One of my favorite aspects of the Disneyland Resort is the high density of attractions packed into just two parks. There are far too many cool rides and shows to mention in a ranked list, especially one that only includes 10 picks. Regardless, I’m taking a shot at ranking my favorite attractions at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure. Well, it’s mostly at the original park but that’s not by design.
Our family recently visited Disneyland over Memorial Day weekend, so I was able to fill in a few gaps with newer attractions. There are no real blind spots beyond a few carnival rides at DCA that almost certainly wouldn’t make this list. Since I want to credit the choices that just missed this list, I’ll add many honorable mentions at the bottom of this post. I’ve also included a second Top 10 from my daughter Etta, who’s 10 years old and has very different opinions about the parks. Let’s dive into my rankings!
10. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
You’ll notice that history will play a big role here; it’s difficult to separate a park like Disneyland from its classic attractions. There’s a cooler vibe to the Enchanted Tiki Room in California that the solid version in Florida can’t match. I love the way it’s tucked right near the entrance to Adventureland, and the pre-show with the Tiki gods sets the right tone. The Tiki Juice Bar and Tropical Hideaway nearby also give you a chance to pick up a Dole Whip and enjoy it during the show. What a concept!
The communal atmosphere from the guests inside the Tiki Room also feels stronger at Disneyland. Many have been visiting this show during most (if not all) of their lifetimes. The first Audio-Animatronics appeared here in 1963, and the show still looks great 60 years later. When you add that history to the relaxing vibe during the show, you can’t get much better than the Tiki Room!
9. The Jungle Cruise
We continue our journey through Disneyland’s past to an opening day attraction with The Jungle Cruise. This joke-filled boat ride has changed many times from the serious original trip into the wilderness. It’s now all about the Jungle Cruise Skipper, who inspires constant groans during a pun-filled spiel. The Imagineers have done an excellent job upgrading the attraction, particularly with the most recent changes. The current version removes unfortunate cultural depictions and seems fresher.
My appreciation for The Jungle Cruise has grown a lot in recent years. I love having a live narrator that can greatly impact your enjoyment on each ride. The best Skippers are able to draw big laughs even while saying the worst jokes imaginable. This type of direct cast member interaction is less common today as rides like the Great Movie Ride and Backlot Tour have closed. The Jungle Cruise remains the top example of this type of attraction, and it keeps getting more popular despite being nearly 70 years old.
8. Disneyland Railroad
Here’s one more entry in our journey into Disneyland’s early days. Theme parks can never go wrong with having a railroad, and you can’t get better than this classic. What I love about the Disneyland Railroad is the change to get a different perspective on the park away from the crowds. You can sit back and just enjoy the ambience without thinking about rushing to the next attraction.
Another reason I love the Disneyland Railroad is the bonus scenes between the Tomorrowland and Main Street, U.S.A. stations. The Grand Canyon and Primeval World dioramas provide scenes on par with classic attractions. The Grand Canyon was added in 1958, with the Primeval World arriving in 1966 and incorporating parts of the Ford Magic Skyway from the 1964-65 World’s Fair. Both reflect what I love about Disney theme parks and conclude our grand circle tour perfectly.
7. Space Mountain
While it lacks the grand scale of Florida’s Space Mountain, the Disneyland version still provides a thrilling journey into space. It opened in 1977 two years following the Walt Disney World original but has added cool enhancements that aren’t in that version. The biggest change is on-board audio, which was uncommon when it arrived in 1996. I love how the music drops you into the action, and the visual effects during the lift hill and throughout the ride make it even stronger.
The side-by-side seating provides a more comfortable ride, and the consistent turns deliver a surprising amount of forces. There are fewer drops here given the limited space, but that’s okay. I also really like the queue area, which sets the stage perfectly. I should clarify that this ranking is for the normal version, not Hyperspace Mountain. That overlay is a treat for Star Wars fans and has fun moments but would drop a bit in my overall rankings. Space Mountain remains a wonderful coaster that ranks among the top thrill rides at the Disneyland resort.
6. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
The next two choices might be the most popular attractions at each of Disney’s two California parks. It’s possible they could move even further up my rankings, but I haven’t experienced them enough so far. Rise of the Resistance is possibly Disney’s most complicated attraction, and the mix of several ride systems and cast member interactions leads to a cool experience. I grew up loving the original trilogy, but what grabs me about this attraction is how boldly it tries something new.
The crazy part about Rise of the Resistance is that the main trackless dark ride isn’t even the highlight for me. The transport and Star Destroyer lobby function like a pre-show but are done so well that they are key parts of the full experience. My only complaint is the frequent mechanical issues; I’m still waiting to see the Kylo Ren animatronic in A mode. When Rise of the Resistance is firing on all cylinders, it’s mind-blowing and goes well beyond what you might expect from a theme park attraction.
5. Radiator Springs Racers
Disney has moved almost entirely into creating attractions based on existing IP, and there’s a danger in making them too familiar. Radiator Springs Racers blows any expectations out of the water and transcends the Cars films. I’m not even a big fan of the franchise, but it doesn’t even matter. Using the Test Track ride system, this attraction mixes all the best elements of Disney theme parks into an incredible mix. Don’t sleep on the dark ride portion, which presents Radiator Springs and the characters wonderfully.
Beyond even the ride itself, the rock work and remarkable scale of Cars Land is mind-boggling. It looks even larger than it really is, but the brilliant forced perspective sells the impact completely. The final race takes you right into the middle of the landscape, and we never lose the illusion. It’s exciting but also should be okay for most guests, which is the best type of thrill ride. There’s a reason that Radiator Springs Racers remains the most popular DCA attraction 11 years after it opened.
4. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Is there a more fun attraction at Disneyland than Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? Despite not having the grand scale of Florida’s version, this one might be even stronger. Your trains only reach 35 miles per hour, but they feel a lot faster as they weave throughout the striking landscape. I love the set-up with three lift hills because it never becomes too intense. You get the chance to take a breath and enjoy the moment before the dips and turns begin again.
Disneyland’s Big Thunder also includes cool effects in the final lift hill that were added in 2014 prior to the resort’s 60th anniversary celebration. Those small touches, along with the history with the reconstructed Rainbow Ridge, deliver a cool experience that is more than a typical mine train coaster. Night rides are even better and make the ride feel a lot faster (and a lot scary) because of the unknown. It’s easily my favorite coaster at Disneyland and always provide a fun experience for the whole family.
3. Indiana Jones Adventure
It seems fitting to spotlight this incredible attraction with a fifth Indiana Jones film now in theaters. Like Radiator Springs Racers, this journey into the Temple of the Forbidden Eye transcends its source material. There are a few Indy animatronics, and they’re fun to see, but it’s the other fun moments that stand out here. It’s perfectly uses the enhanced motion vehicles to sell the adventure as you zip through the temple.
Dinosaur at Disney’s Animal Kingdom uses the same ride technology, but it lacks the scale and seems too dark because of budget limitations. The Indiana Jones Adventure works better because you can sense the room’s size. The first entry into the massive space with the bridge and fire effects (and the familiar music cue) is a wonderful highlight. The only negative is that attraction downtime, which remains an issue even after the extensive refurb. It was down almost entirely near both of my recent days at Disneyland. Regardless, this remains one of Disney’s greatest attractions.
2. The Haunted Mansion
When I started creating these rankings, the easiest choices were definitely my top two picks. It might seem obvious to pick this legendary pair, but there’s a reason that remain so popular after more than 50 years. The Haunted Mansion spent years being developed, and that creative process included work from multiple Disney Legends like Claude Coats, Marc Davis, Rolly Crump, and more. The combination of styles leads to both humor and darkness mixed together an irresistible package.
You know the Mansion has transcended being just a theme park attraction when there are several awesome books written about it (check out this one and this one) plus multiple attempts to adapt it for the big screen. It’s the type of attraction where you can never see it all no matter how many times you experience it. The back story is almost as interesting as the ride itself, and we can uncovering more info about that process. I also love the exterior, which offers few hints of the wonders inside. I can’t wait to board my Doom Buggy and encounter the grim grinning ghosts once again!
1. Pirates of the Caribbean
After taking many rides on Florida’s condensed version of Pirates of the Caribbean, the original Disneyland version was a revelation. The extra seven minutes of ride time gives the experience room to breathe, especially in the first half. The setting near the Blue Bayou restaurant fits perfectly within New Orleans Square and sets the stage perfectly. I love the calm atmosphere as you slowly float by the restaurant while a quiet banjo plays. The two drops arrive quickly as you slowly traverse dark tunnels and drift by ominous skeletal figures. It’s a brilliant set-up for Disney’s greatest attraction.
Words can do justice to why Pirates of the Caribbean works so well. I could go through each scene and describe the clever mix of music, animatronics, believable sets, and gags. The song “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” from George Bruns (music) and X Atencio (lyrics) is a true classic. None of Disney’s changes (well, except maybe Johnny Depp) have taken away from the attraction’s success. Pirates also has a huge capacity, which allows several thousand riders to enjoy it every hour. It’s brilliant!
Honorable Mentions
Five Sentimental Favorites That I Hated to Leave Off This List: Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, “it’s a small world”, the Columbia and Mark Twain riverboats, Disneyland Monorail
Five Enjoyable, Well-Designed Attractions That Are Worthy of This Type of List: Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, Soarin’ Around the World, Grizzly River Run, Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
Five Attractions with Potential That Could Be Contenders with Some Improvements: Toy Story Midway Mania, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-man Adventure, Incredicoaster
I did not consider Splash Mountain because it has officially closed, and I would not be shocked to see Tiana’s Bayou Adventure make this list in the future. I also didn’t include Soarin’ Over California because it only appears as part of special events like the DCA Food & Wine Festival. The original Soarin’ definitely would be part of my top ten and possibly even my top five. It’s so hard to nail down my favorite attractions because they are far too many to list even in the honorable mentions. It reminds us of just how much greatness is packed inside Disneyland.
What do you think of my rankings? What are your favorite Disneyland attractions?
Etta’s Top 10 Disneyland Attractions
While putting together this list, I ran my picks by my daughter Etta, who is 10 years old. She recently experienced nearly everything Disneyland has to offer on our trip. She wasn’t able to ride Indiana Jones because of the downtime, and I suspect it might have this list. It’s really fun to look at how different Etta’s picks were from mine. Five attractions made both of our lists, and I could have easily chosen a few of her other picks. I did not expect to see the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail there, but we did have a lot of one in this DCA playground. I hope you enjoy this second list!
1. Radiator Springs Racers
2. WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-man Adventure
3. Grizzly River Run
4. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
5. Space Mountain
6. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
7. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
8. Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
9. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
10. Pirates of the Caribbean
Related Articles: Disneyland Top 10
Ranking the Attractions at The Magic Kingdom
Top 10 Favorite Walt Disney World Attractions
Ranking Walt Disney World’s Roller Coasters
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