While we could say we’re obsessed with every single Disney World ride, we wouldn’t exactly be telling the truth…
Hollywood Studios
We go to Disney World…a lot. In fact, we’re there every day and it’s safe to say we’ve become quite the experts after all these years covering the resort. In our experiences at the parks, we’ve found PLENTY of wonderful attractions that keep us coming back for more…But there are a few rides where once is enough.
There are certain rides even the experts don’t want to ride and usually elect to skip during a Disney World vacation. These 8 rides across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom truly stand out, and not in the way Disney probably hoped…
Mission: SPACE
Probably the LEAST surprising entry on this list, EPCOT’s Mission: SPACE is a big NO for many Disney World experts.
Mission: SPACE
This thrill ride does a pretty darn good job of making you feel forces similar to what it’s like to ride an actual rocket, and it’s an absolute nightmare if you suffer from the slightest bit of motion sickness. In fact, people who don’t deal with motion sickness are often still affected by this ride.
Mission Space
The attraction has a Green and Orange version, representing two versions that differ in severity. Keep in mind, though, that even the Green version comes equipped with barf bags — you’re still gonna feel some Gs regardless and many experts decide to retain their lunch instead and skip.
Space Mountain
Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain is a fun-enough coaster that balances intensity nicely, making it a good intro point for kids or folks scared of big roller coasters. However, it’s just not a comfortable experience the older we get.
Space Mountain 50th Anniversary
The ride really jolts you around in the dark, making for a painful experience, especially since the attraction is in dire need of an update similar to the one Disneyland got where its track was completely replaced to make for a much smoother experience.
Space Mountain
The other major downside is just how uncomfortable the ride vehicles are. Getting in and out is an embarrassing adventure — one experts like to avoid.
Slinky Dog Dash
Slinky Dog Dash over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios is a fine ride in itself, but there’s one glaring issue that scares experts away.
Slinky Dog Dash
The line for this ride is ALWAYS long (unless you ride it during a seasonal separately ticketed event like Jollywood Nights) and we’re not sure it’s justified waiting over an hour to ride.
We love all things Toy Story!
This family coaster is a fun-time, but it probably doesn’t offer enough thrills to entice experts to suffer the wait — especially without ample shade.
All Carousel Rides
Carousel rides at Disney World are a dime a dozen, offering both regular and aerial views of their surroundings.
King Arthur Carrousel
While these merry-go-rounds can be uniquely themed, they’re just that — merry-go-rounds.
Astro Orbiter
We’re usually looking to ride thrilling or engaging attractions, and unless you’re traveling with a small kid, these types of rides are a hard skip.
Tomorrowland Speedway
Driving for adults is as commonplace as it gets, and as such, isn’t a must-do when visiting Disney World.
Tomorrowland Speedway
Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland Speedway is a bit redundant when examined through that lens. Why waste time driving when it’s something you can do outside of the Disney Parks?
Tomorrowland Speedway
Of course, this is an incredible opportunity for kids who aren’t yet old enough to drive, so we totally get getting excited for this ride. In the case of experts, however, this attraction can be a waste of time.
Kali River Rapids
On a hot summer’s day, Kali River Rapids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is a godsend, cooling you off and saving you from the heat. Other days? Not so much.
Kali River Rapids
Whether you want it or not, you WILL get soaked. When days are cooler or you are worried about walking around in drenched attire, this ride is an easy one to skip.
We got DRENCHED to get this photo.
This ride tends to shut down early in the year when it’s colder for its yearly refurbishments. Probably a smart play by Disney, to be honest — this ride’s punishments are brutal if you’re not ready for them.
Peter Pan’s Flight
Back at Magic Kingdom, few Fantasyland rides are as popular as Peter Pan’s Flight. It is a fun ride, but it’s also a skip for many experts.
Peter Pan’s Flight
The complaints we have about this ride are similar to the complaints for Slinky Dog Dash. The wait is hardly worth it when over 20 minutes, and it gets well over that daily.
Magic Kingdom
Again, this is a fun one where you can fly over London and Neverland in a pirate ship, but it’s a short ride and not really worth the wait.
Na’vi River Journey
Over at Animal Kingdom, many can attest that Flight of Passage is worth its long wait. However, the same is not always said about its sister ride, Na’vi River Journey.
We’re calmer just LOOKING at this photo of Na’vi River Journey
This boat ride is serene and it is pretty, but the wait times can get wicked long and the ride doesn’t always work properly, which means you just wasted a good chunk of your day for payoff that isn’t complete. It also lacks any real thrill, which is fine but not ideal for thrill-seeking experts.
Hello, Shaman!
The final Shaman animatronic is really cool, though (when it’s up and running)!
Na’vi River Journey
Do you agree with our list? Which rides would you take off or add? Let us know in the comments and continue to follow us right here at DFB for all the latest Disney World updates, tips, reviews, and more!
So Are We Just Going to Ignore the Hollywood Studios Ride Elephant in the Room??
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I’m pretty sure there aren’t any Gs on Mission Green. The centrifuge isn’t used at all on for the Green side. You still get Star Tours type movement, but no centrifuge.
For the record I have been going to Disney World for 50 years and Peter Pan’s Flight is the only ride on that list I do not ride.
Just got back from Disney World. Rode Mission Space, didn’t know about the two options…rode Ora ge….one of the worst experiences I’ve ever had…ruined the rest of the day, and even days later, I can still feel it. Almost everything I rode (including just walking)after that felt like I was disoriented. I love and would ride anything. This ride may have stopped me from going to theme parks alltogether. Maybe I just have to give it some more time. Still a magical trip through.
Suggesting that Space Mountain is skippable is heresy.
WOWZA – you hit the nail on the head with all of these for me!!! I could not agree more with each one of your picks. I would add Seven Dwarfs and Tron – both too long a wait for a very short ride. Not worth it for us, much like Slinky Dog Dash. But I would happily wait a good hour for Guardians of the Galaxy – my favorite ride in all of Disney World and a wonderfully smooth ride. Dinosaur has to be the absolute jerkiest ride in Disney World – I stopped riding that (and Space Mountain) many years ago – and if the new ride uses the same track and jerks you around, I won’t be riding that either, no matter how good it is.
The only one I won’t ride is Mission Space. Rode once years ago and was nauseated for three hours after. Plus I’m claustrophobic and the ride vehicles are too tight.
With multiple back and neck surgeries under my belt, I have to agree that Space Mountain is definitely a NO! Any other ride (s), with similar movements should be scratched off as well.
Rode mission space once, when it first opened, and after a 3 hour ride on the grassy knoll outside the attraction, and a ruined rest of the day, I boarded…never again.
Tea cups. The disorientation I feel for the rest of the day is just not worth it.
Agree with all the choices and for all the reasons! Also, Slinky Dog lines are mostly in the open and can get very hot! Mission Space is the ONLY ride in WDW I have never experienced – for the sake of others who might be unfortunate enough to ride with me! I might add (I am sure with pushback) the Seven Dwarves Mine Train for same reasons as Slinky Dog lines- once is enough!
I don’t do thrill rides but have gone on Mine Train and Barnstormer. They are fun but the quick, sharp turns are what gets me, and I have to close my eyes on the drops. My daughter can’t do them either. Her first thrill ride was Barnstormer because we thought it would be a good introduction to other rides and she cried, plus she gets motion sick.
Years ago, I gave up The Dinosaur ride, basically for the same reason you recommend skipping Space Mountain. Way too rough ride in the dark for no entertainment value. It may not be an issue with impending park remodeling.