Favorite Disneyland Rides

Growing up in Southern California Near Disneyland

I love Disneyland and always have as far back as I can remember. We have pictures of my sister and I there when I was only two years old, in little cute dresses holding hands and smiling with one or another of the characters. It will always be a special place.

Disneyland Rides

Perhaps the very best part of Disneyland and now California Adventure as well, are their rides. Without those, Disneyland would not be what it is to so many people today. Below, I share my favorite Disneyland rides, not in any particular order.

Pirates of the Caribbean

If I were pinned down to answer the tough question of what is my favorite all time ride at Disneyland, it might have to be The Pirates of the Caribbean. My memory takes me back to a time when I was very young and almost too scared to even get on. You see, even when in line, you get an experience that is a little scary, it gets darker and darker as you get closer, and you hear things like, "Dead men tell no tales...." in a deep dark scary voice.

Now, this is part of the fun of Pirates, however. It never bores me, and I never grow tired of it. It is an absolute must of a ride to go on if you have never been. It seems fitting, that Disney made a series of movies out of this classic ride, and I am so glad they did. Yo ho yo ho its the pirate's life for me!

Thunder Mountain and Space Mountain

These two rides are great fun, as is the Matterhorn. The Matterhorn is much older and "clunkier" though still so much fun. They both go quickly, especially towards the end of the day and into the evening, these rides seem to go faster. I am not sure if that is based on fact, but our experience in spending the whole day there showed that it seems to be true. Classic rides, both of them. Space Mountain is dark and like you are in space and super fun to this day. Thunder Mountain is so fun as well, but out doors and you feel the fresh air blowing in your face while out in the sunshine.

Indiana Jones

This ride is great fun, but perhaps that is because I am an all time fan of the movies including Indiana Jones. Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of my all time favorite movies, the original. This ride at Disneyland is a great and fun thing to be a part of, even waiting in line it is very exciting. A must see, must ride kind of ride!

California Adventure's Screamin'

This ride, or roller coaster rather, might just be one of my all time favorite rides second to Pirates of the Caribbean. I cannot share how much fun this is! You go from zero to some crazy fast speed in a matter of seconds at the beginning and the rest of the ride I have a huge smile on my face the whole time. The thrill and excitement bring a sense of great joy, if that doesn't sound too goofy to say. I absolutely love it, and recommend it for all that like roller coasters.

California Adventure's Tower of Terror

This is not a definite favorite, but I did end up enjoying it much more than I thought I would after hearing so much about it, and seeing the people screaming from so far away when it would peak out of the tower. Again, Disney has made just being in line for these rides an experience in itself. I really find that this ride in particular for some reason is very scary for some kids. I don't like it when parents force kids to go on rides they really don't want to. This is one I wouldn't push if they don't want to. That said, it wasn't at all as scary as I thought it would be, and sometimes I think its a "mind over matter" kind of thing.

Well those are some of my top, and favorite rides at Disneyland in California, as well as California Adventure. I honestly didn't even touch on some other rides that I absolutely love. If you ever get the chance to go, getting there early as you can is a recommendation I can give, as well as staying late and having times to rest and relax throughout the day.