Rides

Rise of the Resistance is the most ambitious, most immersive, and most technically jaw-dropping attraction Walt Disney Imagineering has ever built. Before you ever step into a ride vehicle, you've already experienced a life-size Star Destroyer hangar bay, live First Order stormtroopers, a full-scale AT-AT walker, and Kylo Ren himself.

USH finally has a real outdoor coaster and it's about time. 72 mph, launched, spinning cars, four inversions — a Cedar Point-caliber Intamin machine in a Fast & Furious skin. Soft opening as of July 27, 2026; confirmed specs here, firsthand verdict pending.

The crown jewel of DCA — a stunning dark ride through Cars Land that culminates in a high-speed racing finale against a competing car.

Indiana Jones Adventure is the crown jewel of Adventureland — and honestly, one of the best theme park attractions ever built, full stop. You're boarding a troop transport jeep and blasting off into the Temple of the Forbidden Eye alongside Indy himself, dodging booby traps, fire, a giant rolling boulder, and a very unhappy snake. The queue alone is worth 30 minutes of your day.

Haunted Mansion is the quintessential Disney dark ride — spooky, witty, and endlessly detailed. You board a Doom Buggy for a guided tour through a grand manor populated by 999 happy haunts. The Disneyland version is the longest Haunted Mansion in any Disney park worldwide, with a unique outdoor section through the New Orleans bayou.

A 183-foot drop tower synced to classic rock — the most thrilling ride at any Disney park. Five different music sequences mean every ride is different.

Revenge of the Mummy is better than anything at Disneyland. I said what I said. It's a launched indoor coaster that goes from 0 to 45 mph in the dark and most people walk past it because it looks old from the outside. Those people are wrong and I feel sorry for them.

Pirates of the Caribbean is the original Disney dark ride masterpiece — the one that set the template for everything that followed. Walt Disney himself oversaw its creation, and it opened in 1967 as the last attraction he personally supervised. You drift through moonlit bayous and into a chaotic port town under siege by buccaneers.

Mario Kart: Bowser's Challenge is the most technically impressive mild-thrill ride I've ever been on, and I say that as someone who thinks screen rides are usually a cop-out. The AR headset and physical set design work together in a way that genuinely surprises. Bring your competitive instincts — there is an actual score and you will want to beat everyone in your kart.

The fastest coaster at the Disneyland Resort — 0 to 55 mph in under 5 seconds with a loop and a second launch through a tunnel.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a mine train coaster through the red-rock canyons of the American Southwest — and the Disneyland version is the best Big Thunder Mountain in any Disney park on earth. Its island setting, surrounded by the Rivers of America, gives it a sense of scope the Orlando and Paris versions simply don't have.

Hang-glider simulation over the world's most breathtaking landscapes — wind, scents, and sweeping IMAX footage create a genuine sensation of flight.

The queue through Hogwarts castle is worth the wait even if you never got on the ride. But you should get on the ride. Just know going in that this is one of the more motion-sickness-prone attractions in any theme park — not because it spins but because it combines physical movement with fast-moving screens in a way that can scramble your head if you're at all susceptible.

4D interactive Toy Story shooting gallery — blast through carnival midway games with Woody, Buzz, and the gang. Instant family competition.

Space Mountain has been Disneyland's signature indoor coaster since 1977. It tops out around 35 mph, but complete darkness makes every twist feel like you're flying through space with zero warning. The unique single-file seating makes it feel more personal and intense than any other version of the ride.

The Studio Tour is unlike anything else at Universal Studios Hollywood and it's not something you can replicate anywhere else in the world. You are riding through an actual working movie studio. The King Kong 360 3D sequence is legitimately spectacular and Jaws lake still runs. Give it the 60 minutes it asks for — this is a must-do, not just a filler.

Jungle Cruise is Disneyland's original opening-day comedy boat ride — a live skipper-led river tour past animatronic wildlife where the puns are the point. No height requirement, no Lightning Lane, and one of the best morning rides in Adventureland when paired with Indiana Jones.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride is one of Disneyland's original 1955 dark rides, and it survives as the last of its kind — Disney World replaced theirs with Winnie the Pooh decades ago, making this the only Mr. Toad's Wild Ride left on earth.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure is the 2024 retheme of the former Splash Mountain, set in the world of The Princess and the Frog. Guests join Princess Tiana and Louis the alligator on a Mardi Gras bayou journey that culminates in the signature 52-foot flume drop.

