Today we will be ranking the top 5 roller coasters at Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios. There are a few things I would like to mention first but if you just want to get to the list click here.

Before we get started I think it’s important to point out a couple of things. Firstly, as there are so few roller coasters we in fact be covering all of them in this post. Secondly, I will be trying to take into account all aspects of the rides not just the ride itself. With that said lets get to ranking!

Honorable Mention

Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith

This would have been a contender for number 1 but sadly it was closed in 2019. Fortunately, it is receiving an Iron Man update which, if Disney get it right, should fit this ride perfectly. The ride is a launched coaster which should hopefully have us blasting off as Iron Man soon.

No. 5

Casey Jr. – Le Petit Train du Cirque

A gentle ride around the story book area of Fantasyland. Based on the train from Dumbo this ride is a power roller coaster; a roller coaster that runs on an internal power source. Why is this important? The rides design means that the wheel that powers the train around is in contact with the track at all times so even when going downhill the ride doesn’t actually ‘coast’. It’s a nice ride for small children. But if you want a nice ride for children just go boat ride next to this coaster, at least you will be comfortable unlike sitting on this tiny coaster.

Verdict: Only Ride if the queue is short. Prioritise other activities in the park over this coaster.

No. 4

Crush’s Coaster

A spinning roller coaster in Walt Disney Studios. This is a fun ride with a finding Nemo theme that is really well done, except in around the outdoor queue (we’ll get to that). This is a great family coaster (107cm Height Restriction) that has you riding a sea turtle through the reef’s of Australia. It has a nice feature that briefly brings you outside just after you set off from the station. I really do like this ride but I rarely ever ride it and the reason why is also the reason this is not higher on the list. The queue! This ride takes forever to get guests on and off and as a result the queue is always massive. There is no fastpass and the main part of the queue is outdoors where there is barely any theming which makes for a very dull wait.

Verdict: Fun ride; big wait. If it’s open during Magic Hours ride it then, if not then try and be at the front of the queue when it does open.

No. 3

Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain

The latest iteration of the iconic Space Mountain located in Discoveryland, Hyperspace Mountain should defiantly be on the list for anyone who likes roller-coasters. There are so many things I love about this ride but unfortunately the Star Wars theme ins’t one of them. The Jules Verne design of this ride is amazing. From the outside it is way more interesting than than it’s american older brother; on the inside the station itself opens up from the queue to reveal a beautifully crafted space.

This attention to detail is what sets Disney apart from most other theme parks around the world however Disney did not come close to matching this with the Star Wars make-over. It is painfully obvious that this was only done as a movie tie-in and clashes horribly with the original theme of the ride. All that having been said, blasting off in a cannon and hurtling through space is still fun whatever the theme.

Verdict: Good ride; bad theming. Always worth going on especially as it’s often open during magic hours and there are often fastpass tickets available later in the day allowing you to prioritise other attractions.

No. 2

Indiana Jones and the temple of peril

Set around a temple ruin, this minecart ride is a personal favourite of mine. If you’ve never ridden this you should stay away from on ride videos and alike as its much more fun if you can ride it blind the first time. The ride itself is fairly simple but the experience of rushing through the temple is exhilarating. Temple of Peril is also a great ride in the dark. The lights in the temple really bring a new dimension to the ride as well as the bowls of fire around the queue and the track.

Verdict: Underrated, great in the dark, not to be missed. Queue times can fluctuate heavily so try and hit this when the wait is 20mins or less.

No. 1

Big thunder mountain

Hang on to those hats and glasses! ’cause this here’s the wildest ride in the west! Ride the train around Big Thunder Mountain on the recently revamped coaster. A brilliant ride for all ages (just make sure you are tall enough), this intricately themed ride is always a pleasure. After leaving the station you immediately drop into a cave taking you under the lake and into the mountain. This ride boasts a long and exciting track layout combined with beautiful views and special effects. Explosions, water splashes and even the smell of burning coal: Big Thunder genuinely combines all its elements to give an experience that is hard to match.

Verdict: If you are looking for a great coaster matched with theming that only Disney can pull off then this is it. Queues are often well over an hour so take any opportunity you can get. Fastpass runs out quickly so if this is a ride you really want to do (which you definitely should) it’s worth making a detour to get your fastpass early.