Best Rides at Disneyland (Complete Ranking)
Disneyland has some of the best rides in the world. What makes them the best? Many are classics filled with nostalgia, like Pirates of the Caribbean, while others are brand new and high-tech, like Rise of the Resistance.
This ranking includes all 34 Disneyland rides, from my least favorite to my favorite! Instead of including just the top attractions, I’ve included them all so you aren’t missing out on any rides, just because they didn’t make my top 10.
As an experienced Disneyland-goer, these rankings come from more than 100 visits to the park. Some rides I’ve been on dozens of times, while others I’ve only ridden a few times.
If you’re visiting Disneyland for the first time, you might want to start with my Ultimate Guide to Disneyland for First-Timers. Otherwise, let’s get into the best rides at Disneyland!
What Counts as a Ride at Disneyland?
Disneyland has over 50 “attractions” listed on their app. However, these are a mix of actual rides, transportation, walk-through experiences, and shows.
For it to count as a ride on my list, these are the requirements:
Must have more features than just transportation from one place to another.
Must have a vehicle of some sort that guests ride in.
These two requirements exclude attractions such as Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, Adventureland Treehouse, and the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through from my list of Disneyland rides.
Types of Rides at Disneyland
It’s not possible to perfectly categorize all the various rides in Disneyland, but I did my best! These categories give you a quick and clear idea of what kind of experience you can expect from each ride.
My category definitions below are to help you understand what I mean when I refer to a ride as, for example, a dark ride.
Dark Rides — Classic, indoor rides where you sit in a vehicle/buggy and are taken through different scenes.
Thrill Rides — Fast-paced, exciting rides that may have drops and fast turns.
Water Rides — Boat rides where the main mode of transportation through the ride is in water; may involve getting splashed.
Family Rides — Non-scary, calm rides suitable for all ages.
Interactive Rides — Any type of ride where you have some control over the ride, like spinning, game-playing, or moving the vehicle.
Simulator Rides — More immersive experiences where you feel like you’re part of the story, either through screens or elaborate sets.
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As a reminder, these rankings are based on my personal opinion. Your list may be completely different, and other lists out there will likely differ from mine as well!
34. Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Ride type: Water Ride, Family Ride
This was an easy pick for me as the worst ride. I loathe the idea of submarines and don’t do well with confined spaces. Add to that the cramped quarters inside the submarines and hot stuffiness with all the body heat, and this ride is my nightmare.
I rode it once and will likely never ride again! Some people may love this ride, particularly kids. However, I’m not alone in my dislike, as it gets the lowest reviews on Google of all the rides in Disneyland.
I wish I could have seen it back in the day when real actors dressed as mermaids splashed around in the lagoon!
33. Astro Orbitor
Ride type: Interactive, Family Ride
At the start of Tomorrowland, this ride rotates in a circle, and you can control how/when your rocket goes up and down. There’s nothing bad about this ride; it’s just not exciting or worth waiting in line for.
32. Casey Jr. Circus Train
Ride type: Family Ride
Based on Dumbo, this train circles the same miniature scenes from the Storybook Land Canal Boats in Fantasyland. Small kids will like this ride, but older kids and adults will likely find it boring. The train cars are cute, and I remember enjoying riding in them when I was very young.
31. Dumbo the Flying Elephant
Ride type: Family Ride, Interactive
Similar to Astro Orbitors, this ride rotates in a circle, and guests control the up/down motion of their Dumbo elephant. I didn’t like it as a kid (the feeling of moving up/down felt like a drop ride), and I don’t enjoy it as an adult.
30. Storybook Land Canal Boats
Ride type: Water Ride, Family Ride
Board a boat as your captain tells you the stories of various Disney movies as you float past miniatures of the movie settings. It’s a calm, laid-back boat ride, though not particularly exciting for adults.
29. Autopia
Ride type: Interactive, Family Ride
As a teenager pre-driver’s license, I loved the independence I felt driving my own car on this ride. You control the pedal and steering wheel if you meet the height requirements for being a driver.