Smugglers Run puts you in the cockpit of the actual Millennium Falcon and sends you on a smuggling run through hyperspace and asteroid fields. Every seat has a different role — pilot, gunner, or engineer — and how well your crew performs actually affects the experience.

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway uses a revolutionary '2.5D' technology that blurs the boundary between two-dimensional animation and three-dimensional physical sets. You step inside a Mickey Mouse cartoon and get caught up in Goofy's runaway train — one of the most visually inventive rides Disney has built in decades.

Tom Sawyer Island is one of Disneyland's greatest hidden gems — a freely explorable island in the middle of the Rivers of America, accessible only by raft. No ride vehicles, no queues, no Lightning Lane. Walt Disney personally designed the island's layout.

You will get wet. I'm not talking a light mist — I'm talking soaked from the waist down on a warm day. The 84-foot drop at the end is one of the biggest splashdowns in California and the T. rex finale is genuinely impressive. Wear shoes you're okay destroying or rent a locker.

it's a small world is one of the most beloved and culturally significant theme park attractions ever created. The Disneyland version is the original — the same attraction Walt Disney personally oversaw for the 1964 World's Fair. A gentle boat ride through 300 Audio-Animatronic children from over 100 nations.

The Mark Twain Riverboat is a gorgeous three-deck paddlewheel steamboat that has been sailing the Rivers of America since opening day 1955. One of the most iconic and photographed sights in Disneyland.

Matterhorn Bobsleds was the world's first tubular steel roller coaster, opening in 1959 and directly inspiring every modern coaster that followed. You board a bobsled and race through a snow-capped alpine mountain, encountering a Yeti along the way and splashing down into an icy pool at the finale.

DCA's newest ride (2024) — spinning gondolas through the colorful world of Riley's mind with Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, Disgust, and Anxiety.

I'll say this straight — I am not the target audience for a 34-inch dark ride about stray puppies, and I still think this thing is genuinely well built. 64 animatronics, a queue that's better designed than half the actual rides here, and zero scares. Easy win for families.

The Disneyland Railroad is a genuine 1.2-mile steam-powered railroad that has circled the park since opening day 1955. The Grand Canyon and Primeval World diorama tunnels are unique to Disneyland and genuinely impressive pieces of large-scale Imagineering.

Sling webs with your bare hands — no controller needed. Gesture-tracking technology lets you battle Spider-Bots by flicking your wrists.

Star Tours is a motion simulator with dozens of possible destination and storyline combinations — almost every ride-through is different. The randomized scenario system is still genius and makes it one of the best replay-value rides in any Disney park.

Classic dark ride through the world of Monsters, Inc. — Mike and Sulley's desperate mission to return Boo to the human world.

Free-roaming outdoor adventure area with rope bridges, climbing structures, and real redwood trees — the Tom Sawyer Island of DCA. No queue, no schedule.

The Sailing Ship Columbia is a full-scale operational replica of the 18th-century merchant vessel Columbia Rediviva — the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. A genuine piece of living maritime history at a theme park.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a gentle, colorful dark ride through the Hundred Acre Wood. The heffalumps and woozles dream sequence has surprisingly psychedelic energy for a Pooh ride.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant is one of Disneyland's most iconic visual experiences — soaring Dumbo cars circling above Fantasyland with riders controlling their own altitude. For toddlers and young children, this is an absolute must-do.

Classic Ferris wheel at 150 feet with panoramic views of DCA, Disneyland, and the mountains. Non-swinging gondolas — peaceful and spectacular at sunset.

DreamWorks Theatre is a motion-simulator show wearing a theater's clothing — 360-degree projection, physical effects, moving seats that sync with the screen. No height requirement, so anyone in your group can ride. Ask for stationary seats if you want the visuals without the motion.

DCA's rafting ride through Grizzly Peak — eight guests spin through rapids and waterfalls. You will get wet. The only question is how wet.

Storybook Land Canal Boats is one of Disneyland's best-kept secrets — a slow, guided canal boat tour through hand-crafted miniature dioramas of scenes from classic Disney films. The level of detail in these miniatures is extraordinary.

Peter Pan's Flight is a suspended dark ride where guests soar over miniaturized London and Never Land in a pirate ship hung from overhead tracks. The sensation of flying is genuinely magical. The problem is the wait time, which is almost never justified by the roughly 3-minute runtime.

