Disneyland is greatest recognized for candy characters and rides that please children and kids-at-heart. However there’s a extra intense aspect to the Happiest Place on Earth that thrill-seekers recognize. Curler coasters in Disneyland characteristic large drops, particular results, and loop-the-loops. The worry issue isn’t nearly velocity, although. Plundering pirates, fake toxic snakes, and spooky ghosts could make rides appear scary. Buckle your lap belt as a result of we’re rating the 19 scariest rides at Disneyland and Disney California Journey theme parks.
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1. Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout
Location: Avengers Campus in California Journey. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Multi Move and Single Move. Minimal top: 40 inches.
Though not a curler coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout tops this listing of the scariest rides at Disneyland. You could discover the surprising drops terrifying, particularly if it’s your first time on this experience. It plummets riders at speeds as much as 39 miles per hour. Did I point out that the largest fall is a whopping 130 ft?
Lengthy-time followers of Twilight Zone Tower of Terror have been horrified when their beloved thrill experience left Anaheim. In 2016, it reopened as Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout. The Guardians’ theming is much less creepy and extra playful. The experience’s free-falls, nevertheless, have develop into much less predictable, extra chaotic, and extra scream-inducing.
Be part of Rocket the raccoon hero on a mission to launch his fellow guardians from the film collection’ villain, Taneleer Tivan — a.okay.a. The Collector. If you happen to’ve received little children who love the film however draw back from scary rides, this attraction could also be an excessive amount of for them.
In truth, this experience makes some grown-ups scream and cry involuntarily like infants. Don’t imagine me? Watch the video of yours actually under.
Throughout Halloween season, the experience transforms into Guardians of the Galaxy – Monsters After Darkish, that includes darker theming and a mission to rescue Groot from terrifying creatures.
For a mellower model of the identical dropping sensation, experience Jumpin’ Jellyfish in Paradise Gardens at Disney California Journey Park. (There’s a 40-inch top restriction.) If that one’s too scary, do NOT try Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!
2. Incredicoaster
Location: Pixar Pier in Disney California Journey. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Multi Move and Single Rider Line. Minimal top: 48 inches.
Previously California Screamin’, the tallest Disney curler coaster turned the Incredicoaster in 2018. Zip by means of the world of The Incredibles on a high-speed chase to seek out Jack-Jack on this thrill experience. In response to many (together with my teenagers!), that is the most effective curler coaster at Disneyland.
Take off with a blast, going from zero to 55 miles per hour in simply 4 seconds. This velocity makes it the quickest attraction at Disneyland Resort. What’s extra, it’s one of many speediest Disney curler coasters anyplace.
Love to do loop-the-loops? Incredicoaster is the solely curler coaster that does an inversion within the California Disney theme parks.
3. Area Mountain
Location: Tomorrowland in Disneyland. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Multi Move. Minimal top: 40 inches.
Area Mountain tops out at a reasonably mellow 28 miles per hour. With a experience time of roughly 2 minutes and 45 seconds, Area Mountain gives one of many longest-lasting adrenaline experience experiences at Disneyland.
Driving at midnight will increase the scare issue of this common experience. Would-be astronauts launch into a fake outer area. Then, you’ll expertise speedy turns in almost whole darkness, save for some twinkling stars and particular results. You possibly can’t see the place you’re going subsequent, which supplies an additional dose of thrill.
There are no important hills, although. If you detest that sinking feeling in your abdomen brought on by huge drops, then Area Mountain could also be for you.
Throughout Halloween season, Disneyland transforms Area Mountain into Area Mountain: Ghost Galaxy, a spooky overlay with eerie visuals, sound results, and a haunting storyline.
4. Goofy’s Sky College
Location: Paradise Gardens Park in Disney California Journey. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Multi Move and Single Rider Line. Minimal top: 42 inches.
This sweet-looking curler coaster is surprisingly nerve-wracking. It isn’t excessive speeds that make this one of many prime thrill rides, although. In truth, the highest velocity on Goofy’s Sky College is simply 27 miles per hour.
As a substitute, it’s the jolting turns and odd seating. Passengers could really feel like they are going to fall off the experience at any second. That’s as a result of the experience makes use of sharp switchbacks and elevated observe edges that create the phantasm of teetering over the aspect. (In fact, with Disney security measures, you received’t.)
