From the Disney Parks Blog and written by: Charles Stovall
Happy National Roller Coaster Day!
Now, those who know me, know that National Roller Coaster Day is probably not very high on my list of holidays to celebrate. (I prefer attractions on the mild side). But when it comes to immersive, high-energy thrill rides – Disney Parks do it better than anyone. Millions of our guests “get their coaster on” at Disney Parks around the world every day.
We at Disney Parks Blog put together a list of some of our favorites. We tried to keep it to a “Top 10” but just couldn’t. Let us know your favorites too!
- Space Mountain – A classic. From Disneyland Resort in Anaheim to Hong Kong Disneyland and everywhere in between, this indoor coaster has dipped and tripped guests on a one-of-a-kind outer space adventure. At Disneyland Paris, you can find the Star Wars version of the attraction, Hyperspace Mountain; and a ghoulish version shows up at the Disneyland Resort during Halloween called Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy.
- TRON Lightcycle Power Run – An ode to the hit Disney films, “TRON” and “TRON: Legacy,” guests of Shanghai Disney Resort hop on the iconic lightcyles and Experience high-speed thrills and chills as the Grid comes alive in a heart-pounding race for survival. And we just announced its inclusion in Magic Kingdom here at Walt Disney World – VERY exciting!
- Barnstormer, Featuring the Great Goofini – Much more my speed. Located in Storybook Circus at Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World, The Great Goofini is known for his aerial expertise and high-flying stunts. Perfect for smaller visitors, Barnstormer has guests rolling through some of his most iconic swoops and swirls – at a graceful pace.
- Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – a HUGE hit at Magic Kingdom and now the toast of Shanghai Disney Resort. Guests “rock” and “roll” through scenes from Dwarfs’ mine – showcasing characters and songs from the iconic film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.” You haven’t lived until you’ve heard “Heigh Ho” sung in Mandarin!
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Amid rugged bedrock and desert cactus, venture inside a nearly 200-foot mountain to the Big Thunder Mining Company, established in the early days of America’s Gold Rush. Traipse down into an abandoned mine shaft and discover a mysterious 5-car locomotive waiting to take you on a journey inside an abandoned shaft. Guests around the world love this attraction with versions at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disneyland and Hong Kong Disneyland.
- Expedition Everest – A trek through the Himalayas and “The Forbidden Mountain,” no coaster tour of Walt Disney World would be complete without a ride on Expedition Everest. Walt Disney Imagineers spent years researching legends and myths of Southeast Asia to be able to accurately immerse guests into this world. The views from the climb to the top are some of the most exquisite on Walt Disney World property. It makes you anticipate and appreciate the inevitable thrills and chills as you fall even more.
- California Screamin’ – One of the icons of Disney California Adventure, this ode to the classic wooden roller coaster can be seen for miles around. With Mickey Mouse’s cute face watching, guests almost forget going through the 120-foot plunge to 360-degree loop. Almost.
- Indiana Jones et le Temple du Peril – Guests of Disneyland Paris can re-create their favorite mine car scene “Temple of Doom”-style as they twist and turn through dark, cursed ruins.
- Crush’s Coaster – Guests of Walt Disney Studios Paris join Crush and friends in Toon Studio®, where they board turtle shells and prepare for a ride through memorable moments from the the Disney•Pixar film, Finding Nemo. This is a REALLY cool ride for younger and young-at-heart guests alike.
- Raging Spirits – A hallmark attraction of Tokyo DisneySea, this is a high-speed rollercoaster attraction racing through the excavated ruins of an ancient ceremonial site. This thrilling ride will turn your world upside down – literally.
- Matterhorn Bobsleds – Another Disneyland classic – taking guests twisting and turning through the Swiss Alps. As guests swoop in and out of shadowy caves and along jagged rocky ledges; throttle through icy chutes and around frozen precipices, the “real” danger is not in the landscape. I won’t spoil it for newbies who haven’t ridden yet. Opening in 1959, the Matterhorn Bobsleds was the very first tubular steel roller coaster in the world.
- Water Coasters – Those looking for a wetter coaster experience look no further than Disney Parks. Crush ‘n’ Gusher at Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park pushes and splashes guests through 400-foot-long tubes with uphill climbs and a plunge into Hideaway Bay at the end. And we can’t forget the water coasters aboard our Disney Cruise Line ships – the AquaDuck aboard the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy and the AquaDunk aboard the Disney Magic give Disney Cruise Line guests a ride they will never forget.
- Gadget’s Go Coaster – Another attraction for the entire family, this engaging “coaster” is based on the work of the character Gadget Hackwrench from the Disney animated series Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers. Guests of both Disneyland Resort in California and Tokyo Disney Resort can enjoy its family-friendly twists, turns, humps and bumps.
- Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster, Starring Aerosmith – A game changer in indoor rollercoasters, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster features one of the fastest rides at Disney Parks paired with a one-of-a-kind soundtrack. Guests of both Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris know to “hang on” when the 0-to-60-MPH launch starts.
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