Don't overlook this one because it's labeled a family coaster. Flight of the Hippogriff has genuine airtime on its final helix and the views over Hogsmeade are legitimately beautiful. It's also one of the faster-moving lines in the Wizarding World — a bonus on busy days.

Snow White's Enchanted Wish is a classic Fantasyland dark ride significantly improved by a 2021 renovation that added projection mapping, new effects, and a stunning wishing well finale. An opening-day 1955 attraction that has been lovingly maintained and updated.

Not your typical Ferris wheel — gondolas slide on internal rails creating a dramatic pendulum swing at 150 feet. Far more intense than it looks.

Mad Tea Party is the classic spinning teacup ride themed to the Mad Hatter's unbirthday celebration from Alice in Wonderland. The spin wheel in each cup controls how dizzying the experience gets — you choose your own adventure.

Tow-cable whip ride with baby tractors and a Mater hoedown — outer carriages get significantly more whip than the gentle exterior suggests.

Transformers: The Ride-3D does exactly what it says it does — it throws you into a 3D battle sequence with the Autobots and the screen work is excellent. My honest issue is that it's essentially the same ride system as Forbidden Journey with a different IP, and the motion sickness risk is real. If you've already done Forbidden Journey and you're feeling fine, do this one. If your stomach was unhappy on Journey, skip it.

The Dumbo of Super Silly Fun Land — kids pick a bug, pull the lever, and fly as high as they want. No height requirement (under 48 inches needs a supervising companion), no Express, and zero reason for an adult-only group to wait for it.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is Disneyland's signature interactive dark ride — board a Star Cruiser, grab a laser cannon, and shoot targets to help Buzz Lightyear defeat Emperor Zurg. The ride scores your accuracy and awards a Space Ranger rank, creating instant family competition.

Pinocchio's Daring Journey is the last major dark ride built in the original Fantasyland style. A charming trip through Pinocchio's adventures — from Geppetto's workshop through the dangers of Pleasure Island and the belly of Monstro the whale.

Classic wave swinger themed to vintage Disney Silly Symphonies cartoons — beautiful hand-painted artwork overhead, tilting swooping flight sensation.

The Disneyland Monorail is the first daily operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere, dating back to 1959. The Mark VII trains loop around Disneyland and pass through the Downtown Disney area, offering elevated views of the resort from above.

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is the right choice for families with kids who aren't yet tall enough for the bigger rides. The theming is genuinely charming and the Minion dance party at the end is the kind of thing young kids will talk about for weeks. Adults with motion sensitivity should sit this one out — it is gentler than Simpsons but not gentle.

Trackless dancing roadsters choreographed to Italian pop music — no steering, no control, just spontaneous swaying and near-miss moments.

Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin is a spinning dark ride through the animated world of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The ride vehicles spin freely, giving you some control over your rotation as you move through Toontown scenes.

Wild mouse-style coaster with tight corners and a general feeling of barely controlled chaos — rougher than Disney's bigger coasters.

Casey Jr. Circus Train is a classic 1955 original — the circus locomotive from Dumbo chugging through miniature Storybook Land on a small, hilly track, passing over the same dioramas that the Canal Boats explore.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage places guests in a retro-futuristic submarine that descends beneath the lagoon to discover the characters from Finding Nemo living in an underwater coral reef. The submarines are real — they actually submerge — though the sea creatures appear via clever video screens.

Classic carousel with 56 hand-painted Western critter mounts from Toy Story — armadillos, bulls, snakes, and frontier creatures.

The Simpsons Ride has the best writing of any ride in the park — the queue videos alone are funnier than most actual comedy attractions. The bad news: it is also one of the most effective motion sickness machines in any park, anywhere. The dome screen combined with the aggressive simulator motion is relentless. Know what you're signing up for.

Gadget's Go Coaster is the gentlest roller coaster at Disneyland — a small wooden coaster built from oversized everyday objects like acorns, matchsticks, and spools of thread. Designed specifically for young children experiencing their first coaster.

Family drop tower themed to Finding Nemo — gentle bouncing drops designed as a first vertical ride experience for young children.

Classic rocket ship swing ride inspired by 1930s sci-fi — silver bullet gondolas sway outward over Paradise Bay. Closes in windy conditions.

Autopia is one of Disneyland's original 1955 opening-day attractions — a futuristic highway where kids get to drive their own car along a guided track. Pure magic for a 4-year-old, completely skippable for everyone else.