This list ranks the best roller coasters at Walt Disney World, several of which are big-budget new additions that have opened within the last decade. Since the top thrill rides are also the most popular attractions in Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Hollywood Studios (and one of the highest wait times in Animal Kingdom), this should help you determine the coasters to prioritize.
Actually, this isn’t just a list of the top rollercoasters at Walt Disney World. Since there are not 10 great coasters at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, DHS, and DAK combined, we’ve expanded it to the best Disney Parks coasters in the entire world. Most of those (8 out of 10) are at Walt Disney World, so that’s where this list is most useful–but it also works at Disneyland (4 out of 10) and beyond.
There not being 10 great roller coasters at Walt Disney World might be a red flag, and that’s a worthwhile starting point. We’ll be blunt: Walt Disney World is not the place for thrill seekers. Don’t get us wrong–Walt Disney World is home to a few world-class roller coasters and a couple of iconic, historically-significant ones. However, you absolutely should not seek out WDW–or any of the Disney Parks–as roller coaster destinations.
Honestly, it always surprises us when we hear from visitors (often in response to our rankings of all rides at Walt Disney World) who list mostly roller coasters as their favorite attractions at Walt Disney World. There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that, as mentioned, Disney just does not excel at thrill rides. Its roller coasters are mostly on the short side and fairly tame by thrill-seeking standards. You’re better off at countless other theme parks, including Universal Orlando!
Second, Walt Disney World charges premium pricing for its immersive themed design and extraordinary world-building. Of its attractions, thrill rides are often the least impressive and what’s done better by its competitors. Again, there are some exceptions, but by and large, Disney does not best the competition when it comes to roller coasters in the same way it does with dark rides and other lavishly-designed attractions.
To put it in blunt terms: you’re far better off heading to a regional amusement park, like Six Flags or Cedar Point or Busch Gardens, if you’re interested in roller coasters. They do big thrills better than Disney, and usually at a much lower cost!
This is not to say that Walt Disney World isn’t fun for teens or adults who enjoy thrill rides. It definitely can be! But thrill rides are simply one offering at the veritable buffet that is Walt Disney World. If you’re a thrill-seeker who only wants the roller coaster “dish,” then you should seek out one of those parks that prepares that best.
To that point, there are also a lot of other more-highly Imagineered attractions that offer thrills. Rides like Avatar Flight of Passage, Soarin’ Around the World, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, DINOSAUR/Indiana Jones Adventure, Tower of Terror/Mission Breakout, and Radiator Springs Racers all offer thrills as one component of highly-immersive attractions that are not roller coasters. (And thus, also not ranked here.)
One final note on methodology before we get going. This list ranks the roller coasters based primarily on their quality as roller coasters as opposed to attractions. Which is to say that standard criteria are mostly what’s considered: intensity (and enjoyment thereof–it cannot just punish riders), ride smoothness, variety of elements, originality, flow and pacing, duration/track length, and more.
Accordingly, don’t be surprised to see divergence between this list ranking the roller coasters and our other attraction rankings. With that said, we do take into account subjective factors to the extent that they add to or detract from the ride experience. Thematics do come into play as a tiebreaker in several cases where it’s too tough to choose which rides rank higher or lower as coasters.
Let’s dig into the best roller coasters at Walt Disney World and beyond…
BONUS. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — As an attraction, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is top-tier. Its strengths are stunning show scenes, cool Audio-Animatronics, themed design, music, and novelty level. There’s a lot to love about the attraction, especially when viewed as a dark ride with some mild thrills and big views of Fantasyland and Magic Kingdom as a whole.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is probably the most “Disney” roller coaster in existence, which is to say it focuses on what Imagineering does best and the thrills take a backseat. Despite its popularity among the general public, we’d argue that Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is underrated among Walt Disney World fans–it’s destined to become a modern classic.
