Disneyland, being the very first Disney theme park, has quite a few unique rides not found anywhere else. OK, some of these rides can be found in foreign Disney parks like Tokyo Disneyland or Disneyland Paris, but honestly, we really only care about Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Below are the Top 10 unique rides to Disneyland, and by unique, we mean not found at Walt Disney World.

#10: Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln – Funny thing, this ride/attraction has been around for ever, as long as I have been going to Disneyland, I don’t ever remember sitting through a show before a few years ago. It appeared at the 1964 World Fair and then was installed in Disneyland in 1965, and has gone through several changes, including the removal of Mr. Lincoln from time to time. The current version, “The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln” is wonderful. While it may not entertain your little ones, I was surprised at how well it was done and how much I liked it. Way, way better than The Hall of Presidents or the The American Adventure, must more intimate, much shorter.

#9: Pinocchio’s Daring Journey – Can also be found at Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris, both in Fantasyland. Fun ride through replication of the Pinocchio movie, complete with Pleasure Island and Monstro. Nothing earth shattering or super fun, but a solid family ride through that you can do several times during your stay.

#8: Mickey’s Fun Wheel – Located in California Adventure, Mickey’s Fun Wheel is one of only two of it’s kind in the world. The ride is basically a huge ferris wheel (160 feet tall!) that features fantastic views of the Disneyland Resort. The unique part of the ride (and the reason why I love it) is that 16 of the 24 gondolas are on tracks that swing in and out as the ferris wheel rotates. Now, this may not sound like much, but honestly, the first time you ride it, you think are going to fling right off of the wheel and become part of the California Adventure sidewalk below. You really need to ride in a swinging car to get the thrill of the ride. And if you can ride it with a lady who tends to scream a lot for no reason, it gets even better.

#7: Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride – Probably the one ride that bugs Disney World visitors the most, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride once existed in the Magic Kingdom, but was replaced by The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. Uggh. Mr Toad can’t drive, but he is going to try anyway. Ride along with Mr Toad through the countryside, visit the docks, London streets, a pub, a courtroom and finally jail (and eventually hell). A simple ride through, but always fun as little kids and adults love pretending they are driving the car. By the way, did you know you can still find a statue of Mr. Toad in the pet cemetery of the Haunted Mansion in the Magic Kingdom.

#6: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage – While Disney World decided to fill in their Fantasyland/Tomorrowland lagoon, Disneyland kept theirs under wraps for nearly 10 years. Originally launched as the Submarine Voyage thru liquid space in 1959, the subs toured an underwater world for nearly 40 years until they were closed in 1998. While they were a bit of an eyesore, and rumors abound about their future reincarnation (Atlantis anyone?), Disney finally found a suitable theme and relaunched the ride as Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in 2007. Guests take a wonderful ride through the Finding Nemo adventure, including some unique use of underwater movie screens. Really a fun ride, unless you are claustrophobic, then you might want to stay away.

#5: Alice in Wonderland – One of my all time favorite rides as a child, I just loved following that pesky white rabbit down the rabbit hole. A bit more complex than your standard ride through, Alice features multiple levels and spinning cars. Funny that it has lasted 50+ years, since Walt said he regretted building it, as the Mad Tea Party next door was more popular.

#4: Storybook Land Canal Boats – If it weren’t for the dang line on this ride, it may have been higher on the list. Because of the ride vehicles, and the slowness of loading and unloading, the line often looks short, but is almost always a 45 minute or longer wait. You start out getting swallowed by Monstro, and emerge into a Lilliputian land featuring buildings and locations from many of the older animated Disney movies, including Toad Hall, the Dwarf’s cottage and King Triton’s castle. Super fun ride, not exciting in any way, but a ride you can do over and over with or without your kids. All hail Monstro!

#3: Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye – While the mechanics are similar to Dinosaur! in Animal Kingdom at Walt Disney World, the Disneyland version is a much, much better ride. Indian Jones is a dark adventure ride following the ever adventurous Indian Jones who is in search of the Jewel of Power. The lost temple has been turned into a bit of a tourist attraction, and you are sent on a tour of the temple to see it’s wonders. Things go horribly wrong and Indy has to save the day (what else is new?).

