The Top 10 Rides at Disneyland

Everybody has a favorite ride at Disneyland. All the different types of awesome rides is one reason why Disneyland is such a popular place. So how do you decide which ride is the best? I couldn't decide off the top of my head so I've made a 5 star scale grading system, based on the following:

1. Wait Time - Does the line justify the ride?

2. Thrill Level - Does the ride excite you with fast speed and crazy turns, keep you surprised with unexpected drops, or maybe even let you interact with it?

3. Uniqueness - Can you find a similar ride at another theme park? Does the ride stand on its own?

4. Visuals - Does the ride have a lot to offer as far as what you have to look at?

5. Ride Magic - Does thinking about a particular ride give you goose bumps and instantly bring to mind great memories?

Tie Breakers will be determined by Ride Magic (most important) and Wait Time (least important). After all, isn't Disneyland as popular as it is for the magical feeling it gives us? While the time we have to spend in a big line is a factor, sometimes it can be combated with fast passes (if and when available) or by getting to the park early.

As of now I don't even know what will be number 1. I'm just going to write down any rides that deserve consideration and grade them on each category. Then, I will put them in their proper order based upon their score. Who will be number 1? Lets get started and find out together!

10. The Haunted Mansion

1. Wait Time - 4 stars

2. Thrill Level - 1 star

3. Uniqueness - 3 stars

4. Visuals - 5 stars

5. Ride Magic - 4 stars

Total score = 17 out of 25

Since the little buggies you ride in are right next to each other and constantly moving the line moves quickly for this ride. The Haunted Mansion is a slow steady moving ride so we can view the great visuals. Disneyland does a great job of making this place look haunted so it can be very chilling and scary, especially for kids. It's a unique ride that can't be found at just any theme park. Other places might have "haunted" rides but not as well done as this. The Haunted Mansion definitely has ride magic. It's been a main stay at Disneyland for decades and is considered a classic.

9. Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

1. Wait Time - 2 stars

2. Thrill Level - 2 stars

3. Uniqueness - 5 stars

4. Visuals - 5 stars

5. Ride Magic - 3 stars

Total score = 17 out of 25

One of the newer attractions at Disneyland, Finding Nemo is a remake of the old Submarine ride in Tomorrow Land. Since you are loaded into a Submarine, and many people haven't been on the ride yet, the wait time is very long. This is not a roller coaster so the thrills are minimal. However, it still gets 2 stars as they do a good job of making you feel like you are going deep into the water. The real reason to go on this ride is for its uniqueness and visuals. The new technology they use is like nothing you've seen before. This is definitely not something you'll find at another theme park. It really feels like you are in the movie. Since it's still relatively new, Finding Nemo hasn't built up that classic feel that goes along with having great ride magic. However, give it time and it will eventually become a classic.

8. Peter Pan

1. Wait Time - 2 stars

2. Thrill Level - 2 stars

3. Uniqueness - 4 stars

4. Visuals - 4 stars

5. Ride magic - 5 stars

Total score = 17 out of 25

Just 2 people (3 if you have small children) fit into each pirate ship so the ships have to be individually stopped for each party to get on before the ride can even start. Couple this with the popularity of the ride, and you've got one long wait ahead of you, especially considering this is not a big coaster like attraction. As a "kiddie" ride, the thrills are limited but still get a 2 because you are suspended from the ceiling, instead of on the ground. You get to look down on the city and all the action. For a classic ride like this, the visuals are all you can ask for. You get to see Peter, all his friends, and Captain Hook and his gang. Without a doubt there is something magical about this ride that just keeps people lining back up to get on it again and again.

7. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

1. Wait Time - 4 stars

2. Thrill Level - 4 stars

3. Uniqueness - 4 stars

4. Visuals - 4 stars

5. Ride Magic - 2 stars

Total score = 18 out of 25

Considering the quality of ride, the wait is very reasonable. This wild train ride offers plenty of thrills as you take fast, sharp turns. Big Thunder runs on a pretty standard track, but the mountain that is built around it, along with the overall western theme makes it special. There are plenty of things to look at while on this ride that make you feel like you are truly back in the old wild, wild west. The ride doesn't offer too much of a magical feel, but it's still definitely worth going on.

6. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

1. Wait Time - 5 stars

2. Thrill Level - 2 stars

3. Uniqueness - 4 stars

4. Visuals - 3 stars

5. Ride Magic - 4 stars

Total score = 18 out of 25

A fairly new ride at Disneyland, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is a ride I absolutely love. Each cart fits 2 people (or 3 with small children), but they are constantly moving and right next to one another. This makes for a fast loading time and a line that moves along very well. While the ride itself is very calm, Astro Blasters still gets an extra point for thrill level because it's interactive. You get your own laser gun to shoot targets with! There is a counter that keeps your score during the ride and off the ride, the top point getters of the day are also on display. There are pretty cool visuals throughout the course, including great animatronics of Buzz Lightyear and the Evil Emperor Zurg. Shooting targets as though you are part of the ride makes for a very unique experience and the keeping of the scores makes for some competitive fun. There's a magical feel when you get to help a popular Toy Story character on his all important mission to save the universe!

