Roller coasters have been a staple attraction at theme parks across the globe for decades, providing high-thrills, speed, big drops, and excitement that draws millions of visitors every year.
The Disney Parks are certainly no exception when it comes to offering world-class coasters, with innovative rides that incorporate storytelling, characters, technology, and experiences catered for all ages. But when comparing the Disney theme parks worldwide, which Disney park actually has the most roller coasters for coaster enthusiasts?
Disney is well-known for immersive theme parks focused heavily on characters, stories, stage shows, meet-and-greets, themed lands, and dark rides. However, coasters have gradually become a bigger part of Disney’s attraction lineup over the years. Now more so than ever before, Disney Parks boast highly acclaimed roller coasters rivaling top competitors like Six Flags and Cedar Fair parks.
The “Disney park with the most roller coasters” title belongs to one of five Disney resort locations around the world. Walt Disney World in Florida, Disneyland Resort in California, Disneyland Paris, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland each offer unique attractions and roller coasters. When comparing the number of coasters side-by-side, one Disney resort emerges with the most.
Magic Kingdom
Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom theme park shockingly only has three roller coasters, despite being the world’s most visited theme park. Located in Fantasyland, Space Mountain is an indoor roller coaster speeding through the dark with onride music and lighting effects. In Frontierland, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a runaway mine train weaving through canyons and desert. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Fantasyland is the newest coaster addition, taking riders on an animated journey through the classic film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
Epcot
Epcot was originally conceived as more of a permanent world’s fair focused on culture, technology, food, and hands-on experiences. True thrill rides were never really part of the original vision. Even so, Epcot currently has two roller coasters.
Test Track powered by Chevrolet immerses guests in the process of designing, testing, and racing their own custom-built concept vehicle. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind is a brand new story coaster opening in 2022, featuring a reverse launch and 360-degree rotating vehicles.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
In terms of Walt Disney World theme parks with the most roller coasters, Disney’s Hollywood Studios takes the lead. The park’s original vision centered around Hollywood nostalgia, with early attractions based on monster movies, television shows, Singin’ in the Rain, and more. While much of the park has transitioned to Star Wars and other franchises, thrills are still a major component.
Hollywood Studios offers four acclaimed roller coasters covering a range of ride experiences. The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster transports riders from LA to an Aerosmith concert in less than 3 minutes, accelerating to 57 mph. Slinky Dog Dash is a launched family coaster themed to Toy Story, with audio animatronic figures of the characters. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway takes guests on a wacky ride through a Mickey Mouse cartoon short.
Finally, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance isn’t technically a coaster, but does feature trackless ride vehicles navigating through several battle scenes at high speeds accompanied by physical sets, projections, animatronics, and effects to make it one of Disney’s most immersive “E-Ticket” attractions ever built.
Animal Kingdom
Disney’s Animal Kingdom is themed to exotic animals and wildlife conservation. Thrills have never been the main focus of this park, with more emphasis placed on animal attractions, nature trails, entertainment, and cultural experiences. Currently Animal Kingdom only offers one major roller coaster.
Expedition Everest takes riders on a train journey through the Himalayan mountains to search for the fabled Yeti. During the ride, guests encounter the ominous Abominable Snowman himself, who rips up sections of track that propels the train backwards down the towering peak.
Expedition Everest reaches 50 mph speeds while navigating hairpin turns and 80 feet drops, surrounded by elaborate rockwork, artifacts, and themed details bringing the remote village of Serka Zong to life. This immensely popular E-Ticket ride creates an entire land worth exploring for coaster fans.
Disneyland Park
Switching over to the Disneyland Resort in California, the original Disneyland park surprises many with its coaster count. Despite its shorter history compared to Walt Disney World, Disneyland offers five different roller coasters scattered across various themed lands. These include classics like Matterhorn Bobsleds, as well as groundbreaking new innovations.
Fantasyland holds two coasters: the aforementioned Matterhorn Bobsleds wind through caverns and icy grottos in a speedy ride through a meticulously detailed mountain; and Alice in Wonderland takes riders through scenes from the beloved animated film via an eccentric low-thrills dark ride. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad appears in Frontierland just like its Floridian counterpart. In Tomorrowland, Space Mountain immerses riders in an intergalactic experience just like in Walt Disney World.
Finally, Incredicoaster in Pixar Pier thrills guests with character moments and Chrome Metroville cityscapes inspired by Disney/Pixar’s The Incredibles. This super-powered coaster focuses heavily on theming just like most Disney rides.
