an overlook. This is also a good spot if you are waiting for someone to exit the ride.

Our next Frontierland attraction at Disney is the Country Bear Jamboree. This is an audio-animatronic show performed in a dim theater known as Grizzly Hall.

It is one of those attractions you might want to keep in your back pocket for a portion of the day when wait times are high, and you need a break.

You can expect to see eighteen different backwoods bears performing a variety of tunes on stage. I’m sure at some point during the show, you’ll find that the Country Bears are quite relatable.

Country Bear Jamboree has a performance time of approximately 16 minutes. This attraction also has an indoor holding area for guests waiting to see the next show. That should be the only wait time you encounter at this experience.

Additionally, a few of the Country Bears are out at different times of the day greeting guests in Frontierland. They’ve been greeting guests from the balcony above their attraction.

Make sure to look up when you are out touring Frontierland, there’s no telling who you will find.

If you would like to learn more about meeting characters, make sure to visit our guide to meeting Disney World Characters.

Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade offers the opportunity to shoot game-style rifles at moving targets. This is a Frontierland attraction that can be experienced anytime during the day.

The Shootin’ Arcade does require an additional fee. It currently costs $1.00 per 35 shots.

Tom Sawyer Island is an almost anytime attraction in Frontierland. That is with the exception of evening time. This attraction is one of the few that closes around nightfall.

While this attraction is for everyone, there are a few things you need to know before heading over:

  • The island has a hidden fort with trails and activities.
  • You must board a log raft and sail over to access the island.
  • The signage indicates that the raft does offer wheelchair access, but you must be ambulatory to board.
  • It also notes that everyone needs to remain on the trails and, naturally, supervise children at all times.

Frontierland Station at Disney World

If you are interested in the Walt Disney World Railroad, you can take the train for a ride around the park. The railroad travels a circle around the Magic Kingdom, stopping at Main Street U.S.A., Storybook Circus in Fantasyland, and Frontierland.

Frontierland Dining Options

Here’s a look at the dining options you’ll find on your visit to Frontierland.

Golden Oak Outpost serves lunch and dinner. This is a walk-up-style window where you can pick up a bite to eat and then find your own seating. There are plenty of seating options at the other counter service dining locations to find a seat if needed.

Golden Oak Outpost is commonly known for serving chicken nuggets and waffle fries. They have a few other options if you want to review their online menu here.

Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe is a large counter-service dining location in Frontierland. This dining establishment features classic South West flavors served fajita and taco-style.

You can also expect to see a few traditional items on the menu here, like cheeseburgers and salads. There are typically even a few plant-based items available.

Lastly, we have Westward Ho on the main thoroughfare of Frontierland. This kiosk is a great place to pick up a frozen lemonade or popcorn prior to the Festival of Fantasy Parade.

For planning dining reservations, we have a full list of our Disney restaurant reviews available. We recommend planning at least one Disney World character dining meal and a Disney signature dining reservation.

Frontierland Shopping Locations

Frontierland has several places to pick up a souvenir while you are in the parks.

Big Al’s is a kiosk-style souvenir stand offering coonskin caps (think a raccoon wrapped around your head) and cowboy hats. If that’s what you want to sport, this is the place for you.

If you want to trade a few pins, you’ll definitely want to stop at Frontier Trading Post. This is a great location for a shopping break during the day’s heat.

We always enjoy taking a look around here. Additionally, there are several different snack and candy options available next door in Prairie Outpost and Supply.

Entertainment in Frontierland

While not an entertainment option specific to Frontierland, this is a good time to note that normally the Festival of Fantasy Parade steps off in Frontierland daily. Below is a picture of a daily parade crowd in Frontierland.

If you have spent any time around my site previously, you probably know I’m a huge advocate of the Festival of Fantasy Parade.

There are so many reasons that I think the parade should be included in your Magic Kingdom itinerary. Read the review covering our parade viewing tips and location suggestions to better plan your day.

Final Thoughts on Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland

Frontierland is a fun place to hang out on a visit to Magic Kingdom. You can escape to an island, watch the daily parade, and experience two headliner attractions all in one afternoon here!

Frontierland is bordered by Liberty Square on one side and meets Adventureland toward the back of the park. Make sure to leave plenty of time in your touring schedule to see everything Frontierland has to offer.

You can also check out the entire series of Magic Kingdom by land reviews:

Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Make sure to check out some of our resources, like the list of Walt Disney World Resorts. That article gives a brief overview of every resort at Disney.

Lastly, our most popular reviews include the best restaurants at Disney Springs, and I keep a timeline going of Disney Loungefly mini-backpacks.

Hope you have fun touring Frontierland!

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Amber

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Amber is the owner and author of Resorts Gal.  She spends over 100 days on average every year visiting the Walt Disney World Resorts and surrounding Orlando area.

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