Across from Disneyland, you’ll find Disney California Adventure Park. It’s accurately named with some of the most thrilling attractions available at the Disneyland Resort, but with so much to do, you might be wondering whic California Adventure roller coasters and rides are worth the wait.
Instead of a castle as the main visual symbol of the park, Disney California Adventure — or DCA — has Pixar Pier, which is home to the Incredicoaster and swinging Ferris wheel. Both attractions are thrilling, but do you necessarily want to spend your theme park day waiting in a line to ride them? To help you plan out your “best day ever,” here is a ranking of the best attractions at California Adventure.
The newest attraction in Avengers Campus is slightly underwhelming if you’re looking for thrills. It’s basically Toy Story Midway Mania, but with Spider-Man. It’s worth the wait if you’re an MCU fan and want to spot hidden Marvel Easter eggs or check out Tom Holland in the pre-show, but I suggest you wait for a time when the standby line is shorter.
For a true thrill, don’t sleep on the Pixar Pal-A-Round Ferris wheel. The swinging cars really do swing you around, and you can get some amazing views of the entire park. However, this ride is not for everyone to stomach.
There’s truly nothing like Soarin’, which has you flying over some of the most amazing locations around the world. You can even smell the grass in Africa and ocean in the South Pacific! As beloved as this ride is, the wait is usually long, even if you have Genie+ — aka Disney’s newest FastPass-like service.
Another underrated ride at California Adventure is the Silly Symphony Swings located at the end of Pixar Pier. This carnival-like swinging ride is thrilling, fun, and usually has a short wait time. Just like the Ferris wheel, you also get amazing views of the park as you fly around.
It may be a dark ride, but The Little Mermaid attraction at California Adventure is a must-do. You’ll want to sing along as you journey through the retelling of the animated Disney classic. The best part is this ride is a great place to escape the heat and usually has a shorter wait time.
The one roller coaster in California Adventure is a must. It has a terrific Incredibles story you can follow along as you travel through tunnels and around a 360-degree loop that spans the entire Pixar Pier. Plus, the wait is usually not that bad.
The best attraction is the Guardians of the Galaxy ride. What was once Tower of Terror is now a completely immersive drop ride within the MCU. Since there are six different songs and storylines, each time you ride feels like a new experience. Even the queue is full of Marvel Easter eggs for fans to see.