Disney World’s Most Overrated and Underrated Attractions

One of the great things about visiting Walt Disney World Resort is that you’ll never be bored. The massive Resort encompasses 27 square miles and consists of four theme parks, two water parks, more than 25 Resort hotels, miniature golf courses, professional golf courses, and the shopping and dining mecca called Disney Springs.

Disney World is full of rides and attractions that are fun for both kids and kids at heart. However, some people venture to The Most Magical Place on Earth and don’t even venture into the parks. That is how much great stuff there is to do there.

Of course, the parks are where most of the appeal lies. There are nearly 300 rides and attractions for guests to enjoy during their stay. Disney has everything from thrill rides — like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — to relaxing trips that even babies will like, like “it’s a small world.”

While each Disney attraction has its own appeal, there are some rides that seem to be universally adored — like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Tower of Terror, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Space Mountain. Being so popular means that there will be some long wait times.

But are they worth it?

Below is a list of Disney attractions that are overrated and not worth the wait, along with some that you definitely shouldn’t miss out on!

Avatar Flight of Passage – Overrated

We are going to start off strong and with an attraction that a lot of people may consider their favorite ride at Walt Disney World. So, you may think that I am crazy for saying it, but I’m sticking to my guns — Flight of Passage is overrated.

Related: James Cameron Was Inspired by Disney World’s Pandora For Upcoming Avatar 3

Flight of Passage has been open since May 2017, when Pandora: The World of Avatar opened in Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. It quickly became one of the most popular rides in the entire Resort, with wait times averaging around 2 hours. Flight of Passage lets guests travel on the back of a banshee as they soar through the skies of Pandora.

Now, the ride is not bad. It is fun and the graphics are great. However, it is not worth the nearly 2-hour wait. I have heard more than once that I needed to wait in the queue if I wanted to get the “full ride experience”, as a lot of that is missed when using the ride’s Lightning Lane. But no ride should require you to wait hours in order to get the full experience.

Frozen Ever After – Overrated

Now, I am going to be honest with you, I was a big fan of the Maelstrom — which was the attraction that was in the Norway pavilion at EPCOT before Frozen Ever After. I still enjoy Frozen — especially the sidekicks — but Frozen Ever After is a ride that is not worth the more than hour-long wait that the attraction usually has.

The animatronics of Anna and Elsa are good, but they are nothing compared to the ones we have seen developed for the new World of Frozen area at Hong Kong Disneyland. Those animatronics blow the ones on Frozen Ever After out of the water.

Also, if there is one thing that Disney probably doesn’t need, it’s more Frozen. Frozen is one of the most successful Disney animated films of all time, so it’s understandable why Disney went all in on incorporating them into the parks. But the thing that makes EPCOT so incredible is that guests can take a world tour without ever leaving the park.

Related: International Guests Judge Countries at EPCOT’s World Showcase

The Maelstrom brought guests into the heart of Norwegian legends in a fun and creative way. The beauty of the country, and the stories of trolls, were great to see.

Does it make sense that Disney made a Frozen-themed ride? Yes. But they should not have removed the Maelstrom in order to do it.

Muppet*Vision 3D – Underrated

Muppet*Vision 3D has been at Disney’s Hollywood Studios since 1991, but that doesn’t mean that it is dated or should be skipped. While it is not as popular as attractions like Toy Story Mania or Slinky Dog Dash, it should be on every guest’s must-do list.

Related: New Concept Art Revealed For Muppets Land That Never Was

Muppet*Vision 3D is a 3D show that takes guests inside Muppet Labs, where Kermit and the gang have been experimenting with 3D. They invited some of the world’s greatest scientific minds to help them, but none of the scientists showed up. So, it is up to Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and his lab assistant, Beaker — who end up creating Waldo, “the spirit of 3D”.

Of course, nothing goes smoothly when a 3D character is on the loose. There are explosions, a singing pig, Waldorf and Statler making fun of everyone, and a glorious three-hour finale called “A Salute to All Nations, but Mostly America”

Since Muppet*Vision 3D takes place in a large theater, there is never a long wait. So, make sure to stop there on your next theme park trip!

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – Overrated

Now, don’t get me wrong, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train is a full ride and the animatronics are outstanding and vibrant. But is it worth the average 90-minute wait time? My vote is no.

I think the big problem is that the ride was built up when it first opened. Guests were flooding into the Magic Kingdom and waiting hours to board, with people talking about how it was one of the best rides at Disney World.

I really enjoy most thrill rides, and I thought that Seven Dwarfs Mine Train was a tamer version of Harry Potter and the Escape From Gringotts, which is located in Universal Studios Park at the Universal Orlando Resort. After waiting more than an hour to ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, I was definitely underwhelmed.

It’s a fun ride to enjoy, but only if the wait time gets as low as 30 minutes.

Na’vi River Journey – Overrated

Let me start out with the positive — Na’vi River Journey has the most incredible animatronic that you will find at Walt Disney World Resort. The Na’vi Shaman of Songs, with their fluid movements and mesmerizing voice, is absolutely stunning. The colors Disney Imagineers used to create a bioluminescent rainforest are gorgeous.

But it is NOT worth the high wait times.

