The 13 best Disneyland rides

With almost 100 attractions within Disneyland Resort, choosing which ones to experience can be an impossible task.

Visiting Disneyland Resort in California is full of excitement, wonder and unparalleled joy. But when you’ve travelled all the way from Australia and only have a few days to explore, finding out which rides are worth it and which ones you can give a miss, is extremely important.

From classics that were there on opening day in 1955, to the state-of-the-art new rides that will blow your mind, these are the attractions you can’t miss at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.

1. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance left me speechless. It’s the best ride I’ve ever been on and when I visited Disneyland, I’d never seen any of the Star Wars (don’t @ me, I’ve started watching them since then) and I was blown away by this ride. You join the Resistance in a battle against the First Order, and it just kept getting better and better and I was squealing in delight.

Be part of the Resistance on this thrilling Stars Wars ride.

The wait times for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance can be really long, and you can’t use Genie+, so plan to get here early to avoid the crowds. You can skip some of the line with an individual Lightning Lane reservation that can cost up to US$25 ($37) per person. I waited about 60 minutes in the standby lane, and it was well worth the wait.

You’ll face Kylo Ren in this ride.

Where: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge (Disneyland Park)
Requirements: 102cm or taller

2. Radiator Springs Racers

Over a decade since it opened, this Cars-themed ride is the most popular attraction in Disney California Adventure Park, and it’s not hard to see why.

The desert landscapes are stunning on this ride. (Image: Emily Murphy)

You start off by cruising through the desert landscapes, getting up close and personal with the scarily realistic animatronic characters, and then finishing it off with a speedy race to the finish line with the wind blowing through your hair. It was cute, fun and everything you want a ride to be.

The standby lane is always long here, so it’s best to go in the single-rider line even if you’re with a group.

Radiator Springs Racers is the most popular attraction in Disney California Adventure Park.

Where: Cars Land (Disney California Adventure Park)
Requirements: 102cm or taller

3. The Incredicoaster

Be prepared to get your heart pumping on this one. Going from 0 to 88 kilometres per hour real quick (in five seconds), this is one for the thrill seekers.

The Incredibles-themed attraction is the only ride in Disneyland Resort that goes upside down, it has a drop of over 30 metres and gives you sweeping views of the park. I can’t say I saw the view when I was up there, I was too busy deep breathing and trying not to scream.

The Incredicoaster sits right behind the Pixar Pal-A-Round Ferris wheel.

Adrenaline-inducing, super secure and completed with a musical score by Incredibles 2 composer Michael Giacchino, I really enjoyed this ride. You can use your Genie+ for the Incredicoaster, or the standby lane is usually pretty short.

The Incredicoaster will get your heart pumping. (Image: Emily Murphy)

Where: Pixar Pier (Disney California Adventure Park)
Requirements: 122cm or taller

4. Pirates of the Caribbean

One of the rare occurrences where a ride came before the films, the Pirates of the Caribbean ride was revolutionary when it opened in 1967.

Sing along to Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me) through the 15-minute boat ride where you’ll plunge down two drops and experiences the story through elaborate sets and animatronics.

You might get some little splashes here and there, but nothing too overboard.

Where: New Orleans Square (Disneyland Park)
Requirements: None

5. Splash Mountain

Get the poncho ready because this iconic ride is making waves. Splash Mountain is one of the most popular Disneyland rides, known for its big drops and very wet passengers.

Try and sit as far back as you can to avoid being too drenched. I was second from the front and had to go back to the hotel to change afterwards.

The ride is currently getting a much-needed revamp and will debut a Princess and the Frog makeover in late 2024.

Riding on Splash Mountain may leave you soaking wet.

Where: Critter Country (Disneyland Park)
Requirements: 102cm or taller

6. World of Color – ONE

This attraction debuted as part of the Disney 100 celebrations, commemorating 100 years of the Walt Disney Company.

World of Color – ONE transforms Paradise Bay with an array of fountains, lighting, lasers, fog and flame effects all telling the story of how a single action – like a drop of water – creates a ripple that can grow into a wave of change.

See all the Disney classics come to life during World of Color – ONE.

