Hi, my name is Amanda, and I am a Disney Addict. "Hi, Amanda."
I bet you can go back in my history of articles and count the hundreds of times I've said that. For those of you who love Disney as well, you know the hierarchy of rides in Disney World. Some are great, some are outdated, and some you can do without. Don't get me wrong, I love every ride. However, as a young adult interested in thrills and fun, the rides go as a certain order in my head.
Your list may be different due to stories, memories, or just preference but here are all of the Walt Disney World rides ranked from least impressive to most amazing in my eyes:
58. Country Bear Jamboree (Magic Kingdom)
Starting off our list is Country Bear Jamboree. It is located in Frontierland and, unless you want a place to nap in the cold, I wouldn't recommend it. Animatronic bears sing for almost 45 minutes about life's troubles, and it could not be more boring. No offense Disney, but couldn't you at least refurbish the ride?
57. The Boneyard (Animal Kingdom)
This is a huge play area for children. Somehow, I've found myself stumbling in there "just to see" ( aka touch every button and lever I can) what's going on. It's always super crowded in the enclosed space, not to mention it seems ten times hotter in there.
56. Hall Of Presidents (Magic Kingdom)
Another nap spot, just this time in Liberty Square. I get that it's respect to honor all of our presidents, but I'm not particularly interested in a history lesson while in Disney. Every president has their own ad-libs, and it takes about an hour for the whole show.
55. Tomorrowland Speedway (Magic Kingdom)
Don't get me wrong, this ride had so much potential. It's in the back of Tomorrowland, and yes, it's kind of fun. The only downside (which is a big one) is that the ride is geared toward children driving the go-karts, so the karts are attached to a small thin rail the entire time. You can't go over a certain speed, and you can only go out a foot left and right. Other than that, the ride controls it all.
54. Tom Sawyer Island (Magic Kingdom)
It's a no from me. This is a separate part of MK away from everything else, and I'd like to keep it that way. Everything is made of wood, so there's a trillion bees. It's hotter than anything over there, and the boats to get there and back take at least twenty minutes each time. Lots of sweat, lots of waiting, lots of NO.
53. The American Adventure (Epcot)
This is a show about...well...America. Aka, just another history lesson I have no time for. Skip it, trust me.
52. Enchanted Tiki Room (Magic Kingdom)
Oh, look! Another nap spot, this time in Adventureland! My mom and I went on this ride together to see what it was about. It's a twenty minute show where animatronic birds sing different songs. It's similar to Country Bear Jamboree with birds. However, it's lower on the list because some parts are kind of cute!
51. Turtle Talk With Crush (Epcot)
AKA waste of a good half hour unless you're with little kids that just HAVE to see it. This is located in the same building as the Nemo ride. It's Crush the Turtle on the big screen, and kids go around asking and answering questions that he supplies. There's a real person behind the voice, so every show is different. It's not that fun and is geared for little ones only.
50. It's Tough To Be A Bug (Animal Kingdom)
No, no, no. Discovery Island did NOT need this ride. Cute movie, not cute when it comes to life. The coolest part about the ride is the 3D glasses because they look like bug eyes. Unless you want to see spiders above your head, feel bees on your arms, and worms under your legs, I wouldn't go on. I remember when I was younger, I ran out of this ride crying WHILE THE SHOW WAS GOING ON. Yep, enough said on my part.
49. TriceraTop Spin (Animal Kingdom)
There's really nothing wrong with this ride other than the fact that it's just like every other spinning ride. It's not something you NEED to see, making it one of the less important ones on the list.
48. Enchanted Tales With Belle (Magic Kingdom)
Deep in the heart of Fantasyland, this hidden attraction stands. Unless you're looking for it, odds are you won't find it. This is a show where people are chosen to be characters and remake a small part of the movie "Beauty and the Beast." It's a cute thing to watch because of all of the excited little kids, but not necessary if you have little time or better rides you haven't done yet.
47. Mad Tea Party (Magic Kingdom)
Unless you like getting dizzy, skip out on this ride. Of course it's a classic, but it's not always worth the headache. This is one of those rides that is okay to be without.
46. Prince Charming's Regal Carrousel (Magic Kingdom)
Located in Fantasyland, the carrousel is a classic, one that has been standing since the park was built. Other than that sentimental value, it's the same as any old carrousel.
45. Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse (Magic Kingdom)
In Adventureland, there is a large tree house that tells the story of the Robinsons, whose ship crashed, leaving them stranded on an island. The movie is great, and this attraction is just the same. It's high up on the list because it's not necessary to see, nor is it fun. It's just cool to walk up a tree and see how they survived. The beds, the water rigs, etc. It's an awesome one.
44. Living with the Land (Epcot)
Beautiful, yet terribly boring ride. This ride takes you on a (SLOW) boat through Epcot's finest greens. There are so many different plants growing, be prepared to sneeze a lot. The ride moves literally an inch every minute, but the cool part is that you get to learn things you didn't know before. Disney actually uses the plants grown in the dishes they cook everyday!
43. Disney Pixar Film Festival (Hollywood Studios)
This is a cute little short film compilation of all of the Pixar films shown before our favorite movies. It's cute, but only with extra time.
42. Muppet*Vision 3D (Hollywood Studios)
This is more of a show with 3D glasses. It's so cute, but high up on this list because it's really outdated. I used to love this ride and I still do, but less than I did. The scenes are the same, the building is old, and the animatronics seem dusty. A lot of refurbishing could make this a great ride again.
41. Mickey's Philharmagic (Magic Kingdom)
Same goes for this ride. The show is outdated, but still pretty cute. Come on, WDW, a little refurbishment could go a long way!
40. Carousel of Progress (Magic Kingdom)
This ride goes through the history of Walt Disney's life and how the ideas he had begun. It's cute the first time, but boring every other one.
39. Magic Carpets of Aladdin (Magic Kingdom)
Every other cliche up and down spinny ride, just in Adventureland. It's fun, but only if you have time.
38. The Barnstormer (Magic Kingdom)
This is a newer ride. Cute, but a waste of time. The line can get really long for this (it's really not worth a fastpass) even though it's a 30/45 second ride. There's one bump and a small turn and then it's over. Definitely not worth the long waits it can have.
37. Primeval Whirl (Animal Kingdom)
Just your average 'Cat & Mouse' ride, Disney edition. Again, fun ride but not if the wait is long.
36. Kilimanjaro Safaris (Animal Kingdom)
Cool ride with a ton of animals, but nothing short of your standard zoo trip back home. Definitely a must-see if you have the time, but if missed isn't HORRIBLE.
35. Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Magic Kingdom)
Probably the best of all the spinning up and down rides, but unfortunately comes with the longest wait. Disney built a newer version a few years back, but did not want to tear down the original, so now there's two. The backstory for both sets makes for a long line, but it can be worth the wait from time to time!
34. Journey into Imagination with Figment (Epcot)
This is one of those rides that I like going on if I haven't been on it in a while. It's a really cute concept and the 4D effects are so cool! It's still fairly high on this list because you could do without seeing it.
33. Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios)
An old, but gold ride. Could use some refurbishing, also always has a long wait. Before Star Wars became a big part of Disney, this ride was in the top three must sees. Now, it's still fairly popular, but not something you have to do. I personally don't like the whole 'up and down from great heights' thing, so it made it pretty far up my list.
32. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Magic Kingdom)
Cute ride, great queue line, but not something everyone needs to see. It can be boring to some, depending on how you feel about the bear. I love this ride, but have gone without doing it several trips.
31. Kali River Rapids (Animal Kingdom)
Neat ride, not worth the line or the amount of water that hits you. The thing is, it's a great ride for the heat. However, with scorching weather comes large crowds for that ride. If you go at a cooler part of the year, you get soaking wet and then are freezing cold.
30. The Seas With Nemo and Friends (Epcot)
It's a cute ride with a real aquarium inside, but can be a waste of time if you have better things to do. I personally love the ride itself and always wind up getting sucked up into staring at the aquarium afterward when I originally had other rides planned. Keep it in mind to battle yourself out of there instead of looking at dolphins the whole day.
29. 'it's a small world' (Magic Kingdom)
A classic boat ride through different countries. I love this ride, it's always a must on my list. However, some people hate it due to the repetitive song and 'annoyingly creepy' dolls. Come on, people!! Have a heart!
28. Astro Orbiter (Magic Kingdom)
By all means, if the line doesn't scare you, wait for this ride. I have only been on when the park was really empty. It's an awesome ride, similar to Dumbo but the view is AMAZING!
27. TTA PeopleMover (Magic Kingdom)
UGH! I love this ride. You sit in a moving cart on magnetic rails and travel around Tomorrowland, learning about each ride. You have a great view of the park and even go through Space Mountain!
