10. Soarin’®
Thrill factor: 5 Age appropriateness: 7 Nostalgia: 3 Total: 14
One of the few rides at Epcot, “Soarin’” lets you virtually hang glide over California. Kind of random, but also really pretty!
9. Maelstrom
Thrill factor: 5 Age appropriateness: 7 Nostalgia: 2 Total: 14
It’s not particularly nostalgic (unless you were really into Norway as a kid?) but this viking-themed tour at Epcot is “educational” enough to not make you feel awkwardly old AND there’s a surprise drop at the end which is a fun little treat.
8. Peter Pan’s Flight®
Thrill factor: 5 Age appropriateness: 2 Nostalgia: 8 Total: 15
Peter Pan is a solid Disney movie, and flying over London and Neverland (the two best places ever, by the way) is magical even at a slow pace.
7. Mad Tea Party
Thrill factor: 4 Age appropriateness: 4 Nostalgia: 7 Total: 15
Tea cup rides are aesthetically adorable and Alice in Wonderland is one of those Disney films that is cool to love at no matter what age (not that you should care if you’re an adult and in Disney World, but still.)
6. Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
Thrill factor: 3 Age appropriateness: 2 Nostalgia:11 Total: 16
This is a new ride and yeah, it’s a slow-moving clam shell ride intended for small children and their parents but IT. IS. AMAZING. It will make you feel things. Especially when you go through the “Under the Sea” section and get to dance with all the fish that made your childhood a better time.
5. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Thrill factor: 9 Age appropriateness: 7 Nostalgia: 3 Total: 19
Not really sure why it’s Aerosmith-themed, but it’s a fun in-the-dark coaster that takes you through funky glow-in-the-dark palm trees while Steven Tyler’s excited screech echoes in your ear. Weird, but it works!
7. Mad Tea Party
Thrill factor: 4 Age appropriateness: 4 Nostalgia: 7 Total: 15
Tea cup rides are aesthetically adorable and Alice in Wonderland is one of those Disney films that is cool to love at no matter what age (not that you should care if you’re an adult and in Disney World, but still.)
6. Under the Sea ~ Journey of The Little Mermaid
Thrill factor: 3 Age appropriateness: 2 Nostalgia:11 Total: 16
This is a new ride and yeah, it’s a slow-moving clam shell ride intended for small children and their parents but IT. IS. AMAZING. It will make you feel things. Especially when you go through the “Under the Sea” section and get to dance with all the fish that made your childhood a better time.
5. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster® Starring Aerosmith
Thrill factor: 9 Age appropriateness: 7 Nostalgia: 3 Total: 19
Not really sure why it’s Aerosmith-themed, but it’s a fun in-the-dark coaster that takes you through funky glow-in-the-dark palm trees while Steven Tyler’s excited screech echoes in your ear. Weird, but it works!
4. Space Mountain®
Thrill factor: 8 Age appropriateness: 8 Nostalgia: 4 Total: 20
Everything about this ride is charmingly retro, and you have nothing to hold onto in your seat so your arms can only go in the air. Which makes it the right level of terrifying :)
3. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™
Thrill factor: 10 Age appropriateness: 9 Nostalgia: 4 Total: 24
The prologue to this ride is suuuuper creepy and right before you’re thrust upwards and downwards at freakishly high speeds, all the lights go out and you anticipate your doom in complete darkness. It’s a classic that can’t be beat.
2. Splash Mountain®
Thrill factor: 9 Age appropriateness: 4 Nostalgia: 10 Total: 25
If you’re not in the mood to get wet, this ride maybe isn’t the best BUT you get like 4 good drops (and one amazing one at the end) AND you get to go through a delightful little tunnel with singing puppets. Basically, you experience a full spectrum of emotion, which is the best possible outcome when it comes to a Disney World ride.
1. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad®
Thrill factor: 9 Age appropriateness: 9 Nostalgia: 8 Total: 26
It’s smooth, it’s fast, it takes you through tight curves curled around some very lovely fake canyon rocks AND — best part — you get a lovely view of the castle from the beginning slope. Perfect.