Top 70 best of everything in Disneyland, from rides to food, ranked
There’s a lot to celebrate from Disneyland’s first 70 years, including the attractions we love to ride, the foods we love to eat, and the parades and spectaculars that are… well, spectacular. There are even a few hidden gems park guests may overlook. And while it’s difficult to choose a favorite, in honor of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, here are our top 70 best Disneyland rides, shows, food, and magical experiences.
So, hold on to yer hats and glasses, because here we go!
70. ‘Celebrate Happy’ Theme Song
The theme of Disneyland’s 70th-anniversary celebration is “Celebrate Happy,” and the new Jonas Brothers theme song woven through all the anniversary entertainment is a feel-good anthem that celebrates The Happiest Place on Earth.
69. Sleeping Beauty Castle Fountains
Two fountains were added to either side of the Sleepng Beauty Castle moat for the Disney 100 Years of Wonder Celebration, but sadly, they have since been removed.
68. Disney Characters in Small World
Among 500+ international animatronic dolls in Disneyland’s iconic ride are Disney characters, who are placed in the room representing the geographical locations where their stories take place, including both Peter Pan and Alice in the U.K., Lilo and Stitch in Hawaii, and the most recent additions, Miguel and Dante from “Coco,” who just debuted in the ride’s Mexico scene in May 2025.
67. DJ Rex
Despite his questionable track record as a pilot in the original version of Star Tours (which retired about 15 years ago), the R-3X droid known as Captain Rex was still hired as the DJ for Oga’s Cantina when Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened in 2019 (with the late great Paul Reubens once again providing his voice).
66. Christmas Candy Canes
Peppermint haters can skip ahead, but anyone who loves minty treats knows about the annual holiday tradition of securing a Disneyland candy cane. People have been known to rope-drop the queue to be issued a wristband (or, in recent years, a mobile return time) for the chance to purchase these limited-quantity, hand-pulled confections.
65. Snow White’s Grotto
Many park guests probably breeze past Snow White’s Grotto without ever realizing it’s one of Disneyland’s quirkiest hidden gems. Located on the right side of Sleeping Beauty Castle are statues of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs; however, when the statues arrived at Disneyland, they were all the same size, so to make Snow appear taller, Disney Legend John Hench employed the common Disneyland trick of forced perspective by placing Snow White at the top of the waterfall with the dwarfs below.
64. Test Wall
No detail was too small when Disneyland was being built, even the size and shape of the bricks. Hidden at the back of the alleyway behind Market House on Main Street U.S.A. is the “test wall” from which Walt Disney selected the bricks he wanted for his new theme park.
63. Little Man of Disneyland
At the base of a tree near the entrance to Indiana Jones Adventure is a tiny house where the Little Man of Disneyland resides. The story of the leprechaun named Patrick Begorra was first told in a Disney Little Golden Books published in 1955, and every year on St. Patrick’s Day, he decorates his house for the holiday.
62. Banana Popcorn at Kat Saka’s Kettle
Disneyland popcorn has a cult following, but for me, the top pop is the banana-flavored popcorn that occasionally pops up on the menu at Kat Saka’s Kettle in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
61. Pressed Pennies
The smallest (and still most affordable, at $1 each) Disneyland souvenirs are pressed pennies that can be found in machines throughout the park—and sometimes they even still have the hand crank-operated press.
60. ‘Disneyland Forever’
The “Disneyland Forever” nighttime spectacular, introduced for Disneyland’s 60th anniversary celebration, was the first fireworks show to incorporate projection mapping on the façade of Sleeping Beauty Castle and Main Street, U.S.A., technology that has been featured in every Disneyland fireworks show since.
59. Silhouettes on Main Street
Among Disneyland’s best-loved souvenirs are the old-timey silhouettes created by skilled paper artists at The Silhouette Studio on Main Street U.S.A. (now also available at Disneyana).
58. Disney Gallery in New Orleans Square
Before it became the fancy super-exclusive “Dream Suite” in 2007, the space at the top of the stairs above Pirates of the Caribbean was the Disney Gallery, where park guests could see a rotating exhibit of Imagineering concept artwork and models.
57. ‘I’m Celebrating’ Buttons
Whether it’s for a birthday, anniversary, first visit, or any (and every) other occasion, Disneyland’s “I’m Celebrating” buttons make everyone feel special.
