This Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide was designed to help you plan your trip to the happiest place on earth. That moniker isn’t an exaggeration. There truly is nothing like it anywhere in the world (except for the other Disney Parks of course). It’s the most instagrammed place on earth, has more rides than any other Disney Park in the world, and is filled to the brim with detail and theming that makes it such an immersive experience. 

But like I said, it has the most attractions of any Disney Park in the world. That can make it particularly overwhelming to plan for because there are just so many offerings that it’s next to impossible to do everything in a day. Add crowds to the mix and you begin to see why a good park strategy is important when visiting Disneyland. Gone are the days when you could just show up to a Disney park and do whatever you want without having to worry about getting everything done. So hopefully this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide will come in handy for you.

This guide comes after having been to Disneyland over 70 times in the last 4 years. I can confidently say that I’ve experienced every single attraction at the resort, so in this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide I will be rating each attraction from an A+ to F based on their quality. This hopefully gives you an idea of which attractions to prioritize during your trip. 

The rating will be followed by a short description of the attraction, some touring strategies for that attraction, and who I think the attraction will appeal to. I would say that anything with a B+ and above is worth lining up for, although if any of the other rides appeal to you then by all means give them a try!

I have made a Disney California Adventure version of this guide. If you want to see how the Disneyland rides rank against each other, I also have a Disneyland Ride Ranking post. 

So without further ado, here is my Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide. 

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Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide

Can’t Miss Attractions

Haunted Mansion

Rating: A+

Disneyland’s best attraction, this omnimover ride takes you through a haunted house as ghosts and ghouls start to materialize around you. From the iconic stretching room to the even more iconic graveyard scene, this ride has you exploring every creepy corner of this haunted mansion. It’s Disney storytelling at its finest and has everything you could ever ask for in a Disney ride: fun animatronics, an interesting narrative, and a catchy song. 

Anyone can do this attraction, although it may be too scary for younger kids. It carries with it no health and safety warnings. It uses the same ride system as Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters and The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure. It’s a gentle ride, with the most “intense” portion being when you start to go backwards as you go down a hill (it’s not intense at all). If there’s one attraction in this Disneyland ride and attraction guide that you shouldn’t miss, it’s this one. 

I would save this attraction to be your third or fourth attraction that you rope drop. It normally doesn’t get a long queue until about 2 hours after the park has been open for the day. This is also a good attraction to use a Lightning Lane for in the middle of the day as waits for this ride usually go up to 45-60 minutes in the middle of the day. It’s also great to do at the very end of the night as I’ve experienced it being a walk-on in the last 30 minutes the park is open. 

During the Halloween and Christmas season, the ride transforms into Haunted Mansion Holiday, a Nightmare Before Christmas themed overlay that is, in my opinion, the best overlay for an attraction in any Disney Park anywhere. Expect lines for Haunted Mansion Holiday to be longer even than regular Haunted Mansion, and it should be among the first two attractions you rope drop when it’s running. 

Rise of the Resistance

Rating: A+

Disneyland’s most technologically advanced and immersive attraction, a lot of people would actually place this as the best ride in the entire park. I will admit that Haunted Mansion is only above it as a matter of personal taste. Rise of the Resistance is everything you could possibly want from a Star Wars experience: multiple story-driven pre-shows, advanced animatronics, a captivating and exciting story, and multiple surprises that’ll leave your jaw on the floor wondering “how did they do that?”

This ride is a trackless dark ride that starts with 3 different pre-shows that introduce you to the plot and your mission. Some parts of the pre-shows and the ride itself may cause motion sickness due to some motion-simulator elements (this is a minor spoiler so that’s all I’m going to say about it). Also, if you don’t like drops, this may not be the attraction for you (another spoiler I won’t elaborate on). 

This ride also has a 40” height requirement and carries warnings for those with high-blood pressure and heart, back, and neck problems, as well as for those who are expecting and those with motion sickness. However, if you’re free from those warnings, this wouldn’t be a proper Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide if I didn’t recommend you ride it. It’s an experience unlike any other. 

As popular as this ride is, I wouldn’t recommend you rope drop it. Half the people who are in the park for rope drop will be heading there, and about 50% of the time it isn’t working first thing in the morning. The last 3 times I’ve tried to rope drop Rise of the Resistance it’s been broken down to start the day. Instead, head over to it at about 12 pm, right when parades or fireworks are going on, or last thing at night. Take note though that it currently closes about two hours before the rest of the park does.  

You can also head to it when it’s broken down and wait for it to reopen, which ensures that you ride it without a line (although you could be waiting for a while). If you can afford it, purchase a Lightning Lane Single Pass for this attraction. I would say that it’s the only ride in Disneyland that’s worth waiting 45-60 minutes for. 

Pirates of the Caribbean 

Rating: A+

Disneyland’s best boat ride, Pirates of the Caribbean is a gem of an attraction. Its complex and layered story, coupled with its standout scenes, fluid animatronics, and ingenious special effects, make this a must-do attraction at Disneyland. In the ride, you discover buried pirate treasure, then immediately get plopped in the middle of a pirate raid of a Spanish town in the Caribbean. It’s Disney at its finest, which justifies its rating in this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide.

This ride is gentle for the most part. It does have two drops early on in the ride, but these drops are gentle and aren’t as forceful as the drops on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure for example. Because the drops are gentle, it’s not enough to merit the full health and safety warnings. If drops aggravate your pre-existing condition, however, then you should take extra precautions before deciding to ride the attraction.

