Walt Disney World is a family-friendly destination and the theme parks don’t have too many scary rides.
But there are definitely some thrilling rides at Disney World that can make your heart beat faster and give you an instant adrenaline rush.
Some scary rides are dark rides that might be frightening only for younger kids, but there are also roller coasters and thrill rides with big drops, steep turns, and fast speeds that can leave even the biggest daredevils white-knuckled.
So, what are the scariest rides at Disney World? I’m going to list 10 Disney scary rides that tick all the boxes for an excellent thrilling ride.
I’m hoping this list will serve two purposes:
- To help thriller seekers find the scariest ride and most thrilling attraction in the Disney World parks, and
- To help parents of younger riders know which thrill ride might be too frightening for their kids
Come, join me as I take you on a tour of the scariest rides in Walt Disney World.
The Scariest Rides At Disney World
Rock n Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Type of Ride: High-speed indoor roller coaster
Height Requirement: 48 inches (122 cm) or taller
If you’re a fan of classic rock music, then this roller coaster is a thrill ride at Disney World you cannot afford to miss.
The Walt Disney Company has collaborated with Aerosmith to create what is one of the most unique ride experiences anywhere in the world. Guests board a stretch limo and race on the darkened freeways of LA.
The Rock n Roller Coaster goes from 0 to 57 miles per hour in seconds, so the ride experience will please even the heartiest thrill-seekers. And while this attraction may not appear to be as scary as some of the bigger rides at Disney World, the fast launch, darkness, and upside-down loops all add up to make it a very thrilling ride.
Expedition Everest
Location: Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Type of Ride: Steel outdoor/indoor roller coaster
Height Requirement: 44 inches (112 cm) or taller
Themed around the Yeti and the abominable snowman in the Himalayan mountains, Expedition Everest reaches top speeds of 50 miles per hour and has three separate lift hills.
It doesn’t just go upside down, it also goes backward from a dead-end!
Indeed, it can be quite disorienting going on Expedition Everest. The first time I went on it, I didn’t even realize that it went upside down. As far as roller coasters go, Expedition Everest is heaps of fun and definitely one of the scariest rides at Disney World.
If you ride it when it’s dark outside, the fear factor goes up a few notches.
Mission: SPACE
Location: EPCOT
Type of Ride: Space shuttle simulator ride
Height Requirement: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
Speed is not the only thing that you should consider as a thrill-seeker looking for an adrenaline rush at Disney World.
Mission: SPACE at EPCOT is a space travel simulator ride that gives a very realistic sensation of being launched into outer space. The G force sensation and spinning are not for the faint-hearted.
This unique attraction is one of the most popular rides in Disney World because it’s so different. You should know that there are two versions of this ride – the orange version is the more intense one and has a height requirement of 44 inches or taller – the green version has a lower height requirement of 40 inches or taller and does not spin and tilt as much.
So, if you’ve got little space cadets in your party, I’d recommend going on the green version first to see how they hold up.
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Location: Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Type of Ride: Accelerated dark drop ride
Height Requirement: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
I find this is the scariest ride in any Disney park. Not only is the theme creepy with skeletons and ghosts, but the ride itself has one of the most thrilling drops I’ve ever experienced.
Imagine this:
You’re strapped onto rickety wooden benches and taken up a dark elevator shaft to the top of the Tower of Terror, from where you suddenly plummet into darkness. It’s an accelerated drop ride, so you’re not only free falling but also being actively pulled down at speeds of up to 39 miles per hour.
And since you go up and plunge down several times, you can never guess what’s coming next. My stomach always has a hard time keeping up with the rest of my body!
Not recommended if you suffer from motion sickness.
Space Mountain
Location: Magic Kingdom
Type of Ride: Enclosed, steel roller coaster with dual tracks
Height Requirement: 44 inches (112 cm) or taller
Space Mountain is one of Disney World’s most iconic rides and a must-do on any Disney vacation.
As far as roller coasters go, the top speed is a relatively tame 28 miles per hour. So, Space Mountain is by no means the scariest ride in Disney World. Indeed, it is not even the fastest or the most thrilling ride in the Magic Kingdom theme park.
Unlike the Space Mountain in Disneyland Paris, the Space Mountain in Walt Disney World does not have any upside down loops.
Keep in mind, however, that one person sits in front of the other in the ride vehicle, so you won’t be able to sit next to your child and hold their hand.