As an adult who still loves driving, I don’t love Autopia as much anymore. The cars are slow, the route isn’t much to look at, and it takes up a ton of real estate. It’s the only corporate-sponsored ride in Disneyland — sponsored by Chevron.
Tomorrowland needs a big update, and I hope they eventually do away with Autopia and build something truly futuristic and exciting in its place.
28. Chip ‘N’ Dale Coaster
Ride type: Family Ride
Head to Toontown for this kiddie coaster if you have little kids who want something exciting, but not thrilling. It’s low on my list because it wouldn’t be worth waiting for more than 10 minutes unless you’re a kid under 10.
27. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Ride type: Family Ride
The mass positive reviews for this ride on Google surprised me! I haven’t been on it since I was too young to remember, as my mom loathes it (and even in my 30s, we still go to Disneyland together).
People love the songs, and it’s a nice place to cool down. Plus, you can grab a Dole Whip and bring it into the Tiki Room with you!
26. Star Tours — The Adventures Continue
Ride type: Simulator
This used to be the Star Wars ride until the entire Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land was built. It’s a neat simulator, making you feel like you’re flying through space on a ship. For me, it’s just not a ride I prioritize, as there are others I enjoy more.
25. Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
Ride type: Water Ride, Interactive
Despite my many visits to Disneyland, it wasn’t until 2026 that I noticed groups of people paddling their hearts out around the Rivers of America.
This is the only ride in Disneyland that feels less like a theme park ride and more like a fun tour you would book on a trip.
Some people hate it (the people on the canoes seriously look like they’re working hard!), but many people love it. I think it’s a unique way to experience the Rivers of America!
I didn’t get a photo of the canoes, but this is the Rivers of America where they paddle!
24. King Arthur Carrousel
Ride type: Family Ride
Carousels aren’t the most thrilling ride, but this one is a classic part of Disneyland. It’s a lovely view to see as you walk through the castle into Fantasyland. The ride is your typical carousel ride with horses that go up and down as the carousel rotates.
It’s not high on my list as there are other rides I’d prefer to spend my time waiting in line for.
23. Pinocchio's Daring Journey
Ride type: Dark Ride
Of all the classic dark rides in Fantasyland, Pinocchio’s is my least favorite. If the line is super short and you’ve got time, it’s worth a ride to see it once.
22. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Ride type: Dark Ride
This is a Disneyland original as one of the rides there on opening day. The two-person buggy moves you through the thrilling story, even taking you through hot and steamy Hell at the end. I love it for its eccentricity and originality — Disneyland is the only Disney park that has this ride!
21. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Ride type: Dark Ride
Spinning rides were always my favorite as a kid, and Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin is no exception. In April 2026, they updated the ride so you can no longer spin the car yourself as you move through the ride. It does still spin, though!
20. Peter Pan’s Flight
Ride type: Dark Ride
I surprised myself with how high this ended up on my list, given I usually skip it on most Disneyland visits. The line is often ridiculously long for a classic dark ride, especially compared to the other dark rides in Fantasyland.
Riding a flying pirate ship over a miniature London at night is quite magical, though. If the line is short, it’s worth it. Any longer than 20 minutes, I skip it.
19. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Ride type: Dark Ride
Riding in a beehive through the world of Winnie the Pooh is adorable. This ride is clearly geared towards kids, but it’s cute and a classic dark ride. I love the design of the buggies and ride aesthetics — it’s a feel-good adventure.
18. Snow White’s Enchanted Adventure
Ride type: Dark Ride
Before this ride became an “enchanted” adventure, it was “scary.” Both in the name and experience! It scared me a bit, even as an adult (but I’m an admitted scaredy-cat).
I love the new changes to the ride, with brand new scenes, far fewer scares, and a nice storyline.
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View Ticket Deals17. Sailing Ship Columbia/Mark Twain Riverboat
Ride type: Water Ride
Two large ships make regular trips around the Rivers of America in Frontierland. You get unique perspectives of the park, plus some sights you can’t see from other areas of the park.
