Which Walt Disney World Attractions Are Hidden Gems?
Everyone has their favorites at Disney theme parks.
Over time, a consensus has formed, with the most popular attractions soaring in demand.
![4 theme parks](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/4899_wdw_50th_beacons_1920x1080_18ce18fd-a6a9-4bdc-98a2-db0882347d51.jpg)
![4 theme parks](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/4899_wdw_50th_beacons_1920x1080_18ce18fd-a6a9-4bdc-98a2-db0882347d51.jpg)
Photo:visitorlando.com
Sadly, others have slipped through the cracks a bit, falling beneath the radar.
Virtually all Disney attractions are of the highest quality, and it frustrates me that some lack the glowing reputation of others.
![4 theme parks](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-13-at-5.53.56-PM.png)
![4 theme parks](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-13-at-5.53.56-PM.png)
Photo: orlandoattractions.com
Here are some Walt Disney World attractions that have become hidden gems well worth your time.
Astro Orbiter
![](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Tomorrowland-Magic-Kingdom-PeopleMover-Cool-Ship-Astro-Orbiter-Lunching-Pad-Stock-7.jpg)
![](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Tomorrowland-Magic-Kingdom-PeopleMover-Cool-Ship-Astro-Orbiter-Lunching-Pad-Stock-7.jpg)
Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom
Imagineers put a great deal of thought into the design of Astro Orbiter at Magic Kingdom.
This attraction opened as Star Jets in 1974. Even in its own older, decidedly NASA form, it offered the same dazzling amenity.
The spinner ride would twirl guests in a circle, but people still kept their wits enough to appreciate the view.
Astro Orbiter, the Star Jets replacement, arrived 20 years later and remains to this day.
![](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Astro-Orbiter-e1550238943344.png)
![](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Astro-Orbiter-e1550238943344.png)
Photo: Disney
While the attraction looks and feels slightly different, guests still receive that awe-inspiring view of Tomorrowland and Magic Kingdom.
When you’re on Astro Orbiter, you should always take a moment to admire the view, as it’s inimitable.
Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros
![Gran Fiesta](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-22-at-11.15.39 AM.png)
![Gran Fiesta](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Screenshot-2023-12-22-at-11.15.39 AM.png)
Disney
Donald Duck recently turned 90 years old, and that news briefly returned me to my youth.
My late father did a masterful Donald Duck impression whenever he wanted to pop a smile from his kids.
![Gran Fiesta Tour Three Caballeros](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Gran-Fiesta-Tour-Starring-The-Three-Caballeros_Full_26131.jpg)
![Gran Fiesta Tour Three Caballeros](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Gran-Fiesta-Tour-Starring-The-Three-Caballeros_Full_26131.jpg)
Photo: Disney
So, I’ve grown up loving all things Donald Duck, and his EPCOT attraction makes me indescribably happy.
Donald joins his friends Joe Carioca and Panchito on a grand adventure through Mexico.
![Cinco de Mayo](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Cinco-de-Mayo.jpg)
![Cinco de Mayo](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Cinco-de-Mayo.jpg)
Gran Fiesta Tour
The ride itself shamelessly mimics It’s a Small World, but it adds a mix of live-action actors and the Three Caballeros.
The much-needed levity differentiates this boat ride from It’s a Small World so much that I actually prefer Gran Fiesta Tour.
Then again, I am a Donald Duck diehard and have the shirts and Funko POP!s to prove it.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
![Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The_Many_Adventures_of_Winnie_the_Pooh_attraction-1-scaled.jpg)
![Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/The_Many_Adventures_of_Winnie_the_Pooh_attraction-1-scaled.jpg)
Photo: Wikipedia
Who doesn’t love a visit to Hundred-Acre Wood?
The tales of A.A. Milne come alive at Magic Kingdom, where you literally enter the story.
![adventures of Winnie the pooh](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/many-adventures-of-winnie-the-pooh-00.jpg)
![adventures of Winnie the pooh](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/many-adventures-of-winnie-the-pooh-00.jpg)
Photo: Disney
A clever Imagineering trick causes guests to ride their honey pots into Chapter 11 of a Winnie the Pooh story.
You visit on a “blustery day” when the West Wind “stirs things up a bit.”
![Winnie the Pooh Cupcake Cones](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Many-Adventures-of-Winnie-the-Pooh.jpg)
![Winnie the Pooh Cupcake Cones](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Many-Adventures-of-Winnie-the-Pooh.jpg)
Image Credit: Disney
What follows is a series of encounters with all your favorites from Hundred-Acre Wood…and even a few scary interactions with Heffalumps and Woozles.
This is ride is among the most family-friendly attractions at Disney World…or anywhere, really!
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
During the early days of hype for Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, the Millennium Falcon ride gained most of the attention.
Disney leaked that it’d build a life-sized version of the Millennium Falcon, sending Star Wars fans into a frenzy.
However, during the final months before the themed land opened, Imagineers revealed details about Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Objectively, that one’s a better ride experience due to its comprehensive exploration of a Star Wars adventure.
