Former Disney World Cast Members Are Sharing the RIDES They Never Go On and Why

Who doesn’t love all the rides at Disney World?!

You basically got about every option you could ever want when it comes to the type of attraction you can get on at Disney World. There are spinning rides, traditional coasters, and even fully immersive almost 20-minute long experiences like Rise of the Resistance. All of those are well and good, but we got to thinking about rides you’d never get on, and we’re asking former Cast Members! Let’s dive right in!

As we were saying, we wanted to find out from former Cast Members which rides they would never go on and why. Let’s find out what they had to say!

Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

First up, we’ve got Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run in Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

One of our teammates was a former Cast Member, and they shared that while the ride is many a Star Wars fan’s dream, working during the opening of Galaxy’s Edge took some of the magic away.

“When we were training to open Galaxy’s Edge, we were constantly sent over to ride Smugglers Run so that the cast working the ride could train with real people. I got paid to ride it so many times that now, on my personal days, I’m good skipping it. I’ve done it enough for a lifetime.”

While getting paid to fly the Millennium Falcon multiple times a day sounds like a dream fit for a Star Wars fan, the reality of it is that even the biggest fan can get burned out after so riding it so many times in a row.

Mission: SPACE (Orange Side)

If you’ve ever been on Mission: SPACE, you know there are two intensity levels — Green (mild) and Orange (intense). The Orange side simulates a flight to Mars with all the stomach-churning force of a real space mission. For some, that’s thrilling and for others, it’s a recipe for disaster.

One former Cast Member admitted, “Knowing how often people get sick on Mission: SPACE Orange means I usually never go on it. While it’s a cool ride, the sensations on the Orange side are not a friend to many.”

So, knowing about how often guests “lose their lunch” after this one, you can understand why they’d steer well clear of it for the sake of their stomachs.

Journey into Imagination with Figment

Oh, Figment. This lovable purple dragon has been a staple at EPCOT for decades, but not everyone has fond memories of him.

“I worked in that building and had to hear that awful music all day long,” one former Cast Member said. “It left me scarred, lol.”

If you’ve ever had a song stuck in your head all day, you can probably sympathize. Now, imagine hearing the same whimsical tune for eight hours straight every single day. No wonder this Cast Member would skip this one on their personal time.

Alien Swirling Saucers

Alien Swirling Saucers in Toy Story Land is cute, no doubt, but for our former Cast Member, it’s a ride that can be skipped.

“Hard pass,” our former Cast Member says. “That 30-minute wait always feels longer, and it’s definitely a ride you can find at your average carnival. It’s just themed better at Disney.”

At the end of the day, the nostalgia for Toy Story and the theming may not be enough to justify waiting for this one especially in all the Florida heat.

Peter Pan’s Flight

Ah, Peter Pan’s Flight, a Disney World classic. It’s got that quintessential Disney charm. It’s a slow-moving dark ride that takes you over London and into Neverland. But even though it’s been around forever, one of our former Cast Members would skip this one all the time.

They explain, “I’ve never quite fully understood why it has the wait it does. While I love the IP and classic dark ride attractions… It’s gone past the line of nostalgic and feels old. To wait 80 minutes for that attraction seems irresponsible lol.”

They admit that even with a Lightning Lane, they’re often disappointed. It seems that some of the magic of Peter Pan fades when you’ve been behind waiting in the line at Disney for far too long.

Na’vi River Journey

In Pandora – The World of Avatar, the Na’vi River Journey is all about immersing you in the world of Pandora, but for some former Cast Members, it’s not worth the typical hour-long wait.

“Unless it’s a five-minute wait or I have a Lightning Lane, I’m skipping Na’vi River Journey,” a former cast member says. “And now they are maximizing the throughput of people where it used to just be two people in each row depending on the size of your party. Now it’s four people in each row… literally squeezing you in with multiple strangers. Not ideal lol.”

With all the crowds and long waits for what should be a mellow boat ride, you can see why some former Cast Members aren’t rushing to get back in line.

Kali River Rapids

For water ride lovers, Kali River Rapids might seem like a must-do at Animal Kingdom. However, some former Cast Members disagree.

“That’s a big one I always skip because the average 45-50 minute wait is not worth the single drop on the attraction, lol,” says one former Cast Member.

Sure, it can be refreshing on a hot Florida day, but the payoff might not be enough for those in the know.

The Rides Our Former Cast Members Do Love

While our former Cast Members may skip many popular rides, they have their own favorites that are a little more laid-back or have shorter lines. Here are some of their favorites:

• • Living with the Land: This slow-moving boat ride through EPCOT’s greenhouses is both educational and relaxing. Plus, it almost never has a long wait.
  • PeopleMover: Our former Cast Members swear by this ride for the view and the chance to sit back and relax while cruising through Tomorrowland.
  • Spaceship Earth: This is another EPCOT classic. It’s indoors (yay A/C!), and you get to enjoy a slow journey through the history of human innovation.
  • Carousel of Progress: A/C and comfy chairs? Yes, please. Our former Cast Members love this classic attraction for the chance to chill and enjoy some retro Disney vibes.
  • Muppet*Vision 3-D: A fun show with minimal wait times and a chance to sit down. And what’s not to love about the Muppets??

Of course, they still enjoy a good thrill now and then. Cosmic Rewind and Rise of the Resistance are two big-ticket attractions they’re willing to wait for, but only when it’s worth it.

Well, those were just some of the rides former Disney World Cast Members would never get on, and now we want to hear from you about which one’s you’d skip and why! In the meantime, stay tuned to AllEars for all the latest Disney news!

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Which Disney World rides would you never get on and why? Tell us all about them in the comments! 

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