Does Disney World have scary flat rides? While many would call Disney’s carnival-style attractions relatively tame, they all certainly pack a punch in their own unique ways. Let’s dive into the specifics – ranking each one by intensity, motion sickness, speed, and more.
4 – Dumbo the Flying Elephant, TriceraTop Spin, and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin
So what’s the difference between these three rides? Honestly, not much. Dumbo the Flying Elephant is the original classic and an opening day attraction that has delighted families and guests for decades. Magic Carpets and TriceraTop Spin are little more than direct reskins of the same attraction – which is why I’ve lumped them all together for the sake of this list.
Generally, they all work like a standard spinner or carousel ride, rotating the ride vehicles in a fixed circle for the entire duration. What distinguishes them slightly is the riders’ ability to move the vehicle up and down via a joystick and the added ability in Magic Carpets and TriceraTop Spin to tilt backwards and forwards with the lever in the back seat.
How Intense are Dumbo the Flying Elephant, TriceraTop Spin, and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin?
While not intentionally scary whatsoever, these attractions do involve some mild heights. However, this is totally up to the riders – and the cars are estimated to reach a maximum height of around 20 feet. Since each individual car controls how high or low they go, you can simply remain close to the ground if you so desire.
While they do not technically have drops, it is worth noting that every car does control the up and down motion of the vehicle (and the Magic Carpets and TriceraTop Spin allows your car to tilt), resulting in vertical movement if you want it. Regardless, it’s nothing like a real thrill ride drop, and the controls will simply send you down or up slowly.
How Does Dumbo the Flying Elephant, TriceraTop Spin, and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin Compare to other Flat Rides?
As far as flat rides go, these are definitely the least intense in the parks. Just a step above a classic carousel, I would still recommend these attractions to most young riders and easily frightened guests – barring, of course, anyone who might be bothered by mild heights combined with slow spinning.
For more specifics on Dumbo the Flying Elephant, TriceraTop Spin, and The Magic Carpets of Aladdin, go check out my in-depth ride reviews here! Also, if you’re looking for a visual of the rides and queues, be sure to check out these videos from MouseSteps, ThemeParkHD, and Sharp Productions:
3 – Alien Swirling Saucers
Like many Disney flat rides, Alien Swirling Saucers is a spinning attraction that has a lot in common with a local fair ride. Each car is attached to a green Toy Story alien and “whips” and “whirls” around him with every turn. The ride vehicles follow a figure-8 pattern for the entire duration – making for a unique spinning ride with some similarities to Mad Tea Party.
How Intense is Alien Swirling Saucers?
As a spinning ride at its core, I can’t recommend this ride to guests who are especially prone to nausea. While it’s not quite as dizzying as Mad Tea Party (which spins in a tight circle), the slinging and whipping movement while traveling in a continual figure-8 could be an issue for some riders. Luckily, much like a carousel or other flat rides, the actual ride vehicles don’t travel very fast.
It is worth noting that – unlike the Teacups or Dumbo – riders don’t have any control over the speed or spinning mechanics of this attraction. That being said, if you feel that it might be a bit intense for you, don’t count on being able to take it down a notch like you can on other flat rides.
How Does Alien Swirling Saucers Compare to other Flat Rides?
While the increased speed and whipping motion certainly set it apart from Dumbo the Flying Elephant and the like, this attraction is still pretty tame and is often a blast for the whole family. It may cause more motion sickness than the earlier entries on this list but I would still recommend it to most riders who meet the height requirement.
For more specifics on Alien Swirling Saucers, go check out my in-depth ride review here! Also, if you’re looking for a visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out this video from 4K WDW.
2 – Mad Tea Party
Mad Tea Party is a whimsical spinning ride set to the theme of Alice in Wonderland. Like many other spinning flat rides – this attraction works by rotating the cars around a fixed path and allowing for quick spinning if the passengers so desire. With its control wheel, guests can decide how fast or slow to spin – but regardless, the cars will still orbit around the center like a carousel, turning slowly to face the center even without interference from its passengers.
How Intense is Mad Tea Party?
Mad Tea Party will definitely cause motion sickness for some riders. Fortunately, this attraction does not go fast on its own. However, with the extra dynamic of guest-controlled spinning, the teacups are certainly capable of reaching a pretty dizzying speed. It’s important to note that the actual baseline movement around the track is about as fast as any carousel, so if you do not wish to experience any fast spinning, you don’t have to.
How Does Mad Tea Party Compare to other Flat Rides?
With its tight spinning movement, this attraction is really unlike any other flat ride in the parks. While not overly intense (especially if you don’t touch the wheel), I still would caution those especially prone to motion sickness. However, many young and sensitive riders have no problem on this ride due to its complete lack of scary theming.
For more specifics on Mad Tea Party, go check out my in-depth ride review here! Also, if you’re looking for a visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out this video from Magical Quest Adventures:
1 – Astro Orbiter
Astro Orbiter is a high-flying spin through Tomorrowland. While very similar to Dumbo in its ride mechanics, what makes this attraction unique is its increased speed and the fact that the entire attraction is already elevated approximately 50 feet above ground.
How Intense is Astro Orbiter?
Astro Orbiter could certainly be scary for some riders, especially those with a fear of heights. While lacking any spooky theming or dark settings, this attraction still packs in the thrills with its accelerated speed (compared to Dumbo and other spinner rides) as well as its significant heights.
As I mentioned before, the entire ride sits about 50 feet above ground (that’s about 3 stories high) and is situated above the Peoplemover. If that isn’t high enough for you, you can of course – like other spinner attractions – move your rocket up and down using the joystick. This allows you to reach a maximum height of around 80 feet, as you soar high above Tomorrowland.
It’s also worth mentioning the faster speed of this spinner ride, which could catch many riders off guard. For reference, Dumbo the Flying Elephant completes 1 full rotation in approximately 10-15 seconds while this attraction is at least twice as fast, rotating in less than 6 seconds. This unexpectedly high speed could certainly surprise many guests – especially considering the lack of Disney warnings or height requirements.
While not altogether a super thrilling ride, I would definitely caution riders who assume this attraction is just like Dumbo or the Magic Carpets of Aladdin. If you hop on thinking this is just another kiddie ride, you may be in for an unpleasant surprise.
How Does Astro Orbiter Compare to other Flat Rides?
In the realm of Disney flat rides, this one certainly stands high above the rest – no pun intended. If the dizzying heights aren’t enough to deter you, the increased speed and claustrophobic elevator ride to the top might still prove a little intense.
For more specifics on Astro Orbiter, go check out my in-depth ride review here! Also, if you’re looking for a visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out this video from 4K WDW.
What do you think? Do you agree with my Top 4 Scary Flat Rides in Disney World? Don’t forget to leave a comment and let me know!
