Many Disneyland Guests Will Surprisingly Avoid These 7 Extremely Popular Rides

While Disneyland is full of a wide variety of immersive attractions, not all of them offer the same amount of appeal for visitors. Just as there are some Disneyland rides that may be unexpectedly scary for young kids, there are also rides that have undesirable effects on adults as well. There are some very valid reasons that visitors may choose to skip even some of the most popular rides at the parks.

There are pros and cons to every ride at Disneyland, even for some that we place at the very top of our list of the best Disneyland rides ranked. Some thrill rides can trigger motion sickness, and other experiences are too extreme or have jerky motions that have the potential to be more harmful than they are fun to certain visitors. Whatever the reason, despite the popularity of these rides, some visitors will choose to skip them in favor of other experiences.

We have ridden all of the rides at Disneyland including the ones on the below list several times, and although these are some of our favorites, we can definitely see why some may choose to avoid them. We will take you through some of the popular rides that some visitors choose to skip during their Disneyland trip and why!

Indiana Jones Adventure

Indiana Jones Adventure is considered one of the best thrill rides at the resort that takes you on a journey to escape the perils of the Temple of the Forbidden Eye alongside Indiana Jones. Along the way, you'll encounter mummies, a giant snake, and a giant boulder as you race through the temple. While this ride is one of our favorites due to its impressive worldbuilding and how completely immersive it is, the ride contains extremely rough motion that is enough to deter many guests from riding.

Indiana Jones Adventure simulates driving over rough terrain with several sharp, whiplash turns and other jarring motions. This is even more exaggerated in the back row of the vehicle (which can be one of the best spots on the ride for those who really want to get thrown around). While the ride is thrilling and backed with a fantastic musical score, it's certainly not a gentle experience due to its intense motion. It is also quite loud throughout, which can be overstimulating.

While the ride is always very popular and its wait time reflects that, there are plenty of visitors who will choose to skip it in favor of other experiences. I personally love this ride but can absolutely see why it has some deal-breaking qualities for some.

Star Tours

Star Tours – The Adventures Continue is another ride that some Disneyland visitors will choose to skip during their visit. In the ride, your Starspeeder unexpectedly starts up without a pilot leaving C-3PO at the controls. Imperial or First Order forces are after a Rebel spy board your ship, who you must deliver to safety. The ride guests to various locations across the Star Wars galaxy and stays fresh by giving guests the opportunity to experience one of more than 250 storyline variations. Disney recently added even more new scenes to Star Tours!

However, for visitors who are prone to motion sickness, this chaotic journey can leave you feeling quite queasy. The 3D nature of the ride, combined with the movement of the motion simulator that at times is quite jarring, may unfortunately leave riders feeling nauseous or dizzy. Guests who don't fare well with motion simulator rides are probably better off skipping this experience.

Matterhorn Bobsleds

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Matterhorn Bobsleds is another ride that some will choose to avoid during their Disneyland trip. While the Matterhorn is historic as the first roller coaster-style attraction at Disneyland and the first tubular steel coaster in the world, it is not exactly the smoothest ride you'll find at the parks. This is a major reason why we rank it lower on the list of the best Disneyland roller coasters.

The ride is rough and bumpy, and it will really jostle you around quite a bit. While this can be fun for some, it can be a nightmare for others, especially those with back or neck issues. However, guests claim that the Fantasyland and Tomorrowland sides provide a different experience, with the Tomorrowland faster and more intense and the Fantasyland side a bit smoother. While this ride is a classic, it definitely makes sense that some visitors would avoid it due to how uncomfortable it can be.

We've joked about how rough this ride is in the past as you can see in our Instagram post below:

 

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A post shared by Disneyland & Walt Disney World| Mickey Visit 🚂🏰 (@mickeyvisit)

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!

Another extremely popular ride that some Disneyland visitors choose to pass on is Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout! This accelerated drop ride has a super fun premise as Rocket enlists your help to free the Guardians from the Collector, and you have the opportunity to get six different ride sequences matched with their own song and scenes. See all of the songs you can get on Guardians of the Galaxy -Mission: Breakout! and our favorite ones.

