There are a LOT of great rides in Disney World and we definitely have strong opinions about our favorites.
But, that doesn’t mean that all of our opinions are the same as yours! We took a look at the Top Attraction in Walt Disney World by Traveler Ranking list on TripAdvisor to see just what YOU are ranking as the BEST rides in each park — and some of the results surprised us!
Magic Kingdom
We’re starting with Disney World’s flagship park. We’re not sure how we’d ever pick a favorite here, there are SO MANY iconic attractions!
1. Splash Mountain
Coming in first in Magic Kingdom is SPLASH MOUNTAIN. Yes! The watery and wild caper with Bre’r Rabbit is a favorite among travelers, and we totally get why. The animatronics are fun, the music is catchy, and it ends in a classic plummet down a watery slope.
It’s surprising that folks love this ride even though the characters aren’t the most well known. One traveler noted, “The characters don’t really mean that much to me on this one which makes me all the more surprised how much I love it. Feel like you really do begin to love Briar Rabbit as you go around LOL. So many false finishes and fun little drops.”
What’s so interesting is that while this ranks as a TOP Disney World attraction, Disney is actually planning to reimagine it as a The Princess and the Frog themed ride soon!
We wonder if it will still hold its top spot — AND if we’ll still need to wear our ponchos!
Click here to learn more about the retheme of Splash Mountain!
2. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Frontierland is KILLING it with the ranking! Second place in Magic Kingdom goes to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. That’s right, it’s the WILDEST RIDE IN THE WILDERNESS!
We have no complaints about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Seriously, if we weren’t writing this article, we might be riding it right now. Plus, Big Thunder brings the thrills without being TOO thrilling.
One traveler said, “This is a classic Disney Roller Coaster. If you are not a fan of Roller Coasters due to the speeds and heights, you will be fine on this. It also reminds me of one of the original wooden roller coasters.”
Want to learn about Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s birthday? Click here!
3. Mickey’s PhilharMagic
This third one definitely surprised us, but we can’t say we necessarily disagree. TripAdvisor has Mickey’s PhilharMagic ranked right up there with the best of ’em. Don’t take it from us! A five-star reviewer said, “We love this so much. Not only is it a sit down in a cool room and a break when it’s busy but the show features songs from all the classic Disney movies plus Donald Duck! What more could you ask for?”
What’s not to love though? Mickey’s there, there’s awesome music, and Donald flies through a wall at one point. It’s CLASSIC Disney antics which just might be the reason it beat out some other iconic attractions. Space Mountain still came in second overall on our bracket!
To see Mickey’s PhilharMagic in a reopened Disney World, click here!
EPCOT
EPCOT may not have that many rides, but the ones it does have are some serious fan favorites.
1. Soarin’ Around the World
Over in EPCOT, Soarin’ Around the World takes the cake for its pleasant cruising altitude, immersive smells, and just all around GREAT experience. Who wouldn’t want to hang glide right over EPCOT?
Not to mention all the other really cool places around the world that you get to see. If only it still had the orange smell from Soarin’ Over California. One reviewer said, “Disney seems to perfect the impossible. This smooth ride is an amazing trip around the world to see the diversity our planet offers. Like a ski lift with a huge screen that has some motion and incredible effects.”
Click here to check out some of the latest Soarin’ merch we’ve found in Disney World!
2. Test Track
If those wait times are any indication, this second one shouldn’t come as a surprise at all. That’s right! Second place in EPCOT goes to the speediest ride in Disney World, Test Track! Why is it so great?
One traveler says, “OMG this is amazing. I must admit the first part where you design your car I thought was going to be for kids, but it was such fun and features in the ride… It has you screaming and laughing at the same time. Whoever designed this ride is a genius.”
Whether you make your SIM car to be FAST, eco-friendly, or something else; this ride will really put it through the paces. And the 65 mile-per-hour launch at the end doesn’t hurt either.
Want to see the latest updates at the Soarin’ queue? Click here!
3. Living with the Land
Maybe this third one surprises you, maybe it doesn’t. For us, the top three is EXACTLY where this amazing ride belongs. Yes, we’re talking about Living with the Land in the Land Pavilion.
One reviewer says, “Always interesting information and the variety of plants are amazing in size – a good lesson of what can be done when we conserve our resources. Where else but Disney would you see this! We were happy to see so many families taking the time to take this “tour” ride.”
This ride teaches you about farming and takes you THROUGH the EPCOT greenhouses which are SO COOL. Did you know you can also take a Behind the Seeds Tour (when it’s being offered) where you get to try some of the produce from these greenhouses?