#2: California Screamin’ – California Adventure’s signature ride, California Screamin’ is the world’s 6th longest roller coaster, the longest coaster with a loop and Disneyland’s only ride with an inversion. The ride starts on flat ground, and you accelerate from 0 – 60 in less than 4 seconds. The ride is set to music, is fast, and honestly, puts Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster to shame (it is nearly twice as long). Ride it if you dare.

#1: Matterhorn Bobsleds – OK, bit of a guilty pleasure here, but I love the Matterhorn, possibly the best Disney ride anywhere. It isn’t the fastest, or tallest nor does it have the best Yeti (up to debate though, you broken down Animal Kingdom yeti), but it has been around forever, is still a fun, fast ride, and holds a ton of memories for those who have been visiting Disneyland for decades. If you haven’t been on the Matterhorn, you aren’t a Disney fan. Get it done!

Disneyland has some fantastic rides unique to the parks there, if you haven’t been, you really must. There are considerably more than 10 rides I could have listed. I can’t believe I had to leave off the Casey Jr. Circus Train, though it always creeps me out a bit seeing those kids ride around in circus cage. No harm done. Enjoy Disneyland if/when you go.

While California Adventure is no where near complete, as evidenced by the recent announcement of the vast amounts of money to be spent there in the coming years, there still are some fantastic rides to be found, and well worth your time to search out. Here are our top 10 rides in California Adventure:

#10: Toy Story Mania! – While technically this ride isn’t even open yet, and wont’ open until the summer of 2008, it still makes our top 10, barely. Think Buzz Lightyear, but with a 3D twist. This should be an instant classic once open, and a ride you will be able to ride over and over again without getting bored.

#9: Monsters Inc., Mike and Sulley to the Rescue – Monsters Inc was a remake of the old SuperStar Limos, and is a huge improvement. A simple ride through of Monstropolis, this is a fun ride for little kids, and not bad for older kids and adults. Some decent special effects make this ride worth seeing.

#8: Mulholland Madness – Mulholland is technically a Wild Mouse ride with a small amount of theming. It is a pretty tame coaster, so it makes it fun for little kids who may be too scared to ride some of the bigger thrill rides at the Disneyland Resort. Usually the line isn’t too long, and it is worth riding.

#7: It’s Tough to be a Bug – A transplant from Animal Kingdom in Florida, It’s Tough to be a Bug is a fantastic 4D attraction, with great jokes, sights and smells. May be scary for some small children, but for most people, this is a great way to spend a few minutes relaxing in the park.

#6: Sun Wheel – The Sun Wheel is a two part ride. It is a normal Ferris Wheel, though on the large size. It gives great views of the parks and surrounding area, and is a fun ride. What makes it special is the other half, a hidden thrill ride. Half of the “cars” are stationary as they go around the wheel, the other half ride on tracks, and move like a mini roller-coaster, and honestly, freak me out.

#5: Muppet Vision 3D – Another transplant from Florida, Muppet Vision 3D is basically a complete replica of the Florida version, including the ending that was made for Walt Disney World. It still makes for a funny entertaining show for kids and adults alike.

#4: Grizzly River Run – A water ride in the vein of Kali River Rapids in Animal Kingdom, but a step up. Great views from the top of the ride, and while riding Kali, you most likely won’t get wet, on Grizzly River Run, you will get wet. Fun, action packed ride, the last hill is a blast, as you spin your way to inevitable wetness.

#3: Soarin’ Over California – An original to California Adventure that was moved to Epcot a few years after opening, Soarin’ features a hang gliding ride over California, from the Northern California Forests and Yosemite Park to Death Valley and eventually Disneyland, this is a great way to view California. Rides like Soarin’ are what make Disney special.

#2: Tower of Terror – While not a complete replica of the Florida version, this Tower of Terror has the same story, but more elevators for more capacity, and a slightly shorter ride. Still a great thrill ride, and great views of the parks.

