Ride Tomorrowland Speedway Before Barnstormer
Published October 11, 2026 · Updated October 12, 2026
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If you are choosing between The Barnstormer and Tomorrowland Speedway first thing at Magic Kingdom, the better move is usually Tomorrowland Speedway. Not because it is the better ride. Because it is the ride that gets more annoying to wait for later.
The Barnstormer is quick, cute, and easy to fit around other Fantasyland plans. Tomorrowland Speedway is slower-loading, exposed, louder, smellier, and more punishing in the heat. If a kid in your group has been staring at those little race cars like they are the whole reason you flew to Orlando, do it early and move on.
But here is the real insider answer: most groups should not make either one their first true priority unless they have younger kids who specifically care about them. Your first Magic Kingdom move is valuable. Spending it on the wrong low-ceiling ride can cost you a much better morning.
The Short Answer: Speedway First, Barnstormer Later
Tomorrowland Speedway is the smarter first pick if both rides matter to your group. The line can feel worse than the posted number because the queue is outdoors, the ride vehicles move slowly, and the experience is not exactly refreshing once the Florida sun starts doing Florida sun things.
The Barnstormer is a junior coaster in Storybook Circus. It is short, fun for younger kids, and a good first coaster test. But because the ride itself is so brief, it is easier to squeeze into a Fantasyland loop later, especially if you are already near Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Under the Sea - Journey of The Little Mermaid, or Pete’s Silly Sideshow when operating.
So if your morning plan is purely between these two, go:
- Tomorrowland Speedway
- The Barnstormer
- Dumbo or another nearby Fantasyland filler ride
That order keeps you from burning your nicest weather of the day in a hot car queue after lunch.
The Catch: Neither Ride Should Beat the Real Headliners
Here is where casual planners get trapped: they ask which small-family ride to do first, when the real question is whether either deserves the first slot at all.
At Magic Kingdom, early time is best spent on rides where waits build hard or Lightning Lane strategy matters more. Depending on your group, that usually means attractions like Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Peter Pan’s Flight, Jungle Cruise, Space Mountain, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure when running, or other higher-demand rides.
The Barnstormer and Tomorrowland Speedway are not nothing. They absolutely matter if you have a preschooler, a nervous first-time coaster rider, or a kid who wants to steer a car. But for adults, teens, or families chasing the biggest time savings, they are supporting players, not the opening act.
The move: only rope drop these if they are emotionally important to your kid. If they are just “nice to do,” save your first move for a bigger wait-saver.
Why Tomorrowland Speedway Gets the Edge
Tomorrowland Speedway is not a complicated ride, but it has a few planning problems that make early riding smart.
First, it is exposed. A 25-minute wait in the middle of the day can feel much worse here than a similar wait in a shaded or indoor queue. Second, the ride experience itself is slow and stop-start. If cars back up, your ride can feel longer in a not-always-charming way. Third, the gas smell is real. Some kids love the novelty; some adults are ready to be done before the first lap is over.
That does not make it a bad ride. It makes it a ride you should treat strategically. Do it early, do it at night, or do it when the posted wait drops. Do not casually wander over at 1:30 PM in July and act surprised when the experience feels like a test of character.
SupaPark’s live waits and best-time forecaster are useful here because Speedway is exactly the kind of attraction where the “right now” decision matters. If the wait craters later, great. If it does not, you will be glad you handled it before the park heated up.
Why Barnstormer Is Easier to Fit In
The Barnstormer is one of Magic Kingdom’s best “confidence builder” rides. It gives younger kids the feeling of riding a real coaster without the intensity of something like Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. If your child is working up to bigger thrills, this is a useful test.
But from a planning standpoint, it has one huge downside: the ride is very short. That means you do not want to overpay for it with prime morning time unless it is a must-do for your child.
The smarter play is to bundle it with nearby low-stress attractions. Storybook Circus is a good little reset zone for families because you can pair The Barnstormer with Dumbo, a snack break, restrooms, or a character stop nearby when available. It is also a nice part of the park to use when your group needs something easier after a more intense stretch.
If the line is short, ride it. If the line is not short, do not treat it like a crisis. There are better places to spend a long wait.
The Kid-Factor Changes Everything
For adults planning in a spreadsheet, The Barnstormer versus Tomorrowland Speedway is a small optimization. For a five-year-old, it might be the entire morning.
If your kid wants to “drive,” Tomorrowland Speedway should win. Let them do it early, while everyone is fresh, then move on before the queue gets hotter and crankier. If your kid wants their first coaster, The Barnstormer should win, especially if you are trying to build confidence before attempting a bigger thrill ride later.
