Walt Disney theme parks have always been known for a family friendly atmosphere and fun rides. Over the years, Disney has added several roller coaster rides for the thrill seekers in the family and to keep up with the competition. Each Disney Park has or will have at least one signature coaster of its own.
The Magic Kingdom has Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coasters.
Space Mountain is an indoor coaster located in Tomorrowland. This classic coaster has an outer space theme and the dark setting gives this coaster its long-lasting appeal. The sounds of this coaster fit the Tomorrowland theme. Be ready to get down when you get into this one. The coaster seats require a little bit of maneuvering to position your legs into the car. These cars are similar to old fashioned boat chute cars. The coaster was opened to the public in 1975.
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is located in Fantasyland and is one of the newest coasters at Disney, running since 2016. It is a steel coaster that runs both indoors and outside. The coaster was designed to appeal to families. It features “swinging” cars to simulate the movement of a mine cart. And the theme song just makes everyone smile as they hear the Seven Dwarfs singing “Hi Ho, Hi Ho”!
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is located in Frontierland and was first placed into service in 1980. It has a height of 104 ft. and reaches speeds of up to 35 mph. This coaster is also based on a mine train theme. It goes through 2 different sets of spirals during the approximate 3-minute ride time, so be ready to slide over against your seat partner. This coaster is also quite loud at the beginning and can be a little overwhelming to younger riders, although they will probably love the ride if they give it a whirl. While Space Mountain is a classic and the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is the newest, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is the best roller coaster in the Magic Kingdom to many.
EPCOT currently doesn’t have a classic roller coaster. However, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is currently under construction with a scheduled opening in 2022. As you might imagine, it is based on the MCU film Guardians of the Galaxy and is located on the left side of the park as you enter. It should be one of the largest indoor roller coasters in the world.
Animal Kingdom has Expedition Everest. This steel coaster has a height of 112 ft. – the tallest coaster at Walt Disney World. Expedition Everest has a drop of 80 ft. where you can reach approximately 50 mph. When first opened in 2006, the coaster was ground breaking in many ways including the “Yeti” which was the most complex audio-animatronic figure of the time. The first section of the ride is in the forward direction. After a track switch, the second half is completed with the riders going backwards to reach the unloading dock. Interesting fact: Expedition Everest is the tallest artificial mountain in the world.
The most recent addition to the Disney coaster line-up is Slinky Dog Dash located in the new Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios. This steel coaster opened in 2018 and to no surprise, is themed around the movie “Toy Story”. Andy has built a homemade toy roller coaster with Slinky Dog placed into service as the ride car. Disney has really out done themselves with the theming for this ride. It’s worth the ride just to see all of the queue area! Highly recommended.
The Rock n Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith is located in Hollywood Studios. This indoor coaster opened in 1999. This coaster is fast! It uses a linear motor magnetic system for the initial acceleration. The coaster speeds to 57 mph in 2.7 seconds. It quickly sends riders into 3 inversions as Aerosmith music is piped into the cars through multiple speakers. The ride has neon signs located along the track to simulate road work, directions, etc. Our family happened to be at Hollywood Studios during the soft opening and it was an incredible experience. On that particular day, cast members were part of the pre-show experience that mimics a recording studio where the band members encourage riders to hop into limos to get to the show on time! At the end of the ride, while we exited through the gift shop, Disney cast members were clapping and cheering. This is one of our family’s top Disney memories and continues to be a family favorite.
