In today’s post we’re going to dive into the best Disney World rides and shows.

In this post you will learn about the top attractions, shows and fireworks displays from the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios you don’t want to miss.

After reading this and my list of the best Disney World tips and tricks, you will be well prepared for your trip to Walt Disney World so you don’t miss out on anything good.

Let’s get right into my list of the 31 best Disney World rides and shows!

See my Hotel Recommendation When Visiting Orlando!

The Can’t Miss Rides, Attractions, and Shows to Experience at Disney World

Best Disney World Rides and Shows at Magic Kingdom Park

The Magic Kingdom Park was the first park to be opened at Disney World in 1971. It was part of a huge vision Walt Disney had not just for theme parks, but for entire communities.

After he died, some of the plans changed, however, the Magic Kingdom stayed as the centerpiece.

In 2017 the Magic Kingdom had an attendance of almost 20.5 million guests.

Below are the best Disney World rides and shows at the Magic Kingdom.

1) Pirates of the Caribbean

I love Pirates of the Caribbean and it’s definitely one of my favorite rides. It’s super chill with a few small drops, pirates, pillaging and the classic “Yo-ho, yo-ho, a pirate’s life for me” song playing.

That being said, the OG Disneyland version of the ride is a lot better. Disneyland’s version of Pirates of the Caribbean is a much longer ride, has an extra drop and a few more scenes.

The Disney World version is still good, and is one of the best Disney World rides.

2) Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Set in a mining town, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is an older classic roller coaster. Big Thunder Mountain is a fun roller coaster with a few moderate drops and some sharp cornering.

It always takes me back to my childhood because this is one of my parents’ favorite rides. My mom hates roller coasters but would go on Big Thunder Mountain. That made it all the better to ride for me. So, yeah, Big Thunder Mountain holds a special place in my heart.

3) Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

The Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a ride that they do not have at Disneyland, and boy, do I wish they did! This was the best ride at the Magic Kingdom!

You can certainly tell, because the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train has the longest line by far. The lines were over 100 minutes most of the days I was at the park, however, just before 8pm the wait dropped to 45 minutes.

I highly recommend using a FastPass for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.

This ride is a lot like Big Thunder Mountain, only faster, better drops, harder turns and it has the Seven Dwarfs! Heigh-ho!

I rode it during the Magic Kingdom fireworks show, and it was really rad seeing all the fireworks as you go around turns and up hills. It was a super dope experience. If you get the chance, try and time it so you go while the fireworks are taking place.

4) Space Mountain

Space Mountain is a fast, rising, dropping and hard-turning roller coaster in the dark. It is also one of my all-time favorite rides. This was often the first ride we would go on at Disneyland when I went with my family.

The Disney World version is the original and slightly different than the one at Disneyland.

There are 2 lines, which helps move things along faster. Riders sit bobsled-style, one in front of the other here, too. Space Mountain is a fast roller coaster in the dark with hard turns and drops. I really like it because you don’t know when the turns and dips are going to happen.

This ride is a little rough and could do for a track upgrade, though. Don’t let that keep you away, because Space Mountain is still a lot of fun.

They are constructing the new Tron Lightcycle Power Run next to Space Mountain, too. It looks like it is going to be awesome and it’s definitely worth taking a peek at the construction when you exit. The Tron attraction is up and running already at Shanghai Disneyland. I can’t wait to try this ride out!

5) The Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion was one of the original opening day rides at the Magic Kingdom. This attraction is definitely a fan favorite.

Guests navigate the line through an assortment of weird and spooky décor and music until they get to the Stretching Room. This is a fun room that gives the illusion of the walls stretching longer to reveal paintings. Then the lights go out and it is customary to give a spooky scream (annoying some and delighting the rest).

After this, you make your way into one of the “Doom Buggies” and set off.

Inside the Doom Buggies there is a creepy narration accompanied by “spooky” music. As the ride progresses, guests are turned side to side to view all the ghostly activities happening inside the mansion.

You see ghosts dancing, graveyards, a fortune teller and inanimate objects moving, among other delightful sights. The optical illusions they do on The Haunted Mansion are incredible and make this attraction a classic.

6) Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin

I love Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin! It’s a wonderfully fun attraction where guests shoot laser guns at small targets to rack up points. Inside the little buggies are 2 laser guns and a joystick for steering.

If you have been to Disneyland, this is just like Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters with a few minor alterations.

The Disney World version came first, and the main differences are the in the laser guns. At Disney World, the guns are attached at the base to the buggy and can only swivel in any given direction. The trigger for the gun is on the top and you press it with your thumb.

At Disneyland, the guns are attached with a cord, giving guests free range of movement. The trigger is just like a regular gun under the barrel by the grip, which just feels more natural, as well.

Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin is loads of fun and allows you to compete against others. The buggies hold 2 riders each, and there is a digital screen with the score under each gun.

You can fit a small child with 2 adults, however, there are only 2 guns. My friend and I rode with her 5-year-old niece in the middle. We had her control the movement joystick and fire the gun a little bit, and she had a blast.

This is one of those attractions that is creatively done and incredibly fun!

7) Splash Mountain

Splash Mountain is a blast! This is Disney’s classic log flume ride with 3 dips and a 5-story drop near the end.

Splash Mountain follows Br’er Rabbit as he searches for his “Laughing Place,” all while trying to evade Br’er Bear and Br’er Fox. The ride has several iterations of “Zip-a-dee-doo-dah” throughout that will definitely leave that song stuck in your head.

Be forewarned, this is a ride you will get wet on. I sat at the front and got soaked. Sitting further back will save you from getting hit by the worst of it, but everyone gets at least a little wet.

I definitely recommend doing Splash Mountain while the sun is up, so you dry off quicker. Also be wary of going on it when it’s cold outside.

8) Cinderella’s Castle

Cinderella’s Castle is iconic and a must see at every Disney theme park. It’s also completely impossible to miss due to its central location.

I always enjoy seeing the castle, and never miss an opportunity to take my picture next to the Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse statue in front of it. Cinderella’s Castle is beautifully lit at night, giving it a different dynamic.

The castle might be the most photographed area of all the parks.

9) Happily Ever After Fireworks Show

Every Disney park just crushes fireworks and light shows. Happily Ever After is no exception.

The Magic Kingdom show combines amazing fireworks and music with fantastic video of famous Disney characters broadcast on Cinderella’s Castle. Honestly, the way the images fill every nook and cranny of the castle and come to life is absolutely amazing.

The soundtrack for the dazzling fireworks display is a mix of songs from Moana, Frozen, Toy Story, Aladdin, The Pirates of the Caribbean and more. The crowd definitely gets into it, cheering each time one of their favorite characters is shown.

This is a fireworks show you do not want to miss.

Best Disney World Rides and Shows at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Disney’s Animal Kingdom has the look of an outdoor wonderland. It definitely has a different feel from the other parks and invites you into a nature wonderland. As an outdoor lover, I thought this was very cool.

Animal Kingdom opened in 1998 and is the newest of the 4 parks. It is 500 acres and by far the largest park at Disney World. With the addition of Pandora – The World of Avatar, Animal Kingdom has become the second-most popular park, with attendance of 12.5 million in 2017.

Below are the best Disney World rides and shows at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

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10) Avatar Flight of Passage

Avatar Flight of Passage looks absolutely incredible. This is a ride you absolutely need to use a FastPass on because the average wait time is over 2 hours.

Avatar Flight of Passage has the longest line of any Disney World attraction in my experience. Try to go on it first, as well.

On Avatar Flight of Passage, you ride on the back of a banshee through the world of Pandora. Guests straddle their seats and are positioned like you are riding a motorcycle. This is a 3-D ride and you have to wear 3-D goggles to enjoy it.

As you “fly” through Pandora, your banshee swoops and soars in every direction, providing riders with great thrills. This is definitely an amazing and fun ride to go on.

Avatar Flight of Passage is easily one of the best Disney World rides.

Is it worth waiting 2-3 hours to go on?

I don’t feel any attraction is worth waiting 2-3 hours to ride, so be sure to go on it early or get a FastPass. 

