I’m not big on thrill rides, which is largely why Disney World holds the only theme parks I deeply enjoy. There are plenty of non-thrill rides in Disney World that are great for guests of all ages.
Today, we’re going to talk about the best non-thrill rides Disney World had to offer.
Of course, “best” is subjective, but these are my favorites.
However, it’s important to note that I have not been to Disney World since just before Toy Story Land opened. I was scheduled to go this spring when the parks ended up closing.
As a result, this list doesn’t include some of the park’s latest additions.
In my opinion, these are the best non-thrill rides in Disney World.
Peter Pan’s Flight
This ride is always going to be at the top of my list. This may be purely nostalgia driven.
As a kid, there was nothing more magical to me than being able to jump in a flying ship and soar through the story of Peter Pan.
This is a dark ride lets you fly through the adventures of Peter Pan. You hop in a ship (like Captain Hook’s) at the start the ride. Your ship attaches to a track in the ceiling, which will allow you to “fly” through the ride.
You’ll see Peter, Wendy, Tinker Bell, and all of their friends throughout the course of the ride.
You’ll find Peter Pan’s Flight in Fantasyland in Magic Kingdom.
The Haunted Mansion
This is another Disney World classic.
On this ride, you enter a “haunted” house. You’ll ride in a dune-buggy through the house and have a handful of ghostly encounters.
This ride is also a dark ride. While the ghosts are harmless, and you experience this ride as more of an observer in the house, it may be a little scary for some kids.
If you’re up for a little bit of a ghostly experience, this ride is always a lot of fun.
You’ll find the Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom.
Pirates of the Caribbean
This is a dark water ride. You enter a boat, sail through the Caribbean, and take in the scenes of the pirates who operate there.
As someone who does not like thrill ride, I consider this ride to be non-thrilling. However, I would also consider it to be it’s one of the more thrilling non-thrilling rides on this list.
There’s canon fire and a little more tension in this ride than in others. There also is one drop towards the end of the ride. It’s not massive, but it’s enough that if you’re in the front or on the sides, you may get wet.
You can find Pirates of the Caribbean in Adventureland in Magic Kingdom
Frozen Ever After
This is another dark water ride, similar to Pirates of Caribbean. You’ll enter a boat, sail through Arendelle, and get to see Elsa, Anna, Kristof, and Olaf.
Because of the nature of the story and the ride, I’d say this is less thrilling than Pirates, but it’s worth noting that you do go backwards in the boat at one point and there is a smaller, but significant, drop.
Again, as someone who does not like thrill rides, I think it’s a manageable drop, but if you or someone in your group won’t be able to tolerate a drop of any kind, this ride may not be for you.
You can find Frozen Ever After in the Norway Pavilion in Epcot.
Soarin’
Depending on your preferences and sensitivities, this may be considered the most thrilling ride on the list.
The ride itself is simple and straightforward. You sit in a seat with a row of people and are strapped in. You’re then raised up into a dome-shaped screen. Once you’re in this position, the ride vehicle itself doesn’t move all that much.
The screen will then play a video that makes it look and feel as if you’re hang-gliding over the world and your seat will tilt and move in ways to support the effect.
It can feel like a bit of a thrill, but because you’re seated and moving pretty minimally, I find it on the fun and manageable side of the spectrum.
However, if you’re afraid of heights or have bad reactions to visual simulations, this ride may not be for you.
You can find Soarin’ in the Land Pavilion in Epcot.
Toy Story Mania
This ride is a lot of fun, especially if you enjoy video games and a little friendly competition. (And honestly, I’m not big on video games, but I still love it.)
For this ride, you’re given 3-D glasses and enter a Toy Story themed two-person ride vehicle. Throughout the ride, you’re taken to a series of screens with various targets you get to try and hit.
You get points for every target you hit, just like a video game.
The ride balances the video game element with some sharp turns and quick moves in between screens to strike the right balance of fun without being too thrilling.
You can find Toy Story Mania in Toy Story Land in Hollywood Studios.
Kilimanjaro Safari
If you’ve every wanted to go of a low-key safari, this is the ride for you!
You board a large safari vehicle and are taken through an Animal Kingdom Savana. You’ll get to see a whole host of animals roaming their environments with a fun and knowledgeable tour guide.
The ride can get a bit bumpy from time to time, but other than that, it’s pretty tame and low-key.
Pro tip: Go early in the day (around 9 or 10) or around dinner time (4:30-6:30) if you want to see the animals more active.
You can find Kilimanjaro Safari in Africa in Animal Kingdom.
Na’vi River Journey
This is another dark water ride, but it’s easily the most tame on this list.
You board a boat, just like the others, but in this case, you drift through Pandora a bit more like you’re on a river. There are some bright, vibrant colors, which make for a fun and fascinating journey.
There aren’t any drops on this on and I’d say it would be enjoyable to anyone at any age unless there’s concerns about being in the dark.
You can find Na’vi River Journey in Pandora in Animal Kingdom.
For more Disney World tips and tricks, check out the other Disney World Posts!
Sound off: What do you consider to be the best non-thrill rides in Disney World? Tell us about it in the comments!