As the cornerstone of thrill attractions at the Disney Parks, roller coasters definitely capture the amusement and fun of theme parks in a way that generates adrenaline, while often maintaining the theming that the Disney Parks are widely known for.
When I go to a Disney Park, I’m always sure to fill my trip with both relaxed experiences matched with high speed, twisting and turning, looping and corkscrewing experiences to make things a little more “interesting.”
As a note, I’ve never personally been to any of the Disney Parks outside of the United States, so my choices will be limited to Disneyland and Walt Disney World.
Lets get started!
5.) Big Thunder Mountain — Disneyland
As the first coaster on the list, this is definitely the most time. Despite being described as the “wildest ride in the wilderness,” it rarely offers an experience that makes guests feel genuine thrill. Sure it can go moderately fast, and turns are rather sharp, but it’s rather straightforward in nature. The attraction follows a “lift hill → short drop → rough turns” system of movement through a well themed western wilderness. This is probably the one coaster in a Disney Park that has a quality of theming that is consistent in the queue and the attraction itself.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad barely changes between the parks excluding a few theming and cinematic set-pieces. For example, the finale in Disneyland is a boneyard crossed with a western town, set next to a geyser point. In Walt Disney World however, the attraction kind of ends abruptly near a mineshaft explosion.
Which leads to the real distinction, specifically in that of the plot. In the Magic Kingdom, guests are merely given a speedy tour of the west, running alongside the Rivers of America. That alone is nice, but Disneyland offers a bit more. The story revolves around a mine that has been stuffed with dynamite. Throughout the attraction, guests begin to see evidence of that, up until they’re met face to face with the bombs themselves.
The inclusion of such cinematic set-pieces creates urgency and suspense, something that a themed coaster greatly benefits from. It may be slower and less engaging than most coasters, but as a blend between thrill and dark-rides, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad excels greatly.
4.) Expedition Everest — Disney’s Animal Kingdom
When Animal Kingdom opened, it was lacking many things. Intuitive pathways, general care, and most importantly, setpieces.
See, there was nothing pulling guests in that direction. Rarely did guests have any need to move to the back of the park as there was nothing directing them there. The Tree of Life was the largest piece in the park, which only led to congregation in the center of the already mismanaged park.
To curb this issue, Joe Rodhe and his Imagineers set forth on one of the most impressive and detailed attractions in Disney history. In 2006, Disney opened their tallest attraction (at 199.5 feet), Expedition Everest.
Analyzing the attraction as a coaster alone shows it to be nothing special. Long lift hill, short backwards movement, extensive drop met with a slow turn to ease the movement, and a speedy trip through the mountain. Truly nothing special.
So why is it so impressive? The theming in this attraction is a magnificent feat in an of itself. Gazing at the mountain, the detailed museum queue, the lush grasslands in the early parts of the attraction, going up the lift hill just to see the vast Disney landscape, the Yeti animatronic itself (in its current state), each of these provide an experience that is matched by nothing else.
If you’re ever in Animal Kingdom, be sure to brave the mountain just to see the mythical beast known as the “Yeti,” you won’t regret it!
3.) Rock n’ Roller Coaster — Disney’s Hollywood Studios
To match the attraction itself, lets keep this one short, shall we?
In this attraction, guests enter a recording studio to meet up with the Rock and Roll band Aerosmith. Upon a greeting by the band’s frontman Steven Tyler, the band’s manager tells the band that they have to leave immediately as to get to their next show on time. Steven Tyler gives an inappropriate gesture (he used to do that) to the crowd, tells them to get in a “superstretch limo,” and you’re led past a chain link fence, through an alley, and into your limo.
Got it? Good.
The story itself isn’t really worth discussing as it is so minimal. It merely serves as a reason to put the high-octane music of Aerosmith onto a thrilling and speedy attraction.
Once entering the limos, guests must wait a few seconds, building in anticipation, until they are launched at 57 miles per hour into a hectic roller coaster course. They’ll encounter loops, corkscrews, street signs, frosted doughnuts, and assorted other set pieces, all to the smooth groves of Aerosmith. It’s all good fun, perfect for the aesthetic of Hollywood Studios.
