A Walt Disney World Resort classic is showing signs of struggle in the new year. Peter Pan’s Flight, a staple of Magic Kingdom Park’s Fantasyland since 1971, has faced unusually low wait times during what is typically one of the busiest seasons at the Central Florida Disney parks.
Peter Pan’s Flight: A Beloved Classic With a Troubled Past
Peter Pan’s Flight first took guests to Neverland in 1955 at Disneyland Park. The ride was celebrated as a technological marvel, allowing guests to “fly” over London and immerse themselves in the world of Peter Pan (1953). Versions of the Fantasyland attraction later debuted at Magic Kingdom Park in Walt Disney World Resort, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris.
But in recent years, the ride has been scrutinized for its portrayal of Indigenous characters. Much like the animated classic it’s based on, Peter Pan’s Flight featured outdated and stereotypical depictions of Tiger Lily, Kaw Chief, and other Native characters. These portrayals drew criticism for perpetuating harmful stereotypes, prompting Disney to take action.
Last summer, Walt Disney Imagineers revealed updated animatronics for the ride, reimagining Tiger Lily and her friends in collaboration with cultural experts. These changes were designed to honor the ride’s original art style while offering a more respectful and accurate portrayal of Indigenous people.
A Surprising Decline in Popularity
Despite the updates, Peter Pan’s Flight experienced an unprecedented dip in wait times during the 2024-2025 holiday season. A screenshot shared on Reddit by u/themouseinusall showed a five-minute standby wait for the ride, taken from the My Disney Experience app at 11:42 p.m., just 18 minutes before Magic Kingdom Park closed for the night.
Absolutely Insane!!!
Some Disney Parks fans argued that the unusually low wait time could be attributed to the timing, as many guests leave the theme park immediately after the nightly fireworks display.
“I mean, it was 11:42pm . . . what time was park closing?” asked Redditor u/millvalleygirl.
Others saw the moment as a rare opportunity to skip the typically long wait for one of Magic Kingdom Park’s most popular rides.
“Beats the wait time of trying to exit the park with everyone else right after fireworks,” noted u/jay_23.
What’s the longest you’ve waited for a ride at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Let Disney Fanatic know in the comments!
over 60 minutes (peter pan or any of the character meet and greet) – usually mid to late day