Disneyland Attractions Ranked

When I visited Disneyland for the first time this past fall, I had no intention of blogging about it. (And as such, didn’t take quite enough pictures.) So much is already covered about Disneyland that I don’t feel like I have much to add. But I figured I could rank all the attractions, at least, like I do the rest of the parks I visit. So here are all of Disneyland’s attractions, ranked from worst to best.

Disneyland Resort

First, a word about California’s Disneyland Resort. I’m more used to Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort, which is much bigger and an ever more complicated undertaking. In comparison, Disneyland is smaller and much easier to navigate. Both parks at Disneyland are smaller in size and right across one another. It’s so easy to walk back and forth! And it just doesn’t feel as crazy. I was there for five days, so I didn’t bother using the Genie+ system. Five days is more than enough to see everything. I’d even say you can cover almost everything in three – two at Disneyland and one at California Adventure.

That’s not to say there isn’t a decent amount of walking involved. I stayed with a friend who was there for a convention, so we stayed in the extra-nice Westin right next to the convention center. The Westin is across the street from the back of California Adventure, essentially at the “bottom” of the Disneyland block. To enter either park, you have to walk to the middle of the block on either side, either to the left/west and through the Downtown Disney District, or to the right/east and in the bus drop-off area. From our location, it was about a 20-ish minute walk either way. (Though I eventually learned to cut through Disney’s Grand Californian – if you can scoot in behind another family at the “Disney hotel guests only” gate.)

The west side of the property is more Disneyfied – there’s nice landscaping, and all the official Disney hotels, plus Downtown Disney. The east side of the property has strip malls, chain restaurants, and tons of hotels at every price point. Even so, it’s not the sprawling commercialism that I had pictured before my visit. I mean it is, but it doesn’t seem to encroach on the parks as much as I thought. There’s some separation there. To the north are the cheapest hotels and the highway. I’ve heard the best intersection of price and quality is found at Howard Johnson, only an 8-minute walk to the parks. If you’re staying farther away, the major parking structures are located to the northwest, and there are buses and a rideshare drop-off area.

Disneyland Attractions Ranked

Now I’m going to attempt to rank every ride in Disneyland. This is just for the Disneyland park – I’ll cover Disney’s California Adventure in the next post. It also only covers what I could experience, which wasn’t everything. And excludes all character interactions, of which there are many. As always, this is my opinion. If you disagree, let me know in the comments!

(Every attraction name links to a video of the attraction itself. So you can use this as a little virtual vacation – without the lines – if you wish.)

#36 – Disney Gallery

I guess I’ll include the Disney Gallery as an attraction – the official list of Disneyland attractions does. It used to be above Pirates of the Caribbean, so I thought I had missed it. But now I remember a girl filming a TikTok or Instagram story in the corner while we were trying to look around.

Aaaaand, that’s about all I remember about it. It’s a history-of-Disney gallery on Main Street, to the right of the train station. It’s great for fans of Disney history, which I am. But it’s a minor attraction. I think it’s mainly used as a holding space for Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, which is in the back but was closed during my visit.

(The video link includes the Disney Gallery as I saw it. It’s since been updated for the 100th anniversary, which you can see here.)

#35 – Main Street Cinema

The Main Street Cinema is a little cooler. Literally – it’s a lovely place to sit down inside and cool off. There are six small screens in a circle showing old Disney cartoons, with a bit of seating in front of each one. It’s great for a rest for you and your kids.

#34 – Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition

Low on the list but honestly fun, the Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition is a little pay-per-play shooting range. For the cost of two quarters, you can fire an infrared rifle at various targets to make them fall down/spin around/light up, etc. The targets are easy to hit, making you feel like a sharpshooter. And there’s no line, so you can just walk up and do it. It’s very un-Disney!

I had thought there wasn’t one of these in Walt Disney World, making this a unique Disneyland thing, but there is one in Magic Kingdom too. I’ve just apparently never bothered to play it there. Or maybe I just never noticed it in with everything else. At Disneyland, it seems like a viable thing to do if you have some change.

