Touring Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom (Rides, Dining, and Shopping)
We’re off to visit Tomorrowland at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World. We’ll discuss the Tomorrowland rides, dining options, and shopping.
Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow! If you’ve ever visited Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom, you might recall hearing that phrase while riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover. It’s part of the classic audio that plays when you pass through Space Mountain, Which is probably one of Disney’s most iconic attractions.
But there’s much more to do in Tomorrowland than loop it all day on the Peoplemover while waiting on your Lightning Lane for Space Mountain. This futuristic land is home to eight attractions, so you’ll likely spend a decent amount of time there. Additionally, you’ll probably want to return in the evening to see the Tron canopy light up after nightfall. It’s pretty special. Let’s take a spin through the land and see what all there is to do!
Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom
Disney World’s Tomorrowland Rides
- Astro Orbiter
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
- Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
- Space Mountain
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover
- Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
- Tron Lightcycle / Run
Character Meets in Tomorrowland
- Stitch
Dining in Tomorrowland
- Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
- Cool Ship
- Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
- The Lunching Pad
- Energy Bytes
- Tomorrowland Terrace
Retail
- Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Photos
- Merchant of Venus
- Star Traders
- Tomorrowland Launch Depot
- Ursa’s Major Minor Mart
Tomorrowland Rides at Disney World
With eight rides in Tomorrowland, it’s good to know which ones you’ll want to experience during your visit. From the park’s newest attraction, Tron Lightcycle Run, to the theater-style home of Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor, there is something for everyone.
Astro Orbiter
We’ll start with a classic Tomorrowland ride, Astro Orbiter. This is one of the most hidden rides at Magic Kingdom. You’ll have to look up to see it.
Astro Orbiter requires guests to join the standby queue on the ground level near the entrance to the Peoplemover. (This attraction does not offer a Lightning Lane.) Eventually, you’ll board an elevator to the attraction’s loading area on an upper level.
A sign at the entrance indicates the wait time and a few other things. While this attraction doesn’t have a height requirement, guests in a wheelchair or ECV must be able to transfer to one of the rockets.
Since the majority of the line for Astro Orbiter is on the ground level, you should be able to gauge the length of the line by how many guests are ahead of you. Typically, one ride’s worth of guests is waiting at the top. So your wait won’t be long from that point.
Once it’s time to board, you’ll climb into a rocket and blast off in typical spinner-style fashion. The good news is the views are amazing. However, the bad news is you might experience a gravitational pull while in motion.
Related: Astro Orbiter at Magic Kingdom
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Next, we have another fun Tomorrowland ride, Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin. This attraction offers a standby queue and a Lightning Lane option via Lightning Lane Multi Pass.
To experience this attraction, guests must be able to transfer from a wheelchair or ECV. However, Space Ranger Spin does not have a height requirement. Space Ranger Spin is a slow-moving Omni-mover ride system. Guests will board a ride vehicle that takes them on a mission to defeat the evil emperor Zurg.
Each ride vehicle contains two interactive blasters. You’ll aim the blasters at targets throughout the ride. Shoot as many targets as possible to help Buzz Lightyear defeat the enemy.
So, what makes it spin? This attraction has a control that allows you to rotate the vehicle. You can use the control to help you reach more targets. Or you can use it to distract the person riding with you, especially if they’re racking up more points!
I wouldn’t know anything about that last part. Who’s keeping score anyway?
Related: Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Ride
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor is another Tomorrowland attraction. However, Laugh Floor isn’t a ride. It’s a comedy show!
So get ready to laugh, even if the jokes are pretty bad. Once the theater doors close, they won’t open again until the audience fills the next scream canister. Well, it’s a laugh canister. You know the guys at Monsters, Inc. quit using screams for energy years ago.
Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor lasts approximately 15 minutes. This attraction offers a standby queue and a Lightning Lane. However, the longest wait is usually for the next performance, so it’s probably not the best use of a Lightning Lane.
Once you enter the theater, you’ll cross multiple rows of seats. Since this attraction asks for audience participation, you might get flashed up on the big screen or called upon during the show.
If you want to avoid being singled out, my best tip is not to sit behind the seats with lamps. Those lamps come on during the show so the audience can see the person they flash to better!
Overall, this attraction is a fun place to cool off in the heat of the day or break during an afternoon rain shower. It’s a charming, impromptu performance that’s good for a few laughs.
Related: Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor at Magic Kingdom
Space Mountain
Space Mountain is one of the most popular Tomorrowland rides at Magic Kingdom. This indoor roller coaster has been thrilling guests for well over 45 years!
This popular ride has long waits throughout most of the day. Guests can wait via the standby queue, or those who purchase Lighting Lane Multi Pass can select this attraction as a Lightning Lane based on availability.
Space Mountain requires a height of 44″ (inches). Wheelchair guests and those with ECVs must be able to transfer to a regular wheelchair for the queue and then to the ride vehicle.
