Don't Miss Rides!

After visiting Disneyland a few times a year for the past decade, and several trips to Orlando, here is my list of the attractions and rides you should NOT miss under any circumstances if you visit these parks....

*Note - I would never advocate riding certain rides if you have back or neck problems, heart conditions, if you're pregnant, or any of those things that could affect you physically if you attempted to ride the ride.  Please use your own judgement! :)

DISNEYWORLD, Florida

MAGIC KINGDOM
Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin - allows you to shoot lasers at "Z"s representing the evil emperor Zurg as you ride!
Winnie the Pooh's Adventures - newest 'dark ride' in Fantasyland, and the special effects are great!
The Main Street Electrical Parade - still wonderful after nearly 30 years.
Splash Mountain - this ride is almost 11 minutes long and it's easier to understand the plot than it is at Disneyland.
The Hall of Presidents - where else can you get these 42 guys together at the same time?
Character lunch or dinner at the Crystal Palace (with Pooh Bear & co.) or at the Liberty Inn (with Minnie & Goofy).
Legend of the Lion King, Fantasyland - a great puppet & live action show, nice adaptation of the movie.

EPCOT
GM Test Track - could be better, but it still gets you up to 65mph.
Ellen's Energy Crisis - if your kids love dinosaurs, take them to this ride at the Universe of Energy pavilion.
Body Wars - a "star tours"-type ride through the human body, a la Innerspace.
The Millennium Showplace Pavilion in World of Nations, with pavilions from over 20 nations!

DISNEY/MGM Studios
The Rock n Roller Coaster, with Aerosmith - my new absolute favorite Disney ride!
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror - my son's favorite Disney ride
MuppetVision 3D - though you may fall asleep like I did after the fourth or fifth visit.
The Great Movie Ride - a terrific ride through the history of movies for big movie buffs.
The Voyage of the Little Mermaid - story mainly set 'underwater', follows the Little Mermaid movie, great special effects.
Fantasmic! - Not as good as the Disneyland version in my opinion, but still a great show.
Beauty and the Beast, on stage - Anything Beauty and the Beast is wonderful in my book.
The Science Fiction Dine-In Theatre - Order only dessert (food's sub-par and expensive) but enjoy clips from B-movies and drive-in fare on a giant screen while you sit in booths styled like 50's automobiles.

DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM
A Bug's Life movie, inside the Tree of Life.  Wonderful special effects.
Save the Last Dinosaur - another great ride from Disney Imagineering.

DisneyQuest, Downtown Disney - Incredible 5 story theme park comprised of virtual reality adventures, we recommend the virtual Jungle Cruise, the Build & Ride Your Own Roller Coaster attraction, Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters, Hercules VR Adventure and Aladdin's VR Adventure.

Also recommended:  Typhoon Lagoon's Wave Pool featuring huge tidal waves every few minutes; the Disney Village Marketplace, featuring a huge Lego shop and the largest Disney merchandise shop in the entire world; and Pleasure Island, where it's New Year's Eve every night and there are a ton of comedy and dance clubs to choose from.

UNIVERSAL ESCAPE, FLORIDA

ISLANDS OF ADVENTURE
The Cat in the Hat ride, and be sure to try a Green Eggs & Ham Sandwich!
The Amazin' Spiderman's Adventure - the best ride in the park, in my opinion, a great show.
Dudley Do-Right's Water Ride - prepare to get very, very wet.

My son was too short to try any of the three roller coasters at IoA, but they look incredibly exciting (and nerve-wracking!)

UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
Hanna Barbera Adventures - take a virtual ride as you help Yogi Bear save Elroy Jetson from dastardly animated villains.
Terminator 2:3D - combines on-screen movie (featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton) with real-life characters and robots, great special effects, quite a show.
Twister - experience the effects of a real twister as it devastates a small drive-in theatre

SEA WORLD, Orlando
Escape From Atlantis water ride - hardly ever a line, and a nice little ride with a monster flume drop.
Kraken - Opening Spring 2000, touted as the highest and scariest roller coaster in the Southeast USA.
The Shamu Show - Sea World of Orlando now has the biggest killer whale in captivity, and this whale can splash the entire lower section of the stadium, the walking area between the sections, and the first couple rows of the upper section!
The Penguin Encounter

DISNEYLAND, California
Fantasmic! - Under no circumstances should you miss this show.  Almost worth the admission price by itself.
Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, Toontown
The Train ride around Disneyland.  So much to see, including the Grand Canyon and the Land of the Dinosaurs, Primeval World!
The Indiana Jones Adventure - when it was completed, it was Disney's finest attraction.  It still gets 60-90 minute waits.
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience - also at EPCOT, a great show with fun effects for the audience.
Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes - ride them and paddle your way around Tom Sawyer Island while you still can, Disney will do away with these someday soon.
Pirates of the Caribbean - vastly superior to the one at the Magic Kingdom, 2 flume drops and a longer ride. 
Sleeping Beauty's Castle Walk-thru - easily missed by many, this walking journey allows you to see Sleeping Beauty's castle from the inside and follow the story as you walk along.
The Matterhorn - This roller coaster is ONLY at Disneyland and is a rickety but fun ride as you try to avoid the Abominable Snowman.

Breakfast or lunch at Goofy's Kitchen, Disneyland Hotel, with the Disney characters.
Lunch or dinner with the characters at the Disneyland Pacific Hotel.

Either/Or.....my recommendations!

Disneyland:  Minnie's character lunch/dinner at Disneyland Pacific Hotel over Goofy's Kitchen character dining.

Magic Kingdom:  Ride in the front car of the monorail, and choose the monorail over the ferry boat.

Best & Worst

EPCOT's World Showcase Pavilions, from best to worst (having a ride at your pavilion doesn't hurt!)

Norway - see the Maelstrom and the food buffet
Morocco - try Restaurant Marrakhesh!
France - great restaurants and some fun outdoor entertainment
Mexico - the boat ride is a nice air-conditioned getaway
United Kingdom - the authentic British food is the best :). 
Japan - great shops, nice people, interesting food.
United States - a nice show here, and Mickey & Minnie can be found here at times, but why go to EPCOT to visit...America?
China - the circlevision 360 degree China movie can get boring, but it's in an air-conditioned room!
Canada - Canada just opened a fancy new restaurant that should bring its ratings way up :).
Germany - A lot of shops and subpar German cuisine.
Italy - A lot of shops and Italian cuisine that seems overpriced and not as great as you might hope.

Disneyland Vs. DisneyWorld

Pirates of the Caribbean - Edge: Disneyland.  An extra unexpected drop, and a longer ride.
Jungle Cruise - Edge: Magic Kingdom (it seems a little longer and the Indy ride doesn't get in the way)
Haunted Mansion - Edge: Disneyland. Great use of the bride, some extra walking, the haunted horse-driven hearse out front...
Splash Mountain - Edge: Magic Kingdom.  Easier to discern the plot and enjoy the ride.
Thunder Mountain - Edge: Disneyland.  More to see, more interesting ride.
Space Mountain - About the same.  If you like riding side-by-side, Disneyland.  If you'd prefer to sit bobsled-style, Magic Kingdom.
Peter Pan's Flight - Advantage: Magic Kingdom. Longer ride, ends less abruptly than the Disneyland version.
Astro Orbiter - Advantage: Disneyland (brand new version of the ride).
Snow White's Adventures - both equally bad, both scare the heck out of unsuspecting little kids... :(

Other attractions shared by the parks can be considered roughly equal in nature: Dumbo, It's A Small World, Autopia, Tom Sawyer's Island, Honey I Shrunk the Audience(EPCOT), Star Tours (MGM).