56. Flag Retreat Ceremony
An underrated daily experience in Town Square is the Flag Retreat Ceremony (4:15 p.m. daily) where the American flag is lowered and folded while the Disneyland Band and Dapper Dans perform patriotic music as well as the official theme songs for each branch of the U.S. military (park guests who have served in the military are asked to stand as their branch is recognized).
55. Lobster Roll at Harbour Galley
There’s no getting around the fact that Disneyland meals are pricey, so my family would always splurge on the lobster rolls at Harbour Galley across from Haunted Mansion (which are sadly no longer on the menu).
54. Mickey’s Birthday
Nov. 18 is Mickey Mouse’s birthday, and park guests who are lucky enough to be in Disneyland on that special day are treated to a birthday cavalcade (and the chance to sing Happy Birthday to the big cheese). In the past, special Happy Birthday Mickey buttons were also given to guests as party favors.
53. Petrified Tree in Frontierland
The massive tree stump along the Rivers of America in Frontierland is a re-gift from Lillian Disney. During a 1956 trip to the Pike Forest Fossil Beds in Colorado, Walt purchased a five-ton petrified tree for his wife, which she presented to Disneyland the following year, joking that it was “too large for the mantle.”
52. ‘Aladdin & Jasmine’s Story-Tale Adventures’
After the Tahitian Terrace and Aladdin’s Oasis dinner shows closed in Adventureland, the space became the location for “Aladdin & Jasmine’s Story-Tale Adventures,” an interactive live storytelling character show my kids loved so much, we’d sometimes go more than once on the same day.
51. Submarine Voyage
Don’t get me wrong, Nemo and Dory are adorable, but Disneyland’s original Submarine Voyage attraction was far superior to the current screen-heavy Finding Nemo-themed version. After all, animated fish can’t compare to shipwrecks, mermaids, and a sea serpent.
50. People Mover
The neglected track above Tomorrowland is a sad reminder of one of the most beloved Disneyland rides that once was—and that will hopefully return someday (the short-lived Rocket Rods ride was a poor substitute, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise).
49. Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue
While Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is an amazing addition to Disneyland, it came at the cost of Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue, an all-you-care-to-eat barbecue picnic that was also the home of a cute petting zoo, which included Presidential-pardoned turkeys and reindeer at the holidays.
48. Walk in Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps Tour
The “Walt in Walt’s Footsteps Tour” has been replaced with different guided tours over the years (currently “A Story of Celebration: 70th Anniversary Guided Tour”), but the original version took guests through the park land-by-land to share little-known stories about how Walt Disney created the Happiest Place on Earth.
47. Dapper Dans
Few sounds represent Disneyland more than Barbershop harmony on Main Street U.S.A. That’s why one of my top Disneyland tips is: Always stop to listen to the Dapper Dans.
46. “Free Range” Characters
The first time I visited Walt Disney World, I was surprised that characters were stationed in set locations, which in my opinion, is much less magical than the free-range characters at Disneyland (though Disney World is experimenting with some character operations during Cool Kid Summer this year). My personal favorites at Disneyland are Alice and the Mad Hatter, who occasionally recruit kids to play games in the walkway between Pixie Hollow and Alice’s attraction.
45. Monte Cristo Sandwich
Whenever I’m asked “what should I eat at Disneyland?” the battered and fried Monte Cristo sandwich at Café Orleans in New Orleans Square is always on my list (it’s also on the lunch menu at Blue Bayou restaurant inside Pirates of the Caribbean, but at a higher price).
44. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
A shining star of Disneyland’s mountain range, the “wildest ride in the wilderness” brought a much-needed outdoor thrill coaster to Anaheim in 1979. Although the attraction replaced Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland (itself a re-imagination of Rainbow Caverns Mine Train), the western town of Rainbow Ridge still serves as the ride’s loading area.
43. Sleeping Beauty Castle Walk-Through
Most park guests breeze through Sleeping Beauty Castle on their way to or from Fantasyland, not even realizing that an amazing attraction is right above them. The Sleeping Beauty Castle walk-through experience features dioramas that tell the princesses story in the style of Disney Legend Eyvind Earle, the production designer for the 1959 Disney movie; in 2008, the dioramas were enhanced with new technology.
42. Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain
The “Star Wars”-themed Space Mountain overlay debuted in 2015 to celebrate the premiere of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” (and returned for every “Star Wars” movie since), but thankfully Star Wars: Hyperspace Mountain is now part of Disneyland’s annual Season of the Force event.