So, when Rise of the Resistance opened, it naturally overshadowed Smugglers Run.
I find that regrettable, and I’m not also crazy about the diminishing of this ride by calling it a Star Tours clone.
![Galaxy's Edge](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2020-wdw-dhs-hollywood-studios-star-wars-galaxys-edge-millennium-falcon-3-scaled.jpg)
![Galaxy's Edge](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/2020-wdw-dhs-hollywood-studios-star-wars-galaxys-edge-millennium-falcon-3-scaled.jpg)
Galaxy’s Edge
In the same way that Avatar Flight of Passage elevated Soarin’, Smugglers Run has perfected the Star Tours mechanics.
You and a group of five others must work as a team to pull off a heist of a valuable substance known as Coaxium.
Your performance during the experience determines how much Coaxium you grab, making it more mission-focused than many Disney rides.
I’m here for the challenge, and I think Smugglers Run fully stands on its own.
Na’vi River Journey
![Avatar Disneyland](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Navi-River-Journey.jpg)
![Avatar Disneyland](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Navi-River-Journey.jpg)
Photo: Disney
Many people are wrong about Na’vi River Journey. This is the hill I’ll die on.
For whatever reason, the atmospheric nature of this boat ride isn’t for everyone.
![na'vi](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-25-at-8.28.37-AM-1.png)
![na'vi](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-25-at-8.28.37-AM-1.png)
Photo: D23
I suspect that this apathy stems from a lack of passion for the underlying story of Avatar.
People prefer the splashy effects, not the environmental message.
![Audio-Animatronic](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Navi-River.jpg)
![Audio-Animatronic](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Navi-River.jpg)
(Kent Phillips, photographer)
So, a ride that explores the majesty of nature on an alien planet isn’t captivating enough for some of the casuals.
Personally, I’m in awe of the ride, which doesn’t shy away from the harsh nature of life.
![Na'vi River](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Navi-River-AK.jpg)
![Na'vi River](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Navi-River-AK.jpg)
Photo: TouringPlans.com
On Pandora, you can kill or be killed. Anything is possible on a river ride through the forest.
This hypnotic ride brings Pandora to life in a plausible fashion, and it makes me feel alive to ride it.
The Seas with Nemo & Friends
![The Seas with Nemo & Friends](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/seas-with-nemo-and-friends-gallery00.webp)
![The Seas with Nemo & Friends](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/seas-with-nemo-and-friends-gallery00.webp)
Photo: Disney
I could make the argument that EPCOT permanently changed its overall philosophy when The Living Seas closed.
Disney switched from the infotainment of that ride to a Pixar franchise, Finding Nemo.
![The Seas with Nemo & Friends](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-28-at-7.44.06-AM.png)
![The Seas with Nemo & Friends](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Screen-Shot-2022-04-28-at-7.44.06-AM.png)
Photo: Disney
Now, intellectual property drives a significant portion of the storytelling on EPCOT rides.
Despite this fact, The Seas with Nemo & Friends rarely receives the credit it deserves.
This ride is quietly brilliant for recreating the vibe of Finding Nemo.
Dark rides should honor their Disney stories, and this one does so admirably.
However, Imagineers accomplished more than that. The Seas with Nemo & Friends also features a remarkable special effect.
A long stretch of this Omnimover attraction highlights the Eastern Australian Current via some clever underwater surfing with Crush.
This ride is MUCH better than its reputation, a source of frequent frustration for me and, presumably, the people who designed it.
Soarin’ Around the World
I’ve listed two attractions here that I consider a bit divisive in that some wouldn’t concern them underrated.
That’s the pervasive issue with hidden gems lists. What I consider beneath the radar may be what you deem recognizable.
![Soarin' Over California](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-wdw-epcot-disney100-celebration-soarin-over-california-4-3-2.jpg)
![Soarin' Over California](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-wdw-epcot-disney100-celebration-soarin-over-california-4-3-2.jpg)
Soarin’ Over California
For instance, my final cut from this list was Haunted Mansion, which I really wanted to include.
I’m devout in the belief that people have gradually taken Haunted Mansion for granted.
Similarly, Soarin’ was once the pride and joy of EPCOT, but that was many years ago.
Lately, even after the addition of Soarin’ Around the World, Disney has added new rides that have stolen its thunder.
![Soarin' Over California](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-wdw-epcot-disney100-celebration-soarin-over-california-2-4-2.jpg)
![Soarin' Over California](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-wdw-epcot-disney100-celebration-soarin-over-california-2-4-2.jpg)
Soarin’ Over California
An EPCOT visit must include rides on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Frozen Ever After, and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure.
Soarin’ has gotten a bit lost in the shuffle due to all the recent improvements at EPCOT.
![Soarin' Over California](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-wdw-epcot-disney100-celebration-soarin-over-california-1-4-scaled.jpg)
![Soarin' Over California](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-wdw-epcot-disney100-celebration-soarin-over-california-1-4-scaled.jpg)
Soarin’ Over California
This ride remains on the short list of best EPCOT attractions and should always be perceived as such, just as Haunted Mansion is at Magic Kingdom.
