The Best Disney Rides Around The World
Disney parks have a self-styled reputation as “the happiest place on Earth,” but it’s not all mice and sunshine! The crowds are huge, the lines are long, and the food will burn a hole in your wallet — but you’ll still leave with a smile on your face and a skip in your step, all the same! After all, isn’t it worth a little fuss to experience pure magic in motion?
1. Pirates of the Caribbean (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland)
Film buffs will need no introduction to Pirates of the Caribbean: there was a smash-hit movie franchise based on this very ride! It’s a chilling boat experience that’s sure to shiver a few timbers, so keep younger kids close.
The ride became an immersive tour, but the concept started out as a walkthrough waxworks museum. Later on, the ride designers followed where the winds were blowing when some of its animatronics exhibits such as It’s a Small World grew in popularity.
Ride-movie synergy
The animatronic version was so popular that Disney’s “Imagineers” introduced it to many parks across the world. Fans even demanded a version for Florida, which they got, albeit in a slightly abridged form.
Just as the ride inspired the movies, the reverse is also true. Once the film franchise had captured people’s imaginations, the rides took elements of the movies aboard to keep them fresh. You can even spot characters from the films among the animatronics if you look closely!
2. Haunted Mansion (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland)
If you’re looking for a frighteningly fun time, the Haunted Mansion is on most Disney visitors’ to-do lists. But is it as scary as you’d think? Well, the janitors certainly thought so!
They requested the lights be left on for their cleaning because the atmosphere was so spooky, which led to Imagineers implementing a motion-sensor feature that turned out the lights on visitors. Imagineer Rolly Crump said that afterwards, a janitor’s broom was found abandoned on the scene!
Secret elevator
Imagineers use another clever trick in the stretching portrait room, which is actually done by guiding guests into a secret elevator to create an optical illusion! There’s one genuinely macabre feature to the ride, though.
Apparently, some grieving visitors have been known to secretly scatter ashes on the ride. In 2018 a custodian told the Wall Street Journal of their California and Florida attractions, “The Haunted Mansion probably has so much human ashes in it that it’s not even funny.”
3. It's a Small World (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland)
One of Disney’s most famous rides, It’s a Small World dates back to 1964 when it was a New York World’s Fair attraction before Walt Disney rehomed it at Disneyland.
It's a Small World is designed to be a uniting experience featuring people and scenes from around the world! if you have an aversion to animatronics though, with almost 300 singing animated models, this ride’s probably not for you.
Earworm
All the same, its signature earworm tune is famous now because it’s been heard so many times, according to one of the song’s creators, Robert Sherman Jr. In 2019 he told American Songwriter, “Since 1983 there has not been a moment when ‘It’s A Small World’ wasn’t playing in at least two locations on the globe.”
If you’re curious about the “secret lives” of the Small World dolls, did you know they dance 24/7? Even when the lights are turned off and the animatronics stop singing they still continue throwing shapes in the dark.
4 Space Mountain (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland)
If you’re a fan of roller coasters, you’ve probably been on Space Mountain at least once and felt like you were going at the speed of light. But it’s actually quite a cunning feat of engineering.
The roller coaster is actually one of the slowest roller coasters, especially in the Magic Kingdom. The rockets only move at a maximum speed of 28mph! The illusion of speed isn’t the only impressive technical trick, though.
Astronaut consultant
In fact, while Space Mountain was first conceived in the 1960s, it wasn’t anywhere to be seen when the park opened. That’s because the technology they’d envisioned was out of this world, and it took around a decade to create, finally appearing in 1975.
So how did they go about creating something so immersive? We know what you’re thinking, but it wasn’t alien technology. It was space-age though. In fact, the Imagineers had astronaut Gordon Cooper on hand to act as consultant.
5. Splash Mountain (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Tokyo Disneyland)
Okay, let’s deal with the elephant in the room first — no, not Dumbo. Splash Mountain was originally based on the now-infamous movie, Song of the South. The film’s controversial content has led to Imagineers repurposing it into a Princess and the Frog ride instead, so everyone can enjoy it.
Regardless of the subject change, the ride will likely remain what it always has been: one of the three most famous mountain rides, alongside Space Mountain and Big Thunder. If you’re seeking thrills, head for the hills.
A smaller splash
Or more accurately, head for the mountains, because on Splash Mountain there’s a point where you’ll drop 52 feet. Bring a towel if you want to ride, because there’s a reason the attraction got its name.
