Travel
Disney World Roller Coasters That Are Worth The Wait, Ranked

Pack your Disney visit with plenty of thrills.

by Rachel Chapman
Updated: 
Originally Published: 
Rachel Chapman

Walt Disney World may be better known for its Insta-worthy food and adorable characters, but there are plenty of thrill rides for adventure seekers as well. Out of the over 50 attractions available, the Disney World roller coasters rank among some of the best, but you might be wondering what’s actually worth the wait.

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For anyone planning a vacay to “the most magical place on Earth,” you’ll want to do a bit of pre-planning. A trip to Disney World isn’t what it used to be. With four theme parks to choose from, it’s best to prioritize what you want to see. For thrill-seeking, roller coaster lovers, here’s a ranking of all the Disney World roller coasters so you know where to go first.

Rachel Chapman

8. The Barnstormer

Where: Magic Kingdom

Located in Fantasyland, this junior roller coaster is perfect for anyone looking for a light thrill. While it may not be massive, there are plenty of turns and dips to keep you excited. However, this is a short ride, so it’s not worth a long wait if you’re trying to hit every thrill ride you can.

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7. Space Mountain

Where: Magic Kingdom

Some hardcore Disney fans may be shocked to see Space Mountain so low on the list, but with so many exciting roller coasters available, this classic has to take a step back. Of course, it’s a classic for a reason and you can’t go wrong with zipping through outer space.

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6. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Where: Magic Kingdom

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad just barely tops Space Mountain for the best mountain roller coaster at Magic Kingdom. This other classic Disney attraction truly is the “wildest ride in the wilderness,” but doesn’t quite reach the top because Disneyland and Disneyland Paris’ versions are surprisingly better.

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5. Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Where: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Hollywood Studios currently dominates when it comes to thrills rides with Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, but you can’t forget about Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. This is for OG roller coaster fans, who love going from zero to 60 mph in less than three seconds.

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4. Slinky Dog Dash

Where: Disney’s Hollywood Studios

The main attraction in Toy Story Land is Slinky Dog Dash. This family-friendly coaster is too cute and will make you feel like one of Andy’s toys. While this is definitely a must-do for Toy Story fans, anyone looking for major Insta-worthy moments will also appreciate the heavily-themed queue.

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3. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Where: Magic Kingdom

Part dark ride and part roller coaster, the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is exactly what you’d expect from Disney. It tells the story of Snow White as you’re whipping around turns and swinging in your very own mine train cart. The best part are the photos and videos you get afterwards that can be purchased for Insta-worthy memories.

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2. Expedition Everest — Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

Where: Disney’s Animal Kingdom

While Avatar Flight of Passage and Dinosaur are two very fun attractions, Expedition Everest is Animal Kingdom’s only true roller coaster. And before the number one attraction on this list debuted, it held the top spot as the best ride at Disney World. What’s not to love? It’s a roller coaster that goes forwards and backwards.

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1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Where: Epcot

Their latest attraction proves that Disney just keeps getting better and better. The Guardians of the Galaxy-themed roller coaster is a thrilling OmniCoaster, which means it can spin you 360 degrees around as you’re flying through space. This attraction gets the top spot for its Peter Quill-approved soundtrack and hilarious MCU cameos.

Rachel Chapman