#33 – Pinocchio’s Daring Journey

Getting into proper rides, Pinocchio’s Daring Journey is pretty forgettable. And while it doesn’t appear in Florida, it’s not a ride unique or original to Disneyland. You can find it in Tokyo and Paris too.

The ride is a tootle through black-light scenes of the movie, with a lunging Monstro the whale potentially being the scariest part. The smallest kids are probably the ones who would enjoy this ride the most.

#32 – Snow White’s Enchanted Wish

Similarly, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish is a scene-by-scene journey through Snow’s story. This ride at least has some updated effects. (And it’s not terrifying like WDW’s old Snow White’s SCARY Adventures.) This one is pretty cute, light, and fun. Plus, it opened with the park in 1955, making it a Disneyland original.

Make sure to notice the wicked queen peering down on you from above the attraction. If you don’t see her, wait a few minutes for her to open the curtains.

#31 – Alice In Wonderland

A third dark ride on the underwhelming side is Alice in Wonderland, tucked appropriately next to Mad Tea Party. I do like that it is unique to Disneyland and that it has an upper level outside. Otherwise, it’s like a little black-light funhouse through Alice’s movie story. Though you do get to ride in a blissed-out caterpillar.

#30 – The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh

Again, very similar is The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh, a trip in a honey pot through a black-light extravaganza of Pooh’s storybook pages. I’m slightly more partial to this story, especially the wacko heffalumps and woozles room. However, it doesn’t have the fun interactive queue like Walt Disney World’s version or the bouncing-Tigger effect of the Hong Kong version.

It’s also the only dark ride of this type outside of Fantasyland. Winnie the Pooh lies opposite Splash Mountain, potentially giving families with small kids another option while older kids ride the big drops.

#29 – Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is another dark ride outside of the realm of Fantasyland, but this one is a game! Found in Tomorrowland, Buzz has recruited you to shoot at targets to defeat Zurg. As a dark ride alone, it’s many steps above what you see in Pinocchio – it’s bright, open, and energetic. But you probably won’t be paying much attention as you try to fire on as many targets as you can

The biggest difference between this version and the one in WDW is that the guns detach from the ride vehicle, giving you more maneuverability. You also have a joystick to spin your vehicle, to better angle your shots. There are tons of tips online to achieve higher scores, but overall, the harder a target is to hit, the more points you get. And don’t forget to keep pulling the trigger! I held mine down and was so frustrated with my low score that I had to ride it again.

#28 – Autopia

The relatively high ranking of Autopia may have more to do with my experience with it than the ride itself. I feel like this one is much more varied, winding, and layered than the one at WDW, which seems to be full in the sun.

I rode Autopia right before the park closed at midnight, on my way to the Monorail. It was dark and cool, and I was almost the only person on the track! Being able to walk right on and have that experience was pretty neat.

#27 – Disneyland Monorail

Speaking of the Monorail, Disneyland’s version is a ride AND a transportation system. It’s not as extensive as WDW’s version (and lacks what I consider the iconic narration), but it does make one stop at Downtown Disney, which I used once as a shortcut back to my hotel. You can do the same coming in and head straight to Tomorrowland with lower waits.

As a ride, it’s around a 13-minute round trip. Know that most of the scenery is on the return trip from Downtown Disney. That’s when it takes a few turns around the Matterhorn, Nemo’s Submarine Voyage, and Autopia.

Tomorrowland was built with all these layers of kinetic energy – the submarine boats, the Autopia cars, the Monorail – and the now-defunct People Mover. Feel free to take some time on your Monorail trip to view the old People Mover tracks and mourn our collective loss.

#26 – Casey Jr. Circus Train

It’s not that the Casey Jr. Circus Train is that fantastic a ride. It’s not better than Autopia or Buzz Lightyear. But it’s just so unique and so Original Disneyland. And as such, to this first-time visitor, I found it really charming. The small trains chug around Storybook Land with miniature scenes from Disney movies, featuring that chipper Casey Jr. music and “I think I can, I think I can” portion up a hill. It’s the perfect ride for the smallest kids, but I think it’s fun for anyone with any sense of whimsy.