You’re going to get soaked, and believe it or not that’s after Imagineers reduced the waterworks. It missed its 1989 opening because it made riders too wet. Even now it’s filled to the brim with 950,000 gallons of water, so it’s sure to make a splash.
6. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland)
One of Disney’s “big three” mountain rides, Big Thunder Mountain is a thrilling train ride through an old mining town, and if you’re expecting things to go with a bang, it doesn’t disappoint!
Things are entertaining from the start, and we mean that literally. Even when you’re standing in line you can interact with detonators, which set off “explosives” along the track’s sides to wow passengers going by with sound effects and smoke.
Scenery to be seen again
And if you’re not entertained enough by the explosive train journey, there’s always the scenery! Many Disney attractions are designed to ride again and again, so you’ll notice new things every time; Big Thunder Mountain is no exception.
One thing you might have missed before is the bather in the bathtub. There’s a shameless miner in pink underoos splish-splashing and taking a bath somewhere that he doesn’t think people can see him. Sure, he’s difficult to spot, but keep your eyes open and prove him wrong!
7. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Disney's Hollywood Studios, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo DisneySea)
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror isn’t just a terrifying tower by name, but by size. It stands at 199 feet tall, just half a foot shorter than the very tallest attraction. That’s Expedition Everest, in case you’re curious.
If it was 200 feet high, the attraction would have needed a blinking light to alert planes, which would obviously have ruined the old tower’s atmosphere. Or should that be atmosfear? It’s certainly a thrilling experience for you adrenaline junkies.
White-knuckle ride
The most white-knuckle part of the attraction will probably be the plunging elevators that appear to drop you at speeds of 39mph. Agh! You are actually going that fast, but those Imagineers are a crafty lot and not everything is as it seems.
You see, no matter how it feels, you’re not actually free-falling. The attraction lifts you both up and down to fool its visitors into thinking they’re plummeting. Knowing the secret won’t ruin the experience for you though: you’ll still be terrified!
8. Indiana Jones Adventure (Disneyland, Tokyo DisneySea)
If you’re expecting a trip through the mysterious temples with narrow escapes from rolling boulders just like its movie namesake, then the Indiana Jones Adventure ride doesn’t disappoint. And there’s something special to note right from the start.
The truck you ride is called the Enhanced Motion Vehicle, or EMV, which is designed in a similar way to the Star Tours ride. The EMV simulates motion to make you feel like you’re off the beaten track.
Macabre find
Indiana Jones Adventure will make you feel like an explorer using visuals alone. There’s so much to see, including some macabre replicated human remains. It has 2,000 faux skulls, and one skeleton even wears a Mickey ears hat! That’s supposed to be there, right?
You might also want to look out for murals dedicated to the sinister deity Mara, too. There are 55 of them in all, and each one gives you some insight into who — or what — it actually is. Oh, and there are snakes! Why did it have to be snakes?
9. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland)
If you’ve ever played laser tag, you’ll be somewhat familiar with Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters, an attraction that takes you on a guided track to help Space Command take down aliens and the evil emperor Zurg.
Hitting targets will net you varying amounts of points, with secret targets earning you the most. But did you know that the attraction predates Toy Story 2? It debuted in the Magic Kingdom a year before the movie came out in 1998.
Sounds strange?
So why is the appearance date so important? Disney aficionados will know that Toy Story 2 was Zurg’s on-screen debut, meaning his role in Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters is actually his very first appearance.
That’s also the reason why Zurg’s voice is a little different — it hadn’t been finalized! Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the attraction hasn’t always had the same name. When it first opened it was called Space Ranger Spin, just to clear up any confusion.
10. Peter Pan's Flight (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland)
If you’re a regular to Disney attractions, then chances are you’ve been on Peter Pan’s Flight, since it’s been around since the first park opened in 1955. Yet in the ride’s earlier incarnations, there was no sign of its titular star.
That’s because you were meant to experience things through his eyes, though he was added in later decades to help connect with visitors better. The concept is that you fly along as if you’re thinking happy thoughts.
Lower than you seem
And you do indeed feel like you’re soaring through the night sky just like Peter does! All the same, it might surprise you to know that you’re not actually very high at all: in fact, you’re only around 17 feet up.
Disney Imagineers are very good at manipulating perceptions, and by using forced perspective it makes you feel like you’re suspended at a much higher altitude. In reality, the ride’s vehicle is under the track, contributing to the illusion.
