Credit: DisneyEver wondered what the most expensive ride in Walt Disney World is?
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The Walt Disney Company has a long and rich history when it comes to designing, building, and creating incredible theme park attractions. From thrilling roller coasters to immersive drop-towers and motion simulators, there’s something for everyone at the Disney parks.
This rings especially true for Disney’s largest resort, Walt Disney World, which features four theme parks, two water parks, and an outdoor shopping and dining hub named Disney Springs.
Due to the sheer size and scope of Walt Disney World, most guests tend to visit for at least a few days, with some trips even extending to two weeks. Of course, the biggest hurdle when it comes to vacationing in Disney World is the cost, which seems to increase every year.
There are certainly ways for guests to save money, but there’s simply no getting around how expensive a trip to “The Most Magical Place on Earth” can be in 2025.
However, guests aren’t the only ones laying down serious cash, with Disney investing heavily in its theme parks over the years. Two rides, in particular, stand above the rest in terms of their budget, both of which are now considered crucial parts of the Walt Disney World Resort.
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Expedition Everest retained the title of the most expensive ride at Walt Disney World for nearly two decades before being edged out by the ride named further down in this story.
First opening its gates in 2006, Expedition Everest fundamentally changed the Walt Disney World Resort, delivering one of the most thrilling and intense experiences on the property. The roller coaster was estimated to have cost $100 million, or around $150 million in today’s money.
While remaining the most popular theme park destination, Walt Disney World has long faced accusations of being too “kid friendly” and sanitized when compared to its competitors like Universal Studios and Six Flags.
It’s hard to go wrong with classic dark rides like Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, but it’s also hard to deny Disney World was in desperate need of some high-octane energy in the mid-2000s.
Expedition Everest solved this issue, easily becoming one of the resort’s most intense and exhilarating attractions, alongside classics like The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster.
However, Expedition Everest was eventually dethroned, with one of Disney’s newest attractions blowing it out of the water in terms of budget.
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Officially opened on May 27, 2022, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is perhaps one of the most important and crucial additions to the Disney theme park.
A lot of excitement, hype, and controversy surrounded the initial announcement of this ride and its construction, with many fans worried the Marvel-themed coaster would not fit into Walt Disney’s original plans for what EPCOT should be.
EPCOT has long been known for being both a fun and educational place for guests to enjoy, featuring rides and attractions designed to inspire guests. This is not to say that a roller coaster starring Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy can’t be inspiring, but it’s certainly a little more out of place when compared to attractions like Spaceship Earth and Living with the Land.
Regardless, Comsic Rewind quickly proved to be a hit, and the rest is history. The roller coaster blends innovative ride vehicle technology with a fantastic layout and impressive theming, all coming together to form what could very well be Disney’s best roller coaster to date.
Couple these elements with a randomly selected on-ride soundtrack, and Walt Disney World has one of the best coasters in the state of Florida. Cosmic Rewind even stands tall above other award-winners like VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Studios.
However, what truly sets Cosmic Rewind apart is its budget, with the roller coaster’s estimated cost landing at roughly $500 million.
Disney’s big budgets likely won’t stop, with the company set to overhaul multiple rides, attractions, and even entire lands at its resorts over the next decade. Last year, Disney pledged a whopping $60 billion toward theme park expansions and updates, with some already starting in Florida.
Magic Kingdom’s iconic Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster closed for a hefty year-long refurbishment. During this downtime, Disney plans to update and improve the ride significantly.
Plenty more is in store for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, so much so that it can be hard to keep track of what will be open, what will be closed, and what will be erased forever. Make sure you’re following Inside the Magic for all the latest on Disney theme park news.
What is your favorite roller coaster at Walt Disney World? Do you prefer thrill rides or slow rides?