These Are the 17 Disneyland Rides You Can't Miss (2024)

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Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

The highlight of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Rise of the Resistance is easily Disney’s most sophisticated and complex attraction. That’s saying a lot. It is also likely its best attraction as well. (Although Pirates of the CaribbeanBattle for the Sunken Treasure at Shanghai Disneyland is pretty darn wonderful also.) Lasting 18 minutes and using multiple ride systems, the experience transports passengers to a Star Destroyer where they are held captive by Stormtroopers. As they make their way to freedom, guests encounter Kylo Ren, Finn, Rey, BB8,and full-scale AT-AT walkers. Prepare to be wowed.

• Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland
• Height Requirement:40 inches
• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 4.5
  Motion simulator and drop ride thrills
• Fastpass: No

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Pirates of the Caribbean

It's one of the most famous theme park rides—and it inspired one of the mostsuccessfulmovie franchises (whose characters were, in turn, incorporated back into the ride). Pirates of the Caribbean is a glorious tour-de-force in themed entertainment storytelling and marked a breakthrough in the advancement of audio-animatronic characters.

While its younger sibling atFlorida's Walt Disney World is also great, the California version is longer and better. Interestingly, a completely re-imagined Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Shanghai Disneylandsurpasses the original attraction.

• New Orleans Square in Disneyland
• Height Requirement:None
• Thrill Scale (0=Wimpy!, 10=Yikes!): 2
  Small splashdowns, mildly frightening images.
• Fastpass: No

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Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout

The Imagineers cleverly made over The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror and reopened it asGuardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout in 2017. The ride retains the multiple rises and faster-than-freefall drops of the original attraction (and, if anything, they are even more thrilling). But the revamped story recruits visitors to help Rocket Raccoon break hisGuardians of the Galaxy buddies free from the clutches of The Collector. Hilarious scenes featuring the Guardians' trademark humor help ease the tension of the wild, gut-wrenching drops. Shortly after it opened,Mission: Breakout emerged as the most popular ride with the longest wait times at both of Disneyland's parks.

• Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure
• Height Requirement:40 inches
• Thrill Scale: 6
  Multiple freefall drops and launches, sensations of weightlessness, and psychological thrills.
• Fastpass: No

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Haunted Mansion

Opened soon afterPirates of the Caribbean (although it was many years in the making),Haunted Mansion is another landmark Imagineering achievement. Disneyland has plussed the ride a number of times, including the development of a Madame Leota crystal ball that mysteriously floats and the reintroduction of theHatbox Ghost. The attraction gets a holiday overlay that spans the Halloween and Christmas seasons and features the characters from​ The Nightmare Before Christmas.

• New Orleans Square in Disneyland
• Height Requirement:None
• Thrill Scale: 3
  More silly than scary, buy young children may find it disconcerting.
• Fastpass: Yes

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Radiator Springs Racers

​Part immersive storytelling dark ride, part thrill ride, Radiator Springs Racersblends the two theme park attraction features to deliver a joyous experience. The Ornament Valley mountain range outside of the ride is stunning. Based on the charming Pixar film,Cars, the ride takes passengers on a journey down Route 66 and into the town of Radiator Springs. There they encounter the Sheriff, Mater the truck, Lightning McQueen, and other characters from the movie. For the finale, two carloads of passengers square off against one another and head outdoors for a showdown race.Radiator Springs Racers is especially compelling at night.

• Cars Land atDisney California Adventure
• Height Requirement:40 inches
• Thrill Scale:4.5
  Fast, but not crazy-fast, action with a hint of coaster-likeairtime.
• Fastpass: Yes

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Indiana Jones Adventure

Based on the popular movie series, Indiana Jones Adventureis a fabulously themed attraction with a groundbreaking "Enhanced Motion Vehicles" ride system. The vehicles have onboard computers that control their movements and sync them to the ride's action. Beware of the rolling boulder. And the snakes. (Why does it ​always have to be snakes?) Indiana Jones Adventureis anE-Ticketin every sense of the word.

Indiana Jones Adventure also makes our list of Disneyland’s most thrilling rides.

