I spent a day trying Disneyland's original rides. Here's what I found
Shuddering, I realise I'm about to fail my mission before it even begins. No way am I risking my lunch on that – give me a looping rollercoaster any day. Ditto the beautiful King Arthur Carrousel, with its 68 hand-carved bobbing horses dating back more than 90 years (making it technically the oldest ride in the park) – I'll leave the spinning things to the little kids.
Instead, I head to the towering faux-brick turret housing one of three original 'dark' rides in Disneyland – Snow White's Enchanted Wish. Like most of the original rides, this one has undergone several incarnations since 1955; originally entitled Snow White's Adventures and minus the actual visage of the original Disney princess (the riders themselves were meant to be Snow White, escaping the clutches of the evil queen), it was renamed in 1983 as Snow White's Scary Adventure, adding spooky elements and jump scares.
In 2021, however, more new visuals, animatronics and laser projections were added, which, along with the new name, give the ride a cheerier, more family-friendly – and dare I say bland – tone.
Far more thrilling to both children and adults (in my opinion) is Peter Pan's Flight, following the adventures of JM Barrie's Lost Boys as they interact with fairies, pirates, mermaids and crocodiles. Boarding an ornate flying sailboat, riders soar over London and Neverland, the twisting journey over stunning neon visuals creating a real sense of magic and wonder.
In 2024, it was announced that Peter Pan's Flight was to be updated to correct racial stereotypes of Tiger Lily and her Native American family in the ride, following a similar change last August in Disney World's version of the ride.
Another original Disneyland attraction that has recently been politically corrected to remove what was described as 'negative depictions of native peoples' is the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland.
I board the river boat at night, just before the fireworks and with no queues to contend with; and while the skipper's commentary is muffled due to a microphone problem (which negates the whole point of the ride really, since it's all about the 'dad jokes'), I find the animatronic animals en route rather charming, especially the elephants and the chest-thumping gorillas. The war party of 'natives' and tribal dancers of old are certainly not missed, with a storyline that is now more inclusive and less racially insensitive.
Opening day in 1955 did not go off without a hitch, by all accounts. The Mark Twain Steamboat (now Riverboat) was so overcrowded it got stuck in the mud; while Casey Jnr Circus Train – primed as the park's first roller coaster – was immediately closed for safety reasons. It started carrying guests in its more gentle form two weeks later, with the Matterhorn Bobsleds (currently under restoration) becoming the first official roller coaster in 1959. Dumbo the Flying Elephant was also supposed to be an opening day attraction, but due to design issues (the grey elephants were too heavy), it launched a month later on August 16, 1955.
Another ride that has recently been adapted to incorporate more modern sensibilities is Tiana's Bayou Adventure – aka, the old Splash Mountain, which I was surprised to discover was not an original Disney ride, but in fact opened in 1989.
The log flume's themes inspired by Uncle Remus stories and the 1946 Disney film Song of the South had always seemed problematic, leading me to believe it had been conceived in less enlightened times; but the reimagining based around the 2009 animation Princess and the Frog is a refreshing, fun adaptation, with nighttime scenes from a bayou, Mardis Gras celebrations, a New Orleans jazz soundtrack and an unbelievable soaking, especially if you're the sucker in the front seat.
Walt Disney once said that 'Disneyland will never be completed, as long as there is imagination left in the world.' While there will always be a buzz and excitement about new, technologically-advanced attractions, the vestiges of Disney's original vision – albeit updated to accommodate more magic as well as contemporary ways of thinking – have an important and nostalgic place in the granddaddy of all theme parks.
The originals
The 10 original rides at Disneyland still operating today are:
Mad Tea Party
King Arthur's Carrousel
Mr Toad's Wild Ride
Snow White's Enchanted Wish
Peter Pan's Flight
Storybookland Canal Boats
Jungle Cruise
Autopia
Mark Twain Riverboat
Disneyland Railroad
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