11. Dumbo the Flying Elephant (Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland, Shanghai Disneyland)
Dumbo the Flying Elephant is a traditional carousel ride — probably because it dates back to the original Disneyland opening in 1955 — but it’s a firm favorite. That’s not to say it hasn’t changed over the years, though.
For example, the ride was supposed to be themed around the hallucination scene in the Dumbo movie, and as such the elephant vehicles were all painted pink. Apparently, Walt Disney himself didn’t approve of the reference to alcohol and had them re-painted gray.
Unhinged
Coloration isn’t the only change the elephant rides went through, either. Originally, their ears had hinges so riders could manually waggle them! Unfortunately, the mechanism didn’t work properly, so they were later replaced with non-hinged versions.
Believe it or not, Dumbo the Flying Elephant was a topical ride at one point, too. That’s because when President Harry Truman visited the park, he refused to ride it. Why, you may ask? Well, the Republican Party mascot is the elephant and he didn’t want to associate with it. The world never forgot!
12. Soarin' Around the World (Epcot, Disney California Adventure, Shanghai Disneyland)
Around the World sets itself apart by being a hang-gliding simulation experience. And the Imagineers went all-out to make visitors feel like it’s the genuine article.
They use the vehicle to give you the impression of gliding, but to use an Imagineer’s term, they “plus it” — basically, dialing things up a notch or two — by engaging your other senses as well.
Fans and scents
Imagineers used air fans to spread scents throughout your experience, so you don’t just experience the sights and sensations of hang-gliding over the world, but also the fragrances. You can smell the citrus of orange groves and the grass of Africa’s plains.
You might even feel a sense of familiarity watching the pre-ride safety video, and can thank the featured actor Patrick Warburton for that. He was the voice of Kronk in The Emperor’s New Groove.
13. Avatar Flight of Passage (Disney's Animal Kingdom)
Based on the Avatar film series, Flight of Passage is an immersive experience that sucks you into the alien world of Pandora by matching you to your alien ‘Avatar.’ Remember how we mentioned lines can be a pain? Well, this attraction is a good example.
While four hours isn’t unusual, the lines are set up to accommodate waiting times of up to six hours! All the same, Imagineers have tried to mitigate the long wait by devising an enveloping narrative from the get-go.
Pairing process
You’ll actually feel like you’re in the movies even during the lines, or what the park’s creators prefer you regard as the ‘pre-show entertainment.’ And when you’re paired with your Avatar — which isn’t random as you might think — depending on your match, the experience changes a little depending on the results.
In 2023 Touring Plans blog wrote, “We rate Avatar Flight of Passage as not-to-be-missed. It offers an incredibly immersive experience by combining cutting-edge technology, storytelling, and intricate theming as only Disney can do it.”
14. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train (Magic Kingdom, Shanghai Disneyland)
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was built by the same brains behind Big Thunder Mountain, and they know their minecart coasters! This one is obviously themed around Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs though, so it’s an entirely different experience.
All the same, they do share the same interactive elements throughout the ride’s lines, so you’ll be entertained while you wait. You’ll even hear an earworm of a song that was written for, but never made it into, the original movie: it’s called “Music in Your Soup.”
It rocks!
But what about the ride itself? Well, for a start, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train features something you won’t experience in any other Disney ride: each minecart rocks individually. There are five tied together, but each of them can jostle around independently of the others.
Imagineers have also brought the Seven Dwarfs into the modern era! It’s one of only two attractions that has guest video footage, the other being Tower of Terror. Your experience is recorded as you whizz around the tracks and you can download or view it from your photopass as a keepsake.
15. Radiator Springs Racers (Disney California Adventure)
Based on Pixar’s Cars animation, it’s worth visiting Radiator Springs Racers purely for the fact that it has breathed new life into Disney California Adventure and given it a new identity.
True, such a move came at a cost, which was around $300 million! The whole of Disney California alone cost $600 million to construct, so Cars Land is among the most expensive themed worlds Disney have built.
Built from scratch
So what makes Radiator Springs Racers so great? Well for starters, the mountains in the attraction were built from scratch, and use that special Imagineering magic that makes you feel like you’re in a real place. That’s even though Cars is an animated movie.
The attraction speeds you through Pixar’s world at up to 40mph in a titular Cars-themed vehicle — though it will feel much faster — meeting 23 animatronics from the movies along the way, and you even get to take part in your own race! Vrooom!
16. Mystic Manor (Hong Kong Disneyland)
Mystic Manor is exclusive to Hong Kong Disneyland, and there’s a reason for that decision. You see, Haunted Manor would be completely at odds with China’s interpretation with ghosts and the afterlife, so to respect the nation’s culture, changes had to be made.
