Oldest Disneyland rides from 1955 to today

Autopia is the only Tomorrowland ride that remains from opening day. When the park opened, this attraction represented the future of auto travel, as interstate highway legislation had yet to be signed. Guests hop aboard mini cars and totter around a designed track. This attraction is particularly fun for kids, who can help drive the car at speeds of up to 6.5 miles per hour. The ride underwent a 5-month refurbishment in 2016 where the vehicles were all repainted, re-tired, and given lower-emission engines.

The Disneyland band helped herald in a new era in amusement parks. In 2015, 14 of the 16-member ensemble were reassigned to other musical groups around the park and new blood was brought aboard to bring a new energy for the 60th anniversary. The band performs four times per day, including the flag retreat ceremony at the end of the day.

When the first train departed from the Disneyland Main Street Station, it only had one other stop, New Orleans Square, and just two trains. Today, there are four stops—Main Street, New Orleans, Tomorrowland, and Toontown—and five trains. The 18-minute tour is unique to Disneyland, as it features a few dioramas in addition to the park scenery.

The Jungle Cruise is the third ride to inspire a film. The theme of the ride is a journey through a tropical jungle. While onboard, guests will see exotic animals in The Mekong River, African Congo, Nile River, and Amazon. In addition to narrowly escaping an angry hippo, guests also endure some seriously punny humor from the cast members. Disney briefly considered using real animals in the trek but changed his mind after consulting animal care specialists.

King Arthur Carousel still operates after more than 60 years. This particular carousel (and many of the horses) first appeared in Sunnyside Beach Park in 1922. Walt bought the carousel and replaced other animals (there were giraffes and deer as well as horses) with additional antique horses. The attraction features 68 wood-carved horses and more than 3,300 lights, while the vignette scenery inside the carousel is all hand-painted.

This classic fair ride gets guests plenty dizzy as they spin and twirl in giant teacups. The ride consists of 18 cups sitting on three separate turntables, spinning on top of an even larger turntable. The cups all twirl a bit, but passengers can spin the center wheel faster for a more intense ride. Make sure to check the weather if you're eager to go on this ride, as it's one of the few attractions that don't run in the rain.

This attraction has six separate movie screens in one room. The screens show a set of classic Disney cartoons like "Steamboat Willie" and "The Dognapper." Disney built the attraction as an homage to early filmmaking.

Walt Disney named The Mark Twain Riverboat after his favorite author. The 28-foot tall boat is 105 feet long and has four decks, including the Pilot House, Promenade Deck, Sun Deck, and Main Deck. The ride is 14 minutes long and includes narration. The captain of this ship doesn't actually control the boat at all, instead communicating with an operator on the boiler deck who controls the speed and direction of the vessel along a guide rail.

Passengers climb aboard a car for a beautiful drive through the country with Mr. Toad, but the trip takes several zany turns as the cart races past boxes, books, and barrels. The ride was refurbished in 1983 to give it a more updated exterior and to add more detail and special effects to the ride. Original ideas for this ride included a rollercoaster version, but Imagineers ditched the idea in favor of a more family-friendly option. This attraction is unique to Disneyland Park. Walt Disney World's version of the ride was closed in 1998, despite massive protests, leaving Anaheim the sole home of Mr. Toad's road trip.

As one of the oldest rides in Disneyland, it's also one of the most popular, with lines regularly settling in at an hour or more even on less crowded days. Passengers board individual flying ships and lift up into the air to view different scenes from London and Neverland as the vessel hangs from a track above and navigates gentle dips and turns.

This attraction tells the tale of Walt Disney's first full-length animated film. The two-minute journey sends visitors through the cottage, the mine, the haunted forest, and the Queen's chamber. The ride is relatively tame, but consistently ranks as a ride that little ones find terrifying. The original ride did not show the actual Snow White character, as the Imagineers wanted guests to feel like they were themselves playing the role of Snow White. When Imagineers updated Fantasyland in 1983, they opted to include Snow White in the attraction.

