19 Scariest Rides at Disneyland (Ranked for All Ages)
Disneyland is best known for sweet characters and rides that please kids and kids-at-heart. But there is a more intense side to the Happiest Place on Earth that thrill-seekers appreciate. Roller coasters in Disneyland feature huge drops, special effects, and loop-the-loops. The fear factor isn’t just about speed, though. Plundering pirates, pretend poisonous snakes, and spooky ghosts can make rides seem frightening. Buckle your lap belt because we’re ranking the 19 scariest rides at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure theme parks.
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1. Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout
Location: Avengers Campus in California Adventure. Lightning Lane with Genie+ available. Minimum height: 40 inches.
Although not a roller coaster, Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout tops this list of the scariest rides at Disneyland. You may find the unexpected drops terrifying, especially if it’s your first time on this ride. It plummets riders at speeds up to 39 miles per hour. Did I mention that the biggest fall is a whopping 130 feet?
Long-time fans of Twilight Zone Tower of Terror were horrified when their beloved thrill ride left Anaheim. In 2016, it reopened as Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout. The Guardians’ theming is less creepy and more playful. The ride’s free-falls, however, have become less predictable, more chaotic, and more scream-inducing.
Join Rocket the raccoon hero on a mission to release his fellow guardians from the movie series’ villain, Taneleer Tivan — a.k.a. The Collector. If you’ve got little kids who love the movie but shy away from scary rides, this attraction may be too much for them.
In fact, this ride makes some grown-ups scream and cry involuntarily like babies. Don’t believe me? Watch the video of yours truly below.
For a more mellow version of the same dropping sensation, ride Jumpin’ Jellyfish in Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure Park. (There is a 40-inch height restriction.) If that one’s too scary, do NOT attempt Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout!
2. Incredicoaster
Location: Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure. Lightning Lane with Genie+ and Single Rider Line available. Minimum height: 48 inches.
Formerly California Screamin’, the tallest Disney roller coaster became the Incredicoaster in 2018. Zip through the world of The Incredibles on a high-speed chase to find Jack-Jack on this thrill ride. According to many (including my teens!), this is the best roller coaster at Disneyland.
Take off with a blast, going from zero to 55 miles per hour in just four seconds. This speed makes it the fastest attraction at Disneyland Resort. What’s more, it’s one of the speediest Disney roller coasters anywhere.
Like to do loop-the-loops? Incredicoaster is the only roller coaster that does an inversion in the California Disney theme parks.
3. Space Mountain
Location: Tomorrowland in Disneyland. Lightning Lane with Genie+ available. Minimum height: 40 inches.
Space Mountain tops out at a fairly mellow 28 miles per hour. Riding in the dark, however, increases the scare factor of this popular ride.
Would-be astronauts launch into a faux outer space. Then, you’ll experience rapid turns in total darkness, save for some twinkling stars and special effects. You can’t see where you’re going next, which provides an extra dose of thrill.
There are no significant declines, though. If you loathe that sinking feeling in your stomach caused by big drops, then Space Mountain may be for you.
4. Goofy’s Sky School
Location: Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure. Lightning Lane with Genie+ and Single Rider Line available. Minimum height: 42 inches.
This sweet-looking roller coaster is surprisingly nerve-wracking. It isn’t high speeds that make this one of the top thrill rides, though. In fact, the fastest speed on Goofy’s Sky School is just 27 miles per hour.
Rather, it’s the jolting turns and odd seating. Passengers may feel like they will fall off the ride at any moment. (Of course, with Disney safety measures, you won’t.)
5. Matterhorn Bobsleds
Location: Fantasyland in Disneyland. Lightning Lane with Genie+ and Single Rider Line available. Minimum height: 42 inches.
Board a bobsled ride on a re-creation of the Swiss Matterhorn Mountain. At just 27 miles per hour, it’s not necessarily the speed that will scare your kids on Matterhorn.
Beware of the Yeti! An abominable snowman creature pops up and growls at riders on Disneyland’s oldest roller coaster. Plus, it’s a pretty jerky ride.
6. Splash Mountain
Location: Critter Country in Disneyland. Lightning Lane with Genie+ and Single Rider Line available. Minimum height: 40 inches.
For the most part, Splash Mountain is a mellow journey through the Disney film, The Princess and the Frog. At the end of the ride, however, passengers experience a 50-foot drop, traveling up to 40 miles per hour. There are no seat belts, so hold on tight and brace yourself for a big splash.