This is a good attraction to do at the end of rope drop about 2 hours after the park opens. It’s also great to do at the end of the night when the line completely shrinks and becomes a walk-on. Because of this, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend riding it in the middle of the day unless you have Lightning Lane Multi Pass. 

Indiana Jones Adventure

Rating: A+

A knockout smash of an attraction, Indiana Jones is part dark ride, part thrill ride, and all parts fun! It was also recently updated so all of its effects are working and additional scenes and enhancements were added to the ride. The ride focuses on your exploration of the Temple of the Forbidden Eye. You are forewarned not to look into the eyes of Mara, the goddess of the temple. Of course, you end up doing just that, and soon you’re sent to your doom within the temple. Will you find a way to escape? And what lies ahead in your path to escaping? Well, you’ve got to ride it to find out. 

Indiana Jones is a very rough ride. It’s not as rough as the Matterhorn, but it’s very jerky and stops and starts suddenly and just generally flings you around. If those kinds of movements have the chance of aggravating your condition, you may need to sit this one out. It also has a height requirement of 46”. And of course, the health warnings are in full effect here. 

This is the number one attraction I recommend you rope drop at the beginning of the day. There’s like a 20% chance it’ll be closed in the morning, but more often than not it’s open and is more reliable than Rise of the Resistance. The queue may seem long but it moves quickly. Speaking of the queue, it’s an attraction in itself, with many people saying it’s the best queue in the resort, which is part of the reason it got an A+ in this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide.

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway

Rating: A+

Toontown’s signature attraction, and the second newest attraction in the park, Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a fun romp through the world of Mickey Mouse cartoons. It has a very simple story. Goofy is giving you a tour of Runamuck Park when Mickey accidentally hits a track switch, separating your car from Goofy. This sends Mickey and Minnie on a journey to get you to safety. Filled with color and energy, Runaway Railway is a runaway hit. It also features what I think is the best queue in the resort and a pre-show that will go down as one of the most memorable pre-shows ever. 

This is probably the jerkiest dark ride in the resort, especially during the Daisy Duck dance class scene. That being said, it’s still a gentle ride and should be ok to ride for most people with health conditions. It doesn’t have a height requirement, nor does it have any of the health warnings other more thrilling attractions have. 

This is a good attraction to rope drop, although it’s kind of far away from the rest of the park. If you rope drop Fantasyland on your Disneyland morning, consider heading here once you’ve hit all the rides in Fantasyland first. Lines only start to balloon about 2 ½ to 3 hours after opening, so it’s possible to do this closer to midday and not encounter a long line. It’s also a good one to use a midday Lightning Lane on. As with most other attractions, its line also gets shorter later in the day. 

It’s a Small World

Rating: A+

Originally made for the 1964 World’s Fair, It’s a Small World is a boat ride that takes you to every corner of the world. With its timeless message of world peace, and its incredibly catchy song, the ride is a treasure in the Disney pantheon. It doesn’t have a story per se, instead focusing more on its theme and message. 

It features dolls dressed up in different national garbs placed in thoughtfully crafted scenes representing different countries from around the world. The ride crescendos to its stunning finale, where the different dolls all come together wearing white versions of their costumes, solidifying the theme of world peace. 

This is a gentle boat ride that was made for the entire family. It’s a long ride, though, clocking in at over 15 minutes. It doesn’t have any associated health and safety warnings. It doesn’t have any height requirement as well. 

It’s a Small World usually doesn’t get a long line throughout the day. You can totally do this at the park’s busiest time and end up not waiting that long in line. This makes it a great attraction to do in the middle of the day, especially during the summer when it’s hot outside. It makes for a great indoor option for those incredibly hot southern California days. 

Disneyland Fireworks

Rating: A+

Disneyland’s multitude of fireworks displays all collectively get an A+ in this ​​Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide. Which firework show is playing will depend on the time of year you visit. Halloween season means Halloween Screams will be playing, while Christmas ushers in Believe…in Holiday Magic. Wondrous Journeys is being brought back for the 70th anniversary, and the interim periods usually feature Mickey’s Mix Magic. Whenever you decide to visit, however, you cannot miss these shows. They will have you dancing, singing, and crying in the best possible way. 

There are different places you can watch these shows from. The most popular option (and the one I would recommend) is Main Street and the Hub. I prefer Main Street over the Hub, mostly because the Hub is going to be full of people and you can still see the projections on the Main Street facades. Other places you can watch the shows from are It’s a Small World and the Rivers of America. 

I would get a spot on Main Street about 20 minutes before showtime to ensure you get a good view. If you want to watch in the Hub, arrive at least an hour before showtime to ensure you get a good spot. Some people have been known to arrive 2 hours before showtime to reserve a spot. It’s a Small World and the Rivers of America won’t be crowded so they’re good places to watch from if you don’t want crowds (except if Fantasmic is showing, then the Rivers of America will be crowded). 

Fantasmic!

Rating: A+

Disney’s best nighttime spectacular (yeah, I said it), Fantasmic is a jaw-dropping show. Filled with special effects, a plethora of Disney characters, and timeless Disney music, Fantasmic is still as amazing as it was when it debuted over 30 years ago. Of course things have changed over the years, such as the removal of the dragon after it unfortunately caught fire, but the show is still full of magic. It’s an incredibly special show to me and more than deserves its rating in this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide. I hope everyone gets the chance to see it.

To get the best viewing spot for this show, you’ll need to book a Fantasmic Dining Package. These dining packages can be found at the following restaurants: Cafe Orleans, River Belle Terrace, and Rancho Del Zocalo. With the dining package, you get a good set meal and a ticket to enter the reserved viewing areas for Fantasmic. 

If you don’t have a package, though, don’t worry! There’s still plenty of places you can watch the show from along the Rivers of America. I’ve also lucked out and gotten seating in the reserved seating area without booking a dining package for the second show of the day. Just ask for standby and then wait until about 5 minutes before the show to be let in. 

If you want to get a good spot along the riverbank, arrive 1 hour before showtime. This show contains pyrotechnics that can be loud. If you have sensitive ears, just be aware of this as it may impact your enjoyment of the show. 

Disneyland Parades

Rating: A

Disneyland’s parade offerings are some of the best in the Disney-verse. From seasonal parades like the Frightfully Fun Parade and A Christmas Fantasy, to nighttime parades like the Main Street Electrical Parade and Paint the Night, Disneyland’s parade lineup and history is legendary. Mixing together music, performers, and gorgeous floats, a trip to Disneyland is not complete without viewing the current parade at least once. 

My favorite places to watch the parade include Town Square on the south side of Main Street USA, as well as at the It’s a Small World Mall area. If you’re catching the first show, I’d recommend watching by It’s a Small World. If you’re watching the second show, station yourself in Town Square. This ensures that you see the parade as soon as it starts, which will save you a lot of time. 

There is a dining package for the parades available at the Plaza Inn. It includes a set lunch meal and will give you access to a reserved viewing area for the parade, which is usually located in Town Square right in front of the Main Street Railroad Station. I would recommend buying this package if you don’t want to stress about finding a spot for the parade. 

Big Thunder Mountain

Rating: A

Disneyland’s best themed coaster, Big Thunder Mountain is a wild ride aboard the various runaway mine trains. Featuring a layered backstory, incredible theming, and thrills that will appeal to the whole family, Big Thunder has cemented itself among the very best Disneyland attractions. 

Its sight gags, from the dynamite eating goat to the TNT blasting cave, have become famous and renowned among Disney fans. It’s also a different experience when you ride it at night. 

Just like any other coaster, Big Thunder has health and safety warnings attached to it. It has a height requirement of 40”, meaning most kids can still probably ride it. This makes it the best coaster to ride after your little one has braved Chip and Dale’s Gadget Coaster. It’s a very smooth ride for an old coaster and is definitely the least jerky among the big 3 coasters in the park. 

If you rope drop the park this is a good one to do as your 3rd to 5th ride of the day. Lines tend to balloon in the middle of the day and shorten as the day goes on leading into the night. This is a good ride to use a lightning lane on, but only before 5pm. Anytime after that the queue should be short enough to not need a lightning lane. This Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide highly recommends this ride so make it a priority if you can. 

Space Mountain

Rating: A

By far Disneyland’s most thrilling ride, Space Mountain has a very simple concept: You’re in a rocket in outer space hurtling among the galaxies. The medium it uses to execute this concept is a rollercoaster in the dark. Not being able to see where you’re going is definitely one of the more thrilling aspects of the ride. The coaster itself isn’t as extreme as Incredicoaster at DCA, but it still packs in a lot of thrill. You even get some airtime on this coaster.

This is Disneyland’s most thrilling ride, so you may want to rethink riding this attraction if any of the park-wide health and safety warnings apply to you. It can also cause motion sickness due to the fact that you can’t see where you’re going. When I say it’s dark there, I mean it’s PITCH BLACK. So if you get motion sickness easily, I’d rethink doing this attraction. It also has a height requirement of 40”.

During Season of the Force, the ride transforms into the park’s fourth Star Wars ride. Featuring Star Wars music and projections, the ride puts you right in the middle of a fight between the Empire and the Rebels. It’s an insanely cool experience and just cements Disneyland place as the king of ride overlays. 

This is definitely a ride that you should rope drop first thing in the morning if you really want to experience it. Its line grows faster than the other major rides listed on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide. It’s also a good one to get a lightning lane for in the middle of the day. Its line will usually stay long the whole day, so jump in the line right at closing if you don’t want to use a lightning lane for it or didn’t make it in time for rope drop. A single rider line is also available to use if you don’t mind splitting up your party for the ride. 

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure

Rating: A-

Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is the newest ride at Disneyland, opening on November 15, 2024. A retheme of the mega popular ride Splash Mountain, Tiana’s is a worthy successor to that ride. While it lacks some tension in the story department, which follows Louis and Tiana trying to find critters to join the band for Tiana’s party, it makes up for it in atmosphere and just plain fun. Plus it’s great hearing the iconic tunes from The Princess and the Frog throughout the ride, including the new finale song made especially for the ride. 

This is Disneyland’s only water thrill ride, and let me tell you my heart rises in my chest with every single drop. If you’re someone who doesn’t like drops, I would skip this attraction. Also take note that you will get wet, possibly soaked on this attraction, especially if you sit in the first few seats. Sit at the back for the least wet experience. It has a 40” height requirement and carries with it the usual health and safety warnings. 

The earlier you do this ride, the better. As the day gets warmer, more and more people are going to want to experience this attraction. I wouldn’t rope drop it, but ride it by at least 10:30am to make sure you’re ahead of the crowds. Bring a poncho and shoe coverings if you don’t want to get soaked and keep your electronics in a plastic bag. A single rider line is available, which is usually shorter than the actual line. Last time I did it I got on in 25 minutes compared to a 55 minute standby wait. 

Matterhorn Bobsleds

Rating: A-

The first tubular steel roller coaster in the world, the Matterhorn was part of the first expansion of Disneyland way back in 1959. It has since morphed and changed over the years, and is still considered a Disneyland classic. In the ride, you ride a toboggan from the top of the mountain to the bottom, coming into close contact with a yeti. This ride also has two different sides to it: the Tomorrowland and Fantasyland sides. The Tomorrowland side is rougher than the Fantasyland side, but both together make this one of the best attractions at Disneyland. 

I have to be honest about it, this ride is ROUGH. It’s the roughest, jerkiest, wildest ride in the whole resort. This is partially due to its age as the ride is now over 65 years old, but I would hazard anyone with any kind of back or neck condition to avoid this ride at all costs. As stated, the Tomorrowland (or the left) side is wilder than the right side, so if you’re cautious about the ride ask to be placed on the right. It has a 42” height requirement. 

This can be done as your 4th or 5th rope drop ride if you start in Fantasyland or Tomorrowland. The line gets longer later in the day and, just like Big Thunder, drops after the sun sets. I would do it then if you can’t get a lightning lane for it in the middle of the day. That being said, this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide recommends you use a lightning lane for it if you can, especially if you want to ride it in the middle of the day. That or utilize the single rider line that is available at the attraction, assuming you’re ok with having your party split up. 

Star Tours

Rating: A-

The first Star Wars ride to debut at a Disney Park, Star Tours revolutionized and ushered in the age of theme park simulator rides. It has gone through a plethora of changes over the years, including its evolution into a randomized ride experience. Scenes and sequences get swapped and reordered with each ride, adding to its re-rideability. The ride is made even better now that they add sequences when new Star Wars movies or TV shows come out. Even if it seems out of place now that Galaxy’s Edge exists, it’s still one of the better rides at the park. 

Be warned, if you get motion sickness, you WILL get sick on this ride. I’ve ridden the ride with two motion sickness patches behind my ears and I STILL get sick on it. It’s intense in that sense so if you even mildly suffer from motion sickness, be prepared with Dramamine and patches. It carries with it the usual health and safety warnings due to the motion of the ride and has a 40” height requirement. 

This rarely gets a long line and on most days is good to do in the middle of the day even without a lightning lane. Only on extremely busy days does it get a line longer than 30 minutes. You can also save it for the end of the night when the wait time shrinks to about 5 minutes on most nights. If this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide wasn’t obvious enough, do not use a lightning lane on this attraction. 

Jungle Cruise

Rating: A-

An original opening day attraction, the Jungle Cruise is probably Disney’s most tongue-in-cheek ride. Originally conceived as a serious exploration of the rivers of the world, the development of the ride has made it more comedic over time. Featuring funny scenes and punny narration, the fun of the Jungle Cruise is anchored in how well your skippers can crack jokes about the things you can see along the riverbank. From tigers, lions, and chimps to a shipwrecked crew and the backside of water, so many of the attraction’s iconic moments have made it a must-do attraction. 

This is a slow moving boat ride through the rivers of the world and is calm enough that it shouldn’t aggravate any pre-existing conditions. I should warn you, however, that there is a scene in the ride when a gun is shot by the skipper. It produces a very loud sound, which can be startling to people with sensitive ears. Just something to keep in mind. 

This is a good attraction to do in the late morning after you’ve rope dropped Indiana Jones, Big Thunder, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Haunted Mansion. It can get busy later in the day so just keep that in mind. While it’s a whole different experience at night, this attraction’s wait times drop significantly after the sun goes down. It may be worth doing it then to avoid the crowds. 

Alice in Wonderland

Rating: A-

The first Fantasyland dark ride in this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide, Alice in Wonderland is the gold standard in theme park dark ride storytelling. Immersive scenes, a fun story, and tons of memorable moments. My favorite part of the ride is when the vehicle goes outdoors and descends from the second floor to the first. Tulgey Wood, the Queen of Hearts’ kingdom, and the Golden Afternoon scenes are also highlights. This is the best Fantasyland dark ride and should be on any Disneyland itinerary. 

This is a gentle ride through show scenes themed to Alice in Wonderland. It shouldn’t aggravate any pre-existing condition. It’s a ride the whole family can enjoy, but take note that, as is the case with other Fantasyland dark rides, the vehicle can be a bit restrictive for some people.  

Sometimes the wait for this ride balloons after rope drop, so best to do it either early in the morning or late at night. It’s the second Fantasyland dark ride I recommend you rope drop after Peter Pan’s Flight. You can also save it for the end of the night. Just like the other Fantasyland dark rides, a second rope drop happens for the attraction after the fireworks, allowing you to ride it without a wait later in the day. 

Peter Pan’s Flight

Rating: A-

Probably the most iconic of the Fantasyland dark rides, Peter Pan’s Flight is an innovative dark ride that has you flying over the movie’s iconic moments and scenes. There’s nothing quite like flying over London and Neverland then quickly being immersed in a battle between Peter and Captain Hook. It’s not my favorite dark ride in Fantasyland, however, because of its short run time and perennially long waits. That being said, it’s still worth doing at least once during your trip!

Like Alice in Wonderland, this is a gentle ride and doesn’t carry any health and safety warnings with it. This is also probably the least restrictive ride vehicle for guests, and should be a lot of fun for the entire family. 

If this ride is important to you, rope drop it first thing in the morning. If you have children, park your stroller on Main Street before heading on the ride to save you some time and ensure that you’re first in the queue. If you don’t do it first thing in the morning, save it for last. The line is always too long in the middle of the day as well, and that queue can get hot so I wouldn’t recommend riding it then. Just like the other Fantasyland dark rides, take note that there is a second rope drop after the fireworks show has finished. 

Snow White’s Enchanted Wish

Rating: A-

This is tied with Peter Pan for me on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide. Refreshed and reopened in 2021, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish is a dark ride that follows Snow White’s story from meeting the dwarves to her happily ever after with her prince. Its finale is probably my favorite finale among the Fantasyland dark rides. Glittering lights, an uplifting score, and incredible special effects make this a standout Disneyland attraction. 

Like Peter Pan’s Flight and Alice in Wonderland, this is a gentle ride and doesn’t carry any health and safety warnings with it. It’s a gentle ride, but bear in mind that it contains scenes and sequences that may be scary for younger guests. 

This is a good ride to do after Peter Pan, Alice, and Matterhorn on your rope drop morning at Disneyland. It also is good to do in the middle of the day as its line doesn’t balloon in the middle of the day like other rides. I’ve seen it with a 10-minute wait at 3pm on a busy day. Suffice to say I wouldn’t rope drop this attraction. 

Disneyland Railroad

Rating: A-

This was probably Walt Disney’s favorite ride given his affinity for trains. The Disneyland Railroad is a train that encircles the entire park. With stops at New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland, the Disneyland Railroad is one of those classic Disney experiences that has been replicated in almost every Disney resort in the world. 

My favorite section has to be the Grand Canyon and Primeval World dioramas, which you can find in the leg of the ride between Tomorrowland and Main Street. It’s a great ride, and this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide highly recommends you ride it. 

This is a gentle ride that shouldn’t aggravate any pre-existing conditions. Do note that the Main Street Station is the only station that isn’t wheelchair accessible. The other 3 stations are all wheelchair accessible, so if you want to ride the attraction and someone in your party is in a wheelchair, I would head to the other stations. 

This is a good attraction to do at any time of the day. It rarely commands a long line, with the only real factor affecting your wait time being the wait between trains. You can disembark at any station and can also stay on board for as long as you like. 

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Rating: B+

The first attraction in Disney history to use audio animatronics, the Enchanted Tiki Room was a groundbreaking attraction when it first opened over 60 years ago. Originally envisioned as a restaurant with live birds, it eventually morphed into the experience we have today. It has everything: singing birds, singing plants, and singing tikis. It doesn’t really have a story per se, but it is a great little slice of tiki culture that is sure to delight audiences of all ages. 

You can visit the tiki room at any time of day, but I would most recommend a visit during the middle of the day. The show never has a line and is a good air-conditioned respite from the intense heat of the day. I would recommend sitting at the backmost row in any of the show’s four sections as these are the only benches with backrests. Sit towards the edge of the row as well as this gives you the best view of the different animatronics that come alive around you. 

Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. 

Rating: B+

Made for the 1964 World’s Fair like It’s a Small World was, Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln is a watershed moment in the development and use of audio animatronics. The show is a moving tribute to the life of an extraordinary man, told through an audio-visual presentation that culminates in the Lincoln animatronic. It’s so life-like it’ll have you second guessing if he’s really in front of you. It’s simple, but incredibly powerful and moving. 

Just like the Tiki Room, there is never a line for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. It’s a good way to take an air conditioned break from the intense southern California heat for a few minutes. As such, I’d recommend watching the show in the middle of the day when the park is at its busiest. Sit in the middle for the best viewing experience.  

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride

Rating: B+

The fourth Fantasyland dark ride on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is the craziest, zaniest, and most puzzling Disney attraction ever created. Guests play the role of Mr. Toad in the attraction and watch as the car he’s driving (your vehicle) careens and comes into crashing distance with the citizens of London. 

After careening through the streets of London, he’s sentenced by a judge for his crimes. After getting run over, you then end up in Hell. Yes, you heard that right, hell is depicted in a Disneyland ride. That’s part of what makes the attraction so insane, and why it’s a must do when you visit the park as there’s nothing else quite like it. 

Even though it sounds like an insane ride, it’s actually pretty tame. There are two points when the vehicle goes over some speed bumps that makes the car vibrate a little, but it should not be enough to aggravate a pre-existing condition. 

I would do this after you’ve done Peter Pan, Alice, and Snow White. It rarely gets a line longer than 30 minutes, making it a great choice to do in the middle of the day as well. Just like the other Fantasyland dark rides, there’s a second rope drop for the ride after the fireworks. 

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

Rating: B+

The last Star Wars ride on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide, Smugglers Run is a fun, interactive, state-of-the-art experience. On the ride you go on a mission to deliver some cargo to the resistance. In your vehicle are 6 chairs representing 3 roles: Pilot, Gunner, and Engineer. You all have to work together to complete the mission, and are then scored at the end. There’s even a hidden “Chewie Mode” where you get to do the mission with Chewbacca leading you. 

This is another motion simulator attraction, and as such people with motion sickness have a chance of getting sick. I’ve only ridden this ride a handful of times because of how dizzy I get while on it. Something about controlling the vehicle adds to the motion sickness I get while on the ride. It has a 38” height requirement and has health and safety warnings associated with it. 

The queue for this can be erratic. I’ve seen it at 75 minutes at the end of the night and at 20 minutes at the height of the day. If you’re ok with being the engineer, I would utilize the single rider line if it happens to have a high wait time when you visit. But if I were you, I would just come back later in the day as the wait time will decrease immensely later in the day. I would not recommend using a lightning lane for this attraction. 

Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin

Rating: B+

Toontown’s original dark ride, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin is a crazy, spinny, confusing adventure through the streets of Toontown as seen in the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The ride follows a loose narrative thread of Roger and Jessica Rabbit trying to stop the Weasels from erasing all the toons with dip. 

The story is just an excuse to stitch crazy scenes together, which makes for a slightly overwhelming experience. Its lack of narrative cohesion works against it, but it’s still a great ride that this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide will recommend you ride. 

This ride is probably the fastest, jerkiest dark ride in the entire park. This is mostly due to the fact that the cars spin. It shouldn’t aggravate your pre-existing condition, and it doesn’t have the health and safety warnings attached to it, but it’s something to at least consider before you decide to experience this attraction. 

It’s a slow loading attraction, as they can only load 4 people at a time every 15 seconds or so. But I will say that this ride probably has the best lightning lane line in the entire park. The merge point with the standby line is right by the loading station for the attraction, and since this ride gets a standby queue of as high as 60 minutes some days, I would highly recommend using one for this attraction.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

Rating: B+

Disney’s first interactive shooting ride, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is also the first theme park attraction to be based on the Toy Story franchise. In the attraction, Buzz briefs the new recruits (you) on Star Command’s current mission: to stop Emperor Zurg from stealing crystallic fusion power cells in order to create his secret weapon and subjugate the galaxy. 

You’re then instructed to join Buzz in defeating him by aiming for the Z targets throughout the ride. It’s full of impressive sets and animatronics, has a great story, and is really fun to compete with your friends on. It would score higher if its upkeep weren’t terrible. 

This is a gentle ride, so it doesn’t carry any of the usual health and safety warnings. You can control the spin of your vehicle, but it doesn’t spin or stop spinning that abruptly. 

This is a ride you can do after you’ve rope dropped your priorities in Tomorrowland or Fantasyland. It usually gets a long line in the middle of the day but, just like Star Tours right across it, it drops to 5 minutes after the sun sets. I wouldn’t recommend using a lightning lane for this because of that. It’s very easy to ride it after the fireworks, so using one would be a waste. 

Storybookland Canal Boats

Rating: B+

One of Disneyland’s opening day attractions, the Storybookland Canal Boats is a gentle boat ride through Storybookland, an almost mini-land hidden at the back of Fantasyland. In the boat ride, you pass by miniature versions of classic Disney scenes and locations. From Aladdin and Cinderella to the Little Mermaid and Frozen, the locales are beautifully landscaped, making this one of the prettiest areas of the park. It doesn’t have the grandeur of It’s a Small World, but its quaintness is a large part of its appeal.

As mentioned, this is a gentle boat ride so it has no health and safety warnings on it. 

I would recommend doing this during the day. Its line rarely exceeds 25 minutes, making it a good one to do when the popular rides are all busy. I wouldn’t recommend riding at night as the lighting on the attraction isn’t great. Just like the Fantasyland dark rides, this reopens after the fireworks. 

Mark Twain Riverboat & Sailing Ship Columbia

Rating: B+

I decided to combine these two because of their similar ride experiences, but I would still recommend riding them separately. The Mark Twain and the Sailing Ship Columbia are the two ships that ply through the Rivers of America. While the river was shortened because of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, it’s still a cool experience getting to go around the river on these boats. 

You get great views of Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Bayou Country, as well as of some animatronic native americans in villages located along the riverbank. It’s such a uniquely Disneyland experience that I highly recommend you make time for it. The Columbia even has a museum on its lower decks, and sometimes Princess Tiana meets guests on the Mark Twain. 

This is probably the gentlest ride in the entire park. Just note that the Columbia fires a cannon about 1/3rd of the way into the journey, so if you’re sensitive to sound you might want to watch out for that. 

You can do this at any time of the day as it doesn’t get a line at all. Its capacity is also extremely high so you’re almost guaranteed to get on the next sailing. However, waiting for the ship to dock back might take a while. Note that these two boats close at dusk so if you want to ride them, do so before then. 

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The Rest of the Pack

These are the Disneyland rides that you could theoretically skip, but if any of them pique your interest, I’d definitely recommend you experience them.

Pinnochio’s Daring Journey

Rating: B

The last Fantasyland dark ride on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey retells the story of Pinocchio. From Pleasure Island to Monstro the Whale, to Stromboli, Pinocchio’s story is told in vivid detail. However, it doesn’t make the previous section because it’s the least visually interesting of the five dark rides, its storytelling is a bit clunky, it lacks a lot of animatronics unlike the others, and it’s obvious it hasn’t had a refresh since it opened. I still ride it fairly often, but would say that if you lack time you could skip it. 

This is a mild ride that shouldn’t aggravate your pre-existing condition. Take note that the vehicle can be a bit restrictive. Do this at any time of the day as it normally doesn’t get a wait time higher than 20 minutes, even on a crowded day.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

Rating: B

This underwater ride has you entering a submarine and going on a journey to see an underwater volcano. Along the way, you encounter the characters from Pixar’s Finding Nemo. Set after the events of the movie, the ride focuses on Nemo and Squirt as they try to search for the underwater volcano. Marlin and Dory set out to find them and as they do, you see various scenes from the movie come to life. 

It’s a cute ride, but it gets relegated to this section of the Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide because the submarines are uncomfortable. It’s tight in there, with guests sitting shoulder to shoulder, uncomfortably close to one another. If only it had the same ride vehicle as 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea in Tokyo DisneySea. That would’ve taken this ride up a notch and into the must-see section.

It’s a gentle ride but, like I said, be prepared to be squished in together tightly while in the submarine. It’s a good ride to do in the late morning or late afternoon. It’s also very different at night, but I personally prefer riding it in the daytime rather than at night. Sit on the right side of the submarine for the best view of the underwater lagoon at the beginning of the attraction. 

The Adventureland Treehouse

Rating: B

Inspired by the Swiss Family Robinson, this treehouse belongs to an unnamed family who got stuck in the middle of a jungle. Tied to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers, an in-Disney Parks narrative universe, the treehouse includes interesting rooms that tell you more about the family inhabiting the treehouse, along with some quirky and fun animatronics. 

It’s almost like a walkable dark ride and has details upon details of story elements to it. It gets docked a few points, however, because of the absence of any interactivity in the treehouse, as well as because there is no alternative option to view the story of the attraction for guests who can’t climb stairs.  

Do this at any time of the day, but do take note that it closes for the fireworks. 

Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough

Rating: B

Located inside Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Castle Walkthrough retells the story of Sleeping Beauty in the form of dioramas. Featuring stunning special effects, mystifying illusions, and little surprises throughout, this is a strong walkthrough that suffers only because of its small footprint. It makes use of the castle space well, though, but it leaves me wanting for a full Sleeping Beauty ride with this level of immersiveness. 

If you cannot climb stairs, there is an accessible way to experience this attraction. In addition, it closes for the fireworks like most of Fantasyland, but you can do it at any time of the day. 

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

Rating: B-

The last dark ride on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide, the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is a fun romp through the Hundred Acre Wood. If you’re a Pooh fan, this ride will appeal to you. If not, you may be confused by the ride’s mismatched narrative, confusing scene order, and jarring transitional scenes. It’s for these reasons that I didn’t include it in the previous section. It’s still a cute ride, though, and should appeal to kids of all ages. 

It’s a very gentle ride that includes some mild swaying, but nothing aggravating. It usually doesn’t command a long line. 40 minutes is the longest I’ve ever seen it. I wouldn’t wait longer than 15 minutes for it, however, which thankfully is the case most of the time. 

Casey Jr. Circus Train

Rating: B-

The other Storybookland attraction on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide, Casey Jr. Circus Train is based on the train of the same name from the movie Dumbo. It encircles the entire Storybookland, heading up hills and through caves as the Dumbo score plays on the ride. It gets this rating, however, because the speed of the ride means you can’t really admire Storybookland. And if you get stuck riding in a cage it can be claustrophobic. It’s still a pretty ride, though. 

It’s a gentle ride that doesn’t have health and safety warnings associated with it. Best times to ride it are before 2pm and after 6pm. The four hours from 2pm to 6pm usually have the longest waits of the day, so best to ride it before or after then. 

Disneyland Monorail 

Rating: B-

The second “rail” transportation on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide, the Monorail glides above Disneyland from its station in Tomorrowland to its station in Downtown Disney. Opened as part of the first Disneyland expansion, the Monorail goes down Harbor Boulevard, past Disneyland, into the Grand Californian, and over DCA and Downtown Disney. It’s not as nostalgic as the railroad, and the views aren’t as good, but it’s still a good attraction. 

It’s a gentle train ride, which you can do at any time of day. Take note that near closing time, they will have you disembark at Downtown Disney and you won’t be able to make a roundtrip loop back to Tomorrowland. 

Autopia

Rating: B-

An opening day attraction that at one point had 3 versions of it operating at Disneyland, Autopia is an aging remnant of Disneyland’s past. In the attraction, anyone of any age can take the wheel of a car and cruise along the highways of tomorrow. It’s very dated now, and is probably only exciting to 3-12 year olds. It also takes up a lot of space which I think can be better utilized. 

The ride has a 32’ height requirement and, because the cars can bump each other, has health and safety warnings attached to it. It’s best to do it earlier in the day or at dusk as its wait time can reach up to an hour on busy days. Do not use a lightning lane for this attraction unless you have children who really want to experience it. 

Tom Sawyer Island and the Rafts

Rating: B-

Situated in the middle of the Rivers of America, Tom Sawyer Island is a fun little area to explore. You need to take the rafts by Haunted Mansion to get there, but once you’re there you can start exploring the island’s hills, caves, and interactive play areas. This is honestly such a good attraction but it can take you a while to explore the whole island which, if you’re on limited time, I wouldn’t recommend. It also has a pirates theme, which I don’t think fits with the island and feels outdated now. 

You can do this at any time, but note that the experience closes at dusk so if you want to go experience it, you need to be in and out before then. 

Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes

Rating: C+

Situated in Bayou Country, the Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes is the only guest powered ride in the entire resort. Guests hop on board canoes with two cast members and then paddle their way around the Rivers of America. It’s a fun arm workout and is one of the more unique rides in the park. However, its abysmal to do on a hot day and because of the physical labor involved, it might not be for everyone. 

It’s a gentle ride that will feel like a workout at the same time. This opens at 10am and closes at dusk every day. If you want to experience it, take note of the hours and do note that on slower periods it only operates on weekends. 

Chip and Dale’s Gadget Coaster

Rating: C+

The last rollercoaster on this list, Gadget Coaster is a junior coaster designed for little kids. It’s hidden at the back of Toontown and, while it is well themed and designed, it is similar to other junior coasters in other parks. It lacks originality and, while it’s faster than it looks, is not particularly thrilling for guests above the age of 7. 

It has a 35” height requirement and health and safety warnings attached to it due to the fact that it is still a rollercoaster. Ride this in the morning or in the evening to avoid waiting in a long line. Usually only one train runs at a time so it can be slow loading, which can balloon wait times. 

Dumbo

Rating: C+

Located at the back of Fantasyland, Dumbo is the first spinner on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide. It’s probably the best spinner in the entire park due to its charm and character. It’s a simple ride. You board an elephant and fly high above the park, getting views of the entire Fantasyland as you spin. It’s particularly pretty at night. It’s popular with kids, and its only drawback is that it isn’t groundbreaking and is overly simplistic. But don’t let that deter you if you find yourself fancying a flight on Dumbo’s back. 

This is a gentle ride for the whole family. I would ride it during rope drop hours or late at night to avoid long queues. It still gets a 45 minute wait sometimes which, for a 90 second ride, is not worth it. If it’s important for your child to do it, plan accordingly. 

Astro Orbiter

Rating: C+

Situated at the front of Tomorrowland, this spinner involves you getting in a rocket for a ride among the cosmos. It’s a gorgeous spinner with some incredible mechanisms forming the top of the ride. It however suffers from a lack of intentional placement, as it blocks the entrance to Tomorrowland. It should be placed up where the Peoplemover loading dock used to be for the ultimate views of Tomorrowland and the park. But alas, it isn’t, and its weird placement docks it down to this rating. 

It’s a gentle ride for the most part, but be careful as it tilts when you get to the top which can be a little extreme for some people. It also spins faster than Dumbo does so if you get dizzy easily just keep that in mind. Lines usually heighten in the middle of the day, so ride it before 11am or after 8pm for the lowest wait times. 

Mad Tea Party

Rating: C+

Disneyland’s original thrill ride, the Mad Tea Party is a spinning teacups attraction located next to Alice in Wonderland. Also themed to Alice in Wonderland, the teacups at Disneyland probably have the most beautiful setup among all the teacup rides found in Disney parks around the world. It gets its current rating because it’s very simple and is honestly very dizzying, but what it lacks in substance it makes up for in beauty. 

This is a ride for anyone, and doesn’t have health and safety warnings attached to it. That being said, if you get motion sickness, this might not be the ride for you. It is VERY nausea inducing, so ride at your own risk. It never gets a long line unless you go on a major holiday, but I would save your ride for the nighttime as it really comes alive at night. 

King Arthur Carousel

Rating: C+

Themed to the movie Sleeping Beauty, King Arthur Carousel is your standard carousel. It’s a very historic carousel, though, and is the oldest ride at the park as its existence predates Disneyland’s. It has interesting murals on its central axis of scenes from Sleeping Beauty, and the music it plays while on the ride is nostalgia inducing. That being said, it’s a normal carousel at the end of the day, which is why it gets the rating it gets. 

This ride is a gentle one. Feel free to ride it at any time of day as it doesn’t really get any sort of line, even on the busiest of days. 

The Toontown Houses

Rating: C

These four houses belong to Mickey, Minnie, Donald, and Goofy. Goofy and Donald’s houses are playgrounds for children, while you can meet Minnie and Mickey in their respective houses. It’s colorful and fun for little kids, but there isn’t that much for adults to do. If you have kids I would let them burn off some steam in these areas. But if you’re an adult, you can skip it. 

Frontierland Shootin Exposition

Rating: C

Located to the right of Frontierland, this arcade style shooting gallery is just that: a shooting gallery. I’ve probably done it once in my entire life, and from what I remember you have to pay to play. It’s a nice distraction, and note that it can be loud, but I wouldn’t call it a must do.  

Main Street Vehicles 

Rating: C

The last ride on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide, the Main Street Vehicles are a bunch of old modes of transportation that go up and down Main Street throughout the day at Disneyland. To be honest, walking would probably be faster than taking these vehicles. But they add a lot of life to Main Street. My favorite is the Omnibus because you can sit on the second floor and get a good view of the park.

These are slow moving vehicles so they don’t have the health and safety warnings with them. They also never have a line, so do them when they’re operating and you want to kick your feet up for a while. 

Main Street Cinema 

Rating: C

The last listed attraction on this Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide, this attraction is a simple room with about 6 screens forming a circle. They usually play old Mickey cartoons. There’s a couple of seats in there which make it a good place to rest from the heat, but other than that it isn’t that exciting an experience. 

Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide Conclusion

And that is the end of this very long Disneyland Ride and Attraction Guide post. Hopefully you gained some insight on the rides and attractions at Disneyland and have a better idea of which ones you want to experience.

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