Best rides at night?

[dobtia]

The Swiss family treehouse is absolutely gorgeous at night and gives you a nice view of Cinderella castle. Climbing the stairs and hearing swissapopka with all the lights glowing and the water. I have seen wishes from its terraces before if you time it right and don't mind the stairs

By accident this became a nighttime favorite for myself and my son. We love being up there at night. You get a good look at the glowing of the park. It is special.

Our favorites have been said by many....Big Thunder and Splash.

 

[ktlm]

Dumbo is gorgeous at night!

Absolutely agree!!! I can't believe you are the only one that has mentioned it with this many posts. I was not a fan of it moving out of the middle of Fantasyland until I rode it at night. The lights are gorgeous, and the view is good too, and should be even better now with the Mine Train finished. There is also the added bonus that in our experience, there was no line at night. We just kept getting off and going around and getting on it again. I think we rode it about 5 times in a row.

 

[georgina]

I'm adding the Treehouse at night to my next trip. I would not have thought of doing it at night during the fireworks.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Test Track is waaaaay cooler at night...when you bust out onto that track outside...just awesome!

BTMR...100% more thrilling at night(fireworks are an extra-magical touch).

EXPEDITION EVEREST...yes...it's hard to experience this(especially in the summer)...but if you get the opportunity...JUMP ON IT! My single favorite experience in all of WDW. The good news is that once Avatar is in place, we will be able to do this all the time!

 

[mobay2000]

Last year, my daughter's first visit, we hit Jungle Cruise at night and it is much more fun that way...not quite as hokey. Then we hit BTMR and right as we came out of the tunnel and up over a hill the fireworks were popping! DD went nuts. She wants us to try to recreate that. FP+ might just make that possible. We have it scheduled...just have to actually board at the right time. So there are some perks!

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

Last year, my daughter's first visit, we hit Jungle Cruise at night and it is much more fun that way...not quite as hokey. Then we hit BTMR and right as we came out of the tunnel and up over a hill the fireworks were popping! DD went nuts. She wants us to try to recreate that. FP+ might just make that possible. We have it scheduled...just have to actually board at the right time. So there are some perks!

mobay2000...I hear 'ya. We have timed BTMR for the fireworks during our last two visits in 2009 and 2013...before FP+. It was kind of easy because people were lined up for the parade and fireworks. You can probably *still* get away with doing that even *now*.

But still...if you make your fastpass+for that time there is a good chance it could happen.

Good luck!

 

[BebopBaloo]

Absolutely agree!!! I can't believe you are the only one that has mentioned it with this many posts. I was not a fan of it moving out of the middle of Fantasyland until I rode it at night. The lights are gorgeous, and the view is good too, and should be even better now with the Mine Train finished. There is also the added bonus that in our experience, there was no line at night. We just kept getting off and going around and getting on it again. I think we rode it about 5 times in a row.

I was also not happy about it being moved. One of the best fireworks experiences that we've had was while we were on Dumbo in it's old location. However, the new one is lit up so beautifully and still offers fantastic views, plus the queue is such an improvement. We had a similar experience with it not being that busy at night. We love Dumbo.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

I'm a big fan of Dumbo at night. I love the colors. Last year, my sister and I were lucky enough to ride it during Wishes. We joked that we experienced Wishes from every angle that trip - at Cali Grill, from outside the park, at Narcoossee's, on Main Street and on Dumbo.

I like POTC - it's dark so I like the feeling. I've been on Splash Mountain at night and it's really cool when you make that one turn where you can see the entire castle.

I also love BTMRR - I went on in the rain once and the rain was pelting me in the pace. As a result, I closed my eyes the whole time. Not knowing where the drops and bunny hops are add to the fun of the ride.

Lastly, I love Magic Kingdom during the late EMH. Nothing beats the park at 1 or 2am when there's a handful of people left at the park. ESPECIALLY during very crowded times like Christmas. It's so much fun to roam an empty Main Street when it was packed just hours earlier. You can take a picture anywhere and everyone is walking around exhausted trying to keep their eyes open. It reminds me of a kid on Christmas Eve - trying to stay up.

I love EPCOT at night and the World Showcase - especially in Italy and France. There's something about those two countries that have that "romantic" appeal to them when it's dark out.

In DHS I love the neon lights at night. I LOVE ToT especially at night. No trip is complete without riding ToT at night. Aside from the obvious with the doors opening, it makes it feel a bit creepier.

 

[FLSarah]

I think all the parks are better at night. They just feel different. The first time we rode Splash was at night, and I prefer it to daytime. BTMRR is also awesome at night.

 

[BalooPA]

I have always sworn to anyone who will listen that Pirates is darker at night, for some reason.

 

[BlackMagicWoman]

Love Tower of Terror at night

 

[MinnieMSue]

We rode jungle cruise at night just as a storm was blowing in before the rain hit. It was so creepy with the wind blowing through the trees in the dark. Loved it. They shut it down after our boat got back to the dock.

 

[Maddysdaddy]

Another vote for the Jungle Cruise and BTMRR at night. Experienced them after dark for the first time in February, and it was like riding them for the first time.

Also went on the Astro Orbiter for the first time on that trip (also after dark). Not a ride I'd ever had any desire to go on during the day, but at night with all of the lights, it was well worth experiencing.

 

[metzgardesign]

Jungle Cruise is fun at night, as is the TTA.

I have also enjoyed climbing the Swiss Family treehouse at night. Nice views.

 

[TXHauntedMansionFan]

Haunted Mansion, BTMRR, Jungle Cruise, Peoplemover and TOT are all better at night in our opinion. By far Jungle Cruise shows the most improvement when compared to it's day time version. We also rode Everest a long time ago in the dark (during Christmas time, maybe back when they had later EMH at the AK??) and it was pretty cool as well.

 

[Stefecatzz]

ITA w/BTMR at night!

I got to ride Splash at night once while the fireworks were going off & if you can time it right, that's another awesome experience.

Jungle Cruise was never one of my favorite rides but I've never done it at night. That's going on my list for the next trip.

 

[Cando86]

Wow - thank you ALL for your awesome suggestions! Will definitely be trying them out next January

 

[WVParkfan]

Kali River Rapids is truly a different experience at night. Love it! Primeval Whirl is a lot of fun at night, too (Guess it is the carnival lights and fun atmosphere).

 

[Delirium]

Just about anything at Magic Kingdom. Even some of the indoor rides like Buzz Lightyear have a different feel.

My personal list of favorites
- People Mover (Simply put, a Magical way to relax)
- Astro Orbiter (would never even consider doing it during the day)
- Jungle Cruise
- Dumbo (that whole are of the park just feels different at night)
- Haunted Mansion (especially during a MNSSHP)
- Carousel (another one I would never consider doing during the day)

 

[loislane]

Jungle Cruise, Splash and BTMR are all awesome at night. HM is technically no different at night, but walking into and out of it in the dark just adds to the experience. My 9yo absolutely REFUSED to ride it at night last trip, but was perfectly fine riding in during the day. As someone else mentioned, Astro Orbiter is also nice at night.