Calling all thrill seekers! Pirates of the Caribbean and “it’s a small world” might be the first thing that come to mind when you think of rides at Disney World, but there are still plenty of roller coasters for adrenaline seekers in all four theme parks. But, which ones are actually worth the long wait times? We’re ranking all of the Disney World roller coasters from worst to best!

Disney World Roller Coasters Overview

When thinking about thrilling theme parks, Walt Disney World probably isn’t on the top of the list, especially when you have thrill-centric parks like Six Flags and Universal Orlando Resort nearby in Central Florida.

However, don’t count Disney World out when talking about coasters! Though you might not find crazy inversions or multiple G-forces, Disney World roller coasters take you into the most beloved Disney stories while still delivering a thrill or two. And, there’s almost guaranteed to be a coaster for everyone inside the parks. From your little tikes first coaster to the thrill-seeking adults, everyone is bound to be satisfied.

How Many Roller Coasters are at Disney World?

In total, there are nine roller coasters between the four Disney theme parks. These coasters range from little kids’ first-time roller coasters to high-intensity thrilling coasters.

Magic Kingdom offers the most roller coasters, with five inside the park. Hollywood Studios houses two popular roller coasters, and EPCOT and Animal Kingdom both have one roller coaster each.

For the major adrenaline junkies, Hollywood Studios is where you are going to want to be. While there are only two roller coasters, other rides, such as the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, will surely fulfill all requirements.

Our Disney Roller Coaster Rankings

So, how do the nine Disney roller coasters stack up in our rankings?

What is Included in Our Rankings?

There are a few things to be considered when ranking the roller coasters throughout Disney World.

In no particular order, things that have been taken into account are:

• Length of ride
• Ride theming
• Thrill level
• Comfort level
• Wait times

Now, let’s dive into those rankings!

Disney World Roller Coasters Rankings

9. The Barnstormer Starring the Great Goofini

Located in Storybook Circus at Magic Kingdom, the Barnstormer is the perfect first-time coaster for little ones (though, most adults without kids are probably skipping this one).

Guests board Goofy’s stunt plane and ride with Goofy through an aerial stunt show for a quick and twisty ride through the sky. The coaster is a whopping 53 seconds from start to finish.

This ride has a 35-inch height requirement, and rarely has wait times over thirty minutes.

8. Space Mountain

This is going to be controversial, but the nostalgia of the ride just doesn’t justify the fact that Space Mountain needs an update in my opinion. Space Mountain is located in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom and is one of the most iconic rides in all of Disney World. However, its comfort level in comparison to other coasters is a significant reason it ranks low on our list — put simply: this one hurts.

The pros about this attraction are that its queue and ride are entirely indoors, and air conditioning is essential during long waits in Florida summers. Additionally, the ride is pretty lengthy in comparison to others, hovering around two and a half minutes. And, you even get a pretty fast ride, with the coaster reaching a top speed of 27 mph in a ride vehicle that is designed to look like an actual rocket.

That being said, Space Mountain is an extremely bumpy ride. If you have any back or neck issues, this is a ‘do not ride’ warning. Even so, if you don’t have any problems, you might walk out with some! The ride is entirely in the dark, so if you aren’t okay with tight, dark spaces, this also may not be the ride for you. There is a 44-inch height requirement.

7. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

This family-friendly coaster has a 38-inch height requirement, making it a perfect first coaster for young ones in your party. Additionally, it has a familiar theme!

Based on the popular Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, guests travel through the mines with the seven dwarfs, encountering one-of-a-kind animatronics, popular songs, and some unexpected twists and turns. There are no inversions or major thrills of any kind on this ride, and it may be one of the best themed coasters at Magic Kingdom.

The ride opened in 2014 and quickly became a staple of Magic Kingdom’s Fantasyland. However, I’m not sure the wait times reflect the ride’s quality. For example, guests will rarely find wait times under 60-75 minutes for this attraction. While the ride queue does have interactive elements to keep guests entertained, there isn’t much thrill to justify consistently long wait times.

The ride is smooth and substantial, lasting just under three minutes, so you do get a reasonable length of time on the ride. However, remember that we’re ranking all aspects of the coaster.

If you have a Snow White enthusiast in your group, this is a must-do. They won’t be disappointed! But, are there better roller coasters throughout Disney? Yes.

6. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Board the train on the wildest ride through the wilderness in Magic Kingdom’s Frontierland! This iconic mountain reaches a height of 104 feet, making it the tallest coaster on our list so far.

Embark on three minutes of twists, turns, and drops through a haunted gold mine of an abandoned frontier town. There is a 40-inch height requirement for this ride, placing it a step above Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, but not as intense as Space Mountain. There are no inversions throughout the ride, but there are a few drops to be aware of.

While some may argue that the ride is bumpy, it is currently undergoing refurbishment for the entire year of 2025. Expected to reopen in 2026, the ride will feature major updates like a new track and “a little bit of new magic,” according to Disney.

5. Slinky Dog Dash

Switching parks to Disney’s Hollywood Studios, everyone loves Andy’s favorite toys! Themed after the beloved Disney Pixar’s Toy Story franchise, families hop aboard Slinky Dog and dash through the skies of Toy Story Land on Slinky Dog Dash.

This 38-inch height requirement coaster is perfect for families of all ages, and personally, it’s my favorite coaster at Disney World! However, while there are some dips, twists, turns, and the highest speeds on our list yet, at 40 mph, the thrill level is still fairly minimal in comparison to the rest of our list.

One downside to this ride is that it’s entirely outdoors (including the queue!), making it a prime target for weather delays and very hot lines. Additionally, the line is rarely under a one-hour wait, though I’d say this is more worth the wait than others.

4. TRON Lightcycle / Run

TRON Lightcycle / Run makes our list as the first true “thrill ride.” It has the tallest height requirement yet at 48 inches, and tops speeds of almost 60 mph. The newest coaster at Walt Disney World is now the main attraction in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom!

Themed around the TRON movie franchise, guests join Team Blue in a high-speed race, boarding one-of-a-kind ride vehicles that are actually Lightcycles! Instead of a lap bar, guests hop on the Lightcycle and get secured by back and leg restraints, making the ride experience completely different than any other Walt Disney World attraction.

However, the downside to this ride is it’s a whopping sixty seconds long. Once guests are launched from 0 to 60 mph and then…well, it’s pretty much over. Additionally, since this is the newest roller coaster on property, the lines are long. If the ride itself were longer, I’d be tempted to rank it higher, but waiting two hours for a sixty-second ride isn’t ideal.

3. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Stroll down Sunset Blvd at Hollywood Studios and head to Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, the only roller coaster at Walt Disney World to have inversions. And, not just one…there are THREE!

This entirely indoor dark roller coaster launches adrenaline junkies from 0 to 60 mph in 2.8 seconds. Riders experience corkscrews, rollovers, and up to 5Gs! The attraction lasts a minute and a half, but the theming inside provides guests with much more to enjoy during their time.

Currently, guests board a super stretch limo and join Aerosmith down the streets of Los Angeles to make it to the red carpet in time, all while popular Aerosmith songs are playing through speakers in the vehicle. However, this is set to change soon with The Muppets taking over Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster in 2026.

While it is still open before it closes for refurbishment, be sure to check out the single rider line if you want to skip the long wait times!

2. Expedition Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

Animal Kingdom’s Expedition Everest is the tallest ride in Disney World at 112 ft, with an 80 ft drop! Guests climb aboard a train, race through the Himalayas, and try to escape the Yeti.

Reaching speeds of 50 mph, guests 44 inches and above can travel through dark twists, turns, drops, and even backwards! This three-minute coaster provides everything a good coaster needs: a lengthy ride, unique thrills, and ease of access.

A single-rider line is also available for this ride, and the wait times are usually manageable. You’ll rarely see this line over an hour long, and it’s worth every bit of that wait.

1. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind

Guests visiting EPCOT will not want to miss our top-ranked coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind! This ride has a 42-inch height requirement, making it more family-friendly than some others.

This is the longest coaster at Disney World, coming in at three minutes and twenty seconds! The reverse launch attraction is entirely indoors and utilizes brand-new technology that allows guests to not only glide through space but also spin a full 360 degrees throughout the ride, ensuring they don’t miss any of the action. It reaches speeds of 60 mph and has a track length of almost 6,000 feet.

Join Rocket, Groot, Gamora, and Star-Lord on a mission through the galaxy, while jamming out to some of the crew’s favorite songs. This coaster is truly out of this world, and any thrill seeker will not be disappointed.

Comments

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