This coaster can be scary because the ride is entirely in the dark, so you cannot see the track ahead of you. Expect large drops and fun thrills on this timeless attraction as you race through outer space.
Related: Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom
Tomorrowland Speedway
The Tomorrowland Speedway is another classic attraction in Tomorrowland. This fun ride allows children to drive a real gas-powered car.
However, it does have a height requirement. Guests must be 32″ in height to ride the Tomorrowland Speedway. Guests who are at least 32″ may also drive their cars as long as they are accompanied by someone who is at least 54″ in height.
Lines for the Tomorrowland Speedway can be long during the day. Unfortunately, most of the queue is in direct sunlight. So it isn’t the most pleasant place to wait in line on a busy day.
Once you get to the loading area, you’ll wait for the guests to return the car. After they exit, you’ll board the car and buckle up. Then, a cast member will tell you when it’s okay to start your race.
Parents, pushing the gas pedal from the passenger side is easy if your child can’t quite reach it. Remember, you shouldn’t bump the cars ahead of you, either!
Tomorrowland Speedway offers a regular standby queue and a Lightning Lane option for those who purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Guests in a wheelchair or ECV must be able to transfer to the ride vehicle.
Related: Tomorrowland Speedway at Magic Kingdom
Tomorrowland Peoplemover
While in Tomorrowland, you’ll want to hop aboard the Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover. This slow-moving attraction is the perfect place to break from crowds, rest your feet, and enjoy the views of Tomorrowland.
Per Disney, guests must be ambulatory to experience this attraction. After entering the queue, you’ll board a moving speed ramp at the ground level and take it up to the loading area.
The speed ramp occasionally goes down. If that’s the case, you’ll have to walk up the ramp. It has a fairly steep incline, so take your time.
At the top, you’ll enter a small queue before stepping onto a moving platform when it’s your time to board. Each car seats about six guests with rows facing forward and backward.
After boarding your Peoplemover vehicle, prepare to sit back and relax. This fun attraction lasts approximately 15 minutes.
Related: Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Continuing our journey through Tomorrowland, we encounter Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress. This attraction debuted at the 1964-65 World’s Fair and later at Disneyland before it was moved to Walt Disney World in 1975.
Carousel of Progress is a rotating theater where the seats move from one scene to the next. This unique attraction celebrates the progression of time dating back four generations.
Unfortunately, the ending scene is a bit dated at this time. But hopes are high that eventually, this attraction will be refurbished to reflect modern times.
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is an excellent place to break in the event of afternoon rain, crowds, or hot temperatures. It takes approximately 21 minutes to experience the entire attraction.
Carousel of Progress offers a standby queue. Guests can board each time the theater rotates. Additionally, guests can remain in their wheelchairs or ECVS for this attraction.
Related: Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress
Tron Lightcycle / Run
Tron Lightcycle Run is Magic Kingdom’s newest ride. You will likely want to purchase a Single Pass Lightning Lane to avoid the standby queue for this attraction. Our attraction guide below provides more information on securing a Lightning Lane. Wheelchair and ECV guests must be able to transfer to a ride vehicle. A transfer vehicle with a regular seat and a lap bar is available.
Tron has a 48″ (inch) height requirement. Guests will board their own lightcycle and race off against others on the grid. This attraction’s thrilling launch sends you surging across the outdoor canopy. At night, the canopy lights up in bright blue and orange. This area is also fun to tour in the evening. Guests are permitted to walk underneath the outdoor canopy. The ride is thrilling and a beautiful addition to the park.
Related: Tron Lightcycle Run Ride Review
Character Meet-and-Greets in Tomorrowland
At the time of this update, Tomorrowland only has one character meet-and-greet. Buzz Lightyear used to meet on the map next to his attraction, Space Ranger Spin. However, he was replaced by Chip and Dale. They were dressed as space cadets! However, as of this update, they are no longer meeting here.
Stitch
Stitch is now the only character who has a meet-and-greet in this area and the entirety of Tomorrowland.
Related: Meet Stitch in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom
For more information about characters at the Magic Kingdom or other parks, you might enjoy our complete list of character meet-and-greets at Disney World.
Dining In Tomorrowland
Tomorrowland offers quite a few counter and quick-service dining opportunities. However, there aren’t any table service locations in the themed land.
Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies
Auntie Gravity’s Galactic Goodies is the designated ice cream shop in Tomorrowland. This location offers sundaes, floats, and milkshakes. You might also pick up a churro. Here’s a preview of their menu.
Cool Ship
Cool Ship, shown in the picture below, sells popcorn, cotton candy, ice cream novelties, and soft drinks. It is often open seasonally.
If Cool Ship is not open during your visit, you can still pick up most of these items at a snack cart near Space Mountain. Here is a look at their menu.
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe
Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe is one of the largest quick-service restaurants in Walt Disney World. It’s a popular location because it offers classic American food like hamburgers and chicken nuggets that most families can agree upon.
Inside Cosmic Ray’s, several dining rooms are available. Additional seating is available out on the patio.
