The name of our website is Coaster101, so obviously, we love a good roller coaster. However, we know that at the end of the day, there are plenty of non-roller coaster attractions that help create fantastic experiences at some of our favorite parks. As part of our 15-part countdown to our 15th Anniversary, we wanted to highlight fifteen of our favorite non-coaster attractions in North America. Some of the attractions are unique, others can be found at multiple parks, but we love them all the same.
Men In Black: Alien Attack
Park: Universal Studios Florida | Year Opened: 2000
Celebrating its 20th Anniversary earlier this year, Men In Black: Alien Attack is truly one of the best (of the best, of the best, sir!) Dark Rides in existence today. An enormous dual-tracked dark ride, when combined with practical sets and a recognizable IP, results in one of the most enjoyable attractions that have been around for two decades. Just don’t push that red button…or push it. Your choice!
Falcon’s Fury
Park: Busch Gardens Tampa | Year Opened: 2014
Drop Towers aren’t a new phenomenon, however, the idea of dropping more than 300 feet while staring at the ground? That’s a new one. The Intamin-designed Falcon’s Fury features the eighth tallest drop on any drop tower in the world, and the forces that are felt prior to the drop, lying prone, only add to the terrifying experience.
The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man
Park: Universal Islands of Adventure | Year Opened: 1999
When the Amazing Adventures of Spiderman opened in 1999, it was truly a ground-breaking attraction. The ride vehicles were on a track, but also on a motion-base, which allowed for interaction between the 3-D screens and the vehicles themselves. The mixture of practical sets and screen-based media has made Spiderman a consistent contender for the Golden Ticket Award for Best Dark Ride, an award it won for 11 straight years from 1999-2010.
Jungle Cruise
Domestic Parks: Disneyland & Walt Disney World – Magic Kingdom | Year Opened: 1955 (DL), 1971 (MK)
If you go to a Disney park and aren’t at least slightly amused by the “back side of water,” or the pun-filled jokes told by the Jungle Cruise skippers, you’re in de-Nile. This classic Disney attraction is always a must-ride (ideally multiple times) for me during a Disney trip, because honestly, who doesn’t love a good pun?
Haunted Mansion
Domestic Parks: Disneyland & Walt Disney World – Magic Kingdom | Year Opened: 1969 (DL), 1971 (MK)
Welcome, Foolish Mortals, to the Haunted Mansion. Home to 999 happy haunts, the Haunted Mansions on both coasts are what classic dark rides are all about. Practical sets, classic techniques like Pepper’s Ghost, and a fun story and soundtrack. A special shoutout to the Disneyland version of the attraction, who not only has the Hatbox Ghost, but also features a Holiday Overlay with characters from Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas.
Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey
Domestic Parks: Universal Islands of Adventure & Universal Studios Hollywood | Year Opened: 2010 (IOA), 2016 (USH)
If you’re wondering about the dark ride that dethroned Spiderman in the Golden Ticket Awards, look no further than across the lagoon at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey. Through some theme park magic, riders board a “magic bench,” which is actually attached to a robotic arm, taking riders throughout Hogwarts and scenes from the Harry Potter Universe. Like Spiderman, the attraction relies on a mixture of practical sets and screen-based media, but it is sensory overload in the best way imaginable.
Radiator Springs Racers
Park: Disney’s California Adventure | Year Opened: 2012
Radiator Springs Racers is a great example of Disney taking existing technology and improving upon it with an all-new story. The surrounding Carsland is straight out of the Pixar Franchise, and even for someone who isn’t super familiar with the Cars films, Radiator Springs Racers was just pure “fun.” The sets are over-the-top and majestic, the scenes inside the ride and animatronics are both are great, and there’s even the added value of competition.
Justice League: Battle for Metropolis
Parks: Multiple Six Flags | Year First Opened: 2015
Inside the Hall of Justice at multiple Six Flags parks lies probably the best modern “mass-produced” dark ride today: Justice League: Battle for Metropolis. A modern take on the classic Sally dark ride shooter, Battle for Metropolis uses interactive screens for riders to target rather than practical sets with little laser markers. There is a great level of interactivity, as riders can see their scores posted on screens in the exit. We wish this attraction would make its way to every Six Flags park.
Any Classic Interactive Sally Dark Ride
Parks: Multiple | The First: Great Pistolero Round-Up at Family Kingdom in Myrtle Beach
Don’t get us wrong however, there’s still a lot to like about the Classic Sally interactive dark rides. They can be a different experience each time, and the level of competition in a ride vehicle can get heated at times (or maybe that’s just my competitive streak.) Whether it’s Boo Blasters on Boo Hill at various Cedar Fair parks, Den of Lost Thieves at Indiana Beach, The Great Pistolero Roundup at Family Kingdom or Gobbler Getaway at Holiday World — be sure to take the time to experience these classic attractions next time you’re at your local park.