It’s the first night-time spectacular to feature characters, music and moments from Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, the Avengers and Star Wars in the same production.

Get there early to get a good, unobstructed view of Pixar Pier.

Be blown away by Star Wars’ appearance in World of Color – ONE.

Where: Paradise Gardens Park (Disney California Adventure Park)
Requirements: None

7. Wondrous Journeys

Also debuted as part of the Disney 100 celebrations, Wondrous Journeys features nods to all of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ films to date in a journey filled with artistry, music, storytelling and heart.

Sleeping Beauty is welcomed home to her castle during Wondrous Journeys.

Disneyland Park turns into a canvas filled with magical lighting effects, projections and, on some nights, fireworks.

Depending on where you watch the show – Main Street, U.S.A., Sleeping Beauty Castle, Rivers of America or the façade of “it’s a small world” – you’ll see a unique part of the show.

Watch Sleeping Beauty Castle transform with the family Madrigal from Encanto.

Where: Disneyland Park
Requirements: None

8. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway

The very first ride dedicated to Mickey and Minnie, Toontown’s newest attraction opened in January 2023, another element of the centenary celebration.

Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway doesn’t run on a traditional ride track, so it feels different every time you ride. If you sit in the front train car one time and the back train car the next, you’ll get a totally different view of each scene.

Don’t miss the trackless adventure at Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

The ride lets you literally step into the screen of a cartoon and onto a train that swerves and spins through scenes styled after the current generation of Mickey Mouse shorts.

Genie+ isn’t available on this ride, if you want a shorter wait, you’ll need to purchase an individual Lightning Lane entry.

Gush over the enchanting displays inside Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.

Where: Mickey’s Toontown (Disneyland Park)
Requirements: None

9. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

This runaway mine train roller coaster is a fun ride that zooms through dark caves and a southwestern mountainscape, making sharp twists and turns that go eerily close to the rocks. Sit up the back and settle in for the ride. It’s going to be a bumpy one.

Sit tight and prepare for a bumpy ride at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Where: Frontierland (Disneyland Park)
Requirements: 102cm or taller

10. Pixar Pal-A-Round – Swinging

Not your ordinary Ferris wheel, the Pixar Pal-A-Round was chaotically scarier than any other ride I went on.

As you travel around the wheel, your gondola also sways and slides forward and backwards on interior rails.

The heights didn’t bother me, it was more the unpredictability of where the gondola would move next. And not being strapped in meant I was sliding all over the place.

On some nights, Pixar Pal-A-Round – Swinging closes early to accommodate World of Color performances.

Not your ordinary Ferris wheel, the Pixar Pal-A-Round gondolas also swing.

Where: Pixar Pier (Disney California Adventure Park)
Requirements: None

11. Matterhorn Bobsleds

Matterhorn Bobsleds has been entertaining visitors since 1959, and was actually the first roller-coaster attraction at Disneyland Park, and was the very first steel roller coaster in the world.

You’ll tumble through a snow-capped mountain on an alpine sled while avoiding the Abominable Snowman. There are two bobsled tracks: one on the Fantasyland side of the mountain and the other on the Tomorrowland side.

Explore the Matterhorn Bobsleds on an alpine sled. (Image: Emily Murphy)

Where: Fantasyland (Disneyland Park)
Requirements: 107cm or taller

12. Space Mountain

This futuristic roller coaster will make you soar through the galaxy in the dark, not knowing what’s coming after each twist and turn.

I loved Space Mountain, there was something so thrilling about the way it climbs through a sequence of light-up tunnels and launch preparations, with the music building up until it hits a cosmic crescendo just as we catch a glimpse of the star-spattered darkness.

Buzz through to the edge of the galaxy at Space Mountain.

Where: Tomorrowland (Disneyland Park)
Requirements: 102cm or taller

13. Haunted Mansion

The Haunted Mansion is one of the most popular rides at the Disneyland Resort. With nostalgia, dark humour and special effects, this ride is not to be missed.

If visiting around Christmas time, the ride gets an incredible Nightmare Before Christmas makeover that is equally as cool.

The Haunted Mansion is a lot of fun.

Where: New Orleans Square (Disneyland Park)
Requirements: None