The Sailing Ship Columbia is an impressive replica of the ship of the same name from the 18th century. It’s a nice sail around the river, and you can explore the ship (both above and below deck!).
The Mark Twain Riverboat is a steam-powered replica of the types of boats that once were regulars on the Mississippi River. You’re free to explore this vessel as well while it ferries you around Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer’s Island.
16. Disneyland Railroad
Ride type: Family Ride
I almost didn’t include this on the list, as I consider it a form of transportation more than a ride. It made my list due to the interesting sights along the route, which were designed specifically for the train passengers.
Many people ride the railroad specifically as a ride, though it’s a nice break from walking at the end of a long day. It completes a full loop around the park, stopping in Main Street, U.S.A., New Orleans Square, Mickey's Toontown, and Tomorrowland.
It would probably be higher on my list if the seating/boarding was like other rides. Since people can ride it all around the park, you could be waiting in line for a while if people don’t get off at that stop.
15. Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
Ride type: Thrill Ride, Water Ride
Formerly Splash Mountain, Princess Tiana has fully transformed this log flume ride into a Bayou adventure. I enjoyed Splash Mountain as a ride, but didn’t love the story/theme. Tiana’s theme is charming, and they did an excellent job with the styling.
I enjoy water rides, but this one gets you soaked if you’re anywhere near the front of the log. The 50ft drop at 40 miles/hour brings a gush of water into the log — best for the last ride on a hot day if you won’t want soggy socks all day long.
14. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Ride type: Thrill Ride, Interactive, Simulator
I may be biased, because we got stuck on this ride for half an hour without any communication, while still in our tight seatbelts. We had to pee, had no clue what was happening, and didn’t get an explanation or apology once we were finally freed.
Aside from that experience, the ride itself is pretty cool.
You are assigned a position before boarding, then strap in for a space fight. Two people pilot the ship, two shoot the guns, and two are engineers who repair the ship when the pilots inevitably crash into things.
13. Alice in Wonderland
Ride type: Family Ride, Dark Ride
The line for this is always long, which is surprising for a dark ride. It’s unique because the course goes both inside and outside. It also isn’t a completely flat track like other dark rides — it has small hills (no drops or anything like that).
I love the weirdness of Alice in Wonderland, and the ride delivers on it. It often closes temporarily, though. In my research, I found most ride closures throughout the day are supposedly due to someone dropping something on the track, not a ride malfunction.
12. “it’s a small world”
Ride type: Family Ride, Water Ride
The message behind the ride is wonderful. It’s a small world, we’re not all that different from each other! They’ve continuously updated this ride over the years, adding more cultures, improving the outfits, and making the set designs more elaborate.
I love that it’s a water ride! It just makes it more whimsical to float through the scenes (with that memorable song playing) on a boat instead of being in a buggy on a track.
11. Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railroad
Ride type: Family Ride, Simulator
One of the newest rides in the park is in Toontown. It’s a high-tech ride with immersive projections and smooth movement on the trackless course. The elaborate line design is almost as cool as the ride itself, making that 45-60+ minute wait time go by a bit faster.
10. Matterhorn Bobsleds
Ride type: Thrill Ride
I’m the only one in my family who loves this ride. The reason some people don’t like it is because of how jolty the track is. You get thrown around as the track curves and on bumps; it’s not smooth.
I enjoy the excitement and minor whiplash (kidding), as well as the actually scary yeti that appears throughout the ride as jump scares.
9. Mad Tea Party
Ride type: Interactive, Family Ride
Who doesn’t love a classic spinning ride?! Well, lots of people, I’m sure. The giant spinning tea cups are such a fun sight, and you can spin as much or as little as you want.
The teacups move around the ride space, but you control the spin level with the wheel in the center of the teacup!
8. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Ride type: Interactive, Dark Ride
This is the only ride in Disneyland where you play a game during the ride and get a score at the end. California Adventure has a few awesome ones, but Disneyland just has one.
