A couple of years ago I made a Top 10 list that would also include a video where I brought you all to Disney World. As you all know I am a Disney nerd and if you didn’t know that well now you do. As a child my favorite place to go was Disney World and it is still to this day my happiest place on earth. Recently I went back to Disney World and I thought to myself should I recreate this list because I was going to be going on the new attractions that was being built and the answer to all of that is obviously yet. Will there also be a video included? Absolutely yes, link in the bottom of this opening intro. I am also re-creating this list because the Walt Disney Company is celebrating its 100th year anniversary (Disney 100) and I thought this would be a perfect way to celebrate Disney’s 100th birthday. It was this or I re-rank the Disney animated films and I probably will do that one day again but we shall see but for now let’s get back on track. Disney World is over 50 years old and I think it is time we revisit the house of mouse and rank my favorite rides/shows/attractions in the parks. Now here is the thing I will unfortunately not be including Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween event as while it is a huge part of the park, it really isn't something I could add for this list even though I enjoyed my time at the party. Now before we begin this list I am here to say that some of you guys will not agree with my Top 10 and that is okay. Everyone has their own opinion on their favorite things to do at the parks. This list is simply that as these are my favorite things I experienced and did at the 4 parks in Disney World. Well I think it's time to get ready to head to the gates and get your tickets/magic bands ready as we rank my Top 10 Favorite Rides, Shows and Attractions in Disney World.
10. Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom) – Animal Kingdom holds one of the best virtual rides in the park as Avatar’s Flight of Passage is one of the coolest rides in the parks. It is a 3D flying simulator ride where you enter the world of Pandora and become a part of the Navi. From there you are now taken into the ride as you ride a Banshee and soar across the landscapes of Pandora. I remember riding this ride on my first trip back to Disney World in 2018 and it was breathtaking, so much so that I believe we did it a second time. While it doesn’t have a beautiful animatronic like Navi River Journey; what it does have however is some of the most mind blowing experiences that you have to do in person. Talking about it and showing someone else’s video doesn’t do it justice as you need to go on this ride. The ride itself is a motion simulator ride that is kind of like Soarin as the ride lifts you up but it’s also like Star Tours as it jerks you around as you are supposed to be flying on a Banshee. You are put onto this motorcycle like ride vehicle and with the help of Disney magic you can feel the Banshee breathing on the side of your legs all the way into the ending of the ride. It sounds weird at first but when you are doing it in person it feels like you are actually in Pandora. I defiantly recommend doing this ride for sure, especially if you love beautiful sights and of course the Avatar films. I did this ride twice with the help of a DAS fastpass thanks to my sibling and it is 100% worth doing twice. The ride time can get long for this ride as it is one of the more popular rides in Animal Kingdom but trust me it’s worth the wait. My only issue with the ride is the pre show as it is long and the acting isn’t that great but besides that it’s such a fun ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6LapP0Ykkjk
9. Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom) – Considered by many as the greatest ride in all of the Disney parks, Haunted Mansion has become such an iconic ride that it is a staple in every Disney park all around the world. I remember riding this ride at three years old and getting scared and yet who would have known that 24 years later I’m in love with the ride. It’s the only ride in Magic Kingdom in Liberty Square and it’s the only ride in the park that has ghosts, unless you count It’s a Small World because I believe that ride is haunted with all the weird puppet and doll animatronics. Anyway, the Haunted Mansion is one of, if not the greatest, ride in Disney World as I stated earlier. The queue for this line is phenomenal and the pre show part of this ride is to die for. Where else will you see a hanging in any Disney theme park, no seriously it actually shows one. But still we love it. The ride itself is a dark ride attraction with special effects, cool animatronics and 999 haunting ghosts following you along. From the ballroom scene to the hitchhiking ghosts, every part of this ride holds something special to not only the ride itself but its story. This is one of the few remaining Disney rides that opened with the park back in 1971, so you can easily say it’s a legendary ride in Disney World. Most recently it was announced that a new ghost will be added into the ride as the iconic Hatbox Ghost will be haunting Disney World’s Haunted Mansion. The animatronic itself is already featured in Disney Land’s version and was originally supposed to be in Disney World’s ride but for some reason it was taken out for some strange reason. It will be added in by the time this comes out and I am really upset I didn’t see it, technically. I saw the curtains and box it was in while going on the ride so technically I saw it. I love this classic ride and I will continue to become haunted by this ride for many years to come. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IB8G64W0Gw
