We’re headed over to the West Coast — yep, we’re going to Disneyland!
Now, Disneyland is the OG Disney park, so some of the rides there are…well…maybe a little outdated, but at the same time, nostalgic. However, when we asked YOU, our AllEars readers if you wanted to see some Disneyland rides go away and replaced, you had some serious opinions.
We’re just going to say that the #1 answer to the question “What Disneyland rides do you think should be permanently closed and replaced?” was Autopia in Tomorrowland. Jean said, “Honestly, the only one I can think of would have to be Autopia. Yeah, my kid loves driving it, but it’s a gas powered ride (though it’s on the roof of the Finding Nemo ride so you would be limited what you could do with it).”
Although Autopia is currently a gas-powered ride, Disney recently shared that the gas-powered vehicles will eventually be replaced with electric vehicles. However, we don’t think that’s going to change anyone’s opinion of this classic attraction. Our readers rate it at about 6 out of 10, so it’s certainly not anyone’s favorite. However, kids love it.
Another ride that you can do without is The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure in Disney California Adventure. This ride is basically a retelling of the animated Little Mermaid movie. AllEars Reader Shawn mentioned that this ride could go, and it seems those of our readers who have rated it might agree. It ranks a 7.75 out of 10.
If it were up to our readers, another California Adventure ride would be on the chopping block: Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!, which AllEars readers have only rated at a 7 out of 10. Jean had an idea of what to replace it with: “The other rides I enjoy though I’m willing to give up Monsters Mike and Sully to the Rescue for the Coco or Avatar ride.” Now, we don’t know where the new Coco ride in Disneyland is going, but this could be a contender, especially with Disney World getting an entire LAND dedicated to Monsters, Inc.Â
One ride mentioned a few times was Jumpin’ Jellyfish, which sits near Pixar Pier at Paradise Bay, but doesn’t have a Pixar theme. This classic parachute ride should be replaced, at least according to Timothy, who wrote, “Replace it with Green Army Men’s Parachute Drop.” This ride is pretty popular, though, rating a 9.5 out of 10 with our readers, so we’re not sure a re-theme would be welcome, but the idea does sound great!
There’s another ride that Timothy mentioned, too: Golden Zephyr. That’s another Pixar Pier ride (okay, technically, it’s in Paradise Gardens) that doesn’t have a Pixar theme. The ride is themed to the rocket ships of 1940s sci-fi movies, so we think this could be a great opportunity to turn it into a Buzz Lightyear attraction. Considering this ride is only rated at 5.67 out of 10, we think something definitely needs to happen with it.
If you would like to participate in these kinds of discussions, be sure to follow us on Facebook. Check back with AllEars again soon for more.
What do you think? What Disneyland ride would you like to see closed and replaced? Share with us in the comments!
Leave the Little Mermaid Ride Alone!
Ariel was the restart/renaissance of Disney animation.
And is one of my favorite relaxing rides. Not to mention in the summer it is a great way to cool off…and get active little ones to chill out.
It seems that the author forgets that Disneyland is not only for Disney Adults. For kids/people not interested or able to do roller coasters and thrill rides, the ones you mentioned are very popular, great options for fun. Autotopia could definitely be modernized, but was requested more times over than any other ride by the young Disneyland goers I’ve been around.
Every ride that was mentioned accept monsters inc.
You are correct about 3 of the 5 but so wrong on the other 2. Little Mermaid is a nice calm cool break. It’s a darling ride and the littles love it. Monsters Inc. Is another calm cool ride. On a hot day that is a cool break. It is also just a fun story.
Just redo all of tomorrow land
There’s nothing on the people mover tracks, nothing in the Honey I shrunk the kids theater, nothing in the huge circle bldg, no theatre stories in Disneyland or DCA
So many attractions need reopened
Took forever for the Treehouse and don’t understand what is taking so long to reopen Mr Lincoln
Every single one of these attractions that you have mentioned are very well loved by my family. This consists of children age 14 down to five. Not every attraction has to be a wild ride. And you said it yourself your children like autopia. I have to say that as an adult I love the little mermaid attraction.
Storybook Canal Boats.
Not even charming for children anymore, bores parents to tears, and has huge accessibility issues. Seriously, if someone got it into their head to literally rock that boat, I do believe everyone would fall right in! I cherish all the old rides, and Monstro, come on! But after my visit a few weeks ago I decided never again for this one. I’d love to be able to spend more time with the miniatures however, to examine them in detail. You can barely catch a glimpse anymore.
Star Tours.
Man, I love the walkthrough queue. I’m pretty sure those are the actual R2 and 3P0, I just know it!! But the specialness of this ride was completely robbed by Star Wars land. (Don’t even get me started on the subject, as I’d like every star wars reference removed from Tomorrowland. Star Wars was a long time ago, not in the future…and they got their own entire land!!). Additionally, the Star Tours ride mechanics feel dated, more dated than rides of twice it’s age. This ride is an excellent example of one that should NOT remain unchanged. Motion magic like this was a fad, it’s now mall kitsch. Isn’t Disneyland better than a shaking machine? It’s fine for Universal but not here.
Autopia. Wrong!
How anyone can criticize Autopia is beyond me. For a child it’s a thrilling, unforgettable highlight. For a solo adult it’s an unmissable, nostalgic treat. If you’ve never ridden this alone as a grown up, you’re missing out. Sure, the theming has grown uninspired, it maybe never was. Obviously, this needs to be retooled as a highway of the future, with awesome futuristic touches, perhaps offering “self driving” cars along with the updated electric vehicles, and some kind of “flying” vehicle portion of the highway? Disney now owns enough properties that I’m sure an appropriate theme could be applied. Why not make it a colony transportation system from an Alien franchise world?
Submarine. Conflicted.
This is a real memory maker for the little ones, like Autopia, so I’d never want to take that experience away from a child. It’s really quite a daring, unique ride and one that’s not been matched. But it has the accessibility issues like Storybook, and a claustrophobia element that turns me right off every time I’m there. I love to linger above this ride, taking in the lagoon and the view. It’s iconic, obviously. But this is a ride I found unstimulating in the 70s and 80s, and the changes of the 90s and 00s didn’t enhance my experience. I don’t get anxiety from many DL rides, but I do here (and for Astro Orbiters, just a personal thing).
Personal Least Favorites.
Snow White, Pinnochio.
Which is funny, because I love me some Mr Toad, and they’re all the same ride! I think it’s the car and the theme song that win me over. Anyway, just personally, having these three nearly identical rides, of that extreme old school ‘Luna Park’ funhouse variety, is too much of a bland thing. It’s no bloody wonder Peter Pan is so beloved and overcrowded every time- the other rides over here suck. Maybe kids like these two rides, but what kids today even know either of these movies? Are you kidding, Pinnochio is a trauma waiting to happen for kids of today, I’m Gen X and barley survived this film as a child.
Bring back: People Mover, Gondolas, Carousel of Progress. Honestly Disney, I swear we’re responsible enough for gondolas again, truly we are. And we’ve grown so fat and lazy we definitely need more rides where we can just sit and enjoy and take a dang break. I was at the park recently with both the Railroad and the Monorail down, and I’ve never felt so isolated within the park. I was wishing for a Clue board corner shortcut, let me tell you!