This article is your complete guide to the scariest rides at Disneyland 2024. Visiting any theme park might mean you could encounter some pretty scary rides and that is even true for the Happiest Place on Earth. There is a good mix of thrill, adrenaline, and even some of Disneyland’s scariest rides which happen to be classic dark rides!
To help you navigate what rides will be best for your family, we’ve created a list of all of the scary rides Disneyland has to offer. No matter if you have a fear coasters or are looking out for your little ones. This guide has been curated to rate how frightening a ride can be. So without any more antici….pation, lets get started!
Scary Rides Disneyland Overview 2024
The attractions at Disneyland come in all shapes and sizes. From fast to slow, family friendly to thrill seeker focused. So if you’re looking to avoid rides that make you sick or scare you, Disneyland has a handful of attractions you might want to avoid. Disneyland is known for its originality and nostalgic spark. But there are some of the scariest Disney rides that keep guest coming back. Or running the other direction!
Both Disneyland and DCA have rides that make the Disneyland scariest rides list, so we are going to cover both parks in this article! We will rank the scariest rides at Disneyland from least to most scary. We may even throw in a bonus ride or two at the end that might shock you! So lets get going on the scariest Disneyland rides ranked 2024.
The Scariest Rides at Disneyland Ranked 2024
- #12 – Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- #11 – Pirates of the Caribbean
- #10 – Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- #9 – Indiana Jones Adventure
- #9 – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- #8 – The Haunted Mansion
- #7 – Radiator Springs
- #6 – Splash Mountain
- #5 – Goofy’s Sky School
- #4 – Space Mountain
- #3 – Matterhorn Bobsleds
- #2 – Incredicoaster
- #1 – Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout
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What are the Scariest Disneyland Rides? – Ranked 2024
#12 – Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Location: Fantasyland, Disneyland
Speed: Slow Dark Ride
Height: Ground Level
Number of Drops: 0
Height Requirement: No required height limit
What to Expect: Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is an opening day attraction at Disneyland! Now this ride isn’t your typical kind of scary. It just get’s a little dark at the end of the ride that might frighten little ones. This ride takes you on a manic adventure in an out of control motorcar. This whole ride is rather dark with some bizarre scenes, especially if you’renot familiar with the 1949 film it is based on. The attraction is older, jerky, and includes a scene that is based on Hell. Complete with the Devil, demons, dragons and more spooky stuff. We would not recommend bringing children under the age of 7on this attraction, as it might truly terrify them.
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#11 – Pirates of the Caribbean
Location: New Orleans Square, Disneyland
Speed: 3 mph
Height: 14 feet
Number of Drops: 2
Height Requirement: No required height limit
What to Expect: Is Pirates of the Caribbean scary? The Pirates Ride at Disneyland can be scary for a few different reasons. Like spooky pirates, scary seas, and even intense battle scenes. This ride is based off of the popular Pirates of the Caribbean franchise. So you can expect there to be some tom foolery about which might scare little ones. On this attraction you will experience two small drops in the dark, which are more intense than you’d imagine. You also have to sail through a battle scene and get shot at directly by Pirates. In fact, the beginning of the ride sets the stage with many scenes of skeleton pirates who met their demise.
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#10 – Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Location: Fantasyland, Disneyland
Speed: Slow Dark Ride
Height: Ground Level
Number of Drops: 0
Height Requirement: No required height limit
What to Expect: This is definitely not the scariest ride at Disneyland, but it gives us nightmares!We don’t understand how this ride hasn’t made more of Disneyland’s scariest rides list. Even as adults, this ride is spooky. The dark parts of the ride are extremely dark, with terrifying artwork and animatronics. Most of the ride covers all of Pinnochio’s mishaps, which end up coming off as strange and downright creepy. If puppet-master Stromboli wasn’t enough nightmare fuel in the movie, he sure is in real life. Monstro also makes an appearance right at the end shrouded in strobe lights. Needless to say, being swallowed by a whale might be too scary for little ones, so be cautious when riding this one.
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#10 – Indiana Jones Adventure
Location: Adventureland, Disneyland
Speed: 15 mph
Height: Mostly Ground Level
Number of Drops: 0
Height Requirement: 46 inches or taller
What to Expect: Is Indiana Jones scary at Disneyland? Yes, Indiana Jones is a scary ride at Disneyland for some. This attraction takes place within a mythical temple at an archeological dig site. So naturally it comes with the traps, twists and turns of a typical Indiana Jones film. If you’re afraid of bugs, snakes, dark scary rooms, or sudden stops, turns or accelerations, you will not like this ride. While Indiana Jones isn’t particularly fast, topping out at about 15 mph, it can be a lot when dealing with the effects of a lava pit, mummies, flying arrows and even a boulder that comes rolling toward you.
