Best Rides at Disneyland / Disney World
#14 Summit Plummet
Especially popular during the summer, this flagship attraction climbs 120 feet high. Once at the top of Mount Gushmore, the only way down is via the free-fall slide, which can reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour! You can only try the slide if your height is above 48 inches. Opened April 1, 1995 at Disney World's (along with the rest of Blizzard Beach).
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15:
It's a Small World
Kicking off this list is the musical boat ride of global peace: It's a Small World. Mainly for its holiday version, which runs from early November through the end of the year. As you travel through the ride, the 300+ animatronic children representing countries from around the world sing "Jingle Bells" and "Deck the Halls" instead of the standard "It's a Small World." The beautiful lights also add to the experience. See this if you can, even if it's not during the holidays. It's one of the rides you need to say you've been on. Opened May 28, 1966 at Disneyland and October 1, 1971 at Disney World.
14:
Summit Plummet
Especially popular during the summer, this flagship attraction climbs 120 feet high. Once at the top of Mount Gushmore, the only way down is via the free-fall slide, which can reach speeds up to 60 miles per hour! You can only try the slide if your height is above 48 inches. Opened April 1, 1995 at Disney World's (along with the rest of Blizzard Beach).
13:
Peter Pan's Flight
An original, Peter Pan's Flight is one of only a few attractions to date back to the theme park's opening in 1955. In it, guests take a spectacular flight over Neverland. In 1983, Disneyland expanded the original version to also include the film's characters, similar to the one that debuted in Orlando's Magic Kingdom in 1971. Opened July 17, 1955 at Disneyland and October 3, 1971 at Disney World.
12:
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
Based on Pixar's "Finding Nemo," this ride brings the submarines back to Disneyland - nearly 10 years after the last version closed in 1998. The new version featuring the Nemo characters officially opened June 11, 2007.
11:
Expedition Everest
Guided by the Himalayan Escapes tour company, passengers are taken through sacred yeti-protected "Everest" mountain. You'll travel both forward and backward on this ride. Opened April 7, 2006 at Disney World's Animal Kingdom.
10:
Jungle Cruise
Takes passengers on a riverboat trip reminiscent of the film "The African Queen." Travel down some of the world's most exotic rivers in Asia, Africa, and South America. Opened July 17, 1955 at Disneyland and October 1, 1971 at Disney World.
9:
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Presently located in Fantasyland, this roller coaster ride takes guests through Matterhorn Mountain and to a face-to-face meeting with the Abominable Snowman. The ride is a 1/100th scale recreation of its namesake in Switzerland. Opened June 14, 1959 at Disneyland.
8:
Indiana Jones Adventure
Motion simulator ride based on the "Indiana Jones" franchise, in which passengers attempt to outrun the wrath of the god Mara. Opened March 4, 1995 at Disneyland. (Inspired by the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular! at Disney World's Hollywood Studios.)
7:
Soarin'
With Soarin', passengers take a flight to California, where they sightsee some of the state's most lovely attractions like the Golden Gate Bridge and Yosemite National Park. Located at Epcot at Disney World, the ride opened on May 5, 2005. (There isn't a Disneyland version, though Soarin' Over California is found at California Adventure.)
6:
Star Tours: The Adventure Continues
Found in Tomorrowland, this is the sequel to the original motion simulator ride based on George Lucas's famed "Star Wars" galactic franchise. Though subtitled "The Adventure Continues," the ride actually takes place earlier in the timeline: between Star Wars III and IV. The original ride followed the saga after Star Wars VI. Opened June 3, 2011 at Disneyland and May 20, 2011 at Disney World's Hollywood Studios theme park.
5:
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Located in Frontierland, this themed roller coaster ride dips, turns, and careens inside and outside of an old deserted mine shaft set in the Old West. Opened September 2, 1979 at Disneyland and November 15, 1980 at Disney World.
4:
Mission: SPACE
Simulator ride at Disney World's Epcot, which rockets guests into outer space for the first manned mission to Mars. Travel in a spacecraft cockpit and experience what the astronauts feel. Opened August 15, 2003 at the Magic Kingdom.
3:
The Haunted Mansion
Located in New Orleans Square, this ride takes guests on a tour of a haunted house as "Grim Grinning Ghosts" spins in the background. Opened August 9, 1969 at Disneyland and October 1, 1971 at Disney World.
2:
Pirates of the Caribbean
Pirates of the Caribbean has been a Disneyland must since it's opening in 1963. Little did they know it would inspire a billion-dollar franchise staring one of the world's biggest stars in Johnny Depp. In 2006, the ride was redesigned to reflect the characters from the films. Note: "Pirates" was the last attraction that Walt Disney helped in designing. Located in Disneyland's New Orleans Square, it opened in the spring of 1967 (March 16). The Walt Disney World version opened December 15, 1973.
1:
Splash Mountain
Woo, Splash Mountain! Did you know, many of the animatronic animals in the original Disneyland ride were actually taken from another ride that had recently closed at the time: America Sings. What's more, the story is based on the adventures of Br'er Rabbit from the Disney film "Song of the South," a film that hasn't yet been released on video or DVD. Opened July 17, 1989 at Disneyland and October 2, 1992 at Walt Disney World.
