Rides at Disneyland: Explore Thrill and Kid-Friendly Attractions
Follow along to discover the most iconic Disneyland attractions and rides!
This in-depth guide walks you through every magical, adrenaline-pumping, nostalgic, and awe-inspiring ride Disneyland offers. Watch out, though! Once the Disney magic enchants you, there’s simply no going back.
So, buckle up and prepare to discover a world where fairy tales come to life, imagination becomes reality, and every ride tells a story.
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Top Thrill Rides
We can almost hear that pulse-pounding music playing in the background as you step closer to Disneyland’s thrill rides, can’t you?
Space Mountain: Strap in and prepare to rocket through the cosmic void on Space Mountain, one of the thrill rides at Disneyland California! This interstellar roller coaster, bathed in an otherworldly glow, zips, zags, and loops at lightning speeds, giving the sensation of hurtling through the great expanse of outer space. It’s a mind-bending, heart-pounding experience that’ll leave even the most seasoned thrill-seekers giddy with exhilaration!
Splash Mountain: A Splash Mountain cart catapults you into the middle of a whimsical, song-filled Disney classic. It’s an epic log flume attraction that sets your heart aflutter as you abruptly dip and drop into the Briar Patch. With a climactic 50-foot waterfall finale, it’s a wet and wild joyride that’ll have you grinning ear to ear as your heart thumps in your chest.
Matterhorn Bobsleds: Come snow or sun; the Matterhorn Bobsleds guarantee a spine-tingling race down a realistically icy track through the heart of a Swiss mountain at Disneyland. Feel your pulse race as you navigate harrowing turns, dodge startling Yeti and abominable snowman
encounters, and dart in and out of shadowy caves. This thrill-packed adventure has all the chills and thrills to make you scream, “More, more, more!”
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: Wondering does Big Thunder Mountain have single rider? While there is no single rider lane for this ride, you can enjoy adrenaline-inducing fun. As you strap in at Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, prepare for a rip-roaring escapade through a haunted gold-mining town. With its sudden turns and jaw-dropping dips, this high-speed roller coaster train will have your heart pounding harmoniously, accompanied by the howls of the historic Wild West.
Don’t forget to catch your breath as you hurtle past falling boulders and faux-precipices—it’s a rock ‘n’ roll ride you won’t want to miss out on!
Disneyland Rides for Kids
The happiest place on Earth boasts an array of whimsical attractions and the best rides for kids at Disneyland, making the magic kingdom an enchanting arena of Disneyland kiddie rides and kids-at-heart. From gentle tours aboard adorable boats to airborne adventures in mythical vessels, these Disneyland kids rides offer everything playful imaginations could possibly desire.
It’s a Small World: Grab your captain’s hat and prepare to journey across the seven seas in “It’s a Small World.” This gentle boat ride will take you and your little ones on a magical globetrotting trip, offering a taste of different cultures, all in the space of a few sweetly sung verses.
Adorned with charming, vividly colored sets and singing dolls representing over 100 nations, this ride fills your heart with a sense of unity and cheer, embodying the mantra that it is a small world after all.
Dumbo the Flying Elephant: Glide gently into the delightful fantasy of Disney’s Dumbo the Flying Elephant — an enchanting ride that lets you swoop, dive, and soar in your very own airborne pachyderm. As the nostalgic carnival music plays, feel a heart-tug as your elephant playfully ascends and descends, commanding an impressive view of Disneyland beneath you.
Ideal for the little ones, this charming ride brings a smile to youthful faces and revives memories for the young at heart. There’s no doubt that Dumbo is an essential part of Disneyland’s magic.
Peter Pan’s Flight: Experience the thrill of never growing up as you board a magical pirate ship on Peter Pan’s Flight, one of the best rides at Disneyland. Glide high above the city of London, sprinkled with pixie dust, before sailing to the imaginary and star-lit wonderlands of Neverland.
From battling Captain Hook to encountering playful mermaids, this ride is packed with surprises, encapsulating the charming essence of the beloved story.
Classic Disneyland Rides
The best thrill rides at Disneyland are an absolute treasure, wrapped in layers of nostalgia and packed with joyful memories created over decades.
They combine the perfect blend of old-school charm and modern magic, leaving everyone, from toddlers to grandparents, grinning ear to ear.
