Headed to Disney World and need some ideas on the BEST rides in Disney? It can feel super overwhelming trying to plan this trip – there is SO much to do. I am going to give you my TOP recommendations for each aspect so you can spend less time researching and planning and more time getting ready to enjoy it! The focus here is the RIDES & ATTRACTIONS! I am breaking down my favorites by park to give you what I think are the BEST rides in Disney World. Here we go!
Magic Kingdom
1. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
This is my FAVORITE ride in Magic Kingdom – it’s a can’t miss! This is a “steel rollercoaster” but it’s definitely good for all ages as it’s not extremely scary, just a couple of small drops. One of my favorite things about it though is the theming throughout – the queue line is incredibly colorful and detailed, and the ride itself passes through adorable scenes that make you feel like you are right in the movie. Head to this ride first!
2. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
This is a classic Disney ride in my opinion. All of the “Mountain” rides (Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain [RIP]) are great, but this one is just a classic to me. Like Seven Dwarfs, the theming throughout the queue is on point, bringing you through a gold mine that makes you feel like you are back in the 1800s. The ride is fast and fun with some thrills throughout.
3. Pirates of the Caribbean
This ride is a fun little boat ride where you are riding through the scenery of seaport towns with pirates running around singing “A Pirate’s Life for Me”. Doesn’t sound that amazing but it’s number 3 for me mainly because I love the movie series so much. Also don’t judge me but I just found out a few years ago that this ride existed before the movie… I found this interesting if you are into the movies! (https://screenrant.com/pirates-caribbean-movies-disneyland-ride-scenes-copy/)
4. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (formerly Splash Mountain)
I do miss the classic Splash Mountain .. but the updated ride is a great one to check out as well. This is a log flume ride, same ride setup as the previous ride, but with an updated New Orleans feel. One thing I like about this ride is that it’s lengthy so you feel like it’s worth the wait, but also the *big drop* at the end is so worth it too! Bonus- if you look out at the very top before the drop, you can see a great view of Cinderella’s Castle!
5. TRON Lightcycle/Run
I’m not a huge rollercoaster fan, but this new ride (just opened in 2023) was a needed addition to Magic Kingdom. It’s an indoor coaster that is crazy fast and pretty intense. Probably a one and done for me personally…. but I have to give credit where it’s due. A big critique is how short is is for how long you wait.
6. Space Mountain
I used to love this one more (I still like it).. but as I’ve gotten older I can’t help but think of my poor back and neck jerking around on this indoor coaster and the fear that my head is going to hit a railing somewhere. It’s pitch black in here so you can’t see much except the flashing lights but that is what makes it so fun. It has a lot of drops and turns so as long as you can withstand the jerky movement this one is a blast (see what I did there?) to ride.
7. Haunted Mansion
This is a slow mover on a “Doom Buggy” through an eerie haunted estate where you’ll see different “scary” scenes and be visited by ghosts… not my favorite but it’s cute. I like the intro to the ride and it gives spooky Halloween vibes throughout so that’s fun but overall it doesn’t rank super high for me.
Magic Kingdom holds a lot of great rides but we are moving on to the best rides in Disney World in … EPCOT!
Epcot
1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
I think my soul left my body during this indoor coaster but it’s a really good one, making it the best ride in Disney if you are in Epcot! The music during the ride also makes this a standout for me – it’s so fun! It’s smooth, but veryyy fast with a lot of turns and dips. If your stomach can handle it, this is a must do.
2. Frozen Ever After
I just love the Frozen movie so I love this one! It’s a boat ride, nothing crazy, but the detail on this ride is well done.
3. Test Track
Test Track is currently being refurbished and I’m interested to see how they change this one. Previously, you’d create a car during the queue, and then test your car out in different simulations to see how it does. I tricked my family on this ride pretending that the beginning was the whole ride (where you test it going over rough terrain, turning around tight corners, etc.) and not telling them about the part where you test it’s power… that’s the best part!
4. Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
I had high hopes for this ride and it really is so cute – you are shrunken down to the size of Remy and try to navigate through a kitchen and dining room. This one is 4D and my entire group felt a little dizzy after this one.. but it’s adorable so it’s still ranking as #4 for me.
