Disneylands of the World: All Disney Parks Ranked
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We rank all Disney parks worldwide. Discover the unique features, standout attractions, and differences between each park, from the original Disneyland to the immersive Tokyo DisneySea.
Hi Ho, Hi Ho! It’s off to Disney we go! All the Disneylands around the world. We’ve visited every single Disney Park around the world. Are we nuts?
Maybe. Probably. Yes.
We’re also huge fans of architectural design, immersive experiences, and themed entertainment. We couldn’t tell you the plot of every Pixar movie, break down the timeline of “Avatar,” or describe various gods that rule the worlds of Marvel, but I can absolutely rank the various incarnations of Space Mountain around the globe…
It goes:
Space Mountain Coasters Ranked:
Disneyland
Disneyland Paris
Walt Disney World
Tokyo Disneyland
Hong Kong Disneyland
We have our reasons.
Disney Parks are a rite of passage. Many visitors will only go once in a lifetime. Other die-hard fans own Disney timeshares, hundreds of souvenir popcorn buckets, and these fans are in the parks more than they should probably admit in public.
It’s an expensive hobby, but one that brings us joy.
If you’ve only been to Disney World, here’s a pro-tip… if you can leverage points or fly cheaply to Tokyo Disney Resort, buying a multi-day ticket at this resort may be more cost-effective than spending a week at the US-based parks, and it’s arguably more enjoyable.
Using a unique combination of airline and hotel points, I’ve been able to travel to every magical kingdom across three continents. (For more on this check out our post: The Magic of Credit Card Miles and Hotel Points). Each park has its own flavor, and while there are the staple attractions (such as Dumbo) that can be found at almost every park, there are at least one or two standout attractions that make a trip across the Atlantic or Pacific well worth it.
All Disney Parks Ranked
We’ll start off with the not-so-great and move into the amazingly spectacular. We’ll also grade each park (not on any mousey curve).
Without further ado, here’s it is:
12. Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris
If you only have one day at the Disneyland Paris Resort, you can skip this place and not shed any French tears. This disastrous place is the tiny, tacky Cinderella stepsister of a Disney park.
Does it have some redeeming qualities? Perhaps.
There’s a decent 3-D Ratatouille ride, “creatively” named Ratatouille: The Adventure (later cloned at Epcot), a slightly modified version of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, and a rather decent spinning coaster, Crush’s Coaster. There’s also a re-imagined Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster (same as the Hollywood Studios layout), which is now an Avengers-themed rollercoaster.
The park is in the middle of a multi-year transformation project that will double its size and hopefully add some much-needed headliner attractions. Disney Parks are also going to be changing the park’s name to Disney Adventure World.
The park can be completed in a half-day. It’s smaller than the average local amusement park. It’s kind of bleak, and there’s a lack of typical Disney pizazz. If there was ever a Disney theme park created on a budget - this is it.
Rating - D
11. Disney Hollywood Studios
This is probably the best Disney World park for a teenager, especially if they’re fans of Star Wars and Marvel.
Hear me out - This place has a few excellent attractions, but overall, there’s not much to it. It’s a half-day park. It used to be a bustling, innovative ode to animation and television/movie filming during its heyday, but sadly, a lot of the original attractions are gone and haven’t been replaced.
The theming isn’t cohesive, and a lot of the attractions are housed in bland, obvious warehouses disguised as sound stages.
There are some really special tributes to Los Angeles and vintage Hollywood that bring some Disney magic, but this park, like Disney Studios Paris, suffers from a lack of attractions. The main entrance walk down Hollywood Boulevard is lovely, but the park simply doesn’t have enough ride capacity to handle its millions of visitors.
Standout attractions include the original version of the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad, and Toy Story Midway Mania. There are also some rather fun standout dining options like Primetime Cafe and The Brown Derby. If you are in the park in the evening, don’t miss the Disney nighttime spectacular “Fantasmic.” It combines amazing fireworks, water projections, and classic Disney storytelling.
If you go to this park, read up on a Disney guide; you’ll want a plan of attack to avoid spending all day in line.
