Disney World rides are some of the most talked about tourist attractions. Disney is known as Orlando’s best amusement park, and it’s likely the country’s most popular theme park. This tourist destination has rides for all ages, so whether you like thrill rides or relaxing rides, there’s plenty to enjoy.
Why Should You Visit Disney World?
Disney World is popular because Disney has so many wonderful movies, so they’re created many one-of-a-kind rides themed after those films. There are four main theme parks and two water parks, so there’s always something new to experience, which is why people keep coming back. Plus, there are so many different types of attractions that everyone can have a great time.
Here are the different Disney World Parks:
- Magic Kingdom – The home of the Cinderella castle is the most well-known park. It has the most rides of any of them, and it’s the best park to visit with young kids.
- Epcot – Epcot explores having fun while learning about the past, present, and future. It’s most well-known for the World Showcase, which is decorated like 11 different countries.
- Hollywood Studios – Hollywood Studios is all about movies, so there are lots of shows to enjoy. Some of the newer additions include movie-themed areas, including Toy Story and Star Wars.
- Animal Kingdom – At Animal Kingdom, you’ll find lots of animal habitats as you’re walking between attractions.
- Typhoon Lagoon – Typhoon Lagoon is one of Disney’s water parks, and it’s geared toward older kids.
- Blizzard Beach – This water park is winter-themed, and it’s best for younger kids.
So, not matter what you want to do on your trip, at least one of these parks will have something your family will love.
Best Disney World Rides
The best ride at Disney World is a matter of opinion, but popularity, wait times, and features can help determine which rides most fans agree you can’t miss. So, here are 19 of the best rides at Disney World that you may want to check out.
#1 – Avatar Flight of Passage
- Park: Animal Kingdom
- Height Restriction: 44″ or taller
Despite opening back in 2017, Avatar Flight of Passage continues to be one of the rides with the longest wait times, often reaching two to three hours. Yet, most people will tell you that it’s worth the wait. It’s a 3D flying simulator that makes you feel like you’re riding on the back of a Banshee. It’s one of the most breath-taking experiences you’ll have at a theme park.
#2 – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
- Park: Hollywood Studios
- Height Restriction: 40″ or taller
Star Wars fans are sure to fall in love with Rise of the Resistance, which opened as part of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019. Like Flight of Passage, its lines can take several hours to get through, but the experience makes up for it. Most Disney rides are under 7 minutes long, but Rise of the Resistance lasts 18 minutes. It’s a trackless dark ride with a walk-through part, a motion simulator, and some small drops. Even if you’ve never seen Star Wars, it’s an immersive experience you can’t miss.
#3 – Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
- Park: Hollywood Studios
- Height Restriction: 40″ or taller
When you enter Hollywood Studios, this is the iconic landmark that lets you know you’re in the right place. The Tower of Terror isn’t for everyone, but it’s a favorite for thrill-seekers. Not only does this classic ride have a spooky theme, but it also drops you unexpectedly. So, even if your kids meet the height requirement, make sure they’re brave enough to try it.
#4 – Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
- Park: Epcot
- Height Restriction: 42″ or taller
Cosmic Rewind is Disney World’s newest ride, which opened in May 2022. It’s a roller coaster that takes guests on an adventure with the Guardians of the Galaxy crew. The coaster is combined with rotating carts and, of course, ’70s and ’80s music. It’s an action-packed coaster that’s great for thrill-seekers.
#5 – Haunted Mansion
- Park: Magic Kingdom
- Height Restriction: None
The Haunted Mansion is a classic dark ride with a line that moves fairly quickly. Despite being a “haunted” ride, it has a comedic style with friendly ghosts that dance and sneak into your cart. Even though there are no height requirements, it may be too scary for young children. Some kids are the most entertained by the interactive parts of the waiting area.
#6 – Expedition Everest
- Park: Animal Kingdom
- Height Restriction: 44″ or taller
Expedition Everest is much faster than the roller coasters in Magic Kingdom, so it’s best for older kids and adults. The coaster travels through a snow-capped mountain, where a yeti has been spotted. While there are no steep drops, it’s a thrilling ride that comes to a broken track, goes backwards, and even escapes a giant yeti’s grasp.
#7 – Kilimanjaro Safaris
- Park: Animal Kingdom
- Height Restriction: None
Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of the Disney World best rides because it’s different every time. A tour guide takes you on a ride through the habitats of many animals that are native to Africa while teaching you facts about them. You’ll get to see lots of incredible creatures, including giraffes, lions, rhinos, and zebras.
#8 – Test Track
- Park: Epcot
- Height Restriction: 40″ or taller
Test Track is the fastest Disney World ride, reaching 65 miles per hour. Yet, the ride is more creative than scary. Before you hop on the cart, you get to design your own vehicle. Then, the ride tests your vehicle based on different conditions, such as slippery roads and acceleration. The whole ride is inside until the last stage, where you speed around the outside of the building.