5. Soarin’ Around the World
Soarin’ uses an IMAX digital projection screen to make you feel like you really are seeing the World’s wonders from high above as you “soar” from place to place. I would definitely do this at least once.
7. Mission: SPACE
Just….no. Take my advice and skip this one unless you want to see your lunch in reverse 😀
Hollywood Studios
1. Slinky Dog Dash
This is my FAVORITE RIDE in ALL of Disney- and that’s saying a lot given how many there clearly are!! This coaster is family-friendly (probably why I like it so much, because I am a baby), but with just enough thrill, and is the smoothest ride in my opinion. I also love the Toy Story movies so the detail throughout makes me feel so nostalgic. Riding this one at night is so fun too with all of the lights. Don’t miss Slinky – one of the best rides in Disney – period!!
2. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
I also rank this one very high up overall and I don’t even really like Star Wars (don’t come for me lol), so take that for what it’s worth! I like this ride because it’s a long, immersive experience where you really feel like you have transported into the movie. There are so many different aspects of this ride: vehicles you travel in, scenes you walk through, etc. so it feels like multiple rides in one! I won’t spoil my favorite part since I think it carries some good shock value, but at one point you have to physically walk by ~the enemy~ and I thought it was so, so well done.
It’s looking like Hollywood Studios holds some of the best rides in Disney World (in my opinion!)
3. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
This.ride.is.adorable! You are riding on a train with Goofy through a variety of scenes featuring your favorite cartoon characters. This is a relatively new ride and while I’m sure it’s geared to appeal to kids, I find it to be one of my favorites.
4. Millenium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Smugglers Run is a motion simulator attraction, but you get to actually take part in the flying and defending of the ship depending on the role you are assigned. This one is FUN – especially if you do this with my mother and cousin who all have zero gaming abilities and instead just screamed during one long nose dive into the ground!
5. The Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror
Ya know that feeling when you drive over a hill and get that “drop” feeling in your stomach for a second? Multiply that by 130 feet, and that’s Tower of Terror! If you love that feeling, then you will love this one. It’s a spooky theme which makes it fun but if you aren’t good with heights, considering skipping!
6. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
My cousin convinced me to go on this one without telling me what it was like and LOL I think I didn’t open my eyes once and just prayed for it to be over. If you like thrills- this is for you… it’s an indoor coaster, VERY fast, goes upside down, and has some big drops. Have fun, I’ll meet you in the gift shop!!!
Last but not least… we are looking at the best rides in Disney World in our last park, Animal Kingdom!
Animal Kingdom
1. Avatar Flight of Passage
Big, big fan of the Avatar movie and this ride is pretty sick. This is another motion simulator ride where you are flying on the back of a mountain banshee (had to look that one up) through the world of Pandora- while yes you know it’s a screen simulation, the scenery is still gorgeous and the ride is so well done you really feel like you are flying (sort of lol)!
2. Expedition Everest
OK so it’s been established I am not a big rollercoaster person per se… howeverrrr I make the exception for Expedition Everest. I think this is the perfect balance of a thrill ride and coaster, but not so terrifying that I have to skip it. It’s outdoor which earns bonus points (looking at you Space Mountain..), and the drops don’ t make me want to cry. Big fan of this one!
3. DINOSAUR
Don’t ask me why I enjoy this ride so much but I do? Maybe it’s because I’ve always wanted a Jeep Wrangler and in this you board a big truck and go on a turbulent ride through some prehistoric scenes. It was cute, fun, and different from a lot of other rides!
4. Na’vi River Journey
Honorable mention because it’s so pretty but really not anything to write home (or on this blog) about.
5. Kali River Rapids
The rogue water ride! I suppose we needed one. You are going to get wet on this one. It’s fun- but do you want to be in wet clothes the rest of the day? It’s usually a skip for me but I felt it’s worth mentioning. It is more fun if you are with a bigger group and you fill up your own raft, and it plays into the Animal Kingdom theming so worth checking it out if you’ve never been on it.
And there you have it! Those are my ~personal~ best rides in Disney World broken down by park! There are many, many others in the park that didn’t make my list mainly because they are for the kiddies! Though based on my commentary of how scared I am of so many thrill rides, maybe I am better suited for the children’s rides lol.
Check out my other posts related to the best of the best in Disney…
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