All of this means that Seven Dwarfs Mine Train doesn’t really deliver as a roller coaster. The novelty of the swinging seats doesn’t do much and, if anything, eases intensity as the trains wind around turns. There’s one decent drop, but most of the ride is about soaking up the scenery.
However, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a great rite-of-passage roller coaster for small children (or thrill-averse adults) that runs circles around Barnstormer, and an attraction that I love. I’d be remiss if I didn’t include it, even if thrill seekers should look elsewhere–you’ll probably come away underwhelmed given the higher wait times.
10. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith — This is the most intense roller coaster at Walt Disney World, with a fast launch and the only one with an inversion. The thrills are all in the dark, there are backlight prop pieces, and the coaster is set to music by Aerosmith (for now), which adds to the fun. It’s short but satisfying, and some might say it helps deliver a “Sweet Emotion.”
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster also has a fun pre-show, queue, and loading area that help make the experience more interesting and not simply a “basic” roller coaster. It straddles the line between an Imagineered attraction (scoring lower on the overall list as a result) and the kind of roller coaster you could find an amusement park.
Frankly, I think that Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is overrated. This was Walt Disney World’s first truly intense roller coaster and fans have formed nostalgia as a result. Loop aside, there’s nothing all that novel about it, and the layout is fairly middling. If RnRC opened today, it wouldn’t be nearly as beloved as it is–fans would complain of its simplicity and short duration. To each their own, but I don’t think it stands the test of time like some of the even older coasters higher up this list.
9. Matterhorn Bobsleds – No Disney roller coaster is more iconic than the Matterhorn Bobsleds. With two bobsled tracks (one on the Fantasyland side of the mountain and the other on the Tomorrowland side), this was the first roller coaster built in Disneyland and the first tubular steel coaster anywhere in the world.
It’s also the only entry on this list with a connection to Walt Disney. While visiting the set of Third Man on the Mountain in Zermatt, Switzerland in 1958, Walt became fascinated with the peak which towered over the ski village in the Swiss Alps. The alpine summit captivated Walt’s imagination and inspired him to create his own version, a scale model in Disneyland. There are even archival photos of Walt Disney riding it during testing, and crashing into hay bales to slow down the attraction. Hey, it was a different time!
Hay bales were eventually replaced with water, and the iconic “bobsled splashdown” is one of the most memorable moments of the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Before that, the coaster twists and turns around the mountain, speeding through dark caves, darting under icy precipices and past waterfalls, and climbing 80 feet up into the mountain on a six-person bobsled. The great track layout, stunning views, and cool show scenes punctuated by brief yeti encounters are all highlights of the Matterhorn.
The only problem with this over 65 year old attraction is that, as you can imagine, it’s no longer smooth. Every time I ride Matterhorn, it’s a painful experience due to the vibrating of the bobsleds on the track. The rickety ‘ole roller coaster makes me feel like a rickety ‘ole geezer after I get off. Yet I keep getting back on to relive nostalgia for bygone days. And so goes my love-hate relationship with Matterhorn, which I will never stop riding, even though my body is pleading with me to give it up!
8. Slinky Dog Dash — The crown jewel of Toy Story Land, which isn’t really saying a ton. Slinky Dog Dash delivers pleasant thrills, a nice track layout, and scattered details. Even though unambitious, it’s fun.
When judged as an attraction, Slinky Dog Dash underwhelms. It has a relative lack of Imagineering, with a boring queue (that’s often quite long), and little to see during the ride itself, and no show scenes—albeit a cute ending. It’s arguably the most straightforward roller coaster at any Disney park, with a threadbare story excuse for the exposed track.
When judged as a roller coaster, opinions are bound to be more mixed on Slinky Dog Dash. It all depends on expectations and acknowledging its status as a rite-of-passage roller coaster. Personally, I think it’s quite good. There’s a mild launch, slow mini-top hat, and fun bunny hills. Slinky Dog Dash is incredibly smooth, offering virtually no airtime and only the mildest of thrills. For the target demographic of children and non-coaster people, it’s a winner.
