At a Glance
Duration: 55 seconds
Look Out For: high speeds as well as small twists, turns, and drops
Opening on October 1st, 1996, The Barnstormer is a quick “kiddie coaster” featuring one of our favorite pals, Goofy. But how scary is The Barnstormer? Let’s take a look at the stats:
1. Ride Length
The Barnstormer has a ride duration of only 55 seconds. Not only does this make it the shortest ride in Disney World, it’s almost 30 seconds shorter than its runner up, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
2. Height Requirement and Warnings
The Barnstormer has a height requirement of 35 inches, making it a great choice for kids who want to try their first coaster. It’s a solid 3 inches lower than any other thrill ride in the parks, so it could remain an option for the youngest guests in your party.
3. Ride Vehicles and Restraints
The Barnstormer ride vehicles consist of a 4-car train – seating 4 riders per car in 2 rows of 2. Each row shares a single lap bar and could be a great choice for riders who want to sit right next to a loved one.
Just an aside – the seats on this attraction are modeled to look like a fake “cushion,” but this design choice leaves them bumpy and super hard. As a turbulent little coaster to begin with, these seats can be a bit uncomfortable – especially for adults.
4. How Does The Barnstormer Work?
The Barnstormer works like any other outdoor coaster, sending its ride vehicles through a series of twists, turns, and small drops. While I would certainly label this attraction as more of a “kiddie coaster,” its function is still very similar to the other coasters in the parks.
5. Is The Barnstormer Scary?
The Barnstormer is not intentionally scary whatsoever. There is no spooky theming, sounds, or visuals, but as a small coaster, it does involve a few thrill elements that could feel intense to some riders.
6. How High is The Barnstormer?
The Barnstormer does involve some heights. As an outdoor coaster, the track does reach a height of about 30 feet, but it is generally much lower to the ground than most standard roller coasters. In addition, it does have a slow lift that lasts approximately 15 seconds, but you never feel terribly high off the ground.
7. How Fast is The Barnstormer?
The Barnstormer does go a bit fast. However, with a top speed of 25 miles per hour, it’s still about 10 mph slower than the least intense “real” coaster in the parks, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
8. Does The Barnstormer Have Drops?
The Barnstormer does have one small drop. However, with it being only about 20 feet, it’s really more on par with some of the dark rides than actual coasters. For reference, it falls somewhere between Pirates of the Caribbean’s 14 foot drop and Frozen Ever After’s 28 foot drop.
9. Does The Barnstormer Cause Motion Sickness?
The Barnstormer should not cause motion sickness for most riders. With its incredibly brief ride duration and lack of any spinning, large screens, or 4D effects, it should be fine for even the most sensitive riders.
10. Is The Barnstormer Claustrophobic?
The Barnstormer should not feel claustrophobic for most riders. Again, with its very short ride duration and outdoor queue and track, this attraction did not feel confining at all, in my opinion. It should be noted, however, that there is a lap bar – so anyone especially sensitive to ride restraints should know that it’s there.
11. Are There Animatronics on The Barnstormer?
There are no animatronics on the Barnstormer. Like most outdoor coasters in the parks, the theming is limited mostly to landscaping with a few props here and there.
Queue Walkthrough
The queue entrance is located outside in the Storybook Circus area of Magic Kingdom. As an entirely outdoor attraction, the line will simply take you around the outside of the ride, winding back and forth under a few sparse structures to block the sun. These don’t do much to help beat the heat, however, and I wouldn’t recommend hopping in line at a particularly hot time of day if the line is long.
Ride Walkthrough
Once at the loading station, you will board the train and set off up the 15 second lift. From the top, you’ll go down the only drop in the attraction (about 20 feet long) and simply twist and turn a few times before arriving back at the station 55 seconds later. The ride itself is extremely brief, but could definitely be a fun attraction for those wanting a little thrill for a generally short wait time.
That’s it! Remember, everyone’s riding experience is a little bit different and only you can decide whether to hop on that ride vehicle or not. I just hope this guide helps you be prepared and enjoy every second of your Disney experience!
So what do you think? Leave a comment to help keep this guide up to date!
For a full visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out this video from Magical Quest Adventures:
