Opening in 2001, Disney California Adventure (DCA) is the second Disney theme park to open in Anaheim, after the legendary and iconic Disneyland. While it didn’t really resonate with guests at first, DCA has grown into its own and is now a worthy complement to Disneyland. Filled with now-classic attractions, DCA has something for everyone. Which is why I wanted to write this Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide to help you decide on what rides you should experience. 

If you’re planning a trip to the happiest place on earth, you have to go to Disney California Adventure! But there’s a couple of things you need to know before you go, and a fundamental one is which rides you should go on. Your time in the park is probably limited. There’s only so many rides you can go on in a day. How will you know which ones to prioritize? Well, this post is here to help with that problem. 

No ride will appeal to everyone. Maybe you don’t like going on roller coasters or find dark rides boring (which if you do, you should definitely give them a second chance). Part of planning a successful strategy for touring the parks is knowing which rides to prioritize. You can’t just walk into a Disney Park nowadays and ride the first ride you see, mostly because it might not appeal to you and you would have wasted all that time waiting in line for a ride you didn’t like.

To help you save time and to manage expectations, I’ve written this Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction guide. For this guide, each attraction will receive a grade from A+ to F, followed by a short description of the ride, touring strategies for that particular ride, and some information about what kind of guest I think the ride will appeal to. I would say anything with a B+ and above I’d consider being the best California Adventure rides and attractions, although if any of the other rides appeal to you then by all means give them a try!

If you want to see how the rides at Disney California Adventure stack up against one another, I have a post that ranks all the rides at DCA, which you can read here. However, this post will be more informative than my ranking post and will dive into the shows and non-ride attractions as well. Because I go into the rides in the ranking post, the entries in this post won’t go too in depth on the ride experience or the backgrounds of the rides themselves. 

So without further ado, here is my Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide. 

Like me on Facebook at The Disney Specialist, and follow me on Instagram / Twitter / Tiktok!

This post contains affiliate links. We receive a small commission for purchases made after clicking on these links at no extra cost to you.

Klook.com

Best Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide

Can’t Miss Attractions

Radiator Springs Racers

Rating: A+

The best Disney California Adventure ride and attraction, this simultaneous dark ride and thrill ride is a jewel in the crown of Walt Disney Imagineering. Wowing guests since it opened in 2012, Radiator Springs Racers is a racing attraction that first takes you through the town of Radiator Springs in its dark ride section before zooming you off into a race with another car. 

This is a fun family attraction with mild thrills that will appeal to people of all ages. I’ve seen grandmas and grandpas go on it and have the best time. While it is a pretty smooth ride, it 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. Take note that this ride has a 40’’ height requirement. 

I wouldn’t recommend rope dropping this attraction as it isn’t working first thing in the morning about 50% of the time. It does have a single rider line that moves pretty quickly so if you’re willing to split your party up this could be an option for you. I’ve never waited more than 20 minutes in the single rider line. If you care about riding together, I would either risk rope dropping the ride or paying the Lightning Lane Single Pass for the attraction. Take note that there is an on-ride photo for this attraction that happens at the last dip before the finish line. 

Soarin Over the World

Rating: A+

Soarin is the only ride that can come close to Radiator Springs Racers in terms of quality, but since the Over the World version plays for most of the year, I can’t say it’s the best California Adventure ride and attraction. When Over California is playing though that’s another story. Soarin Over the World is a flying simulator attraction that has you flying over different world landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Great Wall of China. The innovative ride system is able to take you high up into the sky and simulate flight so realistically. The queue is dedicated to the history of Californian aviation. 

This ride is a gentle one. It’s technically a motion simulator but doesn’t do any of the jerky movements other simulators like Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Tours do. There’s still a risk of motion sickness, and some people report feeling motion sickness after going on the ride, but for the most part it’s a calm ride. This ride has a 40’’ height requirement. 

