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The 15 Must-Do Disneyland Rides For 2025: New Thrills, Major Refurbs, And Essential Tips

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Planning a trip to The Happiest Place on Earth in 2025 requires a completely updated strategy, as the park is undergoing one of its most transformative periods in recent history. As of December 11, 2025, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure (DCA) are buzzing with major changes, from the debut of highly anticipated new attractions to the return of classic favorites after extensive refurbishments. Navigating the parks efficiently means knowing which rides are open, which are brand new, and how to use the modern tools like Lightning Lane to skip the massive queues for the most popular experiences.

This comprehensive guide cuts through the noise to give you the freshest, most essential information for your 2025 visit, focusing on the rides you absolutely cannot miss. We’ll cover the massive transformation of Splash Mountain into Tiana's Bayou Adventure, the exciting new lands being developed, and the crucial refurbishment schedule for classics like Matterhorn Bobsleds and Indiana Jones Adventure, ensuring your time is spent on the best, most current attractions available.

The New Era of Thrills: Must-Ride New and Reimagined Attractions in 2025

The biggest story in Disneyland for 2025 is the influx of new and heavily-reimagined attractions, shifting the landscape of both parks. These rides are guaranteed to have the longest wait times, making them your top priority for early morning entry or Genie+ / Lightning Lane purchases.

Tiana's Bayou Adventure (Disneyland Park)

The former Splash Mountain has been completely transformed into Tiana's Bayou Adventure, a highly anticipated log-flume ride based on the film The Princess and the Frog. This attraction anchors the newly re-themed area of the park, replacing Critter Country. The ride features state-of-the-art animatronics and a brand-new storyline that picks up after the film, following Princess Tiana as she hosts a Mardi Gras celebration. Expect this to be the single busiest ride in Disneyland Park for the entirety of 2025.

The Avatar Experience (Disney California Adventure)

While an exact opening date is still TBD, the development of a brand-new *Avatar* area at Disney California Adventure is a major future project. This new section, replacing the former Monsters, Inc. location, is expected to feature a stunning boat ride experience that transports guests to the bioluminescent world of Pandora. Keep an eye on park announcements, as the debut of this land will dramatically shift crowds to DCA.

Coco-Inspired Ride (Disney California Adventure)

A new attraction inspired by Pixar's beloved film *Coco* has been announced for Disney California Adventure. While details are scarce, this ride promises to immerse guests in the vibrant Land of the Dead, utilizing the emotional storytelling and visual flair that made the movie a massive hit. This addition further expands Pixar-themed offerings at DCA, complementing Pixar Pier.

Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run Update (Disneyland Park)

Located in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, the popular flight simulator Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run is getting a significant update. Disney has announced new mission content featuring the fan-favorite character, The Mandalorian. This refresh will breathe new life into an already fantastic attraction, offering a new reason for guests to pilot the fastest hunk of junk in the galaxy.

2025 Refurbishment & Reopening Schedule: Classics You Can't Miss

To keep the park pristine, Disneyland schedules major refurbishments, which can heavily impact your touring plan. Knowing which rides are closed and, more importantly, which fan-favorites are returning is vital for a successful 2025 visit.

  • Matterhorn Bobsleds: This iconic, thrilling coaster is scheduled to reopen in July 2025 after an extensive refurbishment. Its return is a huge win for thrill-seekers, as the ride is a unique, high-speed experience through the icy caverns of the mountain.
  • Indiana Jones Adventure: The legendary jeep ride through the Temple of the Forbidden Eye is scheduled for a brief closure in December 2025. If visiting outside of this small window, make this Adventureland staple a priority, as its queue and ride experience are among the best themed in the world.
  • Incredicoaster: Located at Disney California Adventure, this high-speed roller coaster on Pixar Pier is also scheduled for a refurbishment in 2025. Check the official Disneyland app for its exact closure and reopening dates to avoid disappointment.
  • Radiator Springs Racers: The extremely popular test-track-style ride in Cars Land is also slated for an upcoming refurbishment. Given its consistently long wait times, a refresh will be welcomed, but be prepared for its temporary absence.
  • Seasonal Refurbs: Classics like Grizzly River Run and the Disneyland Railroad typically undergo annual winter refurbishments in the early months of the year. Additionally, "it's a small world" closes briefly in November to install its spectacular holiday overlay.

The Essential Top-Tier Rides for Every 2025 Disneyland Visitor

Beyond the new and refurbished attractions, a core group of rides consistently ranks as the best in the park, offering unbeatable immersion, thrills, and classic Disney magic. These are the attractions that define the Disneyland experience.

The Thrill Icons

Disneyland is home to some of the best themed thrill rides in the world. Start your day with these high-energy experiences to beat the midday crowds.

  • Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance: The pinnacle of modern theme park design, this attraction in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge is a multi-system journey that is a mandatory experience. It often requires a virtual queue or an Individual Lightning Lane purchase.
  • Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!: Located in Avengers Campus at DCA, this drop tower ride is a high-energy, music-filled, random-sequence experience that is a must-do for Marvel fans and thrill-seekers.
  • Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: The "Wildest Ride in the Wilderness" remains a classic, fast-paced roller coaster in Frontierland. Its outdoor setting and charming theme make it a perfect mid-day ride.
  • Space Mountain: A high-speed, indoor roller coaster in Tomorrowland, plunging guests into a pitch-black galaxy. The experience is refreshed annually with the Hyperspace Mountain overlay, which is a fan-favorite.

The Timeless Classics

A Disneyland trip is incomplete without experiencing the rides that Walt Disney himself oversaw. These attractions are the heart of Fantasyland and the entire park.

  • Haunted Mansion: While the ride itself is a classic dark ride, the annual Haunted Mansion Holiday overlay featuring characters from The Nightmare Before Christmas is a seasonal tradition that runs through the end of the year.
  • Pirates of the Caribbean: One of the longest and most ambitious dark rides ever created, this Adventureland staple is a journey through pirate life that influenced countless other attractions.
  • Peter Pan's Flight: Despite being a simple, low-capacity dark ride, its unique sensation of flying over London and Neverland makes it one of the most popular and longest-waiting rides in Fantasyland. Ride this first thing in the morning.
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant: A charming, iconic aerial carousel that is essential for families visiting Fantasyland.

Expert 2025 Strategy: Mastering Lightning Lane and Genie+

The key to conquering the massive crowds and long wait times for the best rides in 2025 is understanding the current digital tools: Genie+ and Lightning Lane. The old FASTPASS system is gone, replaced by a system that requires a small fee for maximum efficiency.

Genie+: This paid service allows you to book return times (called Lightning Lane) for most of the park's popular attractions, including *Big Thunder Mountain Railroad*, *Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run*, and *Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!*. You can only book one ride at a time, so mastering the timing of your next reservation is crucial.

Individual Lightning Lane (ILL): The most in-demand rides, such as Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and Radiator Springs Racers (when open), are not included in the standard Genie+ package. Instead, they are sold separately as Individual Lightning Lane (ILL) purchases. If these rides are a priority, budget for the ILL purchase as soon as you enter the park to secure a spot.

Pro Tip: Utilize the Single Rider Line for rides like *Radiator Springs Racers*, *Matterhorn Bobsleds* (when open), and *Incredicoaster* (when open). This bypasses the main queue entirely, often cutting the wait time by 75%, perfect for parties willing to split up to ride. Additionally, keep an eye out for Hidden Mickeys throughout the park's queues and attractions to pass the time while you wait for your Lightning Lane window to open.

The 15 Must-Do Disneyland Rides for 2025: New Thrills, Major Refurbs, and Essential Tips
rides in disneyland
rides in disneyland

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