• Adventureland in Disneyland Park
• Height Requirement:46 inches
• Thrill Scale:4.5
  It's not a coaster, but the vehicles are somewhat aggressive, the sets can be dark, and the action can be scary for younger passengers (as well as wimpy adults).
• Fastpass:Yes

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Splash Mountain

Disney's take on the classic log flume ride includesBr’er Rabbit,Br’er Bear, and other characters from the film,Song of the South. The scenes are delightful and engaging, but they are tempered by the ominous threat of the looming big drop and splashdown. The ride plays with riders' fears by including some false drops. After the actual 5-story drop,Splash Mountain offers a final scene featuring a huge cast of characters bopping to the classic song, “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.”

• Critter CountryatDisneyland
• Height Requirement:40 inches
• Thrill Scale:5
  There is only one major drop, but it is a humdinger of a splashdown.
• Fastpass:Yes

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Soarin' Around the World

What a rush! The ride system, combined with an immersive domed screen, makes for a giddy experience. In 2016, Disney changed the content. Instead of focusing solely on California, the attraction now takes guests soarin', well, around the world. The upgrade also included considerably sharper imagery thanks to brighter projectors and digital content presented in higher resolution. Destinationsinclude theSouth Pacific, Sydney Harbor, the Great Wall of China, andthe Great Pyramids of Egypt.

• Grizzly Peakin DisneyCalifornia Adventure
• Height Requirement:40 inches
• Thrill Scale:2.5
  Gentle motion simulation, moderate height and "soaring" simulation. Once first-time riders get past the initial ascension up into "gliding" position, they should quickly acclimate and find the ride more engaging than scary.
• Fastpass: Yes

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Star Tours - The Adventures Continue

​The first motion simulator attraction in a major theme park, Star Tours got a major overhaul in 2011 that improved it dramatically (including high-resolution digital imagery presented in 3D). The most striking advance was the introduction of a random sequence generator that stitches together scenes on the fly. With many available scenes, passengers are able to re-rideStar Tours and have completely different experiences. Also, with its reprogrammable content, Disney is able to easily incorporate new footage featuring the latest Star Wars films.

• Tomorrowland atDisneyland
• Height requirement:40 inches
• Thrill Scale: 4.5
  Relatively mild motion simulator thrills. Those prone tomotion sicknessmay experience discomfort (although closing your eyes should quell any queasiness).
• Fastpass: Yes

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Millennium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

You get to pilot the famous starship in the wild, interactive motion simulator attraction. Six passengers enter the Falcon’s co*ckpit and assume the roles of pilots, engineers, and gunners (try to nab one of the pilots’ seats; they are, by far, the most fun). It's almost as incredible to see the exterior of the life-size Millennium Falcon docked in its hanger bay as it is to put the hunk of junk through its paces.

• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland
• Height Requirement:38 inches
• Thrill Scale: 4.5
  Fairly mild motion simulator thrills, although the pilots can make the ride more or less bumpy depending on their performance.
• Fastpass: No

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Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

The Submarine Voyage, a classic ride that dated back to Disneyland's earliest years, was decommissioned in 1998 and left for dead. Along came a plucky clownfish to save the day. Now featuring aFinding Nemostory, it is better than ever and utterly charming. Using clever effects and striking animation, the characters from the popular Pixar movie come to life. Young riders will be convinced that the colorful fish swimming outside of theportholes are real. Be forewarned:Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is slow-loading, and wait times can be quite long.

• Tomorrowland in Disneyland
• Height Requirement:None
• Thrill Scale: 2
  Some scenes are dark, loud, and could be a tad frightening to wee ones. Also, the illusion of diving underwater could be disconcerting to young children. Anyone who suffers from claustrophobia may find the ride vehicles confining.
• Fastpass: No

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Toy Story Midway Mania

Disney has developed one of the (if not the)most engaging, enjoyable, and downright addictive interactive theme park rides. Toy Story Midway Mania includes 3D imagery, unique"spring-action shooters," and a compellingToy Storytheme. Among the games are the Green Army Men Shoot Camp, which uses virtual softballs to smash plates,dart-tossing, andBo-Peep's Baa Loon Pop.There are "4D" effects, like water sprinkles from popped water balloons.Even non-gamers will find thecontroller and the game experienceintuitive and fun.

