Wonders of Disney World Roller Coaster Rides

Have you ever been in a runaway mine rail car, soared through outer space, or ridden on a log down a waterfall? Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are among the three most entertaining roller coaster rides at Disney World Theme Park, and each one provides a totally different experience. Use this article to help you decide which one to go on first during your next trip to Disney.

In Tomorrowland you'll find Space Mountain, which is an indoor roller coaster that gives you a ride through what looks like outer space. You enter a space station and get on and off the roller coaster, which are passenger "rockets" that seat one person after the other (six people per "rocket"), at a space port. The beginning of the ride has you going through a tunnel with lights and colors before you're out in the wide vastness of "space", and the lighting is used to hide sections of the track and heighten the element of surprise. You'll ride past glowing planets and shooting stars for about three minutes. Due to the intensity of the ride, you're strongly advised to consider boarding young children.

Located in Frontierland is Splash Mountain. The theme of this roller coaster ride is Brer Rabbit being chased by Brer Fox and Brer Bear through woods and swamp. You'll discover 100 animatronic figures as you ride through bayous, caves, and swamps. Brer Rabbit will take the 5-story plunge with you from the top of Chickapin Hill into the briar patch. If you want to get wet, then this is the ride to go on, especially if you sit at the front. The descent down the waterfall was especially made for you.

Also located in Frontierland, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad looks like it was taken right out of the gold rush period. The theme of this ride is a flooded mine town named Tumbleweed, and when you get on the ride, you're seated in a mine car. In your runaway car, you'll experience approximately four minutes of falling, quick corner turns, and being tossed side to side. You'll see 20 animatronic donkeys, chickens, possums and a rainmaker. Your eye will also catch falling rocks, an earthquake, and old mining equipment; and you'll be moving through the rib of a dinosaur, past active geysers, over a volcanic pool, and under a waterfall.

The best time to go on any of these Disney World roller coaster rides is during parades or later during the day (especially at night, as some people say the rides are even better at that time). Splash Mountain is a must on very hot days (and you might want to take a small fan or mister with you while you're standing in line), Space Mountain is the one to go to if you're in the mood for a fast, teeth-chattering ride, and Big Thunder Mountain is great if you want a gentler ride with plenty of details to keep things really interesting.