My husband and I convinced our kids to ride Splash Mountain with promises of ice cream when they were ages 5 and 8. Years later, I think they may be ready to forgive us.
7. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
Location: Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in Disneyland. Lightning Lane with Genie+ available. Minimum height: 40 inches.
Travel to a galaxy far, far away aboard this new Disneyland ride. Your transport vehicle fights off bad guys like Stormtroopers and Kylo Ren aboard Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
Expect small drops, loud blasts, and intense battles. Motion simulations (similar to Star Tours) may make some riders feel queasy.
If your kids enjoy the Star Wars movies, they can probably handle this ride. As an alternative, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a less intimidating Star Wars ride.
8. Haunted Mansion
Location: New Orleans Square in Disneyland. Lightning Lane with Genie+ available. No height restrictions.
The scariest part of this haunted house is the hanging body that dangles above your head before you even board. If riding with young children, tell them NOT to look up and cover their eyes while in the mysteriously stretching room. The actual ride is a lighthearted haunted house with no jump scares.
After the spooky start, you’ll board slow-moving cars for a tour of a mansion and graveyard haunted by some fairly creepy ghosts. I was horrified by this ride at age 4 when I believed in all the magic of Disney — Mickey Mouse, ghosts, and all.
If you’re unsure whether small children can handle this one, give it a go during a fall visit to Disneyland. That’s when the ride transforms into the more playful Haunted Mansion Holiday with Jack Skellington and other characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas.
9. Radiator Springs Racers
Location: Cars Land in Disney California Adventure. Lightning Lane with Genie+ and Single Rider Line available. Minimum height: 40 inches.
Radiator Springs Racers go up to 40 zippy miles per hour. But there aren’t any huge drops or creepy elements. Check out my video of this ride below.
Sitting in race cars from the Cars movie series, riders take a low-key spin through Radiator Springs. You’ll also take a tour of Ramone’s House of Body Art or Luigi’s Casa Della Tires.
Then it’s time for a race. A different car wins each time. Despite the speed, most nervous riders will like this one. Just make sure kids meet the height requirement before investing in a very long wait.
This is one of Disneyland’s most popular rides, so expect long lines for Radiator Springs Racers. If traveling with teens or brave bigger kids, you may want to do the Single Rider Line.
10. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Location: Frontierland in Disneyland. Lightning Lane with Genie+ available. Minimum height: 40 inches.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is the most easy-going of Disneyland’s full-sized roller coasters. Therefore, it makes a good choice for the whole family to ride together if everyone meets the height requirement.
At 40 miles per hour, it’s faster than some of the other coasters, but there aren’t any crazy drops, loop-the-loops, or scary characters. Plus, it’s a train. And all kids love trains!
11. Pirates of the Caribbean
Location: New Orleans Square in Disneyland. No height restrictions.
Pirates of the Caribbean is another Disney attraction that terrified me as a kid. Pirates shoot (fake) guns right at you. Smart kids probably should be a little afraid of this indoor ride.
And then there’s a creepy voice howling, “Dead men tell no tales.” There are a couple of drops in the dark at the beginning of the boat ride, too.
12. Indiana Jones Adventure
Location: Adventureland in Disneyland. Lightning Lane with Genie+ available. Minimum height: 46 inches.
Enter the Temple of the Forbidden Eye aboard Indian Jones Adventure. This ride doesn’t go extremely fast, but it’s quite an adventure with many twists and turns.
Make-believe bugs and giant snakes add an ick factor. Then there’s a giant boulder that looks like it will crush your vehicle.
The scariest thing about Indiana Jones Adventure may be how often it breaks down. Seriously, beware of wait times that often stretch on and on. This typically happens when something falls on the track and must be retrieved before riding can resume.
13. Grizzly River Run
Location: Grizzly Peak in Disney California Adventure. Lightning Lane with Genie+ and Single Rider Line available. Minimum height: 42 inches.
Want to try whitewater rafting but not sure you can handle the adrenaline rush? Take a spin on Grizzly River Run to see if you’ve got what it takes. There are a few drops, but nothing overwhelming.
The fear of getting doused with water from mini waterfalls adds to the fun. That is unless you’re the only one who gets soaking wet.
It always seems like one passenger per raft gets doused, much to everyone else’s delight. That can be super funny if it’s Daddy getting soaked. Or it could cause a major meltdown if your child is the one who must walk around in soggy socks for the rest of the day.
14. Mad Tea Party
Location: Fantasyland in Disneyland. No height restrictions.
