While Disney World is often thought of as a theme park for children, not every experience is geared exclusively toward a younger demographic. In fact, there are many activities and experiences at Disney World that are not only tailored for but often times limited to adults only. Fine dining, shopping, bars, behind-the-scenes tours, and concerts are a few of the things Disney offers to its older consumers.
But what about rides? Well, most of Disney World’s rides can be enjoyed by anyone, but if you’re a thrill ride seeker, it can be a little tougher to find attractions that’ll get your adrenaline pumping. Disney is known more for their immersive storytelling than stomach-plummeting coasters, but if you’re looking for some attractions at Disney World that will rival those of Six Flags or Cedar Point, you’ve come to the right place.
1. Tower of Terror
It’s not your typical thrill ride, but Tower of Terror in Hollywood Studios certainly lives up to its moniker. Even the most stoic teenagers will be screaming at the top of their lungs as they plummet 13 floors with nothing but an airplane seatbelt over their lap, only to reascend and do it all over again and again and again.
Themed after the Twilight Zone series, Tower of Terror’s story and design really go a long way in making the experience scary. In short, you’re trapped in a dilapidated hotel that’s permanently frozen in the 1930s. Years ago, lightning struck the hotel, sending an elevator and its occupants plunging into a freefall, never to be heard from again.
Ordinarily, you’d never want to be trapped in a free-falling elevator. Tower of Terror exploits this fear so well that even people who have ridden drop towers before will sometimes balk at the idea of stepping into an “elevator” doomed to plummet. But if you’re a true adrenaline junkie, you’ll want to ride at least twice, as all the drops are programmed to be completely random.
2. Rockin’ Roller Coaster
From 0 to 60 in under 3 seconds, Rockin’ Roller Coaster, strangely enough, sits right next to Tower of Terror in their own little thrill ride pocket at Hollywood Studios. It is considered somewhat of a rarity among Disney coasters, not only for its speed but also for its various upside-down loops and corkscrews. And for an added extra thrill, the ride also takes place completely in the dark.
Like the name implies, Rockin’ Roller Coaster is themed around 80\’s rock and roll and the band Aerosmith in particular. Steven Tyler himself welcomes you to their recording booth and invites you along as a VIP guest to their concert. But you better hurry! The concert starts soon, and the VIPs can’t be late.
It is one of only two coasters in all of Walt Disney World to have a 48” height requirement (the other being their newest coaster, Tron: Lightcycle Run), but you would be hard-pressed to find any two-foot-tall child that would be eager to ride this.
3. Everest: Legend of the Forbidden Mountain
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Typically referred to simply as “Everest,” this Animal Kingdom thrill ride was a massive undertaking by Disney, taking a little over 3 years to build. Like its cousin, the Matterhorn in Disneyland, Everest takes place inside a literal mountain and stands at almost 200 feet tall. For reference, that’s over half a football field.
The coaster starts out small: a slow trek up the base of the mountain in search of the elusive yeti. But things take a turn when your train comes across a broken set of tracks, causing you to careen backwards before plummeting down an 80-foot drop to escape the angry beast you were hunting. There are several smaller drops and steep curves during the ride as well, the majority of which are also in the dark.
As an interesting side note, there’s a tradition where some Everest riders will throw scrunchies or ponytail holders onto the topmost part of the mountain when the ride pauses at the top to switch tracks. But maybe refrain from doing this, as cast members will occasionally be tasked with walking up the 14 flights of stairs to the top to clean them off.
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