Jun 5, 20217 min read

Disney for Thrill Seekers

Walt Disney World has something for everyone. Last week, we talked about traveling with younger children and many would say that's the key demographic for Walt Disney World. I believe they are mistaken. When Walt devised Disneyland, California, the first of the Disney theme parks, he had in his mind to make a place where children of all ages could go and everyone in the family could find a good time. So this week, I want to explore the demographic everyone says should go to Universal instead: The Thrill Seekers.

Yes, Universal has a larger proportion of thrill rides to total rides overall. And even Sea World has the Kraken now. But Walt Disney World can hold its own in this category. So, let's begin by knocking out some rather benign categories before we get to the real thrills.

Where to Stay

Disney's Riviera Resort - At the outset, this European themed resort, Disney's newest deluxe resort, may not seem to scream "thrills" but it's making our list for logistics. You see, it is nestled on the Skyliner line with easy access via gondola to EPCOT or Disney Hollywood Studios, and I would argue Disney Hollywood Studios is where you will find some excellent thrill rides. In addition, the resort houses the rooftop restaurant Topolino Terrace where you can view fireworks from EPCOT.

Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge - If what thrills you is waking up to see giraffes grazing outside your room, then ask for a savannah room at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge. Although this also comes with a price tag as a deluxe resort, you will feel like you are on safari. And it is 5 minutes away from Disney's Animal Kingdom, my runner-up park for thrill rides.

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort - For a more moderate price tag, try Coronado Springs. This resort makes our list due to amenities. There are tons of places to relax and play here, including an arcade, a gym, and several pools, including one with a water slide. For dining on site, there is a sports bar, and several lakeside and poolside bars and lounges. I've always said Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is like a moderate resort with deluxe amenities.

Where to Dine

Coral Reef - At EPCOT in the Living Seas pavilion, this table service meal is taken underwater. An entire curved wall of this restaurant looks out onto the large aquarium, featuring 4,000 sea creatures, including sharks and rays.

50s Prime Time Cafe - At Disney Hollywood Studios, this makes the list because of the unique interplay you will have with the servers. They act as your family and will tell you to finish your peas or get your elbows off the table, but only as much as you want them to. In general, its a fun experience.

Jungle Skipper Canteen - If your version of Thrill Seeker includes the Adventurer, then this is your home. Located in the Magic Kingdom, this restaurant is filled with artifacts from the once very popular Adventurer's Club, and you will find quirky decor and servers that tell tall tales and corny jokes. The menu is quite broad for an in park restaurant as well with some more adventurous options.

The Edison - At Disney Springs, this place is themed after a 1920's electric company. What's so adventurous about that? Well, it's gloriously steampunk-ish, for one. And during normal times, there is rotating entertainment on the center stage which can include musicians, dancing, and even aerialists.

Oga's Cantina - At Disney Hollywood Studios in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, try to reserve a time slot at this lounge. There isn't much by way of food (except for some rather expensive trail mix or jello with boba and pop rocks) but the reason you are here is the drinks. Specifically, the Fuzzy Tauntaun which sounds innocuous at first: peach vodka, peach schnapps, orange and tangerine.... and buzz foam. The trick is the buzz foam will make your lips numb.

So, Where Are the Trill Rides, Anyway?

At the Magic Kingdom, you won't find as many thrill rides as other parks, but you will find Space Mountain, which is a roller coaster in the dark. It's not a particularly intense coaster, but the fact that it's all happening in pitch black adds another level to the thrill. There are other coasters here, specifically Seven Dwarves Mine Train and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and there is the flume ride Splash Mountain, but none of these are particularly intense, though a ton of fun.

At EPCOT, you get some thrill options that are not coasters. The most intense of these is probably Mission: Space, orange team. This ride has two options: orange team and green team. Orange team includes a centrifuge which adds to the intensity while both orange and green include a motion simulator. The premise is you are blasting into space and then chaos ensues. The ride is interactive, and if you are on the orange team, the sensations you will feel during blast off are very realistic to the sensations actual astronauts feel.

