If you are planning a trip to Walt Disney World you might be feeling overwhelmed. Trying to determine where to stay, how to get around, and then determine where to eat and what Disney rides do can be a lot to figure out. We highly recommend taking some time to look at some of our planning posts on How to Disney to help you along the way, but we also wanted to help narrow down some of the rides as well.
Each of the four Disney Theme Parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios) and numerous amazing rides. No matter how long your vacation to Walt Disney World is, you won’t be able to do all of them.
With this in mind, we have a list of top rides not to miss right now at Walt Disney World. This list is to help you determine if you want these Disney rides when visiting a Disney Park.
Magic Kingdom
When looking at Walt Disney World’s iconic first Park: Magic Kingdom, there are so many amazing rides that it is hard to narrow it down to just a few. It seems like each trip to Magic Kingdom our favorite ride changes. Do we want classic, thrill, and comfort? This makes a big difference when choosing are top three.
One ride we think is a hit every time we visit is Pirates of the Caribbean. This ride combines a dark ride with water and even a small thrill with a drop. To us, this is one of the best rides in Magic Kingdom because it has so much to offer.
The wildest ride in the wilderness is another favorite ride in Magic Kingdom. Guests can race through the wilderness on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. It is a good first coaster as it doesn’t have huge drops or heights making it easier for those younger family members.
Finally, we love Splash Mountain in Frontierland next door to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Not only is it a longer ride which makes your investment in waiting worth it, but we also love how it offers songs, entertainment, and of course some big drops. Even though it is going to be changed with a new Princess and the Frog overlay, we think it will remain a favorite of Guests.
Although there are numerous rides each and every trip to Magic Kingdom that make our top list, these three consistently find themselves at the top each trip.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Many think that Disney’s Animal Kingdom doesn’t offer a lot of rides, which might be true compared to Magic Kingdom; however, the rides it does offer are outstanding.
Leading the way is Avatar Flight of Passage. Here Guests can soar on the back of a banshee as they experience the world of Pandora. This ride is extremely unique and is one of the top rides right now in Disney World.
Expedition Everest is next on the top list at Animal Kingdom. This unique coaster has it all. It goes backward, in the dark, and is extremely fast. The overall theme can’t be beaten either as the artifacts in the queue really set the scene. This adventure to see the Yeti is an absolute must.
It isn’t surprising that Kilimanjaro Safaris is top of the list as well. This ride is also extremely unique but in a totally different way. Here Guests can enjoy looking at live animals as they roam the safari in Animal Kingdom. There are so many animals to see and every ride is truly different. Get up and close to giraffes, okapi, elephants, and lions.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom has such unique rides making each experience special. You can see how to ride some of these top rides with low wait HERE.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
It is no secret that the top ride in all of Walt Disney World can be found at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Rise of the Resistance has to be the top experience in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and in a Disney World Park. Depending on your ride style, this experience ranks right up there with Avatar Flight of Passage. Rise of the Resistance puts Guests right in the middle of the action as they become a part of the story. This is like nothing else you will ever experience and it is fantastic.
The issue and frustration with Rise of the Resistance are trying to determine how you are going to ride it. We have suggestions on the best way to do so HERE.
The newest ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. This family-friendly ride is the first where Mickey becomes the center of the ride. Travel with Mickey and friends in a unique 2-½ D experience and find yourself amazed at the outstanding and breathtaking visuals in this ride. As the first ride to feature Mickey Mouse himself, this is definitely a top choice.
Our last ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a tough one to pick. With Rock n’ Roller Coaster, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and Slinky Dog Dash, to pick from it is hard to narrow it down to just one. Again this is where our mood will probably influence our pick each trip.
For this post, we are going to go with Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. This ride, we think, is one of the best-themed experiences from start to finish in Walt Disney World. From the queue to the exit, each piece helps add to the ride itself.
The fact that each ride is completely unique and different makes it truly a thrill and one that we want to do each and every time we are in Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
EPCOT
As EPCOT continues to grow and expand we are going to see the top rides change and adjust here.
We are going to start our top choices in EPCOT with Test Track where Guests will want to buckle up and strap in for a fast ride. The speediest ride in Walt Disney World (that’s right) takes Guests on a fast-paced test and wraps up with a 65-mile-per-hour launch that will leave guests laughing.
Over in the Land Pavilion, we would pick Soarin’ Around the World. Guests hang glide right over amazing landmarks throughout the world as you soar over places such as the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, and even Spaceship Earth. We absolutely love Soarin and how it uses both sights and smells to bring the scenes to life.
And the newest ride to join EPCOT is Remy’s Ratotoulie Adventure found back in the France Pavilion. Guests are shrunk down to the size of Remy as they scurry through the kitchen trying to stay out of trouble. This new family-friendly trackless ride is super fun for everyone.
We imagine when Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind opens this May that it will quickly climb to the top of the list in EPCOT, and probably Walt Disney World, but we wait to see.
Right now these are what we would consider the top rides in Walt Disney World. We want to experience them each and every time we visit Walt Disney World. As you plan out your days in the Parks, we hope that this will help you successfully navigate the rides you want to experience.
