Our Walt Disney World ride guides review & rate every attraction, so you know which are best and what to skip! In addition to the Florida theme parks, we have overviews for Disneyland in California plus Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and Shanghai. (Updated February 2, 2023.)
These guides provide objective scores for each ride, show, and other attraction based upon how well-done those attractions are when experienced by their target audience. Fantasyland dark rides are reviewed with kids in mind, and intense roller coasters and simulators are reviewed with teens and adults in mind.
We’ve updated these ride guides for 2023 in light of the new and returning attractions at Disney’s theme parks around the world. In the last year, several new rides have opened. More significantly, the vast majority of stage shows, nighttime spectaculars, and other entertainment have returned. Many of these shows have been reimagined, and we’ve updated our reviews accordingly!
In addition to basic information and ratings for each Disney attraction, we’ve included strategy! We know your time in the theme parks might be limited, so we mention how you should prioritize popular attractions and whether they’re worth using FastPass (which is temporarily unavailable).
Below are the guides, organized by resort with links for the guide to each park at that resort. We hope these guides prove handy when you’re planning your next Disney trip!
Walt Disney World
Magic Kingdom Park & Attraction Guide – Walt Disney World’s flagship castle park, Magic Kingdom is home to more rides and other attractions than any other park. Known for its family-friendly Fantasyland dark rides and Magic Kingdom Mountain Range, which will soon see new additions with TRON Lightcycle Run and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. (Despite neither having ‘mountain’ in the name, they both count!)
EPCOT Park & Attraction Guide – Currently in the midst of a colossal transformation, EPCOT has already evolved considerably in the last few years. Notable recent additions include Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind (and before that, Frozen Ever After). In 2023, Moana’s Journey of Water and a new nighttime spectacular will debut, too.
Hollywood Studios Park & Attraction Guide – Prior to EPCOT’s transformation, Disney’s Hollywood Studios was the park that “reinvented” itself at Walt Disney World, thanks to the addition of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and Toy Story Land, plus Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway. As a result, DHS has a stacked ride roster, but problematically, it doesn’t have enough ‘supporting player’ rides…meaning long lines and high wait times!
Animal Kingdom Park & Attraction Guide – Known as the “Zoo Park” at Walt Disney World, there’s really a lot more to Animal Kingdom. In particular, the impressive Pandora – World of Avatar land that’s devoted to James Cameron’s blue alien cat critters. There’s also Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safaris, two amazing stage shows, and a whole lot of animal attractions.
Typhoon Lagoon Water Park Guide – Walt Disney World’s first water park, Typhoon Lagoon is home to a great wave pool and lazy river, plus classic water slides and a couple of new, more technologically-impressive attractions.
Blizzard Beach Water Park Guide – This water park is themed to winter, with the idea that a freak snowstorm transformed the Florida landscape. It has been enhanced in recent years with a scattering of Frozen-inspired additions.
Additionally, we have a list of attractions with height restrictions here. If you’re planning a Walt Disney World vacation, make sure to read our full 2023 Walt Disney World Vacation Planning Guide. It includes information about MagicBands, where to stay, whether Genie+ is worth buying at each park, and much more!
Disneyland Resort
Disneyland Park & Attraction Guide – Walt Disney’s original magic kingdom, Disneyland is home to more attractions than any other Disney theme park in the world. It has everything from Fantasyland originals to modern masterpieces of Imagineering, including both Indiana Jones Adventure and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Its new for 2023 addition is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
Disney California Adventure Park & Attraction Guide – The second gate at Disneyland Resort, DCA is home to Cars Land, Avengers Campus, Pixar Pier, and more. It features many Marvel and Pixar rides, and generally has a higher thrill factor than Disneyland–making it more appealing to young adults.
If you’re planning a trip to Disneyland, we highly recommend you check out our comprehensive Disneyland Trip Planning Guide. It will assist you with everything from hotels (off-site or on?) to dining and beyond!
Disneyland Paris
Disneyland Paris Park & Attraction Guide – This is Disney’s finest castle park, but that’s not because of its rides. To the contrary, a major new attraction has not debuted here in decades. Still, it’s home to Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean, and more–and several of those are the best versions of the respective attractions.
Walt Disney Studios Park & Attraction Guide – A far cry from the castle park next door, WDSP is a utilitarian park. However, it does have many newer rides, including ones based on Marvel, Ratatouille, Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and more. Next up, an Arendelle area with Frozen rides.
If you’re planning a Disneyland Resort Paris trip, check out our detailed Disneyland Paris Trip Planning Guide. It includes in-depth information for Americans (or any non-Europeans) heading abroad!
Tokyo Disney Resort
Tokyo Disneyland Park & Attraction Guide – This park started as an amalgamation of Disneyland and Magic Kingdom, with cloned rides from the Florida and California castle parks. Since then, it has come into its own, with the exceptional Pooh’s Hunny Hunt, Monsters Inc. Ride & Go Seek, Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast, and more.
Tokyo DisneySea Park & Attraction Guide – Far and away our favorite Disney theme park, this one is like Disneyland Paris in the sense that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. Which is to say that it’s lighter on rides and heavy on theme. Still, Journey to the Center of the Earth, Sindbad’s Storybook Voyage, Tower of Terror, Soaring Fantastic Flight, and others are world-class. Next up, Fantasy Springs and the addition of boat rides based on Peter Pan, Frozen, and Tangled!
If you’re traveling to Tokyo, read our full Tokyo Disney Resort Trip Planning Guide. It includes information on traveling around Japan, and specifics for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Definitely a must-read!
