Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom (A Resorts Gal Ride Guide)
Mad Tea Party is a classic attraction at Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World. It is often referred to as the teacup ride. The attraction was inspired by a scene from Disney’s animated film Alice in Wonderland. In the film, the Mad Hatter and March Hare are holding an afternoon tea celebrating what they call an unbirthday party when Alice stumbles upon them.
Below, we’ll go over the specifics for taking a spin on the Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom. The real question is–will you end up getting dizzy? Let’s hope not. But it’s something you will want to consider beforehand.
Here is a quick reference chart for the Mad Tea Party.
| Mad Tea Party | Magic Kingdom |
|---|---|
Location: | Fantasyland |
Height Requirement: | None |
Lightning Lane: | Yes, with Multi Pass (Tier 2 Category) |
Ride Type: | Spinning Tea Cups |
Seats Per Vehicle: | Two to Three |
Rider Switch: | None |
Extra Morning Hours: | Yes |
Extended Evening Hours: | Yes |
Duration: | 1.5 minutes (90 seconds) |
Scare Factor: | Low |
Must-Do List: | Medium Priority |
Perfect For: | All Ages |
Special Mention: | You might get dizzy! |
Additional Info: Guests in a wheelchair or ECV must transfer to a teacup to experience this attraction. Details for those with mobility issues (e.g., wheelchairs and ECVs) can be found on Disney’s site. The spinning motion can make remaining upright more difficult.
Make sure to check our one-stop Lightning Lane Guide to plan your attractions.
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Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom
Mad Tea Party is one of those attractions that guests will either love to ride or prefer to watch from the sidelines. I’m the first to admit that, in some instances, I love to ride, while in others, I prefer to watch.
It is not uncommon for guests to experience motion sickness when it comes to this kind of attraction. First, the ride rotates on a spinning platform that makes the teacups sail across it in a circular motion. In addition to that spin, the teacups have an extra spinner inside the teacup. You can manually spin the center wheel to make the teacup spin individually. Here is a look at the extra spinner in the center of the cup.
As far as riding the teacups without using the interior spinner, the ride is relatively mild and easily doable for most. However, you probably don’t want to ride this attraction right after you’ve eaten unless you have a strong stomach.
Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom has a stand-by entrance and an individual Lightning Lane. However, in most cases, you won’t need to use Lightning Lane for this attraction.
Since the queue is outside, you can usually gauge the wait time based on how many guests are ahead of you. If a long wait is posted for this attraction, you know you’ve picked a busy day at Magic Kingdom.
After joining the queue, guests are eventually placed in a holding area before their turn to ride. Once the current ride stops, those guests disembark their teacups. Meanwhile, a cast member will allow the next set of guests out of the holding area to choose a teacup. You can pick any teacup you like!
The Mad Tea Party does not have a height requirement, and the oversized teacups do not have restraints. However, you’ll want to remember Disney’s rules when riding with children: Children under the age of 7 must be accompanied by someone 14 or older.
A giant teapot sits in the center of the attraction. During the attraction, The Dormouse pops his head up from the lid. You might notice him while you’re waiting.
Taking a spin on the teacups is fun for those who don’t mind the spin! It’s a beautiful attraction with pretty pastels.
The teacups are gorgeous in the evening. This ride sometimes has a unique ride overlay during Mickey’s Halloween Party. It’s also where special characters meet during the Halloween Party. Those meet include the Queen of Hearts, Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum, Alice, and the Mad Hatter.
Fun Facts about Mad Tea Party
Mad Tea Party was an original opening-day attraction at Walt Disney World, modeled after the original version of the attraction at Disneyland. The ride is replicated in several Disney Parks. For example, it’s Alice’s Tea Party in Tokyo Disneyland, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups at Disneyland Paris, and Mad Hatter Tea Cups at Hong Kong Disneyland. It goes by the same name at Disneyland Park in California. California’s Mad Tea Party is the only version of the ride that doesn’t have an overhead canopy.
The Resorts Gal Spin on Mad Tea Party
We’ll give this one the green light if you’re okay with spinning. If not, you’ll want to make it a red light. This ride is available almost anytime with minimal waits, so if you’re interested, give it a spin!
Resorts Gal Traffic Signals
Green Light
We give an attraction the green light if we consider it a must-do, regardless of the posted wait. We also give the green light for attractions we deem suitable to experience anytime. For example, some attractions have high capacities. Therefore, the lines continuously move and you shouldn’t have a long wait unless the attraction experiences downtime.
Red Light
We recommend checking the posted wait times for red light attractions. Then, make a quick judgment call on whether to wait, skip it, or return later. We also red light some attractions that we feel might not be suitable based on our experience.
Final Thoughts
You may also enjoy these nearby attractions in Fantasyland:
- Peter Pan’s Flight at Disney World
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Review
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Ride
- “it’s a small world”
- Dumbo, the Flying Elephant
- Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
Or you can view our entire list of rides at Magic Kingdom.
Resorts Gal specializes in Disney World Resorts, Characters, and Dining. Check out some of our resources, like our list of Disney World Resort Reviews. Additionally, you might enjoy our list of the best off-site Disney World Hotels. With prices so high per night at many resorts, we’ve put together this list to help families find more affordable resort options.
Our Disney World Dining Guide will teach you the basics of dining and reservations. Usually, we recommend scheduling at least one Disney World character dining meal and a signature dining reservation. You might also like to review the best restaurants at Disney Springs.
If you plan to meet characters in the parks, we keep an updated list of Disney World Characters. That review includes every character meet-and-greet in each park.
In the Comments
What do you think of the Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom? Will you take a spin on the teacups? Share your thoughts below in the comments.
