Top 10 Underrated Disneyland Attractions Part 1

Top 10 Underrated Disney Attractions Part 1

 

With stories and experiences unlike any other, Disneyland is known for its world-famous attractions. However, some of these amazing attractions still seem to get overlooked when compared with the E-ticket thrills. This list honors those overlooked rides and experiences in historical order; specifically geared towards returning Disneyland fans. With a whopping 48 total attractions, some favorites are bound to be left out to keep this list a reasonable length. Please be aware that EVERY EFFORT was made to be as inclusive possible.

Note: Keep in mind that this is Part 1 of 2! You can find Part 2 here now that it’s up! Underrated Disney California Adventure attractions have their own list (HERE) and they will not be included in this post!

 

So, without further ado…

 

Disneyland Railroad (Opening Day, 1955)

Most people see the Disneyland Railroad and assume that it’s just a fancy mode of transportation which guests can use to travel around the park. However, there is so much more to this attraction than meets the eye. Believe it or not, the average guest is completely unaware that the Disneyland Railroad travels through a living-breathing Grand Canyon, and then travels back in time to when dinosaurs ruled the Earth! It’s one of the park’s most delightful hidden gems. The Disneyland Railroad was also extremely important to Walt, and was the one thing he insisted on his theme park having, even during the earliest stage of its development. With the recent 2017 update, this attraction is even more magical than ever!

Jungle Cruise (Opening Day, 1955)

Considering the roller-coasters of today’s world, it is hard to believe that the Jungle Cruise was considered the park’s first ‘thrill-ride!’ It seems extremely tame by today’s standards, but at the time, it was extremely exciting. No one had seen anything like the Jungle Cruise before, and the mechanical animals were a huge technological innovation at the time. Because of its age, the Jungle Cruise often gets ignored in favor of its younger sibling; Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye. However, the cute animal dioramas, corny wisecracking skippers, and complete immersion into a man-made jungle, continues to fuel an enormous fanbase today.

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride (Opening Day, 1955)

Ask any Disneyland fan; they will all swear by quality of this Fantasyland Dark-Ride! For some reason, millions of zealous Disney fans are obsessed over this quirky ride through the eccentric Mr. Toad’s wild adventures. Usually overlooked in favor of its more famous next-door neighbor, Peter Pan’s flight, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride does not disappoint. With a zany trip in a motorcar mishap, a courtroom, and bad dreams of punishment in the Underworld, Mr. Toad lets us climb into his own shoes for a day. Unlike Peter Pan, this attraction has proven too much for some very young children to handle, but for more mature audiences it proves to be a blast.

Snow White’s Scary Adventures (Opening Day, 1955)

When most Disneyland newcomers first visit Fantasyland, a trip to It’s a Small World, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, The Mad Tea Party, and Peter Pan’s Flight are always on the itinerary, but rarely do you hear them even mention Snow White’s Scary Adventures. The reason for this is in the name of the attraction. Most people visiting Fantasyland are visiting with their young children; and Snow White’s Scary Adventures has been reported by some to be too scary for some of those same children. However, if you have older kids, or love the Disney classic, we highly recommend this Disneyland classic. It’s well made, atmospheric, and very cute.

Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough (1957)

The Sleeping Beauty Castle is without the question the central icon of entire Disneyland Resort. The original fantasy castle has been awe-inspiring since the opening day of Disneyland and has touched the hearts of millions since then. As a result, it’s hard to imagine that you couldn’t go inside the castle itself until several years after its opening.  The charming interior of the castle tells the timeless story of Sleeping Beauty in kinetic, special-effects laden, dioramas like the famous Main Street store windows and is quite well done considering the extremely limited space inside.  Due to a seven-year hiatus, most people didn’t even realize that it has since reopened. Considering that very few newcomers, and even a great deal of returning guests, know this self-guided attraction even exists, it deserves more attention than it has been receiving. Your dreams of traveling inside a real fairy tale castle can come true!

Like our list? Stay tuned for Part 2 next week! Like and share; let us know in the comments what your favorite Disneyland attractions are!