There is another version in Disneyland Paris, but it’s more like a roller coaster, keeping this version the only one of its kind.

#25 – Storybook Land Canal Boats

Even more charming are the Storybook Land Canal Boats! While the train offers a top-down view of Storybook Land, the Canal Boats put you right down in it. From the boat tour – narrated by an actual person! – you can view all the miniatures up close and hear the music for the individual areas.

From the boats, you’ll see Arendelle, Agrabah, Toad Hall, Cinderella’s castle and more, not to mention getting swallowed by Monstro at the start. Again, it’s mainly the unique factor that rates it so high for me, and the fact that this whole area is so different than anything at WDW.

# 24 – Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough

Again, based on uniqueness and history alone, I love the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough! What a quaint, uncomplicated experience that elevates the castle to an actual attraction! There have been many versions over the years. The current one uses some simple technology to bring the scenes of Sleeping Beauty to life. I think I like this more than I would a proper ride!

There are stairs and some tighter, enclosed spaces, so it might not be for everyone.

#23 – Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer’s Island

Since we’re walking around, let’s talk about Tom Sawyer’s Island. It’s a proper playground for kids (and adults) to explore and climb up hills, through tunnels, across bridges, and around a fort. In a theme park that is predominately a stand-in-line-to-sit-and-ride type of place, it’s wonderfully low-fi to run around and explore.

Tom Sawyer’s Island has been updated to include a Pirate’s Lair, with scenes from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. (Compared to the video, the fort was open, but “Dead Man’s Grotto” was closed during my visit.) Note that you do take a free-floating raft to and from the island, so sometimes you have to wait for one to show up and/or for river traffic to clear. There is a surprising amount of vessels on a relatively small waterway – rafts, canoes, a steamship, and a sailing ship.

#22 – Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes

Now let’s talk about all the ways to circumnavigate Tom Sawyer’s Island on the Rivers of America. The first is another low-fi experience, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes. In this “ride,” twenty guests plus two guides actually row a free-floating canoe! I cannot even fathom the liability of this, although most people couple probably stand up on the bottom of the river. (Though there are many jokes during the trip about why you don’t want to fall into the water – flesh-eating bacteria and all of that.)

And while the Explorer Canoes are found in most Disney parks around the world, there hasn’t been one at WDW since 1994. I cannot tell you how excited I was to paddle myself around the river! It was so much fun. And the patter from the guide is much more real – it’s not so canned like the Canal Boats or Jungle Cruise. In fact, it reminds me a little of how free the Jungle Cruise skippers used to be in their spiel. (And having a buff guide who paddles around a fake river all day is not a bad view, tbh.)

#21 – Mark Twain Riverboat

And while I probably enjoyed the Explorer Canoes more than these other methods – it is a relatively minor attraction when compared to the huge, three-level Mark Twain Riverboat. The Mark Twain plays canned narration, circa mid-1800s, as you wind your way around the island. And one of the main benefits is that you can climb to the top level to see Frontierland from a higher vantage point.

Walking around the ship rewards you with view into the supposed “crew’s” life with rooms set up as bunks and parlors. There is an actual pilot house on top with a pilot who controls the ship’s speed through the real paddlewheel, though it glides along a track instead of floating freely.

#20 – Sailing Ship Columbia

A bit more exciting is the Sailing Ship Columbia. This beautiful three-masted early-American ship is unique to the Disneyland park and makes quite a sight on the river. Views from the deck are lower than from the Mark Twain (though not as low as the canoes, obvs), and it’s overall much sunnier with no shade to speak of on deck. Below deck is pretty neat, with crew cabins and larders.

The narration is canned again, and there’s a lot more music on this ride than the Mark Twain. I feel like most of the narration is about the ship rather than what you’re seeing.

#19 – Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

Getting into the most classic attractions, we come to Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. I’m pretty sure this is the same shortened version that plays at WDW, but there is an entirely different pre-show. In Disneyland, the holding area for guests is a garden full of tiki statues that come to life. I was excited to see it, but the garden was so full of other guests that I could hardly see or hear any of it. The video link above shows it really well, however.