#1: California Screamin’ – A unique roller coaster to California Adventure, California Screamin’ is the centerpiece of the park. A 0 – 60, nearly instant start leads to a great, smooth roller coaster with a loop and great turns. Disney’s best pure roller coaster, anywhere.

Disneyland has been around for a long time, having just celebrated it’s 50th birthday. During that time, Disneyland has seen many rides come and go, and many others altered significantly from their original state. Many of the long gone rides make up what I knew as Disneyland as a child. Here are the top 10 closed rides from Disneyland.

#10: Country Bear Jamboree – The Country Bear Jamboree was built in 1972 as a remake of the version in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. The jokes and songs are now lost on Disneyland, having been replaced by the new Pooh ride near Splash Mountain, but you can still catch their act in the Magic Kingdom. Fun for kids of all ages, the talking bears were always good for a laugh, and their holiday show was a not miss event for our family.

#9: Pirate Ship Restaurant/Skull Rock – Located in Fantasyland, the Pirate Ship Restaurant served good food and the dream of living on a pirate ship, even if for only a few minutes during lunch. Right behind the Pirate Ship was Skull Rock, a menacing sight indeed, with a cool waterfall and seating for those who couldn’t find space aboard the Pirate Ship. Both were removed in 1983 to make way for Dumbo.

#8: House of the Future – Located just off the hub in Disneyland, the House of the Future was unique at Disneyland, it was free, no tickets were required for entrance. This was Monsanto’s view of what houses would be like today. Some of the items in the house have come to fruition, such as the wall mounted color TVs. I am just glad the all plastic furniture thing never took off. The House of the Future was removed in 1967.

#7: Swiss Family Treehouse – While technically not gone, the Swiss Family Treehouse gave you a glimpse of how the Swiss Family Robinson survived after a shipwreck on a remote island. Clever contraptions abound, and it was always enjoying to “climb” the tree and walk back down. Prior to the Tarzan movie in 1999, Disneyland updated the tree with a second tree, and called it “Tarzan’s Treehouse”. Fortunately the Swiss Family Robinsons still have their home in three other Disney parks around the world.

#6: People Mover/Rocket Rods – The PeopleMover took you on an interesting, if slow, ride of Tomorrowland, including views of several rides. While not exciting, it was relaxing. It closed in 1995 to make way for Rocket Rods, which would use the same track, but instead of being slow, Rocket Rods would be a thrilling, fast paced thrill ride. The problem was that Disneyland didn’t spend the required money to bank the track, so the Rocket Rods had to constantly stop and start, making for a so-so ride, and constantly breaking equipment. Rocket Rods closed in 2000, just 2 years after opening, never to open again.

#5: Carousel of Progress/America Sings – The Carousel of Progress was originally built for the New York World Fair of 1964, and transplanted to Disneyland in 1967. It took passengers on a tour of homes throughout the 20th century, including what homes would be like in the future. Very entertaining and unique among theme park rides, the Carousel of Progress lasted only 6 years. It was replaced by America Sings in 1974, which took you through scenes of America, full of songs and jokes. Again, very entertaining and unique. America Sings was closed in 1988, and if you look closely, just about all of the animals from America Sings ended up in Splash Mountain. Fortunately, the Carousel of Progress continues to operate at Walt Disney World.

#4: Rocket to the Moon – A precursor to Mission:Space of Epcot, Rocket to the Moon took guests on a trip from Disneyland to the moon. A large screen on the floor showed where you were coming from, while the screen on the roof showed where you were going. A bit simplistic for what we are used to, it was updated through the years to include moving seats and animatronics. Rocket to the Moon changed to Flight to the Moon and then Mission to Mars without changing much of the ride. It finally closed in 1992.

