When you’re about to board a ride at Walt Disney World, you probably don’t pay too much attention to which seat you’re assigned. But those seats are pretty important — they can even give you different experiences on the same ride! Here’s a list of attractions with the seats that offer the most thrilling, scenic and, in some cases, safest experiences, and we’ll also offer a tip on how to easily get the seats you want!
1. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
If you’re looking for the wildest ride in the wilderness, look no farther than the back row. That’s where you’ll be whipped around this Magic Kingdom coaster’s twists and turns the fastest. If you sit in the front, you might think that your car will never get to the top of the hills, as the ride has to pull the rest of your long, heavy train behind you.
2. Space Mountain
Unlike Big Thunder, the best seat for thrills on this ride is in the front. That’s because you’re more fully immersed in total darkness in the first seat of this Magic Kingdom ride, and you don’t have other people’s heads in your way, like when you sit in the second or third row. In the front seat, you’re also the first person to experience the ride’s surprise turns and sudden drops and the first one to scream!
3. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
The best seat on the Magic Kingdom’s newest coaster depends on what you’re into. If you’re looking for the greatest view of the ride’s drops and its dark ride scene, choose the front seats. You’ll also get the most time to view the ride’s final scene. But if you’re hoping for the fastest ride and the biggest thrill, choose the last row’s seats.
4. Splash Mountain
You can also choose your own adventure on this Magic Kingdom ride. If you’re hoping to stay dry, head to the back left. You can also try ducking right before the big drop if you really don’t want to get soaked. But if you want the best view and the wettest ride, go to the front right. That’s where you’ll be hit not only by the majority of the final drop’s huge splash but also by the ride’s waterfalls and other wet effects.
5. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
Once you’re buckled into this ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you’ll barely have time to think about your seat before you’re launched 60 miles per hour, but if you’re in the back (specifically Row 11), you’ll likely have the most exhilarating time with the most G-force as the rest of the train pulls your limo through the inversions, hills and turns. If you’re looking for a smoother ride, head to the middle rows or the front.
6. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
For the best view of Disney’s Hollywood Studios once your elevator car climbs to the top, get yourself into the front row. Sitting here is also a good way to make sure your terrified face makes it into the on-ride photos, because nobody else’s raised arms will be in your way. As far as choosing the right or left car, some ToT fans say they think that the right car has more steep drops than the left, so you can try going that direction for a more thrilling experience!
7. Star Tours — The Adventures Continue
If you want an intense experience, try the first or last row of this ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. But if you’re prone to motion sickness, your safest bet is to stay in the middle — more specifically, around the center of row three. Your fellow travelers will thank you!
8. Expedition Everest
Many fans say that as far as this coaster at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, it’s all about that front row. There, you’ll get some awesome views as well as some great thrills, especially after the peak of the ride. But other riders say you’ll experience more G-force if you sit in the back of this ride, and they point out that when the ride starts going backwards, back-seat riders are suddenly in the front! It might be worth riding this coaster twice and trying both rows, just to be sure!
9. Kilimanjaro Safaris
If this Animal Kingdom ride’s bumpiness is a problem for you, make sure to sit in the front row. If you’re all about capturing photos of the animals, make sure you sit next to the windows on either side of the cars, but it’s a tossup as to whether the right or the left side is better. Since the animals aren’t Audio-Animatronic, they are unpredictable, and sometimes the animals on the right side of the vehicle will be more prevalent and other times it’s just the opposite.
10. Soarin’
This Epcot ride is always a thrill — especially with the new journey that opened this year — but you’re bound to have an even better time if you sit in the center section on the top row. That way, you can be immersed in the feeling of flying and you won’t have any feet danging in front of you. You’ll also have less distortion in your view because the attraction’s screen curves on its edges.
11. Frozen Ever After
Walt Disney World’s newest and most popular ride has a “best seat” as well. You’ll want to make sure you’re in the front of your boat to get the greatest chance of seeing Elsa. And after standing in line for all that time, you’ll really want to see her!
So how exactly do you get the front row on Frozen, the back row on Big Thunder or any other prized seats? All you have to do is speak up! You’ll want to ask the ride’s loader (usually it’s the cast member who asks how many people are in your party) if you can ride in your preferred seat. Some rides even have mini-queues for the some of the most popular seats (like the front row on Expedition Everest). You might have to wait a bit longer for the seat you want, but it’s definitely worth it in order to have the experience you want! If you’ve tried any of these seats before, or if you have any tips of your own, leave a comment below!