To see the Living with the Land Christmas decorations, click here!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This section is going to be a little wonky! The attractions in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, are a little too new to have their own rank pages on TripAdvisor. So, you’ll have to pick where they fall in for yourself! 😉
1. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Taking first in Hollywood Studios is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. Someone call Aerosmith! This has gotta be the most prestigious award they’ve ever won, right? Maybe not. But we’re sure pleased that this speedy ride took the cake!
Realistically, listening to rock ‘n’ roll on a rollercoaster is a genius concept. Maybe that’s why people like Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout in Disneyland so much! But you don’t even need to be a rock fan! One reviewer said, “My favorite roller coaster! The line is usually long but it’s so much fun and completely worth the wait. Not a big Aerosmith fan but I would ride this roller coaster over and over again.”
Click here to see the latest Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster merch!
2. Toy Story Mania
Over in Toy Story Land, you’ll find our second-place winner at Toy Story Mania! We love this attraction and it seems like we’re not the only ones. We guess a lot of people really like getting competitive with their family and friends!
Lots of guests like the competitive aspect, like the traveler who said, “My wife and I got to the park really early and got to walk on this ride and we had a blast. It is good for any age. I won but my wife gave me a run for the money.” Plus, it’s SO fun to be immersed in the world of Toy Story. Say hi to Mr. Potato Head for us next time you’re there!
Want to see what it’s like to ride Toy Story Mania in a reopened Disney World? Click here!
3. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
And third place goes to The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, easily the most imposing structure in the whole park — if not in all of Disney World. This ride has really got it all.
You’ll encounter thrills and chills, and even end up in the Twilight Zone! The theming is awesome, the ride system is a blast, and IMO, no trip to Hollywood Studios is complete without stepping into a scary service elevator. Even though it’s scary, folks still love it. One reviewer (who gave it FIVE STARS) said, “Fun but SCARY ride for me! We’ve been to Disney countless times and I have never ridden it but for my son, I did this time!”
To see EVERYTHING you need to know about Tower of Terror, click here!
Animal Kingdom
We’re pretty on board with your picks for Animal Kingdom. These are some AWESOME attractions.
1. Avatar Flight of Passage
This one isn’t just the highest-ranked attraction in Animal Kingdom, it’s ranked higher than ANY OTHER RIDE on this list. WOW. The people really love Flight of Passage!
One traveler notes, “This and the YETI Coaster are my absolute FAVES. This ride is still as amazing as the first time I rode it years ago now. Incredible – and you can really get into it. THE LARGE ‘WHALE LIKE’ Beasts in the Water at the end of the ride are so AWESOME.” Plus, did you know Flight of Passage is also ranked the #11 of 429 things to do in Orlando? That’s pretty wild!
Click here to see what it’s like to ride Flight of Passage in a reopened Disney World!
2. Expedition Everest
Second place goes to an absolute FABULOUS coaster and the second-most-recognizable structure in the park (Can we blame it for being beaten by the Tree of Life though?). It’s Expedition Everest!
A first-time rider left the review, “I’m not sure what I was expecting but that was awesome. It’s fast, it’s dark, it goes backward, you’re stalked by a yeti. Sensory overload but definitely a great ride at Animal Kingdom. The theme is great and artifacts so you always have something to see while in line.” Even though the climactic yeti animatronic has been broken for years, this mountainous coaster is still a favorite for many. It’s us. We’re many.
Did you know Expedition Everest had to be EVACUATED recently? Click here!
3. Kilimanjaro Safaris
This third place is totally deserving. Kilimanjaro Safaris is an extremely unique attraction where every ride is different. Why? Because you’re looking at LIVE animals live out their lives in Animal Kingdom.
We love to spot the elephants, giraffes, and okapi, and you KNOW you’ve had a good day when you get a glimpse of a lion! One Kilimanjaro Safaris reviewer sums up why these three are at the top saying, “Where else in the world can you go on a roller coaster, then a banshee, then a safari? This is just amazing and Animal Kingdom is amazing! Every time I’ve been on this there are just so many animals to see and the tour guide is always great! A+++”
To see the new Kilimanjaro Safaris queue video, click here!
See? We told you some would surprise you, but maybe you agree! Guess we’ll need to hop on these attractions the next time we’re nearby to have a little fun and remind ourselves about how great they are.
Click here for the ULTIMATE guide to Disney World’s top rides!
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