I have been to Disneyland over ten times so you could say I’m a fan, which is why I am so excited for Garrett and my upcoming trip to SoCal with my best friend, Paige, and her new boyfriend, Andrew! Garrett and I have been to Disney many times together, and Paige and I went a couple times when we were younger. However, Andrew hasn’t been since he was a kid, and has pretty much no memory of that trip. I’m so excited to have this opportunity to show him Disneyland the right way!
But it got me thinking… are there Disney attractions that I normally skip that are more of a priority for a “first-timer” like Andrew? What do we need to make sure he sees? So, I came up with this list of top Disneyland attractions that any first-timer must see!
Note: This list is only for Disneyland proper (not California Adventure), and is geared a bit more towards adults than children. If you have children going for the first time, you will probably want to spend a lot more time in Fantasyland and Toon Town!
Meet Mickey Mouse
One of my favorite parts of visiting Disney is meeting characters. The Disney staff do so much to make every visitors experience truly magical, and character interaction is one of the areas that they shine in. Feel free to swap in your favorite character… there are opportunities to meet so many of your favorite faces! Make sure to get an autograph, and to take tons of pictures!
Fantasmic!
Fantasmic! is the original Disney nighttime spectacular. It incorporates water, fireworks, animatronics, live actors, lights, boats, and mist-screen projections. It is just as amazing as it sounds! It chronicles Mickey Mouse’s journey through his imagination, where he fights against classic Disney villains. Even better, Disneyland has offered a variety of dining events over the years that give you premiere seating to the show! In the past, they had a pretty cool dessert party, but as of today, they offer several dining package FastPass options. If you’re going to attend a single show or parade in Disneyland, this is the one!
Space Mountain
I’m a little biased here because it is one of my favorite rides ever, but I think that Space Mountain is required riding for everyone over 90″ tall! It is a unique coaster experience; it takes place totally in the dark! It starts off with a rocket launch that shoots you out into space, where you have a magical ride through the stars. For folks like me who have terrible eyesight AND are shorter, I recommend asking your line attendant for a front-row seat!
Tiki Room + Dole Whip
I honestly haven’t seen the Tiki Room show in many years; it’s not a show I make a priority anymore. BUT, I will be insisting we visit it for this trip, as any newbie to Disney must experience this one first hand! What is better than a bunch of tropical birds singing? Especially such catchy songs! Well… there might be one thing better… the Dole Whip! Grab yourself a Dole Whip from the Tiki Bar outside of the Tiki Room before or after the show. While it may just be pineapple soft serve and pineapple juice, this is one Disney treat that is always a must!
Splash Mountain
Splash Moutain is an iconic water ride that takes you through a lesser-known (for valid reasons) Disney story. While many first-timers might not recognize the songs and characters shown through this cutesy log-flume ride, these songs become iconic to Disney fans. “Laughing Place” will get stuck in your head, and you’ll suddenly want to find a fox to hug! The ride climaxes with the iconic ascent to the top of the mountain, accompanied by a sharp change in tone, with a fun drop that will get you wet! Splash Mountain is always a must, but especially on hot days!
Peter Pan’s Flight
Possibly the best dark-ride in Disneyland, Peter Pan’s Flight takes many by surprise the first time through. While more modern attractions have embraced alternatives to the classic concept, Peter Pan’s Flight was one of the first to upend the idea of a dark ride. Instead of riding on a track, your cart hangs from a track while you fly through London and off to Neverland! Because of this, Peter Pan’s Flight has surprisingly long lines, and because of its location, there isn’t a lot of room to add distractions to the queue, unlike some other long-lined rides. I recommend visiting this ride early or late in your day.
Mad Tea Party / Dumbo The Flying Elephant / It’s a Small World
I know I’m cheating by including several rides into one here, but I’m doing it because these are all rides I never go on anymore. As adults, they’re really not necessary. That said, for a newbie, I would recommend all three. Maybe I wouldn’t insist, but if any of these three classic Disney rides jump out at you, make sure to find some time to do it!
Haunted Mansion
If you’ve never visited before, you might find the Haunted Mansion to be a mismatched theme for Disney, but this iconic experience has existed since 1969. I would give a warning to those with kids, as even the pre-ride events are pretty scary; this is a ride where the queue is part of the experience! Once you enter your “doom buggy,” you will tour through the mansion and grounds, where 99 ghosts will entertain you with frightful frights and ghoulish delights.
Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise is a really special attraction because, while it has the format of a ride (you get in a boat which moves through a “track”), it’s almost more like a show! Your boat captain, a Disney cast member, talks you through your travels through the jungles of Asia, Africa, and South America. Their routine is full of corny dad jokes and dumb puns, but it really makes the ride more than just a simple boat ride through an animatronic jungle.
Pirates of the Caribbean
With the success of the Pirates of the Caribean movie franchise, some might not realize that the ride came first! The Pirates of the Caribean ride is a classic but has been updated with several references to the movies that will please fans. It’s a necessary ride for all first-timers because of it’s iconic pirate scenes, deep immersion, and most importantly… it’s cold inside! This is a great one to hit up when the weather has become too much and you want to be inside in the dark.
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