The Most Overrated Rides In Disney World Parks And Which Ones To Choose Instead, According To Visitors

The Disney World theme parks in Orlando, Florida, are dream-worthy bucket list destinations, but there's an obvious catch. They are not cheap. Single-day passes at the Magic Kingdom theme park cost around $150 per person, and that doesn't include food, drinks, or even a pair of Minnie Mouse ears. Because of these sky-high price points, some travelers visit Disney World without going to the theme parks. Others pay for the expensive tickets, only to feel that their dream vacation was not worth the money.

To enjoy your Disney World experience and avoid buyer's remorse, we recommend planning your vacation thoughtfully. This means using Disney World insider tips and secret hacks to make the most of your trip. Rather than just jumping in line for any old ride, you might consider researching which ones are actually worth your time. But it can be challenging to parse the top attractions from the rest.

Luckily, we have got you covered. Using our experience as Florida locals with plenty of research experience, we have conducted an in-depth analysis of the park's current offerings. And based on user reviews from review sites including Tripadvisor and Reddit, we have determined that there are a few Disney World rides that are straight-up overrated. By skipping these rides and focusing on some true favorites, you can enjoy your Orlando holiday to the max. 

When it comes to ranking attractions at Disney's Magic Kingdom, many travelers expect the It's a Small World ride to come out on top. Although it's not exactly as thrilling as a roller coaster, It's a Small World has something that many of its competitors lack: history. Inaugurated in 1964, this relaxing float ride was created for the World's Fair in New York. Thus, it takes visitors on a river tour of different countries and cultures from around the world while a tune plays in the background. While the ride at the Disney World park in Bay Lake, Florida, is not the original, it is a replica that has long attracted visitors. 

Despite being considered a Disney World classic, It's a Small World doesn't always live up to the hype. Writing on the r/WaltDisneyWorld subreddit of Reddit, one visitor noted they could not enjoy It's a Small World anymore because they could no longer stand its theme song. "Mentally, it's rough. Haven't done it in years now," they revealed. Another chimed in the subreddit: "No one warned me about It's A Small World. It's so long and winding and tall and dark and overstimulating. I felt a bit nauseous and got a headache..."

Instead of focusing on It's a Small World, we recommend giving Pirates of the Caribbean a shot. Like It's a Small World, this float ride is available for visitors of all heights. However, its buccaneer-themed plot line is objectively engaging — not to mention its fun "Yo Ho, Yo-Ho" background song.

Peter Pan's Flight is an old-school Disney World ride famed for its unique history, rather than actual fun times. Inaugurated on October 3, 1971 — two days after the grand opening of Disney World's Magic Kingdom theme park in Bay Lake, Florida — Peter Pan's Flight is one of the oldest attractions in the park. On this ride, guests get to experience Disney's "Peter Pan" movie in a life-like setting. Seated in roller coaster-style cars, they travel between the film's most famous scenes, making it feel like they are part of Peter Pan's wildest adventures.

While there is nothing inherently wrong with the Peter Pan ride itself, visitors have long complained about the queue that it attracts. Many travelers wait for about an hour to experience Peter Pan's Flight, even though it's only three minutes long. The result is the growing overall impression that the ride is underwhelming. In the words of one disappointed traveler who took their frustration to the Touring Plans forum, "[The] Worst ride at WDW when taking into account the amount of time spent in line: Peter Pan."

Instead, try checking out Space Mountain. This celestial-themed classic is also considered a dark ride. But, whereas Peter Pan falls flat with its animated theme, Space Mountain will make you feel like an interstellar explorer. With an impressive 4.4 stars on Tripadvisor, this unique ride doesn't disappoint.

When it comes to historic Disney World rides, some gain their fame from the trenches of tradition. Others, however, earned their popularity at a time when technology was not as advanced as it is now. The Avatar Flight of Passage ride at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom in Bay Lake, Florida, falls into that second category. At the time it was first released in 2017, reviewers raved about the technology used to give visitors the sensation of embarking on a lunar expedition. 

Unfortunately, however, as time passed and the 2020s ushered in a new phase of visual technology, the experience lost its spark. Speaking to this reality on the r/DisneyWorld subreddit on Reddit, one traveler explained, "Flight of Passage was a lot cooler when it first came out. I feel like it has gotten blurry since the first year. Definitely not the same as it was in its top shape." 

