Top 5 Rides in Orlando

Turtle

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Universal's Islands of Adventure)

2. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror (Disney's Hollywood Studios)

3. The Amazing Adventures of Spiderman (Universal's Islands of Adventure)

4. Splash Mountain* (Magic Kingdom)

5. Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom)


* - When effects are working properly


HONORABLE MENTIONS:
  • Transformers: The Ride 3-D (Universal Studios Florida)
  • Rock 'n' Rollercoaster Starring Aerosmith (Disney''s Hollywood Studios)
  • Revenge of The Mummy (Universal Studios Florida)
  • Space Mountain (Magic Kingdom)
 

cheezbat

Well-Known Member
1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
2. Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
3. Twlight Zone Tower of Terror
4. Haunted Mansion
5. Transformers the ride

These five are my must dos in Central Florida.
 

luv

Well-Known Member
OK, this is ridiculously difficult!! I can only pick my favorites and not rate them as best, as you didn't give criteria for that.

Kraken
Spider-Man
Forbidden Journey
The Mummy
The Simpsons

I just realized that Disney didn't make my top five. That wasn't a purposeful thing and it doesn't mean they don't have rides I adore!!!
 

Marc Gil

Well-Known Member
#1.) Splash Mountain (MK)- An absolute masterpiece of engineering and story. When everything is working, Splash Mountain easily tops every ride in Orlando. You don't get story, song, thrills, and amazing special effects like the way Splash Mountain presents it. It's literally the perfect dark ride-flume.
#2.) Pirates of the Caribbean (MK)- Another example of great story telling and amazing music. Pirates of the Caribbean is a true Disney classic and is one the finest achievements that Disney had ever produced.
#3.) The Haunted Mansion (MK)- It creates the perfect mood. First you're scared, then you just want to jump out and celebrate with the Grim-Grinning Ghosts. It's a Disney masterpiece and it was hard choosing Pirates over Haunted Mansion. They are both great examples of great storytelling and design.
#4.) Spaceship Earth (Epcot)- Call me crazy, but I'm happy to say that I nominate Spaceship Earth #4 on my list here's why: It really is the last of the great Epcot dark rides from the 1980's that still remains intact. It's changed slightly over the years (maybe a lot), but it is still as majestic and grand than it was on opening day, even though the descent is lacking show pieces.
#5.) Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (IOA)- One of those rare instances when a Universal ride outshines a Disney ride. But you have to consider that this ride won't be relevant in another 30 years, while the attractions mentioned above will always be. There are great effects and a good story, and it certainly is thrilling. HPATFJ is a great ride nonetheless, it never fails to impress me, even though many ride effects are not working. But when they are, it's a great ride.
Honorable Mentions: No particular order
-Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
-Revenge of the Mummy
-Space Mountain
-Jurassic Park River Adventure
-Amazing Spider Man (correct me if the name is wrong)
-Soarin'
-Star Tours
-Expedition Everest (effects working)

Guilty Pleasures: No particular order
-it's a small world
-The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
-Peter Pan's Flight
-Hall of Presidents (underrated)
-Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
-Maelstrom
-Tomorrowland Transit Authority
-Carousel of Progress
-Muppet Vision 3D
-Ellen's Energy Adventure
-Expedition Everest (Disco Yeti version)
-Dumbo the Flying Elephant
And finally...
-The Great Movie Ride

Rides that seem great, but I'm too much of a chicken to get on:
-Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
-Rock 'N Rollercoaster
-Manta

And there goes my 2 cents! :D
 

Thrill Seeker

Well-Known Member
5. Transformers: The Ride (USF)
4. Splash Mountain (MK)
3. Revenge of the Mummy (USF)
2.The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man (IoA)
1. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (IoA)

My choices are examples of truely immersive experiences or the best in their type.

Transformers, despite being the same ride system as Spidey focuses on blockbuster action on crystal clear screens and intense movement.

Splash Mountain is the best log flume, period.

Revenge of the Mummy is a fantastic fusion dark ride/roller coaster.

The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man is a revolutionary ride that brings the comic book world of Spider-Man to life.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey is a highly original and immersive attraction with the most advanced ride system ever built and the best queue.

Universal attractions tend to have more of a wow factor than Disney, which is why they dominate this list.