I would recommend doing this early in the day to avoid the crowds. Best to do it within the first two hours the park is open when the wait will probably be less than 40 minutes. Single Rider is available, but the problem with it is you will probably be told to sit on the worst seats on Soarin (Section A/C Row 3 all the way to the side) and sometimes Single Rider can take as long as the standby line. If you purchased Lightning Lane Multi Pass, snag a reservation for this ride in the middle of the day to maximize your time. 

World of Color

Rating: A+

Probably one of the best nighttime shows Disney has ever put out, World of Color is a moving, dazzling spectacle. Featuring over 1200 fountains, which can shoot water up to 200 ft, World of Color also incorporates projections, lights, music, lasers, pyrotechnics, and even lights on the Incredicoaster and Pixar Pal-A-Round. Various World of Color shows have existed in the park’s history, including the original World of Color, World of Color: Celebrate, World of Color: One, and the upcoming World of Color: Happiness. In each show, the fountains dance and move all while being synchronized to a musical score.

This is a must-do when you’re at DCA, as evidenced by its A+ score. There are a couple of ways you can see the show every night. One way is by getting a virtual queue to gain access to the reserved World of Color viewing area. This is located towards the waterfront right in front of the fountains and can be accessed from either the yellow or blue entrance. Getting a virtual queue is completely free and passes are distributed on a first come, first serve basis. Virtual queue slots for the first show will be filled up before the slots for the second show are given out. 

Virtual queues for new shows tend to sell out quickly, as well as during peak periods, but for the most part you can get a virtual queue even 3 hours after the queues first drop. Expect that not to be the case when World of Color: Happiness debuts, but luckily there are other ways you can watch World of Color without a virtual queue. 

Another way to watch the show from a viewing area is by purchasing a World of Color Dessert Party package. This costs $89 dollars per person and will get you a reserved seat and table behind the World of Color virtual queue area. You will be served up to 5 desserts and will be given unlimited non-alcoholic beverages. I would recommend this only if you have the money to spare and keep in mind that you’re primarily paying for the view. 

There are also World of Color Dining Packages that are similar to the Fantasmic Dining Packages where you dine at a specific restaurant for lunch or dinner and are then given a pass to view World of Color from a reserved section. To avail of the package, simply make a World of Color Dining Package reservation at a participating restaurant via the Disneyland website or upgrade your normal meal at a participating restaurant to the World of Color Dining Package, subject to availability. Participating restaurants include Storytellers Cafe, Wine Country Trattoria, and the Magic Key Terrace. 

If you can’t snag a reservation or a virtual queue, you can try watching from different areas around the lagoon. One area you could potentially watch the show from is the Pixar Pier bridge, but this tends to get crowded so be there early to secure a good spot. 

Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout

Rating: A

Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout is a drop tower ride themed to the Marvel movie franchise Guardians of the Galaxy. It’s one of my personal favorite rides at the park and one that grew on me as I experienced it more and more, as evidenced by its A score in this Disney California Adventure ride and attraction guide. In the ride, you enter The Collector’s Fortress for a tour of his collection when your tour is interrupted by Rocket Raccoon who says he needs your help to free the rest of the Guardians of the Galaxy. After helping him gain access to your Gantry Lift, the ride begins and your gantry lift rises and falls incredibly fast as you help Rocket destroy the generator and free his friends. The ride is synchronized to one of six possible songs, each with its own drop sequence. 

What I didn’t expect when riding the ride for the first time is how dizzy I got while on it. Seriously, this ride should come with a motion sickness warning because I’ve gone on it with a few people who reported feeling motion sickness after riding it. I believe this is due to the fact that the vehicle rises and falls with such speed that you can’t tell whether you’re going up or down, which can cause motion sickness. 

It’s also a pretty rough ride and, just like Radiator Springs Racers, those with high-blood pressure and heart, back, and neck problems, as well as those who are expecting and those who experience motion sickness should take precautions before riding. There is a 40” height requirement to ride this ride. Some scenes are dark and can be intense for younger guests.  

