6 Infuriating Disney World Ride Problems We Still Can’t Get Over

There are some things we’ll never get over!

We love Disney World’s rides, that’s a given. However, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t certain things that drive us crazy about them. These are six of the most infuriating Disney World ride issues we just can’t let go of. 

The Length of TRON

TRON Lightcycle / Run has received praise for its theming, and overall ride experience since the thrill ride opened at the Magic Kingdom in 2023. However, one element of that ride that’s been criticized is its length. The coaster lasts approximately 60 seconds. For comparison sake, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind has a duration of 3 minutes 20 seconds, and both Space Mountain and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train clock in at about 2.5 minutes each. 

This short run-time can be especially irritating because there are currently only two ways to ride TRON Lightcycle/Run: Either a virtual queue (which requires waking up at 7:00AM to try and join the first virtual queue of the day, and keeping an eye on the My Disney Experience app all day waiting for your group to be called) or purchasing Individual Lightning Lanes for an additional cost (soon to be known as Lightning Lane Single Passes). 

Regular Breakdowns at Rise of the Resistance

We completely understand that modern Disney attractions are technological marvels, so it’s definitely understandable that technical issues are bound to crop up, especially with revolutionary-for-theme-parks attractions like Rise of the Resistance. However, going on 5 years since the attraction opened at Walt Disney World, the near predictable daily breakdowns wear on our nerves, especially since the ride often has one of the highest average wait times at the whole resort.

In other words, the only ways to ride the attraction are to wait nearly 2 hours on a given day or purchase an Individual Lightning Lane (soon to be called Lightning Lane Single Pass), meaning that there’s either a time or money commitment that can be wasted when the ride goes down.

Expedition Everest Disco Yeti

When Expedition Everest opened in 2006, the massive Yeti animatronic that serves as the ride’s climax was arguably the ride’s most hyped element, with the marketing campaign built entirely around it. However, within months of opening, Imagineers discovered that the Yetis’s hydraulic movements were so powerful that they were doing structural damage to the mountain that houses the attraction. In response, the Yeti was permanently moved into B-Mode, AKA it’s completely still with strobe lights flashing to give the illusion of movement. Thanks to the strobe lights, the once-revolutionary animatronic has earned the nickname “Disco Yeti.” 

Despite promises that Imagineering was working on a solution, Disco Yeti — much to our chagrin — has been in place for nearly 20 years. 

Mission: Space is Nauseating 

Admittedly, Mission: Space is likely always going to be a sore spot since it replaced the iconic Horizons. However, even if the attraction hadn’t replaced an iconic piece of EPCOT’s past, the fact that the ride original version was so nauseating that it had to be renamed Orange Mission while a new, tamer Green Mission experience would still bother us. 

Space Mountain’s Seats

Space Mountain is one of Disney’s most famous attractions, and rightfully so. However, we have a major issue with the Magic Kingdom version: the layout of the ride vehicles. The coaster trains — two three-passenger single-file cars connected together — are very hard to get into and out of, making the coaster experience more uncomfortable than it should be. 

A Bad Pilot Potentially Ruining Smuggler’s Run

Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run is a polarizing ride experience. Some think it’s the highly enjoyable fruition of the dreams of millions of Star Wars fans, while others are disappointed by the video game-like ride experience not “measuring up” to the theming of the queue and ride vehicle. While we’d say there’s merit to the arguments made by both sides, there’s one thing about the ride we simply can’t get over: The experience can easily be ruined by the pilot. 

Each Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run ride features 6 guests, each of whom are given a specific interactive job: 2 pilots, 2 gunners, and 2 engineers. While the gunner and engineer jobs are relatively easy for those at any age and skill level, piloting is a bit more complicated. If a pilot is too young or otherwise unable to pilot correctly, the experience turns into a jerky, uncomfortable ride with constant “crashing” that really can sour one on the ride overall. 

While we love Disney’s vast library of rides and attractions, there are some issues we’ll simply never get over. Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney takes. 

THEN AND NOW: How Your Favorite Disney World Rides Have CHANGED Since They First Opened

What are some Disney World ride problems you’ll never get over? Let us know in the comments below.