Most popular attraction

[CP_alum08]

Thought it might be fun to figure out what is the most popular attraction at WDW. Obviously there are going to be huge variables, but I think just going on number of guests in/on the attraction every day/month/year would work.

There is also another variable; most popular now or all-time. If you have hard facts on this subject please post it, or if you just want to add your own guess as to what it is that's great too!

My guess(s) are that Toy Story is the most popular now and that Pirates of the Caribbean is the most popular all-time. Again, these are just guesses!

 

[Dragonrider1227]

I hear Space Mountain is the most popular in the Magic Kingdom.
But I agree Toy Story Mania must be the most popular in Hollywood Studios and quite possibly the most popular period at the moment

 

[MarkTwain]

MK - Space Mountain.
Epcot - Soarin'.
DHS - probably Midway Mania.
AK - Everest.

Most popular at WDW? Anyone's guess (or educated find). But I would bet on TSMM or Soarin.

 

[Krack]

If you're trying to figure out the all-time WDW attendance leader, my guess is that it would have to be an omni-mover that opened within a year or two of 1971 (if not one of the original park attractions). I bet it's the Haunted Mansion.

Using similar thinking, I'd also bet on HM as the current yearly attendance leader - high capacity, very popular, always open (unlike DL's HM and the EPCOT Omni-movers).

Does anyone know the hourly capacity of HM vs PotC?

 

[Fable McCloud]

I'd have to agree with you about HM. You can have huge lines, but they move so quickly since the ride is always moving. It's cool, in temp and appearance, it's spooky enough for little ones to be okay, and it screams "come in" when you see it lurking in the corner of Liberty Square. Also, it has a HUGE cult following, and while many people head to Pirates to observe Captain Jack, I always beeline for HM.

I also agree that Soarin' is probably most popular at Epcot, Everest at Animal Kingdom, and either Toy Story Midway Mania OR Rockin' Roller coaster at Hollywood.

 

[WVParkfan]

Would the Castle count as an attraction? I've heard that it is the most photographed icon in the world. If that's true, then Cindy's Castle would have to stand out as the most popular attraction not only in Disney World, but anywhere!

If you don't count Cinderella's Castle, then I'm going to have to go with Splash Mountain.

 

[ThinkTink721]

My opinions:

Magic Kingdom
Space Mountain
Splash Mountain
Big Thunder Mountain

Epcot
Soarin'
Spaceship Earth

Disney Hollywood Studios
Toy Story Mania
Rock N' Roller Coaster
Tower of Terror

Animal Kingdom
Expedition Everest
Dinosaur

 

[bgraham34]

Would the Castle count as an attraction? I've heard that it is the most photographed icon in the world. If that's true, then Cindy's Castle would have to stand out as the most popular attraction not only in Disney World, but anywhere!

If you don't count Cinderella's Castle, then I'm going to have to go with Splash Mountain.

I remember hearing a year or so ago that the Eiffel Tower is the most photographed landmark in the world.

 

[Fable McCloud]

I remember hearing a year or so ago that the Eiffel Tower is the most photographed landmark in the world.

I wonder where Cinderella's Castle falls on that list?

 

[CP_alum08]

I forgot all about the jungle cruise too :hammer: That has to be up there in the all-time category I would think.

 

[fosse76]

I wonder where Cinderella's Castle falls on that list?

France is the most popular tourist destination in the world, so it wouldn't surprise me that the Eiffel Tower is first. I imagine that Cinderella's Castle is at least in the top 10, if not 5.

 

[WDW_Emily]

Im going to disagree with space mountain. The last few times we have been space has had about a 20-35 minute wait where as BTMRR has at least an hour.

MK=BTMRR
AK= Safai
DHS= TSMM
EPCOT= This is tricky, But the top 3 are definitely Soarin', Test Track, and Spaceship Earth

 

[jac07024]

I was just on vacation down there and we met up with one of my friends who is in the disney college program and she acted like it was well known throughout everyone working there it was tsm. we got to the park around 10 and we were going to go grab fastpasses for it, and she said they'd be all gone and nobody believed her. We got back there and they were gone plus the 60 minute line.... definitely worth the wait though.

On a separate and completely unrelated note I remember reading somewhere that SSE has the highest capacity per hour out of any ride at WDW.

 

[captainkidd]

Most popular and longest lines are 2 very different things. Longest lines would go to Toy Story Mania and Soarin'. Most popular would go to Splash Mountain and Space Mountain.

 

[captainkidd]

I remember hearing a year or so ago that the Eiffel Tower is the most photographed landmark in the world.

According to Kodak (whatever that means), Cinderella Castle is the most photographed.

 

[Rob562]

There are multiple ways of looking at how "popular" a ride is...

For example, I've heard that the ride that has the highest percentage of all guests riding it at least once is Spaceship Earth. Meaning that even though people will skip the thrill rides or the "kiddie" rides (both of whose rider-counts will be bolstered by people who ride multiple times), Spaceship Earth is the attraction that almost everyone rides at least once during their trip, and thus could be considered the most-popular attraction.

-Rob

 

[Bravo 229]

Magic Kingdom - Haunted Mansion or Peter Pan's Flight.
EPCOT - Spaceship Earth or Soarin'.
Hollywood Studios - Tower of Terror.
Animal Kingdom - Expedition Everest.

In the case of HM, PPF and SE, these rides always have long lines and are able to push guests through without the ride stopping. Therefore, the lines are long because more people are visiting them, making them the more popular attractions by default.

 

[Walt Disney1955]

I just as well assume its TOT at DHS

Epcot would be Soarin or Test Track

AK would be Everest for sure

MK is a funny one. It all depends really. On a cultural level you have to think about the impact each ride has had on society. Even people who have never been to Disney can tell you where Small World is. Space Mountain for years has been brought up on tons of sitcoms on TV. Pirates has the insanely popular movie trilogy along with different pop culture references (think Jurassic Park's comment about it). So really I think it comes down to those two. There are others:

Haunted Mansion
Mad Tea Party
Mr Toad's Wild Ride (Disneyland) - on Two and a Half men Charlie reconnected with an old girlfriend and reminisced about what they "did" on Mr Toad's Wild Ride


Overall I guess if you got me into a corner I would pick Pirates. As far as quality goes it's probably the best ride out there. It can be enjoyed by an 8 or 80 year old and the movie was popular.

 

[rkelly42]

MK - HM
Epcot - Soarin
AK - Everest
DHS - ToT

 

[Banksy]

Ive always waited the longest for Splash mountain. So i would say splash mountain. I would of said Space mountain but i only wait about 40 minutes for it, where as slash ive waited about 2 hours Max.