This is the ride that I recommend you rope drop first thing in the morning. It’s more likely to be open than Radiator Springs Racers and its standby line in the late morning onwards can exceed 100 minutes, so it’s good to do during the early part of your day. This would also be a good ride to use a Lightning Lane on or to go on after 8pm till before closing as your last ride of the day. Take note that there is an on-ride photo that happens when the elevator doors open and you can see Disneyland. 

Take note that, during Halloween season, the ride transforms into Monsters After Dark after 2pm. It’s considered a separate ride from Mission: Breakout so you can theoretically get a Lightning Lane for Mission: Breakout before 2pm then ride Monsters After Dark via another Lightning Lane after 2pm. 

Incredicoaster 

Rating: A

Incredicoaster, formerly called California Screamin, is a looping roller coaster located in Pixar Pier that is themed to the Pixar movie The Incredibles. Featuring one inversion and a launch that goes from 0 to 55 mph in 4 seconds, Incredicoaster’s story centers on the Parr family attending the coaster’s dedication ceremony as the coaster is being dedicated to them. While they’re at the ceremony, Jack Jack teleports away from the family and the Incredibles must now find a way to get him back to safety. 

This is by far the wildest ride in the park, and not just because it features an inversion. The launch is very forceful and you get some airtime on this coaster as well. Those with high-blood pressure and heart, back, and neck problems, as well as those who are expecting and those who experience motion sickness should take precautions before riding. There is a height requirement of 48”.

I would ride this ride during the first two hours the park is open, as it does tend to get longer lines as the day goes on. I wouldn’t make it my first ride of the day, however, as lines are still manageable about 3 hours after park opening. Take note that this ride does have a Single Rider line, but if the line outside the station is more than 15 people long, you’re looking at a substantial wait. Lines tend to get shorter as the day goes on and dip once the sun goes down. Please note as well that this ride includes an on-ride photo that happens towards the end of the ride. 

Toy Story Midway Mania

Rating: A

Located, like Incredicoaster, in Pixar Pier, Toy Story Midway Mania is a 3D shooting dark ride attraction themed to the Pixar film series Toy Story. In the ride, guests compete in a series of five mini-games themed to different Toy Story characters. It’s one of the more fun attractions at the park, and while the 3D and the screens could use an upgrade, I consider it to be the best shooting dark ride in the resort. This is mostly because the style of gameplay differs per video game, allowing for variety and making it very re-rideable. It’s also one of the best California Adventure rides. 

This ride is a mild dark ride with 3D elements. The 3D elements shouldn’t make you sick, but if you’re the kind of person that gets sick watching 3D movies in theaters, then you may want to reconsider going on this attraction. It’s generally safe for those with health problems and doesn’t carry any health warnings. The movement of the cars can be sudden and jerky at times, but it shouldn’t be enough to aggravate pre-existing conditions.

I would ride this as my second or third ride of the day during rope drop. Lines for Midway Mania sometimes go up to 50 minutes, and Lightning Lane makes it move even slower. Generally speaking, if the line is outside the main queue building, you’re looking at a wait of longer than 30 minutes. The ride is also a slow loader, and unlike other nearby attractions it usually maintains a long wait until closing, so Lightning Lane would be your best bet if you want to ride it in the middle of the day. 

The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure

Rating: A-

Our first Paradise Gardens Park attraction, The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is an omnimover dark ride that retells the story of The Little Mermaid. An Omnimover ride is a kind of ride system that features continuously loading ride vehicles. Other notable omnimover rides include Haunted Mansion and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. While it suffers from pacing issues, The Little Mermaid is a great dark ride with some very impressive scenes. The Under the Sea scene alone merits it being given an A- on this Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide. The Ursula animatronic in the Poor Unfortunate Souls scene is also very impressive.

This is a relaxing ride through the world of The Little Mermaid that shouldn’t aggravate any pre-existing conditions or health problems. The clam shell could be a little tight for plus-sized guests, but for the most part you should have no problem getting on and off the attraction. Take note that you enter and exit the ride on a moving sidewalk so be prepared for that. 

