Ultimate Guide to Disney Thrill Rides: Top 6 You Won’t Want to Skip

For many Guests planning a trip to Walt Disney World, they assume that the rides and experiences are all created for little kids. Although there are a lot of attractions that the whole family can enjoy together at Walt Disney World, there are some fantastic thrill rides as well.

If you are traveling with someone who loves thrills, you will want to know about these six rides. These are the ones you won’t want to miss. They are full of excitement and have thrills throughout the whole ride experience.

Related: Discover the Ultimate Disney Ride List for Your Little One

Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind- EPCOT

This ride is one of the newer thrill rides at Walt Disney World. This indoor coaster brings thrills like we have never seen at Walt Disney World. The ride starts with the first-ever reverse launch sending Guests right into the excitement.

A thrilling new ride vehicle keeps Guests in the action as they constantly rotate. Add exciting music to the high-speed coaster and continually moving vehicles; Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is one thrilling coaster that Guests won’t want to miss during their visit to Disney.

Warning: If you have issues with motion sickness, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind can be difficult. Ensure you know that you can only ride this using a virtual queue or Individual Lightning Lane.

TRON: Lightcycle/Run- Magic Kingdom

The newest thrill ride in Walt Disney World is TRON Lightcyle/Run in Magic Kingdom. Like with Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, the only way to experience this ride in Tomorrowland is via virtual queue or to purchase an Individual Lightning Lane.

This is a high-speed coaster based on the thrilling TRON franchise. Guests ride on their very own futuristic motorcycles as they race through the virtual world full of special effects.

The ride features big drops, dark sections, and a launch with Guests reaching almost 60 mph at the start. This speed makes TRON the fastest coaster at Walt Disney World as it passes the Rock n’ Roller Coaster in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, which reaches 57 mph.

Warning: For those traveling with kids, be aware that everyone is on their ride vehicle, much like Avatar Flight of Passage. This means you won’t be able to provide a hand to hold onto or comfort throughout the ride. This ride is intense and dark. Remember, even if your little one reaches the 48” height requirement.

Expedition Everest: Forbidden Journey- Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Expedition Everest is a thrilling coaster that has it all when it comes to thrills and excitement for riders. A significant drop, a section where Guests are going backward in the dark, and a scary Yeti that appears to be coming at you make this ride one of the most thrilling in all of Walt Disney World.

It looks like a typical coaster throughout amusement parks; however, it is so much more. Be ready for extreme thrills on this coaster.

Warning: If you have motion sickness concerns, remember that high speeds and going backward can be tough to manage. 

Space Mountain- Magic Kingdom

Back in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain is one of the original thrill rides at Walt Disney World. On Space Mountain, rocket through space as they experience a thrilling indoor coaster. With almost complete darkness, the twists turns, and tiny drops become even more exciting as you can’t see where they go.

Not a super fast coaster, Space Mountain is still extremely thrilling because of the dark.

Warning: You might want to skip Space Mountain for those who dislike getting tossed around. This coaster can be a lot for your body to handle as it does toss you around in the rocket.

Twilight Zone Tower of Terror- Disney’s Hollywood Studios

For a truly spooky and thrilling experience, head to Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The thrills start as you walk down toward the abandoned hotel. You can hear Guests screaming as they experience the ride.

The queue is one of the most well-themed in Walt Disney World. The abandoned gardens and the impressive lobby leave Guests feeling slightly unsettled. Entering the boiler room adds to the thrills as you wait to board the service elevator.

Get ready for big thrills once you are strapped into your elevator ride. You are prepared to enter the twilight zone. Tower of Terror is a big rush because there is no pattern and no predicting your drop sequence. Each trip will be different, leaving you always on the edge of your seat.

Tip: For those that might have some that don’t care to ride, there is a “chicken” exit that Guests can use that allows them to still stand in line with family and friends but not be forced to ride.

Dinosaur- Disney’s Animal Kingdom

On Dinosaur, Guests travel back in time to retrieve a dinosaur. While riding in the CTX Time Rover, Guests are tossed around as they come across various dinos. What makes this ride thrilling is the anticipation of what is around every corner.

Guests are in the dark, tossed around as they zig and zag and enormous dinosaurs are everywhere. This is highly overwhelming, and even though it isn’t a coaster-like ride, Dinosaur in Disney’s Animal Kingdom is full of thrills.

Warning: the combination of darkness and giant dinos make this ride extremely scary for little ones. Even if they can hit the 40” to ride, think about how they do with dark and jump-scares.

We love that we can enjoy many of the rides at Walt Disney World as a whole family. What we also love is that Disney has some fantastic thrill rides as well. You won’t want to skip these six rides if you are looking for a little more thrill during your trip to Disney.