5. Matterhorn Bobsleds
Location: Fantasyland in Disneyland. Lightning Lane with Genie+ and Single Rider Line out there. Minimal top: 42 inches.
Board a bobsled experience on a re-creation of the Swiss Matterhorn Mountain. At simply 27 miles per hour, it’s not essentially the velocity that can scare your children on Matterhorn.
Watch out for the Yeti! An abominable snowman creature pops up and growls at riders on Disneyland’s oldest curler coaster. Plus, it’s a reasonably jerky experience.
6. Tiana’s Bayou Journey
Location: Critter Nation in Disneyland. Opening in 2026. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Multi Move. Minimal top: 40 inches.
This upcoming attraction replaces Splash Mountain and brings the magic of The Princess and the Frog to life. Riders will be a part of Princess Tiana and mates on a musical journey by means of the bayou, culminating in an exhilarating 50-foot drop at speeds as much as 40 miles per hour. Whereas the theming is joyful and vibrant, the ultimate plunge nonetheless delivers a severe splash and a dose of adrenaline.
With guarantees of ice cream, my husband and I satisfied our youngsters to experience this attraction, then referred to as Splash Mountain, after they have been 5 and eight years outdated. Years later, I feel they might be able to forgive us.
7. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Single Move. Minimal top: 40 inches.
Journey to a galaxy far, far-off aboard this new Disneyland experience. Your transport automobile fights off unhealthy guys like Stormtroopers and Kylo Ren aboard Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Anticipate small drops, loud blasts, and intense battles. Movement simulations (much like Star Excursions) could make some riders really feel queasy.
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is extensively thought-about an 18-minute expertise, making it one of many longest and most immersive rides at Disneyland. The precise experience automobile portion lasts about 4 to five minutes. Nonetheless, the complete expertise spans about 15 to 18 minutes, from preliminary briefing to last exit, relying on crowd circulation and timing.
In case your children benefit from the Star Wars motion pictures, they’ll in all probability deal with this experience. As a substitute, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a much less intimidating Star Wars experience.
8. Haunted Mansion
Location: New Orleans Sq. in Disneyland. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Multi Move. No top restrictions.
The scariest a part of this haunted home is the hanging physique that dangles above your head earlier than you even board. If using with younger youngsters, inform them NOT to lookup and canopy their eyes whereas within the mysteriously stretching room. The precise experience is a lighthearted haunted home with no soar scares.
After the spooky begin, you’ll board slow-moving automobiles for a tour of a mansion and graveyard haunted by some pretty creepy ghosts. I used to be horrified by this experience at age 4, after I believed in all of the magic of Disney — Mickey Mouse, ghosts, and all.
If you happen to’re uncertain whether or not babies can deal with this one, give it a go throughout a fall go to to Disneyland. For Halloween and Christmas, the experience transforms into Haunted Mansion Vacation, a extra playful model that includes Jack Skellington and different characters from The Nightmare Earlier than Christmas.
9. Radiator Springs Racers
Location: Vehicles Land in Disney California Journey. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Single Move and Single Rider Line. Minimal top: 40 inches.
Radiator Springs Racers go as much as a zippy 40 miles per hour. However there are no large drops or creepy parts. Take a look at my video of this experience under.
Sitting in race automobiles from the Vehicles film collection, riders take a low-key spin by means of Radiator Springs. You’ll additionally take a tour of Ramone’s Home of Physique Artwork or Luigi’s Casa Della Tires.
Then it’s time for a race. A special automobile wins every time. Regardless of the velocity, most nervous riders will like this one. Simply be sure children meet the peak requirement earlier than investing in a really lengthy wait.
That is one in every of Disneyland’s hottest rides, so anticipate lengthy traces for Radiator Springs Racers. If you happen to’re touring with teenagers or older children, think about using the Single Rider Line.
10. Large Thunder Mountain Railroad
Location: Frontierland in Disneyland. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Multi Move. Minimal top: 40 inches.
Large Thunder Mountain Railroad is the least intense of Disneyland’s full-sized curler coasters. Subsequently, it makes a good selection for the entire household to experience collectively if everybody meets the peak requirement.
At 40 miles per hour, it’s quicker than a few of the different coasters, however there are NO loopy drops, loop-the-loops, or scary characters. Plus, it’s a practice. And most children love trains!
11. Pirates of the Caribbean
Location: New Orleans Sq. in Disneyland. No top restrictions.