11) Kilimanjaro Safaris

Kilimanjaro Safaris is another attraction I would recommend using a FastPass for, as it gets pretty busy.

However, if you arrive earlier in the day (maybe 8-9:30am), the lines are not as long, and you can use that FastPass on another ride like Avatar Flight of Passage.

Once through the line, you board a safari minibus and are off into the wilderness. I really enjoyed this ride because it gets you fairly close up to many animals and the narration is very educational.

Some of the animals seen are hippopotamuses, crocodiles, giraffes, zebras, okapis, wildebeest, elephants, baboons, flamingos, cheetahs, gazelle, a couple lions resting on the rocks and white rhinos. It was all very cool.

Once you exit the ride, off to the side they have an awesome gorilla exhibit. There are several gorillas just lazing about for everyone to see.

Since most people just bounce and go to their next ride, it was not very crowded. It’s a great photo opportunity and I highly recommend checking this out.

They have an entire exploration trail where you can see more animals there, too. However, I did not have enough time to walk through it – next time for sure!

12) Festival of The Lion King

For something a little different, go watch the Festival of The Lion King show. It’s an entertaining show and quite nice to sit down indoors for a bit.

Shortly after taking your seats, floats of the Lion King characters and gymnasts come out crush it.

The show is so much better than I imagined it would be. It brings back all the nostalgia from The Lion King with the songs and characters.

The audience is separated into sections for 4 characters and are encouraged to participate. I love audience participation shows because you genuinely feel like you’re a part of the experience.

Kids absolutely love this show, too.

13) Pandora – The World of Avatar

I really wanted to check out Pandora – The World of Avatar because it’s new and not at Disneyland. They really went all out in Pandora.

The design of the entire land is really pretty, and I especially liked how they incorporated plant life and water together.

The floating islands with trees were also really cool. There are great picture opportunities in front of the floating islands, too.

At night Pandora really comes to life as all the bioluminescent features come alive. It is such a rad feature and the way the land lights up is very unique.

I was happily impressed walking through Pandora – The World of Avatar.

14) Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain

The best roller coaster in Animal Kingdom is Expedition Everest – Legend of the Forbidden Mountain.

Expedition Everest is near Kilimanjaro Safaris and usually does not have a terribly long line.

This ride is similar in look and feel to the Matterhorn at Disneyland. It’s a great bobsled roller coaster with a lot of thrills and a sweet backwards portion!

This is one of those rides where you can see all the cool detail the Disney Imagineers put into their attractions.

I love roller coasters, and this is a good one to go on for sure.

15) DINOSAUR

DINOSAUR is the best attraction in DinoLand USA. Guests ride in a jeep and go through time to find a lost dinosaur.

If you’ve been to Disneyland, it’s very similar to the Indiana Jones Adventure. The jeep you’re in lurches and jerks around through an adventure to rescue the dinosaur before it’s too late and you have to return.

It’s a lot of fun and good for adults and children. It also has a sweet dinosaur out front for a photo op.

Who doesn’t love dinosaurs?!

Here are my Top 20 Tips and Recommendations for Disney World.

Best Disney World Rides and Shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Once you enter Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you are transported to California and a stylized version of Hollywood.

Trust me when I say that this version of Hollywood is way nicer than the real deal.

While the Magic Kingdom is the smallest park at 107 acres, Disney’s Hollywood Studios feels smaller even though it has 135 acres. I believe that has a lot to do with there are fewer attractions at Hollywood Studios.

This does not, however, mean it is any less fun. In fact, Hollywood Studios and Epcot were my 2 favorite parks at Walt Disney World.

I found that the lines at Hollywood Studios were shorter than the other parks, even with the new Toy Story Land.

That makes sense considering this park had the lowest attendance of any of the other, with just over 10.7 million visitors in 2017. The attractions are no less entertaining, though.

An exciting development is the new Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge is currently under construction and will be added to Hollywood Studios August 29th.

This land is going to be awesome and everyone will want to check it out. Be prepared for long lines, though.

Here are the best Disney World rides and shows at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

16) Toy Story Land

Toy Story Land opened on June 30, 2018, adding another exciting element to Hollywood Studios.

