The 25 Most Significant Theme Park Rides This Century

2015–2019

Fury 325, Carowinds, 2015

While stats and records matter, so does reputation. Of all the remarkable rides in recent years, this next one may be the most decorated: Fury 325 at Carowinds.

This B&M giga coaster gets a lot of buzz, having won a Golden Ticket Award every eligible year since opening in 2015. Fury 325 was named Best New Ride in its inaugural season and has been consecutively awarded Best Steel Coaster in the decade since, as of this video article.

That winning streak is impressive, but the quality of this coaster is the real highlight. Fury 325 rises 325 feet—as its name suggests—atop the tallest traditional lift hill in the world and down an 81-degree first drop into an aggressive layout, including its signature treble clef element.

It swarms 95 mph along more than a mile of electric teal and green track that threads over and under the park’s entrance, like icon. Carowinds is unique because it straddles the North and South Carolina state line, and Fury 325, with its sprawling layout, crosses through both states.

Fury 325 is widely considered the best coaster by B&M, which is saying a lot as the manufacturer has a long track record of excellence. With accolades and acclaim, Fury 325 is as significant as its stature.

Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure, Shanghai Disneyland, 2016

Back to dark rides, this next one is the gold standard of modern Disney attractions, Pirates of the Caribbean: Battle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland.

The classic Pirates of the Caribbean rides are some of the most beloved and recognizable attractions around the entire theme park world. The latest installment, which opened in 2016, may be the most ambitious and impressive yet.

Shanghai Disneyland’s $450 million masterpiece is a new wave of great Disney attractions. It is as atmospheric as past Pirates of the Caribbean rides, but charts new waters by being more technologically advanced than ever possible.

Battle for the Sunken Treasure hooks riders into the action with its dynamic ride system that maneuvers boats in unexpected directions. The ride presents new storytelling possibilities with its beautiful practical sets, lifelike Audio-Animatronics, and large-scale media—which add depth and underwater visuals.

This opening-day Shanghai Disneyland ride has made waves, being among the most significant this century.

Symbolica: Palace of Fantasy, Efteling, 2017

This next selection was a close call between two applauded trackless dark rides: Mystic Manor at Hong Kong Disneyland and Symbolica at Efteling.

On one hand, Mystic Manor has all the makings of an all-time great Disney attraction. It’s a complete escape from reality with an original story, special effects, classic callbacks, and vibrant presentation. That’s what makes Mystic Manor one of the strongest modern Disney attractions, possibly the best.

However, several other Disney rides have been covered on this list—starting with the innovative Pooh’s Hunny Hunt and more on the way. For that reason, giving the nod to another park, Efteling, felt appropriate.

Symbolica: Palace of Fantasy, which opened in 2017, might be the best dark ride built outside a Disney or Universal park. Like the rest of Efteling, this attraction comes across as a real-life fairy tale.

The palace is a beautiful setting full of surprises and enchantments, starting with an imaginative pre-show. The attraction is a spectacle with its inspiring scenes, floor-to-ceiling decor, wondrous effects, interactive moments, and dancing sequences. Symbolica is very re-ridable by making the most of its trackless technology, offering three unique options that branch apart for dedicated show scenes and gather for the finale.

Even the attraction’s roof is special, having a sustainable design with green space as well as solar panels that partly power the attraction. Symbolica: Palace of Fantasy is an all-around exceptional attraction, easily one of the century’s most significant rides.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure, Universal Islands of Adventure, 2019

Very few roller coasters find the right balance between thrills and storytelling, but that’s the magic of Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure at Universal Islands of Adventure.

This Intamin multi-launch coaster, opening in 2019, was the next chapter for Universal Orlando’s original Wizarding World area. Only a special coaster could live up to those expectations. With a reported price tag of $300 million, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure is spellbinding from start to finish.

Seven launches, a vertical spike, a backward section, and a drop track—that’s the wizardry of this coaster. Its custom trains give riders two unique experiences depending on where they sit: the motorbike or the sidecar.

Aside from the coaster thrills, Hagrid’s Motorbike Adventure tells a magical story with lifesized animatronics, on-board audio, a themed scent, and a gorgeous environment. The coaster revs up to 50 mph around the dense Forbidden Forest, which has about 1,200 planted trees along with ruins, waterways, and magical creatures scattered about.

Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure is the ultimate themed outdoor coaster, perfectly blending thrills and storytelling. It certainly belongs beside the best rides from this century.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, 2019

One attraction from this century is so above and beyond, it must be from a galaxy far, far away. Next up is possibly the most complete dark ride experience, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.

This attraction first opened at Walt Disney World in late 2019, with Disneyland Park following in January 2020.

It uses a complex combination of multiple ride systems to put guests in the middle of the Star Wars universe. Rise of the Resistance includes advanced pre-show experiences, a trackless dark ride system, a motion simulator sequence, and a freefall drop tower element. The ride is a spectacle, having some of the most advanced Audio-Animatronics Disney has ever produced, jaw-dropping special effects, and large-scale sets that feel like being in a Star Wars film.

But, Rise of the Resistance is more than just a display of technology; the ride tells an engaging story. Guests are part of the high-stakes action starting in the queue, which could almost be considered a walkthrough experience. The elaborate pre-shows have multiple plot turns that are worth the wait on their own—all before guests even get on the ride.

Once guests strap in, the ride is a fast-paced, yet gentle, adventure with just as much action and surprises as any of the movies.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is potentially the most advanced Disney attraction of all time, but it is definitely a significant ride from this century.