I think I mostly like that this is a show where you can sit down in the dark for a minute. Though I like the war chant section the most. It’s just all so ’60s Disneyland. (It seems like it might be a 1955 original, but it didn’t open until 1963 – at the height of Disney parks and movies.)

#18 – Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride

In reality, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride ought to rank down around Snow White’s or Alice’s rides, but I have such fond memories of riding the WDW version. The Disneyland version doesn’t quite compare even to that – it only has one side compared to WDW’s two, making the drive around the town square a little less dynamic. Even the scenes are just painted flats!

But oh, you get to ride in tiny little cars. I love the little “nowhere in particular” song. You die and go to hell! You die and go to hell. I think it’s hilarious.

#17 – Peter Pan’s Flight

Peter Pan’s Flight is the best of the old-school dark rides, without any equivocation this time. And something about this being the original makes it feel more special somehow. Having your ride vehicle fly above the scenes makes all the difference – it’s truly magical.

I do miss the huge interactive queue from WDW, but they don’t have room for those types of things here. Lines overall are a bit more boring in Disneyland as compared to Walt Disney World, especially for these older rides.

#16 -Mad Tea Party

I love a good teacups ride anyway, but the original Mad Tea Party is extra special with an open canopy and all the colored lanterns. It’s especially lovely at night. And while you can spin your own teacup, the whole thing seems slower than at WDW. That might not be true at all, but I like it this way. I have heard that the “orange diamond cup is regarded as the fastest spinner, followed by the purple cup. The two heart cups are the slowest.” If that helps at all. (from AllEars.net)

#15 – “it’s a small world”

“it’s a small world” is iconic and not just for the song that gets stuck in your head! Your boat floats through a world of international dolls come to life, and it’s really so cute. The Disneyland version has also added some familiar Disney characters to the mix, which are fun to spot. But overall, it’s just a fun, musical journey around the world.

I like that Disneyland’s version has a much more impressive facade and boats that start outside the attraction building. The Disneyland Railroad passes right in front of the building. And there’s a clock show every 15 minutes! They even use small world as a backdrop for a fun “We don’t talk about Bruno” projection show, or at least they did during my fall 2022 visit. It’s worth noting that small world is way out and to the right of the rest of Fantasyland. Disneyland’s Fantasyland is sprawling.

#14 – Jungle Cruise

I love the aesthetic of the Jungle Cruise – the silly “Adventurer’s Club” vibe, ’40s music, and the puns. I almost love the idea of it more than the ride itself. It used to be that Jungle Cruise Skippers could ad-lib a lot more, with more topical jokes. There have even been some famous skippers, like Robin Williams! Now, it seems like they have to stick to an approved list of jokes, and it can kind of be the same thing every trip.

I was surprised to find that Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise doesn’t have a temple/tunnel like at WDW, which is my favorite part. And it might not be true, but I feel like there’s more emphasis on the Trader Sam character here. Still, it’s a lot of silly fun, and if you get a good skipper, a LOT of fun. Also, try to ride it at night, it’s a little extra exciting that way.

#13 – Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is a lot like those dark rides lower down the list; only everything is underwater! You actually climb down into the submarine ride vehicles, stick your butt into the tiny 1959 seats, stick your face into little round portholes and watch the scenes go by. It’s such a unique experience, I can’t help but be impressed.

Plus – and the real reason it ranks so highly – is that I never got to ride 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea at WDW. I remember clearly visiting as a kid, wanting to go on the ride, and the rest of my family vetoed the idea. It was removed before I visited again, so I was extra excited to see Disneyland’s version in whatever incarnation I could get. The Finding Nemo version is bright, fun, and incorporates projection effects, similar to The Seas with Nemo & Friends in Epcot. It’s a lot of fun, but the ride vehicles make it special (if a little uncomfortable.)

#12 – Halloween Screams Fireworks

I’m going to slot some nighttime entertainment in here. We came in September, which is prime Halloween time, including the Halloween version of the fireworks show, Halloween Screams. It’s a really fun show, maybe even better than the usual show! (Though I guess I wouldn’t really know.) And there’s a neat inflated bubble at the castle where they do projected effects. It’s a really fun show!