Not recommended if you’re uncomfortable in tight spaces.
Summit Plummet
Location: Blizzard Beach Water Park
Type of Ride: High-speed water slide
Height Requirement: 48 inches (122 cm) or taller
Summit Plummet is a 360-foot long water slide. It’s the tallest and fastest one in the Walt Disney World water parks.
This is an attraction that will have you plunge 12 stories in near-vertical free fall. And you can’t see where you’re going until you’re there! Most thrills can’t match that in my opinion.
It’s one dare experience that thrill-seekers should not miss on a Walt Disney World vacation. After all, it’s one of the most extreme attractions in the Disney parks and so much fun if you want an adrenaline rush.
Haunted Mansion
Location: Magic Kingdom
Type of Ride: Dark ride
Height Requirement: Any height (based on official Disney information)
The Haunted Mansion, located in Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom Park, is much more than a haunted house. The movements are not all that scary, but it has made it to my list of scariest rides at Disney World because the scenes are so spooky.
You’ll climb aboard a “doom buggy” and make your way through a labyrinth of chambers with unexpected eerie and ghoulish surprises along the way.
I find that Haunted Mansion is the scariest for preschoolers. Babies don’t know what’s going on (although there are some loud noises), and while adults might startle, they know it’s not real.
Splash Mountain
Location: Magic Kingdom
Type of Ride: Log flume ride
Height Requirement: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
In the Florida heat, I find Splash Mountain (along with Kali River Rapids over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom) to be great refreshers.
The theme of the Splash Mountain ride is super fun with classic Disney songs, but this attraction is also kind of scary because it has several small drops and one big drop of over 52 feet.
If your kids are okay with a small drop, I would recommend this as a great next step before you take them on some of the more scary rides at the Disney World amusement parks.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Location: Magic Kingdom
Type of Ride: Fast roller coaster
Height Requirement: 40 inches (102 cm) or taller
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and The Barnstormer are great introductory roller coasters for little ones who are just now becoming brave enough for the scary rides at Disney World.
The theme of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is not as scary as, say, the Haunted Mansion. The roller coaster itself is also not the scariest, with top speeds of 36 miles per hour. There are no crazy drops, loops, or backward accelerations like Expedition Everest.
Yet, the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is still heaps of fun and quite thrilling. I think it hits the sweet spot between too kiddish and too scary for younger kids.
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train
Location: Magic Kingdom
Type of Ride: Family-friendly steel roller coaster
Height Requirement: 38 inches (97 cm) or taller
The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a great option if you’ve got kids who are keen to test their mettle on a scary ride at Walt Disney World.
This is a family-friendly roller coaster that has small drops, nothing that’s too scary. You’ll be passengers on a runaway mine train and the racing twists are what provide the thrill on this dark ride.
For adults, there’s one scary element in the end that always makes my heart race!
Honorable Mentions for Scary Rides at the Disney Theme Parks
Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom
It’s a dark thrill ride with small drops and massive animatronic dinosaurs that surprise you, so it can be quite scary, especially for younger kids.
Test Track at EPCOT
It’s the fastest ride at Walt Disney World with the race cars reaching speeds of 65 miles per hour, so if you have a need for speed, then this is the ride for you.
Slinky Dog Dash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
With speeds of 40 miles per hour, this mini coaster is a superb thrilling ride for younger ages.
Star Wars: Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
This motion simulator attraction based on the extremely popular Star Wars films is not scary as such, but it’s definitely exciting with some pretty intense action.
Avatar Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom
This is a simulator attraction that takes you on a flight aboard a banshee (similar to Soarin’ Around the World). The swoops are the scariest part and the whole experience is pretty thrilling and exhilarating. There’s plenty of action and excitement to keep thrill-seekers happy.
Pirates of the Caribbean at Magic Kingdom
Adults and older kids won’t find the Caribbean pirates scary at all, but this ride can be scary for younger kids.
Wrap Up
So there you have it… that’s my list of the scariest rides in Disney World.
Now you know how the most magical place on earth can also be a little scary and thrilling. If you’re going to ask me to pick the scariest ride in WDW, I’m going with Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – I find it terrifying! But you might feel differently.
Tell me in the comments below which ride you find is the scariest in Disney World. And stay tuned for more fun lists about all things Disney.