This ride rarely gets a line longer than 25 minutes, even on busy days, so I would say it’s a good attraction to save for the middle of the day when lines are longest. I wouldn’t use a Lightning Lane on this ride as lines are pretty even throughout the day, sometimes even dropping to as low as 5 minutes, especially when World of Color is happening. 

Monsters Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue

Rating: A-

Monsters Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue is a dark ride that retells the story of the Pixar movie Monsters Inc. Located in HollywoodLand in the Hollywood Studios part of the land, you’ll board a taxi for a tour of Monstropolis until your tour gets sidetracked by the unwanted presence of a human child. What follows is a journey around Monstropolis as Mike and Sulley try to get Boo home. It’s a good attraction that has some impressive scenes, including the iconic Door Factory scene, but just like Little Mermaid it suffers from some pacing issues. 

This is a gentle ride and as such it should not worsen any pre-existing conditions. There is a scene with bright lights so just be conscious of that. The seats can be a bit tight just like Little Mermaid’s, but they can usually comfortably fit an adult and two children or two adults. 

I would ride this right after rope drop when the line is less than 30 minutes long. It shouldn’t have that long of a wait two hours after park opening. If the line is long, however, you can request for a Buddy Pass from the cast member at the front of the queue. A Buddy Pass is essentially a single rider pass for groups of 1-2. You enter through the exit and shouldn’t wait more than 5 minutes. The Buddy Pass is subject to availability. If it isn’t available, consider using Lightning Lane. 

Goofy’s Sky School

Rating: B+

Based on the Goofy short film Goofy’s Glider, Goofy’s Sky School is a wild mouse coaster located in Paradise Gardens. The second of two roller coasters in the park, Goofy’s Sky School’s story involves Goofy teaching us how to fly a plane. This can be seen in the various billboards scattered throughout the ride. The first section of the ride features a number of sharp turns that make you feel like you’re going to fly off the ride. The second part of the ride features 2 steep drops that’ll have your heart rising in your chest. All in all, it’s an incredibly fun ride that could use a bit more theming, but is good for what it is. 

The aforementioned sharp turns make it a very rough ride to experience. Those with high-blood pressure and heart, back, and neck problems, as well as those who are expecting and those who experience motion sickness may want to take some precautions before riding. It’s not a ride that’ll make you dizzy, but I would hold onto your valuables as the force from the ride could cause them to fly off. The seats on this ride are probably the most restrictive of any ride at the resort, so ask a cast member at the attraction if this is likely to be a concern. This ride has a 42” height requirement. 

I would do this after hitting your priorities for rope drop early in the day. This would be a good ride to do as your fourth of fifth ride of the day. There is a single rider line available but based on my experience it tends to move slower than other single rider lines. Lightning Lanes are available and if you want to ride this in the middle of the day I would suggest getting one. Lines tend to shrink the closer the day gets to World of Color. 

Grizzly River Run

Rating: B+

A river raft ride located in Grizzly Peak, Grizzly River Run is the park’s one and only water ride. Board a raft and begin your expedition down the Grizzly River ending in a thrilling 20 foot drop into a geyser field. The ride is fun and will get you wet, and the theming of the area is absolutely spectacular. My only gripe with the ride is that it lacks any animatronics whatsoever. They could have inserted at least a few grizzly bears throughout the ride. 

This ride can be a bumpy and jarring ride at times, especially when the raft hits the side off the flume. As such, those with pre-existing conditions should take extra precautions if they want to experience the ride. You WILL probably get wet while on this ride so it would be a good idea to wear a poncho and to leave your bag at a locker if it contains anything that cannot get wet. This ride has a 42” height requirement. 

