Headed to Disneyland? Knowing your priorities is the key to success. Here are the best California Adventure rides and how to get on them fast!
Disney's California Adventure is a separate park, located just across from Disneyland's turnstiles. This fun park is the home of everything Pixar and Marvel. It has enough top-notch attractions to fill at least one full day of your Disneyland vacation.
Here are the best California Adventure rides, roughly in the order that I would do them. Arrive 30 minutes before the park opens, or stay late, to make the most of short lines and FASTPASS!
Radiator Springs Racers
Radiator Springs Racers is one of the best rides anywhere. Riders are seat belted into a six-seat convertible and treated to a scenic tour of Ornament Valley, followed by a twisting and turning nighttime adventure through the Cars universe. The finale is a high speed race against riders in the next car.
- Avoid the Standby line. It's nearly always long.
- Use FASTPASS/MaxPass or Single Rider instead.
- Single Riders must be age 7+ and able to ride independently.
- Rider Switch available.
Related: The BEST Rides at Disneyland
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT
Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT replaced Twilight Zone Tower of Terror in 2017. My family liked Tower of Terror, but we LOVE the update.
Mission: BREAKOUT has all the vertical shoots and drops of the old ride, with a fun Guardians of the Galaxy story and classic rock soundtrack that are less spooky. Mission: BREAKOUT has six different sound tracks, videos and motion sequences, so every ride is a little different.
- Do this one just before or after Radiator Springs in the morning. Standby lines may be under 20 minutes.
- Use FASTPASS/MaxPass to avoid long lines. These can run out by afternoon.
- Rider Switch available.
Related: 30+ Tips for Saving Money at Disneyland
Toy Story Midway Mania!
Toy Story Midway Mania! is so fun for families of all ages. It's a moving carnival midway hosted by Toy Story characters where you shoot virtual targets and compete against other riders.
- FASTPASS/MaxPass available.
- Look for shorter lines early and late in the day.
- No height or age restrictions.
Incredicoaster
This fun re-imagined roller coaster is one of the longest in the United States. It's a traditional coaster with several tunnels that feature the family from Incredibles, who are trying to catch up with Jack-Jack.
- FASTPASS/MaxPass and Single Rider are available for this ride.
- Single Riders must be age 7+ and able to ride independently.
- Standby lines may not be bad in the middle of the day, depending on crowds.
- Rider Switch available.
Related: When and How to Use MaxPass
Soarin' Around the World
Soarin' Around the World used to be Soarin' over California, but a 2016 update means new sights, sounds and smells for virtual travelers.
This ride is thrilling and gentle at the same time. Your seat will rise into the air in front of a huge screen and move smoothly throughout the ride to simulate the experience of flying over the world's most famous landmarks.
- You may find short Standby lines early and late in the day.
- Use FASTPASS/MaxPass, but after you get other priority rides out of the way.
- Rider Switch available.
Related: Tips for Seeing the Frozen Show at California Adventure
Grizzly River Run
Grizzly River Run is a classic water raft ride with Disney's attention to detail. The scenery is exquisite as you run rapids and slide down a waterfall in a circular raft that turns freely throughout the ride.
- Expect to be completely soaked.
- Free 2-hour lockers are available nearby.
- Consider packing plastic rain ponchos.
- Standby lines are usually short early and late in the day, and in cool weather.
- Use FASTPASS/MaxPass or Single Rider lines to cut long wait times.
- Rider Switch available.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About the Official Disneyland App
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure
The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure is a classic Disney dark ride on a large and lavish scale. It retells the story from The Little Mermaid movie. If you love the movie, you'll love the ride.
- Wait times are usually short.
- No FASTPASS/MaxPass available.
- No height or age restrictions.
Related: Why We Love Mobile Ordering at Disneyland
Pixar Pal-a-Round
This ferris wheel is the center of Pixar Pier and the backdrop for the nightly World of Color show. You can get a great view of California Adventure and the surrounding area from high above the park. You can get a Swinging or Non-Swinging car. I think that Swinging is more fun, but the line is usually longer.
- The Non-Swinging Line moves faster because it's less popular
- This ride is not as popular as others, but capacity is limited and the line moves slowly.
- No FASTPASS/MaxPass available.
- No height or age restrictions
Goofy's Sky School
Goofy's Sky School is a wild and crazy ride tucked away in a corner of Paradise Pier. It features lots of fast twists, turns and drops. This thrill ride will not be a favorite for most adults, but my kids were delighted to ride it three times in a row (without us) one morning because there was no line at all.
- FASTPASS/MaxPass is available, but save it for later in the day
- Rider Switch available.
Coming Soon… Avengers Campus
Disneyland has announced a Spider-Man attraction for it's new Avengers Campus, which will open in California Adventure in 2020. When it opens, expect it to swing to the top of this list!
Conclusion
On our most recent trip, my family had one last day to choose between Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. We chose California Adventure because Guardians of the Galaxy, Radiator Springs Racers, Soarin' and Toy Story Midway Mania! were the rides that we most wanted to enjoy again.
Going with your priorities in mind is one of the most important keys to a successful Disneyland trip. I hope this list helps your family choose the rides that are most important to you, and have a wonderful time at California Adventure!
Happy travels!
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It was really tough to leave a few great rides off this list. Did I miss your favorite? If so, please share it in the comments, along with your tips for doing it right.
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