41. Rockin’ Space Mountain
Introduced for a very limited time as part of the Year of a Million Dreams celebration in 2007, the temporary Space Mountain overlay included the song “Higher Ground” by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the addition of colored, flashing lights along the track.
40. Plaza Inn
One of Disneyland’s original landmarks (formerly known as the Red Wagon Inn), Plaza Inn features authentic 19th-century furnishings and décor handpicked by Lillian Disney herself and its Victorian stained-glass ceiling and marble foyer were salvaged from a home in Los Angeles’ historic St. James Park neighborhood—and if that’s not enough to earn it a spot on this list, the fried chicken certainly is.
39. Mickey’s Halloween Party at Disneyland
Before Oogie Boogie took over as host of Disneyland’s annual after-hours Halloween party, Mickey hosted a bash of his own at Disneyland park. The separately ticketed event included trick-or-treating, themed entertainment, character meet-and-greets, and the “Halloween Screams” fireworks show, which is now offered to all park guests during Halloween Time.
38. Mickey Beignets in New Orleans Square
Beignets are always a perfect sweet treat, but they taste even better when they’re Mickey-shaped. I personally prefer the regular powdered sugar-dusted version, available in 3- or 6-packs at the Mint Julip Bar in New Orleans Square, but different flavors are also offered seasonally.
37. Autopia Driver’s License
Once upon a time, drivers of all ages could stop at a photo booth-style kiosk at the exit of the Autopia attraction and receive a driver’s license commemorating their journey around the track, a particularly exciting souvenir for kids who were not old enough for a real license (like my baby nephew pictured below).
36. Tarzan’s Treehouse
My older son’s favorite movie growing up was “Tarzan,” so we never (and I mean, NEVER) missed a trip up—and back down—the million stairs in Tarzan’s Treehouse, even though the snarling leopard was consistently distressing.
35. Country Bear Jamboree
Another loss in the name of progress is the Country Bear Jamboree, replaced by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (which I’m not entirely mad about, by the way). Still, the continued popularity of the singing bear band in Florida gives me hope they may make their way back to California (even if it’s just at their new namesake barbecue restaurant).
34. Cold Brew Black Caf
I generally can’t get through an entire Disneyland day without a “coffee snack” and my favorite is the Cold Brew topped with Sweet Cream Cheese and Chocolate Puffs (AKA the Cold Brek Black Caf) at Docking Bay 7 Food & Cargo in Galaxy’s Edge (the fact that it’s available on mobile order makes it even better).
33. Bengal Barbecue Skewers
Burgers and chicken tenders may be popular theme park fare, but in my opinion, nothing beats the freshly-grilled skewers at Bengal Barbecue in Adventureland (and they taste even better when sitting at a table in the Tropical Oasis next to the Jungle Cruise). I’m told combining a Bengal Barbecue skewer with the garlic cheesy pretzel bread from Maurice’s Snacks in Fantasyland is the perfect bite, but I admit, I haven’t tried it yet.
32. Storybook Land Canal Boats
When I was a kid (and understandably afraid to go into a whale’s mouth), I avoided what I later learned is one of the best Disneyland rides. Now that I know there are charming miniature villages just beyond the whale, I’ve made up for lost time—and tiny Christmas decorations on the houses during the holiday season makes the cruise through Storybook Land extra charming.
31. Churros
Disney chefs have created embellished churros for various holidays, but nothing beats the OG “plain” Disneyland churros, which, incidentally, are arguably much better than their Orlando counterparts.
30. Pirates of the Caribbean
Considered the most ambitious large-scale use of Audio-Animatronics when it debuted in 1967, one of the most beloved Disneyland rides consistently exemplifies the “west is best” argument, with the original attraction outshining versions in other Disney Parks.
29. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Tucked away in a corner of Critter Country (now Bayou Country), the dark ride celebrates one of Disney’s most popular movies, with super cute scenes from the Hundred Acre Wood that more than make up for Pooh’s honey-induced Heffalump-and-Woozle-fueled nightmare.
28. Matterhorn Macaroon
There’s no doubt that Disneyland’s macaron game is strong, but instead of the French sandwich cookie, this mountain-shaped sweet treat from the Jolly Holiday Bakery is a white chocolate-snowcapped coconut macaroon.