This ride’s wait time peaks at the hottest part of the day, so avoid queueing up for it then if you can. Best time to ride this ride would be in the morning after you’ve done your rope drop rides or at night so you can go straight home or to your hotel once you’re off and wet. This would be a good ride to use a Lightning Lane if you want to ride at the hottest part of the day. 

WEB Slingers

Rating: B+

Web Slingers is the second of two shooting dark rides that can be found at DCA. It’s a 3D attraction where you don WEB Vision Targeting Glasses and ride on a WEB Slinger vehicle to save Avengers Campus from the Spider-Bots. The story goes that the Worldwide Engineering Brigade is having an open house hosted by project lead Peter Parker. Peter demonstrates the Spider-Bots tech during the open house where they accidentally get stuck in self-replication mode. Pretty soon, they overrun Avengers Campus, and it’s up to Spider-Man and the guests to save the day. It’s not among the best California Adventure rides and attractions, but I still think it’s worth riding. 

The ride is pretty smooth, which isn’t surprising given that it’s the newest ride at the park. It is a 3D ride so if that makes you queasy I would prepare beforehand, although the car itself doesn’t move during the 3D portions of the ride. Just like the other shooting dark ride in the park (Toy Story Midway Mania) it doesn’t carry any health warnings with it.

This ride has a great single rider line that moves relatively fast and still allows you to see the pre-show. But if riding with your family is important as the score you get on the ride is a group score, I would ride this right after riding Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout during rope drop or possibly doing it with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. It’s also a good one to do just as the park is closing. 

Mickey’s Philharmagic

Rating: B+

The last (but not least) of the three 3D experiences you can enjoy at DCA, Mickey’s Philharmagic is a show that incorporates different 4D effects into its staging. The show centers on Donald Duck who, after prepping the band for a concert that was supposed to be led by Mickey, ends up taking Mickey’s sorcerer’s hat and using it himself. This causes chaos as he is now sucked into the musical world of some classic Disney films as he tries to retrieve the sorcerer’s hat and put a stop to the chaos. 

This is a 3D show that takes place in Hollywoodland. It is not a ride so the chairs in the theater do not move. Be prepared for some in-theater effects, although this show only gets a B+ because it lacks some of the other effects that you can experience in this show in other versions around the world. 

This is a great attraction to do at the high point of the day in terms of crowds and heat. The waiting room is indoors, and so is the show. You won’t ever have to wait longer than 15 minutes for this and you’re always guaranteed to see the next showtime. I would sit towards the middle of the theater for the best experience. Don’t forget to look around you as there are screens on the side of the theater as well. Also, there is a surprise at the back of the theater at the end of the show. Be sure to look behind you as soon as Donald flies out of the screen.  

The Rest of the Pack

Klook.com

These are the rides and attractions on this Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide that I wouldn’t consider the highlights of the park, but if they interest you then definitely give them a try!

Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

Rating: B

This is my personal favorite of the two flat rides in Cars Land, and one ride that almost made it to the can’t miss attractions portion of this Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide. This ride has you riding in one of the tractors that Mater flips in the original Cars movie. Once the music starts (with all songs being sung by Larry the Cable Guy himself), the tractors whip you from side to side as you ride around the junkyard in a series of figure eights. 

This ride doesn’t have any warnings to it but, let me tell you, those whips that the tractors do can be pretty forceful. If you ride with a small child you may end up squishing them to the sides of the ride vehicle. But if you can ride the other “wild” rides on this list, then this ride shouldn’t feel as jarring. 

I would ride this at any time of the day. It rarely gets a wait of longer than 25 minutes, even on busy days. It’s also fun to ride both in the day and at night. This, for me, is the best California Adventure ride in this “rest of the pack” section so if you can only do one of these rides, I would recommend this one.  

Silly Symphony Swings

Rating: B

Silly Symphony Swings seemingly looks like your average carnival swing ride, but it actually pretty ingeniously incorporates a story into this ride, which is why it deserves the B it gets on this California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide. Themed after the Band Concert short, the ride recreates the scene when a tornado hits the band concert being conducted by Mickey Mouse. A tornado appears in the center of the ride as it rises and the swings represent the tornado, complete with Mickey Mouse conducting it from the top of the swing, 

Story aside, this is still just your average swing ride. It’s as rough as other swing rides are, and you must be at least 48” to ride solo and 40” to ride in tandem. 

