9 Rides You Should Never Wait More Than 30 Minutes For

Walt Disney World is the most popular vacation destination on the planet, and it has tons of good reasons why it should keep that title. But let’s face it — not every ride and show is worth the time you’d spend in line, especially when there are so many better things to do at the parks, hotels and Disney Springs. Here’s a list of 9 WDW experiences that you should never wait more than half an hour for:

DinoLand U.S.A. is completely different from the rest of the offerings at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama is its kitschy prehistoric midway that looks like it was thrown together in a parking lot. So you’d think that this area’s premier attraction would be super fun as well, right? Not so much. The coaster certainly looks cool, with its brightly colored blue and red tracks, and its time-travel theme is well incorporated, with cartoon dinosaurs hastily preparing for their impending doom, but the ride itself feels like a Tilt-a-Whirl atop a coaster track. On this ride, you’d better hope you know your neighbors, because you’re likely to be crashing into them when the wild mouse coaster whips its way around the track and the spins come to a screeching halt. Plenty of people have reported feeling pain after they attempt this ride, so if you’re prone to any kind of body aches (or nausea), this is definitely a coaster to skip.      

Many Disney rides have interesting theming and backstories that could be (and sometimes have been) explored in movies, books and TV shows. But you’re not likely to want to watch “The Adventures of Aerosmith as They Try to Make it to Their Concert on Time.” Even though this coaster has a themed pre-show and queue, it’s not a very compelling ride. It’s definitely not worth a long wait in line, especially when the much better Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is just a few steps away at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. 

Most of you reading this can probably drive a real car. So why would you want to squeeze yourself into a tiny vehicle and poke along on a guided track? The cars are hard to steer on the guide rail and difficult to pedal, and this ride not only treats you to the overpowering scents of gasoline and exhaust but also the excruciatingly loud sounds of lawnmower engines. And, just when you’re about to get off the ride, the cars pile up at the end and there’s a good chance you’ll get bumped by the one behind you. There’s a reason why this ride has been called a “Traffic Jam Simulator,” and it doesn’t deserve a place in your day at the Magic Kingdom.   

All of the safety warnings in the queue of this Epcot ride make it seem like it would actually be fun. But for many people, it’s not. The G-forces make some guests feel sick, and for others, the ride is just simply boring. The onboard “jobs” of navigator, pilot, commander and engineer that seem so crucial to the story and the experience just involve pushing buttons, and the graphics already seem like they’re outdated. Whether you join the more-intense “Orange Team” or head to the spin-free “Green Team,” it might be better to avoid the claustrophobia that could be caused by the ride’s tight space capsules and sit this one out. 

Speaking of spinning, that’s what this ride does. And that’s all it does. You can control the speed and direction of your own spin by operating the wheel in the center of your cup, but if you don’t like much movement, the ride becomes even more boring. The Magic Kingdom’s Mad Tea Party is also a very slow-loading ride, since it only has 18 teacups that will hold up to five guests each. You could pretty much get the same feeling of being on this ride if you just spun yourself around in a chair. And is that really worth waiting in line for? 

Yes, it’s a classic. It also hasn’t changed much in the many decades since it was introduced, and unlike the Magic Kingdom’s other dark rides, this one doesn’t offer even a hint of a thrill. (At least you feel like you’re gliding in the air on Peter Pan’s Flight, quickly plunging into the ocean on Pirates of the Caribbean or bouncing along with Tigger on The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.) It probably won’t break your heart if you don’t set sail on this boat ride on every one of your Magic Kingdom trips, and that also means you’re less likely to get the ride’s song stuck in your head.  

Sure, it looks lovely, sitting outside Cinderella Castle in the Magic Kingdom. But carousels are everywhere — at just about any carnival or zoo, so you know what they’re like even if you never get in line for this one. The Magic Kingdom version has more detailed horses than most, but the ride loads slowly and if you happen to be one of the last to board, you might end up with a horse stuck in the “up” position that’s kind of difficult to climb onto. And while you’re riding, you get to watch people rushing to more fun attractions, like The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, Astro Orbiter or Dumbo the Flying Elephant, where at least you get to control your own ups and downs.   

When it comes to the nightly shows at the parks, Epcot’s offering is probably the most divisive. Some people rave about it, saying the show that celebrates the spirit of humanity is not to be missed, while others think it serves as a great time to get on Epcot’s rides without much of a wait. The show’s storyline is more involved than its Wishes and Fantasmic! counterparts, with three parts (called “The Earth is Born,” “The Triumph of Life” and “Hope for the Future”), but some guests think that the show is too heavy-handed and that it’s overdue for an overhaul. It also can be difficult to secure a good spot to see the show, because islands in the southern half of World Showcase Lagoon (near The American Adventure) block the view in some places and some people stake out the good viewing spots hours ahead of time. That time might be better spent enjoying the World Showcase’s restaurants, shops and CircleVision 360° films — or hopping on Spaceship Earth or Soarin’.

It’s one of the most popular attractions at the entire Walt Disney World Resort, and its queue time regularly exceeds an hour. FastPasses for this ride are also always snapped up quickly. But even though this ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers 4D technology (that, for example, sprays you with water when you hit a water balloon target), it also regularly breaks down. And if the experience feels just like you’re playing a video game, that’s because it is one (it’s available in Wii and PC versions). The ride has problems with its storyline (you’re apparently shrunk down to the size of a toy but there’s no explanation of how or why), and there are actually more real props and set pieces in the ride’s queue than there are in the actual ride (which is made up of painted backgrounds and video screens in a warehouse setting). Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin at the Magic Kingdom offers nearly the same experience with a much faster load time and with actual sets all around you.   

 

Do you agree with this list of overrated experiences, or do you think one or more of the rides or attractions aren’t overrated at all? Make your case in the comments below!