Best Seats on Rides?

[Jamie77]

I don't love sitting right next to one of the walls of the cart, at least if not in the front row, but it's not a huge difference really.

That's my favorite area to sit! I don't know why.

 

[scrapquitler]

I like to be in the front row of Pirates and Small World.
The left side of the Safari truck tends to have more to see (rhino, elephants, lions, warthogs are all on the left). If you want to take pics without the back of 20 people's heads in your shots, sit on the left.
If they are still running the western/gangster cars, I like to be in the first car so I am in the western scene. Not sure if they still do that as I haven't gotten it in years.
Soarin B1 or bust.

I dislike being in the front row of Small World because I think there's not enough room for my feet (and I'm short) DH is miserable in the front row.

DH says he's more comfortable not in the front row of Space Mountain because he has more room for his legs in the middle/back row since he can put them to the sides of the seat in front of him.

As previously stated, Soarin is better in the center, and in the top row, but I can never remember which row/seat position that means.

On Tomorrowland Transit Authority, I refuse to sit going backwards because it makes me queasy. DH always sits in the backwards seat.

On Big Thunder Mountain I prefer to not be near the front because the train car blocks my view and I can't see where we are going.

And on the way back to the resort, if the bus is one of thse long double buses that bend in the middle, I have to sit forward of the bend or I get sick and alternate between wanting to vomit or pass out.

 

[Klayfish]

On the old style roller coasters that clank up the hill then surrender to gravity we prefer the last car as you spend more of the ride at a higher speed. No, I'm not saying that at any moment all the cars aren't going the same speed, it's that the rear cars are already speeding up before cresting the hill as gravity pulls the front cars down.

Bill From PA

Yep, the "whip" effect. Like you said, gravity takes over after the balance of the weight of the coaster has crossed the peak. So if you're in the back, you're still climbing when you get a sudden rush of acceleration...that part is fun. It's also fun to be up front as you sort of "hang" over the hill waiting for the drop.

We never ask but last week when DH and I rode the CM miscounted and ended up with 9 guests that didn't fit on the ride so we were left waiting for the next one
They'd lined us up on Gate C but I asked if we could go to B instead, since we had to wait anyway.
It wasn't any problem at all
I'm not sure I'd bother to ask in any other instance. We've ridden all over the theater and while yes, B is better the other 2 aren't so bad the ride is ruined or anything

We asked once, and were accommodated. We only asked because it wasn't "that" crowded when we went...it was fairly close to closing time if I recall, so we weren't really holding anything up. I'd wonder if they'd allow it during peak times.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

I really don't have too many preferences, but because of my sister's vertigo and fear of heights we sit on the lowest row of Soarin' (can't remember what it's called, "C?"). She still keeps her eyes closed. Every time we go I say to her, "Let's just not go on it," and every year she says she wants to. Probably because she doesn't want me to miss out.

We also don't care for the back car of Space Mountain. The ride is super jerky and that seat is the worst.

 

[BrianL]

That's my favorite area to sit! I don't know why.

Some people like it because there is something to hold on to, or maybe it's just a feeling of security. It does however make it a little harder to see everything in the scenes.

 

[Zippa D Doodah]

I am 6'2" with long legs and size 15 shoes.I pretty much have to sit on the back seat on Space Mountain.

Gate B Row 1 is worth waiting for on Soarin' IMO

 

[Jamie77]

Some people like it because there is something to hold on to, or maybe it's just a feeling of security. It does however make it a little harder to see everything in the scenes.

That's probably it. It was the first spot I was assigned to sit when I used to be really scared to ride ToT. But then I started to like seeing some of the scenery on the sides of the car and the love of this area grew for me. I do enjoy sitting in the front because if I'm in the back, I can't see myself in the photo because everyone raises their arms.

 

[agame2323]

I am 6'2" with long legs and size 15 shoes.I pretty much have to sit on the back seat on Space Mountain.

Gate B Row 1 is worth waiting for on Soarin' IMO

This is me also. One time, I tried squeezing into the front car on Space Mountain... never again. I love front row on all coasters, (won't ride The Hulk unless I'm in the front).

 

[bizeemom4]

I was going to say the opposite, actually.