I would do this at any time of the day. Like Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, it barely gets a line longer than 20 minutes even on busy days. It looks pretty spectacular at night, though. 

Pixar Pal-A-Round

Rating: B

Pixar-Pal-Around is the big ferris wheel that can be found in Pixar Pier. It has two versions of gondolas: the swinging and the non-swinging, and has Pixar characters painted on each gondola. It’s also heavily used in the nighttime spectacular World of Color and is the only ferris wheel in all the Disney parks. 

The swinging gondolas are a lot more extreme than the non-swinging ones, which are basically just regular gondolas found on most ferris wheels. The swinging gondolas are on a track that gives them extra motion, causing them to sway violently. It’s the only ride in the resort that includes barf bags, which should tell you all you need to know about the ride. 

I would ride it at any time of the day, but it is quite stunning at sunset so if you can time your ride during sunset, you will be in for an awesome experience. Non-swinging gondolas tend to have a shorter line than the swinging gondolas (but not by a lot). 

Animation Academy 

Rating: B

Found inside the Animation Building, Animation Academy is a drawing class where you can draw famous Disney characters. You’re provided with paper, a pencil, and a drawing board as part of the class. The class is taught by a Disney animator, who gives instructions for how to draw the characters, which you can also see on a big screen at the front of the classroom. You get to keep the drawing you made too, which makes for a cool souvenir. 

The schedule for which characters are drawn at what time is posted outside on a board at the entrance to Animation Academy within the Animation Building. You can sometimes find rare characters on the board like Perry the Platypus or Ortensia. I would visit the Animation Building early in the day to figure out if there’s a character you’re interested in drawing and, if there is, what time their class starts. I would get there at least 30 minutes before the class starts to make sure you get a seat. 

Turtle Talk with Crush

Rating: B

Also found inside the Animation Building, Turtle Talk with Crush is a Living Character Initiative experience where the audience of the show gets to interact with a fully animated Crush. It’s a pretty cool experience to see the character conversing with guests and making quips and modern-day pop culture references. It’s a really funny show that you should make time for if you have time to spare. 

Shows run continuously throughout the day, so you probably won’t wait longer than 20 minutes for a show. If you want Crush to talk to you, your best shot is to sit in a seat that is adjacent to an aisle so the cast member holding the mic can walk up to you. Children are also invited to sit in the front of the theater on the ground, and Crush normally picks at least one child sitting on the ground to interact with. 

Luigi’s Rollickin Roadsters

Rating: B-

The last Cars Land attraction on this list, Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters is a trackless flat ride located at the back of Luigi’s Casa Della Tires. The story goes that Luigi’s relatives are visiting from Italy, so he’s putting on a party in his backyard for them. His relatives start dancing along to the music, and it’s this dancing that the ride is simulating. 

It’s a calm ride for the most part, and it’s cool to see the cars dancing with one another in synchronized movements. But it isn’t particularly exciting and, to me, is the least fun of the three Cars Land rides. It gets plus points though for being a technological first for the resort. This ride shouldn’t aggravate any existing conditions you may have. 

I would do this in the morning of your visit or an hour before closing as the line tends to get long in the middle of the day and this ride is not covered under Lightning Lane Multi Pass. 

Jessie’s Critter Carousel

Rating: C+

This is your standard carousel with some fun cartoony elements. It’s themed to Toy Story, specifically the Woody’s Roundup TV show that can be seen in Toy Story 2. It features critters instead of horses, such as armadillos, snakes, and skunks, with some of them even facing backwards. A beautiful mural depicting the critters and Jessie in action envelopes the carousel. 