• PixarPier in Disney California Adventure
• Height Requirement: None
• Thrill Scale: 1.5
  The ride vehicles move somewhat quickly and partially spin.
• Fastpass: Yes

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Space Mountain

The classic indoor coaster is one of Disney's most popular attractions. Space Mountain got a major makeover in 2005 that made the ride much smoother, the interior darker, and the whole experience more of a seamless blast through the cosmos. Without the effects, it's a fairly poky junior coaster; with the Imagineers' pixie dust, it's an exhilarating mind-bender of a ride. Fun fact: Despite the illusion of high speed,Space Mountain actually only hits 32 mph. Its sister ride at Walt Disney ​World is even slower with a top speed of 28 mph. During the Halloween season, Disneyland re-themes the ride asSpace Mountain Ghost Galaxy.

• Tomorrowland in Disneyland
• Height Requirement:40 inches
• Thrill Scale: 5
  Coaster turns and dips (although no big drops); illusions of high speed; darkness hides the track, and riders don't know what's coming next.
• Fastpass: Yes

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Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

One of the rides that ​form Disneyland's "mountain range," Big Thunder Mountain sends passengers careening on a runaway train. They race through a deserted gold-mining town and ascend an eerie mine shaft. At a top speed of 35 mph, the classic ride is not one of the fastestor most thrilling roller coasters. (Although its modest speed makes it accessible to a wide swath of visitors.) Featuring three lift hills, the ride clocks in at well over three minutes and is one of the world's longest coaster rides in duration.

• Frontierland in Disneyland
• Height Requirement:40 inches
• Thrill Scale: 4.5
  The coaster delivers more twists and turns than gut-wrenching drops. Its three lift hills raise anticipation.
• Fastpass:Yes

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Incredicoaster

Snaking over 6,000 feet around Pixar Pier (which makes it one of the world's longest coasters in terms of track length), Incredicoaster is a formidable sight. Although it looks like a retro wooden coaster, the structure and track is actually steel. When it first opened, the coaster was known asCalifornia Screamin'. In 2018, Disney re-themed it to the Pixar movie, The Incredibles. It still includes two wild magnetic launches, hits a potent 55 mph, drops 108 feet, and navigates a loop, making it one of the resort's most thrilling rides.

• PixarPier in Disney California Adventure
• Height Requirement: 48 inches
• Thrill Scale: 6
  The coaster delivers a fast initial launch, a second mid-ride launch, and turns passengers upside down with its loop.
• Fastpass: Yes

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It's a Small World

One of Disney's attractionsthatdebuted at the1964 New York World's Fair, "It's a Small World" is one of the world's most famous theme park rides—and features one of the world's most famous (and annoying) songs. Its facade, with its animated clock tower, is striking. The animated dolls aren't especially expressive, but the overall look of the ride, which was designed by artist Mary Blair, is timeless and charming.

For a 2009 makeover, Disneyland inserted doll versions of some of its classic animated characters such as Pinocchio and Ariel (The Little Mermaid). During the Christmas season, the ride gets re-themed as"It's a Small World" Holiday, and tunes such as "Jingle Bells" are included with the theme song.

• Fantasyland in Disneyland
• Height Requirement:None
• Thrill Scale: 0
  The gentle ride delivers virtually no thrills, however, if you have a weak stomach you may get dizzy from its many spins.
• Fastpass:Yes

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Turtle Talk with Crush

Turtle Talk with Crush features real-time animation and audience interaction. When it debuted, it was a wild Imagineering breakthrough. Since much of the script is ad-libbed and includes feedback from the crowd, no two performances are the same. Depending on the actor, the shows can be wildly funny. Young children generally buy into the magicand accept that they are talking to Crush, while adults scratch their heads in bewilderment.

• Hollywood Land in Disney California Adventure
• Height Requirement: None
• Thrill Scale: 0
  This is a charming show with no gotchas or scary moments.
• Fastpass: No