The thrilling Incredicoaster at Disney California Adventure Park brings guests the first ride-through attraction in the world featuring characters from Disney•Pixar’s “The Incredibles.” Anchoring Pixar Pier, the Incredicoaster takes guests on a super adventure with the Parr family to capture the elusive baby Jack-Jack. Exciting character figures, special effects, lighting, new music and distinctively colored vehicles make the thrills on this coaster even more incredible. (Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)
Disneyland is the place where dreams come true and rides are filled with adventure and thrills for everyone in your group to enjoy.
Disneyland opened its doors to the very first guests on July 17, 1955, and has been operating ever since. Walt Disney said of the park, “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.” And there’s been a whole lot of imagination since Walt built the park. With classic attractions getting updated and refurbished to completely new lands like Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, there is a lot to explore at Disneyland Resort.
Whether you’re an old pro or going to Disneyland Resort for the very first time, there are some extra magical attractions you should definitely try to ride while you’re there. The best way to ensure you get each of these 15 attractions done is to get a free FastPass reservation once you’re in the park, or buy Disney’s MaxPass to make FastPass reservations on your phone for either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure. Though, you should know that not all of the attractions on our list use FastPass or MaxPass, but we’ll let you know which ones do!
Our list is made up of some classic and some new attractions, including the new Star Wars themed attraction, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run! Why the mix of old and new? Well, that’s what Disneyland is all about after all: mixing modern technology and new ideas with a celebration of the past and classic ideas to create something truly special.
If you’re headed out to Disneyland soon or going through some major post-Disney heartache, we’re here to help. Grab a Dole Whip and check out our do-not-miss list of attractions at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure!
Alice in Wonderland
The Alice in Wonderland attraction at Disneyland Park is a nostalgic ride for many people since it’s been open since 1958. Many adults who rode this ride as kids are now bringing their kids to ride it (and maybe even their grandchildren). One of the great things about this ride is that there are no height restrictions like many of the other rides in Fantasyland, meaning that anyone can enjoy it.
The attraction takes guests through the doors to Wonderland as Alice, the White Rabbit and many other lovable characters bring the story of Alice in Wonderland to life. One of the coolest parts of the ride is the tea party Alice has with the March Hare and the Mad Hatter. Teapots are steaming and the classic song is playing for you to enjoy. There are some dark elements and loud noises, so if there’s a kid in your group you might want to warn them about that.
The attractions in Fantasyland are ones that guests typically try to get to first thing in the morning since it’s right behind the castle. Alice in Wonderland does not offer FastPass or MaxPass, though the line for it is rarely ever too long. If the line does get long try doing the ride during Extra Magic Hours or Magic Mornings for a shorter wait time. If you cannot utilize Extra Magic Hours or Magic Mornings try, riding during the fireworks or the afternoon parade. This ride does not offer Disney’s Rider Switch service.
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Disneyland Park is home to some of Disney’s most iconic movie-based rides including Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. This attraction takes guests to the depths of the ocean to see Marlin, Nemo, Dory and all of their fishy friends on a journey through Disneyland’s Tomorrowland lagoon. You’re invited to look through the sub’s portholes to see all of the Pixar pals, scuba divers and deep sea artifacts from an ancient civilization.
Because the steps to get into the submarine are narrow, guests who are unable or do not want to take part in the attraction can take a look at the undersea adventure at the Observation Outpost near the end of the loading dock. Here, you can see a high-definition, live-feed version of the voyage so no one in your group really misses out on the experience. The end of the dock is also a great spot to take photos to make all of your family back home jealous!
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is available during Extra Magic Hours and Magic Mornings, which is the best time to experience it since each sub can hold a limited amount of people and it can take a while to load and unload guests. This ride could be scary for kids who don’t like water or being in small enclosed spaces. There are no height restrictions to ride, and it does not offer FastPass or MaxPass. This attraction is unique in the fact that it’s the only one of its kind at a Disney Park.
Grizzly River Run
Sometimes you just need to go on a water ride to cool down, especially on hot California summer days! Grizzly River Run at Disney California Adventure is just the ride to do when it’s just too hot to function anymore. The river raft ride takes guests on an adventure through a lazy river where all seems to be calm and relaxing. You’ll pass the remnants of an old mining company then pass over to the Grizzly River where the current is fast and furious.
Anyone who is going on Grizzly River Run is going to want to bring a disposable poncho to wear on the ride since you will get wet. It’s definitely not comfortable walking around in wet clothes or wet shoes for the rest of the day. There are free lockers you can put your belongings in, including your phone, camera or anything else that isn’t waterproof.
Grizzly River Run does have a height requirement of 42 inches. If someone in your group doesn’t reach that height, you can utilize Disney’s Rider Switch service so everyone in your group can enjoy the attraction. If you’re a party of one, go through the single rider line for a smaller wait time. The best times to ride this attraction for a minimal wait is first thing in the morning or late at night during World of Color. Be sure to grab a FastPass if you can for the middle of the day for the ultimate cool down experience.
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!
When Tower of Terror closed at Disney California Adventure, people were not so thrilled. But what came after was even better in our opinion. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! brings the unique squad of Peter Quill, Gamora, Drax, Groot, and Rocket back together in the Collectors tower to breakout. Not all goes as planned, though, as Rocket unleashes chaos in the tower.
One of the best things about this attraction is that there are six different storylines to experience, so the attraction is never the same when you ride. Each storyline comes with a song to sing along to as you drop and encounter the Guardians. Inside the queue of the attraction, you’ll find relics from the films, including the super cute golden retriever in a space suit.
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! might not be suitable for everyone in your group. It has a height requirement of 40 inches and has some scary elements including free-fall drops, loud noises, and monsters on a screen. The attraction does offer Disney’s Rider Switch in case someone does not want to ride. It also offers FastPass, though if you go first thing in the morning or late at night you might not need one.
If you can’t get enough of the Guardians, be sure to check out the dance party they host just outside the attraction. A good thing to note is that after the dance party is done, guests will head straight to the ride, so the line gets long at some points throughout the day. Try to time your ride before or during the dance party if you can.
Haunted Mansion
If you’re ever debating about Disneyland versus Walt Disney World and the Haunted Mansion comes up, you should know that this is the far superior version of the attraction. Originally, the Haunted Mansion was designed as a walk-through attraction much like Tarzan’s Tree House. Now, the attraction we all know and love has the Hat Box Ghost, but from Halloween through Christmas time, it gets a full Nightmare Before Christmas overlay!
Your journey into the stately Southern mansion in New Orleans Square begins with a walk around the grounds. There, you’ll see an old horse-drawn carriage, a pet cemetery, and be able to walk along the edge of the home to take a peek inside. Once invited in, you’ll enter the famous stretching room. To get to your Doom Buggy faster, stand as close as possible to the tightrope girl!
The Haunted Mansion features some of Disneyland’s most classic ride scenes like the graveyard and the Grand Ballroom with dancing ghosts. Be sure to watch out at the end for hitchhiking ghosts who want to follow you home.
This attraction does have some mildly scary moments, especially in the stretching room and the graveyard that could frighten young kids. The ride does offer FastPass and anyone can enjoy it. The lines for the classic attraction do get long so it is highly recommended to get a FastPass during the day, especially since it is not available to ride during Magic Mornings or Extra Magic Hours.
Incredicoaster
“5, 4, 3, 2, 1… GO!” That’s your cue to hang on tight when the Incredicoaster is getting ready to launch at Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure. The traditional theme park-style coaster takes guests through a high-speed adventure as the Parr family tries to catch baby Jack-Jack from The Incredibles in various tunnels before he’s finally caught by super suit designer Edna Mode!
The Incredicoaster has multiple drops and inversions making it a super fun and high-thrill attraction. The ride car has on-board speakers for a super exciting soundtrack and clues about where Jack-Jack is going next.
The recently refurbished attraction does offer a single rider line for those who are exploring Disneyland Resort alone or those who don’t mind splitting up their party among multiple ride vehicles. The Incredicoaster does have a height requirement of 48 inches, and if someone in your group doesn’t reach that height, the ride does offer Rider Switch.
Because of where the ride is located, it can be closed early to show World of Color in the lagoon in front of the attraction. The best time to ride the Incredicoaster is right when the park opens or late at night. If you can, try to get a FastPass for the ride since the lines can get long. When you’re done on the coaster, be sure to watch out for Edna Mode as she has been known to hang out in the area to meet with guests!
Indiana Jones Adventure
Adventure seekers at Disneyland need to look no farther than Indiana Jones Adventure for a ride just for them! The attraction is based on the wildly popular movie series Indiana Jones. Guest will start by taking a walk through the jungle where they just might see a Jungle Cruise boat go by and wave at the skipper.
As they travel further and further into the jungle, you will come upon old temple ruins that draw you in. You’ll find yourself face-to-face with some of Indiana Jone’s colleagues before hopping aboard an open-air jeep for your adventure through the temple.