#3: Captain EO – A 3-D show starring Michael Jackson, produced by George Lucas and directed by Francis For Coppola? A blockbuster for sure. Captain EO was a fantastic adventure in 3-D with plenty of signing and dancing by the gloved one. Eventually starting at Disneyland, it spread to all existing Disney parks around the globe, but as quickly as it spread, Captain EO disappeared. While it lasted over 10 years on Disneyland, the only place it can be seen now is on DVD via eBay.

#2: Adventure thru Inner Space – This is the only ride that I remember scaring me as a child. As you waited in line, you could see the guest, shortly after they board, actually shrink before your eyes as they ascended up the “microscope”. I couldn’t figure out how the ride worked, and what happened if it broke while you were on it, would I be stuck in Disneyland as a mini-me? A classic Monsanto ride that took you through snowflakes, water molecules and even inside the atom. Just watch out for that spooky eye that is watching you!

#1: Skyway to Tomorrowland/Fantasyland – A classic attraction at Disneyland (and WDW for that matter), the Skyway took you from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland, or the other way around. While it wasn’t necessarily an efficient way to get back and forth between the two areas, it gave you a great view of the park, and I loved going through the Matterhorn! This was my first experience with understanding Disneyland, as you were able to see the buildings behind the facades, and begin to realize how things were laid out, and how the rides worked.For a fantastic overview of all of the closed Disneyland rides, including some great vintage photos, check out Yesterland.

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they have outgrown Dumbo, but aren’t quite ready for Space Mountain, whether they are not tall enough, or just a bit too scared. Disneyland offers some great rides for kids of all ages who fall into this category.

#10: Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin – Located in Toon Town in Disneyland, Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin is a new take on the classic ride through attraction like Snow White, with a twist. You get to control the car, and spin it as much as you want. A fun ride for all kids, but especially those you want a bit more than just sitting and watching.

#9: Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage – A recently opened update on the classic submarines in Disneyland, Nemo and friends are featured throughout the ride, including several action/adventure sequences that are fantastic. Always fun to go in a submarine, and Nemo makes it just that much better.

#8: Astro Orbiter – Located at the entrance to Tomorrowland, the Astro Orbiter allows you to control the rocket to go as high or low as you want. Pretend to be an astronaut as you get great views of Tomorrowland and Disneyland.

#7: Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters - Located just inside Tomorrowland, Buzz Lightyear takes you on an adventures of finding and fighting the evil Emperor Zurg. Not only is it a fun ride, but an arcade game all in one. Shoot your way through the ride to get your high score. A great ride you can ride over and over, it never gets old.

#6: Gadget’s Go Coaster - Located in Toontown, Gadget’s Go Coaster is a mini version of a real roller coaster, perfect for small kids . Not too high or too fast, but perfect for those little kids who want a bit of a thrill.

#5: Autopia – Located in Tomorrowland, Autopia allows kids of all ages to drive a real car through a fun track, you even get to control the direction and speed of the car. While some kids may be too small to go by themselves, even young children can drive while an adult pushes the gas.

#4: Jungle Cruise – Located in Adventureland, the Jungle Cruise is an all time favorite. You adventure through the rivers of the world, and encounter elephants, gorillas, hippos and waterfalls. Watch for the natives, they are getting restless!

#3: Pirates of the Caribbean – Located in New Orleans Square, Pirates of the Caribbean now features Captain Jack Sparrow. Sail through the Bayou as you head to the depths of Disneyland, and pirate country. Great thrills, wonderful action and great pirates make this for a family adventure.

#2: Haunted Mansion – Located in New Orleans Square, the Haunted Mansion takes you on an adventure through the lives of 999 ghosts, as they spook and haunt the mansion of New Orleans Square. While a fun ride, it can be scary for some small kids, so beware.

#1: Matterhorn Bobsleds – Located in Fantasyland, the Matterhorn is a perfect introduction for small kids to experience the thrills of Disneyland’s bigger rides. With a height requirement of only 35 inches, the Matterhorn is perfect for most kids starting at 3 or 4. Not to fast or scary, and offering great views of Disneyland, the Matterhorn is a not miss attraction for kids of all ages. Watch out for the Abominable Snowman, he can be scary!