Disneyland has so much for EVERYONE to do, see, and experience. While some rides are for all ages, these are some that are more for older kids. Yes, adults are just big kids! Especially when you are at Disneyland! Disneyland is my favorite place! Yes, I buy Mickey Ears on each trip. I also get up super early to get to the park early. Yes, I wait to meet the characters and get super excited about it. And yes, I need my churro, ice cream, and popcorn!
Disneyland is a place where you can be a kid! That being said, we adults like to do some big kid attractions too. Today I would like to give you my top 10 list of attractions for adults (big kids).
Top 10 Attractions for Adults at Disneyland
Disneyland
Starting at the original park, there are eight rides to get this list going.
Pirates of the Caribbean
I know, I know, Pirates of the Caribbean? You may be asking, but, hear me out. This attraction has been open since 1967. It is still extremely popular even today! Disney has even added characters from the movies to this attraction. Captain Jack Sparrow is throughout the attraction (and who doesn’t want him around???) I know this one is good for all ages, but at the same time, it is a lot of fun for adults too!
Some perks to this attraction are that it is in an air-conditioned building and it is twenty-plus minutes long (sitting, sitting!) When you have been wandering the parks all day in the heat, it is a lovely thing to be sitting in the air conditioning while being entertained.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
The second attraction on this list is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This attraction is a roller coaster train ride. It starts in a town called Rainbow Ridge. Then the train starts off and goes through the mine, speeding past some desert animals and lots of dynamite and blasting powder.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad goes 35 mph. However, if you also ride this attraction in the dark, it feels like it goes a lot faster!
Space Mountain
The next attraction on the list is Space Mountain. Space Mountain is a roller coaster ride in the dark! You can see some stars around you as you fly through space. Going 35 mph at times.
Space Mountain will get some different themes at times during the year. During the Fall it is themed for Halloween. They call it Ghost Galaxy. I haven’t been there to ride it during that time. However, I have heard the soundtrack to it and it sounds scary!
Next is the Star Wars theme and they call it Hyperspace Mountain. I was very skeptical at first (I don’t like change), still, I have to say that was the coolest thing ever! You see TIE Fighters and they battle the dark side. You even see the different colors of the lasers being shot all around you! If you are ever at Disneyland during the Hyperspace Mountain, DO NOT MISS IT!
Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
Star Tours originally opened on January 9, 1987. Regrettably, it was closed in 2010 to upgrade the ride and to add new adventures. On the other hand, Star Tours The Adventures Continue opened June 3, 2011. This attraction is a motion simulator ride that takes you to multiple places. Each experience varies every time you ride it too! Unfortunately, I miss the original, but at the same time, the new Star Tours The Adventures Continue is pretty cool as well.
If you have motion sickness, you may want to sit this one out. Unless you take something for that ahead of time like I have to do…
I didn’t as a kid. But now that I am an adult…
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Yo da la he hoo…
First of all, keep an eye out on this mountain during your trip. Sometimes cast members scale down the side of the Matterhorn.
Next, the Matterhorn Bobsleds is a roller coaster ride where you slide down the mountain in a bobsled. Sometimes you are inside the mountain and other times you are outside. Beware of the Abominable Snowman!
The Matterhorn Bobsleds was designed after the real Matterhorn that is in Switzerland. As a matter of fact, it was also the first Tubular Steel roller coaster in the world when it opened in 1959.
Matterhorn Bobsleds is a fun roller coaster. However, you will want to avoid this ride if you have any back issues. It is a jerky ride.
Splash Mountain
Splash Mountain is a log flume ride that is based on the 1946 film Song of the South. This movie is impossible to find. It tells the tale about Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Brer Bear. Splash Mountain is full of audio-animatronic animals. There are some fun surprises along the way, but it is the 50-foot drop that will make you go wide-eyed as you fall into the Briar Patch. However, don’t forget to smile! Disney takes a picture as you are going down and you can purchase it. It makes a great souvenir.
Haunted Mansion
Haunted Mansion is a spooky old place where grim grinning ghosts haunt guests as they ride. There are 999 ghosts. They are always taking applications too!
Haunted Mansion starts out as a walk-through. Then you climb into one of the continuously moving Doom Buggies and ride through the rest of the spooky Mansion. This ride at Disneyland uses parlor tricks to create illusions all through this attraction. Stay close to your loved one and be sure one of the ghosts don’t follow you home!
Indiana Jones Adventure
Indiana Jones is a wonderful adventure to go on! Just beware of snakes. Eeek!
With this ride, you board a motion troop vehicle in search of Indiana Jones. It is a fast ride with quick turns and it is very jerky. Just be aware that if you have certain health conditions then you shouldn’t attempt to ride.
If you would like to know more about Indiana Jones Adventure, here is a recent post I did for its twenty-third anniversary.
California Adventure
In addition to Disneyland, there are a couple of rides in California Adventure that in my opinion, should be included on this list.
Guardians of the Galaxy-Mission: BREAKOUT!
I haven’t been on this ride yet, yet I have been on it. Confusing I know. Let me explain. This ride used to be the Hollywood Tower of Terror. It was wonderfully themed (think Golden Hollywood era) and a very popular attraction. I rode this attraction under this theme. It has recently been replaced with Guardians of the Galaxy-Mission: BREAKOUT! Therefore I haven’t been on the new theme version of this ride. From what I have seen and read online it sounds very cool!
Guardians of the Galaxy-Mission: BREAKOUT! is a stadium seating, free-falling ride. It could be one drop, two drops, or more! Each ride could be very different. This last attraction is a great one for adults.
California Screamin Incredicoaster
Finally is the Incredicoaster. This ride used to be called California Screamin. Consequently, it just recently closed to get a makeover for Pixar Land re-theming. When this ride reopens, it will be called Incredicoaster.
Incredicoaster is a roller coaster that will be themed after the movie Incredibles. This ride is great for adults. As a matter of fact, it is a very fast (55mph), wooden roller coaster with an inverted loop.
In Conclusion
To recap the top 10 list:
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Space Mountain
- Star Tours: The Adventures Continue
- Matterhorn
- Splash Mountain
- Haunted Mansion
- Indiana Jones Adventure
- Incredicoaster
- Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT!
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