Height and comfort matter too. The Barnstormer is a coaster, even a small one, so the child needs to be ready for a quick drop and turns. Tomorrowland Speedway is slower, but the steering can be bumpy and the fumes can bother some guests. Neither is automatically the better family ride. The better choice is the one your specific kid will actually enjoy.
This is where SupaPark’s family-aware planning helps: height tracking, ride eligibility, Rider Switch notes, and priority rankings make the morning plan less theoretical. Rank the rides your kid actually cares about, then let the plan follow that instead of chasing someone else’s perfect itinerary.
The Best Morning Plan for Different Groups
If you have preschoolers, start with the ride they care about most. If that is Speedway, go there before the heat builds. If that is Barnstormer, ride it early and pair it with Dumbo so you are not zigzagging across Magic Kingdom.
If you have mixed ages, do not let these rides drag the whole group into a slow start. One adult can take the younger kid to Barnstormer or Speedway while the bigger kids prioritize a higher-demand ride nearby or use a Lightning Lane selection. Keep the group moving instead of forcing every person into every small-child ride.
If you are adults-only, skip both early unless nostalgia is the point. Your morning is better spent on higher-demand attractions, then you can circle back when waits are low.
If you are using Lightning Lane Multi Pass, remember that your key selections are made in advance during your eligibility window, then you keep adding more one at a time after you redeem one or its window passes. Do not build your whole morning around low-priority attractions if better Lightning Lane value is available elsewhere.
The Real Winner Is the Ride With the Shorter Wait Right Now
The most honest answer is this: if both are optional, do whichever has the better wait when you are nearby.
Magic Kingdom rewards flexible planners. A posted wait drop, a temporary lull, a parade-time shift, or a nearby dining reservation can change the best move. The mistake is locking yourself into a tiny ride debate while ignoring what the park is giving you in real time.
Set your priorities before the trip, then adjust in the moment. SupaPark can help with that by showing live waits, ride status, best-time forecasts, and alerts when a ride drops to a better opportunity. The goal is not to win a theoretical plan. It is to spend less of your vacation standing in avoidable lines.
The Takeaway
Ride Tomorrowland Speedway before The Barnstormer if both are must-dos, especially on a warm day or with a car-obsessed kid. But do not give either one your best morning slot unless your family genuinely cares about it. For most groups, the smartest Magic Kingdom morning starts with bigger wait-savers, then uses live wait drops to fit in Barnstormer and Speedway when the park makes them easy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I ride The Barnstormer or Tomorrowland Speedway first at Magic Kingdom?
Ride Tomorrowland Speedway first if both matter to your group, because its outdoor queue and slower-loading experience can feel worse later in the day. Choose The Barnstormer first only if your child is especially excited for their first small coaster.
Is The Barnstormer worth rope dropping?
The Barnstormer is usually only worth rope dropping if you have a younger child who specifically wants it or needs a gentle first coaster. Otherwise, save your first Magic Kingdom move for a higher-demand ride and fit Barnstormer in when the wait is low.
Is Tomorrowland Speedway worth doing early?
Yes, Tomorrowland Speedway is a good early ride if it is a must-do for your child, because the queue and ride experience are less pleasant in midday heat. If no one in your group strongly cares about driving the cars, it should not outrank Magic Kingdom’s bigger wait-savers.
Which ride is better for younger kids, The Barnstormer or Tomorrowland Speedway?
Tomorrowland Speedway is better for kids who want to steer a car, while The Barnstormer is better for kids ready to try a short junior coaster. The better pick depends on your child’s comfort with mild thrills versus slow, bumpy driving.
Can SupaPark help decide when to ride them?
Yes. SupaPark shows live wait times, ride status, and best-time forecasts, so you can check whether Barnstormer or Tomorrowland Speedway is actually worth doing right now instead of guessing from across the park.
Keep planning: The Barnstormer · live wait times · is Lightning Lane worth it · Will Your Kid Hate Soarin’? How to Decide (And Where to Sit)
Go deeper — the full guides: Walt Disney World Hidden Gems Most Guests Walk Right Past – The Ultimate Insider Guide · Animal Kingdom Full-Day Touring Plan: Beat the Heat and Maximize Magic
SupaPark tracks live wait times and crowd forecasts, and pings you the second a hard-to-get reservation opens or a ride goes walk-on — free to start at supapark.com.