Honorable Mentions include Men in Black: Alien Attack, Test Track, Haunted Mansion, Popeye and Bluto's Bilgerat Barges, Dinosaur, Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, The Great Movie Ride and Manta.
 

Thrill Seeker

Well-Known Member
I do take satisfaction in the fact that Toy Story Midway Mania, Soarin' and Expedition Everest haven't made anyone's lists, as they shouldn't.

Toy Story and Soarin' are hugely overrated and Everest would be great if the effects worked, but alas, they don't.
 

Kitchandro

Well-Known Member
1. Tower of Terror
2. The Revenge of the Mummy
3. Splash Mountain
4. Dinosaur
5. Expedition Everest

Though Splash Mountain and Dinosaur are probably my favourites.
 

Padraig

Well-Known Member
In no particular order...

Haunted Mansion
Forbidden Journey
Spider-man
Thunder Mountain

The fifth spot is agony for me. I'm going to go with Test-track, although there are quite a few attractions that could take its place.
 

bubbles1812

Well-Known Member
No particular order.. Forbidden Journey, Tower of Terror, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Revenge of the Mummy

Honorable mentions to Spider-Man, Men in Black (hands down the best ride of its type in Orlando, TSMM and Buzz don't come close), Pirates of the Caribbean, Popeye's (best water ride in Orlando), and Big Thunder.
 

retroeric

Active Member
I already gave my top 5, but I also want to list three Honorable Mention rides that are rarely mentioned in these lists but are fantastic in their own ways:

1. The Great Movie Ride: If you're an animatronic fan, there simply is nothing better. This might be the single most underrated and neglected attraction in the country in terms of the wow factor. I still see people leaving that ride asking how they made all those "robots". This ride was supposed to be the crown jewel centerpiece of DHS and then they inexplicably drop that ridiculous giant Sorcerer Mickey hat right smack in front of it. And now it's the best kept secret.

2. Popeye and Bluto's Bilge Rat Barges: This might be the most "pure fun" ride in any theme park. Few rides make you feel so unsettled but at the same time make you laugh hysterically. This is also, by far, the best river raft ride in the country. It's 10x better, more exciting, and more unpredictable than Kali River Rapids.

3. Dinosaur: Another technical marvel that few people notice. It often gets criticized because of it's inferiority to Indy at DL (a ride that uses the same technology and track layout) but if you judge it on its own merits, it's a damn good ride. It's dark, it's atmospheric, there's tension, it's quick, and you don't feel like you're on a track.
 

Zman-ks

Well-Known Member
1. Tower of Terror
2. The Revenge of the Mummy
3. Splash Mountain
4. Haunted Mansion
5. Expedition Everest

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71jason

Well-Known Member
In no particular order:

Spider-Man
Haunted Mansion
Splash Mountain
Men in Black
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

Honorable Mentions: Manta (best coaster), Jungle Cruise (depends entirely on the skipper, but if I could get one of the best each time, would be #1), TTA (because it's my moment of Zen in the park)
 

jmorri26

Well-Known Member
1) Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
This is tough to top right now, still.

2) Tower of Terror
Amazing theming start to finish.

3) Revenge of the Mummy
Really fun and good theme to it throughout, minus doofy Brendan Frasier at the end.

4) Haunted Mansion
Love wdw version, the queue, the updates. All awesome.

5) Splash Mountain
Like others, wish the laughing place is what it should be, but love this ride. Cant go on it without smiling.

Honorable mention for the Despicable Me ride at Uni but just because I worked on it:)
 

afar28

Well-Known Member
5. Haunted Mansion (Magic Kingdom)
4. Tower of Terror (Hollywood Studios)
3. The Amazing Spider Man (Islands of Adventure)
2. Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Islands of Adventure)
1. Splash Mountain (Magic Kingdom
Honorable mentions:
Space Mountain
Pirates of the Caribbean
 

Turtle

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
1) Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey
This is tough to top right now, still.

2) Tower of Terror
Amazing theming start to finish.

3) Revenge of the Mummy
Really fun and good theme to it throughout, minus doofy Brendan Frasier at the end.

4) Haunted Mansion
Love wdw version, the queue, the updates. All awesome.

5) Splash Mountain
Like others, wish the laughing place is what it should be, but love this ride. Cant go on it without smiling.

Honorable mention for the Despicable Me ride at Uni but just because I worked on it:)
What did you do on the ride?
 

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