If you are more familiar with Walt Disney World, this attraction is the identical layout of Dinosaur at Animal Kingdom!
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#9 – Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Scariest Rides at Disneyland 2024
Location: Frontierland, Disneyland
Speed: 40 mph
Height: 39 feet
Number of Drops:
Height Requirement: 40 inches or taller
What to Expect: As far as Disneyland coasters go, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is definitely the least scary. This scariest ride at Disneyland can be handled by many guests. The reason we are still keeping it on our list for scary Disneyland rides is that is can go pretty fast, and has a few drops. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad gets up to 40 mph for a top speed and the tallest drop at 39 feet. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad really is the wildest ride in the wilderness!
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#8 – The Haunted Mansion
Location: New Orleans Square, Disneyland
Speed: Slow Dark Ride
Height: Mostly Ground Level
Number of Drops: 0
Height Requirement: No required height limit
What to Expect: Any attraction where you have to ride a Doom Buggy will definitely make the list of the scariest rides at Disneyland. I will say, this ride is extremely lighthearted for the material at hand. It is still in a spooky haunted mansion with ghosts, ghouls, skeletons, etc. Even the pre-show in the Stretching Room can be rather intense. If you or your little ones are afraid of cramped dark spaces, make sure to let a Cast Member know ahead of time. Thankfully, this ride moves VERY slowly. This way you can get the full tour of the haunted house and it’s grounds. Even though the Imagineering is extremely witty, we recommending holding off on this one until your kids hit around 5.
If you visit from September until the beginning of January, you can catch the holiday overlay! The Haunted Mansion Holiday is a Nightmare Before Christmas overlay which is incredible and more kid friendly that the original version.
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#7 – Radiator Springs Racers
Location: Cars Land USA, Disney California Adventure
Speed: 40 mph
Height: Mostly Ground Level
Number of Drops: 0
Height Requirement: 40 inches or taller
What to Expect: Is Radiator Springs One of the Scariest Rides at Disneyland? We can safely say it’s not THE scariest ride. But Radiator Springs Racer is a scary ride at Disney’s California Adventure park. But solely on the speed of the attraction alone. There also are no spooky scenes, darkness or drops! This ride is amazingly themed after Pixar’s Cars franchise. Throughout this attraction, you get to meet all of your favorite car pals! Little ones will love this ride as soon as they’re brave enough to face the speed. This is one of the most popular rides at Disneyland due to how fun it is. So be aware that the wait time can be scarier than the attraction most of the time.
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#6 – Splash Mountain (Future Home of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure)
Location: Critter Country, Disneyland
Speed: 40 mph
Height: 50 feet
Number of Drops: 3
Height Requirement: 40 inches or taller
What to Expect: While Splash Mountain has an overall cheery theme, it does have quite a thrill and is considered on of the scariest Disney rides. Right at the end of this musical attraction, there is a 50 foot drop, with speeds up to 40 mph! At this height, you will definitely feel your stomach drop. The drop is followed by an enormous splash, so a hot summer day is the perfect time to ride. There are also some pretty terrifying characters throughout this ride.
Splash Mountain will soon be closing at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World. It is going to receive a Princess and the Frog makeover that is set to open in 2024 respectively. Besides the drop at the end, this may change it’s position on our ranking.
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#5 – Goofy’s Sky School – Scariest Rides at Disneyland
Location: Paradise Gardens?, DCA
Speed: 27 mph
Height: 55 feet
Number of Drops: 2
Height Requirement: 42 inches or taller
What to Expect: For an attraction that looks like it could be a children’s ride, Goofy’s Sky School is, to be honest, terrifying. This is shockingly one of Disneyland’s scariest rides. Goofy’s Sky School is set up to make you feel like you’re actually going to fly off the track. Full of with quick jolts, drops and a weird seating set up. If you have any issue with unexpected drops or motion sickness, Goofy’s Sky School might be too intense.
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#4 – Space Mountain – Is Space Mountain Scary at Disneyland?
Location: Tomorrowland, Disneyland
Speed: 28 mph
Height: 76 feet
Number of Drops: 0
Height Requirement: 40 inches or taller
What to Expect: Space Mountain can be scary for guests who are afraid of the dark. This coaster is ridden completely lights out! You are supposed to be traveling to outer space anyway. Space Mountain, like all rides in Disneyland Park, does not have any loops or intense drops. We do not think it is the scariest ride in Disneyland, but can feel terrifying as you cannot see the abrupt turns or small drops ahead.
