All media courtesy Disney Parks BlogHappy National Roller Coaster Day! Whether you’re looking for a first coaster for a little one, or you’re an adrenalin junkie, you’ll find something at Walt Disney World and Disneyland. While there are bigger, more intense coasters in Central Florida and Southern California, you can still experience a heart pounding moment or two at the Disney Parks. Here are “the ten best roller coasters for thrill seekers”, according to Disney Parks Blog. Do you agree with the list? Let me know on Facebook or Instagram!
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10 Best Disney Parks Roller Coasters for Thrill Seekers
by Marina Fernandes, Digital Integration Intern, Disney Parks Experiences and Products
National Roller Coaster Day is right around the corner on August 16! As we gear up to celebrate the thrill of roller coasters on this exciting day, we’ve picked the top 10 roller coaster thrill rides at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort that will that will get your adrenaline pumping. Whether you’re a thrill seeker or a roller coaster beginner looking to upgrade to the next level, hold on tight as we take you on an exhilarating ride through the top 10 roller coasters that await you at Disney Parks.
1. Space Mountain
Location: Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom
Explore Tomorrowland at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland park and take a cosmic ride on one of the most iconic Disney attractions: Space Mountain! Each park offers a unique Space Mountain experience. Walt Disney World features two nearly-identical tracks and train vehicles that seat riders single file. Meanwhile, Space Mountain at Disneyland offers one track and train cars that seat two riders side-by-side per row with built in speakers pumping out an original score by Michael Giacchino featuring synthesized sci-fi music synchronized throughout the ride.
No matter which park you visit, this indoor, dark thrilling roller-coaster ride will surely take you on an intergalactic adventure to the darkest reaches of the universe. With a minimum requirement of 44 inches to ride at Walt Disney World and 40 inches to ride at Disneyland, discover an experience with drops, unexpected turns, immersive light, sound effects and g-force as you travel through space to Mission Control.
2. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Location: Disneyland Park and Magic Kingdom
Venture into Big Thunder Mining Company’s haunted gold mine aboard a high-speed train and conquer the cursed caverns of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad located in Frontierland at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland park! If you are 40 inches or taller, you can experience the thrill of the wildest ride in the wilderness, as you race through the tunnels of this roller coaster while dodging exploding dynamite and falling boulders with sharp turns on a shaky train track. To learn more about what to expect in this epic adventure, watch our Ride & Learn video above!
3. TRON Lightcycle / Run presented by Enterprise
Location: Magic Kingdom
Join Team Blue in TRON Lightcycle / Run, one of the fastest roller coasters in all Disney Parks around the world. Find TRON Lightcycle / Run in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom and embark on a futuristic race against Team Orange across the Grid in your own Lightcycle. To ride this roller coaster, guests must be 48 inches or taller and either join the Virtual Queue* in the My Disney Experience app or purchase individual Lightning Lane** entry for this attraction.
Ready to enter the Grid? Take a peek at this high-speed attraction in our POV TikTok above.
4. Incredicoaster
Location: Disney California Adventure Park
Help The Incredibles save the day on the Incredicoaster! Baby Jack-Jack’s powers are wreaking havoc at Pixar Pier. Ride alongside Mr. and Mrs. Incredible, Violet, and Dash to help them catch Jack-Jack in a high-speed chase. Hold on tight while Jack-Jack teleports from tunnel to tunnel and feel the power as you launch into high-speed twists, turns and an inversion. If you are 48 inches or taller, you can embark on this heart-pounding adventure on the fastest roller coaster at Disney California Adventure park or ride it virtually by watching the Ride & Learn video above!
5. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Location: Magic Kingdom
Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, it’s to the mine train we go! Set out on an adventure on the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train located in Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom and speed through Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ diamond mine on a swinging cart. Prepare yourself for drops and turns and explore the inside of the Dwarfs’ gem-filled rustic mine while peeking at Fantasyland on the outside track. Also, keep your eyes open for characters and ears peeled for tunes you’ll surely recognize. To embark on this family-friendly journey at Magic Kingdom, you must be 38 inches or taller, but to ride it virtually, check the Ride & Learn above!