Just like Avatar Flight of Passage, Na’vi River Journey opened in 2017 when Pandora: World of Avatar opened at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. Even though it has been nearly seven years since the opening, the average wait time to ride Na’vi River Journey is more than 90 minutes.

Related: Magic Kingdom Welcomes Exciting New Pirates of the Caribbean Lounge!

While the visuals are beautiful, the ride is not as interesting as Pirates of the Caribbean, over at the Magic Kingdom. The rides are very similar, but Pirates of the Caribbean typically has a much lower wait time and will keep guests more interested in what is happening around them.

Kilimanjaro Safaris – Underrated

Kilimanjaro Safaris is one of the few attractions that will be different every time you ride it. This wonderful ride takes guests through the Harambe Wildlife Reserve, where they can get up close and personal with elephants, zebras, giraffes, and more.

Kilimanjaro Safaris is also one of the longest attractions at Walt Disney World — lasting on average between 18 and 22 minutes.

Related: Disney’s Safari Animals Are Remote-Controlled (Well, Sort Of)

Guests will board a safari vehicle, where their phenomenal guide will tell them about all the animals that live in the Reserve. Guests will travel along rivers that are home to huge hippos and Nile crocodiles. Then, on the savanna, the animals interact as they would in the wild, and you’ll be blown away by the African elephants and white rhinos.

Wait times for Kilimanjaro Safaris can vary greatly, depending on when you visit. But it is definitely an attraction that you should take the time to enjoy.

Living With the Land – Underrated

Over the past couple of years, Living With the Land has become quite the cult classic at EPCOT. The relaxing boat ride is located inside the Land Pavilion in the World Nature section of the Park.

On this 15-minute journey, guests are taken through Walt Disney World’s fantastic greenhouses as they learn about farming and how important farms are to society. There are dozens of crops grown at Disney, both fruits and vegetables. They will also be able to see Disney’s impressive fish farms, where they breed hybrid striped bass, tilapia, catfish, and freshwater shrimp.

One of the coolest parts about Living With the Land is seeing where your food comes from. All of the food that is grown at Disney — including the fish — are used at multiple Disney World restaurants.

Soarin’ Around the World – Overrated

This one is tough to put on the list. Originally called Soarin’ Over California, the attraction opened in 2001 in Disney California Adventure Park at Disneyland Resort and in 2005 in the Land Pavilion at EPCOT.

The original attraction was absolutely worth the wait. Guests were made to feel like they were hang-gliding over some of California’s most gorgeous and famous sites  — including Yosemite National Park, San Diego, Palm Springs, and Napa Valley.

Disney closed Soarin’ Over California in 2016 at both DCA and EPCOT and reopened it as Soarin’ Around the World.

Related: Orlando Airport Roasts Popular Disney Attraction

Sadly, the new attraction is just not the same. While the original footage was filmed specifically to fit on the ride’s giant, curved screens, the new footage was not filmed the same way. So, the Eiffel Tower and Taj Mahal are curved and tilted at the top.

TRON Lightcycle/Run – Overrated

TRON Lightcycle/Run is one of Walt Disney World Resort’s newest attractions, having opened (after a 5-year wait) at Magic Kingdom Park in 2023. The new roller coaster is an exact replica of the attraction that has been at Shanghai Disneyland since 2016.

From the outset, TRON has been problematic for a lot of people.

Number one, TRON Lightcycle/Run is probably the most restrictive ride in the Resort. A lot of guests have been left disappointed because of the ride’s locking mechanism. The motorbike locks at the calf and those with larger or more muscular legs have been unable to get the bar to lock in place.

Related: Sorry, the “Losing Weight” Argument Won’t Help Most People Fit on TRON

Number two, the wait for the attraction is not worth it. TRON currently utilizes a virtual queue, so Disney controls the number of guests that are in line at any one time. However, guests are still waiting an hour or more for a ride that lasts about 60 seconds. The ride time also makes TRON Lightcycle/Run one of the shortest rides at the Resort.

** Controversial Take**

Journey Into Imagination With Figment – Underrated

Okay, I know that this one is definitely going to be divisive. Journey Into Imagination may be one of the most divisive rides in Walt Disney World. Many fans want Disney to return the ride to its original state, where the Dreamfinder tells people how important using their imagination is. Then, he introduces us to Figment — the embodiment of imagination.

Related: Beloved Disney Character Getting His Own Movie!

However, the new ride is a lot of fun. The new, animated version of Figment is absolutely adorable. And his animatronics that are seen throughout the ride are just as cute. Plus, who doesn’t love Eric Idle? It’s always fun to see Monty Python royalty while visiting EPCOT. Although, I will admit, the singing moon is a bit creepy.

Journey Into Imagination with Figment has been around since 2002, and I am totally fine with it staying the way it is. For now. As Walt Disney famously said, “Disney[land] will never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world.”

And there you have it — some of the most overrated and underrated attractions at Walt Disney World Resort. Of course, each person has their own opinion and there will be some people who think I am absolutely crazy! Everyone has their favorite attractions that they can’t miss, and those that they would rather skip. From Peter Pan’s Flight to the Gran Fiesta Tour, the options are endless.

Walt Disney World is your oyster, so go out there, ride the rides, eat all the snacks, and have the best time!

What do you think Disney World’s most overrated and underrated rides are? Let us know in the comments!