The Absolute Best Ride at Walt Disney World Isn't What You Think

There may not be a better ride at Walt Disney World than this one.

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Walt Disney World is home to some of the world’s most treasured and iconic theme park attractions of all time, though Disney continues to innovate with each passing year.

Some of the resort’s most recent additions, namely Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, and TRON Lightcycle / Run, have proven that Disney not only knows how to craft exhilarating, sparking rides but also immerses guests into the worlds of far-out stories.

There are plenty of new things to look forward to on the horizon, with Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom set to receive major upgrades in the next few years.

However, one ride stands tall above the rest (literally), serving as the gold standard for all theme park rides.

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The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror opened on July 22, 1994, as part of the park’s major Sunset Boulevard expansion. This project added to the footprint of Disney’s Hollywood Studios in a significant way, and it would later become the home to one of the park’s other major “E-ticket” attractions, Rock ’n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith.

While Tower of Terror’s spooky exterior and thrilling drop sequences may be as iconic as Mickey Mouse himself, the ride underwent a number of design changes during the actual planning phase. Walt Disney Imagineering tossed around various iterations of the attraction, with the original idea being a hybrid attraction and hotel inspired by legendary comedy director Mel Brooks.

Eventually, Disney set its sights on the legendary CBS series The Twilight Zone, and the rest is history. Taking guests 130 feet above Disney’s Hollywood Studios and dropping them down at speeds of up to nearly 40 mph, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is not only a satisfying on-ride experience but also one of Disney’s most complete thematic packages.

From the moment riders enter the queue, it’s clear this attraction is unlike any other at Walt Disney World. Guests are immersed in the Hollywood of old, with the Tower Hotel’s fading pink bricks and cobweb-covered windows painting a picture of a once-lavish destination for A-list stars. This hotel now sits essentially abandoned, a shadow of its former self, though visitors are still offered a chance to explore, if they dare.

It’s clear what state the hotel is in once guests make it into the boiler room, though by now, it’s too late. Guests are greeted by a Tower Hotel staff member, instructed on how to best secure themselves in the elevator, and the ride begins.

What follows is perhaps Disney’s most impressive, fully realized theme park experience to date, with every piece of The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror coming together to form an unforgettable, truly magical experience.

The ride itself is fun, but the Tower of Terror truly shines thanks to its theming and storyline. It’s creepy and honestly a little unnerving to ride, but it’s also one of the most fun and thrilling attractions in Walt Disney World.

There’s a reason Tower of Terror has served as a literal icon for Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park, and we’d be hard-pressed to find a ride that truly compares.

What’s your favorite ride at Walt Disney World?