The Best Disney World Roller Coasters

Disney World has some incredible roller coasters. From blasting off into space to shrinking down to the size of a toy to exploring the Himalayas, WDW has something for every type of coaster lover. Disney World has roller coasters perfect for kids, families, and thrill seekers. But what is the best Disney World roller coaster?

That’s what I’m answering today. Considering both the thrills and the theming, I am ranking every Disney World coaster from worst to best. These coasters feature drops, sharp turns, and launches. So hold onto your hats and glasses, and please keep your hands, arms, and legs inside the vehicle at all times.

Update 04-11-2023: We’ve updated our list of the best Disney World roller coasters with rankings for the two newest thrill rides: Tron Lightcycle Run and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind.

9) Barnstormer – Magic Kingdom

Thrills: 1/5
Theming: 2/5

Barnstormer is made for little kids. The short roller coaster has one hill, and that’s it. The theming is a bit bare, but the plane ride vehicle bursting through the Goofy billboard makes for a good photo.

Barnstormer is designed to be a child’s first roller coaster. When you consider its intended audience, it’s fine. But coaster fans and thrill seekers can easily skip Barnstormer.

8) Space Mountain – Magic Kingdom

Thrills: 3/5
Theming: 4/5

Magic Kingdom, we have a problem… This is shocking to me! When I sat down to write this list, I thought Space Mountain would be towards the top. Not second to last. I love Space Mountain, so I’m probably as upset as you are. This is more a testament to how good the roller coasters are at Disney World, rather than Space Mountain being bad in any way.

The theming carries the ride. The queue creates a sense of otherworldliness, and the light tunnel at the beginning is just perfection. The bulk of the ride is in complete darkness, which creates a feeling of thrilling space adventure. It’s the magic trick that is Space Mountain. With top speeds of only 30 mph, Space Mountain feels much faster than it actually is.

If you took the track and placed it outside, Space Mountain would be a forgettable coaster. But the theming makes it something special.

7) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Magic Kingdom

Thrills: 3.5/5
Theming: 3.5/5

The placing of Big Thunder and Space Mountain on this list are essentially a coin flip. I find Big Thunder Mountain to be slightly more thrilling than Space Mountain, and I find the theming on Space Mountain to be slightly more compelling than Big Thunder Mountain. They both hold a close place to my heart. There’s a chance that it holds a close place to your heart too. For many, these are the first “real” roller coasters they ever went on.

So what gives the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness the edge over Space Mountain? I can’t quite explain it, but Big Thunder Mountain is just better at night. You get some of the thrill of riding in the dark, so the ride just feels faster. That’s why we have riding Big Thunder at night as one of our Magic Kingdom tips. The wildest ride somehow gets wilder.

6) Slinky Dog Dash – Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Thrills: 3.5/5
Theming: 4/5

Slinky Dog Dash surprised me when it opened up. When Disney announced Toy Story Land, it looked like this would just be a poor man’s version of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train. It had the same swinging car mechanism, and it was pitched as a family coaster. However, there was no story scene in the middle. Rides at other Toy Story Lands across the world were more on the “well themed carnival ride” end of the spectrum, so my expectations were somewhat low.

I’ve never been so delighted to be so wrong. Slinky Dog Dash is awesome, and it is surprisingly thrilling. The two-launch coaster had this fully-grown man screaming like a little kid. I think the thrills here are approachable: not too nauseating or too scary. But kids and adults alike have a blast on this coaster, so it makes sense that it’s one of the most popular rides at Hollywood Studios.

5) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – Magic Kingdom

Thrills: 2.5/5
Theming: 5/5

With two and a half hills and a buttery smooth ride, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the best coaster for kids at Disney World. But parents won’t be mad that they have to ride it too. While not as thrilling as Slinky Dog Dash or as rough as Big Thunder Mountain, the drops on Seven Dwarfs Mine Train are a lot of fun for coaster veterans and newbies alike. They are fast and slick, but they don’t feel too tame. Like Slinky Dog, it’s an approachable thrill, with the dial turned a bit more toward approachable.

But what sets this ride over the top is the scene in the middle. Your cart slows down as you roll past all Seven Dwarfs in a gem mine. The animatronics bring all of the personality of the original animation into three dimensions. It’s a show-stopper that will leave you humming “Heigh Ho” for the rest of the day.

4) Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster – Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Thrills: 5/5
Theming: 4/5

A 0-55 mph launch? Check. Not one, but two inversions? Check. A super stretch limo? Check A dated pre-show that somehow just adds to the charm of the ride? Definitely check.

Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster is Disney World’s most intense roller coaster. In fact, it’s the only Disney World coaster to flip riders upside down, with a corkscrew and a loop. The ride gets off to a head banging start with a thrilling launch. Like Space Mountain, this indoor coaster is in the dark, with large Hollywood icons and freeway signs lighting the path. And even though Aerosmith isn’t nearly as popular as they were when the ride opened, the soundtrack still adds to the experience.

If you have a coaster junkie in your group, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster should be their first stop. I would also bet it won’t be their last.

