Last Updated on August 17, 2025
Even though Anaheim, CA’s Disneyland is smaller than Orlando’s Walt Disney World, it can still be overwhelming to enter the park and try deciding which attractions to visit first. Having been here so many times, I can understand the concern if you don’t come prepared.
Planning is key here as some of the most popular attractions tend to see the longest wait lines. Whether you visit during the height of the season (weekends, summer, spring break and major holiday weeks), or off peak, you’ll want to get an idea of the rides that visitors should not miss.
The Disneyland Resort includes two main theme parks: Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure, located within easy walking distance of one another.
There are several ways to increase your chance of getting on these attractions during your stay without have to stand in a 2-hour queue:
- Stay in a Disneyland Resort hotel that offers early entry.
- Be at the front of the line when the rope drops for general admission entry.
- Purchase a Lightning Lane pass that allows guests to skip the standby queue and join a shorter line.
- Wait in the single rider line (on select attractions that offer this). This allows individuals to skip the long wait by filling in available single seats that remain open for popular attractions. Insider tip: you can also wait in line with another member of your party. Though it’s no guarantee you’ll get on the same ride, it sure cuts down on the time you’ll spend in the regular queue. Rides with single rider options are designated with a *.
Best Disneyland Park Rides
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
This immersive Star Wars themed ride located in the Galaxy’s Edge section of the park is currently the number one attraction in Disneyland Park and the newest. Riders join the Resistance in an epic battle against the First Order on this thrilling and fascinating venue.
Millenium Falcon: Smuggler’s Run *
While in Galaxy’s Edge, don’t miss this thrilling simulator ride that puts a six-person team in the cockpit of a Millenium Falcon spaceship. Two pilots steer, two gunners protect the ship, and two engineers hit buttons to facilitate the vehicle’s repair.
Space Mountain
Space Mountain has been one of Disney’s most popular attractions since it first opened in Tomorrowland at Disneyland Park in May, 1977. Thrill seekers board a sleek flight vehicle and head for a swirling, plunging, circular roller coaster race through the cosmos in the pitch dark to the edge of the galaxy and back.
Indiana Jones Adventure*
This bumpy action-packed ride opening in the 1990s in Adventureland features four-wheel drive vehicles that zip along a track that includes screaming mummies, swarms of giant insects, collapsing bridges, slithering snakes and a massive rolling stone in search of Indiana Jones.
Enchanted Tiki Room
Even though this ride premiered in Adventureland in 1963, it’s a still a fan favorite. The Polynesian thatch-roofed hut plays hosts to an assortment of birds, flowers and tikis in a delightful tropical serenade that will leave you smiling and have you singing the words long after you leave the ride.
An insider tip here is that the attraction rarely sees long lines and it’s a great place to take a break and enjoy a refreshing pineapple Dole whip treat.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure *
Located in Frontierland, this exhilarating log ride follows Tiana and jazz-loving alligator Louis as they traverse through winding waterways to find critter musicians jamming out at Tiana’s southern soiree. The ride crescendos with a 50-foot water drop at the end that may leave you soaked if you’re seated toward the front.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The Frontierland’s rip-roarin’ runaway mine train dubbed the “wildest ride in the wilderness” offers a bumpy, thrilling coaster-style adventure through a haunted gold mine, sweeping around turns, darting into canyons and inducing screams from its excited passengers.
Pirates of the Caribbean
Located in New Orleans Square, the attraction opened in 1967 and remains a huge draw for guests, especially after the immensely popular Hollywood movies starring Johnny Depp.
Visitors board boats and steer a course for the Golden Age of Piracy on a swashbuckling cruise that includes a pirate battle, drunken pirates and plunging waterfalls. Keep an eye out for Captain Jack Sparrow who shows up in a few of the attraction’s scenes. Insider tip: Johnny Depp has actually shown up in person on the ride.
Haunted Mansion
From spooky doors, creaking coffins and scary graveyards, the New Orleans Square attraction with a creepy sense of dark humor is still a beloved attraction. More-so when the holidays bring Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas themed characters along with a complete change-out to the original mansion ride. This is when I and my family enjoy it the most.
it’s a small world
The delightful Fantasyland slow-moving boat ride first debuted at the 1964 World’s Fair in New York. Not only does the charming ride feature traditionally-dressed multi-cultural singing and dancing dolls from all over the world, but it represents a message of global harmony with the tune “It’s a small world after all,” sung in the doll’s native languages.
California Adventure
Radiator Spring Racers *
This is definitely the number one popular attraction in the park and the one where queues build up really, really fast. Of no surprise, the fast thrill road ride inspired by the Disney and Pixar movie Cars is located in Cars Land, and surrounded by stunning rockwork and scenery.
Drivers load into vehicles, then head to race and see who comes away with the checkered flag. Along the way, you’ll encounter Mater, Lightning McQueen, Doc Hudson, Sally, Luigi, Guido, Mack, and Ramone all rooting for you.
Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: BREAKOUT!
This jaw-dropping, tummy grabbing ride, formerly the Tower of Terror is intense as guests join Rocket on a thrilling mission to rescue the Guardians of the Galaxy from the Collector’s fortress. With different free-fall drop experiences, each ride offers a whole new gripping experience.
WEB SLINGERS: A Spiderman Adventure *
Whether you’re into superheroes or not, this ride is quite enjoyable. Located in Avengers Campus, the action-packed adventure aboard a WEB Slinger vehicle includes helping Spiderman destroy wrangle rouge spider bots run amok by slinging digital webs and running up a score.
The Incredicoaster *
Buckle up for an exhilarating ride in Pixar Pier! This crazy, fun ride on the sixth-longest steel roller coaster in the world is not for the faint of heart. It starts with a 0-55 mph launch and then heads into a high-speed chase with literal breathtaking twists and turns, an indoor tunnel, and an inversion loop. Though the ride is only two minutes in length, you’ll swear it’s a lot longer.
Toy Story Midway Mania!
What a fun attraction this is, and anyone in your group can ride it, from the kiddos to great-grandma. Guests board a swiveling carnival car with back-to-back seating for four and put on 3D glasses to be transported into a Boardwalk game.
By pulling the string on the car’s blasters and aiming for moving objects like plates, rings and breaking plates, points are tallied and compared at the end of the adventure.
Soarin’ Around the World *
Feel the wind in your face on this hang glider meets IMAX dome experience located in Grizzly Peak that rises from the ground floor into the sky and simulates flying over some of the most beautiful places in the world.
You’ll witness the majestic Swiss Alps, visit polar bears in Iceland, glide past sailboats in Australia and the Great Wall of China and gaze down at the sparkling Eiffel Tower and more.
Grizzly River Run*
This is a dream adventure on a hot sunny Southern California day. The thrilling whitewater raft adventure includes a round 8-person raft with 360-spins taking riders on a roaring California river with gushing geysers, whitewater action, raging currents, and plummeting falls. Who gets wet? Everyone. On cooler days however, the water level is kept at a comfortable lower level.
The Little Mermaid- Ariel’s Undersea Adventure
This sweet and charming ride in Paradise Gardens Park is rarely overcrowded, and it’s such a whimsical musical adventure. Guests travel in clamshell cars and head ‘under the sea’ though there’s really no real water involved. You’ll sail past Ariel’s grotto, see Sebastian the crab lead a Caribbean crustacean band and of course, meet Eric, Ariel’s heart, and the evil, nasty sea witch, Ursula.
