Disneyland Park is where it all started. Walt Disney’s original theme park in Anaheim, California has been welcoming guests since 1955, and over the past seven decades it has built one of the strongest ride lineups in the world. With more than 30 attractions spread across eight themed lands, deciding what to prioritize can be overwhelming — especially if you only have one day.
We ranked every ride currently operating at Disneyland Park based on ride quality, theming, thrill factor, wait times, and overall experience. Whether you’re a first-timer mapping out your must-dos or a returning visitor looking for a fresh perspective, here’s how every Disneyland ride stacks up in 2026.
Note: This ranking covers Disneyland Park only — not Disney California Adventure. Rides currently closed for refurbishment are noted but still included in the ranking based on their typical experience. Jungle Cruise is currently closed for structural repairs as of February 2026.
How We Ranked These Rides
Our ranking considers several factors:
- Ride quality and design — How well-built is the experience from start to finish?
- Theming and immersion — Does the ride transport you somewhere else?
- Thrill factor — How exciting or memorable is the experience?
- Wait time value — Is the ride worth the time you spend in line?
- Uniqueness — Can you only find this ride at Disneyland, or does a version exist elsewhere?
Rankings are inherently subjective. Your list will look different from ours, and that’s the fun of it. Let us know where you disagree in the comments.
The Complete Ranking: Every Disneyland Ride from Worst to Best
#33 — Astro Orbitor
The aerial carousel at the entrance to Tomorrowland gives decent views of the park hub and Sleeping Beauty Castle, but the ride itself is about 90 seconds of spinning in a circle. It’s fine for young kids, but most guests walk right past it.
#32 — Dumbo the Flying Elephant
The classic aerial carousel. Dumbo is charming and nostalgic, but the ride experience hasn’t changed much since opening day. A quick spin for the little ones, but not something most adults need to prioritize.
#31 — King Arthur Carrousel
A beautifully maintained carousel with hand-painted horses, originally built in 1922 before being relocated to Disneyland. The craftsmanship is genuinely impressive — the ride just doesn’t offer much beyond a pleasant spin.
#30 — Mad Tea Party
The spinning teacups are a classic for a reason — they’re simple, fun, and rarely have a long wait. How much you enjoy this one depends entirely on how much your group commits to spinning that center wheel.
#29 — Autopia
Autopia lets guests drive miniature cars around a track through Tomorrowland. Kids love the sense of independence, but the gas fumes and noise make it a tough hang for adults. The 32-inch height requirement (54 inches to drive alone) means it serves a specific audience. It gets the job done, but “the future of transportation” it is not.
#28 — Casey Jr. Circus Train
This tiny train circles through the Storybook Land miniatures, giving you a different vantage point than the Canal Boats below. It’s quick, cute, and usually has a manageable wait. A nice break between bigger rides.
#27 — Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster
Tucked in the back of Mickey’s Toontown, this kiddie coaster is extremely short but surprisingly zippy. It’s a great first coaster for small children, with a 35-inch height requirement that’s accessible for most toddlers. Adults won’t get much out of it, but watching your kid’s face light up is worth the wait.
#26 — Main Street Vehicles
A one-way trip up or down Main Street in a horse-drawn trolley, fire engine, omnibus, or horseless carriage. The limited operating hours (usually only until early afternoon) make these easy to miss, but they’re a charming callback to the park’s opening day.
#25 — Storybook Land Canal Boats
A gentle boat ride past miniature recreations of settings from Disney films — Aladdin’s Agrabah, Frozen’s Arendelle, Cinderella’s village, and more. The detail on these tiny buildings is remarkable. Not thrilling, but genuinely peaceful and beautifully maintained.
#24 — Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
One of the only attractions in any Disney park where guests actually power the ride — you paddle a canoe around Tom Sawyer Island with about 20 other guests. Seasonal and physically demanding, but a truly unique experience you can’t find anywhere else. Available only on select days.
#23 — Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
A 15-minute submarine ride through underwater scenes featuring characters from Finding Nemo. The submarine setting is unique and the effects are creative, but the cramped quarters and long load times make it a tough sell on busy days. Worth doing once, especially with kids who love Nemo.
#22 — Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
This Fantasyland dark ride was updated in 2021 with new effects, including a stunning finale scene. It’s darker and more intense than some parents expect — the Evil Queen moments are legitimately creepy for young children. A solid classic dark ride that benefits from its recent refresh.
#21 — “it’s a small world”
The song will be stuck in your head for days. Love it or dread it, “it’s a small world” remains one of Disneyland’s most iconic attractions. The boat ride through hundreds of audio-animatronic dolls representing countries around the world is a must-do for first-timers, if only to say you’ve done it. It has Lightning Lane availability and rarely commands huge waits.