It’s a fun game with tons to look at as you move through the ride. Each buggy (space cruiser) is equipped with two hand-held blasters that you aim and fire at the various targets. There’s also a joystick you control to rotate the space cruiser for optimal shooting angles.
7. Jungle Cruise
Ride type: Family Ride, Water Ride
The dry sense of humor from the guides as they lead you on a boat through the jungle is just the best. It’s truly for the adults, as most kids don’t catch the dry sarcasm or more mature jokes.
This is one of my favorite rides because it feels like an actual tour somewhere in the jungle. The animatronics are somewhat dated, but they’re classics! The nostalgia and history definitely add to the experience.
6. Hyperspace Mountain
Ride type: Thrill Ride
A space-themed roller coaster ride in the dark is just as thrilling as it sounds! Without the visual of a track, it’s impossible to orient yourself and predict where the coaster takes you next.
It’s exciting and scary in the best way. Even the line, once you get to the inside part, feels like you’re in a space station. The coaster itself isn’t actually that big (you can look up photos of it with the lights on), but it feels much larger in the dark.
5. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Ride type: Thrill Ride
A popular guest favorite, this roller coaster-style train rips through a gold mine and orange canyons. It’s a fun ride for kids and adults! I like the combination of indoor (through the gold mine) and outdoor tracks, as well as the scenes you see along the way.
4. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Ride type: Simulator, Thrill Ride
This is one of the newest rides at the park and the second ride at Galaxy’s Edge. The line is often exceedingly long, but if you get there first thing in the morning, it’s not too bad.
You’re fully immersed in the story as part of the resistance, with cast members acting as your captors. There are multiple parts to the ride before you even get in the vehicle for the main part, including your capture, rescue, and finally, your escape.
It’s the most immersive experience of any ride I’ve been on, at Disneyland or otherwise. The long wait is worth the ride. Chewbaca even made his way through the line one of the times we were there!
3. Haunted Mansion
Ride type: Dark Ride
The Haunted Mansion is an absolute pillar of Disneyland rides. Most people would put Haunted Mansion in their top five favorite Disneyland rides. It’s fun, spooky, nostalgic, and incorporates Nightmare Before Christmas elements from Halloween through Christmas.
Set in an old New Orleans-style mansion, you enter an elevator which brings you down (or up, who’s to say?) to an eerie hallway. From there, you hop in a “Doom Buggy” and get moved through the rest of the haunted mansion.
2. Pirates of the Caribbean
Ride type: Dark Ride, Water Ride
The Pirates of the Caribbean movies are my all-time favorites. I’ve been obsessed since I watched the first one when I was nine or ten years old. While the movies were inspired by the ride, they’re far different from it.
Pirates of the Caribbean has been a classic since it debuted in 1967. Floating past the jolly animatronic pirates, plus two drops at the start of the ride, make it an exciting swashbuckling experience.
Some major updates have been made to the ride over time, including the addition of Captain Jack Sparrow animatronics and a rewriting/redesign of the storyline to do away with the scene where women are being sold.
There’s nothing to complain about, aside from a wet butt from the water that splashes into the boat during the drops!
1. Indiana Jones™ Adventure
Ride type: Dark Ride, Thrill Ride
As much as I adore Pirates of the Caribbean, my favorite ride continues to be Indiana Jones. There’s excitement, immersive scenes, and a bumpy and fast jeep ride. I love it all!
The line itself brings you into the world as soon as you move inside the Temple of Doom. They do an excellent job of creating a clear narrative, making you feel included, and taking you on a thrilling adventure.
Like Alice in Wonderland, this ride is often temporarily closed. It seems to happen at least a few times per day. Could be due to people losing their hats/Mickey ears on the track — you are jolted around in that jeep quite a lot!
And with that, I conclude my list of the best rides at Disneyland! What are your favorite rides? Least favorites? Are there any on my list that are far off from where you put them in your lineup? Let me know in the comments!
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