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#3 – Incredicoaster
Location: Pixar Pier, Disney’s California Adventure
Speed: 55 mph
Height: 122 ft
Number of Drops:
Height Requirement: 48 inches or taller
What to Expect: Is Incredicoaster Scary? Yes, Incredicoaster is pretty scary for guests young and old. There are intense rollercoaster elements such as an inverted loop, drops and even high speeds. Incredicoaster starts off with a 0 to 55 mph launch and is the fastest attraction in Disneyland! It is also the only roller coaster that does a loop in the parks as well. While this is a fun ride, heavy with Incredibles theming, just be aware that it might be too intense for some. The top height of Incredicoaster is 122 ft. with a 108 ft drop, making it one of the scariest rides in California Adventure.
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#2 – Matterhorn Bobsleds
Location: Fantasyland, Disneyland
Speed: 27 mph
Height: 147 feet tall
Number of Drops: 1
Height Requirement: 42 inches or taller
What to Expect: Is Matterhorn scary at Disneyland? Yes, Matterhorn Bobsleds is a scary ride. But not for all of the typical things like speed or drops. The Matterhorn is a recreation of the Swiss Matterhorn Mountain and relies on gravity to send you on a rather chaotic descent. If you have a fear of being chased, like I do, this ride might terrify you. As one of the scariest rides in Disneyland, we wouldn’t recommend ride. Specifically to those who might be afraid of being tossed around in the ride vehicle. The abominable snowman roars loudly a few times through the ride, as well as popping up and being rather scary.
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#1 – Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout – Scariest Rides at Disneyland
Location: Avengers Campus, Disney’s California Adventure
Speed: 39 mph
Height: 130 ft
Number of Drops: Average of 8
Height Requirement: 40 inches or taller
What to Expect: For us, Mission: Breakout is the scariest ride at Disneyland for many different reasons. One, if you’ve been on Tower of Terror, be warned that Mission Breakout is not the same attraction entirely. Rocket Raccoon has kicked it up a notch. This ride is unpredictable, chaotic and has a 6 different drop sequences. So nearly every time you ride this attraction, you may have a different experience.
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But if you have any issue with unexpected drops or motion sickness, Goofy’s Sky School might be too intense.
Minimum height requirement: 42 inches or taller
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Scariest Ride at Disneyland 2024 FAQ
Q: What is the scariest ride at Disneyland?
A: The scariest ride at Disneyland is Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout located in Disney’s California Adventure. We think it’s the scariest ride in Disneyland because of the 39 mph drop from 130ft!
Q: How Far is the Drop on Mission Breakout at DCA?
A: The longest and most intense drop on Mission Breakout at DCA is 130 feet, with many other smaller drops and intense lifts. You will also be dropping at 39 mph, making it even more intense.
Q: Is there a Drop on Indiana Jones Disneyland?
A: There are no classic drops on the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland. While the ride is very turbulent, and has some rather intense dips, there is no proper drop on this attraction.
Q: Does Space Mountain Go Upside Down?
A: Space Mountain does not go upside down. Nor does it have any twists or loops. You are just going to experience what it is like to zoom through space with twinkling star effects and galactic sounds.
Q: How Fast Does Space Mountain Go at Disneyland?
A: Space Mountain at Disneyland gets up to 28 mph at its peak. The ride does feel faster than that since it is completely in the dark. Not being able to see a reference point for speed really makes you feel like you’re flying!
Q: Is Hyperspace Mountain Scary 2024?
A: No, we think if you can handle Space Mountain, you can definitely handle Hyperspace Mountain. Hyperspace Mountain is the exact same ride system as Space Mountain, but with a Star Wars overlay. Therefore, if you’re worried about the speed, small drops to abrupt turns of Space Mountain, they will also be on Hyperspace Mountain.
Q: How Fast Does the Incredicoaster go?
A: Incredicoaster reaches it’s top speed of 55 mph right in the beginning of the ride, with a 0 – 50 mph take off in 4 seconds. The average speed of the ride is somewhere around 30 mph with the ride being 6,072 feet long.
Q: What is the Incredicoaster Drop Height?
A: While Incredicoaster reaches its max height at 122 feet, the largest drop is 108 feet, making it the tallest ride in Disneyland!
Q: How Fast Does Matterhorn Go?
A: The Matterhorn’s top speed is 27 mph in Disneyland. It does feel much faster as it is Disneyland’s oldest rollercoaster and you whip around the steep corners of the mountain.
Q: Does the Matterhorn Go Backwards?
A: The Matterhorn does not go backwards. It is operated on a lift hill system mostly powered by gravity all the way down the track.
Q: Are Disneyland Rides Scary?
A: Not all Disneyland rides are scary, but there are rides that might be too terrifying for those who might not like high speeds, dark rooms or inversions. There are a handful of rides in both California Disney parks that make our list of Disney’s scariest rides, so make sure you know before you go.
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