Now for some beef. It seems unusually hard to find a good place to watch the fireworks from. Main Street in Disneyland can’t hold enough people, and there are a lot of trees that get in the way! It’s not a big, wide-open space like at the Magic Kingdom. I was also annoyed that there aren’t fireworks every night – that just didn’t compute! How can you end a Disney day without fireworks?? I’ve clearly been conditioned by the larger parks. Still, it’s a fun show, even if I didn’t get any good pictures.

#11 – Fantasmic!

I’m not willing to say that Fantasmic! is a better nighttime show than the fireworks, but incorporating the Columbia really elevates it. Fantastmic! takes place at the end of Tom Sawyer’s Island, which means the crowd watches from the shores of Frontierland, making for another squashed, limited-view experience. A storyline about Mickey having dreams (which turn into nightmares) incorporates all the Disney couples, a fun Jungle Book snake with searchlight eyes, and a pirate battle on the Columbia as it sails by. There’s heavy use of water jets and projected images on thin water screens.

There’s supposed to be an impressive Maleficent dragon effect as the grand finale, but that seemed to be missing on our viewing, which is maybe why I’m not too impressed with it. As such, the Columbia was really the highlight. Plus, you see tons of characters float by on the Mark Twain at the happy conclusion.

#10 – Disneyland Railroad

I love a good train ride any day, but the Disneyland Railroad is a step above. Not only because it circumnavigates almost the entire park (it did once – the park is bigger now) and serves as legit transportation. But also because it has two special dioramas between the Tomorrowland and Main Street stations. One is the Grand Canyon Diorama based on one of Walt Disney’s early nature films. A second is a prehistoric scene of animatronic dinosaurs, repurposed from Disney’s 1964 Ford Magic Skyway for the World’s Fair.

Otherwise, the train makes stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland. If you start at Main Street, the full trip passes through Splash Mountain, along the Rivers of America, past Tomorrowland and through a few tunnels, including the one with the dioramas at the end. It takes around 30 minutes and most of the cars have “excursion seating,” meaning they face inward toward the park, not straight ahead in the direction of travel.

#9 – Pirates of the Caribbean

A true classic, Disneyland’s Pirates of the Caribbean is so much better than WDW’s! I love the whole area of New Orleans Square and the scenes inside the ride are amazing! There’s much more to the pirate-skeleton caves, and all the scenes seem bigger or longer than the Florida version.

I will say, I miss the long, cool walk through the Spanish fort. In Disneyland’s version, most of the line seems to be held outside, often winding way across the bridge and into pedestrian traffic. And you get to stare at the folks waiting to get off the ride as the boats pass the entrance. But one of the best things about Disneyland’s version is the very beginning, where you pass through a Louisiana swamp and by diners at the Blue Bayou restaurant. (I tried in vain to get a reservation, but no luck! We ate in Cafe Orleans instead – and made sure to get mint julep and beignets.)

#8 – Star Tours – The Adventure Continues

Next up is the OG Star Wars ride at Disneyland, Star Tours. We are now in its second iteration (“the adventure continues” version), where locations from the newer movies are incorporated. Essentially an old-school motion simulator ride – i.e., a box on hydraulics – the neat thing about this ride is that it can be different every time! You experience four different segments out of 21 possible options, meaning there are 700 different possible ride experiences!

It really is a lot of fun – someone is always called out as a spy, and naturally, things never go well. It’s 3D now, and C-3PO replaces the random pilot droid from before. Since Star Tours was built waaay before a dedicated Star Wars land was ever in development, Star Tours is located in Tomorrowland, away from all the other Star Wars stuff (except for Star Wars Launch Bay, which holds character meet & greets.)

#7 – Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run

The real Star Wars land, Galaxy’s Edge, is in the back of the park and is jaw-droppingly amazing. The whole land is so immersive, with shops and food, walk-around characters, and interactive games. Maybe the biggest set piece in the whole area is the huge Millenium Falcon in front of Smuggler’s Run, the lesser of the two attractions in Galaxy’s Edge.