8. Twilight Zone: Hollywood Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios) – Well I would be lying if I said that this ride looks scary up close because it does. Tower of Terror brings you into another dimension. It takes you into a dimension of sound, a dimension of sight, a dimension of mind. It crosses you over to…the Twilight Zone. In actuality the ride itself is one of the more thrilling rides in the parks. It’s a dark ride that drops you 130 feet and yes you can feel it. I did it back in 2018 for the first time and lost a bit of my soul and 5 years later I did it again and still don’t know where that bit of my soul went. Now it is fast but it’s not the fastest ride in the park. It goes max speed of 39 mph but it isn’t that bad, especially when you are dropping 13 stories. Everything about this ride is incredible, the ride building itself, the sights, the frights, the constant screaming from all souls going down said elevator, the ride pre show, hell even the ride building itself at night looks amazing. I thought Haunted was a ride to die for but you may just literally die while on this ride. Just kidding, Disney wouldn’t want that again. Okay now I’m just kidding….or am I? All jokes aside this timeless classic thrill ride will have you screaming for joy or fright but it all depends how you are with falling 13 stories from the sky down to almost the ground. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5Lqa3_g44g
7. Happily Ever After (Magic Kingdom) – Back in 2021 this beautiful firework show ran its last show to make room for Disney’s newest firework castle show, Disney’s Enchantment. However in April 2023, Happily Ever After returned and has been a main stay for the nighttime spectacular show since. Now I’m not the biggest fireworks guy but when it comes to Disney I am in love with them and this show is one huge example of my love for their firework shows. The show also includes photo mapping onto Cinderella’s Castle as well as the buildings on Main Street U.S.A and it also includes a beautiful original song performed by Jordan Fisher and Angie Keilhauer. It also includes songs from of Disney’s classic films. I love the themes of the show too as it includes 6 different themes throughout the shows story. They include Dreams, Journey, Friendship, Love, Adversity and Triumph. The finale as well is truly beloved as you get to see Tinker Bell fly in the sky as she jumps off the castle. Seeing it in a video is wonderful and all but getting to see this show in person is so much better and it’s just so beautiful to see up close. It has left millions emotional and I promise you once you watch this show you too will leave with a couple of tears. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pasX33Q7-6A
6. Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind (Epcot) – One of the newest rides in Disney World can be found in Epcot as Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind has become one of the biggest rides/attractions in any of the Disney parks. The ride itself has a couple of huge milestones for Disney World as it is the very first rollercoaster in Epcot but it is also the very first attraction in any of Disney World’s parks to have characters and IP’s from the Marvel Universe. If you didn’t know Orlando’s Universal Studios includes many Marvel characters and has a contract with Marvel so many characters cannot be included in Disney World. The same cannot be said outside of Florida as Disney Land holds multiple rides with Marvel characters as well as a full on land. This ride is also the longest enclosed roller coaster with the length of 5, 777.4 feet. The ride also has a max speed of 60 mph, which is pretty fast. I loved this ride as everything about it is so perfect. The queue is so detailed, the pre show is put together perfectly, I love all of the character moments from the Guardians in this ride and then the ride itself, oh my god it’s amazing. Now the ride includes 6 songs so each time you ride you may get a different song. The songs include Conga by Miami Sound Machine, I Ran (So Far Away) by A Flock of Seagulls, One Way Or Another by Blondie, Everybody Wants To Rule the World by Tears for Fears, Disco Inferno by The Tramps and September by Earth, Wind and Fire. The effects were pretty incredible too and yes I did this ride multiple times and paid for a lighting lane. Now this ride uses a virtual queue at the time of me posting this. This means you would need to make sure you get up early to get yourself in a virtual queue by using the Disney World resort app. Or you can also buy a lighting lane which is worth the price considering how amazing this ride is. Either way this ride will leave you with a huge smile on your face just like it did for me. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mn5WNV1zaIQ&t=727s
5. Pirates of the Caribbean (Magic Kingdom) – It wouldn’t be going to Disney World for me without going on this ride multiple times. Pirates of the Caribbean is another Disney parks staple as the ride is featured in every Disney park. The original ride opened in Disneyland back in 1967 and would then make its way into Disney World in 1973 and it has become one of the most popular rides in Disney. Now while this version of the ride isn’t the greatest version as Disneyland and Shanghai Disneyland has way better versions, this one holds a special place in my heart as it was one of the first rides I went on as a young child and the first one I think of when it comes to falling in love with animatronics. Who doesn’t love a smooth dark boat ride with beautiful scenery, amazing animatronics that continue to look impressive 50 years later and the smells of the seas while you ride the ride. It is worth noting that the film inspired by the ride would later spawn multiple Jack Sparrow animatronics onto said ride and since his addition the ride has felt even more iconic than ever before. You always notice something new when riding this ride whether it’s certain animatronics doing something random or even notice something interesting in the scenery; there is always something new for me being noticed in the ride each time I go to Disney World. Much like Haunted Mansion, this ride continues to be a heavyweight in the greatest Disney rides of all time talk. Plus who doesn’t want to sing and act like a pirate on and off the ride; I guarantee you will be singing the ride’s theme song as soon as you get off the ride, I know I do. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4D8J4dBFMg
4. Fantasmic! (Hollywood Studios) – I always want to finish my trip to Disney World with this show as my biggest memory from my 1st trip to Disney was watching Fantasmic and each time we have gone we ended it with this show and it always leaves me in tears. Fantasmic is a nighttime spectacular show that holds beautiful water effects, fireworks, lights, lasers, puppets, songs and characters from classic Disney films and most of all, Imagination. Now while I would have easily made this my number one, unfortunately the show I remembered is no longer the same. While it still is the same show, the show itself was refurbished a bit and added in multiple scenes from multiple films including Aladdin, Frozen, Pocahontas and Moana. While I don’t have an issue with the new additions I still feel like they are rushed in some places and not placed properly in the middle of the show. I didn’t hate the new additions but I guess more getting used to them. Eventually I will but even with the new additions there still is that show I fell in love with. I respect the hard work that is being dedicated onto this show as I feel like Hollywood Studios and Disney World in general wouldn’t be the same without it. There was a point it was without it during the pandemic and for a while after that once the parks were able to open again. I love this show to death and I feel like it doesn’t get enough appreciation as it is one of the very few things left in the park that feels like the original concept of Hollywood Studios. It has been around since 1998 and it continues to bring these classic Disney films to life. I will say this till I die; Fantasmic is the best live show in all of the Disney parks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0V34o4m_2T0
3. Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom) – Animal Kingdom is home to the most expensive rollercoaster ever built in any of the Disney parks, Expedition Everest. This ride is one of my favorite rides I was able to do in Disney. The story of this ride truly interested me as a young child as inside this ride holds a Yeti and this yeti is protecting the Forbidden Mountain next to Mt. Everest. What made this ride so interesting to me were the previews for it as when I was a young child I was watching them talk about the ride and the creature that lives inside it and it looked huge. Now if you do know about this ride’s history then you know that this ride has a pretty huge and impressive Yeti animatronic but then you also know that said animatronic is no longer running how it should be. The animatronic used to swing his arm around and try and grab you when you pass by it but because the huge animatronic is on top of a structure that began to split thus it needed to stop being used on “A-mode”, aka moving around, and was switched to “B-mode”, which is just flashing lights to make it look like it’s moving. Regardless I love this freaking ride. I remember riding it the first time back in 2018 and getting a concussion once you moved backwards and forwards again in the max speed of 50mph. I wasn’t aware and ready for it and all I remember as half the ride. I learned my mistake and finally took on the beast they called Expedition Everest again and won as I kept my body and head still the first time and I defeated the beast and decided let’s do it a 2nd time and enjoyed myself even more and got to say hello to Mr. Disco Yeti himself. If you love fast rollercoaster rides that takes you on a long drop then this is your ride. And yes when you are going up the lift hill you do see multiple Disney staples including Hollywood Tower of Terror. Don’t believe me well then do it for yourself because its frightening and also freaking cool. I will show off both modes in separate links for you to experience this incredible attraction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zB03bQk79Nw – a-mode ride pov https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L3pdI9SeDk – the Yeti full look at a-mode https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0l_KXIBX-0 – b-mode ride pov
