Are you a thrill-seeker? Do you have a need for speed? Do you love theme parks and fast rides? While Walt Disney World may not have the reputation of Six Flags thrills, if spinning teacups just aren’t enough, then this is the list for you. I am about to take you through the fastest rides in Disney World. As well as where to find them, what to expect, and if there are any age or height restrictions.
What is the Fastest Ride at Disney World?
Test Track – Top Speed 65 mph
Test Track opened in Epcot in March of 1999, and it has been the fastest ride at Walt Disney World in Florida ever since, topping out at 65 miles per hour. The ride was originally a simulated excursion through the rigorous testing procedures that General Motors uses to evaluate its concept cars. Culminating in a high-speed drive around the exterior of the attraction.
In April of 2012, the ride underwent refurbishment and opened in December with Chevrolet as the new sponsor. Guests now get to design their own virtual concept car, buckle up in a “SIM Car” afterward. Then you take it for an exhilarating spin on the Test Track.
It revs you through tough terrain along a winding circuit, accelerates through straightaways, hugs 50-degree angle curves, and even scales hills up to three stories high. Test Track is located in Future World at Epcot and riders must be at least 40” (102 cm) tall.
Guardians of the Galaxy Cosmic Rewind – Top Speed 60 mph
Disney’s Guardians of the Galaxy – Cosmic Rewind was a highly anticipated roller coaster ride at Epcot. The ride is based on the popular Marvel franchise and will take guests on a thrilling journey through space. Aboard the Nova Corps space station.
What sets this coaster apart is its unique ride system. Which features a 360-degree rotating platform that allows riders to face different directions as they speed through the track. With a top speed of 60 mph.
Summit Plummet – Top Speed 60 mph
Summit Plummet might not be exactly what you were thinking when I said I would be listing the fast rides at Disney World. Why not? Well, because it is a water slide.
Summit Plummet is the flagship attraction at Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park (Get the Park Hopper Plus ticket for access to the water parks at Disney World). It stands 120 feet tall, and thanks to a near-vertical drop, it reaches splashing speeds of up to 60 miles per hour. It is the third tallest and the fastest free-fall slide in the world. To take the daredevil drop, guests must be at least 48” (122 cm) tall.
Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith – Top Speed 60 mph
Topping out at 60 miles per hour, the Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith ties for the second-fastest ride at Walt Disney World. The enclosed roller coaster located on Sunset Boulevard in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. It features recorded music by Aerosmith such as “Walk This Way” and “Dude (Looks Like a Lady). As well as “appearances” by members of the world-famous rock band.
Passengers must be at least 48” (122 cm) tall to ride and experience up to 5Gs. Accelerations from 0 to 60 in less than 3 seconds, and 3 inversions in the limousine car.
Disneyland Paris features an identical ride that closed in September 2019 to undergo refurbishment. It then became part of the new Avengers Campus. It will reopen in 2021 and will feature Iron Man.
Tron Lightcycle Power Run – Top Speed 59 mph
Tron Lightcycle Power Run is a thrilling roller coaster ride at Disney Parks based on the popular Tron franchise.
The ride takes you on a high-speed journey through a digital world on a motorcycle-like vehicle. It resembles the iconic lightcycles from the movies. The ride features cutting-edge technology, including advanced lighting effects, immersive sound effects, and high-tech vehicles that make you feel like you’re part of the action.
The top speed of the ride is around 60 km/h or 37 mph. This makes it one of the fastest rides at Disney Parks.
Expedition Everest – Top Speed 50 mph
Hopefully, 50 miles per hour is fast enough to escape the mythic Yeti on this Himalayan inspired steel roller coaster. It is fast enough to make Expedition Everest the 4th fastest ride at Disney World.
Located in Asia in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, your train ride to the top of the world starts in a Tibetan Village at the base of the mountain. Suddenly, the track turns broken and twisted, sending the riders plummeting backward. The ride, which officially debuted in April of 2006, requires riders to be at least 44” (112 cm) or taller.
Slinky Dog Dash – Top Speed 50 mph
Slinky Dog Dash is a family-friendly roller coaster ride located in Disney’s Hollywood Studios theme park. The ride is themed around the beloved Toy Story character, Slinky Dog. It takes passengers on a thrilling adventure through Andy’s backyard.
The coaster features a variety of twists, turns, and hills, with a top speed of 40 miles per hour. The ride is designed to be accessible for riders of all ages, with a minimum height requirement of 38 inches.
One of the most unique features of the ride is its Slinky Dog-inspired coaster train. The train is designed to look like a giant, stretchy Slinky Dog, with riders sitting in individual “coils” along the length of the train. As the coaster navigates through the various elements of the ride, the train stretches and contracts, giving riders the sensation of riding on the back of a real Slinky Dog.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure- Top Speed 40 mph
Disney’s new ride, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, is a thrilling and exciting experience that transports visitors to the enchanting world of New Orleans. As the name suggests, the ride takes passengers on a journey through the bayou, where they’ll encounter a variety of characters and creatures along the way.
It is replacing Splash Mountain.
Splash Mountain had a top speed of 40 miles per hour, it was the 5th fastest ride at Disney World. Riders must be at least 40” (102 cm) tall to ride.
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – Top Speed 39 mph
Not only is the Tower of Terror a fun Disney movie featuring a pint-sized Kirsten Dunst, but it is also a thrilling drop ride in Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the 6th fastest ride within Disney World.
While the ride inspired the 1997 movie (some scenes were even shot on site), the ride itself was inspired by Rod Serling’s anthology series The Twilight Zone. The Tower of Terror opened in Walt Disney World in July of 1994.
Guests 40” (102 cm) or taller can enter the infamous Hollywood Tower Hotel for thrills and chills. In a dusty lobby seemingly frozen in time, a television set suddenly comes to life, and Rod Serling himself appears to welcome you on your journey to the Twilight Zone.
The back story: on a gloomy Halloween night in 1939, some hotel guests were riding the elevator when a violent storm struck the building, and they were never seen again. The hotel closed down and has stood empty ever since.
After the creepy welcome and history lesson, guests enter the rickety, elevator-style lift and strap in. Prepare to shriek in terror as the elevator suddenly drops, reaching speeds of up to 39 miles per hour. Will you make it back to the real world or become a permanent resident of the 5th dimension known as the Twilight Zone?
Disney’s Philosophy
Walt Disney World may be known for its milder rides to meet the needs of younger families, but Walt Disney himself said his parks are meant to be for people of all ages, anyone willing to give in to their imagination.
Over the years, Disney has worked hard to live up to that philosophy with many different types of rides and attractions geared to all types of imaginations, even the thrilling ones.
Tron has a very interesting launch mechanism according to Disney Imagineer Mark White. “TRON Lightcycle / Run employs a different type of launch mechanism. Instead of relying on a chain like traditional roller coasters, the attraction harnesses electrical energy as its source of potential energy.”
