5. Astro Orbiter

Astro Orbiter (formerly Star Jets) is another classic that I genuinely enjoy. But it’s too short to be worth a long wait, and is entirely outdoors. Catch it late at night if you can, but don’t waste precious morning hours on it or stand in line in the heat. Sharing a tiny elevator with a bunch of sweaty, wilting, short-tempered people just isn’t worth it.

6. The Magic Carpets of Aladdin

This Dumbo-style ride isn’t bad by any means, especially for families with kids. But it’s not one of Adventureland’s best attractions, by a long shot. The wait can be brutal in the summer sun, and like Astro Orbiter, the ride isn’t long enough to be worth it. If your kids want to do something in that ride style, choose Dumbo. At least the interactive queue area will keep them entertained during the wait.

7. Animal Kingdom

I’m actually a reasonably big fan of Animal Kingdom. I love animals, and I think Festival of the Lion King is the best show anywhere on Walt Disney World property. But I steadfastly refuse to set foot inside the park between May and September. I’m not sure if it’s just my subjective opinion, but it always feels 20 degrees hotter to me there than anywhere else at Disney. With the decided lack of shade and the fact that there are only a handful of places to escape the near-daily summer rains, I find the entire park to be worthy of a miss over the summer. Take that day and hit the water parks instead, or drive over to Universal Orlando to see what you’ve been missing.

Naturally, which attractions are or are not worth seeing is an extremely personal decision. We all have our own preferences, as well as our own tolerance for heat and crowds. What do you think? Did I get it right? Are there other attractions you skip during the summer, or do you think some of my picks are off base? I would love to hear your opinions in the comments!