Pirates of the Caribbean is one other Disney attraction that terrified me as a child. Pirates shoot (faux) weapons proper at you, and the ambiance is surprisingly intense for a ship experience. Savvy younger youngsters could discover this indoor journey scary.
After which there’s a creepy voice howling, “Useless males inform no tales.” There are a couple of drops at midnight firstly of the boat experience, too.
12. Indiana Jones Journey
Location: Adventureland in Disneyland. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Multi Move. Minimal top: 46 inches.
Enter the Temple of the Forbidden Eye aboard Indian Jones Journey. This experience doesn’t attain excessive speeds, however anticipate a tough experience, with sudden stops, sharp turns, and loads of bumps alongside the way in which. Make-believe bugs and large snakes add an ick issue. Then comes the second when a large boulder seems able to crush your automobile.
The scariest half could also be how typically this experience breaks down. Pay attention to lengthy wait instances that always final for a substantial period of time. This usually happens when an object falls onto the observe and have to be retrieved earlier than using can resume.
13. Grizzly River Run
Location: Grizzly Peak in Disney California Journey. Lightning Lane entry out there by way of Single Move and Single Rider Line. Minimal top: 42 inches.
Wish to attempt whitewater rafting however undecided you possibly can deal with the adrenaline rush? Take a spin on Grizzly River Run to see if you happen to’ve received what it takes. It’s a rough-and-tumble water experience, with spinning rafts, splashes from all sides, and unpredictable twists. There are a couple of drops, however nothing overwhelming.
The worry of getting doused with water from mini waterfalls provides to the enjoyable—except you’re the one who will get soaking moist. It at all times looks as if one passenger per raft will get doused, a lot to everybody else’s delight. That may be tremendous humorous if it’s Daddy getting soaked. Or it might trigger a serious meltdown in case your little one is the one who should stroll round in soggy socks for the remainder of the day.
14. Mad Tea Get together
Location: Fantasyland in Disneyland. No top restrictions.
The Mad Tea Get together isn’t essentially everybody’s cup of tea. Nonetheless, children and adults who should not afraid of movement illness will get pleasure from spinning in circles in large teacups.
Kids’s sense of equilibrium tends to readjust extra rapidly than it does for us older people. Preserve that in thoughts earlier than you seize the wheel and ship your loved ones right into a tizzy.
Enjoyable reality: The Mad Tea Get together is likely one of the authentic Disneyland points of interest. It has been twirling visitors since opening day on July 17, 1955.
15. Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
Location: Vehicles Land in Disney California Journey. Minimal top: 32 inches when accompanied by one other rider 54 inches or taller.
Just like a Tilt-A-Whirl, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree sends riders spinning in loopy circles. It’s much less dizzying than the Mad Tea Get together. And in my household’s opinion, it’s much more enjoyable. Vehicles character favourite Mater sings a square-dancing tune when you zig this fashion and zag that approach.
Is your loved ones loopy concerning the Disney Vehicles motion pictures? Learn my suggestions for visiting Vehicles Land with children!
16. Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster
Location: Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland. Minimal top: 35 inches.
For youngsters too small or nervous to courageous Disneyland’s larger curler coasters, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster makes a nice first thrill experience. Previously Gadget’s Go Coaster, this experience was re-themed and reopened in 2023 as a part of the reimagined Mickey’s Toontown. At its quickest, this fun-sized coaster reaches an affordable 21.7 miles per hour. Plus, it’s brief. Even timid riders can deal with 44 seconds of twists, turns, and giggles.
17. Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey
Location: Fantasyland in Disneyland. No top necessities.
Mr. Toad’s Wild Journey usually has a shorter queue than the remainder of the rides in Fantasyland. And for good purpose—it’s surprisingly scary.
Why? To start with, it’s a tremendous darkish experience. Second, the storyline is freaky and unknown to most children and adults. It’s based mostly on the 1949 Disney film, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. Lastly, there are jerky actions, loud noises, and a heated room crammed with devils.
When my son was a child, I strapped him into his Child Bjorn and took him on this Disneyland attraction. Unhealthy thought! He clawed at my face in worry together with his little child nails the entire time.
18. Pixar Pal-A-Spherical
Location: Pixar Pier in California Journey. No top restrictions.
Those that worry heights could have a troublesome time on the 160-foot peak of Pixar Pal-A-Spherical. For the remainder of us, it’s a mellow, scenic technique to get a fowl’s-eye view of California Journey Park.