The Mad Tea Party isn’t necessarily everyone’s cup of tea. However, kids and adults who have no fear of motion sickness will enjoy spinning in circles in giant teacups.
Children’s sense of equilibrium tends to readjust faster than it does for us old folks. Keep that in mind before you grab the wheel and send your family into a tizzy.
Fun fact: The Mad Tea Party is one of the original Disneyland attractions. It has been twirling guests since opening day on July 17, 1955.
15. Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree
Location: Cars Land in Disney California Adventure. Minimum height: 32 inches and accompanied by another rider 54 inches or taller.
Similar to a Tilt-A-Whirl, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree sends riders spinning in crazy circles. It’s less dizzying than the Mad Tea Party, though. And in my family’s opinion, it’s a lot more fun. Cars character favorite Mater sings a square-dancing song while you zig this way and zag that way.
Is your family crazy about the Disney Cars movies? Read my tips for visiting Cars Land with kids!
16. Gadget’s Go Coaster
Location: Mickey’s Toontown in Disneyland. Minimum height: 35 inches.
For children too small or scared to brave other Disneyland roller coasters, Gadget’s Go Coaster makes a good first thrill ride. At its fastest, the kiddie coaster goes a reasonable 21.7 miles per hour.
Plus, it’s a short ride. Even timid riders can handle 44 somewhat thrilling seconds.
As of May 2022, Mickey’s Toontown is undergoing refurbishments. It is set to reopen in early 2023.
17. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Location: Fantasyland in Disneyland. No height requirements.
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride typically has a shorter queue than the rest of the rides in Fantasyland. And for good reason. It’s scary.
Why? First of all, it’s a super dark ride. Second, the storyline is freaky and unknown to most kids and adults. It’s based on the 1949 Disney movie, The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad. Lastly, there are jerky movements, loud noises, and a heated room filled with devils.
When my son was a baby, I strapped him into his Baby Bjorn and took him on this Disneyland attraction. Bad idea! He clawed at my face in fear with his little baby nails the whole time.
18. Pixar Pal-A-Round
Location: Pixar Pier in California Adventure. No height restrictions.
Those who fear heights will have a tough time at the 160-foot top of Pixar Pal-A-Round. For the rest of us, it’s a mellow, fun way to get a bird’s eye view of California Adventure Park.
Control freaks and motion sickness sufferers should avoid the swaying gondolas. The line for the fixed gondolas tends to be much shorter anyway.
This is the only attraction that made both my Disneyland scariest rides list and my list of the best rides for babies and toddlers at Disneyland. Ironic, I know.
This Ferris wheel was formerly known as Mickey’s Fun Wheel and the Sunwheel before that.
19. Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
Location: Fantasyland in Disneyland. No height restrictions.
This Fantasyland ride stars Snow White and the seven dwarfs. It used to be named Snow White’s Scary Adventures. I mean, scary is right in the name!
In 2020, the ride was revamped and given its new name, Snow White’s Enchanted Wish. It’s less intimidating to younger guests now. There is still a scene where the Evil Queen looks in a magic mirror, then turns around to reveal a frightening old witch instead. However, Disney eliminated the ride’s jump scares and added LED lighting to make the ride less ominous.
Still, I advise first checking out more lighthearted dark rides if riding with little kids. If children do well on Peter Pan’s Flight and Alice in Wonderland, they might enjoy Snow White’s Enchanted Wish.
FAQs: Disney Roller Coasters and Scary Rides
Which rides and roller coasters in Disneyland are scariest?
It depends on your definition of scary.
When it comes to roller coasters in Disneyland, scariness is in the eye and the stomach of the beholder. Riders who hate inversions will want to avoid Incredicoaster. Hate drops? Steer clear of Guardians of the Galaxy and ride Space Mountain instead.
The make-believe factor and darkness will freak out little ones on rides that adults find innocuous. Pushing children too far to experience scary rides before they’re ready can backfire and lead to a lifelong fear of rides.
Fear of heights and motion sickness also play a role in determining whether a Disneyland ride is scary. But if you like all thrill rides, get in line and have a great time!
Which Disney ride is the fastest?
At speeds up to 65 miles per hour, the fastest Disney ride in the world is Test Track. It’s located in Epcot at Walt Disney World.
Which Disney Parks roller coaster has the biggest drops?
Reaching up to 50 miles per hour, Expedition Everest is one of Disney’s fastest attractions. It’s also the roller coaster with the biggest drops. The ride’s largest decline is a whopping 80 feet. You can find Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom at Disney World.