One of the most fun things about Indiana Jones Adventure is that it allows one guest per ride car to the be “driver” and sit in a set with a steering wheel. This spot is highly coveted, so if you want it, be sure to ask a Cast Member to put you in row one and the correct seat number.
Indiana Jones Adventure is intense with high speeds, drops, darkness and loud noises. If you or someone in your group does not want to ride because of that, be sure to utilize Rider Switch. This attraction also has a height requirement of 46 inches. Guests can use FastPass, but if you hit the attraction at the right time you won’t need one. The best times to ride are first thing in the morning or later in the evening when the fireworks or Fantasmic are going on.
Matterhorn Bobsleds
An attraction like no other, the Matterhorn Bobsleds have brought endless joy to Disneyland guests for years… and possibly some back pain. The attraction is similar in style to Walt Disney World’s Space Mountain in both track and ride-car design, so it can definitely be rough sometimes.
The Matterhorn Bobsleds rise high above the Disneyland Park skyline and can be found just at the edge of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland. In fact, there are two different routes your bobsled can take! One side of the mountain takes you towards Fantasyland and the other takes you towards Tomorrowland. During slower seasons at Disneyland, only a single track may be open.
The ride takes guests up 80 feet into an ice cave, where you might just encounter the Abominable Snowman. Since Disneyland is home to the only Matterhorn Bobsled attraction at a Disney park, this one is a definite must-do!
Guests who want to experience the attraction must be at least 42 inches tall. The Matterhorn does offer single rider lines and FastPass for guests to have a shorter wait time. The best time to ride is just when the park opens or late at night during the nighttime entertainment. The attraction is available as part of Extra Magic Hours and Magic Morning. Grab your climbing crew and get to the Matterhorn while you’re at Disneyland.
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride has been at Disneyland Park since opening day, making it one of only a few attractions left with this notoriety. That alone makes it worth the time to ride! On the exterior of the attraction, you’re greeted by Mr. Toad himself at the top of the building welcoming you in.
Once inside, you’ll find a relatively short queue area and see the open air buggy cars that you’ll be traveling in. One of the two seats are for the driver who can “steer” the car, and the other is for the passenger. When you actually the ride, you’ll tour the library and head through the fireplace into a formal dining room. Be warned though, not all is as it seems. You’re going to want to avoid the police and the train.
If you’re taking little ones to Disneyland this might not be the best ride for them because of the train scene being loud and a bit scary. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is suitable for all guests, and Rider Switch is not an option. The attraction does close to accommodate the fireworks at Disneyland Park. You can access the ride during Extra Magic Hours and Magic Mornings at Disneyland, and that’s the best time to ride since Fantasyland attractions can get busy quickly.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean is one of the rides most people think about when they think of a Disney park. Disneyland’s version of the attraction is one of the best we’ve ever seen and it certainly trumps the Walt Disney World version for storytelling and immersiveness.
The ride starts out with you floating into the Louisiana Bayou past diners at Blue Bayou and slowly the architecture starts to change into old Spanish Forts and you get a glimpse of the first pirates who died on the beaches near the forts. Be on the watch for one who seems to disappear as you float by.
One big difference between the Disneyland version and the Walt Disney World version of Pirates of the Caribbean is the number of drops. Disneyland has two while Walt Disney World only has one. The core of the attraction is essentially the same but we love the two drops for extra thrills.
There is no height requirement for this attraction and there aren’t really any scary parts kids might not like. FastPass is not offered for Pirates of the Caribbean, and the line does get long throughout the day. You’re going to want to head here first thing in the morning, or during the nighttime entertainment since it also doesn’t operate during Extra Magic Hours or Magic Mornings. Even though the wait can be long, we highly recommend waiting for this attraction since its a Disney parks classic.
Radiator Springs Racers
Cars Land at Disney California Adventure looks like it was picked up right from the popular Pixar films and set into Disneyland Resort. The big thrill attraction inside Cars Land is Radiator Springs Racers, which puts you in the driver’s seat for a big race through Ornament Valley.
When you enter the queue, you see some of the familiar sights and sounds of the Cars films, like the actual Radiator Spring which is the 8 3/4th Wonder of the World, and some old tires and license plates so you know exactly where you are. Once in your race car, you’ll be off to tour the valley and along the way, you might encounter some Cars friends like Lightening McQueen and Mater.
You and your racing partner will go through a series of tests and calibrations before setting off to the open road. Your car will reach speeds of up to 40 miles an hour as you race around twists and turns, where hopefully you end up the winner.
Radiator Springs Racers has a heigh requirement of 40 inches and does offer Rider Switch for people who might need to stay behind with a kid who isn’t tall enough. FastPass is also available for the ride and is highly suggested. The line for the experience does get long so it’s best to go here first thing in the morning or later in the evening during World of Color.
Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Disneyland’s newest attraction is Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This new ride allows guests to hop aboard the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy and actually take control of the ship to complete a smuggling mission!
There are six spots on the ship and three positions, so each group of smugglers will have two pilots, two engineers, and two gunners. The flight will take guests flying through the galaxy as they work together to deliver the goods and not completely destroy the Falcon.
When guests enter Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, they will be face to face with a full-size Millennium Falcon, which has never been built before, even for Star Wars films. Through the queue, you’ll see Hondo Ohnaka giving you the instructions for your journey, and you might even encounter a friendly Wookie looking to make some quick repairs before you take off.
As you exit be sure to look around! The look of the exit queue will look different if you crash the Falcon versus if you deliver the goods and have a relatively damage-free ship. You’re going to want to keep that ship damage free, too, because if you don’t, all of Black Spire Outpost will know about it.
During the first few months of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run will not offer FastPass in an effort to keep wait times down. Get ready to punch it as you take off across the galaxy!
Animation Academy
One of Disney California Adventure’s most relaxed attractions is the Animation Academy. Here guests can take a load off, sit down, pick up a pencil and learn to draw their favorite Disney friends from a real Disney artist! If you have a budding artist in your family you’re going to want to head here while at Disneyland Resort.
You’ll find the Animation Academy in Hollywood Land. Even if you aren’t interested in drawing the characters, it’s still a really fun place to head inside for a while and explore. One of the coolest parts of this building are the vast amounts of screens playing famous Disney songs and showing the animation that went into them. For those of us who are obsessed with the lantern scene in Tangled, imagine being surrounded by floating lanterns for a few minutes! That happens inside the Animation Academy.
Classes are every 30 minutes and the schedule of who is being drawn when is posted just inside the building. Sometimes characters are drawn multiple times a day like Olaf and Groot, and other times you’re going to want to get around early because seats for characters like Pascal go quickly. The Animation Academy is great for all ages and does not offer FastPass. This is a great place to go if a freak California rain pops up or if you just need a spot to sit and cool down for a while.
Pixar Pal-A-Round
Formerly Mickey’s Fun Wheel, the Pixar Pal-A-Round takes guests on a classic Ferris wheel ride taking them up to the very top for amazing views of Disney California Adventure, Disneyland and Anaheim.
There are two different options for experiencing this attraction, swinging and non-swinging gondolas. Swinging gondolas move, slide, and sway forward and backward on interior railings as you go around the Ferris wheel. Non-swinging gondolas are in a fixed position and do not move as you go around the attraction. Each gondola features a different Pixar character like Woody, Buzz, Dory, Mr. Incredible, Joy, Merida and more.
The Pixar Pal-A-Round is one of two Ferris wheels in the United States to combine a tradition and swinging gondola. The other one is the Wonder Wheel at New York’s Coney Island, and it happens to be the original! If you have a fear of heights or get motion sickness, you should consider doing the non-swinging gondolas. For more thrills, the swinging gondolas are the way to go. At the top of the 150-foot tall wheel is a great spot to take photos of Pixar Pier and the surrounding areas!
There is no height requirement or FastPass available for the Pixar Pal-A-Round, and the lines can get long, especially for the swinging gondolas. Get here early for a minimal wait, especially on nights where Disney is showing World of Color since the attraction will close to present the show.
Storybook Land Canal Boats
At the backside of Fantasyland at Disneyland Park guests will find the Storybook Land Canal Boats. These cute little boats fit 12 people on an open-air tour of familiar magical homes and villages from classic and modern Disney films. Each of the displays are hand-built and feature beautiful landscaping, music and special effects all while your guide tells you the story of each location and who lives there.
You’ll start your adventure by going through the mouth of Monstro, the Whale from Pinocchio. Throughout your journey, you’ll see Arendelle from Frozen, a London Park from Peter Pan, Agrabah and the Cave of Wonders from Aladdin, the castle from Cinderella and so much more!
This is a great ride for those who don’t like the more thrilling attractions at Disneyland park, or just need a break from walking for a while. The ride vehicles can get a little cramped with 12 guests, but that’s part of the fun of riding!
Guests of any age will love the cutest little boat ride at Disneyland. This attraction does not offer FastPass or Rider Switch. You’re going to want to ride this early in the morning or later in the evening. Like many Fantasyland rides, it can close for the fireworks presentation at Disneyland.
Are you headed to Disneyland soon? Let us know your favorite attraction that you’re looking forward to riding in the comments!