This is your standard carousel, which means it’s a gentle spinning ride that will only affect you if you tend to get dizzy on rides that spin. If not, though, then you should be fine. 

You can ride this at any time of the day, You’ll rarely find it with a wait longer than 10 minutes. I personally can’t remember the last time I saw it with a wait longer than 5 minutes. 

Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind

Rating: C+

Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind is a hot air balloon spinner ride found in Pixar Pier. It’s themed to the mega popular movie franchise Inside Out, with the balloons being themed to the memory orbs and each hot air balloon being attributed to a character in Inside Out. This ride used to be located in A Bug’s Land and was called Flik’s Flyers. 

This ride spins a bit faster than the Carousel, so be cautious if spinning makes you dizzy. But other than that, this is a calm ride that can actually feel a bit relaxing. 

You can usually ride this at any time of the day, although the line for it can be long towards midday. Riding it before noon or towards the end of the day increases your chances of a short queue. 

Boudin Bakery Tour

Rating: C

The last non-ride on this Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide. Less a tour and more like a walkthrough informational display, you can read plaques that explain the bread making process that Boudin uses. Seeing the kitchen up close as they make the bread Boudin is known for is pretty interesting. 

Do note that this experience is only open until around 6pm. Hours may vary. If you visit during the day, there’s usually a cast member that will give you a small, free piece of bread. This is by no means a highlight of the park, but it’s listed as an attraction which merits its inclusion in this Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide.

Jumpin Jellyfish

Rating: C

The second to the last ride on this Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide, Jumpin Jellyfish is a drop tower attraction, but don’t mistake it for something like Tower of Terror or Mission: Breakout. Designed to look like large, rising pieces of seaweed, the central towers also sport jellyfish that gently take riders up and down. It’s a sterile ride, but one that is sure to be fun for kids.

While this is a relaxing ride, it has a height requirement of 40”. It should be safe for anyone to ride and is actually more fun than it looks as it gives you great views of Paradise Gardens and Pixar Pier.  

Ride at any time of the day. It rarely gets a line longer than 25 minutes, and when it does it’s not worth riding anyway. It’s a reliable attraction to go on in the middle of the day.

Golden Zephyr

Rating: D

The only ride probably in the whole resort that gets a score of D, Golden Zephyr is the worst ride at the Disneyland Resort. This is mostly due to the fact that it isn’t themed at all. Its design is very plain and, while its ride mechanism is cool, it shuts down at the slightest gust of wind, making it unreliable. The ride has you riding in these steel behemoths called Zephyrs as you swing around a central axis. It’s unexciting, and doesn’t even have any narration or on-ride music. Truly the bottom of the Disneyland Resort attraction barrel. 

This is a tame ride that will only affect those with spinning motion sickness. Smaller guests should enter the Zephyr first. 

You can ride this at any time of the day as it rarely gets a line longer than 15 minutes when it’s not shut down due to weather. 

Conclusion

And that’s the end of this Disney California Adventure Ride and Attraction Guide! Hopefully we’ve given you an idea of what the best California Adventure rides and attractions are. What did you think? Comment anything else other people should know about the rides or if you found this guide helpful.

If you enjoyed this DCA Attraction and Ride Guide, consider subscribing to my newsletter and bring the enchantment of Disney parks, resorts, and cruise lines straight to your inbox. Whether you’re planning your first magical trip or you’re a seasoned Disney pro, my newsletter is your ultimate guide to creating enchanting memories.

🌟 What You’ll Get:

• Expert tips for navigating Disney parks and skipping the lines.
• The latest updates on new attractions, events, and dining experiences.
• Insider secrets to make your visit extra magical (and budget-friendly!).
• Personalized itineraries, seasonal guides, and hidden Disney gems.

From Walt Disney World and Disneyland to Disney Cruise Line and the international parks, we’ll help you plan the trip of your dreams with less stress and more pixie dust!

👉 Subscribe below and let the magic begin! 🏰✨

Klook.com

SUGGESTED READING: