The Top 5 Favorite Attractions Everyone Should Visit in Walt Disney World
By Jacob Ward
Walt Disney World is full of classic and iconic attractions. From dark rides to boat rides to roller coasters, there truly is something for everyone to enjoy. There are certainly many I enjoy! But which ones are my favorites? Which are the ones I look forward to experiencing the most and have to do when I visit the parks? It was a tough list to compile but I managed to narrow down my favorites to only 5. Let's get into it!
1. Tron Lightcycle Run
To be honest, there could be some recency bias here since this is one of the newest attractions at Walt Disney World. But there's no denying how much I love this attraction. It is a little short and it is based on a franchise that I don't have much attachment to. However, this attraction gives me an adrenaline rush that not many attractions do. The rush of that initial 60mph takeoff is exhilarating and rarely lets up during the ride. It's an incredibly smooth roller coaster with fun drops, quick turns, and the inside of the show building is really cool with the portals you ride through and all the effects. There's also the fact that you ride on the ride vehicle like a motorcycle and this creates a wild sensation that gives this attraction a unique flair. Bonus points if you're able to ride it at night with the outdoor canopy lit up.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean
Now we move onto an absolute classic, a timeless gem of a ride, Pirates of the Caribbean. A masterclass of Imagineering and animatronic technology, Pirates is a slow moving boat ride that takes you through a story of some rascals and scoundrels, villains and knaves pillaging, plundering, rifling, and looting a seaside village before burning the village because they're really a fright. All while a jaunty tune plays in the background. What's truly spectacular about this attraction is how well it takes you out of your familiar place and setting and puts you right into this adventure. Even though you know you're inside a show building, you can't really tell where the roof is because there is a cool fog effect up there like you're looking up into the sky.
You sail through iconic scene after iconic scene from the opening drop to Barbosa firing cannonballs at the fort to the auction scene to the burning of the town to the prisoners stuck in the cells at the end. Even the little moments like the drunk pirate talking to the cats or the other drunk pirate sleeping with pigs stick out in my memory as well. And of course, the iconic Yo Ho song written by the legendary X Atencio. There's not much else I can say about this one that hasn't already been said. It's an iconic attraction, it has an iconic song, it's many people's favorite attraction, it's spawned a successful film franchise, and it's such a huge piece of Disney lore.
3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
There's plenty of roller coaster attractions at Walt Disney World, but my absolute favorite is the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This coaster has it all. It's fast, it's got tight turns and fun drops, it's got airtime on some hills (you seriously pop up out of your seat for a second), and it's got that classic Disney approach to theming. But what really sells the ride for me is that it's a long coaster, clocking in at just over 3 minutes. That's huge for a coaster at Disney. Some coasters I love, but aren't quite long enough for me. Yet this one avoids that problem big time. It's often said that time is a currency you spend while in the parks. What this basically means is that you only have so much time on your Walt Disney World vacation, so you have to be spending it wisely on attractions that are worth it. If that's the case, then this attraction is one of the best deals you're going to find for a roller coaster at Disney. I love this one, it's a must-do every time, and I think it's going to take a lot for a future coaster to dethrone it.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Photo by Jacob Ward
4. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Objectively speaking, I think Rise of the Resistance is the best attraction at Walt Disney World. It doesn't do it justice to merely label this as an attraction or a ride. This is an experience that even non-Star Wars fans will enjoy. More so than any other attraction at Walt Disney World, Rise is the one that is the most effective at transporting you into a different time and place, and making you forget you're in a theme park in Central Florida. You are thrown right into the midst of a Star Wars story and in some ways, you are an active participant. There really isn't anything else quite like this on offer in Orlando. This is a complex attraction that includes multiple ride vehicles, live actors, huge physical sets, incredible special effects, and so much more. It is truly an incredible experience and this is the kind of attraction you plan your visit to Hollywood Studios around. You do what you need to in order to experience this because it's just that good.
5. The Haunted Mansion
As much as I love Rise of the Resistance, I'm truly a foolish mortal at heart. I love the Haunted Mansion and it is almost always the very first thing I want to do when I step onto Walt Disney World property. I love the lore and the little stories that have emerged from this ride. I love seeing the headstones in the queue, chuckling at the puns and recognizing the Disney Legends they are referencing. I love all the little details, like the cobwebs on the chandeliers and the hidden faces on the walls. I love the effects and how simple they really are, which gives them a timeless quality. I love the song “Grim Grinning Ghosts” in the graveyard at the end. I love every second of this attraction, from the creepy hallways at the beginning to the swinging wake at the end.
Much like Pirates of the Caribbean, this is another example of a perfect dark ride to me. It expertly takes you to a different time and place, and brings you on an engaging journey from beginning to end.
About the Author: Jacob loves all things Disney and visits the Most Magical Place on Earth multiple times a year! If he's not at Disney, you can find him lounging on a beach with his wife and son.