Pro tip: While you wait to hop on the mine train, enjoy the beautiful and interactive queue, and don’t miss out on this detail – spin the barrels overflowing with glowing gems and look at the ceiling for a special surprise.
6. Matterhorn Bobsleds
Location: Disneyland Park
While at Disneyland park, you can’t miss the iconic 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 in the world. Embark on a breathtaking adventure on the Matterhorn Mountain – inspired by the actual mountain in the Swiss Alps – and escape the claws of the Abominable Snowman. Explore the dark caves, speed through icy precipices and under waterfalls, and climb 80 feet up into the mountain on a six-person bobsled. With a minimum requirement of height being 42 inches to ride this roller coaster, Matterhorn Bobsleds is an unforgettable expedition for the whole family!
7. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind
Location: EPCOT
Want to know more? Take a sneak peek of the ride and queue on our Instagram post above!
8. Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Are you ready to conquer the legend? Escape the mythical snow monster aboard a high-speed train racing through dark tunnels and treacherous turns, and speeding toward the highest parts of the cursed Mount Everest on Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain. Beware of big drops, high speeds, dark places, and broken tracks on your path… Also, make sure you are faster than the fabled Yeti that lives on that mountain! Find this attraction in Asia at Animal Kingdom and make sure you’re at least 44 inches to participate in the expedition. Good Luck!
9. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Get ready to rock and roll at Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Sunset Boulevard! Join the remarkable rock band Aerosmith in a mind-blowing limousine while racing to get to a concert on the other side of town. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith will take you on an electrifying ride with exciting music, phenomenal speed, three thrilling inversions, and dazzling neon signs. Alongside rock legends, if you are 48 inches or taller, you can enjoy this epic fusion of music and exhilaration while rocking to Aerosmith hits such as “Walk This Way,” “Dude (Looks Like a Lady),” “Sweet Emotion” and “Back in the Saddle”.
10. Goofy’s Sky School
Location: Disney California Adventure Park
Learn to fly the Goofy way on Goofy’s Sky School. Climb aboard your flight-training vehicle and hang on tight as you take off 3 stories in the air. Zip along 1,200 feet of track on a zany roller coaster ride up, down and all around. Located in Paradise Gardens Park and with a minimum requirement of height being 42 inches to be a student at this silly school, this attraction is a wild flying adventure for the whole family.
Bonus!
Slinky Dog Dash
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Get ready for an adventure like no other at Slinky Dog Dash – the exhilarating roller coaster that brings “Toy Story” to life! Feel the wind in your hair as you zigzag along the track, bend around curves, zoom up hills, and drop back down taking in spectacular views of Toy Story Land (take a look at our TikTok POV for a sneak peek). If you are 38 inches or taller, Slinky Dog promises a wild ride for the whole family!
We’ve taken you on an exhilarating journey through the top 10 roller coasters at Disney Parks. Whether you’re a daredevil seeking the ultimate rush or a family looking for unforgettable experiences, these coasters have it all. If you’re looking for our top roller coaster picks for kids, be sure to check our list of 5 Best Kid-Friendly Coasters at Disney. Now that you’ve seen the ultimate Disney roller coaster guide, have fun celebrating National Roller Coaster Day!
*A virtual queue is in place for TRON Lightcycle / Run and Guadians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. Guests will need to use the My Disney Experience app to enter these attraction. A standby queue will not be available. Each Guest can request to enter this virtual queue no more than once per day during regular park hours.
Boarding groups for a virtual queue are limited, subject to availability, and are not guaranteed. Not all boarding groups may be called to return, based on availability of the experience. Late arrivals may not be accommodated. View important information about the virtual queue.
**Guests may also purchase individual Lightning Lane entry for this attraction. Lightning Lane entry purchases are limited in availability, are subject to change or closure, may vary by date and are not guaranteed.