The Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade is another of Uncle Walt’s little miracles. Uncle Walt was great at taking cheap carnival rides and turning them into gems. This is one of those type attractions.
Step up on the elevated platform, insert your money, and shoot a gun at a target. That sound pretty boring. But when Uncle Walt gets through you’re shooting a replica of an Old West hunting rifle at all kinds of interactive targets that have sounds, movements and surprises.
Shoot the targets
While not actually a ride the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade is one of the best time wasters in Disney World. Great chance to make some fun family memories!
The Preshow
The Preshow here is pretty simple. Watch what other people are doing. OK, there is no real preshow, but it is fun just to take a look around.
The Attraction
Boot Hill. Tombstone Arizona. Those words mean something. Yes, it’s time for a shootout. Pick up your Hawkins rifle and start blasting awayif you dare.
Walk through the Boot Hill cemetary at night with skeletons, tombstones, crows, lightning and thunder … it’s spooky. Tombstone is just down the street. Check out the bank, the jail and the hotel. Just keep blasting away.
Shoot the red lights and watch what happens.
Yes, this costs $1.00 to play. That gets you 35 shots. You can play as long as you want. There isn’t a timer, just a shot limit.
The Postshow
Like the preshow, there’s nothing to see but to walk away.
Dad’s Frontierland page
Dad’s Ride Information Chart
| Description: shoot the targets arcade | ||||||||||||
| Height Requirement – none | FASTPASS:no | Length of Ride: ??? | ||||||||||
| Type of ride: Midway shooting gallery | ||||||||||||
Dad’s Ratings
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| Other Information: If you like shooting things you might like this | ||||||||||||
History
The shootin’ gallery was part of the original Magic Kingdom opening on October 1, 1971. It was refurbished to add the infra-red guns in 1982.
Fun Facts
- Instead of bullets, the 18 rifles shoot infrared beams at the targets. The projectile rifles were replaced in 1982 because it took 2,000 gallons of paint every year to touch up the ride from the pellets.
- The guns are refitted .54 caliber Hawkins rifle
- Listen for coyotes and creaking bridges.
- Each of the 97 animatronics will react in a different way when shot. Some move, some have sounds it’s pretty neat.
- There are similar arcades at Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and Tokyo Disneyland.
Dad’s Bottom Line
This is one of the few Disney World attractions that actually cost you money to play. Still it’s still one of Dad’s favorite ways to waste a few minutes in the afternoon at the Magic Kingdom. Go ahead and waste a couple of bucks. Trust me.