#20 — Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
A straightforward Fantasyland dark ride that takes you through the story of Pinocchio. It’s in the same mold as Snow White and Mr. Toad — short, charming, and increasingly rare in modern theme parks. Not a priority, but worth a ride if the wait is short.
#19 — Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
A hybrid dark ride and spinning ride set in the world of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Your taxi cab spins freely as you navigate through Toontown’s back alleys. The theming and humor are top-notch, and the ability to control your spin adds a layer of interactivity. Consistently underrated.
#18 — Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Disneyland’s version of the Buzz Lightyear shooter ride features detachable blasters, giving it a slight edge over the Walt Disney World version. It’s a straightforward shoot-em-up dark ride that’s replayable and fun for all ages. Lightning Lane makes it easy to fit into your day.
#17 — The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
A charming dark ride through the Hundred Acre Wood, featuring Pooh’s blustery day and a memorable Heffalumps and Woozles sequence. Its tucked-away location in Bayou Country means it often has shorter waits than the Fantasyland dark rides. A pleasant experience that punches above its weight.
#16 — Jungle Cruise (Currently Closed for Refurbishment)
The classic boat ride through jungle scenes with a wisecracking Skipper at the helm. Updated in 2021 with new scenes and improved cultural sensitivity, Jungle Cruise lives and dies by the quality of your Skipper. A great one makes it a top-10 experience. An average one makes it a pleasant boat ride with outdated animatronics. Currently closed for structural repairs as of February 2026.
#15 — Mark Twain Riverboat / Sailing Ship Columbia
These two large vessels take guests on a leisurely cruise around the Rivers of America. The Sailing Ship Columbia in particular is worth exploring — it’s a full-scale replica of the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe. Both offer a genuine respite from the chaos of the park and beautiful views of Frontierland and New Orleans Square. Mind the limited operating hours.
#14 — Disneyland Railroad
The grand circle tour of Disneyland Park by steam train, with stops at Main Street, New Orleans Square, Fantasyland/Toontown, and Tomorrowland. Beyond transportation, the railroad includes a diorama of the Grand Canyon and a primeval world scene with dinosaurs. Walt Disney was personally passionate about this attraction, and it remains a wonderful way to see the park — especially at sunset.
#13 — Star Tours — The Adventures Continue
This motion simulator takes you on a randomized journey through the Star Wars universe, with different planet destinations and character appearances on each ride. The technology dates back to 1987, but regular content updates have kept it feeling fresh. A smooth Lightning Lane grab and consistently entertaining from start to finish.
#12 — Alice in Wonderland
One of Disneyland’s best classic dark rides and an attraction you can’t find at Walt Disney World. The ride takes you through scenes from the 1951 film, including a memorable outdoor section where your caterpillar vehicle travels along an elevated track above Fantasyland. The combination of indoor dark ride and outdoor views makes it genuinely special. Expect long waits — ride it early or late.
#11 — Tiana’s Bayou Adventure
The reimagined log flume ride opened at Disneyland in November 2024 with a new storyline following Princess Tiana as she prepares for a Mardi Gras celebration. The new animatronics are stunning, the music is catchy, and the climactic drop with its view of the park remains one of Disneyland’s signature moments. A must-do for any Disneyland visit.
#10 — Space Mountain
Disneyland’s Space Mountain is widely considered smoother and more enjoyable than its Walt Disney World counterpart. The indoor roller coaster in the dark delivers unexpected drops and turns with a space-themed soundtrack that ties the whole experience together. Disney periodically runs a “Hyperspace Mountain” Star Wars overlay that adds new effects. Lightning Lane and single rider options make it accessible even on busy days.
#9 — Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run
Step into the cockpit of the Millennium Falcon and pilot, shoot, or engineer your way through an interactive mission. The queue alone — walking through the full-scale Falcon — is worth the wait. Pilots get the best experience by far. A Mandalorian and Grogu storyline update is scheduled for May 22, 2026. Single rider is available for shorter waits.
#8 — Peter Pan’s Flight
Peter Pan’s Flight has commanded some of the longest waits in Disneyland since 1955, and for good reason — the sensation of “flying” over London and Neverland in a suspended pirate ship is unlike anything else in the park. The ride is short, but the magic of soaring over the miniature city of London at night is timeless. No Lightning Lane, so ride it first thing in the morning or during fireworks.
