The Mad Tea Party

Hop in a GIANT Tea Cup and go for a spin, and spin (see warning below). The Mad Tea Party “will have you dizzy with laughter“. This is the wording taken directly from the Disney Web Site. (Yeah, you’ll be dizzy with something, but for Dad and many like him it’s not laughter.)

The Mad Tea Party is a quaint little carnival ride that has flourished under Uncle Walt’s Magical Touch for over 50 years. Incredible.

Very Colorful

The Preshow

There is no preshow or special waiting area for the Mad Tea Party. You just line up around the outside of the ride. No pushing please.

Most of the waiting area is covered. Only when the lines are very long do you have to wait without cover.

It’s a bit interesting that this attraction didn’t get swallowed up in the whole new Fantasyland expansion, but it didn’t.

The Attraction

This is a very short ride, one of the shortest in the Magic Kingdom. Three guests can fit comfortable in the teacup. There aren’t any seatbelts or restraints, but the door does close when the ride starts.

You can control the rate of spin of the Tea Cup. There is a wheel in the middle that you turn to make the Tea Cup spin. The faster you turn it, the faster you spin. (See Dad’s experience with a spinning Mad Tea Party.)

As you are spinning around Dormouse pops up an down out of the teapot in the center of the ride.

Video

Enjoy this video. It made Dad sick. Please make it stop!!!!

The Crowd Factor

The Mad Tea Party is a slow loading, short ride that attracts long lines for most of the day. If you have small children, or just silly teenagers who want to make Dad sick, Dad suggests you make this one of your first stops during the day.

Dealing with crowds can be easier if you have a plan. Touringplans.com can help. They have over 100 plans to help you design the perfect Walt Disney World vacation and especially they focus on how to tackle Fantasyland.

Dad’s Touringplans.com page

History

This ride is based on the Mad Hatters and the March Hare’s Unbirthday Tea Party from the movie Alice in Wonderland. The first version was introduced at Disneyland when the park opened. This ride opened with the Magic Kingdom in October of 1971.

Fun Facts

• Alice in Wonderland was released in 1951
• There are three turntables that each hold 6 tea cups.
• The same ride is called Alice’s Tea Party at Tokyo Disneyland, The Mad Hatter’s Tea Party at Disneyland Paris, and The Mad Hatter Tea Party at Hong Kong Disneyland. (According to Wikipedia)
• During the Day, the Mad Hatter, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum will be seen riding with lucky guests.

Sometimes the guy with the hat shows up

Dad’s Ride Information Table

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Need to Know Information

• Warning: This ride goes round and round (and round and round and round). Many guests (like Dad) complain of motion sickness after riding this ride. People taking video or pictures feel more pronounced effects. I warned you.
• The Mad Tea Party is open during Extra Magic Hours.
• Handicapped individuals must be able to board the ride. Wheelchairs are not allowed.
• This version is covered and can operate in the rain. (A good time to go. Lines are usually short.)

Dad’s Bottom Line

Dad’s not real objective about the Mad Tea Party. He had a bad experience when he was just a lad and will never ride again. The family loves it. If you like to spin, this is the ride for you. If you’re like Dad and spinning bothers you, volunteer to go grab Cokes or something.