2. Tron Lightcycle Run (Magic Kingdom) – This ride originally became popular in Shanghai Disneyland and because of its popularity Tron finally made it’s way home into Tomorrowland in Disney World. I waited 7 long years to ride this ride since I first saw the ride itself in a video on YouTube so seeing the structure being built in 2018 and it was worth the wait. I’m not the biggest fan of Tron but when I saw this ride in videos I knew I would fall in love with it. Disney World’s version of the ride opened up this year in April 2023 and it has left its mark as being one of, if not the greatest, ride in the actual park. The ride building itself is beautiful and being able to see other people on the ride as you enter the ride building is freaking incredible. Seeing it at day time and night time with the lights on was also incredible as I feel like this is a ride you have to do twice just to see how beautiful the entire ride building looks at night while on the ride. With a max speed of 60 mph, this ride will take you into a minute and a half journey of thrill. Now just know you will be in a fetal position in a sense when riding this ride, but don’t let that scare you because you are strapped in very tight and I promise you once you are launched you will enjoy yourself. I loved every minute of it from the launch to riding outside and feeling like I am flying to hearing Daft Punk in the ride, every little detail in this ride is just perfect. Like I said it was worth the wait and trust me when I tell you I wanted to do it again and again once I got off. We did it three times and each time it got better and better. It sucks that it has a short time duration but still it is such an incredible ride that I honestly never wanted to get off. I loved it so much. From the theming to the amazing background music, this ride is a must do when visiting Disney World. Now the ride itself doesn’t have wait times so you either need to buy a Lightening Lane or get a Virtual Queue. Either way both are worth it as this ride will defiantly leave a mark with you on your Disney trip. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rP3d52LrtGY
1. Rise of the Resistance (Hollywood Studios) – The longest 5 year wait finally has ended as I remember visiting Disney back in 2018 and while I was enjoying myself in Toy Story Land I noticed something being built right next door Galaxy’s Edge. I feel like some of you guys may not understand this but as a huge Star Wars fan and someone who has been waiting half a decade to finally witness it up close all I could say is the wait was worth it. Now inside the land holds two rides and one of those rides has taken over the top spot of this list, Rise of the Resistance. The ride has become one of the most interesting and best rides in the parks as not only is it a ride but it’s a walk through that also includes a motion simulator and a drop ride system. It’s literally a four in one ride/attraction. You are new recruits of the Resistance in this ride as you go on this journey which you are then greeted by this impressive audio animatronic, Lieutenant Bek. From here you are then captured by the First Order where you are entered in a room with tons of Stormtroppers. From there you are being interrogated by First Order members and then finally Kylo Ren. Then the Resistance members and Finn save you and help you escape from the First Order. Let me just say this right now, this ride and experience was worth the 5 year long wait and is honestly the greatest experience of my life in Disney World. I remember watching tons of ride through videos and saying how impressive everything looked from the pre show to the audio animatronics of Kylo Ren and BB-8 to just the whole entire ride itself. Everything about this ride and experience was just so perfect and I feel like it would had been more perfect had the Kylo Ren animatronic in the finale was working but sadly it wasn’t but that’s okay because it didn’t ruin my 1st time experience on the ride. I loved every minute of it and I truly knew that going into this trip and wanting to create this new list that Rise would probably be my number one and I didn’t think it would but I’m glad it is because Rise of the Resistance proves the whole message of Disney; making dreams come true. It’s everyone’s dream to meet Mickey or see Cinderella’s Castle but for me it was to be a part of the world of Star Wars and this ride was able to do that. Instead of ending my trip with Fantasmic we ended it with Rise of the Resistance, even being the last few people to actually ride the ride that night and one of the last few people to be in the land of Galaxy’s Edge. I got very emotional in my first ride on this ride as I waited so long for this and it finally happened and didn’t feel real. It still doesn’t feel real even with the fact that it happened. I got to ride this ride twice and both times it was just perfect. If you ever get a chance to go to Disney World or even Disneyland, go on this ride, visit Galaxy’s Edge, it is worth it. You don’t even need to be a fan of Star Wars, but trust me when I say you will feel something from this ride and experience you will want to share it with the world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_17PhbsDBw
