The Orange County Register recently released their “Best of Orange County” awards for 2025, and we were surprised to see this attraction make it in the top three for best amusement park ride.

It may come as no surprise that all of the top three spots went to Disneyland Resort rides, but which ones have been crowned the best of the best?
The top 3 spots for best amusement park ride were awarded to Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Space Mountain, and Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout. All of the top 3 spots went to rides at Disneyland Resort. The “Best of Orange County” awards are given out based on voting by readers.

The top ride of the year is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance which is located at Disneyland Park. This ride opened back in 2019 and has made it on this list for numerous years and remains very popular with guests at Disneyland Park.

In second place is Space Mountain. This ride has also appeared on the best amusement park ride list in the past. You can also find this ride at Disneyland Park and it opened back in 1977. Even though this attraction is not as new as the other two rides on the list, it still remains popular for a reason!

Finally, in third place is Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout at Disney California Adventure Park. This is the very first time this ride has been featured in the top three amusement park rides, even though it has been open since 2017. We are definitely surprised to see this one make it onto the list, but it appears to be particularly popular this year!

For comparison in 2024, the top three were: Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Soarin’ Around the World, and Pirates of the Caribbean. In 2023, the top rides were Space Mountain, Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, and Indiana Jones Adventure. Then in 2022, the top attractions were Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, Space Mountain, and Haunted Mansion.

Ever since 2017, the top rides have included IncrediCoaster (and California Screamin’ in 2017), Soarin’ Around the World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Haunted Mansion, Radiator Springs Racers, Indiana Jones Adventure, and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Even though Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout opened in 2017, this is the first year it has made it in the top three amusement park rides for the Orange County Register.

Stay tuned to AllEars for all your theme park news!
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What are your favorite amusement park rides in Orange County, CA? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!

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