Seven Dwarfs Mine Train: Everything You Need to Know

For roller-coaster enthusiasts and those young at heart, nothing beats the thrill of a theme park visit.

When it comes to iconic experiences, Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom speaks for itself – and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is one of its crowning jewels.

This family-friendly roller coaster is themed after Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs, Disney’s first feature-length animated film, taking you on a journey through the gemstone mine where the seven dwarfs work, all while experiencing twists, turns, and drops along the way.

Whether you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation with the family or a solo trip to reclaim your childhood, this guide to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train will help you decide if it’s worth your time and if so, how to make the most of your experience.

An introduction to Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train opened on May 28, 2014 at Magic Kingdom. It replaced Pooh’s Playful Spot, which was a play area for toddlers and pre-k kiddos.

Since its opening, the ride has gained popularity among guests of all ages, with the wait time frequently reaching two hours or more (source).

After the ride’s huge success with guests, it was duplicated at Shanghai Disneyland, where it opened on June 16, 2016.

It is located in the Fantasyland section at both locations.

The ride lasts nearly 3 minutes, per the RCDB, and covers a distance of just over 2,000 feet. Basically, it packs a punch in its short ride time!

Lastly, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train speed reaches approximately 34 MPH (source).

Although it’s a roller coaster, it’s not the fastest ride at Disney World by a lot, which in my opinion translates to a nice, smooth ride.

Health & safety requirements

There are some health and safety restrictions for this attraction to take into consideration.

Guests must be 38 inches or taller to ride and those under age 7 must ride with someone age 14 or older.

In addition, if you are pregnant, Disney recommends that you do not ride.

Lastly, for safety reasons, loose articles such as bags and hats must be stowed away before the ride begins.

Accessibility accommodations

Guests in wheelchairs or electric conveyance vehicles must transfer to the ride on their own or with the assistance of their friends or family.

Lastly, service animals are not permitted on the ride, but there is a safe waiting area for them while you enjoy the ride.

Thrill and scare level

A common question I get about thrill rides at Disney World is whether a particular ride is too scary.

So is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train scary? In my opinion, it’s not a scary ride.

While there are some drops and turns, this ride is meant to be family-friendly and doesn’t include any extreme drops or inversions. In fact, according to RCDB, the biggest drop is only about 41 feet!

In addition, this coaster runs pleasantly smooth – especially compared to older coasters at Magic Kingdom, such as Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain.

The standby queue is quite dark inside, but there are a few interactive activities, such as the ability to spin buckets of gemstones, that do a good job of keeping people occupied. So if any potential riders are scared of the dark, these activities should help keep their minds off of that.

Lastly, the ride cars can tilt, but they will only tilt if you use your force to do so. So if you’re a bit hesitant to add another sensory element to this ride, you can opt out of this!

Overall, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a great ride for those wanting to experience a roller coaster without too much of a scare factor.

Ride photo & video

Yes, there is a ride photo on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, as well as a video! This applies to both locations.

The camera is located on the left side as you go down the first hill. A photo is taken first and then a second camera captures a video of your ride car going down the hill. Be sure to put on a big smile!

However, if you want the photo and video, you will need either Genie+ or the Memory Maker package. Plus, it will only get added to your account if you are wearing a MagicBand while on the ride.

Unlike most other attractions with ride photos at Disney World, there is no kiosk to preview what’s captured nor to purchase the photo or video individually.

Rider Switch availability

Yes, rider switch is available for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

If you are not familiar with this program, basically if you have a child that’s too small to ride or is scared of roller coasters, one adult can wait with them while the other rides.

Afterward, the waiting adult can then skip the standby queue to experience the ride themselves.

I love that Disney has this program in place for so many rides! It takes the pressure off anxious riders and also allows older kids and adults to have some fun while younger kids take a nap in their stroller, too!

Single rider line

Unfortunately at Magic Kingdom, there isn’t a single rider line for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. I wish they had a single-rider line for all of their thrill rides, but I also don’t think that there is room for one to be worked into the queue.

However, over at Shanghai Disneyland, there is a single-rider line for this roller coaster. As a frequent solo traveler, it sounds like I need to book a trip there, stat!

Genie+ and Lightning Lane availability

At Magic Kingdom, you can purchase an individual lightning lane for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. However, it is not included as part of Genie+.

According to Thrill Data, wait times for this ride often top 2 hours, making the lightning lane pass a very popular purchase with guests.

Given its popularity, if you want to buy a lightning lane pass, I recommend buying it right at 7 AM or risk it selling out before you’re able to purchase it. This has happened to me before on several visits, so definitely make your purchase at the top of the day.

You can learn more about this lightning lane in my post about Genie+ and Lightning Lanes at Magic Kingdom.

At Shanghai Disneyland, they still use the Fastpass system, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is included as an option.

Best time to ride

As with any popular attraction, the wait time for Seven Dwarfs Mine Train can vary.

During peak seasons and times, the wait time can be upwards of 2 hours or more at both locations.

Sometimes if you ride during fireworks, you’ll be treated to a lovely view of fireworks from behind the castle, which is pretty cool if you ask me!

If you don’t mind paying to skip the line, you also have the option to purchase an individual lightning lane for the time slot of your choice at Magic Kingdom.

Lastly, if you are at Shanghai Disneyland, you can select Seven Dwarfs Mine Train as part of their Fastpass offering.

Is Seven Dwarfs Mine Train worth it?

In my opinion, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a must-ride attraction at Magic Kingdom in Disney World, as well as at Shanghai Disneyland.

While it’s not my favorite roller coaster at Disney World (that spot goes to Cosmic Rewind), it’s a solid family-friendly ride with fun theming.

Plus I love that you get both a photo and video to cherish, which makes for a fun digital scrapbook or photo book, as well as easy to share with friends and family on social media.

I hope my guide helped you make a decision on whether you should add this ride to your itinerary and if so, you have all the info you need to make it a memorable experience.

Have you been on this ride before? Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.