Overlooked Attractions: Frontierland
Have you ever found yourself with a Fast Pass to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Splash Mountain, and wondering what to do with your time before that magical window opens? Although these two rides are by far the most popular in Frontierland at the Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World, there are several hidden gems to be discovered.
Frontierland has many fun and interactive attractions that have little to no wait time, due to the popularity of the attractions mentioned above. If you find yourself with time to spare in Frontierland, try some or all of the following:
This has been one of my favorite things to do in Frontierland since I was a little girl. It's something I remember always doing with my Daddy, and I'm glad to take my girls to experience it, too. This attraction has been running at the Magic Kingdom since opening day in 1971.
This is one of the few attractions that are not included with admission to the Magic Kingdom. However, it only costs $1.00 for 35 shots, and money has never been better spent on a whole lot of fun! This old-fashioned game requires you to shoot at targets with rifles that have infrared lights. The target gallery is set up like a town out of an old western movie. Some of the props move, such as the train; others are stationary, but all of them have a fun effect when you hit them.
The wait for this attraction is not usually long, and even if there is a bit of a line, 35 shots go by quickly, and the next person can take their turn. This is a must-do for me when going to the Magic Kingdom, and I am always disappointed if we miss it for any reason.
One of the last attractions that Walt Disney personally helped design, the Country Bear Jamboree is a fun show full of audio-animatronic bears who sing, dance, and enter from above on a swing! 18 hillbilly bears perform in this crazy show that is not always politically correct, and it's fun for kids and adults alike. This show has been playing at the Magic Kingdom since the park opened in 1971.
The Country Bear Jamboree was recently refurbished in the fall of 2012. The original show had a running time of a little bit over 15 minutes, and now the time has been reduced to 10 minutes. There is rarely a wait for this show, beyond the wait for the previous show to finish. The shows run one after another, and it is a nice air-conditioned break from the rest of Frontierland. It is definitely a fun break, especially in the summer months!
This fun interactive attraction opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1973, but was designed personally by Walt Disney for Disneyland Park and opened there in 1956.
To get to Tom Sawyer Island, guests journey by raft across the Rivers of America to arrive on the island, where they are free to explore until dusk (when the Island closes). Sites to visit on Tom Sawyer Island include: Harper's Mill, Injun Joe's Cave, Fort Langhorn, Potter's Mill, and Tom Sawyer Scavage Fort. There is plenty on this island to fill hours of time for the adventurous at heart!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain are definitely the thrill rides of Frontierland, and not to be missed. However, use your time wisely and don't forget to visit the rest of Frontierland as well!
What is your favorite Frontierland attraction?
Frontierland has many fun and interactive attractions that have little to no wait time, due to the popularity of the attractions mentioned above. If you find yourself with time to spare in Frontierland, try some or all of the following:
Frontierland Shootin' Arcade
This has been one of my favorite things to do in Frontierland since I was a little girl. It's something I remember always doing with my Daddy, and I'm glad to take my girls to experience it, too. This attraction has been running at the Magic Kingdom since opening day in 1971.
This is one of the few attractions that are not included with admission to the Magic Kingdom. However, it only costs $1.00 for 35 shots, and money has never been better spent on a whole lot of fun! This old-fashioned game requires you to shoot at targets with rifles that have infrared lights. The target gallery is set up like a town out of an old western movie. Some of the props move, such as the train; others are stationary, but all of them have a fun effect when you hit them.
The wait for this attraction is not usually long, and even if there is a bit of a line, 35 shots go by quickly, and the next person can take their turn. This is a must-do for me when going to the Magic Kingdom, and I am always disappointed if we miss it for any reason.
Country Bear Jamboree
One of the last attractions that Walt Disney personally helped design, the Country Bear Jamboree is a fun show full of audio-animatronic bears who sing, dance, and enter from above on a swing! 18 hillbilly bears perform in this crazy show that is not always politically correct, and it's fun for kids and adults alike. This show has been playing at the Magic Kingdom since the park opened in 1971.
The Country Bear Jamboree was recently refurbished in the fall of 2012. The original show had a running time of a little bit over 15 minutes, and now the time has been reduced to 10 minutes. There is rarely a wait for this show, beyond the wait for the previous show to finish. The shows run one after another, and it is a nice air-conditioned break from the rest of Frontierland. It is definitely a fun break, especially in the summer months!
Tom Sawyer Island
This fun interactive attraction opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1973, but was designed personally by Walt Disney for Disneyland Park and opened there in 1956.
To get to Tom Sawyer Island, guests journey by raft across the Rivers of America to arrive on the island, where they are free to explore until dusk (when the Island closes). Sites to visit on Tom Sawyer Island include: Harper's Mill, Injun Joe's Cave, Fort Langhorn, Potter's Mill, and Tom Sawyer Scavage Fort. There is plenty on this island to fill hours of time for the adventurous at heart!
Conclusion
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Splash Mountain are definitely the thrill rides of Frontierland, and not to be missed. However, use your time wisely and don't forget to visit the rest of Frontierland as well!
What is your favorite Frontierland attraction?