Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful and safe holiday season. I cannot wait to enter into Disney magic in this new year! As we start off 2021, I cannot help but think we all need some thrill. This week we are back and will enter into the thrill of roller coasters. That’s right, we are going to be talking about our top five roller coaster rides at The Walt Disney World Resort. Disney has a lot of rides for all ages. Even their roller coasters are for adults and kids alike. Some have specific height requirements and some are more suited for children rather than adults. With this being said, I do think that the roller coasters for the kids are a thrilling way to introduce children to some of the bigger roller coasters the parks have to offer. When I was younger, I was scared of roller coasters. I remember I was even scared to go on anything that made you feel thrilled. I went on the Barnstormer (a roller coaster geared towards children) as a kid at Magic Kingdom and it was so fun. After that, I went on Big Thunder, Space Mountain and then kept trying new roller coasters from there. I will do the same with my kid’s one day. It is a super nice way to introduce your young ones to the coasters of Disney. But enough about the kiddy coasters. This blog post is about my favorite roller coasters the resort has to offer. Each roller coaster is different and they all have different aspects that make them unique. The unique aspects of each roller coaster will be covered as well as why they are in my top five! Each of the parks has thrill rides and roller coasters so it is easy to seek them out no matter which park you are in. We are off to the top five coasters and that will take us hopping around the resort to enjoy dips, drops, loops, and twirls!
5. Slinky Dog Dash
The fifth roller coaster on our list takes us to Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios. That roller coaster being Slinky Dog Dash. The height requirement on this ride is 38 inches or taller. Kids and adults will love this wild ride through Andy’s backyard. You enter the ride queue which leads you up to the ride vehicle of Slinky Dog. This is such a fun ride vehicle that really puts you on the slinky toy. They did a great job of giving the ride the feel and sounds of a slinky toy you used to play with as a kid. The unique part of the ride here is just that. You feel the coaster as it dips and dives, really providing the slinky feel and effect. The thrill for kids is apparent if you watch the ride fly through the sky. As an adult, it provides just enough fun and thrill that will have you throwing your hands up in the air!
4. Space Mountain
Coming in as our number four on the list is none other than Space Mountain at Magic Kingdom Park. The height requirement for Space Mountain is 44 inches or taller. This is another ride that is fun for kids and adults. For those kids who are able to ride and for those adults who like the ride, this is one of the classic and most sought out roller coasters in the Magic Kingdom. As you enter the ride queue you come up to the loading area. This is where the first unique aspect of the coaster hits. You can be sent to the right or to the left. This coaster has two tracks that intertwine. One of the sides is just a little bit longer, but both are super fun and have you zipping through space. This ride is in the dark so you do not know which way you are turning or diving as you return to earth. That is the most unique part of this coaster. Make sure you smile on your ascension into space for the picture!
3. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
My number three roller coaster at the Walt Disney World Resort is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at the Magic Kingdom. Guests must be 40 inches or taller to enter into the “Wildest Ride in the wilderness”. This is a classic ride that is used in a lot of footage you see in Disney commercials. The ride takes you through a mining area on a runaway train as it turns and dips through the gold mine. As you walk through the queue you once again get to a fork in the line. The loading area alternates trains from the right and the left. The actual train cars are made to look like a mining train and you ascend atop the mining area before dipping and turning down many turns. Keep your hands up high as the train slides you side to side and up and down. The classic ride is good for younger kids and nostalgic to adults, which makes it one that has to be considered as one of the best at Disney.
2. Expedition Everest
Time to get to my number two roller coaster in Disney World. We head on over to Animal Kingdom to look for a yeti. We look into the distance and see Expedition Everest. The height requirement for guests is 44 inches and taller. This rollercoaster takes you through the icy peaks of the Himalayan mountain on a nice train ride. You come across a broken track and the coaster comes to a stop. You then find yourself going backwards down a hill and turn until you reach another area of the ride where the shadow of the yeti appears. You then move forward for the big drop and more twists and turns as you hope to escape the yeti. Before long, your train enters the dark mountain and the yeti appears above! This ride is more thrilling for older children and adults but is a must ride if you have met the height requirement! My pro tip is riding this one at night, it adds more fun to the experience.
1. Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster
The time has come to reach my number one roller coaster at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando. Rock’n’ Roller Coaster is my favorite roller coaster at the whole resort. Guests must be 48 inches tall to ride the thrill coaster. The ride features Aerosmith and is fully based on an encounter with Steven Tyler and his band. You are watching the band in their studio recording an album and all of a sudden you are on your way to their concert. But how will you get there? You are sent into an alley where you see your ride vehicle, a super stretch limo! You hear the take off and the screams as this ride shoots you off from 0-60 mph. The ride features a ride in the dark,r LA streets. It takes you through loops, twists, twirls, dips, turns and everything in between as you race to make the Aerosmith concert on the other side of town. My pro tip here for this one is ride in the front or in the back. Both will offer their own experience and will change the experience in my opinion! Make sure you smile for the picture!
That does it for our top roller coaster rides at the Walt Disney World Resort. Like I mentioned earlier, the roller coasters here add just the amount of thrill you are looking for. The rides can be for children and adults. Each ride does have height requirements but in true Disney fashion, mostly all of them can be for multiple ages. I am really excited to see what is ahead as Disney is adding a couple more thrill rides that are more targeted to some older groups of people. At the Magic Kingdom they are adding the Tron roller coaster. Another ride they are imagining and building at Epcot is themed after Guardians of the Galaxy. These two rides/roller coasters will be adding more thrill and providing even more fun for teens and adults. I am sure after we ride them, they might make a new top five, but for now, these five are the best. The classics will always have a special part in my heart and the ones with thrill and excitement always have you running back into line; but one thing is for sure, enjoy them! Make sure you put your hands up in the air and scream as that is what they are there for. Thanks for joining us this week and we will see ya next week for another edition of Muting and The Mouse!
Muting & The Mouse 