Rating - C+
We share credit card points and miles tips and tricks. These tools help us save money on our trips around the world by allowing us to accumulate airline and hotel points.
10. Hong Kong Disneyland
While exploring the Disneylands of the World you’ll find that this park has all the classic rides with a modern spin.
The parks on the rest of this list range from good to truly spectacular. Hong Kong Disneyland is, by all accounts, a good park. It is small but has enough unique characteristics to stand out in the Disney canon as a must-visit for any major Disney fan.
Some of its major attractions, including Mystic Manor and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, are only found at this park - and they are awesome. The park also has quite a few lovely themed areas surrounding the rides. There’s a lot to look at. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention the amazing castle that’s framed by natural mountains and forests.
Its other unique offerings include distinct versions of the classic Disney attractions, The Jungle Cruise, Star Wars (re-skinned here as Ant-Man), and Star Tours (re-imagined as Iron Man). Also notable are two really decent theme park shows “Mickey & the Wondrous Book” and “The Lion King” (different from the Animal Kingdom version). Both shows are “must-do’s” if you are into live entertainment.
The park definitely has some Asian flavor. Disney fans love the smell of freshly baked goods and popcorn while strolling down Main Street U.S.A at the Magic Kingdom in Orlando. Here - not so much. Instead, you’ll enjoy the somewhat nauseating scent of fried squid on a stick that wafts through Adventureland. Embrace it. There’s nothing quite like chowing down on a crispy cephalopod while you climb up Tarzan’s Treehouse.
If the park isn’t busy, you can tackle this place in one day. It’s worth a day trip.
Rating - C+
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9. Shanghai Disneyland
This is the newest member of the Disney family of parks. It feels that way. One can tell that this park was built with the intention of expanding. It likely will.
It’s a large park, but there’s not much to see in between attractions. That being said, it houses one of the best (if not the best) Disney attractions ever created - Pirates of the Caribbean Battle for the Sunken Treasure. This immersive water flume ride is one-of-a-kind, and your jaw will be left on the floor. It’s that good.
The park also contains the original version of the Magic Kingdom’s Tron: Lightcycle Run attraction and recently opened a rather charming and zany Zootopia: Hot Pursuit attraction. The ride puts guests into high-speed, animated animal chase sequences using a combination of practical effects, screens, and animatronics. Additionally, there are some fun variations of Disney classic attractions at the park, including Peter Pan’s Flight and Buzz Lightyear: Planet Rescue.
The park has a reputation for being distinctly Chinese. While this is true, you’ll still be able to buy Mickey Ears and enjoy a ride on Soarin’. You won’t find many of the typical Western lands here - there’s no Frontierland, for example. But, there are a lot of distinct areas to take in, and for this reason, a visit is worth it. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the future with the park.
Shanghai Disneyland is on our list of 10 Things To See in Shanghai.
Rating - C+
8. Disney’s Animal Kingdom
This unique park is probably the best Disney World park for families. Its numerous attractions appeal to all ages.
It brings us pain to put this park in the middle of the pack.
If you’re reading this blog, you’ve probably been to this place. The park transports guests to exotic continents and villages. The wildlife and flora are magnificent. It has some killer attractions like Avatar: Flight of Passage and Expedition Everest. Some of the food options are unique to Disney and quite tasty.
There are countless blogs arguing about how this park is a half-day park. We’re not here to fight. We’re here to love. We love this park. We have to say, though, there are just not enough attractions to warrant a spot higher on the list. It’s been a long time since the park received anything new.
Overall Rating - B
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7. Disney California Adventure
This park has been reimagined numerous times. Its current state has some of the rides with the highest thrills in all the parks. This makes it one of the best Disney parks for teens and older kids.
It’s okay.
Even after the massive refurbishment projects to renovate the place - it’s still just alright.
People love to chat about how bad it used to be when it first opened. We still think it’s somewhat of a mixed bag of Disney attractions that don’t seem to connect in any way.
Also, the park architecture and design… how do we say this politely - it looks kind of tacky.
