United States United States Guide Things To Do Essentials Where to Stay Itineraries Getaways All United States 15 Best Theme Park Rides in the US By Arthur Levine Arthur Levine Facebook Twitter Arthur is a travel writer with more than 25 years of experience. He has been covering theme parks, amusement parks, water parks, and attractions for TripSavvy since 2002. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 04/07/20 Fact checked by Erin Medlicott Fact checked by Erin Medlicott LinkedIn Twitter New York University Rutgers University Erin Medlicott is a fact checker and researcher with a background in lifestyle and finance. Prior to her work at TripSavvy, she did financial research for the American Express Departures Magazine as well as the Wall Street Journal. She earned a TripSavvy's fact-checking Universal Orlando Resort The best theme park rides use a lot of razzle-dazzle to immerse guests in their alternate universes, but they never forget to effectively tell a story. Engaging your senses, enveloping you, and placing you at the center of the action, great attractions make you forget about the technology behind the illusions and transport you to magical places. The best ride designers know that parks are all about shared experiences and many of the top theme park rides use well-known characters as the basis for their storylines. By tapping into the cultural zeitgeist, the rides are able to jump right into the action without having to acclimate riders. (All while being safe of course.) As you might expect, Disney, with its long history and an incredible portfolio of themed attractions, dominates the list of best theme park rides. But the Universal parks have a strong presence. This list considers parks in the U.S. only. There are some wonderful attractions in other parts of the world, such as Journey to the Center of the Earth at Tokyo DisneySea and the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Shanghai Disneyland (which is better than the original and just may share the nod for the best park attraction in the world with the first contender on our list below). Note also that the best attractions are all story-based rides. While many incorporate thrills, that was not the primary aspect in determining the list. If you are looking for unbridled thrills, check out our rundown of the best roller coasters. 01 of 15 Rise with the Resistance on the Ultimate Star Wars Attraction Steven Diaz, Disney 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. 02 of 15 Join Harry Potter for a Forbidden Journey Universal Orlando 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. 03 of 15 Experience the Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man Arthur Levine View Map Address Marvel Super Hero Island, 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA Get directions Phone +1 407-363-8000 Web Visit website 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. 04 of 15 Be Transported by the Avatar Flight of Passage Disney View Map Address 2901 Osceola Pkwy, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA Get directions Phone +1 407-939-5277 Web Visit website 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. Continue to 5 of 15 below. 05 of 15 Escape With Harry Potter Universal Orlando View Map Address 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA Get directions Phone +1 407-363-8000 Web Visit website 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. 06 of 15 Sail With the Pirates of the Caribbean Disney View Map Address 1180 Seven Seas Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA Get directions Phone +1 407-939-5277 Web Visit website 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. 07 of 15 Scream at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Disney View Map Address 351 S Studio Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA Get directions Phone +1 407-939-5277 Web Visit website 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. 08 of 15 Get Your Ghost on at the Haunted Mansion Disney 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. Continue to 9 of 15 below. 09 of 15 Adventure With Indiana Jones Disney View Map Address Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost, Kissimmee, FL 34747, USA Get directions Web Visit website 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. 10 of 15 Drive With the Radiator Springs Racers Arthur Levine View Map Address 1313 Disneyland Dr, Anaheim, CA 92802, USA Get directions Phone +1 714-781-4636 Web Visit website 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. 11 of 15 Hop Aboard Hagrid’s Motorbike in Pursuit of Magical Creatures Universal Orlando View Map Address 6000 Universal Blvd, Orlando, FL 32819, USA Get directions Phone +1 407-363-8000 Web Visit website 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. 12 of 15 Soar Around the World Disney View Map Address 200 Epcot Center Dr, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830, USA Get directions Phone +1 407-939-5277 Web Visit website 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. Continue to 13 of 15 below. 13 of 15 Go Galactic With Star Tours - The Adventures Continue Disney 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. 14 of 15 Experience the Revenge of the Mummy Universal Orlando 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. 15 of 15 Battle With Transformers: The Ride 3D Arthur Levine 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. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Share Pin Email