Before I also include my Honorable Mentions I just want to say that being able to go to Disney World is something that not many people get to do and I feel bad because granted I really don’t get to go all the time because it is expensive but I feel bad that many families and kids who always wanted to go never get to go. I wish every human being gets the experience of going to Disney World or any Disney park one day and I hope one day when they do they can feel the same love and happiness I hold with going to the park. My job here is to give that experience to you in a smaller sample size and yes it isn’t the real thing but it comes from the heart and I truly love that I could make these dreams come true and I hope one day all your dreams come true as well. Now go, unlock the magic within. Click the links in the posts and have yourself a magical day. <3
Honorable Mentions Dinosaur (Animal Kingdom) – So I may have rode this ride 5 times in one day. Dinosaur is one of the best rides in the park and it’s an underrated ride that has small wait times. It has some pretty cool animatronics that needs more love. Each time we rode Dinosaur it got better and better and it has such a huge fan base. So much so that when news of Dinoland U.S.A possibly closing in the future and Dinosaur could soon be extinct. But hopefully that doesn’t happen to this amazing dark ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBxqUy4mxtM
Slinky Dog Dash (Hollywood Studios) – Toy Story Land holds one of the best rides in the Disney parks, Slinky Dog Dash. The ride has what I think is the best theming in the entire park and I just love how adorable this ride is with the addition of it being a rollercoaster that takes you up to 40mph. The ride does get a long wait time so you will need to get a lighting lane of DAS fastpass if you don’t wish to wait in line for a long time. Regardless this rollercoaster is incredible and I love it so much. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DnefXTjpr4
Rock N Rollercoaster (Hollywood Studios) – My fear of going upside down in a rollercoaster might have an exception when it comes to this ride as you go upside down multiple times and through a couple of corkscrews. The ride has a max speed of 57 mph and that’s mostly in the beginning when you are launched. The ride also has Aerosmith as they are the centerpiece of the ride so you will hear multiple songs of the rock band while on the ride. It’s a fun dark rollercoaster ride that I actually enjoyed but also was shaking from and disoriented from but after the 2nd ride I was alright. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6YMRVutWSU4
Big Thunder Mountain (Magic Kingdom) – This ride is one of the most wildest rides on the wilderness. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is such a beloved rollercoaster ride and it continues to be such an iconic ride in Magic Kingdom. I could ride this ride a hundred times and not get bored. I could do that for all the rides but for this one it’s just a perfectly tamed rollercoaster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZVT66d0kg_A
Kilimanjaro Safaris (Animal Kingdom) – I love animals and zoos and the fact that Animal Kingdom has a safari ride in the park where you literally drive and get very close to actual animals is pretty cool. They are taken care of very well in the park and it’s just fascinating to me how huge Animal Kingdom is and a lot of that is because of this ride. It’s more of an attraction than it is a ride as it’s just you riding in a truck next to animals but in the end I love it and truly believe it’s something fun to do while on your trip to Disney World. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZAvmshA434
Frozen Ever After (Epcot) – Yes I love this ride. I hate the movie Frozen but I love the ride. Very weird flex I know but in the end I love how they bring the movie to life and I love the audio animatronics as they look life like and the ride just feels so imaginative like it’s so interesting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVxF6FtXFnY
Festival of the Lion King (Animal Kingdom) – This might be the best stage show of all of the stage shows in the parks. Festival of the Lion King is a 30 minute show with songs from the movie The Lion King, acrobatics, fire, puppets and of course characters from the Lion King. It’s everything you would truly love from Lion King and then some. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWxyAar-wBM
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