5. Matterhorn Mountain Bobsleds:

1. Wait Time - 4 stars

2. Thrill Level - 4 stars

3. Uniqueness - 4 stars

4. Visuals - 3 stars

5. Ride Magic - 3 stars

Total score = 18 out of 25

This ride loads from 2 sides and moves along at a decent pace. Compared to the other big rides, the wait is very reasonable. The Matterhorn will offer you plenty of thrills as you speed through a track that includes sharp turns that swing you from side to side. While there may be plenty of tracks like this one, they aren't in a realistic looking mountain and that's what makes this ride so unique. The visuals are nothing to get too excited about, but there is a monster that makes a couple of appearances and of course the mountain itself. There isn't much magic for this ride, but that's ok because it's not what they were going for anyways.

4. Space Mountain

1. Wait Time - 2 stars

2. Thrill Level - 5 stars

3. Uniqueness - 4 stars

4. Visuals - 4 stars

5. Ride Magic - 3 stars

Total score = 18 out of 25

Space Mountain is one of Disneyland's most popular attractions. Without a doubt, this is number 1 on many peoples' list and I can see why. Throughout the ride you get to go at a fast speed while taking sharp turns and sudden drops. This is a unique ride because you do it all while almost in total darkness. Disneyland recently refurbished this ride with new technology to give it an even better look and feel of true space. While this is a great ride, it doesn't have a lot of ride magic but again I don't think it is their intention or they would have themed it after a popular Disney movie or character. When all is said and done, this ride rocks!

3. Splash Mountain

1. Wait Time - 2 stars

2. Thrill Level - 5 stars

3. Uniqueness - 4 stars

4. Visuals - 4 stars

5. Ride Magic - 4 stars

Total score = 19 out of 25

Now, to my personal favorite ride at Disneyland, Splash Mountain! The popularity of this ride, along with slow loading times, make for one of the longest waits in the park. The best thing to do is to get a fast pass early in the morning so you can bypass the lines around noon, just when it starts to get really hot. The big 50 foot drop makes for the biggest thrill in the park. You can certainly find other log rides throughout the country, but the mountain built around this one is phenomenal. Throughout the ride there are plenty of interesting critters to amuse you and they even play a catchy tune to match these critters. That is part of the reason why there is plenty of magic to this ride. Just writing about it makes me want to go and I can't help but smile as I imagine all the animals singing along in their little community. "How do you do?..."

2. Indiana Jones

1. Wait Time - 3 stars

2. Thrill Level - 4 stars

3. Uniqueness - 5 stars

4. Visuals - 5 stars

5. Ride Magic - 4 stars

Total score = 21 out of 25

The wait can vary a lot but you can usually find a time when it's not too long for a ride of this caliber. Riding along in this adventure SUV will give you plenty of thrills as it stops, starts, and twists and turns suddenly. Indiana Jones is the most unique ride I've ever seen. Its hydraulic system is truly ingenious and I doubt you'll find anything like it at other theme parks. The visuals are phenomenal. From the very start it already feels like you're walking through a real temple when you're making your way through the line. And once you're on the ride, skulls, snakes, rats, and booby traps are just some of the things that can be spotted throughout. These visuals and the unique vehicle you get to ride in gives the ride a truly magical feel as it allows you to relive the Indiana Jones movie.

1. Pirates of the Caribbean

Wait Time - 5 stars

Thrill Level - 4 stars

Uniqueness - 3 stars

Visuals - 5 stars

Ride Magic - 5 stars

Total score = 22 out of 25

This ride really has it all rolled into one. First off, the boats are large enough to seat 10 or more people and run close to each other. This makes Pirates of the Caribbean Disneyland's best flowing line for the ride. While the actual ride itself is mostly calm, there are still 2 sizeable drops that will give you plenty of thrills. The visuals are awesome as it looks like you are going through an entire city during the days of pirates. With cannons blasting, buildings burning, pirates running about, and treasures cursed, the ride already felt magical. Then Disney released the highly successful Pirates of the Caribbean movies. As a result, everybody's favorite pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow, was added to the ride to give it an extra cherry on top of the already great sundae. Did I mention it also has a catchy theme song too? "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirates life for me!" No Disneyland trip would be complete without going on Pirates of the Caribbean.

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