Disney California Adventure Park
Across the plaza lies Disney’s California Adventure, with a heavy emphasis on Hollywood nostalgia, California landscapes and culture, Pixar stories, Marvel superheroes. Similar to Hollywood Studios in Florida, thrill rides and roller coasters are plentiful. In fact, California Adventure currently has four impressive roller coasters.
Paradise Gardens Park contains two thrill rides. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! is an eccentric drop tower ride with Rocket Raccoon blasting riders up and down electromagnetic elevators as they help free the rest of the Guardians team. Nearby, Incredicoaster zooms through scenes, tunnels and corkscrews reaching 60 mph speeds.
Cars Land offers Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters, a cute whip-style ride for families themed to the Cars film franchise. Finally, Grizzly Peak sees riders launched sideways across rocky terrain on Soarin’ Over California in an IMAX-style hang glider simulator.
Tokyo Disneyland/DisneySea
Traveling across the Pacific Ocean to Tokyo Disney Resort, both Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea parks offer world-class attractions on par with anything found stateside. Tokyo Disneyland boasts five total roller coasters drawing inspiration from classic Disney IPs.
Westernland has Big Thunder Mountain and Star Jets spinning rocket ships. Tomorrowland contains Space Mountain, as well as Buzz Lightyear’s Astro BlastersCombining shooting gameplay with spinning vehicles. Finally Critter Country’s Splash Mountain remains one of the most elaborate incarnations of this beloved log flume ride.
Over at Tokyo DisneySea, four unique roller coasters can’t be found anywhere else. Soaring: Fantastic Flight flies riders high above landmarks across the globe.
Raging Spirits roller coaster has a 360-degree corkscrew loop. Tower of Terror drops guests 13 stories multiple times amid Twilight Zone theming. Journey to the Center of the Earth takes riders under the water’s surface through volatile volcanoes. Between both parks, Tokyo Disney Resort contains 9 total roller coasters for plenty of thrills.
Disneyland Paris
Hopping over to Disney’s European resort outside Paris, France, this location also boasts an impressive coaster lineup. Spread across the main Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park, 10 different roller coasters cater to a wide audience. Big Thunder Mountain appears in Frontierland just like all other Magic Kingdom-style Disney parks.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril navigates a rickety runaway mine cart through ruins and obstacles. Space Mountain resides in Discoveryland, reimagined with a retro-futuristic steampunk aesthetic. Studios Park provides even more thrills with total of 7 coasters.
Popular highlights include RC Racer halfpipe shuttle coaster, Crush’s Coaster spinning vehicles with Finding Nemo theming, and Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith just like in Florida. Between both parks, Disneyland Paris offers the second highest coaster count globally.
Hong Kong Disneyland/Shanghai Disneyland
Finally, Disney’s two youngest Asian theme park resorts provide world-class theming and attractions, but currently have the fewest rollercoasters available. Hong Kong Disneyland in Sunny Bay contains only two coasters: Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, and the award-winning Iron Man Experience, combining a simulator ride with physical sets and effects.
Shanghai Disneyland as of 2022 contains four coasters total including Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for Sunken Treasure boat ride, TRON Lightcycle Power Run motorcycle launch coaster, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train family coaster. Soarin’ Over the Horizon simulator caps off the thrill ride lineup…for now at least. Both Chinese Disney resorts continue expanding quickly, with major new E-Ticket attractions already announced for the future.
Conclusion
When comparing all Disney parks worldwide, Magic Kingdom shockingly only has three coasters, while neighboring Epcot has two. Disney’s Hollywood Studios emerges as the Walt Disney World theme park with the most roller coasters at four. Disneyland Park in California likewise contains five unique coasters. Overseas, Tokyo Disney Sea has four coasters; Tokyo Disneyland has five more. Disneyland Paris across both main parks amasses the second highest coaster lineup globally with 10 total. Finally Hong Kong Disneyland currently has two coasters, whereas Shanghai Disneyland boasts four and counting.
As of 2022, across all Disney resorts worldwide, Disneyland Paris reigns supreme with the most roller coasters available between both its Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park. This thrilling lineup continues growing exponentially as Disney incorporates more high-thrill attractions to draw coaster enthusiasts. But with lands still unbuilt and expansion plots already confirmed, other Disney resorts continue vying for the ultimate roller coaster crown.
Disney’s international theme park empire shows no signs of slowing down when it comes to pushing ride engineering envelope and innovating new immersive thrills alongside animated characters and stories beloved by generations.