26. Mission: Space (Epcot)
I've never been on this ride, and probably never will. I am not one for 'G-Force simulation.' They even give sick bags just in case. However, I have heard from a lot of people that this ride is awesome. I guess the ball is in your hands to decide!
25. Gran Fiesta Tour (Epcot)
This ride never gets old. The theme, the music, all of it is so cute. Most people miss it because it is hidden in Epcot, but if you do find it, definitely take five minutes to go on it! I heard they were changing it from Donald to Disney Pixar's "Coco!"
24. Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (Magic Kingdom)
Ever wanted to shoot Zurg and his robot buddies? Now you can. Sit in a kart and use levers to spin and laser guns to knock out targets. If you manage to somehow score 999,999, be ready to be rewarded as the newest "Galactic Hero."
23. Star Tours (Hollywood Studios)
This ride is awesome. With "Galaxy's Edge" being built for Summer of 2019, it probably won't compare at all to what that magic will look like. However, the ride is fun. It's an iMax simulator with cool scenes and feelings that make you think you're really in a ship. For someone who's never seen "Star Wars" movies (me, it's me...don't scold me) it's still an amazing ride that you shouldn't miss.
22. Alien Swirling Saucers (Hollywood Studios)
I can't really review this one other than what I have seen online, because I haven't been to Toy Story Land yet. That being said, my opinion is a little bias because A. I love Toy Story, and B. The videos look freaking BEAUTIFUL. This ride looks cute, you spin around in a Pizza Planet car and get whipped around gently. Definitely a must see because it's the newest thing to check out!
21. Na'vi River Journey (Animal Kingdom)
Hear me out on this one. Yes, it has a spot on this list close to "most amazing ride." No, it's not even close to the best ride at Disney World. The graphics and colors and elements of the ride are completely breathtaking. They're beautiful. The animatronic at the ending of the ride is truly one of the most amazing things I've ever seen. The movement it has and the way it looks makes you wonder if it's a person in a costume. Trust me, it's crazy. What I DON'T like is the duration. I waited over an hour for this ride, just to sit in a boat for three minutes and be finally getting into it as we had to get off. Just as you are made to feel like you're in a real world, you're back to where you board the boat, and that's it. It's definitely not worth waiting that long for, so try and get a Fastpass.
20. Jungle Cruise (Magic Kingdom)
All aboard for cheesy puns, animatronic animals, and the eighth Wonder of the World. If you don't understand that, then you need to get on this ride! The theming is awesome, and the only thing I would change is the worn down elements. Refurbishment anyone?
19. Spaceship Earth (Epcot)
Why did I only include a picture of the Epcot ball you ask? Because that's where the ride is. Be prepared to board a giant train of connecting cars and travel through time starting with cavemen. This ride is a classic that never gets old, and it's pretty cool to say you got to go to the top of the Epcot ball.
18. DINOSAUR (Animal Kingdom)
I want you all to know that just looking up pictures of this ride made me afraid. I HATE dinosaurs. I know they aren't real, but WHY DO THEY NEED TO MAKE THEM LIFESIZE AND REALISTIC??? Gosh!! On this ride, you get to hop into an old Jeep and go off-roading as you look for a certain kind of dino. Will you make it out? Or will the meteor shower get you first?
17. Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom)
This ride is not based on the Eddie Murphy movie. In fact, I'm almost positive the movie tries to use references to the ride! Sit in a "Doom Buggy" and travel around the mansion with ghosts following your every move. This ride never gets old, but try not to get stuck on it because it's terrifying.
16. Peter Pan's Flight (Magic Kingdom)
I will NEVER not love this ride. You sit in a boat and travel in the air above all of Neverland's scenery. It's so cute, and the new queue line is fantastic! Try to visit this ride in the morning or with a Fastpass, because it's always a crowded one.
15. Monsters Inc Laugh Floor (Magic Kingdom)
This show is always the cutest thing in the world. It's live with voice actors behind the screens playing all of the monsters. Therefore, the show is never the same. The jokes are hilarious and you can even text in your own!
14. Under The Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid (Magic Kingdom)
Such a cute ride. Hop in a clamshell and go 'underwater' to follow the story of Ariel and her friends. Watch out for Ursula and all of the people standing in Ariel's way!
13. Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
This ride is so cool because you feel like you're going 60 mph. In reality, you're going 26 mph and feeling things similar to G-force. Completely in the dark, you never know which way you'll twist and turn next.
12. Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
I LOVE what they did with the renovations on this ride. It used to mostly be the 'show' element, but now there's more to the ride as well! This is your classic log flume, but on steroids. You follow the story of a bear, a fox, and a rabbit. There's lots of ups and downs, and you'll definitely leave soaking wet and with a great picture.
11. Big Thunder Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
Get ready for the "Wildest Ride in the Wilderness!" I recommend this ride at night when the firework show is going off. It's awesome! This ride makes you feel like you're really on a train going through the mountains. It's truly so much fun, I laugh the whole time.
10. Rock n' Roller Coaster (Hollywood Studios)
A crazy ride starring Aerosmith. Get launched 0-60 in just 2.8 seconds! This is an upside down ride, so if you're not into the thrill, stay away.
9. Toy Story Midway Mania (Hollywood Studios)
Last time I was in Disney, my best friend and I waited an hour for this ride. It's always worth the wait. This ride is similar to Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin, but even better. You sit in a similar kart, and you wear 3D glasses. Everything makes you feel like a toy playing small shooting arcade games. Even if you can't get a fastpass for this one, I'd definitely recommend trying to wait for it.
8. Slinky Dog Dash Coaster (Hollywood Studios)
Again, never been on, but have a bias opinion because...well...Toy Story! This coaster looks adorable and even cuter at night. I cannot WAIT to ride this. Slinky makes noises, and his tail even moves in the wind! They truly did amazing with this ride.
7. Test Track (Epcot)
The revamped version of this ride is amazing. You get to create a car and then test out whose car is best out of all of your party. You go through heat, cold, brake-checks, and even get launched to reach speeds of 65 mph.
6. Soarin' (Epcot)
I've always thought this ride was amazing, but when it changed to 'Soarin' - Around the World' my perspective changed. You sit in row of seats and get lifted to a certain height toward an IMAX screen. There are scents, sights, and even things to feel your 'plane' fly by. This is a must see, with a fastpass hopefully!
5. Frozen Ever After (Epcot)
This ride is so cute. It's fairly new, it opened in 2016 or 2017. You ride on a boat through Arendelle, and I can't even describe with words how amazing it is. The effects, the animatronics, all of it. There's even a part you go backwards on! It is on water, so you have a chance of getting wet.
4. Pirates of the Caribbean (Magic Kingdom)
Old red-headed lady can't come to the phone right now. Why? Cuz' she's refurbished due to Disney's restrictions and is no longer being sold. This is also a drop ride on water, so be prepared for a splash. I'm obsessed with this ride. If you love the movies like I do, you'll also love the ride.
3. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom)
Another newer Disney ride, definitely deserving of spot number three. This ride is so cute, you sit in a train and the carts rock back and forth as you're riding! You get to see first-hand what the dwarves do all day and get a sneak peak into their caves. Not to mention, the pictures this ride takes always look like magazine covers.
2. Expedition Everest (Animal Kingdom)
Unless you want to pee your pants, do not ride this at night. My best friend and I rode it during the day, and then right before park closing at night, and the difference was nuts. You board a train car and travel up to the mountain, Everest of course, where there is presumably a yeti lurking around in the darkness. The first thing you approach after a little ride time is a broken track. Before you know it, you're falling backwards into darkness, then facing forward again. They actually went to Everest for the construction of this ride, and boy, did they do a remarkable job.
1. Avatar Flight of Passage (Animal Kingdom)
Here we are at number one. I don't think I can find the words to describe this ride. Only having three days in Disney, my best friend and I hoped and prayed we'd make it on this ride. For the first two days, the odds were definitely not in our favor at all. However, the last day we spend doing the parks, we got up at six in the morning and ran to the Animal Kingdom bus. At 7:30 A.M., we were being let into the park. We made it to the ride with zero wait, something most people don't get to experience. I had heard that this ride could be a tear-jerker, but wow, I had a lot more tears than I expected. You get matched to an Avatar by your facial structure, and then you sit on a bike-like seat. Restraints lock your legs, back, and calves in. You wear 3D goggles and then are lifted off the floor in front of an IMAX screen. You are riding on an 'Ikran' or banshee. This ride is breathtaking. You feel every move, and the effects are truly enough to leave you speechless. I won't give it all away, because some of it needs to be a surprise. And for the record, yes, I cried.
So.....Anyone trying to go to Walt Disney World with me?