Everything You Need to Know About Dumbo the Flying Elephant

You’re going on vacation to Walt Disney World! The only problem? You’re not sure which attractions are right for you and your kiddos and you have questions. Which attractions are too intense for little ones? What rides do I really need a FastPass+ reservation for? What’s the disability access like for certain attractions? We’re answering all those questions and more in our Everything You Need to Know attraction series with today’s focus on Dumbo the Flying Elephant at the Magic Kingdom!

What is Dumbo the Flying Elephant?

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is a classic spinner attraction where guests ride in a vehicle resembling everyone’s favorite elephant, which is attached to long mechanical arms that rotate around a central axis. Even though it’s not all that different from the standard spinner ride at your local fair, Dumbo the Flying Elephant is an iconic Disney Park attraction and somewhat of a rite of passage for little princes and princesses.

In order to accommodate guest demand, the Magic Kingdom now offers two twin Dumbo the Flying Elephant attractions which are located next to each other.

Where is Dumbo the Flying Elephant?

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is located in the Storybook Circus area of the Magic Kingdom.

What is the History of Dumbo the Flying Elephant?

Dumbo the Flying Elephant was an opening day attraction at the Magic Kingdom and inspired by Disneyland’s original iconic Dumbo the Flying Elephant attraction. Throughout most of its history, the Magic Kingdom’s Dumbo the Flying Elephant was positioned more towards the center of Fantasyland and was notorious for its long waits in the Florida sunshine.

During construction for the addition of New Fantasyland at the Magic Kingdom, Dumbo the Flying Elephant was moved to the new Storybook Circus area. Here the original attraction would operate alongside a twin Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Both spinners opened with Storybook Circus in 2012; however, guests soon discovered new water and light effects, as well as a few other cosmetic changes. Also, Timothy Mouse who used to stand at the center of the attraction was moved to the top of the marquee for Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

What You Need to Know About the Queue

Dumbo offers an awesome interactive queue for families who have to go standby. Adults are given a pager which will notify them when its time to ride; but in the meantime, the kids can play in a giant circus tent complete with slides, climbing nets, and even a play space for toddlers!

What You Need to Know About the Ride Experience

Well, there’s not a lot to tell… Once the ride begins, guests can use the single joystick to either raise or lower the Dumbo ride vehicle as it spins around its center. The ride itself is relatively smooth and doesn’t spin too fast, but I wouldn’t say it’s exactly slow either. It’s also not very long with a ride time spanning about 1.5 minutes.

The ride itself is beautiful with an intricate design, water feature, and several nods to the 1941 film. Many suggest riding Dumbo the Flying Elephant at night for its gorgeous lighting effects and possible views of the Happily Ever After fireworks!

What You Need to Know About the Ride Vehicles

Each elephant has one row which accommodates either two people or two adults and one small child. Larger adults can be seated in their own vehicle if necessary. There is usually a sample ride vehicle near the attraction guests can try out before riding. It also makes a great photo op!

The seat is a hard bench with a back and one fabric safety belt for all guests in the vehicle. Guests will need to take a moderate step up over a wall to board the ride. Children should be seated to the inside of each row.

There is a single joystick inside the ride vehicle which controls the ride’s vertical motion. Kids will enjoy being able to control the joystick and when their Dumbo moves up and down.

What You Need to Know About Accessibility

Guests must transfer from a wheelchair/ECV to experience Dumbo the Flying Elephant.

What You Need to Know About Health and Safety Warnings

There are no health or safety warnings for Dumbo the Flying Elephant making it perfect for every member of the family! However, since this is a spinner attraction, those prone to motion sickness may want to reconsider.

What are the Height Restrictions for Dumbo the Flying Elephant?

There are no height restrictions to experience Dumbo the Flying Elephant!

Does Dumbo the Flying Elephant Offer FastPass+

Yes. However, due to the fact there are two Dumbo the Flying Elephant spinners, and there are a number of other attractions which have much longer waits, Dumbo isn’t the best use of a FastPass+ reservation.

Does Weather Affect Dumbo the Flying Elephant?

Since Dumbo the Flying Elephant is an outdoor attraction, guests will be exposed to the elements while waiting to board and while on the ride. Also, the attraction may close due to inclement weather.

What’s the Best Time of Day to Experience Dumbo the Flying Elephant?

As always, the wait will always be the shortest first thing in the morning, right before the park closes, and during the Happily Ever After fireworks display. It’s also suggested to ride at night, not just for a short wait, but also for the Dumbo’s awesome nighttime lighting effects and the chance to fly through the sky while the fireworks are going off!

This chart shows you roughly how long you’ll wait for Dumbo the Flying Elephant when you visit on a day with a given Magic Kingdom Crowd Level. The blue bars represent the average “peak” wait time (that is, how long the line will be at its busiest). The bottom and top black lines represent the range of peak wait times to expect (for you fellow nerds out there: it’s the 5th percentile and 95th percentile of peak wait times). Please note that these are estimates, and for a better forecast for your travel dates, see Dumbo the Flying Elephant Wait Times.

Did I answer all of your questions about Dumbo the Flying Elephant? Is this attraction at the top of your family’s vacation to-do list? Let us know in the comments.