15 Best Theme Park Rides in the US

The featured attraction at the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge lands in both Disneyland in California and Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is a 17-minute tour-de-force. It incorporates multiple ride systems and unfolds across a series of acts to insert guests in the middle of an epic battle between good and evil. Rise of the Resistance is wildly ambitious and incredibly complex. You will feel as if you are the star of your own Star Wars movie.

From the queue that winds through the Hogwarts School, to the innovative robotic arm ride system and the combination of real sets and projected media, everything about this attraction conspires to wholly immerse guests into the world of Harry Potter. It is a remarkable achievement that immediately leaped to the top of the best attractions list.

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is located at both Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Hollywood.

This incredible attraction combines a groundbreaking roving motion base simulator technology with a 3-D film experience to totally immerse riders in the world of Spidey and his archenemies. The height of park design and creativity when it debuted, Spider-Man borders on mind-altering.

You can immerse yourself in the Spiderman saga at the Islands of Adventure at Universal Orlando.

Flight of Passage takes the "flying theater" concept that Disney developed for its Soarin' rides (which also make the list of best theme park attractions) to the next level. Riders not only take wing aboard a banshee to fly above Pandora, but they can also feel the creatures' diaphragms expand and contract as they breathe. It is an utterly convincing, transporting, and ethereal experience.

You'll find Pandora the World of Avatar at Disney's Animal Kingdom at the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida, near Orlando.

One of two Potter-themed attractions to make it to the top-15 list, Escape from Gringotts combines (relatively mild) coaster thrills with incredible visuals. It places passengers inside the final film of the Harry Potter series at the pivotal moment when Voldemort is about to be defeated. But first, there is the pesky matter of a fire-breathing dragon to tame and the evil sorcery of He-Who-Shall-not-Be-Named and Bellatrix Lestrange.

You'll find Escape from Gringotts at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Orlando. 

Decades after Walt Disney helped design Pirates of the Caribbean (but sadly did not live to see it open), it remains one of the most popular and inventive theme park attractions. It inspired the film series, which in turn inspired revisions to the classic ride. Among its many highlights, there is a great theme song. The best theme park designation refers to the original California version of the ride (with its float-by of the Blue Bayou restaurant, multiple drops, and extended grotto scene). The Orlando clone is a bit truncated.

This favorite classic is found at Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

The Tower of Terror really pours on the thrills. But its special effects and storytelling are truly dazzling. The incredible Fourth Dimension ride sequence, in which the elevator cars move horizontally through a star field, is mind-blowing.

Get lost in the Twilight Zone at Disney's Hollywood Studios at Walt Disney World.

One of the last attractions to have had the input of Walt Disney, Haunted Mansion remains a beloved, classic, must-ride experience. It doesn't so much tell a story as (gently) scares and amazes guests with a hodgepodge of wonderful gags, illusions, and effects.

The Haunted Mansion is located in Disneyland and the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World.

Using Disney's innovative and thrilling Enhanced Motion Vehicles, wildly elaborate sets, and stunning effects, Indy is one of parkdom's crowning achievements. It retells the classic story with a you-are-there immediacy.

Adventure with Indiana Jones at Disneyland. 

Radiator Springs Racers is the featured attraction at Cars Land. An instant classic, it combines incredibly detailed animated characters and impressive storytelling with a thrill-filled finale.

This Cars ride is at Disney California Adventure.

This is the rare attraction that is as wildly thrilling as it is richly detailed. With its impressive animatronics, effects, sets, and more, it casts quite a storytelling spell. But with its seven magnetic launches (a world record), vertical spike, backwards motion, and vertical drop, Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure really gets its passengers screaming. If that sounds intimidating, you should know that Universal considers the ride to be a "family” coaster. (Maybe it's for a family of adrenaline junkies.) We break down the thrills for you, so you could determine whether you’d be able to handle the Hagrid attraction.

Located at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

In 2016, Disney updated Soarin' over California with brighter and sharper projectors and new, high-resolution digital content. Passengers now take a simulated hang gliding journey to spots such as the Great Wall of China and Sydney Harbor.

You can soar at Epcot and Disney California Adventure.

Half the fun and the wonder of the reprised Star Tours (which got a major makeover) is that you never know where in hyperspace the ride will take you. With multiple storylines and a random sequence generator, you'll likely never get the same ride twice. One of the first motion simulator attractions, the revamped Star Tours is now even wilder.

Experience Star Tours at both Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disneyland.

The Mummy is both a spunky roller coaster and a great dark ride. It incorporates incredible animatronics and special effects. Like nearly all Universal attractions, it includes explosive, in-your-face action. Note that while the two Universal rides are similar, the best theme park attraction designation is based on the Florida version of Revenge of the Mummy, which is longer and better.

This ride can be found at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood.

Using a similar roving motion base ride system as Spider-Man, Transformers sends guests into an epic battle to save the earth. It is another in-your-face, over-caffeinated attraction from Universal. (Do they know how to make any other?)

You'll find this experience at both Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Hollywood.