What's going on in the back row of Pirates? Curious about what I'm missing asking for the front.

 

[LaBelleVie]

What's going on in the back row of Pirates? Curious about what I'm missing asking for the front.

There's nothing terribly special about it; you're just way less likely to end up with soggy shoes.

 

[gatorlisa]

What about Tower of Terror? Any importance there in terms of seeing everything well?

(I haven't been to WDW since 2011 so I can't remember very well)

You can see everything fine no matter where you sit. However, my favorite spot is on the back row, the middle spot. It's the only seat that doesn't have anything in front of it. I don't know what it is about that spot, but I feel like I get the best effect from the drops when riding in that spot. There's one row, the middle I think, where being against the wall kind of stinks because your arm kind of gets jammed up against a handle on the wall and it can be uncomfortable.

 

[oufpat]

Is there a seat on StarTours that is "calmer" with less movement then others?

 

[Davey Jones II]

Generally speaking, the back of a fast moving ride is more intense. On some older coasters, the back seats could be pretty rough. On our last trip, in 2014, we were asking for the front of Rock n' Roller Coaster because we felt that the back was a bit rough.

Even motion simulators, like Star Tours, are more intense in back, although not unpleasantly so for that ride. If you want to experience the motion, ask for the back rows. If you want to experience the visuals, go for the front. And yes, if you get motion sickness, try the front (assuming you're sensitive to the movement, not the 3D visuals).

Also, everyone says that you feel the swaying or rocking motion in the back seats on 7DMT.

 

[Davey Jones II]

This is me also. One time, I tried squeezing into the front car on Space Mountain... never again. I love front row on all coasters, (won't ride The Hulk unless I'm in the front).

Is the Hulk a lot smoother in the front? What's the difference since the refurb? On our last two Orlando trips, I refused to ride it because its high-speed rattling gave me a headache.

 

[HoboDan2012]

Is there a seat on StarTours that is "calmer" with less movement then others?

The Star Tours cabins all move as one as it is a simulator ride, so unfortunately, there is no seat that is "calmer" than any other.

 

[HoboDan2012]

I personally enjoy the "bench" seats where I can stretch out on non peak days.

For example, Ellen's Energy Advenutre. On a super slow day, I can lay down and it's nap time.

 

[LisafromIndiana]

Great question OP! This will be DH's first trip since the 80's and he is a "big and tall guy"! So I appreciated the feedback to see things from a perspective I might not have thought of. Thanks everyone!

 

[BrittyRo]

Alrighty here we go. Hehe. I always make these requests every single time we go on an attraction. They are SO Accommodating and always give you your request (Unless you are at Disneyland Paris... where they can't seem to figure out how to...)
MK:
Big Thunder Mountain: Back Row
Space Mountain: Front Car
Buzz Lightyear: Left Side
COP: Front Middle (no one in front)
Tea Cups: Green and purple cup or Yellow and Pink (Just favorite)
SDMT: Back Row ("fastest" most swing and air time)
Dumbo: The one with the most bounce when you go up and down
IASW: Front Row
Splash: Back Row
Pirates: Front Row
AK:
Everest: Back Row (at night)
Dinosaur: Front Row
Finding Nemo: First Row of "upper section"
Safari: On the left side (front row so no one is in your photos)
Flight of Passage/Na'vi River: Well have to wait and see
HS:
Rockin Roller Coaster: Back Row
Star Tours: Front Row
Epcot:
Soarin: B1 middle
TT: First row (middle- doesn't have shoulder strap... for short person this is a blessing)
Figment: Row 5
Living with the Land: First Row
Frozen: First Row

 

[LucyBC80]

Is there a way to get Gate B Row 1 for Soarin'? Like can you request it and just wait an a little longer to go on it? It's been a very long time since I've done Soarin' (DD is finally big enough and years past I didn't bother to do it while at Epcot)...

We do it every single time. Just be polite and ask the CM about gate B row 1, they'll have you wait to the side of the line and when lines are full you can go back and they will direct to the gate.

 

[kmv]

I can't remember them all, but if you watch the "Gravity" episode of "The Science of Disney Imagineering" there is an imagineer that goes through the best seat for a lot of the rides and why.