The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando has something for everyone…that includes thrill ride enthusiasts. Within each of the four parks at Disney World, you can find at least one thrill ride to satisfy that adrenalin rush you’re looking for. I thought we would have a look at each of my personal favorites so you could see what you have to look forward to on your next visit to Disney World or, so you could remember that time you rode ________ (fill in the blank) and wish you were there right now to do it again. Here we go on on our thrill ride tour at the Walt Disney World Resort!
Magic Kingdom
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – This ride is a runaway train roller coaster that sends you rushing through the gold-mining town of Tumbleweed in the Frontierland area at Magic Kingdom theme park. When the ride begins you’ll be listening to the railroad car wheels chug up the hill and then suddenly, you’ll find yourself racing across the seemingly rickety tracks. You’ll swoop around sweeping turns and tear up rolling hills that dip or drop into canyons and caverns, slip under a booming waterfall or swish through the ribs of a dinosaur skeleton. This is one ride you can’t miss!
Space Mountain blasts you off on a journey into outer space in a sleek, rocket-shaped vehicle in the glow-in-the-dark Space Port as you make a steady climb up the 180-foot high mountain, passing the Mission Control booth and myriad pulsating lights along the way. At the top of the mountain you’ll feel the wind race across your face as you are propelled through the remote blackness of the dark universe—illuminated only by shooting stars, celestial satellites, spinning black holes and shimmering constellations—during a rip-roaring rocket ride through the farthest reaches of time and space. And because the majority of the attraction takes place in the dark, you just never know which way you are going to turn or drop! This ride is nothing but pure fun!
Epcot
Test Track is a high-speed vehicle-simulation ride where you get to experience one of Disney’s longest and fastest rides. On this ride you will enter the world of automotive testing as your 6-seat vehicle undergoes the safety and quality tests that General Motors performs on every prototype it manufactures. You’ll get to ascend steep terrain, let loose downhill, blasting across a bumpy road and roaring through 50-degree banked curves and hair-pin turns that test suspension and brakes at speeds up to 60 miles per hour! You’ll take a ride through the environmental chamber to test your car against extreme heat and cold. Then, face the challenge of avoiding a crash barrier… in the nick of time! What a ride! Once you break out of the building you’ll get to feel 60 mph in your face! Awesome ride!
Mission: SPACE, is a motion simulator ride that gets you as close as you can get to blasting off into space without leaving Earth. This attraction realistically mimics what an astronaut might experience during a space flight to Mars. Each member of your astronaut team has a challenging role in a dynamic and daring cosmic mission dodging meteors and navigating nebulae. The ride has 2 versions—the Orange Team for exhilarating and intense training or opt for the Green Team and have a less intense galactic adventure. Wow! Hold on to your stomach! This is the real deal!
The Sum of All Thrills is where you get to test your imagination by designing a thrill ride using an interactive touch screen that lets you determine height and speed while adding features such as dips and corkscrew turns. Once “built,” climb aboard your very own design in the 4-D robotic simulator that uses sight, sound and movement to give you a realistic experience. This attraction can be found in the Innoventions East building. This is a true hidden jewel in Epcot. This ride will get your heart pumping!
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith, is a high-speed roller coaster trip down the California freeways while enjoying the beat of a soundtrack recorded by Aerosmith specifically for this attraction. With the force of a supersonic F-14, you’ll accelerate from a stand-still stop to high speeds—then swoop into 3 inversions and discover a new twist on viewing Los Angeles: upside-down! I would stand in line all day to get on this ride! Truly one of the most amazing coasters in the country!
The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror sends you plunging down the dark freight elevator shaft of the once glamorous Hollywood Tower Hotel in The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. As you will see, this is no ordinary hotel. Its phantom elevator is located beyond the fifth dimension, the one that crosses over into The Twilight Zone! You never know how many times you will get to plunge down the elevator shaft because it randomly chooses how many times you will drop and then be raised up to do it again! Not for the faint of heart or the weak stomach! A true thrill for all ages!
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Expedition Everest is located in the Asia area of the park. It is a high-altitude, high-speed, roller coaster train ride that sends you into the world of the inhospitable snarling beast, the Yeti, at the mountain’s peak. In your railway car you will be adventure bound for Mount Everest. You’ll go forward and backward on your high-speed trip across the Forbidden Mountain where the Yeti will be found. This is an amazing ride! There are two places you want to sit on this one, either in the front car or the rear car. Both give thrills that you will remember for a lifetime!
So there you have it. A look at my personal favorite thrill rides at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Are you ready to go for your first time or start planning that return trip? If so, give us a call and we’ll help you plan and book your Disney trip. We don’t charge for our services, we have the inside track on specials, and we are even offering a Disney Gift Card worth up to $50 for folks who book through us. Give us a call and we’ll give you a free quote! Talk to you soon!
