5 Rides To Go On First At Disney California Adventure

Summary There are plenty of exciting rides at Disney California Adventure Park, but some require more planning than others.

Getting to popular attractions early in the morning can shorten wait times and ensure visitors don't miss out.

Rides in Avengers Campus and Pixar Pier seem to be especially popular, leading to longer wait times overall.

When visiting Disneyland California, it's always a great idea to stop by Disney California Adventure Park if time and funds allow — and there are certain rides parkgoers should head to first, as they're popular and often have long lines throughout the day. Disney California Adventure Park opens its gates at 8 a.m. every morning, and it's typically open until 10 p.m. This leaves plenty of time to check out the biggest attractions the California-based theme park has to offer. Of course, first-time visitors may not know which rides and attractions to prioritize over others.

After purchasing tickets for Disneyland and securing a reservation, setting up one's itinerary is the most important element of visiting the parks. With eight themed lands within Disney California Adventure Park — all with their own unique rides, performances, and eateries — making a plan can prove overwhelming. The best way to approach the attractions is to pinpoint which are the most popular. Visitors will likely want to check those off their to-do lists, and that often means getting there first thing in the morning. Theme parks tend to be less crowded then, and getting there early ensures visitors don't miss out.

Related 5 Disneyland Rides To Go To First When The Park Opens Disneyland Park guests should prioritize rides such as Rise of the Resistance, Peter Pan's Flight, and Indiana Jones Adventure due to long wait times.

5 WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

Located In Avengers Campus

Image via Disney/Disney Parks

Avengers Campus is an incredibly popular part of Disney California Adventure Park, and several of the rides there are best checked off early. This includes WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, which revolves around Marvel's web-slinging hero. During this attraction, visitors accompany Peter Parker on his mission to round up his Spider-Bots, which have escaped Tony Stark's lab and begun causing chaos. Riders are tasked with helping Peter get the Spider-Bots back, and they do so using 3D glasses and a WEB Slinger vehicle that give them their own web-slinging abilities.

While WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure features some spins and darker moments, Disneyland.com confirms that it's perfect for all ages. This makes it a must-see attraction, whether parkgoers are visiting as a group of adults or with young kids. Visitors can find this ride across from Shawarma Palace in Avengers Campus, closer to the Performance Corridor than Hollywood Land. It's not too far from the entrance of Disney California Adventure Park, so it's easy enough to head to as soon as one arrives.

And going to WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure first thing in the morning is probably a safe bet, as there's often a long wait to board this ride. This is likely for a couple of reasons. For one, it's a family-friendly option that will appeal to adults and children alike. This draws a wide range of visitors, which results in longer lines and waits. Spider-Man is also an incredibly well-known and popular character, so it's no surprise parkgoers flock to his attraction. There's a reason Avengers Campus was built, and it has to do with the popularity of the MCU.

4 Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!

Located In Avengers Campus

Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT! is another Avengers Campus attraction that should be at the top of visitors' itineraries. Based on Marvel's beloved Guardians of the Galaxy movies, Mission: BREAKOUT! takes riders on an adventure to rescue the titular team from the Collector's clutches. They help Rocket in this endeavor, and it takes them on a twisty ride full of Star Lord-approved music. The attraction culminates with a giant drop — one that riders familiar with the Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror will recognize, as Mission: BREAKOUT replaced this classic thrill ride.

The attraction culminates with a giant drop — one that riders familiar with the Twilight Zone: Tower of Terror will recognize, as Mission: BREAKOUT replaced this classic thrill ride

Because of the drop — and a few scarier moments — Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT is recommended for teens and adults and has a height requirement of 40 inches or taller. Given how tall the building is, it's easy enough to locate. Parkgoers can find this attraction right at the entrance to Avengers Campus, coming from the Hollywood Land side. It's right before the Pym Test Kitchen coming from that direction. Like the Spider-Man ride, this one isn't far from the entrance to Disney California Adventure Park, so heading straight there won't be too much of a hassle.

Like WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, Mission: BREAKOUT often has a longer wait time. This probably has to do with the popularity of the movies the ride is based on, as well as the characters who appear throughout its run. Additionally, Mission: BREAKOUT is one of the most thrilling attractions at Disney California Adventure Park. It makes sense that so many visitors want to experience it. And some likely want to see how it holds up against the Tower of Terror, too.

3 Toy Story Midway Mania!

Located In Pixar Pier

Another immersive, family-friendly ride that has long wait times is Toy Story Midway Mania!, which is located in the Pixar Pier area of Disney California Adventure Park. This ride takes visitors into the world of Pixar's 1995 hit, showcasing characters from Toy Story and references to the beloved film. Those riding Toy Story Midway Mania! will board a "swiveling car" and try to stop Andy's newest toys from getting too out of control (via Disneyland.com). They'll do so using 3D glasses and blasters, similar to Universal Studios' Men in Black ride. Riders will also encounter Woody, Buzz, and their friends.

Like WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure, Toy Story Midway Mania is open to all ages and has no height restrictions. It does get dark and loud at times, and the players rack up points as they progress through the ride. Visitors can find Toy Story Midway Mania! right next to Jessie's Critter Carousel in Pixar Pier. It's also not far from the Incredicoaster and the Pixar Pal-A-Round. Unfortunately, Pixar Pier is one of the furthest lands from the entrance, so those hoping to get to Toy Story Midway Mania! first will need to walk quickly.

There are likely multiple factors that contribute to Toy Story Midway Mania's long waits, including the fact that it's open to all ages and heights. With such a wide range of people checking out this attraction, long lines are inevitable. Toy Story is also among Pixar's best movies of all time, which adds to the ride's universal appeal. And finally, immersive attractions that allow visitors to play along are often huge hits, something that seems to be the case here. This is why so many people line up for Toy Story Midway Mania! Luckily, getting there early can help.

2 The Incredicoaster

Located In Pixar Pier

The Incredicoaster is another popular ride in Pixar Pier, and it's worth getting to early if visitors can make it happen. As its name suggests, the roller coaster is based on Pixar's The Incredibles, which comes close to Toy Story in terms of popularity. The Incredicoaster takes visitors on a thrill ride to catch Jack Jack, who keeps teleporting away. The attraction looks like a standard roller coaster on the outside — and it has plenty of drops and turns — but according to Disneyland.com, it also boasts "tunnels, special effects, scenes and a musical score by Incredibles 2 composer Michael Giacchino."

All of this comes together to make The Incredicoaster one of the most exciting attractions at Disney California Adventure Park, and it's also the biggest. The roller coaster stretches through all of Pixar Pier, so it's impossible to miss. Unfortunately, this means it's located far from the theme park's main entrance. Still, it's well worth rushing over to. This is assuming visitors can ride it, as The Incredicoaster has a 48-inch height requirement. This makes it suitable for teens and adults, but not young kids.

The Incredicoaster's wait times can extend to an hour or more, and this is likely due to it being one of the only roller coaters at Disney California Adventure Park.

The Incredicoaster's wait times can extend to an hour or more, and this is likely due to it being one of two roller coasters at Disney California Adventure Park. Goofy's Sky School is the other, and it doesn't have nearly the same number of drops or twists. It also isn't as new or based on a beloved film like The Incredibles. All of these elements ensure that The Incredicoaster is one of the most crowded attractions at the theme park. Visitors won't want to miss it, even if they need to wake up early to get on board.

1 Radiator Springs Racers

Located In Cars Land

Image via Disney/Disney Parks

​​​​​​​Those looking for a bit of speed to wake them up first thing in the morning should head over to Radiator Springs Racers, located in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park. Radiator Springs Racers is based on the movie Cars, and it allows visitors to "zoom through" the movie's landscape (via Disneyland.com). This is all under the guise of participating in a race, and riders will face dark areas and drops on their way to "winning." With its speed and fun movie connections, Radiator Springs Racers is one of the more popular attractions in Disney California Adventure Park.

Unlike many other thrill rides scattered throughout the theme park, Radiator Springs Racers is also suitable for kids and tweens, as long as they meet the 40-inch height requirement. Teenagers and adults will get just as much as a kick out of this Cars-inspired attraction. And it's sandwiched between Avengers Campus and Pixar Pier, so visitors can stop on their way to all their priority rides. Cars Land and Radiator Springs Racers is a straight shot from the Performance Corridor, so it's easy enough to find, even if it's a bit of a trek from the main entrance.

Wait times for Radiator Springs Racers is typically upwards of an hour, so visitors interested in checking out this attraction will want to work it into their morning at Disney California Adventure Park. While Cars hasn't remained quite as popular as movies like The Incredibles and Toy Story, it seems recognizable enough to draw crowds. Of course, high-adrenaline racing also factors into this attraction's popularity. Thrill rides are always hits at Disneyland theme parks, and this one is no different. Fortunately, it's the perfect way to kick-start any parkgoer's day.

Source: Disneyland.com