Photo by Dan Heaton

There’s something special about water attractions at theme parks. Stepping off the pavement enhances the feeling that we’re taking a journey and not just boarding a typical ride. We experience added immersion that makes the experience more convincing. Whether it’s the added chance of getting wet or selling the idea we’ve visited a Caribbean town, water is a huge plus.

Disneyland was not the first park to incorporate water rides in its roster of attractions. The “Shoot the Chute” format goes back to the late 1800s, and log flumes expanded that formula at regional parks. Disney explored more possibilities through slow-moving, complex attractions like the Jungle Cruise and it’s a small world. The boats follow a track but feel like they could venture anywhere. When Pirates of the Caribbean opened in 1967, Disney took the dark boat ride concept even further.

For this article, I’m focusing on the collection of water rides at Walt Disney World. The massive resort includes 10 attractions that I’ve ranked in the below list. These choices only appear inside the four theme parks. I love the ferry across the Seven Seas Lagoon and other resort craft, but I’m sticking with the parks. I’ve also focused on selections that Disney mentions as attractions. The transport boats in World Showcase don’t meet that qualification. These were not easy picks, though my top choice was a no brainer. Let’s hop in our bateaux and check out my list!

10. Kali River Rapids, Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Pros: Refreshing on a hot day, one of Animal Kingdom’s few water rides

Cons: Pretty standard raft ride, limited thrills

Best Part: Gorgeous, elaborate queue sets the stage well.

We often visit in January, which is admittedly not the best time to experience Kali River Rapids. Even when the temperatures reach the 70s, however, Disney’s Animal Kingdom is still quite warm. Getting soaked on a raft ride actually might not be a terrible idea. The danger is going beyond a pleasant splash of water and into “change your underwear” territory. I don’t mind taking that risk at my local Six Flags, but it is a little different at Disney World.

The main reason that Kali River Rapids is at the bottom of this list is the competition. The journey through the rocks and trees of this waterway is enjoyable. The suspense about which riders will get the majority of the water is good fun. I just wish there was more to this attraction. The story line with the environmental destruction is limited, and the thrills don’t match Grizzly River Run in California. It’s a step above typical amusement park raft rides, but not as far above as I’d like to see at Disney World.

Photo by Erin Heaton

9. Gran Fiesta Tour, Epcot

Pros: Upbeat and engaging for kids, set design, animatronics

Cons: Too many screens, less connection to the culture

Best Part: Quiet opening section floating past the pyramid

I nearly listed the Gran Fiesta Tour behind Kali River Rapids, and it would be last without the updates to its finale. El Rio Del Tiempo did not have Donald, but it complemented the rest of the structure well. My daughters love the sight gags on the screens with Donald, and including him draws more guests to this attraction. So I can understand why Disney made the change.

There are still effective moments within the Gran Fiesta Tour, especially the opening ride past the pyramid after boarding your vessels. You drift past the San Angel Inn and can enjoy the scenery before reaching the main story. We see Donald’s pals trying to locate him for the final concert, and it’s a lively experience. What makes everything click is having animatronics at the end instead of screens. Those old-school physical characters are much better and make the journey feel worthwhile. That upbeat finale ends the ride on just the right note.

Photo by Dan Heaton

8. Liberty Square Riverboat, The Magic Kingdom

Pros: Views of Frontierland and Liberty Square, escape from crowds

Cons: Frequent refurbs, not for everyone

Best Part: An excellent view of the massive Big Thunder Mountain as you float by it

I love rollercoasters and thrill rides, but sometimes it’s a relief to just relax on a boat as it slowly glides along a beautiful waterway. While the Liberty Square Riverboat doesn’t achieve the heights of the open-air Columbia at Disneyland, it still provides a great experience. The vintage style paddlewheel helps to recreate the feeling that you’ve entered the time of Mark Twain. Floating through the Rivers of America, you can still see the hectic Magic Kingdom but feel apart from it.

The keelboats and canoes are long gone from this waterway, so the Liberty Square Riverboat is the last vestige of a past era. This attraction stands in opposition to commando touring; we take our time and appreciate the experience. You can stand at the top for the best views or explore the interior and take a nap. This ride previews Liberty Square and Frontierland and gives a different look at those attractions.

Photo by Erin Heaton

7. Frozen Ever After, Epcot

Pros: High-tech animatronics, multiple water drops

Cons: Breaks down frequently, limited capacity

Best Part: The “Let It Go” scene is an outstanding mix of sets, animatronics, and thrills.

I have mixed feelings about Frozen Ever After, and my opinion is not entirely logical. This attraction represents changing trends in Epcot from the park I loved as a kid into something unclear. Maelstrom was not drawing crowds, but it felt right in Norway for me. Arrendelle is well-done but still feels weird in World Showcase. Thankfully, the Imagineers did a good job creating an effective theme for this land. Despite having to retrofit an existing ride system, Frozen Ever After works in the space.

There are some excellent moments, particularly the rousing “Let It Go” scene with the stunning Elsa animatronic. The drops from Maelstrom are also incorporated well into the Frozen environment. What pulls Frozen Ever After down a bit is the limited capacity for such a popular attraction and frequent breakdowns. When you’re arranging a day around a FastPass this far from the entrance, unexpected downtime causes challenges. I normally wouldn’t consider that fact when ranking attractions, but the issues are enough to warrant a mention.

Photo by Erin Heaton

6. The Jungle Cruise, The Magic Kingdom

Pros: A Disney classic; immersive, effective place making

Cons: Some jokes are tired, quality is dependent on your Skipper

Best Part: The temple is surprisingly creepy since its last update.

During a packed vacation, it can be easy to skip The Jungle Cruise’s slow-moving line. We spend a lot of time in Tomorrowland and Fantasyland and sometimes make quick stops in Adventureland. We’ve all heard the jokes about the “back side of water” many times, but there is more to see for discerning guests. On our latest trip, we rode The Jungle Cruise at night and had a great time. Within this darker setting, the attraction felt deeper and more ominous than a daytime ride.

I mention that nighttime experience because it reminds me that The Jungle Cruise has plenty to offer. With the right Skipper, you can enjoy different spins on familiar jokes. This is still a classic attraction despite not being among my top picks. I appreciate that Disney has not tried to modernize the approach thus far. I suspect we may see updates if the upcoming movie is a success. If it does well, those updates could help to draw a whole new generation of guests to this long-running attraction.

Photo by Erin Heaton

5. Na’vi River Journey, Disney’s Animal Kingdom

Pros: Relaxing setting and music, gorgeous effects

Cons: Lack of more physical sets, too short

Best Part: The Shaman of Songs animatronic raises the bar for theme parks.

I’ve always been more focused on Disney’s theme parks than the movies and characters. It’s evident in my love for nighttime shows like Rivers of Light and Illuminations: Reflections of Earth instead of character-driven experiences. What surprises me about Pandora is how much the land connects with what I love about the parks. I never feel like the commercial side of Avatar encroaches on the wonderful atmosphere at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

This positive feeling is everywhere in the Nav’i River Journey, which provides a relaxing and inspiring experience. Despite the use of screens, the attraction immerses you within this gorgeous world. It could be a little longer, but the journey sticks with you for a long time. It is not a high-flying adventure like Flight of Passage, but it’s hardly an afterthought within Pandora. The Shaman of Songs lives up to the hype and is a mind-boggling animatronic. When the long lines eventually subside, I suspect more guests will become fans of this stunning attraction.

Photo by Erin Heaton

4. “it’s a small world”, The Magic Kingdom

Pros: Stunning artwork, long ride time, diverse music

Cons: Misses the gorgeous exterior from Disneyland

Best Part: The final scenes bring everything together so well.

I’ve never been on the hate train for “it’s a small world”; even the song never bothered me. One reason is that you don’t hear the same lyrics over and over. The theme appears in different languages throughout the slow-moving ride, so it doesn’t get stuck in your head. Only the climax involves the song that we all know so well. Most of the attraction is just a calm journey through the types of show scenes that make Disney great. Mary Blair’s artwork looks like nothing else, and the resonance of that style remains strong more than 50 years later.

My enjoyment of “it’s a small world” has only grown since we started visiting with my daughters. Our entire family just sits back, relaxes, and has a good time for 15 minutes. It’s rare to find an attraction that brings all of us together. The Disney World ride lacks the stunning exterior of the Disneyland version, but it does not have the characters that were added in California. Both have their good points, and I appreciate having separate experiences at each resort.

Photo by Dan Heaton

3. Pirates of the Caribbean, The Magic Kingdom

Pros: Mix of theming, animatronics, and music; the queue

Cons: Abbreviated version ends abruptly

Best Part: Dropping into the epic battle right in the middle of the ship and fort

Pirates of the Caribbean is a classic Disney attraction that remains one of the signature attractions at The Magic Kingdom. I can’t argue with anyone that places it at the top of their rankings. My slight downgrade is because of what the Florida version is missing. Once you’ve experienced the original California Pirates, it’s difficult not to look differently at the Disney World attraction. It’s still a fun experience yet seems rushed in this eight-minute package.

On a positive note, the queue perfectly sets the stage for our journey. The small details and background music inside the Spanish fort help us to forget the crowds outside and prep for adventure. The sequence beginning with the waterfall that drops you into the battle is stunning. The upbeat music blares while cannonballs splash around us, and it represents the best in Disney storytelling. Pirates of the Caribbean always brings a smile to my face on every trip.

Photo by Dan Heaton

2. Living with the Land, Epcot

Pros: Classic EPCOT Center attraction, education, warm atmosphere

Cons: Stems from a different era, which may put off some guests

Best Part: The opening scenes with the waterfall and farmhouse are wonderful.

We’ve seen a lot of changes to Epcot over the years, and many have shifted the park away from its original themes. These trends make the survivors even more valuable to EPCOT Center fans. Even Spaceship Earth has suffered because of its unfortunate descent. The exception remains the charming Living with the Land, which I appreciate even more today. It’s also a strong enough attraction to please newer guests that didn’t experience the park back in the ‘80s.

It’s surprising to note that removing the human host from the original Listen to the Land made the experience better. The relaxing vibe of the recorded spiels and sound effects connect perfectly to the message of appreciating our natural world. The initial scene by the waterfall ranks among my favorite spots in all of Disney World. The greenhouse also presents technology that still is not commonplace. It isn’t futuristic yet still can interest guests now. My daughters love this boat ride, and it has nothing to do with an interest in EPCOT Center.

Photo by Dan Heaton

1. Splash Mountain, The Magic Kingdom

Pros: Water, thrills, animatronics, music, and fun!

Cons: Long refurbs

Best Part: It’s tough to choose, but it’s hard to beat the excitement of the big drop.

I love water attractions, and log flumes rank among my favorites at any park. Even my local Six Flags St. Louis has a great flume! When you combine that format with audio-animatronics and music in an attractive setting, it’s perfect. Splash Mountain succeeds because it takes the log flume and drops a classic Disney experience inside of it. It’s the opposite of Kali River Rapids because it doesn’t settle for the obvious formula.

Splash Mountain uses the Song of the South characters but is obviously not reliant on the source material. Disney has tucked that controversial film away into a vault, so few guests have even seen it. I mention the IP because it shows the way that Disney can use an existing story to build an attraction that does not rely on it. Splash Mountain has a catchy song like “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” that comes after the climactic drop. That set-up expands the experience well beyond the thrills. There is plenty to enjoy before you reach the final lift hill, and that’s a key factor.

My only complaint about Splash Mountain is that it regularly closes for refurbs. It’s a selfish thought since we often visit during the winter, and I want Disney to take care of their attractions. Regardless of that fact, I love Splash Mountain because it displays everything that makes a wonderful theme park attraction. There is so much packed into 10 minutes of ride time, and I can’t think of a better way to describe it than just saying that it’s magical.

Photo by Dan Heaton

No Clear Consensus

This week, I set up a Twitter poll of my top four choices and asked respondents for their favorite. I expected a pretty even split, which was true for all but “it’s a small world”. Of the 66 votes, only two chose my #4 pick. The others were tight, with Pirates tying Splash Mountain with 35% of the vote. Living with the Land was only a little behind at 27%. Twitter limited me to four choices, and I suspect a few others might also be favorites. These responses show the lack of a clear winner in this category.

Splash Mountain is my favorite attraction in all of Disney World, but I can see the argument for others. Regardless of which truly ranks as the collective favorite, I love the wide range of water attractions at the resort. Even water features outside of the attractions like in Pandora help to create a better atmosphere. It’s one of the big reasons why I enjoy the parks so much, and I’d love to see new additions to this roster in the future. Come on, Disney! Let’s dig some more canals and make this happen!

Related Rankings

Ranking Walt Disney World’s Roller Coasters

Ranking 40 All-Time Future World Attractions

14 All-Time World Showcase Attractions Ranked

16 All-Time Tomorrowland Attractions Ranked

Photo by Erin Heaton

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