Walt Disney World has never been seen as one of the thrill ride capitals of the world, but there are plenty of thrilling experiences in Orlando’s massive theme park complex.
Whether it’s a classic like Space Mountain or a new ride like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, there are plenty of options within for those looking for a more adventurous experience at the four main theme parks.
While we’ve not gotten to ride newer rides like Tron Lightcycle Run or Slinky Dog Dash, we’ve rounded up most of the main rides you’d consider to be in the “thrill” category at Disney World and ranked them.
If you’re wondering where Splash Mountain is, it’s currently closed and is being re-themed to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (based on Princess and the Frog) and will reportedly open in 2024.
17
Mission: Space
Mission: Space is one of the more dated rides at Walt Disney World, even for being less than 20 years old.
The ride’s g-force effects can be more uncomfortable than thrilling, and the whole experience feels a bit underwhelming when you compare it to other attractions at EPCOT.
We won’t be surprised if this one gets re-themed or even torn down and turned into a new experience sometime in the future.
16
The Barnstormer
The Barnstormer is tucked back in the Storybook Circus section of the Magic Kingdom, and it’s withstood all the years of changes in that part of the park.
It’s purely a kiddie coaster for the youngest in your park group, but what else would you expect for a ride themed after Goofy?
15
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a nifty little coaster for families, taking park guests inside the world of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
However, the ride is limited to its impressive character design and brief coaster track. You might find the whole experience a bit light on excitement unless you’re around elementary age.
However, the Magic Kingdom needs kiddie coasters like this, so c’est la vie.
14
Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway
We weren’t originally thinking of including this one in our Disney thrill ride roundup, but Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes found this one to be pretty intense when he rode the Disneyland equivalent.
It’s more an impressive dark ride with unexpected twists and turns, but we’ll include those in the thrill category since the reigning MVP thinks it’s worthy.
13
Kali River Rapids
Also known as that ride at Disney’s Animal Kingdom that you’ll get soaked on if you don’t wear like five ponchos, Kali River Rapids is a very solid water ride that’s been open since 1999.
It’s not the marquee thrill attraction at Animal Kingdom, but it’s still a pretty fun ride that’s perfect for a scorching day in the Orlando heat. Just don’t wear jeans when you ride it. You can thank us later.
12
Test Track
Test Track took a downward turn when the ride re-themed from its original designs to a more futuristic approach. Going just over 60 miles per hour in a car with the top down just loses its specialness when you actually start driving.
However, this is still one of EPCOT’s flagship attractions to this day, and it’s worthy of some respect for that alone. We just miss the old theming.
11
Dinosaur
Perennially one of the most underrated attractions at any Disney park, Dinosaur is the kind of bumpy thrill attraction that the park doesn’t make anymore.
Themed after 2000’s Dinosaur, this ride features plenty of jump scares, a unique track system, a fun storyline and enough tension to satisfy even the most fierce adrenaline seekers.
We’re not sure how much longer Dinosaur will last as the theming becomes more and more outdated, but we’ll enjoy it while it’s here.
10
Star Tours
Long before Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, there was Star Tours.
It’s been one of the flagship attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for quite some time, and it still holds up to this day with new ride simulations for guests to journey into as they hop aboard the Star Tours transport.
Plus, the wait time to this one is exponentially less than the other Star Wars attractions at the park. It is still very on par with those, too.
9
Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run
For some, the dream of flying the Millennium Falcon is a thrill in and of itself, but the supporting attraction at Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is a fantastic time for those who can handle a bit of motion and rollicking.
The ride isn’t as inherently impressive as the Rise of the Resistance, but it is a great way to experience Star Wars without having to wait in those increasingly long lines at the land’s main attraction.
8
Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is one of the best roller coasters in Florida, held back by one glaring aspect that we’re guessing will be amended in the years to come.
The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster has a smooth track after more than 20 years, a thrilling countdown start and very satisfying speed, but the Aerosmith theming just feels beyond dated at this point.
Perhaps Hollywood Studios could re-theme this to fit what Disney’s California Adventure did with the Incredicoaster? That would make so much more sense than a roller coaster themed after an 80s/90s rock band.
7
Space Mountain
The original Disney World roller coaster is still beloved by millions, and some would find this to be blasphemous to rank it this low.
However, anyone over six feet tall will understand why. Space Mountain is a good roller coaster, but it’s also incredibly rickety with a design that’s incredibly unfriendly to the taller among us.
It’s one of Disney World’s defining attractions, and it’s a great ride for those getting acclimated to bigger coasters. It’s just an uncomfortable experience for those of us with long legs.
6
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
With Splash Mountain undergoing construction for a major re-theming and Space Mountain already listed, this officially makes Big Thunder Mountain Railroad the best mountain of Magic Kingdom.
It’s a great ride heightened by its radiant nostalgia as one of the classic Magic Kingdom attractions, complete with its delightful theming and surprising speed for being such an older coaster.
It’s still one of the best things to do in Disney World to this day, and it’s easy to tell why people still enjoy it so much.
5
Avatar Flight of Passage
What separates a ride like Avatar Flight of Passage and a ride like Soarin’ in being a thrill-centered experience is the journey that it takes you on.
Notwithstanding its status as one of the best attractions at any Disney park, the Avatar-themed flight ride really makes you feel like you’re flying around on a Banshee through the forests of Pandora.
It’s a breathtaking experience that thrills like few other rides do in Disney World.
4
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is one of the newest roller coasters at Disney World, and it’s smooth track system and surprising speeds blend nicely with the ride’s theming.
For a solely-inside roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind passes the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster for the best experience like this at Disney World.
Even if you’re not a fan of the movies that inspired it, this sideways spinner of a coaster is a one-of-a-kind for Disney and worth whatever wait you may have to go through to get there .
3
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
While its California counterpart was re-themed to a Guardians of the Galaxy experience some years ago, the Orlando Tower of Terror still stands tall as one of the de-facto thrill experiences at Disney World.
The attraction has one of the best pre-ride experiences in all of Disney World, with the narrative colliding so beautifully to the doomed elevator that sends guests on a high-flying drop zone that is still so unpredictable.
It’d be a shame if Disney ever reworked this into something else, but it still stands after all these years as a singular experience for park guests.
2
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a genuine game-changer for the theme park attraction, with its multi-step ride system putting guests right in the thick of a Star Wars movie.
It’s to the point where guest actually walk through parts of the ride and board different vehicles at various portions of the experience. There’s never been anything like it at a Disney park.
It’s got a drop that’s pretty thrilling, but the whole experience really does make you feel like a member of the Resistance fighting against the First Order. It’s one of the most immersive theme park experiences ever made.
1
Expedition Everest
Even though it’s been around since 2006, Disney hasn’t quite captured the majesty and thrill of Expedition Everest, perhaps the best-ever theme park experience ever conceived by Disney Imagineers.
It’s one of Disney’s longest experiences, featuring a breathtaking climb to the top of Animal Kingdom’s faux-Everest and a jolt of a backwards fall down from the mountain’s peak into the hands of the Yeti.
The ride features some of the best twists and turns of any Disney coaster, and it’s so great that you aren’t even bothered that the ride’s Yeti finale hasn’t even been in full operation for years due to the constraints of the construction to get it fixed.
This is the pinnacle of what Disney can do with thrill rides, and it’s got no peers in the rest of Orlando for what the unique experience it can provide.