27. Halloween Tree
Every year at Halloween Time, an oak tree in Frontierland gets a spooky makeover with orange lights and jack-o-lantern ornaments. However, this isn’t ordinary Halloween-themed décor; it’s the Halloween Tree, which in 2007 was dedicated to Ray Bradbury, the author of the 1972 fantasy novel “The Halloween Tree.”
26. Hatbox Ghost
One of the Haunted Mansion’s original residents, the mysterious Hatbox Ghost, was removed from the attraction soon after its 1969 opening, but finally returned to his rightful place in 2015.
25. Dole Whip
While it seems like the famous Disneyland treat has been at the park forever, but pineapple Dole Whip wasn’t introduced until 1986 — and while the frozen nondairy treat is now available in a variety of fruity flavors, I remain loyal to the original pineapple (and preferably from its original location at the Tiki Juice Bar in front of the Enchanted Tiki Room).
24. Candlelight Processional
On the first weekend in December, Disneyland hosts the Candlelight Processional, featuring dozens of community choirs, live musicians, soloists, and a celebrity narrator performing in front of the Main Street Train Station. Unlike the month-long event in Orlando, there are only four performances, making it an extra special experience. Also unique to Disneyland is that the celebrity narrator isn’t announced in advance, so part of the fun is trying to guess who will have the honor of reading the story of Christmas each year.
23. Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
Walt found a mechanical bird on a trip to New Orleans, and challenged Imagineers to figure out how it worked. The result was Disneyland’s first animatronic figures in The Enchanted Tiki Room, which have entertained park guests for 62 years (and counting).
22. Haunted Mansion
Originally conceived by Disney Legend Rolly Crump as a “Museum of the Weird” walk-through attraction, we have Disney Legend Bob Gurr to thank for developing the Doom Buggies, changing the Haunted Mansion to an Omnimover-style ride through the home of 999 happy haunts—but there’s room for 1000.
21. Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance
The signature attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge features a combination of four ride systems: walk-through, trackless vehicles, motion simulators, and a Tower of Terror-style drop shaft, resulting in an authentic and immersive 18-minute Star Wars experience.
20. Griffith Park Bench
The story goes that Walt Disney came up with the idea for Disneyland—a place where parents and kids could have fun together—while sitting on a bench watching his daughter ride the Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round in Los Angeles. Today, there are only three of the original benches left, and one is located just inside the entrance of the Main Street Opera House (the other two are at the now-closed Merry-Go-Round and the Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco).
19. It’s a Small World
Probably the most iconic of all Disneyland rides is It’s a Small World, thanks to the whimsical design by Mary Blair and Rolly Crump and the Sherman Brothers’ tune. For the park’s 70th anniversary, a new final verse has been added to the well-known song, which Richard M. Sherman wrote shortly before his passing in 2024.
18. Small World Holiday
Since 1997, the Small World Holiday seasonal overlay has added festive decorations, thousands of twinkling lights, and holiday music to the already-joyful attraction.
17. Club 33
Hidden behind an unassuming blue door in New Orleans Square (and the biggest paywall imaginable) is the private and very exclusive Club 33, which was originally located at 33 Royal Street (the entrance has since moved to the Court of Angels). Though an invitation to visit the Club 33 is rare, it’s not impossible.
16. ‘Tapestry of Happiness’
Introduced as part of Disneyland’s 70th-anniversary celebration, the colorful new projection show on the Small World façade combines the Jonas Brothers’ toe-tapping anniversary theme song with whimsical projections in the style of Mary Blair to showcase the sights, sounds, and imagery associated with classic Disneyland attractions.
15. The Main Street Electrical Parade
Even though it’s graced the parade routes of other Disney parks, the nighttime parade is synonymous with Disneyland, especially its 50th-anniversary version in 2022, which featured an all-new finale float that featured more than a dozen Small World-style dolls representing classic and modern Disney movies.
14. Haunted Mansion Holiday
For the last 24 years, Jack Skellington and his merry band of mischief-makers have taken over the Haunted Mansion from Halloween through the New Year. While some Disneyland diehards criticize the lengthy overlay, consistently long wait times confirm that Jack is welcome in New Orleans Square for his takeover of this Disneyland ride.
13. Haunted Mansion Holiday Gingerbread House
Every holiday season, Disney Imagineers transform the Haunted Mansion ride into Haunted Mansion Holiday, but Disneyland pastry chefs also have an essential job: creating the massive themed gingerbread house that sits on the ballroom banquet table (yes, it’s made from real gingerbread).