I want to start by saying how phenomenal Toy Story Land looks. They did an amazing job of bringing the Toy Story movies to life and you really feel like you’re in a toy bin.

There is so much attention to detail it’s just incredible. Walking through Toy Story Land is definitely a must for everyone.

17) Star Wars Launch Bay

After you enter the park and walk down a bit, hang a right to reach Star Wars Launch Bay. Inside the Star Wars Launch Bay you can meet Chewbacca, Kylo Ren and BB-8.

You will also see Storm Troopers marching around, sometimes with guests that have been “apprehended.”

There are all kinds of really neat Star Wars props and replicas inside. They had Anakin Skywalker’s pod racer, Han Solo’s outfit from Solo, different character’s headgear (like Luke Skywalker’s Red 5 helmet) and a great selection of Jedi lightsabers.

Meeting Chewbacca was great. I highly recommend wearing your Star Wars gear when visiting Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Chewbacca speaks in Shyriiwook (the Wookie’s native language) as he interacts with you – it’s fantastic! He loved my friend’s daughter’s Chewbacca t-shirt, and was super kind with her.

Me, on the other hand, well, let’s just say he’s not a fan of Darth Vader shirts. He was very animated and angry with me and made me cover up my Vader shirt with my sweatshirt before he’d pose for a picture. I thought this was hilarious and appreciated the character interaction.

On your way to meet Kylo Ren, you pass by a selection of Sith lightsabers and a large replica of the Millennium Falcon. Kylo Ren speaks from behind the mask and acts evil and. He will scold you before and after taking a picture with him, too.

On the way out you pass even more props like a First Order AT-MS and Dreadnaught replicas and Rey and Kylo Ren’s lightsabers.

I mean the amount of really cool Star Wars props and memorabilia at Star Wars Launch Bay is incredible.

Basically, visiting here is like going to Star Wars heaven and totally made my day.

18) Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is another fantastic roller coaster in the dark.

This ride is very similar to the Incredicoaster (formerly California Screamin’) at Disney’s California Adventure (DCA).

You start by going through a recording studio session with Aerosmith. The band has to hurry off to a show and, of course, they can’t leave without their fans. They get a “super stretch” limo and some backstage passes so everyone can join them.

Guests are ushered into their “limos” and take off in an instant. It’s a very fast roller coaster that goes 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and takes you on a twisting and turning epic adventure through the streets of Los Angeles.

The whole ride you’re rocking out to an Aerosmith soundtrack through the speakers in the seats.

The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is a great adrenaline rush for sure.

19) Star Tours – The Adventure Continues

Walking up to Star Tours – The Adventure Continues you are met with a massive AT-AT. The entrance and AT-AT are situated in the Forest of Endor, which look fantastic.

I found the lines for Star Tours to be very short, maybe 5-20 minutes most of the day.

Going through the line you pass C-3P0 and R2D2 working on a Star Tours shuttle and a few other fun robots doing “security” screening. Check the screen to see what items are being scanned for some hidden Easter eggs.

Star Tours is another one of my all-time favorite rides and keeps getting better. It is a 3-D flight simulator-type attraction that can provide a different experience on each ride.

Every year, it seems, they keep adding more possible adventures to the attraction. I am sad I no longer get to hear “Lightspeed to Endor!” from Captain Rex anymore. That doesn’t stop me from saying it during the ride, though!

Star Tours – The Adventure Continues has 18 segments that can be combined into 54 different variations (there are 3 segments per experience). The segments are randomly selected and put together before each ride.

This means just about every time you ride, you get a unique experience. How cool is that?!

Each ride consists of an escape from the spaceport, then a visit to the first planet during some battle and an escape from that planet. Then as you are about to leave, a character says that a rebel spy is on your craft (one of the guests –their picture is on the screen) and you must get them to safety. You quickly jump to hyperspace to the second planet for another adventure before landing at your final destination.

While all this 3-D action is going on, you and your craft are moving around in every direction from the hydraulics underneath the floor.

It is incredibly awesome, and everyone has to go on it at least once.