Just a sidenote: the attraction is extremely short. It really feels like its about 30 seconds, and in reality its not much longer. It definitely is thrilling, but it’s incredibly short. Songs change in a matter of seconds just so they can fit two on one ride-through.
If you’re even slightly interested in thrill rides and rock-and-roll, this attraction is perfect for you. Just don’t expect very much.
If you blink, you’ll miss it.
2.) Space Mountain — Disneyland
There’s some personal bias in this choice, but I promise this is the best way to experience high speed space travel.
In Space Mountain, guests are given a ticket to explore the depths of Space. Passing by planets, rocket ships, meteors, and assorted other objects, you’re whisked through one of the most beautiful and thrilling yet simple roller coasters Disney has to offer.
When it comes to choosing between Disneyland and Walt Disney World, there’s a clear winner.
While the queue in the Magic Kingdom is a simple tunnel, it is a layered Space Station in Disneyland, fit with a rocket ship hanging from the ceiling above the loading dock. Everything is brighter and more vivid. In WDW, space is apparently a cold, empty, and lifeless void. Disneyland preys on science-fiction tropes to turn the final frontier into a world of adventure. It feels as if you’ve stepped into a sci-fi film, fit with neon lights paired with colorful backdrops.
Oh, and the music! Walt Disney World’s Mountain has more ambient noise, nothing truly special as it is just “whurrs” and assorted other turning sounds, whereas Disneyland has Michael Giacchino at the helm of the music to deliver a medley of science-fiction tropes. Full orchestra blended with synthesizer (probably a theremin) noises captures grandiose spectacle and individual wonder.
Space Mountain may not be the most intense coaster in a Disney Park, yet, that might by why it’s so perfect. You feel like you’re traveling through space with plausible deniability.
It’s a science-fiction fan’s dream.
1.) California Screamin’ — Disney’s California Adventure
To understand why this is the my favorite roller coaster in Disney Park, you have to understand a few things.
First, I live on the east coast, so when I first visited Disneyland I knew it was going to be a while before I went back. This led me to a mindset in which I would try to get on absolutely everything I possibly could, as the next time I returned, they may in fact be replaced.
California Screamin’ wasn’t on the top of the list as it stands as possibly one of the most intense coasters in a Disney Park to date. Sure, Rock n’ Roller Coaster has a corkscrew, but this is all outdoors. It’s longer, has a sizeable drop towards the middle, more twists, more turns, and you can see everything that is about to come at you. It genuinely towers over the park and wears its thrills on its sleeve.
When I first sat down in the seat and pulled down the restraint, I had the voice of Neil Patrick Harris to greet me. It was to my surprise, as I had no clue he was even on a Disney attraction. This surprise, with the pleasant and nostalgic boardwalk music led me swiftly into the speedy launch, and from there, it only got better and better.
See, in Rock n’ Roller Coaster, the attraction ends just as it’s getting good. Just as California Screamin’ is getting good however, you’re only halfway through, rising up to the heights of the Disneyland Resort and preparing for the drop to lead you into the second half.
The music blends classic boardwalk wind music with well paced guitar solos in an effort to juxtapose classic boardwalk fun with modern theme park thrills. Thematic consistency with the surrounding Paradise Pier is perfect, leaving guests smiling up until the very last second of the attraction.
In addition, this attraction rarely sports a long wait time. With Rock n’ Roller, it’s unlikely that you can walk back on the coaster without waiting nearly an hour. California Screamin’ on the other hand is the opposite, often allowing you to get back into the short line and experience the magical feeling once more.
In short, it’s impossible to find me on this attraction without a smile on my face, my hands in the air, while I’m, well, “Screamin’.”
To any coaster fan, or theme park fanatic, if you haven’t yet been on California Screamin’, make the trip now. Given the recent news about Pixar Pier taking over Paradise Pier, the future of this attraction (and more importantly the theming) is up in the air.
So I plead the audience to experience this magnificent attraction as soon as possible.
Go Scream, it sure is a lot of fun.
Ryan Dorman is a Columnist and the Content Director for the Boardwalk Times. You can find him at @OpentheDorman on Twitter, as well as on the Boardwalk Times Podcast, “Boardwalk Talk.”