But many like to grab a seat in the main dining room, where you might catch Sonny Eclipse performing.
Cosmic Ray’s has several bays. Most of these are for mobile orders. However, if you continue to the end, the last bay still takes orders at the register.
On this visit, we took a few photos of some of the menu items. There are a variety of burgers and a spicy fried chicken sandwich option.
Additionally, the menu lists a patty melt, chopped salad, chicken strips, and a grilled chicken sandwich. Of course, kids’ meals and other menu items are available. You can pull up the entire menu in the mobile order section of the My Disney Experience app.
Here is a photo of the grilled chicken sandwich kids’ meals. Kids’ meals come with two sides and a choice of beverage.
The Lunching Pad
The Lunching Pad is in the same area as the Peoplemover and Astro Orbiter attractions.
This location is good for picking up a specialty hot dog or Mickey-shaped pretzel. They also sell the famous cream cheese pretzel.
In addition to hot dogs and pretzels, The Lunching Pad has frozen beverages, fountain drinks, and energy drinks.
Energy Bytes
Energy Bytes is a snack stand in Tomorrowland near Tron. This specialty kiosk offers unique treats like chocolate cake doughnut holes topped with mocha sauce…for breakfast!
Additionally, this location serves a watermelon and pina colada slushy. You might also pick up an order of Strawberry IceOform. It has a cheesecake meets strawberry mochi ice cream thing going for it.
Tomorrowland Terrace
Tomorrowland Terrace is open seasonally. I cannot remember the last time I walked through and saw guests having lunch here. However, this is where the private fireworks dessert parties are held in the evenings. A pre and post-dessert party is available. You can read more about them here on Disney’s site.
Lastly, Joffrey’s Revive is a coffee shop located by the restrooms near Space Mountain. This is an excellent place to pick up a coffee or other flavored beverage.
Additionally, a snack cart in Tomorrowland sells pretzels and popcorn throughout most of the day. Pretzels are typically available earlier, and popcorn is served later.
For more information about dining at Disney World, you might like to browse a few of our dining guides:
- The Ultimate Guide to Character Dining at Disney World
- Best Disney Springs Restaurants List
- Disney World Signature Dining Guide
Shopping in Tomorrowland
Before we wrap up our visit to Tomorrowland, let’s briefly discuss the shopping opportunities.
Space Ranger Spin Photos
When you exit Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, you’ll find yourself in Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin Photos. This is called a dump shop because the ride dumps you into the shop before the exit.
Inside Space Ranger Spin Photos, you’ll find a variety of Toy Story and Pixar-themed merchandise. There is also a place to view on-ride photos from the attraction.
Merchant of Venus
The Merchant of Venus used to sell a variety of Star Wars merchandise and other futuristic items. However, this location has become a seating area for Auntie Gravities. We’ll see what the future holds for this location.
Star Traders
Star Traders is on the opposite side of Merchant of Venus. This store sells Disney-themed merchandise.
Here are a few of the items we saw on our last visit.
Additionally, two pressed penny machines are inside one of the Star Traders’ entrances. Here are the pressed pennies that we saw on this visit.
Tomorrowland Launch Depot
Tomorrowland Launch Depot, formerly Tomorrowland Light and Power Co., is the retail shop at the Space Mountain exit. This store offers items branded specifically for Space Mountain and Tron.
Launch Depot has some pretty cool Tron merchandise.
They also have a Disney MADE kiosk inside, where you can customize a variety of products, such as headphone cases, MagicBands, phone cases, and more.
Ursa’s Major Minor Mart
Ursa’s Major Minor Mart is an outdoor kiosk that formerly sold pins and pin-trading souvenirs. However, it has recently added bubble wands, hats, and Minnie Ears.
Final Thoughts
Overall, there are plenty of rides and other things to do in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland. Don’t forget to make a second loop around the land after dark. It tends to light up a little differently in the evening.
As we wrap up this Magic Kingdom by land series, here’s a look back. We visited Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom to check out Tron and other timeless attractions like the Peoplemover. Then we hopped all aboard the train at Storybook Circus, but first, we paid a visit to Dumbo and the Barnstormer. Then, we visited New Fantasyland (The Enchanted Forest) for dinner at Be Our Guest and Enchanted Tales with Belle. While we were in Fantasyland, we checked out a few classics (Peter Pan’s Flight and the Carousel)! Our visit to Liberty Square was more than historical as we stopped to see the Hall of Presidents. If you enjoy the Wild West, don’t miss our coverage of Frontierland. We did what any good pirate would do and spent a good portion of our day seeing everything Adventureland had to offer! Lastly, we’ll stop in Main Street, U.S.A., for the confectionary, characters, and more!
In the meantime, you might enjoy our recent visit to Disney After Hours at Magic Kingdom. During this special extra-ticket event, we watched the fireworks and completed fifteen attractions.
In the Comments
What are your thoughts on Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom? Do you plan to experience most of the rides in Tomorrowland during your next visit?
