Welcome to Theme Park Insider! Join the community or log in
Theme Park Insider
Facebook Twitter Pinterest YouTube

Most Overrated and Underrated Rides

What coasters are way too hyped and which ones are not

From Bob Miller
Posted July 8, 2011 at 8:55 AM
For me it would be

Overrated
Millennium Force
Superman: Ultimate Flight
Big Thunder Mountain
Toy Story Mania

Underrated
Magnum XL 200
Gemini
American Eagle


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Tony Duda
Posted July 8, 2011 at 11:26 AM
The number 1 overrated ride is Soarin'. It is popular because it gives the illusion of thrill but, face it, all you do is sit in a seat for a few minutes and watch a movie.

From Jeff Elliott
Posted July 8, 2011 at 11:36 AM
I would agree with Tony on Soarin'.

I would also add Twister...or as I like to call it, Cow On A Cable...

From Dave Stroem
Posted July 8, 2011 at 1:52 PM
First off, TSM & Soarin are not coasters.

What coasters are overrated, IMO Phoenix at Knoebels, Shivering Timbers at MiA and Bolderdash at Lake Compounce.

Underrated would be Cyclone at Six Flags New England in the back row only though.

From Bob Miller
Posted July 8, 2011 at 2:11 PM
I'd perfer for it to stay with Coasters but as you can see i also have TSM listed. After all it does say "rides" in the title

From Thomas Caselli
Posted July 8, 2011 at 5:17 PM
Big Thunder Mountain and Toy Story Mania, overated? Not one bit!

From Andy Milio
Posted July 8, 2011 at 7:00 PM
Overrated? Buzz Lightyear. Clearly Men in Black is much better!

Underrated? Jaws. So what if the shark is fake? It's still a great ride!

From Albino Pygmy
Posted July 8, 2011 at 8:47 PM
Nice to know who some coaster fanboys are, who see "ride" and think "nothing but coaster" lol

Anyways, the most overrated ride is definitely TSM. It's just a glorified wii game on wheels and just so happens to be in 3D, like everything else.

The most underrated ride? The tram ride that saves you from extra walking to your car. Bonus points if you get a tram guy that loves to sing along the way.

From Anthony Murphy
Posted July 9, 2011 at 9:48 AM
I think its massively open to opinion, here is what I think are the most overrated and underrated attractions:

Overrated: The Mummy

Underrated: Raging Bull

From AJ Hummel
Posted July 9, 2011 at 11:42 AM
Based only on what I've been on:

Overrated Coasters:
Intimidator 305 (KD)
Space Mountain (Disneyland)
GhostRider (KBF)
Grizzly (KD)
Blue Streak (CP)

Underrated Coasters:
Dominator (KD)
Mystery Mine (Dollywood)
California Screamin' (DCA)
Afterburn (Carowinds)
Riddler's Revenge (SFMM)

Overrated non-coaster:
Toy Story Midway Mania (DCA)

Underrated non-coaster:
Alice in Wonderland (Disneyland)
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (Disneyland)
Lost Kingdom Adventure (LC)
Disneyland Railroad (Disneyland)
La Revolucion (KBF)
Disneyland Monorail (Disneyland)

From Bob Miller
Posted July 9, 2011 at 4:32 PM
Another underrated ride is the little monarail that goes through Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom

As for Raging Bull it could be both. Its definely underrated in the caster industry but overrated for SFGAm collection. V2 Batman and American Eagle are much betteer rides. Raging Bull in the back espically on the first drop is a wonderful ride though

From Raul Araoz
Posted July 9, 2011 at 4:45 PM
The most overrated coaster is unquestionably Expedition Everest. Fails as both a dark ride and as a coaster. The current situation with the Yeti only exacerbates these problems. The Matterhorn is a much better ride even in its' elder state.

The Hulk is fairly overpraised as well. A great launch with very little follow-through.

Underrated? I'll go with some of the wild mouse coasters such as Goofy's Sky School at CA. I usually get a kick out of them.

Oh, and Soarin' is easily the most overrated ride period. What was supposed to be Disney's answer to Spider-man, turned out to be their answer to Back to the Future... and a poor response at that. If Disney was still firing on all cylinders, Soarin' could of been what Harry Potter ended up being. Don't even get me started on the nonsense of the carbon copy in Epcot. A cheap cash grab if I ever saw one.

From Andrew Carrieri
Posted July 9, 2011 at 5:06 PM
Overrated:
1)Space Mountain(Disneyland)-not nearly as thrilling as the WDW version in my opinion.
2)Matterhorn(Disneyland)-way too rough and not thrilling.
3)Soarin'-does nothing for me
4)Griffon (BGW)-fun ride but the vertical drops weren't as intense as I hoped for.
5)Toy Story Midway Mania (DHS): Not as good as Men in Black and with five times the wait.
Underrated:
1) Space Mountain (WDW)-I'm one of of the few people who found this version superior to the DL one as the smaller cars make the ride more thrilling in my opinion. And I have not been on it since the recent refurb.
2)Stitch's Great Escape: I know, another shocker. I found Alien Encounter boring and find this one funny (I have an juvenile sense of humor).
3)Poseidon's Fury (IOA)-I enjoyed the effects.
4)Expedition Everest(AK)-OK, It's not really underrated but I enjoy this more than any other coaster in Orlando. Maybe its because I have never seen the A mode yeti? It has the longest backwards section of any coaster I've been on--this makes the ride for me.

From Bob Miller
Posted July 10, 2011 at 8:18 PM
Thought of more

Overrated
Mean Streak's roughness the ride was not THAT bad

Underrated
Blue Streak
Disaster Transport

From Nick Markham
Posted July 10, 2011 at 8:40 PM
Overrated:

- Space Mountain WDW

Underrated:

- Incredible Hulk Coaster
- X2

From Dennis Gonsoulin
Posted July 10, 2011 at 11:35 PM
Overrated:

The Phoenix
Magnum XL 200
Top Thrill Dragster/Kingda Ka
Coney Island Cyclone
X2

Underrated:

Riddler's Revenge
Raging Bull
Tatsu
Superman: Krypton Coaster
Titan/Goliath
The Boardwalk Bullet

From Rob P
Posted July 11, 2011 at 3:45 AM
Bob......Big Thunder Mtn overrated ?? Nooooooo !
Sorry but I think it's still one of the best. Just my opinion of course.

One that I feel doesn't get the credit it deserves is the Country Bears Jamboree.

From Kara Leblanc
Posted July 12, 2011 at 4:23 PM
The mummy is not over rated! I love this ride

Over rated: rip ride and rocket ( universal orlando)

under rated: montu (busch gardens tampa)

From Anthony O'Neal
Posted July 12, 2011 at 5:22 PM
I have to say that I thought Maverick at Cedar Point was overrated, but everyone I was with really liked it.

Underrated. . . American Eagle (SFGA) and I really like Shivering Timbers at Michigan's Adventure.

From Manny Rodriguez
Posted July 12, 2011 at 7:55 PM
Overrated cheetah hunt underrated montu

From chris cona
Posted July 12, 2011 at 9:08 PM
To me the most over ratted rides our
big thunder railroad
stich is great escape
batman the ride
batman the dark knight

Under ratted rides our
El torreo
Nitro
Pirates of the Carribean
buzz light year space ranger spin
Mickeys PhilarMagic

From Stuart Henny
Posted July 13, 2011 at 1:02 AM
Over-rated: -

The Amazing Adventures Of Spider-Man

Under-rated: -

Soarin'
Living With The Land

From travis traymoore
Posted July 13, 2011 at 1:07 PM
overated-Hollywood Rip Rocket and Steel Force at Dorney, Kingda Ka, though their still enjoyable rides

underated-EL TORO! TTA, One mans dream

From Steph Ramos
Posted July 13, 2011 at 11:18 PM
Hmm....well mine are as follows:

Overrated:
Space Mountain at Disneyland (Don't get me started...I have no clue what the big freaggin' deal about this ride is...Its not that great people...GET. OVER. IT.)

Underrated:
Scream at SFMM (Its smooth with awesome airtime and relatively short lines...if everyone can just get over the fact that its built over part of the original parking lot and concentrate on the ride itself, then it would be getting the love it deserves....)

From Ashleigh Noad
Posted July 14, 2011 at 2:46 AM
Overrated: Thirteen at Alton Towers, the best example of how not to theme what is primarily a kiddie coaster.

From Kurt Larson
Posted July 14, 2011 at 2:36 PM
Sorry Kara, but I'm with Anthony.

I really like to poke fun at The Mummy.

"hey, way to scare me with those... ummm, neon signs?"

I can't believe people wait over 10 minutes for that 'ride'.

From Alan Hiscutt
Posted July 15, 2011 at 3:13 PM
Over:-

Soarin. Que was over an hour and it was the last time I ever ride somthing just becuase everyone else wants to.

Rip, Ride, Rockit. Yea, Great drop but it really wasnt as good as I thought it would be.

Hulk. I spent ages back in 2001 getting the balls to go on it. I wish I had gone on Doctor Doom twice instead.

Under:-

Jaws. Its old. It sometimes breaks down. BUT when its working, and working with ALL the features, espicially at dusk. Its awesome.

X-Men Storm Force Acceleration. OKay, its the teacup ride but you can really get some G's on that ride!

Carousel of Progress. I must have been on this 20 times. Every time we go I say the same. "We will do it if we get time, but its not on my priority list" and yet, I have yet to visit WDW and NOT go on this. Missed out on Space and Splash mountains occasionally, Walked away from Jurassic Park becuase I wanted to beat the traffic. That song I think is to blame. "Theres a great big beautiful tomorrow...." you get the idea :)

This discussion has been archived, and is not accepting additional responses.