You think of Disneyland as a single resort destination. It’s the Happiest Place on Earth! What you may forget is that several themed lands link together to create the theme park. Yes, the sum is better than the parts, but what happens when we examine each land individually? Today, I want to evaluate the various sections of the park to decide which ride is the best in each location. Here are the best attractions at each themed land at Disneyland.
Adventureland
Image: DisneyAdventureland is one of the five themed lands that were present when the park first opened to the public in 1955. Since these are ordered alphabetically, I can tell you that the next themed land and the final two are the latecomers. The original sections have many of the most beloved rides, making them a bit harder to evaluate.
At Adventureland, the choice comes down to an opening day attraction or a 1990s creation based on a 1980s intellectual property that only recently became a Disney license. I’m speaking of Jungle Cruise versus Indiana Jones Adventure, two rides that share the same spirit of adventure with a bit of whimsy.
Despite the Indy license, Temple of the Forbidden Eye has a darker tone. It also lacks the history and significance of Jungle Cruise. I still think of it as the superior attraction, though. I love the ride structure, the exceptional recreation of the Indy universe, and the unprecedented vehicle design. Indiana Jones Adventure is the best attraction at Adventureland.
Critter Country
Image: DisneyI have nothing against Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes or The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh but come on! The answer here is clearly Splash Mountain. When Critter Country debuted in 1972 (as Bear Country), it lacked a formidable attraction. The explanation why is that Disney had humble expectations for this section. It was a repurposing of Indian Village, a subsection of Frontierland.
As Critter Country tried to stand on its own, park planners recognized the lack of an E Ticket attraction as a selling point. All they had were the aforementioned canoes and Country Bear Jamboree.
In 1992, Disney constructed a signature ride, Splash Mountain. And that delightful bath disguised as an attraction is far and away the best thing at Critter Country. For that matter, it’s one of the most entertaining things to do at all of Disneyland. Critter Country is the one themed land where I expect universal consent about the greatest attraction.
Fantasyland
Image: DisneyWelcome to Thunderdome! Out of all the themed lands at Disneyland, Fantasyland has the strongest batch of contenders. Several iconic attractions comprise the deepest roster of any themed land in North America. In the conversation for the best rides are (*deep breath*):
- It’s a Small World
- King Arthur Carrousel
- Mad Tea Party
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Snow White’s Scary Adventures
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
All of these attractions have some combination of greatness and/or historical significance. Five of them have roots that trace back to the opening day of Disneyland…and King Arthur Carrousel goes back even longer! Even if we take out that attraction for being just a carousel and the canal boats for their simplistic nature, that still leaves six seminal Disney attractions.
Personally, I would remove Mad Tea Party from the conversation since it makes me nauseous, and I’ve never been a huge fan of Snow White’s Scary Adventures. As for Peter Pan’s Flight, it’s wonderful but also basic. Disney’s done better with Soarin’ and Avatar Flight of passage, so I can’t justify picking the inferior iteration of the “feels like flying” concept.
Image: DisneyMy short list becomes It’s a Small World, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and Matterhorn Bobsleds. Now, it’s like picking your favorite child or pet. I’m a diehard fan of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, an imaginative attraction that’s pure joy. And I respect and admire the historical significance of It’s a Small World, even if the song is the audio equivalent of rancid meat.
My pick – and I know it’s a controversial one due to the other tremendous options – is Matterhorn Bobsleds. It’s the attraction that triggered the modern roller coaster craze. That’s reason enough to rank it here, but it’s also still such a joyous ride experience. Matterhorn Bobsleds is the sled ride you loved on snow days taken to the extreme. Even against a deep roster of strong contenders, I still view it as the best part of Fantasyland.
Frontierland
Image: DisneyI have a soft place in my heart for Frontierland, the place that paid for most of Disney’s early expansions. The Davy Crockett tie-ins here guaranteed a slew of traffic during the 1950s, back when Disneyland’s fate was far from settled. Still, the pickings are slim at this particular location.
The ride choices come down to Mark Twain’s Riverboat, an opening day attraction, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. I’m sure that Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island also has strong support in some circles, but let’s all get real. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is night and day better than anything else at Frontierland. I would like to see Disney make more of a commitment to restore the themed land that was so critical to the early success of the Happiest Place on Earth.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Image: DisneyThis themed land is the easiest to determine. The “choice” isn’t really a choice unless you absolutely love transportation. The only true attractions available all day are the Disneyland Railroad, Main Street Vehicles, Main Street Cinema, and Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. That’s two things that are the equivalent of the monorail, a theater that plays Disney shorts, and one of the most historically significant attractions at any Disney theme park. You can guess which one wins.
I’m a huge fan of the 1964 New York World’s Fair, the place where this attraction originated. Walt Disney and his Imagineers at WED Enterprises stole the show there with the lifelike recreation of Abraham Lincoln in audio-animatronic form. More than 50 years later, it’s still an inspiring show worthy of admiration. It’s unquestionably the best attraction at Main Street, U.S.A.
Mickey’s Toontown
Image: DisneyUntil Star Wars Land: Galaxy’s Edge finally arrives, this 1993 expansion remains the newest themed land at Disneyland. Yes, it’s been more than 25 years since park planners added something new. Until then, it’s Mickey’s Toontown or nothing.
Along those lines, Homer Simpson proclaims that the “two sweetest words in the English language” are “dee fault.” I mention that because something technically has to win at Mickey’s Toontown, and I’m half-tempted to choose the “nothing” side of the equation. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin never did much for me, but the only two true rides here are Gadget’s Go Coaster, a kiddie coaster, and it. So, the winner at Mickey’s Toontown is Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin…by “dee fault.”
New Orleans Square
Image: DisneyThe decision here is brutal. Two of the most beloved attractions in Disney history reside at New Orleans Square. The Haunted Mansion was envisioned as the anchor for the entire themed land. Due to unforeseen circumstances, Pirates of the Caribbean opened two years ahead of it. These were two of the last attractions that Walt Disney worked on prior to his death, and neither one debuted until after he was gone.
In the annals of theme park history, few attractions earn true name recognition. These rides are ones that even uninterested parties know are hugely popular. Both major attractions at New Orleans Square qualify.
Since I’m forcing myself to pick one in this exercise, I select Haunted Mansion by a narrow margin. It’s the more enjoyable ride and also the one that fits best with the New Orleans Square theme. Yes, pirates were an integral part of Louisiana culture, but Haunted Mansion is the reason why New Orleans Square exists. That’s the x-factor here.