3) Tron Lightcycle Run – Magic Kingdom

Thrills: 4/5
Theming: 4.75/5

Get ready for a thrilling journey through the digital frontier. Tron Lightcycle Run has my favorite launch of any coaster, as it feels like it reaches speed but just keeps going.

Tron has two parts: a launch and an indoor ride through the dark with some projections and effects. In some ways, Tron feels like if Rock N Roller Coaster and Space Mountain had a baby. A very fast baby. Tron Lightcycle Run is Disney World’s fastest roller coaster, and the sense of speed is incredible. In fact, speed is the biggest sensation that I felt during my rides on Tron. There are dips and turns, but the coaster is so incredibly smooth that it never feels too intense.

For some, this lack of intensity would put it lower on the list, just below Rock N Roller Coaster. However, I think it’s a great fit for Magic Kingdom’s biggest roller coaster. It makes Tron much more accessible to more guests who can’t quite handle the intensity of a coaster with inversions. However, if you do want the most intense experience on Tron, we recommend riding in the back row.

The one big knock against Tron is its length. Many have criticized it for feeling short, as it lasts just around a minute. However, this is a very similar length to Rock N Roller Coaster. I think the ride starts with such an incredible high with the launch, but then there’s not a big moment at the end that matches it. This makes the ending feel a bit abrupt, and gives a sense of the ride feeling shorter than something like Rock N Roller Coaster.

This keeps it from being higher on the list, but Tron is an incredibly fun and fast roller coaster that many Magic Kingdom guests will love.

2) Expedition Everest – Animal Kingdom

Thrills: 4.5/5
Theming: 5/5

Walt Disney Imagineering excels when they can transport you through story, theming, and thrills. When looking at all three of those factors, Expedition Everest is one of Disney’s most successful attractions. While Lightning Lane or Single Rider gets you to the ride faster, guests in standby line have plenty to do during their time in the detailed queue. The line sets up the story of the Yeti and your journey into the Himalayas perfectly.

The ride itself is paced perfectly. Your journey up the mountain is rather uneventful, with a slow ascent that builds a sense of mystery and anticipation.

Once you reach the summit, Expedition Everest kicks into full gear and doesn’t let up.

You plunge backwards into the mountain. Yes, backwards. Expedition Everest has an ingenious ride system that quickly switches the track so the coaster goes both forwards and backwards. Going backwards into the mountain might be the most thrilling moment in all of Disney World. Once inside, you change directions again and have a brief encounter with the Yeti. The rest of the ride feels like a more grown-up version of Big Thunder Mountain, with more intense hills and faster turns.

Yes, the Yeti animatronic is still broken, but Expedition Everest is so good that it still shines without it.

While we used to consider it to be the best roller coaster in Disney World, a ragtag group of intergalactic heroes has changed the equation at EPCOT.

1) Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind – EPCOT

Thrills: 4.75/5
Theming: 4.75/5

EPCOT’s first roller coaster is an instant classic. It has Disney World’s first backwards launch, and an innovative ride system that rotates you as you ride. Reaching speeds of 50 mph, Cosmic Rewind feels like an amped up version of Space Mountain. The coaster doesn’t feature any big drops, but the ride is so incredibly smooth that it feels like you’re skating through space. This pairs perfectly with Cosmic Rewind’s classic rock soundtrack, which rewards repeat rides since there are five possible songs that can play during the ride. Each song gives the ride a different feeling, and everyone will have their own favorite (Mine is September).

Besides being a great coaster, Imagineering has a few additional tricks up their sleeve with this ride. Guardians of the Galaxy has an excellent queue and pre-show, with one jaw-dropping moment that we are a huge fan of. The projection technology is top notch, and there are a couple of impressive set pieces found along the coaster track.

However, there is one big drawback.

Motion sickness is an issue on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. The combination of rotating vehicle and giant projections that you want to stare at is inducing nausea in many guests. We have a lot of tips for how to avoid nausea in our Guardians of the Galaxy Motion Sickness Guide, but these are a lot of hoops for guests to go on a ride that won’t make them feel sick.

While Guardians is easily the best thrill ride at EPCOT, the motion sickness issue has made it hard to decisively declare Guardians as Disney World’s best roller coaster. But after riding it multiple times, my love for the Guardians coaster has become undeniable. I’ve also heard from several friends who have called it the best roller coaster they’ve ever been on. It’s fast, smooth, fun, and thrilling.

What more could you ask for from a roller coaster?

Disney World Roller Coaster Stats and Superlatives

• The fastest roller coaster in Disney World: Tron Lightcycle Run at 60 mph.
• The tallest roller coaster in Disney World: Expedition Everest at 199 feet
• The biggest drop on a coaster in Disney World: Expedition Everest with an 80 foot drop, where they take your picture
• The WDW Park with the most roller coasters: Magic Kingdom with 4 (Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Barnstormer)
• The best Disney World roller coaster for kids: Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
• The most intense roller coaster in WDW: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
• The roller coaster with the most Steven Tyler in it: Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

We want to hear from you!

Let me know in the comments below: What’s your favorite Disney World roller coaster?