Management freaks and movement illness victims beware: the swaying gondolas should not for the faint of abdomen. The road for the mounted gondolas tends to be a lot shorter anyway.
That is the one attraction that made each my Disneyland scariest rides listing and my listing of the greatest rides for infants and toddlers at Disneyland. Ironic, I do know.
This Ferris wheel was previously often called Mickey’s Enjoyable Wheel, and earlier than that, the Solar Wheel.
19. Snow White’s Enchanted Want
Location: Fantasyland in Disneyland. No top restrictions.
This Fantasyland experience stars Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. It was once referred to as Snow White’s Scary Adventures—I imply, scary was proper within the title!
In 2020, the experience was revamped and renamed Snow White’s Enchanted Want. It’s much less intimidating to youthful visitors now. There’s nonetheless a scene the place the Evil Queen seems to be right into a magic mirror, then turns round to disclose a scary outdated witch, however Disney eradicated the soar scares and added LED lighting to make the experience much less intimidating to youngsters.
Nonetheless, I like to recommend beginning with extra lighthearted darkish rides if you happen to’re touring with little children. If youngsters do properly on Peter Pan’s Flight and Alice in Wonderland, they could get pleasure from Snow White’s Enchanted Want.
20. Jumpin’ Jellyfish
Location: Paradise Gardens Park in Disney California Journey. Minimal top: 40 inches.
Float excessive above Paradise Bay aboard a colourful jellyfish, then gently float your approach again down. This parachute-style experience reaches an elevation of roughly 40 ft. The descent velocity is gentle, however the top may intimidate younger youngsters. Additionally, some riders could not like that fluttery drop of their stomachs—like a mini free fall.
FAQs: Disney Curler Coasters and Scary Rides
Which rides and curler coasters in Disneyland are scariest?
It will depend on your definition of scary. Relating to curler coasters in Disneyland, scariness is within the eye—and abdomen—of the beholder.
The make-believe issue and darkness can freak out little ones on rides that adults discover completely innocuous. Pushing youngsters too far earlier than they’re prepared can backfire and result in a lifelong worry of rides.
Riders who hate inversions will wish to keep away from Incredicoaster. Hate drops? Avoid Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout and experience Area Mountain as a substitute. Worry of heights and movement illness additionally play a job in figuring out whether or not a Disneyland experience is horrifying. However if you happen to like all thrill rides, get in line and benefit from the journey!
Which Disney experience is the quickest?
At speeds as much as 65 miles per hour, the quickest Disney experience on the planet is Check Observe, positioned in Epcot at Walt Disney World.
Which Disney Parks curler coaster has the largest drops?
Reaching as much as 50 miles per hour, Expedition Everest is one in every of Disney’s quickest points of interest. It’s additionally the curler coaster with the largest drops. The experience’s most vital decline is a whopping 80 ft. Discover Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Disney World.
What’s the greatest time to experience Disneyland curler coasters and different common rides?
The perfect instances to keep away from lengthy waits are early morning, proper when the theme parks open. Arrive earlier than rope drop to maximise your probabilities of using headliners with minimal delay.
You can too discover shorter standby traces throughout parades and nighttime spectaculars, resembling fireworks or World of Shade. Simply remember that a few of Disney’s hottest points of interest briefly shut throughout these performances, so plan accordingly.
For much more effectivity, think about using Multi Move to order Lightning Lane entry for choose rides.
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Study Extra Disney Ideas
Disneyland is completely different with huge children. Learn my suggestions for visiting Disneyland with teenagers and tweens.
Disney isn’t only for children! Take a peek at romantic issues to do at Disneyland.
Are you interested in Disney’s theme park in China? Have a look at my Shanghai Disneyland suggestions.
Add Disney aptitude to your loved ones’s journey to France with my suggestions for visiting Disneyland Paris with children.
Preserve this Checklist of Disneyland Curler Coasters and Scary Rides
Remember to save this listing of the scariest Disneyland rides for future reference. Simply pin the picture above to Pinterest. Go forward and observe Colleen Travels Between on Pinterest when you’re at it!
What do you suppose are the scariest rides and curler coasters at Disneyland and Disney California Journey? Tell us within the feedback under!
A Observe from Colleen: Disneyland has hosted my household at numerous media occasions through the years. We now have paid for a lot of extra Disney journeys ourselves. All opinions are mine, as at all times.