Star Tours – The Adventures Continue
I mentioned Star Tours earlier, and it’s another hidden gem that fans take for granted.
Too many tourists base their opinion of an attraction on its average wait times, believing that a shorter line indicates a weaker ride.
That’s grossly dismissive of Star Tours, one of Disney’s most impressive rides.
In fact, much of rival Universal Studios wouldn’t exist without Disney’s invention of the motion simulator ride.
![Star Tours](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Star-Tours-720x340-1.png)
![Star Tours](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Star-Tours-720x340-1.png)
Photo: Disney
I’ve never officially counted, but it seems like half of Universal’s rides use the Star Tours tech.
Meanwhile, Disney simply keeps perfecting what it already has.
![Star Tours](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-wdw-dlr-dlp-star-tours-ahsoka-tano-addition.png)
![Star Tours](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/2023-wdw-dlr-dlp-star-tours-ahsoka-tano-addition.png)
Photo: Disney
Every few years, park officials update Star Tours with new scenes from Star Wars movies and television series.
In fact, Star Tours just added more new scenes a couple of months ago!
@mickeyblog_ 🌌 NEW scenes and characters have been added to Star Tours at Hollywood Studios 🌌 The force was with us today as we rode Star Tours. Not only have new adventures been added, but we also spotted new Star Wars merch to celebrate at Tatooine Traders 👀👀 #startours #hollywoodstudios #disneyparks #disneyrides
Disney wants every Star Tours experience to feel different and new.
Nothing at Disney theme parks gets updated more than Star Tours. I commend the Imagineers for their dedication to the craft.
Toy Story Mania!
![Toy Story Mania](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/toy-story-mania-toy-story-land-disney-world-hollywood-studios.jpg)
![Toy Story Mania](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/toy-story-mania-toy-story-land-disney-world-hollywood-studios.jpg)
Toy Story Mania
Here’s another ride like Soarin’. Ten years ago, most tourists would have considered the latter ride a top-three experience at EPCOT.
Toy Story Mania! headed the list at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It required the longest waits and was the unquestioned alpha.
![DAS Disney](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Toy-Story-Mania.jpg)
![DAS Disney](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Toy-Story-Mania.jpg)
Photo: Disney
Nowadays, the additions of Galaxy’s Edge, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, and Slinky Dog Dash have diminished it.
What I mean is that fans have largely overlooked this ride while prioritizing the new hotness.
![Toy Story Mania](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Toy-Story-Mania-Attraction.jpg)
![Toy Story Mania](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Toy-Story-Mania-Attraction.jpg)
Photo: Disney
That’s regrettable because Toy Story Mania! hasn’t changed any, and I mean that in the best possible way.
Under the Sea ~ Journey of the Little Mermaid
![Journey of Little mermaid.j](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Journey-of-Little-mermaid.jpg.avif)
![Journey of Little mermaid.j](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Journey-of-Little-mermaid.jpg.avif)
Disney Parks
I consider the Disney dark ride an art form. Imagineers have cultivated a rare ability to strip a story to its essence.
Then, these geniuses design rides that encapsulate the heart of the story, something that can be told in a matter of minutes.
![Ariel](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ariel-in-Under-the-Sea-Journey-of-the-Little-Mermaid-1536x1152-1.jpg)
![Ariel](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Ariel-in-Under-the-Sea-Journey-of-the-Little-Mermaid-1536x1152-1.jpg)
DVC Shop
The Seas with Nemo & Friends proves an excellent example of this ability, but I’m even more impressed by The Little Mermaid.
That movie matters as much as anything in Disney history since Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
![The Little Mermaid](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/28-Journey-Little-Mermaid.jpg)
![The Little Mermaid](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/28-Journey-Little-Mermaid.jpg)
Photo: Disney
Modern audiences don’t realize or remember how much Disney had fallen down in the mid-1980s.
Hollywood critics openly questioned whether the company would ever regain its touch.
![Journey of the Little Mermaid](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/littlemermaid1-700x483-1.jpg)
![Journey of the Little Mermaid](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/littlemermaid1-700x483-1.jpg)
Photo: Touringplans.com
Then, The Little Mermaid debuted in 1989 and reminded people that hand-drawn art is magical.
That film triggered the Disney Renaissance and led to the rediscovered glory of an entire movie studio.
![journey of Little Mermaid](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/under-the-sea-journey-of-the-little-mermaid-new-00.jpg.webp)
![journey of Little Mermaid](https://mickeyblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/under-the-sea-journey-of-the-little-mermaid-new-00.jpg.webp)
Photo:Disney
Nearly a quarter-century later, Imagineers recreated the classic story with this dark ride, and it’s perfect.
There’s so much to do at New Fantasyland that tourists sometimes forget about Journey of the Little Mermaid.
That’s regrettable because this dark ride’s a perfect dose of Disney magic.
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Feature Photo: Disney