Picture this – you got up early, got ready, hopped on a bus, and arrived at Hollywood Studios before the park opens. You are are an over-achieving rope-dropper, and you will be rewarded with a brief respite from the long lines. But there are still important choices to be made… Left, straight, or right?
You could choose left, towards the hottest attraction at Disney World, Rise of the Resistance. You’d be in the majority. You could go straight, off to Slinky Dog or Mickey and Minnie’s. Or you can do what I suggest and turn to the right and cruise down Sunset Blvd. You’ll notice that ~80% of the remaining crowd is heading to Tower of Terror, which is a great option. But to me, the best bet is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. This remains the most thrilling ride in WDW, and yet it has fallen to be the 4th or 5th biggest attraction in Hollywood Studios. What can that mean for you? Skip the coffee, you’ll be able to ride 2 or 3 times before crowds make their way over from the attractions that you walked right by.
In Favor of Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster
The newest and hottest attractions are not necessarily the best. If you can live with skipping a few of these you’ll get to ride some of the classics with little or no wait. Rock ‘n’ is indisputably the most thrilling coaster on property. It is the only one that goes upside down. It is themed excellently and the way that the music fits into the theming and overall experience is second to none.
What About *Insert your Favorite Attraction here*??
At this point you might be asking: If Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster is really the #1 best attraction at the park, are you really saying it is better than Rise?? Yes! But… with a caveat. If you are a huge Star Wars fan, or if you are not a thrill seeker, you just might prefer Rise. It is actually quite hard to compare these attractions. Rise of the Resistance is an amazing display that shows just what Disney is capable of producing. The scope of ride is beyond anything that they have done before. It does get us excited for what Disney might do next. That being said, it falls short in some respects. It goes down very frequently, it doesn’t go fast, and it takes a long time to get through. Additionally, we feel that Darth Vader would have been a much more ominous and exciting villain for the ride than Kylo Ren. For my money, give me the tried and true Aerosmith coaster over the latest and greatest trackless experience.
Other Options in Hollywood Studios
Other contenders for best attraction in the park? Maybe you’d argue in favor of Tower of Terror, Slinky Dog Dash, or Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. We love each of these but nothing compares to the excitement of Steven Tyler counting down, seeing the light turn green, and launching into the music-filled, smile-inducing experience that is Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster!