The Avatar Flight of Passage has not stood the test of time, but the same thing cannot be said about Soarin' Around the World at Disney World's nearby EPCOT theme park. This flight simulator uses IMAX technology to help visitors explore real scenes from around the globe. Although it first opened in 2005, it was updated in 2024 to keep visitors enthralled. As one wrote on Tripadvisor, "The visuals are wonderful and the simulator does give the feeling of flying or floating over the various beautiful locations." 

Technological inconsistencies are high on the list of factors that can thrust an otherwise perfectly good Disney World ride straight into the category of overrated attractions. Such is the case of the Magic Kingdom's Jungle Cruise in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Meant to simulate a tour of some of the Earth's most stunning waters, this ride whisks visitors from the Amazon River in South America to the Nile River in Egypt to the Mekong River in Vietnam. One of the keys to understanding the ride, however, is the voice of the skipper who narrates the tour. In some cases, visitors have experienced difficulties hearing their trusty guide. Commenting on this issue on the r/WaltDisneyWorld subreddit of Reddit, one traveler explained, "Jungle cruise has been crazy hit or miss ... I've been on Jungle Cruise where I basically couldn't hear a single joke."

Rather than strain your ears on this river cruise, we recommend trying another Animal Kingdom ride: the Kali River Rapids. This fast-paced river ride doesn't rely on narration for entertainment value. Instead, it enthralls visitors with a quick trip down an artificial river that culminates in a 30-foot drop, down a slide that appears like a waterfall. While you may get splashed, previous visitors say that it's a great way to escape the Florida heat. As one Google reviewer put it, "Very fun ride. Well timed too, as the heat and humidity were getting to us, so we took the Kali River Rapids and soon cooled down."

From time to time, Disney World recognizes that its rides need to undergo a serious bout of change, and EPCOT's Test Track ride is a prime example of this phenomenon. Originally opened in Bay Lake, Florida, in 1999, this ride allows visitors to experience the wild ride of car crash tests with one scary catch: They are the dummies. Although this concept has kept travelers entertained — and Google reviews are high at a solid 4.6 stars — for upwards of two decades, Disney World has not been afraid to update Test Track as needed. Test Track 2.0 was released in 2012, and Test Track 3.0 was launched in 2025 to attract new generations of visitors.

Unfortunately, however, not all change is good. When Disney updated Test Track to Test Track 3.0, many travelers found that the new version of the ride was not what they were expecting. Some ride-goers were particularly put off by the fact that the ride is now sponsored by General Motors. As one unhappy customer shared on Google, "Meh. Version 2 was much better. Queue felt like a huge GM ad, and no more design lab..." 

While the new version of Test Track has been wildly overrated, the same cannot be said about Mission: Space. This EPCOT classic also aims to marry science with a need for speed. But, as of 2015, Mission: Space lacks the sponsorship component that holds Test Track back — maintaining the ride's more organic feel.

At first glance, the Dinosaur ride at Disney World's Animal Kingdom in Bay Lake, Florida, seems like an amazing option. For one thing, the premise is exciting — a paleontologist has invited you to participate in a secret mission involving time travel, dinosaurs, and a meteor. For another, most visitors enjoy the adventure, as Dinosaur has earned a solid 4.1-star rating on Tripadvisor. 

Despite all of these positive indicators, some visitors say that Dinosaur does not deserve its reputation as one of Animal Kingdom's top rides. Their explanation? The ride is simply too bumpy, especially as you are experiencing the simulation of being on wild terrain. As one reviewer shared on the r/WaltDisneyWorld subreddit of Reddit, "Dinosaur is the roughest ride I've ever been on, and that includes the mindbender, a one of a kind disaster at Six Flags America in Maryland. After Dinosaur, there's no close 2nd at WDW."

Rather than search for dinosaurs in a bumpy van, you may prefer viewing real animals from the back of a comfortable truck. Such is the design of Kilimanjaro Safaris, an Animal Kingdom classic that allows you to view zebras, elephants, hyenas, and more. Previous visitors say that you can go on Kilimanjaro Safaris time and time again. As one traveler put it on Tripadvisor, "On my week-long trip, I rode 3 times! The great thing is that the ride is different each time because the animals are always doing something different."

