Top 10 Disney World Rides

This mine train opened in 2014 as part of the Fantasyland expansion in the Magic Kingdom, making it the newest ride on our list. The mine carts sway back and forth, which is a unique feature in the world of roller coasters, as riders are taken through the mine. Like most Disney rides, the visuals are just as exciting as the ride. Riders experience breathtaking scenes from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” like the diamond mine with sparkling jewels and the Dwarfs’ adorable cottage. This family-friendly attraction also features all of your favourite songs and characters, and is a must for fans of Snow White.

You know if Aerosmith is involved then you are in for a wild ride. Guests get launched in a stylish super-stretched limo and go from 0 to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds! They are then spit into the heart of Los Angeles, complete with lights, 3 inversions, and of course Aerosmith blasting the entire time. There are 120 speakers on each train, including a subwoofer under the seats, so it’s like you’re at a a concert while being blasted along the track. The best part of the ride may be the start though; when Steven Tyler counts down the launch, you know you are in for something epic!

Now that’s massive! Big Thunder Mountain Railroad takes up 2.5 acres and towers 197 feet over the Frontierland section of Magic Kingdom. While its size is impressive, it’s the story behind the ride that makes it unforgettable. According to a specially created legend, during the 1850s’ gold rush, miners started blasting Big Thunder. The explosions released the elemental rage of the sacred mountain. The spirit of Big Thunder caused tunnel collapses, took control of the trains, and drove away the miners leaving a ghost town behind. Riders experience the legend throughout the ride as they tour the ghost town in the queue and feel the rage of the mountain as they speed along the rails.

Ever wanted to go hang gliding without the dangers of falling to your death? Well, thanks to Soarin’, you can! The idea may sound cheesy, but Disney happens to be experts in turning cheesy into amazing. With legs dangling, passengers feel the breeze in their hair as they take in the breathtaking scenery. Originally the ride focused on locations in the United States, but in 2016 Disney modified the attraction to Soarin’ Around the World. Now visitors get to see the most iconic scenes that Earth has to offer, from the Pyramids of Egypt to the Great Wall of China at Epcot.

This is one of the few rides that focuses less on the story and more on the pure thrill of the ride. The Magic Kingdom roller coaster is almost totally in the dark, so the only things visible are the twinkling stars and other heavenly bodies while you’re whizzing around the track. Using projectors and mirror balls, Disney has made it feel and look like riders are traveling through space. The darkness makes it an interesting sensory experience since the drops and turns come out of nowhere and feel a lot more intense. It doesn’t look like a traditional mountain from the outside and is more like something out of “Star Wars,” but with a summit of 183 feet, it certainly is the size of one.

Disney Imagineers really outdid themselves on this one! They employed animatronics and special effects, and developed illusionary techniques that had never been seen before for this Magic Kingdom ride. The visuals in the mansion are both spooky and comical, with empty corridors, killer ghosts, as well as goofy scenes and characters. There is so much to see that it’s definitely worth a second, third or even fourth ride through! And if you can’t experience the ride in person there is always the 2003 movie “The Haunted Mansion,” which is based on the attraction and perfectly captures the essence of the ride.

By now it’s no secret that Disney rides have a knack for inspiring Disney movies, and this one inspired an entire franchise. The Pirates of the Caribbean ride was opened at the Magic Kingdom in 1973, following the success of the original ride at Disneyland in California. While it inspired the movies, the success of the films meant a makeover for the ride in the 21st century. In 2006, it was modified to add scenes and characters from the movies, completely immersing guests into a world of pirates, curses, and, of course, Jack Sparrow.

With Disney the sky is the limit, and if Expedition Everest doesn’t prove that nothing will. Not only did they build the mountain model for the ride, but they also built a yeti temple and a yeti museum for the queue. The Animal Kingdom ride tells the story of survival; one second visitors are innocent tourists going up the mountain and the next they are plummeting down the mountain while being chased by a gigantic yeti. At one point, riders even fall down the mountain backwards. When you are being chased by an animatronic Yeti who is 25 feet tall and 20 000 pounds, you just run!

With this Magic Kingdom ride there is one thing that is certain, you are going to get wet! It tells the story of Br’er Rabbit as he leaves home, is kidnapped by Br’er Fox, and thrown down a waterfall. The ride does a master job at building anticipation for the 50 foot drop as the scenes go from jolly to sinisterly-terrifying. Like usual, Disney’s animatronic game is on point, and the song after the drop helps to celebrate your survival, bringing joy back to the Br’er Patch - and it will probably get stuck in your head for the rest of the Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah day!

Before we reveal our top pick, here are some honorable mentions:


Test Track
Epcot


The Great Movie Ride
Hollywood Studios


Toy Story Mania
Hollywood Studios

How scary can an elevator ride be? When it’s an elevator in which 5 people mysteriously disappeared, then plenty! This dark Hollywood Studios ride doesn’t just drop passengers 13 stories either; it actually pulls them down at speeds of 39 miles per hour and takes them right out of your seat. To make it unpredictable, the Tower has a random drop pattern every time, so no one knows how many times they’ll be dropped until it is too late. Too chicken? The faint-hearted can view the 1997 “Tower of Terror” film to get the story without having the feeling of impending death.