Photo Source

With only 24 hours in a day, about 12 hours of parks being open each day, and hour long lines, it’s hard to decide which rides to enjoy and which to skip. In Disney World, time is money, and planning is necessary when deciding which rides to try out each day. Many different people and blogs have different favorite rides, and at the end of the day you and your party have to chose which rides work for everyone.

Magic Kingdom

Magic Kingdom has the largest selection of rides and is overwhelming simply because of the number of options to choose from, so budgeting time is extremely important in this park. If you decide to purchase Genie+, it is important to use this tool smartly to reserve Lightening-Lane passes for the most popular rides each day. My personal recommendations are to secure a Jungle Cruise pass first, then one of the mountains (splash, thunder, or mine train), then choose the other “more popular” rides of your choice as the day progresses (Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan’s Flight, It’s a Small World, etc.).

My favorite thrill-rides in Magic Kingdom:

Splash Mountain (picture of the ride at the top of this post!)

Splash Mountain, which will soon be retimed to the movie “The Princess and the Frog”,  has always been one of my favorite rides at the park. This ride takes about 10 minutes in totality, and features a mix of indoor musical scenes with animatronics of the Br’er animals: especially Br’er Rabbit, Br’er Fox, and Br’er Bear. There are several small drops within the inside of the mountain in darkness, which culminate into the largest 49-foot drop at the end.

This is by far my most favorite ride in Magic Kingdom because it features so many different elements in one ride: music, characters, the classic “Splash Mountain smell”, and the thrilling drops. Even though I’m extremely nervous every time I ride, the anticipation before each drop makes this ride extremely thrilling and fun!

Space Mountain

Space Mountain, for me at least, is the scariest ride in all of Magic Kingdom. It is an “Opening Day Attraction”, meaning that it has been around Disney World since the beginning, and was a part of the attractions available since the opening day of the park (hence the name). Even though it is a mild roller-coaster ride with small vehicles (the rocket ride vehicles hold a maximum of 6 people), the entire ride is completely in darkness. This is the aspect that is most thrilling to me, and why I am always extremely nervous to ride. Overall, the ride itself is a mild roller-coaster perfect for people who have just started riding thrill rides, plus it’s a classic! Just be prepared for a thrilling space adventure through darkness.

Photo Source 

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Thunder Mountain is another classic “Opening Day Attraction” in Magic Kingdom, and an old-fashioned wooden roller-coaster. It is themed to a western mine, featuring mountain goats, geysers, and a trip inside the coal mine itself! It is a very fun coaster that usually sports high wait times, and can be a bit jerky due to it being a wooden roller-coaster. I really enjoy this ride, especially the theming, but it can be hard to wait in the hot Florida sun for long spans of time while waiting. If the line is long and you do not have a Lightening-Lane pass, I would recommend coming back at night to ride; plus, they have fun lights that make the landscape of the ride even more colorful after the sun sets!

Photo Source

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

This is the newest, and therefore the most popular ride with the longest wait times, in Magic Kingdom. It is a mild roller-coaster (perfect for people who have just started riding thrill rides!) located directly behind the Cinderella Castle, making it the best ride to be on to get a spectacular view of the nighttime fireworks! It is themed to the movie “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, and features a trip inside the mine, as well as Snow White’s Cabin. The tech used to create this ride is amazing, but unfortunately it is hard to wait for hours for this coaster in the Central-Florida sun.

My recommendation is to ride this coaster later at night closer to park close, since that is when the lines are the shortest. If you don’t mind missing the fireworks show, my favorite time to ride is during the fireworks. Although this requires a bit of strategic timing when it comes to when to get in line, the wait time is extremely low during this time, and the view of the fireworks on this ride is one of the most memorable Disney World experiences that I’ve had!

Photo Source

My favorite chill rides at Magic Kingdom:

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates is a beloved “Opening Day Attraction”; it is an indoor boat ride which takes guests through some fun pirate scenes, featuring the infamous Jack Sparrow of course. Since this ride is what inspired the “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie series (and not vice versa), it is fun to delve into the mind of Walt Disney and explore his creativity through the ride. I love paying Pirates a visit each time I visit the parks, and love it even more after watching the movies.

Jungle Cruise

Jungle Cruise is an “Opening Day Attraction” as well, and is an outdoor boat ride that takes guests through jungles in different continents and countries across the world. It was started by Walt Disney as an informational tour, and a way to teach park guests about the wildlife, geography, and plants of different jungle regions. This quickly became boring for guests, however, and soon enough the Skippers (tour guides on each boat) started telling puns to keep the guests entertained. Today, most guests ride the Jungle Cruise to see just how punny their Skipper will be.