You can tell this park was made on the cheap.
There are some pretty parts to it - Cars Land is stunning, and Buena Vista Street is perfectly charming, but other parts - like Pixar Pier, Tokyopolis, and the area around Hollywood Boulevard are such eyesores.
Guardians of The Galaxy, while an awesome drop attraction - looks like a giant trash compactor that someone hot glued even more trash to it.
We have to mention Cars Land. The crème de la crème of California Adventure. It’s big. It’s mountainous. There are car-themed surprises around each corner. Great theming. Great snacks. It’s beautiful and home to an outstanding attraction - Radiator Springs Racers. If you visit the Disney California Adventure Park - hit this one first thing in the a.m. This is the best attraction at the park.
Overall Rating - B+
Check out our other posts about Theme Parks in Europe, Asia, and the US.
Or visit our Destinations page to be inspired.
6. Epcot
This is easily the best Disney park for adults with numerous annual festivals and the chance to drink around the world.
It pains us to put Epcot so low. We love this place, but if we’re looking at this place through an objective lens… it’s essentially a giant shopping mall with a few rides.
The park has become a sterile shell of its past.
Spaceship Earth is a must-do and so is Guardians of the Galaxy (which is out of place thematically (don’t get us started)), but we can’t shake the feeling that instead of roller coasters that flip me upside down and shake me violently to empty my pockets, this park achieves the same effect with overpriced cocktails and exponentially marked-up souvenirs from around the globe.
Epcot loves a good food festival, and while these food fests are fun - the price for a single bite has increased so much over the years that small appetizer-sized bites of pork belly with garlic aioli are now so hard to swallow (pun intended). On the flip side, get two frozen champagne slushies in me from the France pavilion, and this place easily becomes the best Disney World park for adults.
By adding a few new E-Ticket attractions, I might bump it up a few notches on the list, but until then, I’m kind of bored with this place. I usually wander around wishing there was more to do.
Overall Rating - B+
5. Disneyland Paris
Of all the Disney parks ranked this is one of the most beautiful theme parks in the world.
In our experience, it also has the most indifferent cast members out of any Disney park. Some of them smile, but you’re probably not going to receive the “pixie dust.” You might get cigarette smoke blown in your face from a guest though.
What I enjoy about this park is there are many Disney classic attractions with a new take on them. Their Haunted Mansion is darker, spookier, and has a completely different storyline. Pirates is an interesting variation on the original. Their Space Mountain is themed to a Jules Verne expedition, and you’ll plunge through several inversions. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is undoubtedly the best version of the attraction featuring a long drop in the dark. There are several more, but you can read a Disney guide to find out what surprises are in store.
The park is quite large; if you want to do everything, you may need a couple of days.
One interesting Parisian quirk is the lack of snacks and dining options (especially in the later hours of the day). You will want to plan out your eating times and check restaurant opening and closing times.
One thing I love: wine is available in a lot of the dining locations. It’s lovely to sip as you watch the sunset on what is undeniably Disney’s most beautiful castle.
The park also features some rather lovely walkthrough attractions such as Aladdin and an Alice in Wonderland Maze. Don’t miss the dungeon in the castle; there is a special surprise lurking in the castle basement.
The reason this park doesn’t score higher is the lack of live entertainment offerings and the seemingly stagnant nature of the park. It hasn’t changed much since the 90s and still lacks the friendly Disney vibes we’ve all come to expect.
Park Rating - B
4. Magic Kingdom
It’s hard to decide which Walt Disney World park is the best, but if you go by park attendance, Magic Kingdom would be the winner.
The most popular theme park in the entire world by visitor numbers, this place has a lot to love about it. Most of you have probably been here. It also has a lot to make you shake your fist up in the air. The crowds. The prices. That super annoying hour-long ride from the Ticket and Transportation Center to the line at security and then the line at the ticket booth and then the line to line up for the chance to get in line. Some of the lines have now been digitally transformed into a paid “skip the line” system, and let’s face it - without it, you’re doomed.