If going fast is more your thing, then people love Test Track, where you will design a car and then ride it through a series of tests before letting it open up in the finale loop. And while Soarin' is so sedate I don't know that I'd call it a thrill ride, it certainly is thrilling to feel like you are flying over monuments of the world.

Disney Hollywood Studios has probably the most vast array of thrill rides of all the parks, found primarily on Sunset Boulevard or in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge. At the end of Sunset Boulevard, you will find two icons right next to each other: The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and the Rock N Roller Coaster. Of these, we think the Tower of Terror is legit scary, whereas Rock N Roller Coaster is just a great ride. Tower of Terror will take you through a spooky lobby and some spooky scenes ala Twilight Zone before you enter a doomed elevator shaft. You will then be subjected to a random series of drops of up to 13 stories a piece. No two rides are the same, but all rides include at least one very large drop of 11-13 stories. Because you don't know what's coming each time you ride, it is wonderfully terrifying.

Rock N Roller Coaster is a nice indoor coaster themed around Aerosmith. Powered by electromagnets, you will begin the ride by taking off from 0-60mph in 3 seconds. This will then blast you into 2 loops and 1 corkscrew in the dark before coming out cruising twists and turns of a freeway in LA. Despite the intensity, the ride is smooth as a dream and super fun.

Heading over to Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, all three rides in this land will likely appeal. Star Tours and Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run are both motion simulators with the latter being slightly more intense and a lot more interactive as you will truly play a part in whether the mission is successful. And then there is Rise of the Resistance which nobody knows quite how to classify as a ride, but everyone agrees is thrilling. In short, you will be caught in an Imperial tractor beam while flying through space, which will bring you to a hangar full of storm troopers aboard a destroyer. You'll then have to escape, with the help of droids, and Kylo Ren will not be too happy about the whole thing.

Finally, we have Disney's Animal Kingdom. It does not have as many thrill rides at Disney Hollywood Studios, but the two it does have are pretty great. First, you have your coaster again. This one is Expedition Everest. This coaster is pretty fun because of what happens when you encounter the Yeti. Be prepared to switch directions and fall backwards in the dark. There are no inversions (we THINK), though when in the dark it always feels to me like there is at least a corkscrew.

The other thrill ride here is right up there with Rise of the Resistance in terms of new types of rides. This is Flight of Passage which draws long lines all day every day but is so worth it. It's a little bit Soarin', but way more immersive. You will feel like you are riding a breathing creature. The creature gets into a bit of a tussle with you on it, so prepare for some more swoops and dives than Soarin' would have as well.

Other Tips for the Thrill Seeker

If you are at all subject to motion sickness, you might want to bring some non-drowsy dramamine. I especially recommend taking it before Flight of Passage and Mission: Space orange team.

If you are traveling with young ones, they may be too short or too scared for many of these rides, but Disney does offer rider swap if you have another adult in your party. This allows you to go through the line as a family and then one adult watches the child while first adult rides, then you swap without having to go through the line again. Ask a cast member as you enter the line.

Don't forget about the behind the scenes tours at Walt Disney World! While these come at cost in addition to your ticket, there are a few of these that would be great for the Thrill Seeker if you can swing it:

EPCOT Seas Adventure Aqua Tour or Dive Quest: The Aqua Tour is a snorkeling tour in the seas pavilion for those who are not scuba certified. You will snorkel in the Nemo & Friends tank where there a rays. Dive Quest is for those who are scuba certified. You will scuba dive in the Caribbean tank with rays and sharks.

Wild Africa Trek Safari Tour: At the Animal Kingdom you will get a private tour of the savannah, which will include crossing a rickety rope bridge, and seeing the wildlife up close.

And if you really want to splurge, there is the Ultimate Day of Thrills VIP Tour which will hit some of the highlights we mentioned in the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney Hollywood Studios, but will come at a pretty hefty price tag. VIP tours are amazing if you can afford them because your Disney tour guide will be able to bypass most lines.

We hope we convinced you that Disney hasn't forgotten about the Thrill Seekers. If you are one, we hope you can take our recommendations and craft an awesome vacation. Just know that some of the attractions and restaurants we mention may be closed or have limited capacity as we work our way out of the pandemic, so always check the official Disney website before going. Until next time, we'll see you...