Inside, Hondo, an impressive new-generation animatronic, gives us “new recruits” instructions on how to pilot the Millenium Falcon itself and what our mission is. Each mission requires a team of six – two pilots, two gunners, and two engineers. The pilots steer the ship in real time, one with up-down controls, the other with left-right. Gunners just keep firing, and engineers press buttons to deal with any “problems” that come up. Apparently, if you are fully integrated with magic bands and on the Disney Play app, how you do in Smuggler’s Run can affect how you’re treated “in town.” We didn’t see that play out, but we didn’t hang out there all day. You can find more information about that – and how to activate “Chewie Mode!” – here.

This is the first ride I’ve come to with a single-rider option. I didn’t use it on this trip, but it sounds like you’re usually slotted into the back, into an engineer’s position. Otherwise, it’s a nice, shorter line. Other single-rider options are a little kooky here at Disneyland. I’ll talk about each as they come up.

#6 – Haunted Mansion Holiday

If I had seen the regular Disneyland Haunted Mansion, I would probably rank it next to Pirate of the Caribbean. I think the inside is mostly the same as in WDW – the brides in the attic are a little different, I think, and until this year, the hatbox ghost could only be found at Disneyland. But what I like about it most is the New Orleans setting and the beautiful antebellum house. No mouldering, scary-looking gothic castle here, like in Florida.

What bumps it up a few notches is being able to visit during Haunted Mansion Holiday! Every year from September through January, the regular Haunted Mansion is taken over by the characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas, making it appropriate for Halloween and Christmas. It’s such a hoot! The theming starts outdoors and is heavily laid on throughout, changing out whole animatronic figures, portraits, and so much more. And every year, there’s a new, huge gingerbread house in the ballroom scene, made with real ingredients. Note that there can be extended downtimes before and after these dates to switch everything over and back.

#5 – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

As wonderfully creepy and fun as Haunted Mansion Holiday is, I still rank an actual roller coaster higher. First up is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, which is pretty tame as far as roller coaster standards go. (Almost ALL Disney coasters are pretty tame – no Millenium Force or Orion here.)

Essentially, it’s a mine train, which usually means multiple lift hills (Big Thunder has three) and smaller drops, the big fun here is in the details. In the desert setting, you pass all kinds of wildlife, like coyotes and snakes, plus magical caverns, a set of dinosaur bones, a mine explosion, and finally the wild west town of Rainbow Ridge before coming back to the station.

#4 – Space Mountain

The other roller coaster (not counting Matterhorn, see below) in Disneyland is Space Mountain. It’s still no big thrills, but this indoor coaster is almost completely in the dark, making it much more thrilling. Like most of the rides at Disneyland, the queue is more outdoors than in, but once inside, you’re faced with a cavernous space port. Then you board your spaceship and are blasted into the stars.

Occasionally, there’s a fun Star Wars-themed overlay called Hyperspace Mountain, complete with the movie music and Imperial ships shooting at your ship. It doesn’t seem to have any set dates, but will show up more or less at random.

#3 – Splash Mountain

My heart belongs to Splash Mountain (and I think I’ll still like it when it changes to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.) It’s a dark ride (currently) themed to Song of the South on the platform of an exciting log flume. This is where the big drops are, and there are a lot of them! Besides the 52-foot drop at the end, there are a lot of smaller drops along the way. My favorite is one multiple-drop sequence in the dark into some caverns. It feels like a smaller ride than WDW’s – maybe because the logs are single seats instead of double across.

I used the single-rider queue once at Splash Mountain. First of all, it’s hard to find, way back in the back of the area. Basically, you walk up the exit and wait in a little holding area until they can slot you in. It’s not a bad system, there’s just not a lot of room for many people to be in it.

#2 – Indiana Jones Adventure

Indiana Jones Adventure gets a boost for being unique to Disneyland – and based on Indiana Jones! The set pieces inside are huge and it’s great fun to bounce along in a racing jeep, over rocks, and across decrepit bridges. It’s miles above Dinosaur in WDW’s Animal Kingdom, which uses the same technology.