Photo Source

Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion is, once again, an “Opening Day Attraction”. It came about because Walt Disney wanted to create a spooky haunted house in the park, but didn’t want it to be so creepy that it scared away the younger guests and children. So, the haunted house turned into a part spooky, part musical and fun, and part jokes. Like Pirates, Haunted Mansion is not based on any Disney movies, and therefore sports fun park-classic characters such as Madame Leota.

Peter Pan’s Flight 

Like most of the other Magic Kingdom rides here, Peter Pan’s Flight is an “Opening Day Attraction”, telling the classic story of, you guessed it, “Peter Pan”! Guests board a large flying ship (like the one in the movie!) and travel through the story of “Peter Pan”. The art and effects are incredible, considering that the attraction has not been significantly updated since it opened in 1971. Although it is a short ride that usually has a long wait time, it is definitely worth checking it out once or twice during your trip!

Photo Source

Most underrated Magic Kingdom rides/attractions:

Carousel of Progress and Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room!

The Carousel of Progress first debuted during the New York World’s Fair in 1964, and was the first of its kind (created by Walt Disney himself!). It consists of four scenes, each from a different decade/time period, and the actors are all animatronics. The story follows the same family through the years as they tell the story of progress in technology and society. The theater is very interesting; this is because it moves. While the stage stays the same, the audience seating actually moves from scene to scene, like a wheel. Since the building is circular shaped, the inner circle of the stage stays the same while the outer circle rotates through each scene. Although it is a 20-minute show overall, and therefore will take a lot of time out of the day, it is honestly a fun show, and completely worth watching at least once in your life.

The Tiki Room is an incredibly fun 15-minute musical spectacular, where birds and plants come to life and sing to the guests! It is definitely incredibly underrated, since it is also a longer show that is hidden in between the big-ticket attractions. This attraction was also created directly by Walt Disney, and is definitely a fun show to go and watch!

Photo Source

 

Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios is the park with the most thrill rides, and is perfect for guests who want to emerge themselves into the worlds of Star Wars, Toy Story, or try out the Tower or Terror! This is definitely my favorite park for rides, but since it does not have as many rides as Magic Kingdom, the lines here get long fast. My best strategy (apart from using Lightening-Lane passes) is to go early in the morning, take a break midday, and then stay late at night.

Rise of the Resistance

Also known as ROTR, this ride opened in 2020 in “Galaxy’s Edge” (the Star Wars themed land in the park), and utilizes revolutionary technology, making it one of the most popular rides in Hollywood Studios, and Disney World in general. It uses wireless Bluetooth tech, where the ride vehicles use signals to communicate and determine the ride path, instead of being guided by a physical track. It is set in the “modern Star Wars universe”, following new and popular characters such as Rey, Finn, and BB8. Although the lines are always long for this attraction, it is completely worth it to try it at least once!

Photo Source

Tower of Terror

Tower of Terror is the classic ride that everyone must try at Hollywood Studios. To be completely honest, I was completely scared of it and refused to ride until my mom coerced me to try it out during one of our vacations. Even though it still creeps me out every time, the drop sequence is always incredibly fun and thrilling, and I always recommend this ride to everyone who plans to visit the park. This ride is themed to the show “The Twilight Zone”, and features The Hollywood Tower Hotel, a fictional hotel in Hollywood that was abandoned after the elevator broke during a storm. The ride features a trip on the service elevators, and is a thrilling drop-style ride.

Photo Source

Slinky Dog Dash

Slinky Dog Dash is a mild, but still fun, roller-coaster that is located in Toy Story Land. In this land, guests are toys in Andy’s Backyard, and get to ride on Slinky Dog for a ride on a toy roller-coaster set. This is also an incredibly popular attraction in Hollywood Studios, making the long waits in the hot sun almost completely unbearable. This attraction is always busy, however, it is worth riding at least once.

Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

This coaster is one of my favorites of all time at Walt Disney World. It is only 90 seconds long, and goes at speeds of up to 60 miles an hour! The coaster begins with a launch from zero to sixty miles an hour in three seconds, and is themed to guests in a stretch limo (the limo being the coaster’s ride vehicle) racing to get to an Aerosmith concert. A different Aerosmith track plays during each time riding, and it is so fun to sail around through the darkness each time. The wait times always vary for this coaster, but this is a ride that I just cannot miss while I’m there, and something that I recommend for everyone. Be careful, however, since this is a highly thrilling attraction and not a mild coaster.

Photo Source

Most Underrated ride at Hollywood Studios:

Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. This ride was the first Star Wars themed ride in Hollywood Studios, before the opening of Galaxy’s Edge. It is way less popular now for that reason, as even though it was revolutionary when it was released, it is “old” now compared to the newer Star Wars attractions. The ride, however, features tour from “Star Tours” through the galaxy with new scenes each time, stitching together different characters and timelines from across all of the movies. Since the wait is usually low anyways, this is a great attraction to check out during downtime!

 

Epcot

Epcot is mostly focused on food, shows, and festivals, like was discussed in the last post. There are several attractions, however, that make the park even more fun, and are must-dos during your vacation time.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

This is the newest ride in all of Walt Disney World, opening in Epcot in May 2022. I have had the privilege to ride this coaster, and have to say that it is the most fun (but not thrilling) coaster  I have ever ridden in Walt Disney World. You do not have to be familiar with Guardians of the Galaxy to ride, but it is fun if you are! It features the Guardians of the Galaxy traversing through space on another adventure, and the guests get to ride on a spinning coaster vehicle, therefore traveling both forwards, sideways, and backwards while listening to a different song on Quill’s soundtrack each time. It also features a backwards launch in the darkness, making it the most fun and thrilling to sit in the front row for the ride.

Photo Source

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

This ride is also new- opening in October 2021- and uses the same Bluetooth technology that is used in Rise of the Resistance. It was first introduced in Disneyland Paris, and was recently built in Epcot to share with the Disney World guests. In this attraction, guests become “rat-sized” and follow Remy on an adventure through the kitchen and restaurant of Gustaeu’s. It is a 4D ride, and is definitely a must-try!

Soarin’

Soarin’ is a classic Epcot attraction where guests are able to “fly” around the world using a mechanical lift system which employs artificial wind and a domed screen, giving guests the illusion that they are truly “Soarin’ around the world”. The tour features key stops such as the Swiss Alps, polar bears in Greenland, Sydney Harbor in Australia, the Great Wall of China, and more, ending in Epcot in Walt Disney World, of course! Since there are only two show rooms and it is not an omni-mover style ride (meaning you board a ride vehicle and the system keeps moving), the waits get long fast. My best advice is to go early or late in the day for the best wait times!

Photo Source

Test Track

Test Track is the only thrill ride in Epcot that is not a roller-coaster, and is sponsored by Chevrolet. In this ride you get to build and test your own car as you move throughout the test courses on the “test track”. At the end of the ride, guests get to speed around the outdoor track in their cars at speeds up to 50 miles an hour, giving people the thrill they wanted. Since this is one of the only thrill rides in Epcot, it quickly racks up the long wait times. My suggestion is to either go early in the morning or later in the evening to ride with the shortest wait!

Most Underrated ride in Epcot:

Spaceship Earth! When people see and/or think of the “Epcot ball” that is the landmark of the park, this ride is inside it. It is a dark ride that takes guests back in time to the story of communication and the spread of knowledge and innovation from the Stone Age to present day. It is full of vivid scenes and the classic “Spaceship Earth smell”. At the end of the ride, guests can design their own future using an interactive program, and can send the video back to their emails to watch later. It is a fun experience featuring classic lines and creative scenes (usually with a shorter wait time as well!), making it a great ride to try out during each trip.

Photo Source

 

Animal Kingdom

Last but certainly not least, is Animal Kingdom! Since there are many animals in this park, there are less rides and more animal walks and safari-themed tours. This park opens the earliest of them all, and I highly recommend arriving as early as possible in order to ride the safari before the line gets too long and the animals retreat in the hot Florida sun!

Expedition Everest 

This is the only roller-coaster in the park and is certainly the most thrilling attraction. It travels backwards through the dark mountain in the Himalayas at speeds up to 50 miles an hour to escape the Yeti protecting the mountains. The wait times are usually low, and it is such a fun attraction to ride, especially if you are looking for a thrilling attraction while in Animal Kingdom!

Photo Source

Avatar: Flight of Passage

Flight of Passage is one of the newest attraction in Animal Kingdom, and one of the most technologically advanced. Guests get to ride a banshee from the Avatar movie, and the motorcycle-type-vehicles that guests board in the ride room expand and contract, giving the illusion that the banshee that you are riding is breathing and alive. The ride style is similar to Soarin’, except instead of actually moving, the screen and ride vehicle give the illusion of moving. This ride is hard to describe without actually seeing or experiencing it, but it is spectacular, and definitely worth the wait!

Kilimanjaro Safaris

This attraction is probably the most popular (apart from Avatar), since animals are the main attraction in Animal Kingdom. Located in the Africa area of the park, this safari features a knowledgable Cast Member who gives guests a tour of the Animal Kingdom animal reserves in a safari-style bus, while providing fun facts about all of the animals along the way. Guests are able to view hippos, alligators, giraffes, meerkats, elephants, zebras, and so much more on this ride. Just be sure to either ride as early as possible in the morning or later at night, as the animals don’t tend to spend much time out in the middle of the day when it is the hottest.

Photo Source

In conclusion… Disney parks are a lot to handle at once. There is so much to do with what seems like so little time to do it! I hope someone will be able to find this guide helpful, whether you have never been to Disney World and are looking for ride recommendations, or are a seasoned Annual Pass holder. Have fun park-hopping!