7. Expedition Everest — As an attraction, Expedition Everest takes a page out of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad’s playbook and improves upon it in almost every conceivable way. Expedition Everest features a foreboding queue, incredible details, a plausible plot, interesting ride vehicles, awe-inspiring ascent, and on-ride encounters with a (disco) yeti. Even with so many broken effects, Expedition Everest excels.
Expedition Everest is impressively fun and was Walt Disney World’s most ambitious roller coaster until the last few years. It’s fairly intense, featuring a short drop followed by banked turns before reaching (spoiler alert) a dead-end that climaxes with an intense backwards 540 degree helix, 80 foot drop into another banked turn, before another 540 degree helix–this time forwards.
Expedition Everest ranks high as both a roller coaster and an attraction from objective perspectives. Subjectively, I have to admit that helixes aren’t my personal jam, and I find those sections to skew a bit too much towards uncomfortable rather than thrilling. To each their own, though. I felt differently in my twenties!
5. Incredicoaster — Formerly California Screamin, this roller coaster has been rebranded as the Incredicoaster, and props from the Incredibles have been scattered around its track. None of this is an upgrade in any way whatsoever. If anything, all the Pixar junk along the way makes for a worse attraction and more distracting roller coaster experience.
The great thing about Californian Screamin’ was that it didn’t have any pretenses about being anything other than a really fun and satisfying roller coaster. It was a vibe, as the kids say, and felt distinctly Californian (albeit not distinctly Disney). Incredicoaster adds in storytelling pretenses, but does a terrible job with them.
As a roller coaster, it’s still fantastic. There’s solid airtime over the hills, the drops are really-for-real thrilling (not just “Disney thrills”), and the bunny hills are fantastic. The loop is also a great, and the coaster’s home stretch is really good. When judged solely as a thrill ride, this is one of the most satisfying roller coasters Disney has ever done. On a good day, I love doing Incredicoaster again and again via the Single Rider line!
5. Space Mountain – Where this roller coaster ranks probably varies based on the version and your own personal preferences. Quite frankly, I don’t see much daylight between the 3-7 entries on this list (the case could be made for any of them at #3, or at #7), so I’m just putting all of the Space Mountains at #5. My unpopular opinion is that Magic Kingdom’s Space Mountain is better than Disneyland’s.
Space Mountain at Walt Disney World features two tracks (with slight differences between Alpha and Omega) and single file seating–a bit like the Matterhorn! Meanwhile, Space Mountain at Disneyland offers one track and train cars that seat two riders side-by-side per row. That version is smoother, having been rebuilt in the last couple decades, and features with on-vehicle speakers blasting an original synthesized sci-fi score by Michael Giacchino.
Both versions are roller coasters in the dark of space with cool details, twists and turns, and drops. It’s a fun and mildly thrilling ride, with the element of surprise being Space Mountain’s biggest asset. Like other entries on this list, it also scores points for historical significance. Tokyo Disneyland is in the process of rebuilding its Space Mountain, to open in 2027, and that roller coaster will be totally different. Perhaps somewhat similar to the #1 entry on this list.
4. TRON Lightcycle Run – The ultimate “wish fulfillment” roller coaster. It doesn’t matter if you’re a fan of the films, straddling the lightcycle and racing through the Grid is an experience that will be etched in your memory long after the specifics of TRON Lightcycle Run–and most other rides you did on vacation at Walt Disney World–fades away.
The punchy launch, music, visuals, pacing, and thrills are all top notch. Then launch is exhilarating, the indoor sequence is a ton of fun with a ‘challenge’ that makes the smooth curves feel more thrilling. The outdoor sequence under the canopy–especially at night–coupled with the novelty of the lightcycle restaurants is what makes the ride, both as a roller coaster and an Imagineered attraction.
