The Disney Fanatic March Madness Disney World’s Best Ride Tournament-The Sweet 16

After a week of frantic voting, the Disney Fanatic March Madness Tournament enters its second week to determine Disney World’s best ride. Like the real March Madness tournament, there were some blowouts and some major upsets. But we were able to get down to the top 16 rides at the Walt Disney World Resort based on your votes.

First, we’ll recap last week’s results for each of the four brackets and then set up the matchups for this week. So, if you have a favorite Disney World ride, vote in the comments and let your voice be heard.

Related: Best Bets For March Madness at Disney World

How it Works

We took the best 32 rides at Walt Disney World and broke them down into four brackets. The rides/attractions are grouped together based on the types of rides and given a seeding one through eight.

The four brackets are: Thrill rides, Old School rides, New Tech rides, and rides based on characters.

We will then collect votes from the comments below and Facebook comments to determine the winners of each opening-round matchup.

The first-round results and the Sweet 16 matchups are presented below. We will publish the results every Saturday, along with the next matchups, until we have a winner.

So, this is your chance to let the world know that your favorite ride is the best ride at Walt Disney World. Vote early, vote often, and check back every Saturday for the winners and the next round.

A quick caveat. We could only include 32 rides, so shows were out. Sorry, no Carousel of Progress. Also, we could not include rides that weren’t open yet or are no longer at the Disney Parks. So, that means no Splash Mountain and no Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.

So, without any further ado, here are the Disney Fanatic March Madness Best Disney World Ride brackets, first-round results, and the Sweet 16 matchups.

First Round Winners

Thrill Ride Bracket

1. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad vs. 8. Test Track

In a matchup of the Magic Kingdom against EPCOT, Big Thunder Mountain proved itself to be a huge fan favorite. Test Track wasn’t completely shut out, but this contest was never really that close.

Big Thunder Mountain ended up receiving 87 percent of the vote, while Test Track received the remaining 13 percent. It was not a good showing for one of the few thrill rides at EPCOT. Big Thunder moves on to the Sweet 16.

2. Space Mountain vs. 7. Tower of Terror

March Madness is known for upsets, and this matchup was the tournament’s first major upset. Space Mountain is a Magic Kingdom fan favorite but was roundly beaten by the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Tower of Terror received 67 percent of the vote, while Space Mountain heads home with only 33 percent. It was a sad showing for Space Mountain as Tower of Terror moves into the second round.

3. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind vs. 6. Tron Lightcycle/Run

Two rides that need a virtual queue went head-to-head. As two of the newer thrill rides, this was a close matchup. But in the end, Guardians of the Galaxy was able to knock Tron off the grid.

Guardians took home 73 percent of the vote, with Tron getting the last 27 percent. Guardians now head to the Sweet 16 to save the galaxy.

4. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train vs. 5. Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster

Rock’ n’ Roller Coaster was at a disadvantage in this matchup. Being down since early in the year made it that much harder for the Aerosmith ride to prevail. That proved to be too much to overcome.

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train took home 67 percent of the vote, while Rock’ n’ Roller Coaster received 33. Seven Dwarfs moves on to the next round.

“Old School” Bracket

1. Haunted Mansion vs. 8. Dumbo

Like a true one vs. eight matchup, the Haunted Mansion destroyed its Magic Kingdom counterpart. This was by far the biggest blowout. Dumbo did not receive a single vote. Haunted Mansion won 100 percent of the vote.

Like a school you’ve never heard of, Dumbo was just happy to be there. Haunted Mansion heads to the Sweet 16 as a dominant favorite to win the entire tournament.

2. Spaceship Earth vs. 7. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover

Another major upset with a seven seed knocking off a two. This one was the closest battle in the entire tournament, with the Transit Authority taking home the win.

The People Mover won 53 percent of the vote, while Spaceship Earth only won 47. The People Mover moves on to the next round.

3. Pirates of the Caribbean vs. 6. The Jungle Cruise

The two boat rides in Adventureland in the Magic Kingdom fought it out, but Pirates proved to be the stronger of the two. The allure of Johnny Depp proved to be too much for the classic Jungle Cruise.

Pirates won 67 percent of the vote, while the Jungle Cruise laughed its way to 33 percent. Pirates live to plunder another day.

4. it’s a small world vs. the Kilimanjaro Safaris

Another slight upset. One of the rides with Walt Disney’s touch fell short to seeing real-life animals. Kilimanjaro Safaris knocked off the kids from around the world.

Kilimanjaro won 67 percent, while Small World only got 33. It’s another Safari ride in the Sweet 16.

New Tech Bracket

1. Soarin’ vs. 8. Living With the Land

In a bracket that divided the Land Pavilion at EPCOT, Soarin’ came out on top over its building counterpart. Soarin won 67 percent while Living with the Land took home 33.

Soarin’ sores into the Sweet 16 with an easy win.

2. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance vs. 7. Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run

This bracket divided Star Wars fans, but not enough to vote against Rise of the Resistance. Rise won 73 percent, while Millennium Falcon took home 27 percent.

The Resistance rises into the Sweet 16.

3. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad vs. 6. Dinosaur

With Dinosaur heading toward extinction at Animal Kingdom, Mickey and Minnie helped them on their way. The classic Disney characters took home 80 percent of the vote, with Dinosaur only winning 20 percent.

So, Mickey and Minnie knock Dinosaur out of Animal Kingdom and into the next round.

4. Mission: Space vs. 5. Avatar Flight of Passage

Animal Kingdom makes a comeback in a big way, with Avatar blowing out Mission: Space. The Pandora favorite won 87 percent of the vote, while Mission: Space only won 13 percent.

Avatar is flying into the Sweet 16 on a banshee.

Character Bracket

1. Buzz Lightyear Space Rangers vs. Na’vi River Journey

Animal Kingdom takes another hit with Toy Story’s Buzz Lightyear blasting it out of the bracket. Buzz took home 67 percent, while the River Journey only got 33 percent.

So, now Buzz is heading to Infinity and the Sweet 16.

2. Journey Into Imagination with Figment vs. 7. Under the Sea-Journey of the Little Mermaid

Ariel kept it close for a while, but Figment was just too much for the Disney Princess. Imagination took home 67 percent of the vote, while Under the Sea won 33.

Figment now turns his imagination into the next round.

3. Frozen Ever After vs. 6. Peter Pan

In another upset, Peter Pan shows its dominance over Elsa and Anna. Peter Pan flew its way to 73 percent of the vote, while Frozen chilled out with 27 percent.

Peter Pan is now off to the Neverland of the next round.

4. Slinky Dog Dash vs. 5. Remy Ratatouille’s Adventure

Fans just didn’t like what Remy was cooking up at the Disney Park. The Toy Story roller coaster took home 60 percent of the vote, while Remy only won 40 percent.

It was another victory for the Toy Story rides, with two heading to the next round.

Those are the first-round results. Now, the matchups for the Sweet 16.

Sweet 16 Matchups

Thrill Ride Bracket

1. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad vs. 4. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train

Two Magic Kingdom rides go head-to-head. One is a classic thrill ride that has been around for decades, while the other is less than two decades old. But if the crowds were to decide, Seven Dwarfs would be the winning attraction.

But in this contest, Big Thunder had a great showing in the opening round, while Seven Dwarfs squeaked out a win.

7. Tower of Terror vs. 3. Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind

Tower of Terror scored a huge opening round upset, but now they go against one of Disney’s most inventive thrill rides. This matchup also pits EPCOT against Hollywood Studios with bragging rights on the line.

So, is it going to be the Twilight Zone or the Marvel superheroes?

“Old School” Bracket

1. Haunted Mansion vs. 5. Kilimanjaro Safaris

The Haunted Mansion proved why its one of the most popular rides in all of the Walt Disney World Resort in the opening round. But unlike other rides, Kilimanjaro Safaris changes every time you ride it.

It’s animals against ghosts.

7. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority People Mover vs. 3. Pirates of the Caribbean

Like Tower of Terror, the People Mover scored an opening round upset, but now it has to face off against Johnny Depp and his Pirate friends.

Paging Mr. Morrow, Mr. Tom Morrow against Yo-Ho Yo-Ho a Pirate’s life for me.

New Tech Bracket

1. Soarin’ vs. 5. Avatar Flight of Passage

It’s two rides where you get to fly, sort of. Do you want to glide through the sky or ride on a banshee? Either way, you are up in the air.

It’s flying across the globe against flying through Pandora.

2. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance vs. 3. Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad

Classic Disney characters against the Star Wars adventure of a lifetime. Do you want to save the galaxy or let Goofy take you on a picnic?

It’s a galaxy far, far away against your all-time favorite character.

Character Bracket

1. Buzz Lightyear Space Rangers vs. 4. Slinky Dog Dash

It’s Toy Story on Toy Story violence. Forget your favorite character from the film; this is for your favorite ride from the film.

You can go to infinity and beyond or dash around Andy’s room.

2. Journey Into Imagination with Figment vs. 6. Peter Pan’s Flight

Two iconic Disney World characters face off in the final matchup of the Sweet 16. Are you heading to Neverland or Figment’s Imagination playground?

Either way, you will have to disappoint one classic character from your childhood.

You Decide

Those are the best 16 remaining rides in our Disney World March Madness Tournament. Now, it’s your turn. Let us know your vote in each of the eight matchups in the comments. We will tabulate the votes and publish the results on March 16.

Check back every Saturday, and we’ll update the brackets until there is one winner.

So, what is going to be Walt Disney World’s best ride? It’s your time to decide.