4. Soarin’ Around the World – 23 points

Image: DisneyI’ll admit it. This one is a surprise to me. While Soarin’ Over California was universally beloved, Soarin’ Around the World has had its fair share of detractors. Some critics lament the IMAX cropping issues at play on the attraction. Guests who aren’t seated directly in the middle of the ride sometimes see a kind of wobble effect. In the most extreme instance, the top of the Eiffel Tower seems to bend. I find the entire conversation overblown and am gratified to read that other analysts agree with me. Soarin’ Around the World delivers a sumptuous sensory experience, simultaneously titillating the eyes, ears and nose. I wouldn’t rank it quite this high, though.

3. Expedition Everest – 31 points

Image: DisneyI would have predicted two out of the top three on this list (and actually did before tabulating results). This one is the surprise. Expedition Everest features the best ride design at any Disney theme park in my opinion. The hypnotic build-up as the rider approaches the peak of the Forbidden Mountain is masterful. Then, the broken tracks heighten the sense of dread. Once the ride zooms backward into the darkness, theme park tourists are screaming at the top of their lungs. Within 15 seconds, this reverse roller coaster hooks everyone. A journey on Expedition Everest is a guaranteed crowd pleaser. I just wouldn’t call it the equal of something like Splash Mountain or Avatar Flight of Passage.  

2. Haunted Mansion – 34 points

Image: DisneyYou may have noticed that the point totals spiked when we entered the top three. All five voters agree that these rides are worthy of praise. The only question is how much. In the case of Haunted Mansion, it consistently finished in the top five of ballots, proving that the idea of a haunted house is timeless. The ride’s about 50 years old and has many of the most colorful characters at Disney theme parks.

The lingering appeal of Haunted Mansion is its style. It doesn’t have a ride cart; it has a Doom Buggy. It doesn’t have a narrator; it has a Ghost Host. Perhaps most importantly, it doesn’t have set pieces; it has rooms, the kind a person would expect in a mansion. The ballroom’s a lively place despite the fact that none of the guests is alive. The graveyard seems to host a permanent show. And the attic…well, standard horror rules apply. Never go up into the attic alone.

Disney’s Haunted Mansion is one of the most entertaining attractions ever. It’s actually my wife’s favorite ride to the point where it’s an automatic FastPass during each visit. It absolutely deserves all the praise it receives and would have been a valid choice as the best reviewed theme park attraction. Instead, that honor goes to…

1. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – 39 points

Image: DisneyThe final answer can’t be a surprise to anyone. By process of elimination, you should have deduced the best reviewed ride at Walt Disney World. Perhaps the only unexpected aspect is the voting total. Twilight Tower of Terror finished about 15 percent higher than Haunted Mansion and 26 percent above Expedition Everest. In other words, this vote was a blowout.

The outcome is difficult to argue. Tower of Terror has everything you’d expect from the best Disney attraction. The theming is precise and immersive. Once you enter the abandoned Hollywood Tower Hotel, the dust everywhere forces you to believe that no one has lived here in decades. By the time Rod Serling provides the narration, you have totally bought into the idea that your fate is sealed, just like those unfortunate souls trapped on the elevator forever.

The ride experience is pure Disney. While drop tower rides are rides are nothing new, Imagineers elevated the concept by moving the entire ride cart. Its ability to advance on a ride path creates a sense of confusion. Once the elevator cart stands bouncing, riders have no idea whether they’re going up or down next. It’s a rare form of terror that lives up to the attraction’s name.

Out of all the rides at Walt Disney World, critics resoundingly agree that Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is the best. Do you think they’re right? Leave a comment about which attraction is your favorite.