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If you’ve ever wanted to know more about the Mad Tea Party at Disney World, you’re in luck! Today, we’re going to take a closer look at the Magic Kingdom’s Mad Tea Party ride in Orlando, Florida. And then we’ll share a few tips to help you plan an amazing Disney World trip (while saving money, too!).
Walt Disney World Tea Party Ride
You can find spinning tea cup rides in a number of theme parks all over the world; but to me, the Mad Tea Party ride at the Magic Kingdom in Disney World (and its variations at the other Disney parks) has always been THE spinning tea cup ride to which all other rides are compared. It is certainly a classic Disney ride – the Disneyland version opened when the park opened in 1955 – and is currently found in 5 Disney theme parks worldwide.
Guests sit in colorful, beautiful tea cups. A large turntable rotates counterclockwise. On this turntable are three smaller turntables, each holding 6 teacups, which rotates clockwise. And a wheel in the middle of each teacup can be turned to make the cup spin faster.
Clearly, this allows for the possibility of motion sickness. If spinning in particular sets you off, this ride should be avoided. However, as long as no one turns the center wheel too hard, I (and other family members) have been fine on the ride (while getting motion sickness on other attractions). And if you do end up riding with someone who wants to take the spinning to the extreme, you’ll be glad to know that the ride is only one and a half minutes long.
When the ride first opened in 1971 in Magic Kingdom (it was an opening day attraction), there was no covering above the ride. However, too much rain causes the turntables to slip instead of spin. That, coupled with the extreme heat and sun that Orlando often experiences, led to a roof being added in 1973. All subsequent versions of the ride also have a roof of some sort – the original Disneyland Mad Tea Party attraction is the only one that is not covered.
Magic Kingdom Vacation Planning Tips
Planning to go to Disney World and, specifically, the Magic Kingdom theme park? Then read on for a few tips on how to make your vacation extra special!
Magic Kingdom Hotels
You should consider staying at a Magic Kingdom hotel. The following Disney hotels are all close to Magic Kingdom – in fact, you can get there by monorail, boat, or walking (sometimes more than one transportation method!).
You can’t go wrong with any of these options. But if you’re having trouble deciding where to stay, be sure to check out our comparisons of Polynesian vs Wilderness Lodge, Grand Floridian vs Contemporary, and Bay Lake Tower vs Polynesian.
Discounted Disney Tickets
Are you looking for the best deals on Disney World tickets?
We recommend purchasing your Disney World tickets here instead of through Disney’s website. The tickets are the same either way, but with this method, you can save up to $82 per ticket! You can also check here for the best Disney World ticket deals currently available.
Disney World Travel Guide Book
Finally, if you’re looking for a great Disney World guidebook, we highly recommend this Disney World book. It was very helpful in preparing this blog entry – and in planning a number of our family’s Disney World trips!