Shanghai Disneyland
If you are thinking about visiting Disney’s newest theme park, start by reading our comprehensive Shanghai Disneyland Trip Planning Guide. In addition to strategy for the park, it covers everything from travel visas to the language barrier, culture, WiFi, public transportation, and much more!
Hong Kong Disneyland
Visiting Hong Kong? Our comprehensive Hong Kong Disneyland Trip Planning Guide contains information not just about the park, but about visiting Hong Kong, China, and Macau. It covers everything from WiFi to the MTR and much more!
For basic information about the rides & attractions at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Tokyo Disney Resort, these guides are great places to start. If you are looking for other ways to save time, money, and make the most of your Disney trip, check out our Disney Tips & Tricks section of the blog. It has numerous posts devoted to getting more out of your Disney vacation!
Your Thoughts
Which Disney attractions, stage shows, and nighttime spectaculars are your favorites? What about least favorites? Which parks have your favorite ride rosters at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and beyond? If you have any questions, comments, or your own attraction ratings, please feel free to share them in the comments below. We try to respond to every question we receive!
Hi, thank you for your wonderful ride ratings! I will be traveling to Disney World with my parents and they like rides, but dont want something that will be too “jerky”. They have already ruled out several rides, but for Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain, Mine Train, Slinky Dog Dash, Star Tours, and Flight of Passage, what would you consider to be “jerky?” Especially Flight of Passage as they are very interested in that. Thanks!
NOT Star tours. It was great but very jerky and nauseating for those who are prone to motion sickness. Short enough though if you want to risk it.
Bore off who goes on a ride with motion sickness, why waste your time moaning you mong
We are traveling with 2 kids of 2.6 years and 4 years old. What would be the top 3 parks you will recommend us to visit?
Magic Kingdom is a must, but we are not sure about the other ones…
Thanks!
Depending on how long you will be there . . .
Animal and Magic
Hollywood is great and has some wonderful fun things going on right now. It is very easy to navigate. We love it.
ECPOT is tried and true.
But, if I were you I would focus on Magic and Animal and Magic and Animal.
Pool days are pretty awesome, too!
Great post! Thanks for your guides and it could save lots of time on visiting Disney even in Shanghai!
Fantastic post! This blog is amazing and so helpful for going to any Disney Park! I found a good book on the subject of the World’s Disney Parks as well called – World Traveler’s Guide to Disney by Michael Fridgen, not sure if you have read it. It goes into the history of each Disney Park around the world and also lists each restaurant and attraction there with information about them. It is a big book, but chock full of interesting information 🙂 Hope you have fun with all of your continued traveling!!
I have to warn you, people who love Disney, Disney has plans for “Wreck-It Ralph 2: Ralph Breaks the Internet”, which means Disney will team up with some websites to promote the movie, and will have the characters from the movie in some Nintendo Switch games. (Remember Sonic and All Stars Racing Transformed?) So please, write to Disney to cancel the movie, then I’ll be safe for next year.
I personaly loved the first movie, and i loved how they added Sonic in it! So, I suggest you hold up on writing a letter to Disney because it looks like they won’t be canceling the movie any time soon.
Rider switch question:
How many fast passes do my husband and I need to book for our family of 5? Kids ages are 7, 5, and 3. Hubs and I will be taking/switching rides with older two children while 3 year old does not ride. I am assuming 4 fast passes? Just wanting to make sure.
Thanks you! =)
Where can I find up to date height/age requirements for rides?
Maribell,
Go to https://disneyworld.disney.go.com
Click on:
Parks And Tickets
Select which park you are interested in visiting
Select Attractions & Rides
Every attraction has a requirement listed.
i have never been to disney world
Hi I was wondering if the rides at WDW allow you to take your bag/handbag on them like in Tokyo Disneyland or do you have to pay for a locker to store your bags in while riding? Thanks!
are there parking areas in each theme park?
Yes there are parking lots for each of the theme parks 🙂
http://www.zooklifefamilyblog.com
Thanks for the update. As always, love the amazing photos! Just returned from family vacation at WDW, and found out I will be going to a conference in October and your input gives me a great idea of whether or not I should attend. Thanks again!
I am going in 2018 with my daughter and mom
Trying to get a 4 person week at Disney World the whole package with wristband with access to rides, food room..
I might be able to help you with your Disney trip if you haven’t booked yet. Feel free to give me call at 916-459-0834. Eve, your vacation specialist!
How did you manage a big DSLR camera on the rides and especially the water rides? We leave in two weeks and I don’t know if I should bring mine or not. Advice?
I took my big camera last time we went and it is doable but definitely a lot heavier and bulkier to carry around. If you are going to have a stroller with you then I would say definitely bring it – and commit to one lens ( I brought all of my lenses and the big camera bag and that made it so much worse). Enjoy your trip!
http://www.zooklifefamilyblog.com
I have 3 and 5 years old children I want to know what attractions are good for their age in disney world and what are the cheapest admission prices.thanks
I am taking my mother (83) and my sister (53 – a first timer!) to Disney from Nov. 30 – Dec. 2 and staying at the Grand Floridian. My mother is in a wheelchair. I need to know the ins and outs of going around the parks. Is there a place where I can get the information as to where the wheelchair can and can not go etc? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
cool your hot
I am a college senior looking to find details on how to be part of your team writing for the Disney tourist blog.
Me too, I’m looking for details on how to be part of the team writing for the Disney tourist blog.
Hei
this is a excellent website, thank you so much for helping us out as its our first time visit to WDW, we are really excited, i wish i check out this web sooner as all the FP+ for 7 dwarves ride is gone, but as we are staying at wilderness hotel, we should be able to fit it in during our 2 weeks stay.
All excited as its just over a week to go now!
I’m going in October just want t sign on for news letter