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5 Most Popular Disneyland Rides That You Can't Miss | Explained

Disneyland offers some of the most impressive rides in the world.

In this page, we will explain the most popular rides that Disneyland offers, how each one is unique and actual (point of view) videos of the rides!

star wars disneyland

      1. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

      Make no mistake about it, this isn't recency bias, as this is by far the most popular ride in Disneyland, and for good reason.

      It's the perfect ride that showcases the careful and beautiful design, along with the latest technology available to the Imagineering team.

      This ride places guests in between the Resistance and the First Order (who are not the greatest of friends fyi), which means you'll be on the edge of your seat as craziness is about to happen.

      You'll make your ways through historic caves that feature the hideouts of the resistance, prior to boarding an action packed ride full of fantastic story-telling and sudden turns.

      Whether you're a Star Wars fan or not, you'll absolutely want to experience this.

      Duration

      The ride itself is about 4 minutes and 50 seconds, however the full experience of the ride is 18 minutes.

      Fun Facts

      You will be walking for a few minutes on this ride prior to strapping on your seatbelt in a vehicle.

      There are 8 riders per vehicle.

      2. Haunted Mansion

      A true classic in the Disney family, this ride opened 50+ years ago and still remains extremely popular today.

      If you're looking for a scary ride that will keep you on the edge of your toes (and seats), this is the ride for you.

      Haunted Mansion does a terrific job of immersing guests into the scary atmosphere from the moment that they leave the line.

      You will initially walk into a room with a giant chandelier, where a loud piano will be playing and a narrator with a deep voice will provide you valuable information.

      You'll then move into an elevator room, where there are very unique pictures positioned on the wall, and the narrator will let you know that there's no turning back.

      That's when the fun begins.

      You'll make your way through a maze of creepy corridors, that have endless amounts of scary props, darkness, and screams prior to getting on the ride.

      Duration

      Between 6-8 minutes.

      Fun Facts

      Paul Frees is actually the ride host. He is known for his work during the 'Golden Age of Animation' and is commonly referred to as "The Man of a Thousand Voices".

      3. Splash Mountain

      Whether you're traveling to Disneyland or Disney World, Splash Mountain is the water ride that you certainly can't miss.

      Riders will hop inside of a log to begin the ride, and will float on the water as they are taken on an indoor and outdoor adventure.

      Once riders are actually taken inside, they'll immediately be taken to the dark portion of the ride and meet critters that are talking and singing along.

      It's not all fun and games though, as there are plenty of signs letting you know to 'Be Careful'.

      After the massive 50 foot drop, these critters will be celebrating your survival as they are hosting a full-on concert.

      Duration

      9 minutes 18 seconds. 

      Fun Facts

      This ride spans 2,640 feet and contains 3 separate drops.

      Splash Mountain in Disneyland opened in 1989.

      4. Pirates of the Caribbean

      If you're looking for a ride where you can kick back and relax, look no further.

      This is easily one of the most immersive rides, as the moment that you hop on the boat you will notice the distinct 'smell'. 

      The atmosphere is a mixture of water, pirates, and even the soft banjo playing in the background.

      This ride will take you through the voyage of a certain group of pirates, and their adventures, troubles, and even exploits.

      This dark ride will take you at slow speeds, and you'll have what feels like a first-hand experience of the actual life of a pirate.

      Duration

      15 minutes 30 seconds.

      Fun Facts

      This was the last ride that was envisioned and personally overseen by Walt Disney himself.

      This ride actually opened in 1967, and was where the 'Yo Ho, Yo Ho a Pirate's Life for Me' song skyrocket to popularity. The Pirates of the Caribbean series would eventually adopt this song into the movies. 

      5. Space Mountain

      This is absolutely one of the coolest and most unique rides in the world.

      A dark-lit ride, a mountain of differing colors, and sounds that resembles high speeds.

      This is exactly what you can expect in the first 30 seconds of Space Mountain.

      Riders will literally feel like they're about to launch into space, as a mixture of spinning lights and stars surround the riders as they make their way up their first hill.

      They will then be taken on an almost completely dark ride, where stars are the only visible object.

      What this does is it enhances your senses, and everything is amplified exponentially. This leads to a perfect recipe to an extremely thrilling ride.

      space mountain at disneyland

      Duration

      3 minutes. 

      Fun Facts

      This ride is located in Tomorrowland, and spans for 3,459 feet.

      Frequently Asked Questions

      What is the Number One Ride in Disneyland?

      Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. This ride is a whopping 18 minutes and it features one of the most impressive combination of story telling, ride design, and modern technology. Due to this, it's an extremely popular ride. Whether you're a Star Wars fan or not, you'll have plenty to enjoy.

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