Anyone averse to bumpy rides might want to avoid more than just Dinosaur. Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run is a ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Bay Lake, Florida, and it is so famous for its rockiness that some Walt Disney World visitors would rather leave it to the wayside. The premise is that you are heading into outer space to smuggle some contraband goods. While that may sound like a fun adventure for some, others find the experience far too jarring. Sharing this perspective on the r/DisneyWorld subreddit of Reddit, one visitor explained that Smuggler's Run gave them a stomachache. Another user on the same subreddit thread added, "The queue and getting on and off are the only good parts of that ride."

Perhaps, then, it is no surprise that Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run makes the list of Disney rides that aggravate motion sickness. Despite its reputation as a park classic, this ride isn't ideal for folks with sensitive stomachs. Folks who want a better experience might instead try Toy Story Mania!, another ride at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Like Smuggler's Run, this experience is interactive. However, it's known for being gentler on one's stomach. As one user wrote on the Disney Tips and Tricks Facebook page, "I get terrible motion sickness and was totally fine on Toy Story mania! Maybe slight nausea but nothing more!"

Over the years, Disney World parks have had to close beloved rides as its customers have changed their tastes. Although the Magic Kingdom's Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Bay Lake, Florida, remains a popular attraction, it's hard to predict the ride's future. After all, despite having accumulated a whopping 4.4 stars on Google reviews, the ride was designed for children and not necessarily adults.

After all, it's a junior roller coaster that whisks you into the world of Snow White. Unfortunately, though, a 2022 survey by Disney with Dave's Daughters revealed that a whopping 42% of Disney visitors are child-free adults who might find this ride a bit boring. As one such individual complained on the r/DisneyWorld subreddit of Reddit, "It's seriously not worth having the longest ride in the park. It's a pretty tame rollercoaster and you can barely feel the mine cart tilting..." 

People who are searching for a thrill might consider leaving the Magic Kingdom and heading over to Disney's Hollywood Studios. The reason? This is the only Disney World park with a genuine upside-down roller coaster. Indeed, the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith ride allows visitors to spin around a corkscrew and loop upside-down on two occasions. Visitors love it, with one writing on Google, "Spectacular, amazing thrill ride!!!! It is dark and loud, with music from Aerosmith in all the way. It is fast, it is exciting!"

At first glance, the ride Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance seems like it's going to be extraordinarily exciting. After all, the ride — which is located in Disney's Hollywood Studios resort in Bay Lake, Florida — operates on the premise that visitors are going to embark on an important mission to support the resistance from Star Wars. This riveting description may lead some travelers to expect a once-in-a-lifetime ride full of thrilling moments. Instead, however, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance focuses on immersing visitors in a fictional world, rather than speeding their heart rate in the real one.

This dissonance between expectations and reality has caused some visitors to feel disappointment in what they hoped would be a speedy thrill ride. As one commentator on Disboards complained, "I have never been more [disappointed] in a ride. There is almost zero thrill factor except that one tiny drop." 

Rather than waiting in line for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, try another "Star Wars" ride. Star Tours — The Adventure Continue is also at Disney's Hollywood Studios park. Yet, it is much more exciting, as its outer space flight simulator keeps visitors on their toes. The best part is that Star Tours offers different variations of the ride, allowing satisfied customers to board it time and time again.

To compile this list of the most overrated rides at Disney World, we tried to determine which attractions continuously disappoint visitors despite maintaining a reputation for excellence. Our research showed that old-timey rides — like It's a Small World and Peter Pan's Flight — were at the top of this list. These rides earn high reviews based on their historical significance. Instead, we suggested that visitors try other classics that have done a better job surviving the test of time.

Test Track 3.0 also disappointed customers — albeit by updating too many times over the years. Conversely, Avatar Flight of Passage and Jungle Cruise attracted high star ratings when they first came out, but now disappoint visitors due to the absence of more modern technology. Mission: Space, Soarin' Around the World, and Kali River Rapids are great replacements, as they tailor their updates to what travelers actually want.

Additionally, as the age of Disney goers has increased, rides like Dinosaur and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run have proved too bumpy to enjoy. Kilimanjaro Safaris and Toy Story Mania! offer fun tours in a much smoother environment. The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Rise of Resistance, meanwhile, have struggled to provide travelers with enough of a thrill, potentially leading some to book tickets at Universal Studios, Disney's competitor, instead. Rock 'n' Rollercoaster starring Aerosmith and Star Tours — The Adventure Continue offer genuine excitement, drawing repeat customers for new levels of fun.