#7 — Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
This trackless dark ride in Mickey’s Toontown uses a “2½-D” technique that blends screens with practical effects more seamlessly than almost any other Disney ride. It’s colorful, fun, and accessible to all ages — no height requirement means the whole family can ride. The technology is impressive without being gimmicky, and it gave Toontown a genuine anchor attraction.
#6 — Matterhorn Bobsleds
The Matterhorn Bobsleds is a ride that exists only at Disneyland — a roller coaster through the iconic Matterhorn mountain, complete with encounters with the Abominable Snowman. It’s bumpy and a bit rough around the edges, but that’s part of the charm. The Matterhorn was the world’s first tubular steel roller coaster when it opened in 1959, and it remains one of Disneyland’s most recognizable landmarks.
#5 — Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The “wildest ride in the wilderness” is widely regarded as the best version across all Disney parks. The Disneyland track layout is longer and more dynamic than its Walt Disney World sibling, winding through detailed mining scenes with excellent rockwork and landscaping. The ride hits a sweet spot between thrilling enough for adults and accessible enough for older kids (40-inch height requirement). Lightning Lane keeps waits manageable.
#4 — Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Removed from Walt Disney World in 1998, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride lives on exclusively at Disneyland — and thank goodness it does. This chaotic dark ride based on The Wind in the Willows takes a genuinely surprising narrative turn that no modern Disney ride would attempt. It’s short, it’s weird, and it’s absolutely worth the wait. A piece of Disney history that gets better the more you think about it.
#3 — Pirates of the Caribbean
The Disneyland version of Pirates of the Caribbean is the longest in the world at over 15 minutes. It’s the original, the one Walt Disney himself oversaw, and the one that set the standard for dark rides worldwide. The two drops at the beginning, the burning village, the auction scene, and the sheer scale of the attraction make it objectively superior to the Walt Disney World version. No Lightning Lane and no need for one — the ride’s massive capacity keeps things moving.
#2 — Haunted Mansion
Nine hundred and ninety-nine happy haunts have assembled for your enjoyment. Haunted Mansion is a masterpiece of Imagineering — a dark ride that somehow balances genuine eeriness with playful humor. The stretching room, the ballroom dance scene, the endless hallway, and the hitchhiking ghosts are all iconic moments in a ride packed with Imagineering tricks that still baffle guests decades later. During the holiday season, the Nightmare Before Christmas overlay transforms the entire experience. A must-ride every single visit.
#1 — Indiana Jones Adventure
Indiana Jones Adventure is the best ride at Disneyland, and a strong contender for the best ride at any Disney park worldwide. The 12-passenger transport vehicle takes you on a high-speed journey through the Temple of the Forbidden Eye, featuring massive practical effects, detailed animatronics, and a level of immersion that holds up remarkably well since its 1995 debut.
The queue alone is legendary — a self-guided walk through ancient ruins with interactive elements and detailed set pieces that rival the ride itself. Once aboard, the randomized room sequences, the rolling boulder, and the iconic Indy animatronic create a ride experience that somehow feels both cinematic and unpredictable.
Indiana Jones Adventure shares its Enhanced Motion Vehicle system with the now-permanently-closed DINOSAUR at Walt Disney World, but the two rides are worlds apart in execution. This one is in a class of its own.
Honorable Mention: Walt Disney — A Magical Life
While technically a show rather than a ride, we’d be remiss not to mention Walt Disney — A Magical Life, the new animatronic presentation in the Main Street Opera House. Sharing the stage with Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln, this show features an animatronic Walt Disney himself. It’s a moving tribute to the man who started it all, and well worth catching during your visit.
Rides You Can Skip vs. Rides You Shouldn’t Miss
If you only have a few hours, prioritize Indiana Jones Adventure, Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Space Mountain. These five give you the essential Disneyland experience.
If you have a full day, add Rise of the Resistance (if the Lightning Lane Single Pass price fits your budget), Matterhorn Bobsleds, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, Peter Pan’s Flight, and Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway.
For families with young children, the Fantasyland dark rides (Alice in Wonderland, Winnie the Pooh, “it’s a small world”), Storybook Land Canal Boats, and the Toontown area are your best bets.
Wait — What About Rise of the Resistance?
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is available at Disneyland and is one of the best rides in the world. We ranked it #2 in our top 10 at the top of this article. The reason it doesn’t appear higher in the full ranking is straightforward — it’s essentially the same ride available at Walt Disney World’s Hollywood Studios. It’s an absolute must-do, but if we’re ranking what makes Disneyland Disneyland, the rides unique to this park deserve special recognition.
What’s your ranking? We know everyone’s list looks different — that’s what makes these conversations fun. Drop your top 5 Disneyland rides in the comments below.