Even though this ride is a fan-favorite amongst Disneyland visitors, the sensation of the drops is too extreme for many guests. As a matter of fact, the drops on this ride are actually even faster than free-fall as we discuss in our article on what's scary about Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!. For guests who love this type of thrill, its intensity is what makes it one of the best Disneyland rides at the resort.

However, what you experience on this ride is quite a different type of thrill than what you'd get racing around on the Incredicoaster, and it can understandably be more overwhelming than fun for some, especially since there are multiple drops. There have been countless times I have gone on this ride and been in the gantry with kids and adults alike who are extremely scared of the drops.

All of that being said, we do still consider this one of the best Disneyland rides, and it is my personal favorite. If you find that you do well with some of the other thrill rides at the resort like the Incredicoaster or Indiana Jones Adventure, we would say this is worth a try to see if you like it!

Soarin'

Soarin' is another very popular Disneyland ride that some visitors may choose to avoid if they have a fear of heights. This is something that is referenced in the iconic safety spiel by Patrick Warburton before guests board, who gives riders a warning in case they want to bow out at the last second: “Soon you will be airborne, so if you or your little aviators have a fear of flying or of heights, you might want to wait for your party at the arrival gate.”

As we discuss in our guide to what may be scary about Soarin', guests will be either 30, 40, or 50 feet above the crowd depending on which ride row they're in with their feet dangling. The sensation of this can understandably be frightening for guests of any age who have a fear of heights.

However, some guests will find that once they get past the initial ascent which may seem a bit scary at first, the ride overall is very gentle. If you are able to adjust to the sensation of flying, you can enjoy the beautiful visuals, smells, and music of this immersive experience gliding over iconic locations from around the world (or California, depending on which version you are riding).

Grizzly River Run

While demand for this ride ebbs and flows throughout the year and is often the greatest during the summer at Disneyland when the temperatures are hotter, many guests will still choose to avoid it for the reason others want to go on it—you're guaranteed to get soaked! Personally, the thought of walking around the parks in wet clothes is always enough of a reason for me to skip this ride, even when it's hot out. Some may try to reduce the amount of water they get on their clothes with ponchos, but you're still bound to get wet in some capacity.

One option is to change clothes after the ride, but this can be a bit of a hassle unless you are staying at one of the onsite Disneyland Resort hotels or a hotel within a few minutes of walking distance to the resort. This is a big perk that we recommend taking advantage of if you're staying at the Grand Californian—you can read about what we call the “Grizzly Run to Grand Californian Pool Loop” here.

Rise of the Resistance

Rise of the Resistance is often considered one of the most impressive and most immersive rides that Disney has ever created. In this ride, you are captured by the First Order and embark on a high-stakes race to escape a Star Destroyer. The incredible attention to detail in each and every scene will truly blow your mind, and the thrill and realism of the experience are elevated through the attraction's use of multiple ride systems.

The reason that some visitors may skip this extremely popular ride is not necessarily because they are underwhelmed by it. Rather, its infamously long wait times, coupled with the price of Individual Lightning Lane entry, can deter many guests from taking a chunk of their time or money to experience it. The standby line can be painfully long, and Individual Lightning Lane entry costs can soar, especially during crowded times of the year. Even for the more standard pricing of $25 per person, this will amount to $100 for a party of four for just one day. Some visitors may not find the cost, or the alternative wait standby time, to be worth it for the ride. Plus, Rise of the Resistance is notorious for breaking down, which can subject visitors to an even longer line if this happens.

However, it's worth noting that the posted wait times for this ride are often inflated, and you may be able to get on it with an hour's wait or less if you go at the right time. While this ride is an incredible experience and a fan-favorite at Disneyland, the question of whether or not it's worth it to spend park time waiting or pay for Individual Lightning Lane ultimately boils down to personal preferences.

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