You often hear about the BEST rides at Disney and the absolute must-do’s. However, since Walt Disney World is such an overwhelming conglomeration of entertainment and exciting things to do, it’s no surprise that a handful of attractions get overlooked. Riding underrated attractions is a great way to help you avoid crowds and take some rest throughout the day. They also are great fillers between Lightning Lanes if you are using Genie+ for the day. I’ll be breaking down the most underrated Walt Disney World attractions by theme park and convincing you why they might be worth a visit.
Underrated Attractions in Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Hollywood Studios has some of the newest E-ticket attractions like Slinky Dog Dash, Rise of the Resistance, and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Though these attractions are amazing, their lines are almost always long and can take up a lot of your day. If you’re looking for a break or something quick and easy to do, check out the options below.
Muppet Vision 3D
The Muppets are an absolute delight, and I always make this show part of my Hollywood Studios Day. This is a short, 4D show with cheesy, quintessential Muppet special effects. There is rarely a line, so you just have to wait for the previous show to finish. Even if you are a Muppet hater (and I hope you aren’t), it still provides some good laughs and quality time in the air conditioning.
Walt Disney Presents
Walt Disney Presents is a walkthrough museum that tells the story of Walt Disney and how the Disney Parks came to be. Even if you aren’t as interested in Disney history, there are plenty of cool artifacts from Disney projects that may spark your interest. Oh, and did I mention air conditioning? If you find yourself super interested in Walt’s story (or air conditioning), there’s a 15-minute documentary you can watch about Walt at the end of the exhibit. Sometimes the film changes to promote new Disney films, but either way, it’s a perfect place to relax and recharge during a long day at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Underrated Attractions in Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Though Animal Kingdom is technically the largest Disney theme park, the amount of attractions is less than that of the other parks. Since there are fewer options, everyone typically heads straight on to the E-tickets like Expedition Everest, Flight of Passage, and Kilimanjaro Safaris. But to fully experience Disney’s Animal Kingdom, you don’t want to miss these.
DINOSAUR
Though DINOSAUR was all the hype when it opened in the 90’s, it has since taken the back burner to newer attractions. The animatronics are a bit dated, but they’re definitely scary and realistic enough to immerse you in the exciting experience of “getting that dino.” The preshow is extremely 90’s but in the best way possible, and the queue features none other than Bill Nye the Science Guy narrating the story of the extinction of the dinosaurs. The wait is typically under 20 minutes, so it’s definitely worth a visit during your day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Wildlife Express Train
The Wildlife Express Train in simple terms is a train that transports you to a petting zoo, but this is a great, often overlooked activity for younger kids and adults alike. The approximately 5-minute train ride is not the most scenic (especially compared to its neighbor, Kilimanjaro Safaris) but it’s nice and relaxing. The Conservation Station is adorable and will definitely be a hit if you travel with animal lovers. You can get an up-close look at vets and scientists caring for the animals, and you can even take an animation class to learn how to draw your favorite characters. Sometimes, Rafiki also makes appearances for meet and greets.
Underrated Attractions in EPCOT
EPCOT is most known for its World Showcase and trying delicious treats from around the world, along with E-tickets like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind and Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. This park is very big and spread out, so there are some underrated hidden gems that often get overlooked.
Journey Into Imagination With Figment
Though avid Disney fans adore this attraction (just look up Figment Popcorn Bucket), it’s not commonly emphasized as a must-do for most first-timers. This classic Disney dark ride moves you through the Imagination Institute, guided by the most adorable purple dragon aka Figment. The ride’s theme song, “One Little Spark” is so catchy and heartwarming and is guaranteed to make you smile. The end of the attraction leads to the ImageWorks “What if” Labs, the perfect place for your kids to run around and play. Some of the highlights include a giant floor piano and playing virtual instruments by “conducting” and swinging your arms. It’s hard not to love Figment or this attraction as a whole. And the best part? Most of the time the wait time is 5 minutes or less.
Turtle Talk With Crush
The Seas with Nemo and Friends is an adorable dark ride that certainly gets the attention it deserves. The end of the attraction leads you to an aquarium and play area, and you guessed it, Turtle Talk With Crush. This show is interactive and absolutely hilarious for both kids and adults. Since it’s interactive, you’ll have a totally different experience each time that will definitely make you laugh. Lately, Crush has been getting some much-deserved love on social media with hilarious clips from the show. Even with its extra attention lately, the show is still underrated as there is hardly ever a wait. Too many people assume it’s only aimed at small children, but it’s toottallyy sweet for adults too.
Gran Fiesta Tour
Located in the Mexico Pavilion, The Gran Fiesta Tour is another attraction that is almost guaranteed to be a walk-on. This is a slow boat ride that takes you through Mexico with Donald, Jose, and Panchito (aka the Three Caballeros). Especially after a stop at the Cava del Tequila, this ride is sure to make you giggle. And it will NOT make you motion sick after some drinks around the world (I’m looking at you Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure). One time, the Donald animatronic was down, so they replaced him with a literal plant wearing a sombrero. I can’t promise you’ll see plant Donald, but you’re sure to enjoy the ride.
Underrated Attractions in Magic Kingdom
This park has the most attractions out of them all, so it’s easy for some good ones to get lost on the priority list. If you only have one day planned in Magic Kingdom, you will need to prioritize the E-ticket attractions. However, if you have at least 2 days, which I highly recommend, you’ve got to check out some of these underrated attractions below.
The PeopleMover
This ride is beloved by avid Disney fans, but typically not as appreciated by the general public. The PeopleMover is known as the “highway in the sky” which gives you a scenic tour around Tomorrowland. Some highlights include going through Space Mountain and seeing some of the best views of Cinderella Castle. It’s a very relaxing ride that gives you 10 minutes to sit down, chat with your group, and enjoy the views. What’s not to love?
Carousel of Progress
Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress is iconic. It’s also the only attraction in Walt Disney World that Walt himself worked on. It was first introduced at the 1964 World’s Fair and later brought over to Florida. The show takes place in a rotating theater and follows a family through all the technological advances of the 20th century. This attraction is both a staple of history and, if you’re my dad, a great place to take a nap. Fair warning: you’ll find yourself uncontrollably singing “There’s a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” for the rest of the day.
Mickey’s PhilharMagic
Mickey’s PhilharMagic is similar to Muppet Vision as it’s an adorable 4D show. You follow Donald through iconic Disney scenes and musical numbers such as “I Just Can’t Wait to be King,” “Be our Guest” and the newly added Coco scene (my personal favorite). This show is truly entertaining for all ages. Even if you don’t have a soul and are not entertained, it’s a solid 15 minutes where you can sit down and relax in the air conditioning. And that is something everyone can enjoy.
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