What Are the Best Disney Rides during Cold Weather?
Okay, I don’t know about you, but I broke out the layered look this week.
Seriously, I went from 90-degree to cold 40-degree weather so quickly that I felt like I had moved to Canada.
Photo: Disney
If you’re like me and in Orlando during the next few months, you could be in for a shock. Central Florida does get cold at night!
In fact, the current forecast calls for a low of 52 the night I’m typing this! So, you’ll need a plan when you’re at Disney this winter.
Photo: Disney+
Here are the best Disney rides in cold weather.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
Photo Credit: Guide2WDW.com
Let’s start with a few obvious rules. The first one is that only daredevils and pneumonia enthusiasts should target wet rides during the winter.
I’m not judging, as I’m this kind of sucker, too. I just wouldn’t recommend it to others.
Also, many outdoor attractions, especially roller coasters and spinners, will provide frequent arctic blasts. Wear a jacket if you’re braving any of these rides!
Photo: Disney
Conversely, the best attractions are ones where you’re active during the ride experience. Admittedly, there are only a few of these, though.
Still, you’ll love Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin due to its immersion and demanding nature. You’re in competition with the person sitting beside you.
As such, you’re playing to win and working up a sweat. Those extra few degrees help a lot on a cold day!
Photo: Disney
Haunted Mansion
Okay, this suggestion isn’t perfect. There’s one moment on Haunted Mansion that you’ll love on a Florida day. During the winter…not so much.
Yes, I mean the cold wind that occurs roughly midway through the ride. Your Doom Buggy spins around and places you in the line of fire for a blast of cold air.
Photo: D23
I can assure you that you won’t like that during the winter. But that’s only a tiny part of an otherwise temperate attraction.
Generally speaking, Haunted Mansion provides approximately 10 minutes of warm indoor comfort.
First, you’ll enter a room where you meet the Ghost Host…well, his haunting family portrait. Then, you enter the beloved Stretching Room.
Photo: Disney Parks Blog
Afterward, you exit into a short line queue that leads to the Doom Buggy part of the ride. So, you’ll stand long enough to get warm and finally experience the ride.
Journey into Imagination with Figment
Okay, I know that many of you have decidedly mixed opinions about the attraction itself. Personally, I find it kind and well-intended.
Plus, Figment is legitimately iconic at EPCOT. So it feels disrespectful to visit the park but not ride Journey into Imagination with Figment.
Photo: WDW Magazine
Thankfully, most of this ride queue occurs indoors on all but the busiest days.
When you don’t have a Disney Genie+ reservation, you’ll likely spend 10-20 minutes in this line.
Afterward, you’re ready to journey into Figment’s madcap realm. It’s an eight-minute ride that provides plenty of entertainment and a few laughs.
Photo: DVC Shop
Also, while this part technically shouldn’t count, Figment dumps you into the Imagination! pavilion. You’ll find several character greetings and other activities here.
So, you can stay inside and remain warm for as long as you like thanks to Figment!
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Photo: Matt Stroshane, photographer
Okay, most of the line for this one occurs outdoors, which isn’t great.
Imagineers designed the line to ensure that guests maintain a view of the Millennium Falcon for as long as possible.
For this reason, even the early interior part of the line queue exposes you to the elements.
Once you reach the next area, the situation changes, though. The moment you meet Hondo Ohnaka, everything gets warmer.
From this point forward, you’re in tight quarters with a large group of other people. This turn of events leads to a welcome temperature increase.
Once you’re in the cockpit, five or six people reside in tight quarters and perform exhaustive tasks. So, you’re all working up a sweat together. It can get warm.
During the winter, that’s the sensation you want! But unfortunately, you do need to stand outside for 30 minutes or so to get it. So bring a jacket, my friends!
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
This attraction provides the explanation for the existence of this list.
You see, we had the opposite occur to us. During a recent ride, we nearly found ourselves stuck in the oven section of the ride for an extended period.
Photo: Disney
The ride broke down about ten seconds after we exited the oven area. If you’re unfamiliar with Ratatouille, it’s a 4D experience.
In other words, when Disney wants you to believe something is hot, they pipe in the heat…like when you’re under an oven.
On that date, the temperature was 92 degrees. I cannot imagine how miserable the experience was for the ride cart directly behind us.
Photo: Disney
However, when we exited the ride, I did notice some of them had flop sweat on their foreheads. It couldn’t have been pleasant.
Also, I’m a bit surprised that Disney didn’t deactivate that feature in circumstances like this one. Then again, maybe they did after a time, but it was already too late.
Anyway, the corollary applies here. That oven’s heating sensation will warm your soul on a cold day!
Credit: Disney
To a larger point, this whizbang journey through a Parisian kitchen packs enough surprises that your pulse will race. And that likely bumps your temperature by a few degrees, too!
Soarin’ Around the World
Disney messes with people’s senses more on Soarin’ than any other attraction.
Imagineers had to do that. Otherwise, why would you believe you’re flying through the skies above many landmarks?
Photo: Disneytouristblog.com
Still, the decision comes with a hidden cold weather benefit. All those island and desert settings come with warmer temperatures during the ride.
You’ll feel as toasty as the surroundings look while you’re on Frozen! And you will welcome this heat wave!
Toy Story Mania!
By now, you should understand why Toy Story Mania! makes the cut.
Photo: Disney
This “ride” involves a series of carnival attractions that require maximum effort from you. Otherwise, you won’t earn the highest score in the car.
When that happens, you must skulk away in shame, which is a terrible feeling.
So, you’ll pull that ripcord as much as possible to fire darts, break plates, and toss hoops at targets.
Photo: Disney
These kinetic activities will warm you for a bit. However, Toy Story Mania! is probably the shortest ride experience of anything listed here.
For this reason, this ride probably provides the least warmth…but it comes with the purest bragging rights!
Confession: I say this because I usually win at Toy Story Mania! But I lose on Buzz Lightyear and crash the ship on Smugglers Run.
Photo: MickeyBlog
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