TRON Lightcycle Run is not intense or punishing as a roller coaster, but it’s immensely satisfying–to a degree that it’s difficult to properly articulate. The biggest downside is duration–you’re left wanting more, and perhaps not in a good way. Even another 15 to 20 seconds would’ve done wonders (especially when compared to #1 on this list, which opened only one year earlier).
TRON Lightcycle Run also adds a ton to Magic Kingdom. Simply standing under the Upload Conduit canopy gazing up and around at night is an experience that’s excellent for anyone who can’t ride. The unique nature of the ride plus the kinetic energy of the canopy and vibe it adds to Tomorrowland makes TRON Lightcycle Run a strong addition to the Walt Disney World ride roster and Magic Kingdom’s atmosphere.
3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – A guest favorite to the point that Big Thunder Mountain Railroad exists in 4 parks: Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. For those keeping score at home, the one in France is far and away the best version, and the most unique of the bunch.
The commonality among them all is that this rollercoaster is themed as a runaway mine train on a ride through the barren landscape of the Old West, with fun visual gags and storytelling along the way. Hang onto your hats and glasses, because Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is “the wildest ride in the wilderness!” It has chaotic twists and turns, hills, and is very satisfying in every incarnation.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is very satisfying as both an attraction and a roller coaster. It also gets out of its own way from a storytelling perspective, with no exposition or a lengthy pre-show, and backstory that’s there to take or leave. Not as intense or innovative as the newer entries on this list, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad still holds up–it’s iconic and historically-significant for a reason.
2. Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars – This is arguably and quietly Disney’s best roller coaster in the world or top 2. While everything else on this list has high hype in various fan circles, Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars remains a relative unknown. Think of it as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad meets Expedition Everest with a slight dash of Country Bear Jamboree.
As a roller coaster, fans seem mixed on Big Grizzly. I can understand why, as it’s smoother and less chaotic than Big Thunder (it doesn’t whip you around as it’s “runaway” in a different way), but the moderately strong launch, along with the (spoiler alert) backwards section that comes out of nowhere, and decent force in the turns delivers exactly what I’m looking for.
This is one of my personal favorite Disney’s attractions for me anywhere in the world, thanks to thrills, details, and lovable bears. It’s truly an example of perfecting the little things, from the exterior facade (and surrounding gulch) to the queue to the track layout. Those endearing bears peppered in the ride are the icing on the cake. This is another exemplar of an Imagineered roller coaster, combining thrills with theme.
Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars would claim the #1 spot for me, but I’m not sure I’m being entirely objective about it. The next entry is definitely the #1 roller coaster at Walt Disney World, and probably Disney’s objective-best roller coaster anywhere, so I’m giving it the nod.
1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – An incredibly satisfying attraction from start to finish, with a queue and pre-shows that provide depth, a couple of wow-moment effects, hilarity & hijinks, and a compelling story set-up. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is the perfect intersection of Imagineered attraction and thrilling roller coaster.
The roller coaster itself is satisfying in duration and has fantastic flow and fluidity–thanks to the mix of the music and the motion, it feels a bit like dancing. The track offers tremendous variety, from a memorable (spoiler alert) reverse launch to twists & turns, nice hills, and brief bits of airtime. It’s also ridiculously smooth and that plus the controlled spinning really does make it feel like you’re dancing through space.
Above all else, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is just flat-out, fantastic fun. It’s one of the most fun attractions in all of Walt Disney World and far and away the best roller coaster on balance. It hits all of the right notes, and is just a non-stop hoot from start to finish. In large part, this is owing to the Marvel characters, humor, and use of music. This is the #1 roller coaster at Walt Disney World, and by a fairly wide margin.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Which roller coasters at Walt Disney World are your favorites? Which do you think are overrated and skippable? What about underrated and not to be skipped? Think there are any old school thrill rides that are superior to the shiny new ones? Do you agree or disagree with our list? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