Still, I go back. Still, I love it. I can’t shake it. It’s a magical escape for me, and for others, a complete nightmare.
Park Rating - A
3. Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo Disneyland rides resemble the original versions of the Florida parks. It’s a great place to spend a day during a visit to Tokyo.
This is like the alternate reality, vintage version of the Magic Kingdom. The Tomorrowland section hasn’t been touched in decades. Some of the Fantasyland attractions resemble Orlando’s Fantasyland of the early nineties.
The rides are almost all duplicates of the United States’ versions. There are a couple of impressive E-Ticket attractions that you won’t find anywhere else - such as their Beauty & The Beast dark ride as well as the most whimsical and super lengthy version of the Winnie the Pooh ride - Pooh’s Hunny Hunt.
This park has an impressive number of attractions - it’s right up there with Disneyland.
There are ample delicious flavors of popcorn to choose from. The popcorn is an attraction in itself.
The best part about this place though - a day ticket is generally half the price of the park tickets in the States. The food is also much less expensive. The park is immaculately cleaned and maintained. There is much to adore.
There’s so much to see in Tokyo, check out our Tokyo Bucket List which lists 50 things to see in Tokyo including both Tokyo Disney parks.
Park Rating - A
2. Tokyo DisneySea
It’s Tokyo DisneySea vs. Tokyo Disneyland. Both are great, but the unique Tokyo DisneySea rides push the Sea park one space higher than the Land park.
An Imagineering triumph, this park is the ultimate park in terms of theming. Everywhere you look, there is something magnificent to take in. Huge floating boats, a bayside harbor, a volcano that shoots fire, giant pyramids, undersea realms, and a lagoon-based Fantasyland with giant rock sculptures. This place will knock your socks off; this is the most immersive and most cohesive theme park ever built.
The park is massive and will probably take at least a day and a half to experience everything. Don’t rush through. This is, behind Epcot, the best Disney park for adults.
The list of top-tier attractions is strong.
Journey to the Center of the Earth, Frozen, Rapunzel, Tower of Terror, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Sinbad, Indiana Jones - there’s something for thrill-seekers of every age.
Come up with a touring plan using one of the various Disney blogs. This place is always busy, but you won’t regret coming here. The entertainment lineup is also quite strong with daytime and evening spectaculars that will appease any Disney lover.
With the recent addition of Fantasy Springs (including four new rides), I will absolutely give credit where credit is due.
For a great side trip from Tokyo take the high-speed train to Osaka to see the city and visit Universal Studios Japan.
Rating - A
1. Disneyland
It’s the best Disney park for kids. its compact size and huge collection of classic attractions make it easy to navigate and fun for the whole family.
The one. The only. The original.
This place started it all!
It’s charming. It’s magical.
It’s the best Disney park for kids.
It will drain your savings account.
Its crowd levels will make you break down at some point during the day, inevitably causing a “Karen-like” meltdown. The parking is $35, and 4 cheeseburgers with cokes will run you one hundred smackers.
At the end of the day though, seeing Tinkerbell fly across Anaheim against the glow of fireworks will make you tear up with happiness. This place is almost perfect.
There are 1001 books about touring this place. Start your day with a FastPass for Rise of the Resistance and go from there. You know the drill.
Rating - A+
Disney Parks Around The World Map
Other Great Parks of the World
All of this being said, while We’ve rated the best of the Disney theme parks, I won’t lie…
There are other theme parks across the globe that are just as impressive. Phantasialand, Europa Park, Warner Bros. Movie World in Dubai, even Busch Gardens Williamsburg can compete with the Disney Parks. While these parks might not completely immerse you, if you’re done with the sticker shock and the slow development of the Disney Parks, get out there and take your kids or significant other with you to new parks across the globe. You won’t regret it.
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All Disney Parks Ranked:
Walt Disney Studios Park at Disneyland Paris
Disney Hollywood Studios
Hong Kong Disneyland
Shanghai Disneyland
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
Disney California Adventure
Epcot
Disneyland Paris
Magic Kingdom
Tokyo Disneyland
Tokyo DisneySea
Disneyland
