Winner: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror

Honorable Mention: Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, Spider-Man

Image: UniversalYes, Disney killed Twilight Zone Tower of Terror at Disneyland California Adventure, but it’s still the pride of Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Even as Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land revolutionize that gate’s ride options, Tower of Terror maintains its status as a steadfast performer that’s beloved by critics and fans alike. The theming here is the gold standard, and the brilliance of a drop tower ride that tells a story is something only a Disney Imagineer could invent. It deserves its placement at the top of the industry.

The other two selections in the category are former winners. In fact, both of Universal’s motion simulator attractions have dominated this category at various times. The Spider-Man ride redefined what was possible for a dark ride when it debuted, and then Universal cleverly used that same backbone as the baseline for a Harry Potter attraction. Universal Resort Orlando has become the de facto home for motion simulator rides, but these two are undeniably the best, even after a combined ~30 years in operation.

Best Indoor Roller Coaster

Image: Universal Amusement parks aren't in love with the concept of the indoor roller coaster. They prefer to leave the tracks out in plain sight for gawkers to admire. At Disney and Universal, other factors come into play such as the comfort of their park guests. So, they dominate this category and have for quite some time. In fact, the Golden Tickets don’t always list Honorable Mentions here. Instead, we have to look at prior results in some instances to discover their standing favorites.

Winner: Revenge of the Mummy

Honorable Mention: Space Mountain (Disneyland), Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

Image: DisneyI recently listed Revenge of the Mummy as one of the best thrill rides at Universal Resort Orlando. In the same piece, I described it as the best roller coaster at the park, even over more storied favorites like The Incredible Hulk Coaster and Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Clearly, I agree with the assessment of the voters here, as I love the brilliant design of Revenge of the Mummy. It subverts expectations while still somehow feeling like an archaeology-based attraction. I’m impressed by that and think it’s better than the Indiana Jones roller coaster in Paris.

The honorable mention discussion is where the situation gets complicated. Space Mountain is the most seminal, influential roller coaster ever built. How much credit should it receive for that during these annual awards? As we’ve seen, voters aren’t afraid to laud rides from the 1970s. The question becomes whether Space Mountain is quantifiably better than Revenge of the Mummy, and I’m not sure I have a good answer to that.

Image: DisneyWhat I can say with confidence is that when we talk about whipass indoor roller coasters, Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith is the crown jewel of the industry. The other two coasters are spectacular, but the Aerosmith one is next-level. So, this is the category where I disagree the most with the voters.

What do you think? What do you believe this list gets right and gets wrong? Let us know in the comments!