I didn’t get to see Indiana Jones at its best, for sure. Right now, it’s going through a lengthy refurbishment that I hope gets it back up to speed. At its height, it fully deserves this #2 spot. There used to be all these interactive elements in the indoor portion of the queue – ropes to pull, and bamboo, falling ceilings, and puffs of air from “darts” in the walls, like Indy’s journey through ancient tombs. On the ride, I could tell there should be smoke effects in the “bottomless” pits that weren’t working. And it’s a pity they didn’t get Harrison Ford’s real voice for the attraction, but I assume that’s unlikely to change. I look forward to seeing how much gets updated when it reopens at the end of March.

There used to be a single-rider line at Indiana Jones, but not anymore, which I resent. And they seem to hold most of the line outdoors, to let Lightning Lane people in, when there’s a HUGE line indoors!

#1 – Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

And the #1 ride in California’s Disneyland park is, by far, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The queue is completely immersive (and more indoors!), and there are multiple stages to the whole experience. It’s actually kind of a long ride! Which is a nice change for as long as you typically stand in line.

You get recruited via hologram by Rey and BB-8, are led to a rebel transport ship, then taken hostage by a First Order! Technically, all that could be considered pre-show, even though it involves impressive animatronics and stage-setting. A huge room with ranks on ranks of Storm Troopers is just part of the line! Then you get (meanly) sorted into groups, rescued by the rebellion, and are finally seated in your ride vehicles for a trackless journey through the Star Destroyer, trying to escape Kylo Ren with the help of Finn and Poe Dameron.

To say it’s impressive is an understatement. And oddly enough, we never had to wait that long to ride it! One night, we rode closer to closing time and was able to get on twice, walking right on. It was amazing! I think almost anyone can ride it. There’s one simulated drop, but it’s not even that bad. And the whole area is so cool-looking at night. Oh my gosh, it’s just amazing.

What I Didn’t Experience

Character Greetings

I completely left out all character meetings, of which there are many. Princesses at Royal Hall & Fantasy Faire, Tinker Bell at Pixie Hollow and more. You can greet Star Wars characters in Star Wars Launch Bay, but it must have been closed during our visit because we totally would have gone in if it were open. When Toontown opens back up, there are dedicated spaces for Mickey & Minnie Mouse.

Toontown & Tarzan

Speaking of Toontown, it’s been under construction for a while now, set to reopen this month. As such, I didn’t get to ride Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster or Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin, which I was pretty disappointed about. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway has opened in Disneyland, but it wasn’t open yet during my visit, nor have I experienced the one in Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Judging by the video, it’s really impressive!

Tarzan’s Treehouse was likewise closed during my visit. It’s currently under a lengthy rehab to change it back to a Swiss Family Robinson theme like it used to be. Which is too bad, it would have been fun to see a different version.

We also skipped over kids’ rides in the rest of the park. I’m pretty sure we didn’t do Dumbo the Flying Elephant or Astro Obiters, nor the King Arthur Carrousel or the slow-moving Main Street Vehicles.

My Biggest Regrets

I really tried to see the Tale of the Lion King in the Fantasyland Theater, but I managed to save it for a day it wasn’t playing at all, so I just straight up missed it. Which is too bad! It looks like a cool show. I think right now it’s been replaced by a gospel show. I’m not sure if that’s forever or for now.

I was really looking forward to seeing the original Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, but it was closed during our visit as well.

But what I’m MOST sorry I missed is the Matterhorn Bobsleds! There are two sides to this iconic roller coaster – a Fantasyland side and a Tomorrowland side. The 8-person sleds race down the yeti-filled mountain, sometimes side-by-side, to a splashdown in a mountain creek! It’s a historic ride too – the first to use steel tubes for the track. I’ve heard it can be pretty rough, but dangit, I hate that I missed it! I think I’d rank it at least around Space and Splash Mountains.

And that’s it! Stay tuned for my next post where I rank all the attractions across the street at Disney’s California Adventure. For now, I’ll leave you with the Dapper Dans singing a Halloween song. Which I absolutely love.