Star Wars Rise of the Resistance
Parks: Disney’s Hollywood Studios & Disneyland | Year Opened: 2019 (DHS), 2020 (DL)
Some have said that Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is the Greatest Theme Park Attraction ever created. And honestly, after experiencing it earlier this year at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, they may be right. Seamlessly blurring multiple pre-shows and the main attraction into one immersive experience was a fantastic experience. Rarely do I get off a ride with my mouth agape wondering “what the heck just happened?” but with Rise of the Resistance, it certainly did. I can’t wait to experience it again in the future.
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Domestic Park: Disney’s Hollywood Studios | Year Opened: 1994
Celebrating 25 years last year, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror still provides endless thrills to this day. Inside the Hollywood Tower Hotel, the elevators (actually manufactured by the OTIS elevator corporation) have multiple degrees of motion, moving forward out of their shafts and into another shaft where a randomized drop sequence takes place. Will you go up? Will you go down? It’s all a mystery which makes the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror that much better of a ride.
Toy Story Midway Mania
Domestic Parks: Disney’s Hollywood Studios & Disneyland | Year Opened: 2008 (Both Parks)
If you can’t tell, I’m a huge fan of interactive dark rides — and I think that Toy Story Midway Mania is one of the most fun I’ve ever experienced. While your “targeting” motion remains the same by pulling on a cord, the games are all unique and fun. It’s another ride where you’re almost guaranteed to have a different experience every time, unless you’ve memorized where all the high-scoring targets are in each level. Fortunately for me, I haven’t — and it’s always a must-ride for me at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Shafer Swings
Park: Indiana Beach | Model: Chance Yo-Yo
The Chance Yo-Yo is an “off the shelf” model, but the Shafer Swings at Indiana Beach deserve recognition as some of the scariest (while remaining close to the ground — Starflyers are an exception!) swings I’ve ever been on. There’s just the right level of uncertainty while flying over the water where you hang on to the chains holding your chair just a little tighter. With Indiana Beach reopening this year, we’re excited that the Shafer Swings get to keep on Swinging for years to come!
S&S Screamin’ Swing
Park: Multiple | First Opened: 2004, Knott’s Berry Farm
The S&S Screamin’ Swing is probably our favorite flat ride that is at multiple parks. The feelings of going beyond horizontal and vertical are amazing, and it’s probably best described by watching our On-Ride footage from Finnegan’s Flyer at Busch Gardens Williamsburg.
Flying Scooters
Park: Multiple | Oldest Operating: Mountain Gliders, Carowinds (Est. 1940)
An “oldie but a goodie,” the Flying Scooters are the oldest attraction on our list. If you’re a seasoned Flying Scooter rider, you know how to turn the front fin on the ride vehicle to “snap” the car and ride the wind. It’s fun seeing people learning how to move the scooter in such a way that it can be a wild or mild experience.
Coaster101 15 to 15 Giveaway #7
We continue our “15 to 15” giveaways with another Coaster101 Prize Pack! To enter, leave a comment below telling us your favorite non-coaster ride.
You can enter now through 11:59 p.m. ET tonight.
Giveaway Rules
- The entry period for this giveaway will run until 11:59 p.m. ET tonight. We’ll email the winner tomorrow.
- To remain eligible for your prize pack, you will need to respond with your name and mailing address within 24 hours of receiving the email notification.
- One entry per person.
- Unfortunately, we are unable to ship Prize Packs outside of the U.S.
Finally, keep an eye out for the next 15 to 15 tomorrow as we continue celebrating 15 years online!
Good luck!
Screamin’ Swings for sure!!
Disappointed not to see the classic Whip on this list, one of the remaining oldies at Kennywood, Hershey Park, or Dorney.
I love myself a Scram Swing and Giant Discovery. Also have to get to Dorney sometime to get on Demon Drop because that looks pretty awesome!
I love S&S Screamin swings, and tower of terror is great as well. I would love to get on Falcon’s Fury at some point as well.
I love Haunted Mansion.
Probably my favorite non coaster ride of all time is either Demons Drop at Dorney(if you even consider it a flat ride) or Jurassic Park: The Ride at IoA. Both are really fun classic rides that I wish I could ride more.
My favorite would be any park’s observation tower. I love seeing bird’s eye views of a park.
I’d argue that Indiana Jones Adventure beats a few on this list. It’s an excellent ride that has held up pretty well for the last 25 years, and the FX are still stunning (when they work)