12. Disneyland Railroad
The logical progression of Walt Disney’s miniature Carolwood Pacific Railroad, which circled his Los Angeles backyard, was the narrow-gauge heritage railroad (originally called the Santa Fe & Disneyland Railroad) that circles his theme park. Guests can ride the Disneyland Railroad for a full-circle tour, or come and go as they please at four stops along the park’s perimeter.
11. Mark Twain Riverboat
When it debuted at Disneyland on opening day, the 5/8-scale stern-wheeler was the first functional steam-powered paddlewheeler built in the U.S. for 50 years, and 70 years later, it still takes Disneyland guests on a leisurely 12-minute ride around the Rivers of America. Now that its Florida sister, the Liberty Belle, has closed, the Mark Twain is even more important to Disney history.
10. Peter Pan’s Flight
Consistently one of the longer queues in the park, Peter Pan’s Flight first took to the skies in 1955, but park goers were confused why Peter Pan wasn’t in the attraction (it’s because riders were supposed to be Peter Pan). However, when Fantasyland underwent a major makeover in 1983, Peter Pan was added to the classic Disneyland ride, and all has been right in Neverland ever since.
9. Main Street Window Dedications
Main Street window dedications are a tradition started by Walt Disney himself on the park’s opening day. Over the years, people who have contributed to the park’s history have been honored with whimsical shop windows on Disneyland’s main thoroughfare (and the only rule is that they need to have retired). On July 13, 2025 (Walt and Lillian Disney’s 100th wedding anniversary), Lillian was honored with a Main Street window.
8. Magical Christmas Snowfall
The “Believe… In Holiday Magic” fireworks spectacular debuted for the 2000 holiday season, including a snowfall finale (accompanied by “White Christmas”)—and no matter how many times you experience this, it will never not be magical.
7. Walt’s Apartment
Walt Disney spent so much time in Anaheim during Disneyland’s construction that he had a small one-room apartment built over the Disneyland Fire Station in Town Square. A lamp in the front window is continually lit as a tribute to Walt’s memory (at the holidays, replaced by an illuminated mini Christmas tree).
A visit to the apartment is a rare opportunity that’s occasionally included on select Disneyland guided tours; however, the original furniture from the apartment (on loan from the Walt Disney Family Museum) is currently on display in the Opera House lobby as part of a new 70th-anniversary exhibit that opens today.
6. Hidden Mickeys
The hunt for hidden Mickeys is a time-honored Disneyland tradition, with some guests even enlisting the help of published guidebooks or internet lists to find three circles that form the classic Mickey shape. My personal favorite Hidden Mickey is made of three plates on the banquet table in the Haunted Mansion ballroom.
5. Disneyland Time Capsule
Located in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle is a time capsule that was buried on July 17, 1995 (Disneyland’s 40th anniversary) and will be opened in exactly ten years on July 17, 2035 (Disneyland’s 80th anniversary). I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to see what’s inside.
4. Walt Disney – A Magical Life
Disneyland’s newest attraction, “Walt Disney – A Magical Life” debuts today for Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, with an updated version of the “One Man’s Dream” movie narrated Walt himself (along with newly recorded narration by Disney CEO Bob Iger). The highlight of the new show is a three-minute segment featuring the first-ever Walt Disney animatronic figure.
3. ‘Magic Happens’
Disneyland’s best daytime parade was almost a Covid casualty. Shortly after its debut on Feb. 28, 2020, the first new daytime parade to make its way down Main Street U.S.A. in nearly 10 years closed with the theme park—but thankfully, it returned on Feb. 24, 2023, three years (nearly to the day) after its original debut.
2. Alice in Wonderland
Of all the Disneyland rides, Alice in Wonderland is my favorite. The Fantasyland attraction debuted in 1958, and although it’s gotten a few tech upgrades over the years, it hasn’t lost any of its whimsical, wonderland-y charm.
1. ‘Wondrous Journeys’
The “Wondrous Journeys” fireworks spectacular that was first introduced for Disney’s 100th anniversary (and returned for the park’s70th celebration) is nothing short of spectacular. With words, music, and images from all 60+ Disney animated movies to date, the show incorporates innovative projections that extend down Main Street U.S.A., flyovers by the Blue Fairy and Baymax, and the showstopping “quartet” mash-up of classic “I want” songs from Moana, Hercules, Quasimodo, and Belle.
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Why say you’re not a fan of the Winnie the Pooh ride and then rank it above the attraction it replaced?