Jedi Training for Your Padawans

Just around the corner from Star Tours is the Jedi Training: Trials of the Temple. This show brings kids up to do battle with lightsabers against Darth Vader and Kylo Ren.

It is really cool and something the kids will definitely love, especially if they get to participate.

Now, I do have to warn you away from making the same mistake as me.

As you approach the entrance for Star Tours from a distance, you will see a big awning with the words “Star Wars” and a line beneath it. There is a slow-moving line and a hallway the seems to lead to nowhere.

I went here thinking this was the line for Star Tours and I was struck by how there was no Star Wars décor anywhere. At the end of that hallway you turn the corner and find…Olaf from Frozen!

Hahahaha how embarrassing. This was quite the surprise and I felt like total dumbass. I did get a sweet picture with Olaf, though.

So yeah, instead of turning in there, just keep walking all the way down the street until you see the AT-AT for the real entrance.

20) The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is a great ride that I really miss here in California.

They had this attraction at Disney’s California Adventure and updated it to Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!.

The story of Tower of Terror takes guests through a hotel struck by lightning while on an elevator, sending them into the Twilight Zone. The elevator quickly rises up to the top, where it briefly before dropping again. This repeats up and down several times for a great many thrills.

After riding Tower of Terror at both Disney World and DCA, I can easily say that the Disney World version is better. The ride just feels better thought out, larger and longer. Riders also get a bigger rush with the more extreme drops.

READ MORE: Come see my top Disneyland tips and tricks!

21) Slinky Dog Dash

I recommend using a FastPass or making a mad dash over to the new Slinky Dog Dash if you have a child. Toy Story Land is pretty new, and this is their newest attraction.

Slinky Dog Dash is a fun roller coaster taking you around a few quick corners with a bunch of ups and downs.

The train cars look just like a slinky dog and the ride is kind of cute. The cars mimic the way a slinky moves when going through the peaks and dips on the track, which gives a really cool effect.

Also, when you reach the highest point of the ride, you can see the Star Wars Land construction. This ride is a lot of fun and I highly recommend it.

22) Toy Story Mania!

Much like Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, Toy Story Mania! is an attraction that has guests competing with one another for a high score by shooting targets.

Guests are placed in a buggy that seats 2 (a small child can fit with 2 adults) and taken through a set of carnival-like games. You have a gun in front of you with a pull string trigger and use that to shoot at different objects throughout the ride.

Unlike the Buzz Lightyear attraction, you are not allowed to spin the buggy and you stay in a fixed position. Fair warning, your arm may get tired from all the shooting by the end of this one.

This is also a 3-D ride and you have to wear those yellow 3-D glasses. It’s a lot of fun for all ages and really gets the competitive juices flowing.

23) Fantasmic!

Fantasmic! is an amazing show that mixes live characters with projections on water screens, lasers and fireworks.

The story follows Mickey Mouse as he battles the Disney villains. Fantasmic! is a lot of fun for all ages.

The kids will love all the characters and adults will love the special effects. The show is finished before Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular, so you will have time to see both.

I highly recommend watching Fantasmic! during your trip.

24) Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular

Make your way to the common area in front of the Chinese Theatre to watch the Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular fireworks show at the end of the night.

The crowd erupted with cheers once the Star Wars logo appeared on the façade of the Chinese Theatre, accompanied by narration, John Williams’ iconic score and fireworks exploding overhead.

A Galactic Spectacular is much more than just a fireworks show. Scenes from all the movies are projected onto the Chinese Theatre and adjacent buildings.

For 15 minutes the audience is guided through the Star Wars Universe, along with musical scores, lasers, lights and fireworks. Everything combined adds real excitement and emotion throughout the story.

Each of the main characters gets displayed and given time to shine. The audience roared loudest when Carrie Fisher’s image was displayed.

The climactic finale launches an impressive array of fireworks into the air and then finishes with a solid light extending up from the roof of the Chinese Theatre, like that of a lightsaber. The crowd erupted in celebration with that final display of awesomeness.

It is an absolute must to see Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular if you are a Star Wars fan. Even if you are not a fan of Star Wars, you will love it.

My friends are not really big on Star Wars and they enjoyed A Galactic Spectacular, too.