#9 – Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
- Park: Magic Kingdom
- Height Restriction: 38″ or taller
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a kid-friendly roller coaster that features characters from Snow White. It opened in 2014, making it the newest Magic Kingdom ride. So, it tends to have one of the longest wait times in the park. It’s a short, fun ride that resembles Big Thunder Mountain, but it’s not too intense for young riders. Plus, there are several interactive displays while waiting in line.
#10 – Soarin’ Around the World
- Park: Epcot
- Height Restriction: 40″ or taller
Before Flight of Passage opened, Soarin’ was the best option for guests looking to fly. It’s a flight simulator that makes you feel like you’re floating over different landmarks around the world, including some realistic scents. At the end, it shows you landing in Epcot again so you’ll really feel like you traveled across the globe and back.
#11 – Pirates of the Caribbean
- Park: Magic Kingdom
- Height Restriction: None
Like Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean is another Magic Kingdom classic that may be too dark for toddlers. It’s a boat ride that takes you through a story about pirates with realistic animatronics. You may get splashed slightly, and you should keep an eye out for Jack Sparrow hidden in several scenes. Jack Sparrow was added to the ride in 2006, 39 years after the attraction opened.
#12 – Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway
- Park: Hollywood Studios
- Height Restriction: None
This is one of Disney World’s newest attractions, which uses a trackless system for its carts. It’s a wholesome ride that all ages can appreciate. First, guests start off in a train, but the carts end up breaking apart, sending guests in different directions. There is one area where it simulates the cart falling off a waterfall, but even that is tame enough for most kids to enjoy.
#13 – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Park: Magic Kingdom
- Height Restriction: 40″ or taller
Big Thunder Mountain has been around since 1979, and it remains a classic. It’s similar to the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train but without the Snow White theme. The coaster goes through a haunted gold mining town, dipping through caverns to avoid obstacles. Like all Magic Kingdom coasters, it’s fast, but not too overwhelming for kids.
#14 – Splash Mountain
- Park: Magic Kingdom
- Height Restriction: 40″ or taller
Splash Mountain is a famous water ride that’s themed after the controversial film Song of the South. Most of the ride is slow, but it’s well-known for the big drop at the end that splashes its guests, hence the ride’s name. There are currently plans to re-theme the ride in 2024 to a Princess and the Frog experience known as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
#15 – Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
- Park: Hollywood Studios
- Height Restriction: 38″ or taller
This is the other new ride that opened with Rise of the Resistance in Galaxy’s Edge. It’s a simulator ride that moves around to feel like you’re flying, but the cart doesn’t go anywhere. The interior of the cart even looks like a ship to enhance the flight experience. The ride is interactive, so the guests need to push buttons to help the vehicle fly.
#16 – Toy Story Mania
- Park: Hollywood Studios
- Height Restriction: None
Anyone can hop on Toy Story Mania, but this ride involves some skill as it’s more like a carnival game than a ride. The carts move in front of several screens, and guests must launch objects at the screen to gain as many points as possible. It’s a great interactive experience, but you can expect your arm to get tired by the end.
#17 – Peter Pan’s Flight
- Park: Magic Kingdom
- Height Restriction: None
Peter Pan’s Flight is one of the oldest rides in the park, but it still has one of the longest lines to this day. It’s a relaxing ride that all ages can enjoy. Even though it’s short, it’s one of the most beautiful slow rides. Guests ride in a flying ship, which goes over the city and through some of the film’s scenes. It’s one of the best Disney rides because of its nostalgia.
#18 – Space Mountain
- Park: Magic Kingdom
- Height Restriction: 44″ or taller
Space Mountain is a fast coaster, but it doesn’t have any steep drops or parts that go upside-down. Yet, it may be intimidating for some guests because it’s pitch-black when you’re inside besides some stars to make it feel like you’re in space. Unlike most rides, this one has carts made of single seats rather than side-by-side seats.
#19 – Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
- Park: Epcot
- Height Restriction: None
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure is a new ride that uses the same trackless design as Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. In this ride, you get to see the point of view of one of the rats running around the kitchen. Thus, everything looks giant, especially the produce and ovens. The rats have to escape many obstacles while scurrying freely beside the other carts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few common questions to help you with your Disney World planning.
How Many Rides are at Disney World?
There are currently 53 rides across the four main Disney World Parks. That’s not including the many shows and other attraction you can check out.
What’s the Next Disney World Ride?
The next Disney World ride to open will be TRON Lightcycle Run, which is planned for Spring 2023.
How Long Do You Have to Wait for Disney World Rides?
You can expect to wait anywhere from ten minutes to three hours for a Disney World ride, depending on how popular it is and when you visit. The average wait time is 36 minutes.
If you pay extra, you can get on some of the rides faster. There are several places online where you can check current wait times, including the Disney World app.
What are the Best Times to Visit Disney World?
September (after Labor Day) and January (after New Year’s) are usually the least busy months of Disney World. Visiting week days is also a better option than weekends.
Plan Your Disney World Vacation
Knowing the best Disney World rides can help you plan the best vacation. Consider which rides your family can’t miss, and decide which parks you want to visit based on that. There are great Disney rides for all ages, even if you’re planning an adult-only vacation. So, no matter who you’re traveling with, you can find a way to make incredible memories.
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