Typically when you think of a day at Disney, you think of just that, enjoying the attractions during the day but hanging on at the parks ‘til night falls can be fun in itself and hopefully come with shorter wait times. So, here are our favourite Walt Disney World attractions to ride in the dark:
Tron Lightcycle
Now, this a ride that is made for riding in the dark. Unveiled in Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland in 2023, Tron Lightcycle is of course inspired by Disney’s Tron films which see a programmer dragged into a virtual world forced to compete in a futuristic gladiatorial combat. Here you are racing for Team blue in the dark computerised grid.
And riding this coaster in the dark just dials up the excitement in my book – the neon lights are brighter and it is honestly just more thrilling than riding it in the dark.
Tomorrowland People Mover
Now hear me out on this one! I know it’s not a thrill ride but it’s a classic in my book. After a long day racking up 20,000 plus steps at Magic Kingdom, I love to sit on the People Mover and just rest my weary legs.
You get to take in Tomorrowland by night with the illuminated Space Mountain building and now you have the added joy of seeing the futuristic Tron arena lighting up the land too.
A perfect end to a magical day in Magic Kingdom.
Slinky Dog Dash
Ah Slinky Dog is such a fun coaster day or night, let’s be honest. But at night, you set off through those illuminated Go signs, lights seem to chase Slinky around the track and the string lights that Jessie is holding light up too. It just makes for a really special experience.
In fact Toy Story Land is a brilliant place to explore at night time. I am definitely riding Slinky in the dark and reserving a table at Rodeo Round Up BBQ (the newish all you care to enjoy BBQ joint set in the world of Andy’s toys in Hollywood Studios) for afterwards on my next Disney World visit.
Big Thunder Mountain
Riding this Magic Kingdom favourite in the dark ups the thrill factor in my book.
Granted the tunnels are already pretty dark but taking on those drops at night gives the ride an extra element. Plus the caves you travel through are lit up and when you emerge out of them, parts of Big Thunder Mountain are lit up in neo colours, so it’s a real treat. And you get quite a good view of the other lights in Magic Kingdom, too, so what’s not to love?
Tower of Terror
I saved the best until last. My absolute favourite ride to take on in the dark is Hollywood Studios’ Tower of Terror. Now going through the queue and arriving at “The Hollywood Tower Hotel” in the day is a spooky enough experience in the day but heading into the attraction after nightfall really makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck.
For anyone who doesn’t know, the back story of Tower of Terror is that you riding the elevator in the abandoned Hollywood Tower Hotel where a group of guests mysteriously disappeared after a trip in the very same elevator on Hallowe’en 1939.
It is one of my favourites even in the day but as you reach the top of the tower in the elevator, there’s a brief moment where you get to see right across the park before hurtling down to the bottom. It’s just fantastic at that split second to see Hollywood Studios and its glitzy nighttime lights. Everytime I just have like one second to think to myself, “ah what a lovely view” before screaming my head off as we plummet to the ground but for the thrillseekers among you I think it’s a must.
