The Barnstormer at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: Everything You Need to Know

Disney World’s Magic Kingdom: 

Everything You Need to Know.

Is your Disney World trip coming up? Enter the Magic Kingdom and find the fan-favorite junior rollercoaster: The Barnstormer! 

The Barnstormer is a Goofy special at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, a low-intensity, easy-going ride for children and anyone not up for the larger thrill rides.

What is The Barnstormer? 

The Barnstormer is a junior rollercoaster located in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. It first debuted in 1996 as part of Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm, but in 2011 the park was expanded and the ride revamped.

Now, The Barnstormer is the home of Goofy the Great Goofini– the Canine Cannonball, the Reckless Rocketeer. The ride is still going strong after 26 years in operation. 

If you didn’t know, a barnstormer is: “A pilot who travels around the country giving exhibits of stunt flying and parachuting.”; a demonstration of, “Hey, see what I can do!”

Barnstorming was popular in the US during the roaring 20s. Pilots would show off the power and durability of their aircraft to the crowd below. Back then, air travel and aerial tricks were a phenomenon.

Goofy the Goofini (or just Goofy, a pal of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck) is a rip-roaring barnstormer. The coaster itself has aircraft details such as a propeller on the front to really fit the theme!

Where is The Barnstormer Located?

The Barnstormer is in the Storybook Circus in Fantasyland at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.

Make sure you grab a map at the park entrance or download/print one. It’s a huge area, and you don’t want to get lost or miss out on rides. 

If you find yourself in a circus-themed area, it means The Barnstormer is close!

The Barnstormer Ride Experience: What to Expect

The Barnstormer ride starts in an open-ended barn into which the line feeds. Once you reach the front, you’ll hop into a 2-seater cart.  

The seats are straight-backed, hard plastic, and not especially roomy for adults. You’ll need to step about 30cm over the side of the cart to enter, then pull the safety bar down over your lap. Most carts are open at the top, but some have decorative roofs.

The ride starts by making a gentle right turn. Then, you slowly climb a chain lift to the top of the observation tower. 

This is where the most intense part of the ride is: The drop. It’s about 6 meters in total! 

You’ll zoom down the tracks, soaring down a series of left and right-angled bends. The final stretch is straight, and you slow down as you reach the finish line. The sign here reads, “Fly again soon!”

Sharp Productions has a POV video from the front of the cart and what it looks like from a bystander’s perspective. See the video here.

In the video, you’ll see there are actually two trains on the track. The first runs the course, while the second loads and unloads passengers. 

The ride is in an open space so you can see all the tracks ahead of you. It doesn’t go into tunnels, and the darkest part of the ride is being in the barn at the start, which isn’t scary.

Queue 

Disney World lines are notoriously long. However, there are ways to avoid waiting in the heat. You could:

• Join a virtual queue via the My Disney Experience app (download on the App Store or Google Play). Also, check live wait times

• Use Disney Genie to generate a day schedule (via the app)

• Purchase Lightning Lane access (more on this later)

• Book the most in-demand rides first — don’t let your spot be taken!

• Check the weather — you may be standing in the rain or scorching heat. Raincoat or sunscreen, anyone? 

These tips can reduce wait time in queues dramatically. Less standing around– more fun!

The Barnstormer FastPass+

The FastPass and FastPass+ at Disney World have been replaced by Lightning Lanes. The Lane gets you to the front of the queue upon arrival. 

To purchase access to Lightning Lanes, download the My Disney Experience app on the App Store or Google Play. Within the app, you’ll find the Disney Genie Service. 

Through the Disney Genie Service, you can purchase access to Lightning Lane on select rides. You can also purchase access for individual rides that aren’t on the app. 

For more details about Lightning Lanes, click here. 

Disney World recommends purchasing Lightning Lanes in the morning to avoid missing out later on. 

Seats

The Barnstormer trains have 16 seats in total with 8 carts. 

The seats are straight-back, hard plastic — potentially not a good idea if you have back issues. 

They are on the smaller side, so larger adults may feel a bit cramped. You may be permitted to take both seats, if necessary. 

Ride

The Barnstormer is a junior rollercoaster, meaning it’s great for kids. 

It’s a wonderful first ride for the day, traveling a gentle 40 km/h (25mph). Once you’ve conquered The Barnstormer, you can move on to faster coasters in the park. It’s the jog before the sprint!

Ride Time

The Barnstormer is a short but pleasant 53-second ride. The track length is 207m.

The speed varies — you travel slowly up the chain lift, quickly down the drop and bends, then slow down to a stop at the end. 

The Barnstormer Ride Accessibility 

It’s a good idea to check out accessibility policies before arrival at the park so you know which rides to go for.

The following rules are for The Barnstormer specifically: 

• Guests must transfer from their Wheelchair or ECV

• Unfortunately, no service animals are permitted on the ride.

Note: the seats are hard plastic — possibly an issue if you have back/joint pain. 

Click here to read Disney World’s services for guests with disabilities. 

The Barnstormer Ride Health and Safety Advisories 

Though The Barnstormer is a relatively tame ride, there are important rules to follow to keep everyone safe. These include:

• Children must be supervised at all times, and those under the age of 7 must be accompanied by someone 14 or older

• The minimum height requirement is 35” (89 cm).

The Barnstormer Ride Age and Height Restrictions

You need to be 35” (89 cm) or taller to participate in this ride. 

Kids under 7 years must be accompanied by someone 14 or older. 

The Barnstormer Weather Restrictions

Though the park remains open during rain, it’s possible that The Barnstormer could be delayed, canceled, or rescheduled due to severe weather.

You should also note that The Barnstormer carts have open sides and tops, so you are exposed to all the elements!

You are protected when inside the barn at the start of the ride, but the line is often longer than this space allows and there isn’t much shade. 

Plan for your Disney World day by checking the weather beforehand. Bring a raincoat, water, or sunscreen — whatever you need to be safe and comfortable. 

When is the Best Time to Ride The Barnstormer?

According to Savannah Sanders of touringplans.com;

“The best time of day to ride The Barnstormer with minimal wait is before 10.30 am, during parades, or in the evening just before the park closes.”

You could even catch late-night fireworks from the view of the ride!

Barnstormer FAQs

Is The Barnstormer a good ride?

Let’s see what others have to say. 

Reddit user Tripinwithred1 said this about The Barnstormer:

“Even though it is a kiddie ride, it’s actually fun. A bit faster than I was expected. A great filler ride too when u just want to ride something a little different.” 

Reddit user Qcastro said:

“On one of the last runs, a couple of the cast members working the line hopped in the last car and chanted ‘Bar-Storm-Er’ the whole run while the operator thanked my daughter in the front for ‘giving them a smooth ride.’ My kid hopped off and we both got a wave [and a] smile from the operator. It was just one of those perfect moments that we’ll both remember.”

In summary: Yes, it’s a good ride! Thrillseekers won’t be shaken to their core, but it’s enjoyable for different reasons.  

Does Barnstormer have a drop?

Yes, but only a small one.  

How big is the drop on Barnstormer Disney World?

About 9 meters (30 ft.).

Can adults ride The Barnstormer?

Who said the kids get to have all the fun? Adults are more than welcome to ride! 

The carts are two-seaters, but larger/taller people can ask to have both seats to themselves.  

The Bottom Line on The Barnstormer 

All in all, The BarnStormer is a worthwhile ride to visit when at Disney World, Florida. 

If you have children, need a warm-up ride, or don’t want to face the bigger rollercoasters, this could be the ideal choice. 

Be sure to check out The Barnstormer on your next visit to Disney World!