What is the best time to ride Disneyland roller coasters and other popular rides?
The best times to avoid long waits are early morning when theme parks open.
Also, you can sometimes find shorter standby lines during parades and spectaculars like fireworks or World of Color. Remember that some of Disney’s most popular attractions close during performances.
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Learn More Disney Tips
Disneyland is different with big kids. Read my tips for visiting Disneyland with teens and tweens.
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Are you curious about Disney’s theme park in China? Look at my Shanghai Disneyland tips.
Add Disney flair to your family’s France vacation with these tips for visiting Disneyland Paris with kids.
Keep this List of Disneyland Roller Coasters and Scary Rides
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What do you think are the scariest rides and roller coasters at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure? Let us know in the comments below!
A Note from The Travel Mama: Disneyland has hosted my family at various events over the years. We have paid for many more Disney trips ourselves. All opinions are mine, as always.
I’m think I’m gonna scream.
Me too! 😱 😱 😱
Mr toads wild ride closed in 1998. How old is your son?!
Hi Jocelyn – Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is still up & running at Disneyland in California. You are probably thinking of Magic Kingdom in Florida. My son is now 12 years old.
Would you consider making a list of Disneyland rides that are “safe” for those who hate the feeling of dropping? As someone mentioned earlier, drops terrify me and I don’t like the feeling of my stomach in my throat. I am honestly making my list of what not to ride based on the “drop factor”. Since it will be my first time at Disneyland, I could use a recommendation from someone who is more experienced.
Hi Ingrid – There aren’t too many rides at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure with big drops. I’d suggest avoiding Guardians of the Galaxy (for sure!), Incredicoaster, Goofy’s Sky School, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain. Pirates of the Caribbean has two small drops at the beginning of the ride, but they’re pretty innocuous. Radiator Springs Racers doesn’t have any major drops, but there are a couple of hills that give that drop feeling. Like I say in the story, my mom hates big drops but she loves Space Mountain (even at at 76!) because it lacks major hills. The ride does features some fast turns and minor drops, though. Indiana Jones is really bumpy but I can’t recall any drops. You should be good to go on pretty much any other ride at either park, though! (Besides Jumpin’ Jellyfish in Pixar Pier — but you can tell from looking at it that there will be drops because that’s the whole point of the ride.)
There really are so many mellow rides to enjoy. I’d suggest: Jungle Cruise, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Disneyland Railroad, Finding Nemo Submarine, Haunted Mansion, The Little Mermaid, Toy Story Midway Mania, Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Monster’s Inc., it’s a small world, and any of the dark rides in Fantasyland.
Your blog was very dead on. Impressed!
Thanks! Enjoy all the scary rides at Disneyland!
None of the rides are scary but guardians of galaxy is scary because of the dropping
Guardians of the Galaxy definitely terrifies me!
Awesome list. I would agree that the Guardians of the Galaxy ride should be #1, although I never technically rode it (only rode it when it was The Tower of Terror). I love quick read lists like these, thanks for sharing!
When I first visited Disneyland as an 8-year old the 1970s, my mother did not allow me to go on the Snow White ride. I resented that omission for YEARS, until I went back as a newly-married adult 20+ years later. I went on that ride, and realized that my mother had been right all along. I would have been terrified and nightmare-ridden if I’d done that ride all those years ago!
Oh my. I’ve heard other people say that they’re terrified of that ride. Maybe I should add it and change the list to “18 Scariest Rides at Disneyland”! Have you ridden Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride? In my opinion, it’s the scariest of the Fantasyland dark rides!
I am definitely not one for scary rides. Motion sickness gets the better of me. They look like fun.
The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean sound like more your speed, Sherry!
My daughters would love these rides. They enjoy the thrill of it all.
This is such a great list! My son loves all the thrill rides too so I get to have a buddy!
So great that you and your son can enjoy Disneyland’s scariest rides together!
I have been to Disney Paris and I really liked Space Mountain and Tower of Terror. Reading this blog wants me to go again to experience that. 🙂
Mangesh – It has been about 20 years since I visited Disneyland Paris. I hope I can visit again soon!
Reading this has made me feel like heading to Disney immediately for some awesome rides! I know I loved Space Mountain when I was a kid but there are bigger and better rides now for sure.
If you love thrill rides, you’ll have to give Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout and California Screamin’ a try!
This is good to know for when bringing the family. I hate when its behind closed doors and you dont know what to expect.
Glad to be able to provide some tips on navigating which rides will work or not work for your family, Tess!