Which Is the Best Disney Roller Coaster?
Quick, when you think about going to a theme park, which kind of ride matters most? It’s the roller coaster, right?
Sure, Disney has turned dark rides into highly detailed, lovingly crafted journeys into the imagination. Sometimes, you just want a rush, though!
So, which Disney roller coaster is the best? I have thoughts…
11) Gadget’s Go Coaster
The only rule here is that we’re focusing on Disney’s American roller coasters since most of you haven’t ridden the international stuff.
Okay, there’s a secret second rule. The first two coasters here barely count if you’re over the age of five.
You can jog faster than the maximum velocity of Gadget’s Go Coaster, but that’s okay! You’re older than five! Kids love it, and that’s what matters!
10) The Barnstormer
Okay, this one involves a slight step up in aggression from the other kiddie coaster. Disney describes The Barnstormer as a junior coaster, which sounds about right.
The biplane-themed ride comes with the adorable premise that Goofy is teaching kids how to fly. Of course, you need a plane for that!
With a top speed of 25 miles per hour, The Barnstormer isn’t that much slower than Space Mountain.
Tell your kid that when they’re trying to talk their way onto Space Mountain!
9) Matterhorn Bobsleds
The next two roller coasters legitimately triggered the great thrill ride arms race.
When Disneyland performed its first dramatic upgrade in 1959, it added a man-made mountain, which was a huge deal at the time.
The Matterhorn Bobsleds simulates the sensation of old-school Olympic Bobsledding. The vehicle is going down the hill with or without you.
The friction of this roller coaster is unlike anything you’ll experience at other theme parks, partially because it’s so old in design and structure.
8) Space Mountain
The saying goes that in space, no one can hear you scream. If you’ve ever ridden Space Mountain, you know this isn’t true.
All you’ll hear while you’re standing in the ride entrance area are the screams of gleeful riders. They know that they’re riding the granddaddy of the coaster wars.
Space Mountain redefined the nature of coaster wars, raising a bar that took more than a decade for others to match.
In recent years, Disney has heightened sensory deprivation by occasionally turning off the lights.
You’ll genuinely feel like you’re in the vacuum of space when you get to ride this version of Space Mountain. And it proves that the old coaster still has some tricks up its sleeve.
7) Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Every coaster cart on this ride comes with different music, like a thrill ride jukebox.
On the limousine with the license plate of UGOBABE, Love in an Elevator plays as you’re screaming down the speedway.
That moment when Aerosmith sings going doooooooown is absolutely magical on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. You’re literally going down at the time!
My sole complaint with this attraction is that it’s a bit too short to rank higher on the list. For 80 seconds, it’s a mind-blowing experience, though.
6) Test Track – I’m counting it. It counts.
Okay, I know that only part of this ride qualifies as a roller coaster. When you’re indoors, Test Track is closer to a dark ride.
I don’t care, though. I’m counting it. It counts. I say this because I live for that moment when the exterior doors open, exposing you to daylight.
That sensation of exploding into the outdoors at 64.9 miles per hour is inimitable. Also, that one section lasts about as long as Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster!
5) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Now we’re getting into the upper echelon of coasters, the ones that everyone adores. The only question is how much.
With Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Imagineers relished the opportunity to play with the Old West theme of a ghost town.
You’re on a roller coaster that’s headed through rickety tracks that may or may not collapse under your weight. It’s exhilarating.
Space Mountain gets more attention as the elder statesperson of Magic Kingdom roller coasters. This one’s better, though.
4) The Incredicoaster
This one probably qualifies as my most controversial selection, as not everyone loves it the way that I do. I get that.
However, I thought that California Screamin’ towered over the other Disneyland Resort thrill rides back in the day.
The Incredicoaster takes the same ride structure and introduces superpowered theming with the Parr family.
Yes, all members of The Incredibles appear on this ride as they try to stop the runaway baby, Jack-Jack, the kid of 1,000 abilities.
This ride isn’t just a rush; it’s also funny. You may not realize that the first time you ride it. As you have time to study the sets, you’ll get it, though.
Nobody can stop a human baby from acting up. Imagine what that’s like when the kid can self-replicate and shoot energy blasts out his eyes!
Parenting is tough.
3) Slinky Dog Dash
Who says learning isn’t fun? On Slinky Dog Dash, you master physics while watching your favorite Toy Story characters in the backyard.
The conceit of Toy Story Land involves you shrinking down to the size of a toy. That premise blends perfectly with Slinky Dog Dash.
The premise is that Andy won a roller coaster construction set, but he’s just a kid. So, he got distracted while building it, throwing in Christmas lights and other stuff.
Also, Andy never really finished it. So, your journey is fraught with peril and even comes to a complete stop at one point.
Slinky Dog Dash is unlike any other roller coaster Disney has ever done, which is what makes it stand out.
2) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Conversely, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a bit derivative, at least on the surface level. It’s another mine train ride, just like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The difference stems from the coaster cart design. Each individual car rocks from side to side, creating an odd sensation that makes me feel giddy.
Seriously, I’ve probably ridden this more than any other roller coaster at Walt Disney World since it opened.
There are soooo many videos and pictures of me smiling broadly as I relish the swaying sensation.
In fact, my only complaint and the reason it’s not in first place is that the ride is a bit short. That’s a recent trend with Disney roller coasters.
Hopefully, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind will deliver a four- or five-minute experience!
1) Expedition Everest
I’ve covered roller coasters for many years now, and I’m always amused that PR reps brag about velocity and airtime.
Both of those things help a ride feel more thrilling. You should never design a roller coaster based on specs, though. That’s a rookie mistake.
Imagineers understand better than anyone else that a roller coaster needs a point-of-view. You can glance at the rest of this list to verify that.
Well, none of the other coasters can compare to Expedition Everest when it comes to theming.
The ride sticks you on the side of the Forbidden Mountain, whose majesty you’ll gawk at as your cart slowly takes you to the summit.
The height of the drop or the speed of the descent doesn’t matter as much as the change in scenery.
You go from the top of a mountain to another bit of sensory deprivation. This change occurs in mere seconds and levels up the concept from Space Mountain.
In this manner, Expedition Everest quietly mimics and surpasses the most famous of all Disney roller coasters. That’s why it’s the best.