The Barnstormer is a junior roller coaster in the Storybook Circus area of Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom. It lasts about a minute and requires riders to be at least 35 inches tall, which makes it a common first coaster for young children.
| Location | Storybook Circus, Fantasyland, Magic Kingdom |
| Ride type | Junior roller coaster |
| Height requirement | 35 in (89 cm) |
| Ride length | About 1 minute |
| Opened | 1996; rethemed in 2012 |
| Thrill level | Mild |
| Lightning Lane | Check the My Disney Experience app for the current option |
| Rider switch | Available |
What the ride is like
You board a small plane-shaped car that seats two across, climb a short lift hill, and then take a quick run of small drops and banked turns. The story has Goofy appearing as a stunt pilot called the Great Goofini, and the theme is a circus stunt show. It is over almost as soon as it begins.
It is a real roller coaster with a real drop, but it is far milder than Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. A child who enjoys it may be ready to try Seven Dwarfs next, if tall enough at 38 inches.
History
The coaster opened in 1996 as The Barnstormer at Goofy’s Wiseacre Farm, in what was then Mickey’s Toontown Fair. That land closed in 2011 to make way for the Fantasyland expansion. The ride reopened with Storybook Circus in 2012 as The Barnstormer Featuring Goofy as the Great Goofini, with new circus theming.
The queue
The entrance is between Dumbo the Flying Elephant and the Fantasyland train station. The queue is simple, with circus props such as a giant cannon and a trampoline with a Goofy cutout, and much of it is outdoors, so expect heat in summer and rain in the afternoons. You board inside a large open-air barn. Waits change through the day, so check the My Disney Experience app.
Who it suits
The Barnstormer is designed for children around the 35-inch limit who want a first coaster and for the adults riding with them. Two adults in one row will find it a tight fit. Older children and adults looking for thrills will find it very short and tame, and it is hard to justify a long wait without a child in the group. Rider Switch is available if a child in your party is too short or doesn’t want to ride.
Accessibility
Guests using a wheelchair or ECV must transfer into the ride vehicle. Service animals are not permitted on this ride. Confirm current details in the My Disney Experience app, or ask a Cast Member at the entrance.
Tips
- Timing: Storybook Circus is at the back of Fantasyland, and lines are generally shorter early in the day.
- Lightning Lane: The ride has been offered through Lightning Lane Multi Pass, but options change. Check the app for what is available on your date.
- Check height first: Children must meet the 35-inch minimum to ride, so measure before you join the line if you are unsure.
- Stay in the area: Casey Jr. Splash ‘N’ Soak Station, a water play area, and Dumbo are both in Storybook Circus, so you can do them on the same trip.
