Although there are so many reasons to visit Walt Disney World with your family, the rides are certainly a big part. There are so many things to do in the four theme parks and two water parks, so I’d recommend that you make a general list of the best rides at Disney World that you want to experience, so you can be prepared.
Here are, in our opinion, the best rides at Disney World. Keep in mind that many of these rides have height restrictions and aren’t necessarily appropriate for all ages. It’s always a good idea to check these in advance, especially when traveling with small children.
I am a former member of the Disney Parks Moms Panel and have been on some complimentary press trips at Walt Disney World, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. A purchase through one of these links may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
Save money on your Walt Disney World theme park tickets by booking through Get Away Today. They offer vacation packages as well as individual ticket sales.
These Are Worth the Line: The Best Rides at Disney World
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The Best Rides at the Magic Kingdom
The original Disney World theme park offers classic attractions and nostalgic rides. Easily the most popular theme park in Orlando, guests visit for both the scenery as well as the attractions. There are some definite must-do rides at the Magic Kingdom including some of the best rides at Disney World.
Here are our picks:
Space Mountain
This indoor, dark ride is a rollercoaster through space. It’s the first ride that I remember from my childhood, and I have such fond memories of the thrills.
Riders sit in a vertical row, so make sure your kids are okay with not having you next to them on the ride vehicle. It’s a really fun, exciting ride. If you are visiting during Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, you’ll want to ride, because the whole ride is in the dark and is a more thrilling ride than normal.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
This outdoor train ride is both an exciting rollercoaster and a classic Walt Disney World ride. It’s a bit milder than Space Mountain, but there are still plenty of thrills.
If you can, ride it twice – during the day and at night. It’s one of our all-time favorites. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is located in Frontierland.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
The newest rollercoaster at Walt Disney World is this Snow White and the Seven Dwarf-themed mild coaster ride. It’s part rollercoaster and part dark ride.
The ride mechanism used for this attraction is so smooth. It glides side to side as it moves. It’s so fun and worth the long wait times.
Tron Lightcycle / Run
The newest ride at the Magic Kingdom is one of the most exciting attractions at Walt Disney World. This semi-enclosed, launched roller coaster mimics a ride on a light cycle and is very fast and exciting.
It’s a short ride, but very thrilling. The ride mechanism can be tight, and there’s a tester vehicle in the queue you can use to see if you’ll be able to ride comfortably.
The Haunted Mansion
You can’t go to the Magic Kingdom without visiting the ghost host, haunted hitchhikers, and other ghosts at the Haunted Mansion. Enter the house and hear from the ghost host before boarding a Doom Buggy for a tour through the mansion.
The ride itself is slow, but younger kids may be a little frightened by the ghostly content. No matter how many times I visit the Haunted Mansion, however, I still have to return each trip. It’s an iconic ride at Walt Disney World.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Another classic ride at the Magic Kingdom is Pirates of the Caribbean. It’s a very mild dark boat ride through the story of the pirates, and when you exit, you’ll be humming that catchy pirate’s tune.
Very young kids might be a bit frightened by the pirates. However, the ride itself is very mild, and it’s such an iconic ride that you’ll want to experience it.
The Best Rides at Epcot
Many new guests to Epcot often wonder whether or not the park offers rides. Most people are familiar with the countries of Epcot, as well as the popular festivals (like the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival). However, the park does have some of the best attractions and rides at Disney World.
Future World in the park typically opens earlier in the day, with the World Showcase opening later in the day. Keep that in mind as you are planning your Epcot vacation.
Soarin’ Around the World
This innovative ride is located in the Land pavilion in Future World. First, you’ll line up as you get a safety briefing. Then you’ll belt yourself into the ride, which was based on an Erector set toy.
Once the ride moves, you’ll feel like you are hang-gliding across the world. The movie showcases some of the most popular attractions in the world, including the Eiffel Tower and the Taj Mahal. It’s a unique experience and perspective.
Test Track
Also located in Future World, Test Track will let you design a SIM car and then take it through a series of tests. The highlight of the ride is when it travels at top speeds around the exterior of the pavilion.
Test Track has a single-rider line in addition to the standby and lightning lane lines. Groups in the single-rider line are split up, so keep that in mind if you decide to go in that line with your kids.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
The newest ride at EPCOT is one of the most exciting rides at Walt Disney World. This enclosed attraction is so much more than a traditional roller coaster – which you’ll immediately figure out after the fast backward launch.
Featuring the popular Guardians of the Galaxy characters, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind also has an exhilarating soundtrack with several different options. You’ll want to ride again and again to try out the different songs.
The Best Rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios has gone through a very significant transformation over the past few years, with more to come! With two new lands – Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land, opening in recent years, there is so much for families to do. It has some of my favorite rides as well as several thrill rides.
You’ll want to spend at least one day at Hollywood Studios and may even consider spending more than one day. This is especially important if you have a long list of things to do there.
