7 Opening Day Disneyland Rides We Still Love Today

It’s the Happiest Place on Earth, and it has been for nearly 65 years! Over the last six and half decades, there have been a lot of changes!

Sleeping Beauty Castle

We’ve seen technology advancements. We’ve seen rides or characters lose their popularity. Lots of attractions have come and gone — but some have remained steady. Some we have loved since opening day those many years ago.

Here are 7 Disneyland Opening Day Attractions We Still Love Today!

1. Disneyland Railroad

ALLLLLL ABOARD!!!! Walt Disney LOVED trains — so much so that those close to him joked that he only built Disneyland to get a bigger train set.

Walt Disney and a Disneyland Engine

The railroads at Disney parks are iconic — none more so than the original. Guests can still take a spin around the park, with stations in Tomorrowland, New Orleans Square, Toontown, and, of course, Main Street, U.S.A.

2. Snow White’s Scary Adventures

The OG princess is also an OG attraction in Disneyland. This ride may say that anyone can ride it (no height requirement), but beware: it scares us grownups sometimes.

Regardless, it’s a classic Disney dark ride we still love! Especially because Walt Disney World’s version closed a few years ago.

3. Mad Tea Party 

That’s right, guests have been busy gettin’ dizzy in Disney parks for almost 65 years.

Mad Tea Party (Photo from 1966)

Very few attractions are as quintessentially Disney as a spin on the teacups — it’s a rite of passage! While the Mad Tea Party is no longer in its original location in Disneyland, it will always be a must do (just not right after lunch).

4. Jungle Cruise

Did you know? The original Jungle Cruise was a serious script about the animals — similar to Kilimanjaro Safari. But with mechanical animals.

Walt Disney poses with a hyena figure as he walks the shores of Disneyland’s Jungle Cruise attraction. ©Disney

The skippers eventually starting inserting jokes to liven up their day, and thus, the Jungle Cruise we know and love was born!

5. Storybook Land Canal Boats

This ride is so cute! It starts with a giant whale and proceeds to tell tiny tales.

This sweet, somewhat simple attraction has guests board boats and sail through miniature versions of Disney fairy tale sets. While new movies have been added throughout the years, the charm has remained steady since day one.

6. Autopia

BEEP BEEP. Kids have been able to get behind the wheel since Disneyland’s debut.

Autopia is the only attraction from Tomorrowland to still be around today, and we can’t help but love it (even if we’re still terrible drivers)!

7. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride 

Oh, wow, this is such a delightful, insane, weird, amazing attraction. Disney World said goodbye to its Mr. Toad to make way for Winnie the Pooh, but you can still go on a wild ride to “nowhere in particular” in Disneyland!

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride is seriously weird — you literally die and go to H-E-double hockey sticks. But we love it — in all of its bizarre glory.

Have you been to Disneyland? What are your favorite old school attractions? Let us know in the comments!

 

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Molly is a lifelong Disney enthusiast, and former Walt Disney World Guest Relations Cast Member and tour guide. Her Walt Disney World favorites include Festival of the Lion King, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Fantasmic!, Mickey-shaped pretzels and rice krispie treats, and anything with Buzz Lightyear! She lives in Orlando with her husband (who she met in Guest Relations) and their two rescue dogs, Kronk and Cruella de Vil (Ella for short!)

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