I absolutely loved this show, and it was one of the big highlights of my trip.

25) Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has finally opened, and boy, is it awesome!

Once you walk into the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (commonly referred to as Star Wars Land) you are transported to the Black Spire Outpost on the planet Batuu.

The first thing that stands out is the giant life-sized Millennium Falcon docked at the space port. The level of detail is unreal and makes the Millennium Falcon look totally authentic and real.

The first thing you want to do is join the virtual boarding queue on the My Disney Experience App. You can actually do this from as far away as the parking tram before you enter the park. There are also Guest Experience kiosks throughout Galaxy’s Edge where you can sign up for the boarding queue.

Once you are in the queue for Smugglers Run, you get to walk through the inside of the Millennium Falcon. There are so many great photo opportunities inside.

There are several interactive features inside the ship, so definitely play around with everything.

The ride itself is like an interactive Star Tours, only you’re flying the Millennium Falcon!

Six guests ride at a time. There are 2 pilots, 2 gunners, and 2 engineers.

Each guest has a set of buttons and controls that they need to work during the ride.

Fair warning, you will be active and pressing buttons non-stop. Also, don’t be surprised if other guests call you out for not doing what you’re supposed to. It’s actually quite funny seeing couples get frustrated with each other for messing up.

There is currently no FastPass+ for this ride. You will need to either stand in line or use the virtual boarding option.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers run is awesome and definitely a ride that all Star Wars fans will enjoy!

Best Disney World Rides and Shows at Epcot

Epcot was the second park to open at Disney World in 1982. It is easily recognizable by the huge golf ball-looking structure at the entrance.

That enormous golf ball actually houses the Spaceship Earth attraction, by the way.

Epcot is the third-most popular park at Disney World, and had a 2017 attendance of 12.2 million guests. It used to be the third-most popular park, however, after the opening of Pandora – The World of Avatar, Disney’s Animal Kingdom moved up and took second place.

With 300 acres, Epcot is also behind Animal Kingdom in terms of park size at Walt Disney World.

Walking through the entrance I was immediately struck by how clean and well-manicured Epcot was. The landscaping was just immaculate, and this was only at the entrance.

The rest of the park is even better I would find out. After taking the obligatory pictures in front of the golf ball, it’s time to go on your first ride of the day.

Below are the can’t miss shows and attractions of Epcot.

26) Living with the Land

I found Living with the Land to be the most educational and interesting Disney World attraction.

I was told it was kind of meh and not that exciting, however, I found it to be one of the most interesting rides at any of the parks.

There are very short wait times and it’s all indoors – another plus for this ride. Living with the Land is a slow-moving water ride that takes you through the history of agriculture and the advances humans have made in that field.

On Living with the Land, you get to see several unique varietals of plants. There’s also an area you see of all the fruit and vegetables they grow and use in dishes served at the Disney World parks, which was really neat.

The ride also discusses the issues facing agriculture and farmers and displays unique new farming techniques.

Honestly, this ride surprised me a lot and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

27) Soarin’ Around the World

Next to Living with the Land is Soarin’ Around the World. This ride is also at Disney’s California Adventure, and it is basically exactly the same. The only difference is the last scene.

At Disney World, they soar over the fireworks show at the Magic Kingdom at Disney World, whereas the DCA version you fly over Cinderella’s Castle at Disneyland. The lines are a little different, too.

Soarin’ Around the World is one of my favorite rides. It’s super chill and mellow, and you fly around the world as though you’re on a hang glider.

You visit famous sites such as The Great Wall, The Great Pyramids, the Eiffel Tower the Taj Mahal and Mount Everest. Soarin’ has something for all your senses, as there is wind and different smells that are blasted at you on your voyage.

This is a fantastic ride for children to go on, too. Soarin’ is a really rad ride and I highly recommend everyone check it out.

28) World Showcase

Do not wait until towards the end of the day to visit the World Showcase like I did. The World Showcase was by far the best part of Epcot for me.

Most of the park is just okay, with a few great attractions. Then you turn the corner at the World Showcase Lagoon and you just can’t help but get a rush of excitement. Entering the World Showcase turns everything up to eleven for me.