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
y love this ride. It’s got some of my favorite theming of all the Walt Disney World rides and is so fun to ride.
You’ll start by entering the hotel, where you’ll be guided into a room to learn about the backstory. Then, you’ll be seated in one of those magic elevators. Unlike regular elevators, this one drops down and then shoots right back up.
It’s a little spooky, and it’s also a thrill ride. The Tower of Terror is not appropriate for little ones but tweens and teens will love it.
Rock N Roller Coaster (as of 2/24, this ride is currently being refurbished)
Another exciting thrill ride at Walt Disney World is the Rock N Roller Coaster, featuring Aerosmith. This is the only ride at Walt Disney World that goes upside down.
You’ll start by watching a pre-show that explains why you’ll be racing through LA traffic in a stretch limo. It’s one of the scariest rides at Walt Disney World (based on speed, not theme).
This ride also has a single-rider line, so that’s a good option if you don’t want to wait in the standby line. To avoid the long lines, we typically try to ride it first thing in the morning.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
This newer ride is all the talk of the Disney and Star Wars community. It opened in Galaxy’s Edge in both Disneyland and Walt Disney World, and both rides are the same. It’s so much more than a ride – it is an interactive experience. During the 15-minute adventure, you’ll join the resistance, get captured by the First Order, and travel in multiple vehicles.
Slinky Dog Dash
I love this fun outdoor rollercoaster based on the toy from the Toy Story movies. The theme is immediately noticed as soon as you enter the queue, and it’s just so lively and bright.
The coaster itself is pretty mild, but it’s still lots of fun even if you are a rollercoaster junkie. As a new ride, Slinky Dog Dash is extremely popular, so get a Genie+ reservation or plan to wait in line.
Toy Story Mania
The original of the Toy Story-themed rides is now located at the entrance of Toy Story Land. In this midway-based ride, you’ll get 3D glasses and will play virtual arcade games against the other people in your vehicle.
A new track was added to the ride, and the entrance was moved when Toy Story Land opened. Because of this, the capacity has increased and the lines aren’t quite as long as they were when the ride originally opened.
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
This new ride, which replaced the Great Movie Ride, is a fun trackless ride through a park with Minnie, Mickey, and Goofy. Of course, things don’t go as planned, and the ride goes through a full experience including Daisy’s dance school and an underwater adventure.
The Best Rides at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is most definitely not a zoo. Although there are plenty of animals at the resort, there are also some fabulous attractions that are not to be missed.
Expedition Everest
Expedition Everest is one of my favorite rollercoasters. On this journey to Everest, you’ll encounter a yeti and will be forced backward in your ride vehicle. It’s lots of fun, and the coaster movement is very unusual.
Expedition Everest offers Lightning Lane and also has a single-rider line. I usually use that line to ride the attraction more than once – especially earlier in the day when the lines are typically shorter.
Kilimanjaro Safaris
If you want to see the animals at Animal Kingdom, definitely go on the Kilimanjaro Safaris. This ride goes through the savannas, where you’ll see real animals including giraffes and elephants.
Because of the nature of real animals, this ride is always different. We’ve seen so many different animals during our safaris, and it’s always worth riding.
Avatar Flight of Passage
One of our best new theme park rides is Avatar: Flight of Passage – the newest ride at Animal Kingdom. This innovative attraction gives you the illusion of riding on a banshee as you fly through Pandora.
It’s an extremely popular ride and there’s no single-rider line. As a result, you’ll want to try to get an Individual Lightning Lane pass for this or go on it first thing in the morning.
General Tips for Riding the Best Rides at Disney World
With the advent of Genie+, guests can now make advanced reservations for most of the best rides at Disney World. I recommend that you take advantage of this system if you want to save time. Although it does cost extra, it can be worthwhile so you don’t waste too much of your time waiting in lines.
If you aren’t able to get a Genie+ reservation or an Individual Lightning Lane pass, you may want to get to the park early in the day, before the lines get too long. Single rider lines can also be a good way to minimize lines but keep in mind that your party will be split up.
New rides, like Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind and TRON, also offer a virtual queue instead of a standby line. Make sure you get the latest information on this before vacationing so you are prepared. If there’s a virtual queue, you’ll want to make sure you are awake in time to request a spot in the queue.
You may also be wondering about Disney theme park tickets. There are lots of different options. To maximize your time in the parks, I recommend getting the park hopper option on your ticket.
It’s more expensive, but with the park hopper, you’ll be able to visit multiple parks per day. That can help with your park plans, and it means you’ll be able to dine in a different park than the one you visit first.
This can be especially helpful with dining reservations because you can visit a different park for dinner. Note that park hopping rules have been changing, so check the details before your trip.
More Resources: Want to know more about Disney World rides? Click here to read all of our posts about Disney rides and attractions.
Y The Wait
Friday 21st of February 2020
one of the best place for enjoyment with children.