Haunted Mansion: Step within the eerie halls of the Haunted Mansion, where you’ll come face-to-face with a horde of happy haunts. This chilling, dark ride that takes inspiration from the bewitching world of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas lets you sit back in your Doom Buggy and meet a spectral assortment of departed souls worldwide. Get set, folks, because you’re in for a ghostly retreat; don’t forget, there are “999 happy haunts, but there’s room for 1000—any volunteers?”
Jungle Cruise: Embark on the Jungle Cruise and get yourself in the grip of nature’s whimsy. There, you’ll encounter exotic animals (speaking in the animatronic tongue, of course) and navigate through treacherous rivers across South America, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific — thank heavens for Disney’s “danger-free” guarantee.
Be prepared for a boatload of puns from your plucky skipper; it’s all part of what makes this themed ride hilarious, adventurous, and an absolute must-see!
Wondering about the Jungle Cruise ride height requirement? Great news! This is one of the few rides that doesn’t have a minimum height to ride. And if you’re wondering, do you get wet on Jungle Cruise Ride Disneyland? Worry not! You will get wet very seldomly on the ride so you should be fine.
Radiator Springs Racers: Fasten your seatbelt and dive into a road race filled with familiar car-acters and scenic wonders. Experience the thrill of speeding through the desert landscape of Cars Land, an incredible world inspired by the Disney and Pixar movie Cars. The Cars ride Disneyland is a pulse-pounding adventure that brings the animated film to life.
Pirates of the Caribbean: The Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland Resort is an invigorating plunge into the lawless life of buccaneers. As you embark on your voyage, you’ll feel the excitement build, navigating pirate-infested waters, mingling with notorious marauders, and sneaking through eerie ghost ships.
With extraordinary special effects, thrills around every corner, and the iconic “Yo Ho (A Pirate’s Life for Me)” tune playing, it’s no wonder this ride has been captivating hearts since 1967!
Planning Your Disneyland Adventure: Tips and Tricks
If you thought the planning ended once you purchased your Disneyland Park tickets, buckle up, champ! The real fun (and by ‘fun,’ we mean the strategic maneuvering through the happiest place on Earth) is just getting started.
We do not intend to turn your whimsical adventure into a military operation, but a little planning goes a long way in a place dotted with pixie dust. So, here are some top-notch Disneyland insider tips to help you navigate the magic like true Walt Warriors.
Make a List: Remember the kid who came prepared for Show and Tell? Be that person! Make a list of the rides, shows, and characters you and your family want to see. Bragging rights are at stake here!
Arrive Early: Getting to Disneyland bright and early is a must. What, did you want to spend half your day standing in line? Watching the rope drop is worth every blessed minute of super-early alarm setting.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass System – Maximize Your Ride Time: Dreading those tediously long Disneyland lines that drift around buildings and coil through corridors like a pesky garden snake? Enter: Lightning Lane Multi Pass. It’s this nifty little tool that’s going to help you win the game against time. Disneyland gives people who love theme parks, a.k.a. you, the chance to experience even more magic without those hefty lines.
How Does It Work? Okay, here’s the deets, folks. Simply put, Lightning Lane Multi Pass is a trip to the fast lane. You nab yourself a Lightning Lane Multi Pass ticket, and you’re given a time slot to return to the ride. When you return in your time slot, you breeze through a special line that zips you to the front.
What Rides Should I Use Lightning Lane Multi Pass For?: Wondering, “Which rides should I use my Lightning Lane Multi Pass for?” Good news! We’ve got you covered. Here are some of the top rides to consider:
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Indiana Jones Adventure
Tips and Tricks: Before you go off and start wrangling in those Lightning Lanes, read up on some handy-dandy tips and tricks to make the most of them:
- Plan: Scout out the Disneyland California rides you want to do first and snag them as soon as you get to the park.
- Timing is vital: Grab Lightning Lane Multi Passes early in the day for popular rides, as they can run out quickly.
- Use it wisely: You can only hold one Lightning Lane Multi Pass at a time, so make sure it’s for a ride you want to zip through.
Height Restrictions: Ensure a Safe and Fun Experience
Disneyland has something for everybody, even the younger or shorter ones among us. Here’s the inside scoop on Disneyland ride heights restrictions that the park has in place to make sure all Disneyland fun rides are as safe possible.
First off, let’s start with the heavy hitters. Disney Land attractions like Incredicoaster, Star Wars Rise of the Resistance, and Guardians of the Galaxy Ride Disneyland – Mission: Breakout! require riders to be at least 40 inches (102 cm) tall.