The World Showcase has a collection of eleven countries displaying aspects of their culture and heritage.

The countries represented are Mexico, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, the United States, Japan, Morocco, France, the United Kingdom and Canada. Crossing over a bridge, you enter Mexico on one side or Canada on the other.

Great International Food and Drinks

Inside the area for each country you are treated with designs, food, drinks music and dancing specific to that country.

Have tacos and margaritas in Mexico, a giant pretzel and beer in Germany and Ice Cream Martinis and crepes in France just to name some of the options.

The food and drink options are truly outstanding. You can also Drink Around the World and have at least one drink from every country if you are brave enough.

Los Amigos Plaza

My favorite place to visit was Los Amigos Plaza inside the pyramid in Mexico. It is just simply awesome. The lights are lowered to make it seem like nighttime and the plaza is filled with carts selling all kinds of Mexican goodies.

There are artists making custom work right in front of you, too. They also have a sweet tequila bar inside, which I highly recommend visiting. They have several dozen different tequila and mezcal options to choose from.

Restaurant Marrakesh

Each country is also filled with cast members actually from that country. That’s so incredible and adds to the authenticity of each area. I ate at Restaurant Marrakesh for dinner in the Morocco area and every employee in the restaurant was from Morocco.

The food was authentic and delicious, and they even had belly dancers performing. I had the roasted lamb shank served with mixed vegetables and yellow rice and it was superb.

It was a wonderful experience and I definitely recommend eating at Restaurant Marrakesh.

World Showcase Rides

Honestly, you can spend an entire day inside the World Showcase. Mexico and Norway (Frozen Ever After) each have boat rides, China and Canada have Circle-Vision 360º movies about their countries, and the US has a stage show about American history.

Like I said, plan accordingly because there is a lot to do in this amazing section of Epcot.

29) Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros

Next to the restaurant at the back of Los Amigos Plaza in Mexico is the entrance to the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. I had no idea they had a ride in here when I entered!

The Three Caballeros was one of my favorite movies growing up and could be why I enjoyed the ride so much. Gran Fiesta Tour is a boat ride, like Pirates of the Caribbean (without the drops) that takes you past ancient pyramids, through Mexican villages, beaches and festival scenes, with the Three Caballeros in each scene.

It’s a super mellow ride, but really cool and entertaining for adults and children.

30) Test Track

Test Track is a really cool attraction where guests are invited to create their own car and race it against others.

Guests create their cars at the various screens at the entrance and once you get buckled into your seat, your car appears on the screen in front of you.

The cars are taken through various “road tests” as the ride progresses. Your car’s scores are updated on your screen after each test stage and a winner is declared at the end.

This is another interactive ride Disney created that is a really cool concept.

This definitely has the longest line at Epcot, so use a FastPass if you can. Kids and adults will both love this ride.

31) IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth

The final fireworks show I’m going to recommend is IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth at Epcot.

This spectacular fountain, light and fireworks show takes place on the World Showcase Lagoon.

I believe the best locations to view the show would be dead center in either Japan, The American Adventure or Italy.

If you can’t find a good spot there, don’t worry because there really isn’t a bad viewing area since the lagoon is so big. You can see the boats ferry out the fireworks to the center of the lagoon before sundown, too.

The ending flourish of IllumiNations is really awesome, and I think I’ve made my point that you can’t go wrong with a Disney fireworks show.

Final Thoughts

This is my list of the best Disney World rides and shows. I love each of these rides, shows and fireworks displays and believe you will, too.

Now, Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge opens up August 29th. One thing I can add is that is that once the rides open in that park, they will immediately be added to this list.

Get there early to get on those attractions and be prepared to wait in monster lines. That being said, it is going to be awesome.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is finally and it is very impressive. Everyone, is going to enjoy the land and rides.

Now I’d Like to Hear from You

I hope you enjoyed my post on the best Disney World rides and shows.

Now I would like to hear from you.

What did you think of my list of the top Disney World rides and shows?

What do you have on your list of the best Disney World rides and shows?

Is there anything you think I left out?

Let me know by leaving a quick comment below!

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