Top Ten Disneyland!
“To all who come to this happy place, welcome. Disneyland is your land.” - Walt Disney
Well folks, we’ve made it to episode five and we are talking about the OG, the first Disney park…Disneyland! This park is so special to so many people for so many reasons and we are excited to count down our top ten favorite things we’ve experienced in Disneyland Park! Let’s get started!
Jessica’s Top Ten
#10 - The Matterhorn Bobsleds
If you’ve never ridden this, it’s the most rickety, toss you around, “you will have back problems” ride that you will ever experience but it is so fun and it’s almost a right of passage when you visit Disneyland! (unless you do have back problems or are pregnant - then do not ride!)
#9 - Alice in Wonderland
This ride is a classic dark ride but has a bit more of a unique track that goes inside and outside. The ride vehicles are the caterpillar and it’s so cool to go through all the scenes from a film that is, yes a little odd and kind of weird, but that we all like and know!
#8 - Pirates of the Caribbean
This one is special and deserves it’s own mention! It’s the OG pirates! It is a little bit different than the one in Magic Kingdom. You float by the Blue Bayou Restaurant and there are two drops versus one etc. I remember watching a video in the 90’s of Disney sing-a-longs and the pirates song was on it and the video was basically a ride through of the attraction and it just stuck with me for years!
#7 - Walking Around With a Horchata Cold Brew
Okay this is technically cheating because this isn’t a top fave food and drink episode but getting a coffee and wandering around is always a good time but ESPECIALLY the Horchata Cold Brew from Rancho del Zocalo! I think about that a weird amount, it is SO good!
#6 - Toontown
Do not miss Toontown! We didn’t know how good we had it before in Magic Kingdom so when you’re in Disneyland this is a MUST DO! It’s so cute! They’ve now got Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, they’ve got Mickey and Minnie’s houses, there’s a Roger Rabbit attraction, Chip and Dale coaster and more! Even if you don’t have kids it’s still worth going to explore!
#5 - Fantasmic!
I love how close you are to the show! In Disney World you are so far away in the amphitheatre but in Disneyland you are right there! You can see the actors on the ships, you can see the ships coming in and it’s very cool! But I think one of the best things about this show is that you’re so close it feels like you’re a part of it all instead of simply watching a show!
#4 - Storybook Land Canal Boats
I personally think this kind of ride is something that Walt Disney World would not have kept around this long because it’s not technologically advanced or cutting edge but that is exactly why I love so much that Disneyland has kept it. These are the kinds of things I think about, I love that attractions like this simple boat ride are still so loved at Disneyland.
#3 - The Disneyland Railroad
This is truly an attraction in itself, it’s not just a mode of transportation! Though it does have multiple stops you can get on and off at throughout the park it is just as fun to ride all the way around. It kind of makes me look at Walt Disney World’s railroad and go “okay…”
#2 - Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
First of all, the castle. Period. This sweet, charming castle IS Disneyland. Any image you see of Walt in front of the castle, it’s this one. And of course it’s been painted and refurbished but it’s that castle and I always get the goosebumps when I think of that. The walk through itself is beautiful, the scenes are incredible and the story itself is so old school Disney. I just love it.
#1 - Breakfast at the Carnation Cafe on Main Street
I know I know, this is cheating. We aren’t doing food but I don’t care. Sitting outside specifically is key to this one for me. We ate breakfast outside at the Carnation Cafe and sitting there sipping our coffee, people watching and listenin to the sounds of Main Street was the ultimate!
Tyler’s Top Ten
#10 - Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
I absolutely love this ride! A couple things to note: a) it’s way longer than I remember! It’s like a 28 minute ride! b) it’s a little bit claustrophic…but it’s SO magical! There are parts that are underwater, some that aren’t and if you know how it works…please don’t tell me, I’m just going to assume it’s magic! If you do have claustrophic tendencies keep that in mind but it’s so worth it to feel like you’re diving under the sea and you get to see all these fish, coral and animatronics from the movie!
#9 - Mr Toad’s Wild Ride
I just love this one! It used to be in Magic Kingdom but isn’t anymore so whenever we go to Disneyland I don’t want to miss it! It’s a weird movie to begin with and it’s an equally weird but wonderful ride, as is most of the dark rides! Like, are they great rides? Not really. Are they “don’t miss” rides? Not really. But do I think they’re great and I won’t miss them? Yup!!
#8 - Storybook Canal Boats
This is really just a simple boat ride but I really like all these little scenes, they’re so fun! They’re just little dioramas that you float by and it’s just so cute!
#7 - Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk Through
This gives the people what they want! People want in the castle! This is a cute walk though that has dioramas of the story of Sleeping Beauty that you can see and it’s a really cool way to get into the castle!
#6 - The Matterhorn Bobsleds
This ride was so much more thrilling than I thought it would be! Especially knowing that it’s been around since Disneyland’s opening I thought it would be a fun little coaster but it actually was very exhilirating! And there was a moment where the yeti pops out and it actually scared me a little!
#5 - Fantasmic!
My favorite part of this show is the pirate ship! They don’t have that in Walt Disney World and when it comes out and the cannon goes off, oh man..I am done, put me to bed! I love it!
#4 - Haunted Mansion with The Nightmare Before Christmas Overlay
I had heard people talking about this for years and I thought “okay big deal, they put a few different decorations in here for this ‘overlay’” but no! Its like a brand new ride! The last time we were in Disneyland we rode this again and again! And I’m not even a huge Nightmare Before Christmas fan but it is SO cool.
#3 - The Disneyland Railroad
Okay the nostalgia and the little easter eggs throughout this railroad are amazing but what I really think is so amazing are the dioramas! There are massive, intricate scenes that you go by like the Grand Canyon, a whole dinosaur scene and more. I had no idea they were even there, plus when you factor in all the history around Walt’s love of trains…it is so magical.
#2 - Great Moments With Mr. Lincoln
This is another nostalgic, you can only experience in Disneyland things! The history behind this attraction is amazing, they way they developed the audio animatronics, the way that Walt loved this ride and everything to do with it so it’s something I cannot miss!
#1 - Indiana Jones Adventure
Every time I get off this ride I am so pumped! It’s thrilling, it gets the blood pumping and I just love it! It’s the same ride track as Dinosaur in Disney’s Animal Kingdom but of course the overlay is completely different!
We also asked our followers on Instagram what their favorite things in Disneyland Park were and there were TONS of amazing responses! Here’s just a few to add to your list for your next visit!
Eat beignets at golden hour and ride the train around the park!
Ride Big Thunder Mountain during the fireworks!
The canoes!
Dole whip! It tastes the best in Disneyland!
Sitting on Main Street benches for the parade!
Eating ice cream from Gibson Girl whilst sitting on Main Street at the end of the night!
Watching the kids explore Toontown with a cold brew in hand!
Walking down Main Street knowing Walt himself walked them as well!
People watching with a mint julep in New Orleans Square!
Space Mountain, especially when they have overlays like Ghost Galaxy!
Riding the Matterhorn while the fireworks are going on!
Finding all of the Disney characters in “it’s a small world”!
Indiana Jones after Bengal Barbecue!
Be sure to follow us on Instagram to participate in polls, questions and more fun things that may show up in a future podcast episode and/or blog post!
Want to listen to the podcast version of this blog post? Or maybe watch the video? Click one of the options below!
Did you know that the amazing travel agents over at our partner agency People Mover Travel can help you plan your next Disney vacation completely free? That’s right, planning services are totally complimentary! Visit the People Mover Travel website for more information!