Top 10 Most Expensive Theme Park Rides and Attractions

Tokyo Disneyland

This trackless dark ride is based on the beloved children’s character, Winnie the Pooh. You could buy a life’s supply of honey and then some with the amount of money it cost to build Pooh’s Hunny Hunt in the Fantasyland section at Tokyo Disneyland. A budget of over $130 million went into its construction. A significant portion of that was used for an advanced control system that enables countless variations of the ride. Combine that with honey pots galore and an overarching storybook feel with all the classic characters, and it’s no wonder that Pooh’s Hunny Hunt became such a hit after its opening in 2000.

Disneyland Paris

While this dark ride can also be found at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT in Florida, there’s no better place for a “Ratatouille”-themed ride than Disneyland Paris. That’s where the original version debuted. It opened seven years after the release of the animated film “Ratatouille.” Bringing this engaging ratmobile ride to life didn’t come cheap—estimates place the cost somewhere between 150 and 240 million USD. Hey, it is a fancy Parisian restaurant after all! An immersive experience in the world of “Ratatouille” with Remy, Gusteau, Chef Skinner, and Alfredo Linguini is priceless.

Disneyland Paris

This epic ride, based on the classic TV series, can be found at a few different theme parks—but not all of them were built the same. Because of French construction rules, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disneyland Paris had to be made with concrete instead of steel. That meant paying a premium. This third version of the ride, which opened in 2007, cost over €180 million. Before that, the park had some financial troubles, which delayed things a bit. But luckily, that didn't last for too long—because this unique elevator dark ride was just what the doctor ordered.

Disney California Adventure

At a cost of over $200 million, this “Cars”-themed ride is more expensive than the most expensive car ever sold. Disney waved the green flag for Radiator Springs Racers with its announcement in 2007. Completed in 2012, the ride was part of a major expansion of Disney California Adventure Park. In fact, it took up the largest chunk of the pie in terms of costs. Based on the six-hour wait times after its opening, it’s safe to say it was well-received. So, in the words of the great Lightning McQueen, ka-chow!

EPCOT

Over the years, a few renovations have been done to keep this high-speed ride up to par for guests. Test Track 1.0 at EPCOT officially opened to the public in 1999 and had a 13-year run before it was time for refurbishments. Then, in 2024, the second iteration of the ride closed to make way for the new and improved Test Track 3.0. Along the way, Test Track has maintained its legacy as the fastest Disney theme park ride ever built. So it should come as no surprise that it cost such a big chunk of change—$300 million, according to estimates.

Universal Islands of Adventure

Universal put $300 million into this immersive steel roller coaster manufactured by Intamin Amusement Rides. With its seven launches, free-fall vertical drop, impressive animatronics, and overarching “Harry Potter” Forbidden Forest theme, it’s clear that this ride was built with an intricate design—without cutting any corners in quality or cost. Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Islands of Adventure opened in June 2019 to a warm reception—like, really warm. Just ask anyone who was stuck in one of those 8-10-hour queues, waiting to experience the luxurious ride first-hand on its grand opening day!

Shanghai Disneyland


Shiver me timbers! To put it mildly, a whole lot of treasure went into this dark ride. An estimated $450 million was spent on the Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland to make it the incredible immersive experience that it is. The ride became a true gem thanks to Walt Disney Imagineering’s detailed design coupled with the awesome special effects created by Industrial Light & Magic. With its seamless storytelling and impressive animatronics, it's remained a popular attraction at Shanghai Disneyland since the park’s opening in 2016.

EPCOT

An industry consultant estimates the cost of this enclosed roller coaster to be in the hundreds of millions—$500 million, more specifically. While that’s a hefty figure, without a doubt, when you consider the exceptional technology and special effects of the ride, it may not be that hard to believe. It costs a lot to build such a thrilling journey through time and space! Not only that, but Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind was also the first attraction at Disney World to feature characters from the Marvel Universe—and Disney's first backwards-launched roller coaster. It opened at EPCOT in 2022.

Disney's Animal Kingdom

This 12-acre area brings the world of “Avatar” to life in stunning fashion. Construction started in 2014—and three years and an estimated $400-500 million dollars later, Pandora – The World of Avatar at Disney’s Animal Kingdom was complete. Even “Avatar” creator and director James Cameron was taken aback by the large-scale proposal by Disney. Walt Disney Imagineering, Lightstorm Entertainment, and Cameron himself collaborated to bring the ambitious project to life. The two main rides within Pandora – The World of Avatar are “Avatar” Flight of Passage and Na'vi River Journey. You can also shop or grab a bite in the area.

Disneyland & Disney World

14 acres of land were dedicated to each of these “Star Wars”-themed areas found at both Disneyland and Disney World, respectively. Covering so much land with themed rides, shops, restaurants, and entertainment meant hiring thousands of construction workers and spending a whopping $1 billion for each location—yes, a billion with a capital ‘B.’ The massive project of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge was announced in 2015 to the delight of many “Star Wars” and Disney theme park fans. Construction at both locations then began the following year—and they officially opened to the public in 2019.



Which of these theme park attractions is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!