Mystic Manor was created with this in mind, but it’s not completely separate from its Western counterpart. It’s still included in the Adventurers storyline narrative that runs throughout several attractions, including Haunted Manor and Jungle Cruise.
Fantasy-based
You can also find references to Haunted Mansion throughout, including in a Medusa painting in the Mystic Manor. Hong Kong’s variant is fantasy-based though, and leans more into the fun element than scary themes.
Visitors will explore the enchanted manor come to life with its starring characters Lord Henry Mystic and Albert the monkey on a trackless ride system around the lively grounds. Listen out for the song “Magic in the Air” too: you won’t hear it anywhere else!
17. Journey to the Center of the Earth (Tokyo DisneySea)
If you’ve heard the name before, Tokyo DisneySea’s Journey to the Center of the Earth is actually based on a 1864 novel by the same name. Even the ride itself was originally supposed to be something else!
Dating back to the origins of Disneyland Paris, there was a ride idea called Discovery Mountain. It was later replaced by Space Mountain, but part of the attraction was repurposed and turned into the Journey to the Center of the Earth ride we have today.
Nemo’s base
The ride takes you on a guided tour through Captain Nemo’s base to the center of the Earth on a slot car system that was originally designed for a Test Track at Epcot. You’ll be plunged into an alien environment full of wonder and danger — though only the fun, make-believe kind, of course!
The downside is that you can only experience Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo DisneySea, which for some might be quite a journey in and of itself! All the same, if you are lucky enough to be in the area, don’t pass up the opportunity to experience it for yourself.
18 Tron Lightcycle Power Run (Shanghai Disneyland, Magic Kingdom)
If you’ve ever seen a movie in the Tron franchise which this attraction is based on, you’ll know what to expect: high tech and high speed! We’ve got some good news there — you won’t be disappointed.
Some of the stand out parts of the films are the super-fast lightcycle races, and you step into the role of a member of the heroic Team Blue competing against the nefarious Team Orange.
Among the fastest
All the same, in this case, you won’t be on a Lightcycle — that would probably break all kinds of safety laws — you’ll instead ride a roller coaster. It’s not just any coaster either: appropriately enough it’s one of the fastest across all the Disney parks.
In certain sections the Tron Lightcycle Power Run ride — or Tron Lightcycle/Run if you’re in the Magic Kingdom — hits speeds of almost 60mph. So while you’re not actually in the Lightcycle, you’ll feel like you are.
19. Ratatouille: The Adventure (Walt Disney Studios Park, EPCOT)
Pixar fans will need no introduction to Ratatouille, a movie about a rat who just wants to be a chef. But while the movie has other, human characters in it too, Ratatouille: The Adventure is Remy the Rat’s time to shine.
You’ll get to tour through Remy’s world, complete with the Disney Imagineers’ trademark change in perspective. They can make you feel like you’ve shrunk to rodent-size, but don’t worry — you’ll love every minute of it.
Fun for all ages
In fact, everyone will! Ratatouille: The Adventure doesn’t have any age or height requirement limits, so it’s fun for all the family. Beware though: that fact, along with the subject-matter, makes it a favorite among kids, so the lines can get a little long.
The best part is that the Ratatouille ride is a trackless ride. Imagineers are bringing out all the tricks of the trade to make you feel immersed, from huge 3D screens to sensory effects such as water and heat to keep you in Remy’s world for the ride’s duration.
20. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run (Disneyland, Disney's Hollywood Studios)
You probably don’t need us to tell you that Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run puts you onboard the titular spaceship and surrounds you in the beloved Star Wars universe from start to finish. Well, technically you’ll be in a motion simulator, but you won’t know the difference.
This is especially true since it features the world’s first to-scale model of the iconic Millennium Falcon, and you get to walk through it. How amazing is that? For many Star Wars fans, that alone is a dream come true.
Bear with us
It also features Winnie-the-Pooh! Well, kind of. In the ride’s narrative, you take on a suspect passenger called Hondo, an animatronic voiced by Jim Cummings. He also voiced Pooh Bear, among other classic Disney characters, including Darkwing Duck.
Hondo plays a big part in proceedings, and as such Disney’s Imagineers have paid special attention to him. He’s one of the most advanced animatronic they’ve ever created, capable of 51 different functions and working knees. The only thing he can’t do is answer the ultimate question: who shot first?