The Storybook Land Canal sends guests through Monstro's giant mouth into a land filled with miniature versions of Disney homes including Agrabah, Prince Eric's Palace, Pinocchio's village, and the English village from Alice in Wonderland. The tiny houses are created on a one-inch to one-foot scale and are extremely detailed, including doors that actually open. The original version of the ride (dubbed The Canal Boats) was intended to be a trip past miniature versions of world landmarks. It closed after two months and reopened in 1956 with a new theme and a name that carries over to today.

This circus-themed train travels around the park and gives guests a view of some unique miniatures (some of the same ones guests can view on Storybook Canal). Riders can hop aboard an animal cage or a sleigh car for a quick trip past the homes of several Disney characters. Casey Jr.'s Circus Train actually operated on opening day, but it was shut down for safety testing the next day and didn't come back online for good until July 31.

Perhaps one Disney's most iconic rides, Dumbo the Flying Elephant didn't take flight until a month after the park was open to the public. Riders climb inside Dumbo carts and ride in circles as a lever inside the vehicle lets passengers travel up and down to the beat of circus music. The ride was slated to open the same day as the park, but issues with the weight of the elephants and the mechanics of the ride caused a delay. One of the elephants now resides in the Smithsonian Museum.

Hop aboard a floating raft and ditch the amusement park for a quiet island escape. Inspired by Mark Twain's stories, would-be explorers can run around the island and explore the many nooks, crannies, and caves. After an expansion in 2007, the island is now home to sites like Dead Man's Grotto, Tom and Huck's Tree House Hideout, Smuggler's Cove, and Castle Rock. This is the only attraction at Disneyland that Walt Disney designed himself. Walt was fond of Mark Twain's story and was dissatisfied with the original plans for the island. A few days before construction was set to start in the area, he took the plans home and redesigned them.

Opened just a year after the park, Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes is one of the oldest attractions at Disneyland. Visitors grab a paddle and help propel the vessel through the water. This new perspective on the park takes passengers past five waterfalls, a rustic cabin, and a Native American Village. This attraction was shut down for a year while Rivers of America was undergoing renovation in preparation for the new park expansion.

This Old West gallery features 97 interactive targets for visitors to take aim at. After operating for decades with air rifles firing lead pellets, this entertaining gallery transitioned to infrared beams in 1985 to cut down on maintenance costs and the occasional ricochet.

If you want to take a trip down the rabbit hole, you'll have to head to Anaheim, as this ride isn't in any of the other Disney parks. The theme of the ride is an Unbirthday party. Characters from the film, including The Mad Hatter, The Cheshire Cat, A Talking Doorknob, and The Queen of Hearts, make an appearance. Disney originally planned a walk-through attraction for Alice in Wonderland. But, the project was scrapped due to budgetary concerns. The original plot slotted for Alice in Wonderland was used for a theater instead. It was later replaced by Pinocchio's Daring Adventure.

Most people never get the chance to ride vessels like this on the open water. This attraction is a full-scale replica of the first American ship that sailed around the world (Columbia Rediviva). Before its current incarnation, the vessel served as the Captain Hook's home, The Jolly Roger, for more than 20 years. The massive boat includes an 84-foot mainmast, 10 cannons, and two swivel guns.

These crooners have been belting out a variety of tunes, tap dancing, and chiming their way into the hearts of Disney guests for more than 60 years. Becoming a member of this four-member group is no easy task: Applicants must pass multiple auditions and learn to play the Deagan Organ Chimes. You'll catch the group performing on Main Street U.S.A where they sing favorite Disney tunes and Americana songs.

Walt Disney got the idea for this transportation system while visiting Germany. The Monorail built inside Disneyland was the first of its kind in the United States. The updated transportation system takes guests on a trip from the Monorail Station in Downtown Disney to the Tomorrowland station at a comfortable 30 mph. The energy-efficient ride uses a battery power source and takes about 13 minutes. When it first opened, the Monorail took guests around the inside of the park so they could view the park from a different perspective.

This recently updated ride sends guests up the mountain and then speeding back down in a series of twists and turns. Deep inside the mountain, guests will speed past a mountain Yeti, and the final drop splashes down into a small bit of water. The Matterhorn has two tracks to accommodate more riders (and the side closest to Fantasyland is a little longer with sharper turns).

The Enchanted Tiki Room is a Polynesian-inspired musical show featuring a bevy of animatronic birds. Seating surrounds a center fountain, where a few macaws take center stage to entertain guests with a set of quirky songs and colorful displays. A cast of 225 choreographed animatronic birds, flowers, and masks provide a cool place to relax out of the California sun. Bonus: The famous Dole Whip can be purchased and eaten at the attraction.

The attraction, now located in the Main Street Opera House, first debuted at New York's World Fair in 1964. The popular attraction was added as a permanent attraction at Disneyland the next year. This was the first attraction to use animatronic technology on a human—the Enchanted Tiki Room introduced the technology just one year prior. The show honors President Abraham Lincoln with models, artwork, and artifacts, followed by a striking figure of Lincoln delivering pieces of some of his most famous speeches. Fun fact: Disney Imagineers used the actual life mask of Abraham Lincoln to create a super-realistic mold for his face.

Love it or hate it, this ride is pure Disney. The 15-minute experience includes a boat ride through rooms decked out to represent different countries. Three-hundred animatronic children and characters dressed in traditional garb from their country of origin showcase different lifestyles from around the world. The tune "It's a Small World," sung in various languages, accompanies guests throughout the ride. In 2009, Disney updated the attraction to include Disney/Pixar characters along with the other children.

You could technically thank Walt Disney for Johnny Depp's portrayal of Jack Sparrow. This was the last ride Walt worked on, passing away three months before it opened. The wild 15-minute ride was updated to include new scenes from the movies it inspired. Guests board boats and ride past various scenes featuring misbehaving pirates. Cannon fire, dips, and flames combined with a few catchy tunes combine to create one of the longest dark-ride experiences in any park.

On the Haunted Mansion, guests approach the haunted house where they gather in a peculiar room. The "stretching room" is the first stop on the tour, from which guests dramatically descend into the depths of the ride. Guests then wander down a dimly lit hall before climbing aboard buggies for a ride through the rest of the house. Thanks to intelligent design and technology, visitors will will see singing busts, watch ghosts float and dance, and even get a special guest in their cart. From Halloween through Christmas, the ride—which inspired a film—is overlaid with "A Nightmare before Christmas" theme featuring Jack Skellington.

This popular attraction launches riders into outer space via rocket-esque cars. The roller coaster takes place in the dark and uses trick lighting to create a feeling of flying through space. Around Halloween, the ride gets the "Ghost Galaxy" overlay, sending riders through haunted outer space. An actual astronaut (Gordon Cooper) was on the design team for the attraction to ensure it felt realistic.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad isn't your typical train ride. Passengers board a mine train and careen through an abandoned mine shaft. The ride features sharp turns and some dips and drops as the car hurls under a waterfall, and barely escapes exploding dynamite. The legend surrounding the attraction is that the mountain is haunted: occasionally the trains will take off without a driver. As the story goes, the miners and their families abandoned the town to disrepair until a new mining company decided to continue where work left off.

This attraction pays homage to the classic Disney film. Guests board carts and follow Pinocchio's story as he earns his "real-boy" status. The ride features 32 animated characters, special effects, and a few props. This ride is unique because the backgrounds are drawn in black light paint. The colors show up under ultraviolet light. Guests with a keen eye will catch a glimpse of the Blue Fairy appearing and disappearing near the end of the ride.

Long before Disney bought Lucasfilm, they embraced the cult following of the Star Wars films with an attraction that was ahead of its time. Guests don 3D glasses and strap into chairs that lean, shake, and move with the scenes on screen. R2D2 and C3PO lead the adventure after accidentally taking off on a ship and hitting a warp speed zone that sends the passengers careening across the galaxy. Each trip is a little different, as the scenes and characters in each ride rotate.

The attraction starts out pleasant enough, with the log canoes following the tale of Br'er Rabbit. Guests see plenty of pretty landscaping and drift past animatronic scenes featuring various characters from Song of the South. Following a shocking plunge in the dark, the ride takes things a little darker until the thrilling finale of a 5-story drop, which usually leaves riders soaking wet. The end of the ride features a rousing rendition of Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah as guests head back to dock.

This night-time attraction draws large crowds. Featuring Mickey Mouse, a host of villains (including a fire-breathing dragon), video projected onto a screen of water, and lasers, it never fails to draw big crowds. The show reopened in April 2017 after a year-long hiatus. The closure was part of a refurbishment to the Rivers of America section of the park which was adjusted to accommodate a new Star Wars Land.

Located in Toontown, the home of Disney's sneakiest chipmunks looks like a carved tree. Guests can walk up a windy staircase to get a better view of Toon Town. Unlike some of the other homes in this land, Chip and Dale do not make appearances here (though they are likely to be spotted wandering nearby).

Donald's Boat is (unsurprisingly) shaped like a cartoonish boat. The bottom floor includes his room and some of his favorite collectibles. The top level is a landing area that consists of a bell, triggers for waterspouts, and a ship wheel. The deck of Donald's ship offers sweeping views of the rest of Toontown.

The curvy home is a walk-through attraction that lets guests explore where the famous mouse lives. There are a few fun things to look out for, including a desk with a phone that receives messages; the broomstick from Fantasia; and Pluto's doghouse. After guests walk through each room, they'll wait in a theater area that plays old Disney cartoons, before a cast member escorts them for a meet-and-greet and photo with Mickey.

Minnie's abode includes a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and garden in back. Guests can check out the cheese in the fridge, help bake a cake, and read Minnie's email. Much like Mickey's place, this attraction serves as an exciting entrance to Minnie's meet and greet.

This tot-friendly attraction only lasts about 44 seconds from start to finish. It's short, but an excellent way to gauge how a little one might handle some of the bigger thrill rides, as they zoom down a hill and around some corners in an acorn train. Based on the hit cartoon "Chip n' Dale Rescue Rangers," this is the only ride in the park based on a Disney television series.

This quirky ride shuttles guests through a wild spin in a taxi based on the film "Roger Rabbit.' Riders are able to twist and turn their carts with 360 degrees of rotation along the exciting route featuring 17 Audio-Animatronics, 20 special effects, and 59 animated props. The line for this ride is deceptively long, but the indoor queue provides shade and plenty of gimmicks to enjoy.

Easily one of the more popular attractions in the park, Indiana Jones Adventure packs park guests into specially-designed jeeps and sends them careening over rickety bridges, through poison-dart-filled tunnels, and past blazing fire. It's an intense ride, and the line is almost always long, but the heavy themes throughout the queue make the wait an exciting buildup. The transport truck outside of the attraction is the actual truck from the film. The ride occupies what used to be the Eeyore section of the Disneyland Parking lot, and the attraction's film room includes an Eeyore sign behind the projector as a reminder of the old occupant.

Three guests at a time can climb into spaceship-shaped carts for a flight high above the ground in Tomorrowland. The carts rise and fall via a rider-controlled lever inside the vehicle. The attraction has undergone several incarnations. Initially dubbed the Astro Jets, it was re-themed in 1964 as the Tomorrowland Jets. In 1967 it was moved and renamed (Rocket Jets). In 1998 the ride appeared in its current location with the moniker Astro Orbiter.

Tarzan's Treehouse is the current version of what used to be The Swiss Family (Robinson) Treehouse. The walk-through attraction features a 70-foot tall tree that guests can climb up into and explore. The attraction includes a rope bridge, hands-on activities, and a tranquil waterfall tucked off to the side. Listen to the vintage gramophone while exploring the area to hear "Swissapolka," an homage to the old attraction.

Winnie the Pooh celebrates his birthday with his friends in this dark ride. Guests ride in bouncy honeypots through different rooms highlighting the original "Winnie the Pooh" film. In one scene, a fun technology trick makes it look as if Winnie the Pooh is floating through the air. The ride replaced an old attraction (Country Bear Jamboree), although Imagineers left three talking trophy heads from the former ride inside The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh to pay homage to the local favorite. Look behind you and above the door as you head into the Birthday Bash room for a peek at these hidden guests.

This interactive attraction sends guests on a quest to stop Emperor Zurg, who is trying to steal batteries from toys to power a new weapon. With each car holding two people and their own laser guns, riders are challenged to fire at various light-up targets and compete for a score that will place them in the ranks of top space rangers. Insider tip: Aim for triangle-shaped targets to maximize your score (they're worth 10,000 points!) and have little ones keep shooting even if they can't hit a target. Rumor has it that the game awards 100 points after five shoot-and-misses.

Imagineers designed the Remember Dreams Come True fireworks show in honor of Disneyland's 50th anniversary. Tinker Bell took her first flight over the crowds during this show's run. The original version of the show featured segments celebrating each section of the park. In 2009, the Frontierland segment disappeared, and reports suggest the portion vanished for budgetary reasons and the show was on a brief hiatus from 2014 until January 2017.

Located in Toon Town, this zany house is a fun place for younger Disney guests to explore. The house joined the Toon Town scene a few years after the area opened. In the original Bounce House, kids could jump around, bouncing off of furniture, floors, and walls. The updated version targets tots with a playground area and small rooms.

Kids can participate in this stage show-esque attraction as Jedi-in-training participants learning how to use their lightsabers to battle against Kylo Ren or Darth Vader. Participants don colored robes before training on stage for an immersive experience. Sorry adult Star Wars junkies: participants must be between the ages of 4 and 12 (and be sure to register the kids early in the day before slots fill up).

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage was technically a refresh of an original attraction (Submarine Voyage), which closed in 1998. The ride takes guests on an underwater trip featuring a few friends from the animated film "Finding Nemo." The ride uses audio and visual tricks to make it feel like the boat is going underwater, but it never actually submerges. Before the update, the original ride featured women dressed up as mermaids swimming in the lagoon.

Tucked in next between the Matterhorn Bobsleds and the Central Hub, guests can explore Pixie Hollow from a fairy's perspective. Oversized everything makes even adults feel small. Tinker Bell and one or two other pixie friends pose for photos and sign autographs here. While waiting in the queue, be sure to look around for tiny little fairy huts and statues nestled in the landscaping.

While there's no room to sleep in this castle (unlike the Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney World, which does have a suite), you can still walk through the interior of the castle. The attraction features 3-D artwork in a narrow passageway, telling the story of Sleeping Beauty in pictures. The original version of this attraction opened in 1957, but was closed in the early 2000s and reimagined before opening back up in 2008. The attraction does have stairs, but if you are unable to climb them, there's a small alcove outside the castle that features all of the same artwork and music.

Disney doesn't skimp on fireworks any time of year, and their Halloween show is no exception. In addition to a flood of impressive pyrotechnics, guests can watch projections displayed on the castle, a flying ghost dog, and an impressive Jack-Skellington who introduces you to the show. Like the Halloween parade, this seasonal show is only available at the ticketed Halloween parties in September and October.

This attraction is a daytime parade featuring plenty of music and characters including larger-than-life floats with The Princess and the Frog, The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, and Mickey Mouse sitting atop a giant drum. The parade runs through Fantasyland and down Main Street and lasts about 50 minutes from start to finish. Tip: it usually takes around 20 minutes for the whole parade to pass any given sitting area along the route.

Guests can meet three different princesses at this indoor attraction which typically features Ariel, Aurora, Cinderella, and a few surprise drop-ins. While this meet-and-greet is generally popular, the line actually moves faster than it looks because there are additional meeting areas hidden behind wooden panels.

Classic Disney stories get a Renaissance-style reenactment treatment. The theater is currently alternating between 'Beauty and the Beast' and 'Tangled.' Guests can view the shows in an open-aired theater, and most of the minor character roles are interpreted by Mr. Smythe and Mr. Jones, a comedic pair who are always willing to lend their thespian skills to the show. Kids can sit on the floor close to the stage for a better view.

The 22-minute play features the Big Cheese Mickey Mouse himself as an apprentice who accidentally uses Sorcerer Yen Sid's dream-controlling map on an adventure that spans the globe. Mickey meets friends along the way including Mulan, Sebastian, Stitch, and Rapunzel. A combination of live-action and video effects meld together to create a unique musical stage-play.

This big-band era dance takes place at the Fantasy Faire theater on Saturday nights throughout the year. Disneyland has long played host to these dances at the Carnation Plaza Gardens (which were eliminated to create space for the Fantasy Faire Stage in 2012). Many guests go all out, even donning themed outfits to embrace the Swing period experience.

This movie attraction melds Luke Skywalker's story into a 10-minute compilation featuring Luke, Leia, and Han Solo. The experience is heightened with some in-theater wind and moving seats. People unfamiliar with the Star Wars storyline may find the plot a bit confusing so it's recommended to take in the films before visiting.

The Silver Dollar Six is a little harder to spot than some of the other bands at Disneyland. You'll catch this brass band performing once or twice a day in Frontierland near The Golden Horseshoe Saloon, where guests can enjoy a selection of jazzy tunes.

Fans of the intergalactic space adventure can visit their favorite Star Wars characters and explore actual props from the films in this interactive experience. The attraction also features a documentary, video games, and life-sized settings from the movies.

This seasonal parade features various Disney villains decked out in all their Halloween glory. Favorites like Jack Skellington and Dr. Facilier make an appearance as do troupes of grinning ghosts. If you're lucky enough to snag an early seat, you may even catch the Headless Horseman's ride down Main Street USA. This attraction only appears at the ticketed Halloween parties running in September and October.

A replacement for Disneyland's nightly fireworks, Mickey's Mix Magic is a "high energy projection show" featuring and celebrating Mickey Mouse himself. Images are displayed at various locations around the park including on the buildings on Main Street, on It's a Small World, and on mist screens on The Rivers of America. The vibrant show is accompanied by energetic music and, occasionally, a few of those classic fireworks we all know and love.

Located in Star Wars Galaxy Edge, Droid Depot is an interactive experience where visitors can build their own R-series or BB-series droids. For $100, you can select the various robot parts you want to use off of a moving conveyor belt, then carry them to a station where you assemble your new friend yourself (although cast members are on hand to help as needed).

The first attraction to open up in Star Wars Galaxy Edge, Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is a motion simulator attraction that allows guests the opportunity to fly in Hans Solo's Millennium Falcon. Six visitors can enjoy the ride's cinema-quality images– which react in real-time to decisions riders make– at a time. The level of detail put into every aspect of this ride, from the queue area to the cockpits themselves, makes this one of the most popular in the park.

For $200 visitors to Savi's Workshop can design and assemble their own lightsabers. Reservations are recommended for this interactive experience, although there will occasionally be same-day availability, so be sure to plan ahead if you want to pop in during your next trip.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance joins trackless vehicles, a motion-simulator, walk-through environments, and an elevator drop to create an epic, dark ride. Set in a Resistance military outpost laser-carved from ancient stone, the ride is among the most popular attractions in the park.

The Magic Happens Parade contains updated floats from properties like "Sleeping Beauty," "CoCo," "Moana" and more. There's also a song produced in partnership with Todrick Hall that livens up the musical score.

Located in the former Splash Mountain, Tiana's Bayou Adventure takes visitors on an exciting musical journey. As riders float through the waters of the bayou, they might spot familiar faces like Louis the Alligator, Prince Naveen, and, of course, Princess Tiana herself. Though Tiana's Bayou Adventure welcomes any rider taller than 40 inches, the cruise does culminate in a 50-foot drop, so the ride is likely best for older kids and adults who don't mind getting splashed.