Meanwhile, thrill-seekers looking to conquer Indiana Jones Adventure or Space Mountain should stand at least 46 inches (117 cm) tall.
If you’re just shy of these heights, don’t you worry about a thing. Disneyland is brimming with rides perfect for you. For little ones measuring between 32 inches (81 cm) to 40 inches (102 cm), there’s Autopia and Gadget’s Go Coaster to get you in on the action.
Can’t wait to crack into these rides, but still not quite tall enough? Most of Disneyland’s attractions, such as It’s a Small World, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish, Mickey Minnie’s Runaway Railway, or the Mad Tea Party, are available to guests of all heights.
When All Else Fails, Try Baby Swap: If you’ve got a gaggle of kids with varying heights, try the Baby Swap (Or Rider Switch, as the cool kids call it) service. This allows one adult to ride while another stays with the non-rider(s), and then they switch. Ingenious, isn’t it?
Remember, height restrictions are there for a reason. They ensure everyone can have a fun and safe experience at Disneyland. So hang in there, little ones. Your big coaster days aren’t too far off!
Single Rider Lines – Beat the Crowds for Solo Adventurers: Fancy a solo adventure at Disneyland? We’ve got just the thing for you. Say hello to Single Rider Lines. Not only does this Disneyland feature let you bask in your glorious autonomy, but it also lets you skip those pesky long lines!
What Rides Participate? As awesome as Single Rider Lines are, they’re not available for all rides. Hold your horses, though. We’ve got a good chunk of them that do, and hey, they’re some of the coolest ones!
- Indiana Jones Ride Disneyland
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Star Tours
- Space Mountain
- Splash Mountain
- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Unforgettable Memories Await at Disneyland
Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie or a true-blue Disney classic fan, there’s a ride that’s just for you on this magic map.
With a cornucopia of thrill and kid-friendly rides, Disneyland emanates an irresistible allure that would make anyone, and we mean ANYONE, squeal joyfully.
A journey to Disneyland isn’t merely a ‘visit.’ It’s an embarkation into a trove of nonpareil experiences meticulously concocted to etch indelible memories into our lives. An expedition to this magical land is one big colossal celebration of life, age, no bar!
Disneyland Rides FAQs
Is the Lightning Lane Multi Pass worth it for skipping lines?
Yes, especially during peak seasons—it helps you reserve access to high-demand rides at Disneyland ahead of time. If you want to experience more without waiting hours in line, it’s a solid investment.
Are there height requirements for thrill rides?
Yes, most thrill rides like Indiana Jones Adventure, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT! have height requirements ranging from 40” to 48”. Always check ride signage or the Disneyland app before getting in line.
What’s the best time of day to ride popular attractions?
Mornings right after park opening or during parades and fireworks tend to have shorter waits. Use the Disneyland app to monitor real-time wait times and plan accordingly.
Can young kids go on most rides at Disneyland?
Absolutely—Disneyland is built for all ages, with tons of family-friendly attractions like “it’s a small world”, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. Just check the height requirements for a few of the bigger rides if traveling with toddlers.
Are any rides at Disneyland seasonal or themed for holidays?
Yes, overlays like Haunted Mansion Holiday and “it’s a small world” Holiday are only available during Halloween and the winter holidays. These versions offer a unique twist on the classics and are fan favorites.
Are there any indoor rides for hot or rainy days?
Yes—rides like Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway are fully indoors and great options during weather extremes. Indoor queues and shows also provide relief when the weather isn’t cooperating.
Which rides are best for avoiding motion sickness?
Gentler rides like “it’s a small world”, Haunted Mansion, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh are great for sensitive stomachs. Avoid spinning or jerky rides like Mad Tea Party or Indiana Jones Adventure if you’re prone to nausea.
What accessibility options are available for Disneyland rides?
Many rides at Disneyland offer accommodations for guests with mobility, visual, or hearing impairments, including wheelchair access and rider switch options. Be sure to stop by Guest Relations or check the Disneyland app for specific accessibility details per ride.
Can I plan and book Disneyland rides and vacation packages in one place?
Yes—with vacation packages through Tripster, you can bundle tickets with other experiences near the park. It’s a convenient way to book rides at Disneyland alongside nearby Los Angeles attractions, shows, and hotels with fewer clicks and more savings.
What Did We Miss?
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