I Hate to Say It, But These 5 Disneyland Rides Just Need to GO

The Disneyland Resort is home to some of the best rides in the world, but that doesn’t mean every attraction is a winner… .

While Disneyland does a great job of keeping its rides in good condition and up-to-date, there are — admittedly — some rides that could use either some heavy TLC or the axe altogether.  With that in mind, we’ve come up with some rides and listened to YOUR opinions regarding Disneyland rides, and these attractions have some serious baggage.

Whether they’re outdated, breaking down, or offer odd theming, these five rides at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are worthy of some harsh discussions.

For a lot of folks, Autopia in Tomorrowland is a waste of prime Tomorrowland real estate. We want to reiterate that this ride can be incredible for young kids looking to get some sort of driving experience, but that doesn’t negate the reality that Disney could do more with it.

Right now, Autopia is STILL a gas-powered attraction even though Disney promised that the gas-powered vehicles would eventually be replaced with electric vehicles by Fall 2026. That could have very well happened by the time you’re reading this, but at the time this was written, Autopia is still pumping out tons of that gas smell, which isn’t going to please many guests.

While Disneyland’s go-kart ride is certainly more impressive than Magic Kingdom’s Tomorrowland Speedway, it wouldn’t hurt to have an even more immersive experience. The setting is cute and has little nods to future tech along the scenic drive, but if you’re going to take up a bunch of space that could otherwise be occupied by a new E-Ticket attraction (which Tomorrowland arguably needs), a little bit of wow factor would go a long way.

Over at Disney California Adventure, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure is a ride that causes some controversy. It’s hardly the most popular ride in the park, but it does provide a nice, relaxing break from the heat with plenty of recognizable characters and songs.

And yet, there is a noticeable lack of care. Aside from the really great Ursula animatronic, there are lots of issues plaguing this ride. The first time we see Ariel, it looks like her face is melting off. Not all the animatronics work as intended, either, and this isn’t exactly a ride that Disney invests a lot of time and money in when it comes to a refurbishment.

It also doesn’t help that the ride really explores the first half of the animated film in-depth with tons of narrative and musical fun, only to skip any real conflict and the middle of the movie. After Ariel gets her legs, you get the “Kiss the Girl” scene, and then you basically cut to one final “happily ever after” scene, and the ride is over. It’s shockingly abrupt.

Personally, I’d either love to see Disney really focus on fixing up the ride to make it work as intended or scrap it altogether in favor of a Pixar-themed ride like Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, since the nearby area of Pixar Pier has expanded the Pixar influence in the park.

California Adventure is home to several carnival-like rides, such as the Golden Zephyr. This Paradise Gardens Park ride is fine as is, but it’s subject to wind speed. California has the Santa Ana winds, and if the weather isn’t perfect, you’ll often see this ride closed. It’s a solid ride that offers a short wait for families looking to get on something, but when it is forced to close all the time because it’s raining or the wind picked up, it’s just kinda useless.

Back at Disneyland’s Tomorrowland, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has a dismal 3.10 out of 10 rating from our readers and is recommended by only 20% of reviewers.

It’s actually a pretty scenic and peaceful ride, but it is long, and guests constantly complain about cramped space and a claustrophobic ride environment.

You are underwater in a sardine can, basically, so the complaints are valid. There are plenty of defenders of this ride (myself included), but it’s hard to argue with the consensus. This may be the most disliked ride in all of Disneyland.

Finally, this last pick may upset some folks: Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes in Disneyland’s Bayou Country. Yes, this canoe experience gives you a closer look at Disneyland’s beautiful Rivers of America. Yes, the attraction is a uniquely Disneyland experience. No, it’s not the best attraction to pick when you’re already dying from the Southern California heat.

Disneyland isn’t trying to kill you and will close the ride for rain or heat over ~90°F, but if it’s still a hot day or you’ve already exerted a ton of energy, these canoes are a killer. This can be a serious upper-body workout, and paying Disney to do manual labor simply ain’t for everybody…

I know, I know…it doesn’t need to be said. Some of these picks might seem blasphemous to you, so let us hear it! Share your thoughts on this list and the worst rides at Disneyland in the comments below, and be sure to leave your ride reviews online at AllEars.net!

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Which rides do you think the Disneyland Resort could do without? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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