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.

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Epcot hasn’t always been associated with rides. Great food and education was the name of the game for years. In recent years, Walt Disney World has spent millions, if not billions, or dollars to upgrade the park and install state of the art rides. Here are our top 10 rides in Epcot:

#10: The Seas with Nemo and Friends - Located in what used to be the Living Seas pavilion, it has now been turned into a Nemo themed pavilion. The Seas with Nemo and Friends takes you underwater with Mr. Ray in search of his class. Great special effects, you get to go through the giant aquarium that is the center piece of the pavilion. Fun for everyone.

#9: Maelstrom – Located in the Norway pavilion, Maelstrom takes you on a Norwegian adventure through the history of Norway. Complete with a visit through a historic town, evil trolls and a big water fall, Maelstrom isn’t to the level of most Disney rides, but it is fun, and usually easy to get on. There is also a beautiful movie after you get off the ride that presents the wonderful areas of Norway. You can bypass the movie if you wish, but you must wait for the doors to open, which is every 10 minutes or so.

#8: Living with the Land – My long time favorite in Epcot, I would have listed it higher but many find it boring. Take a gentle boat ride through a Jungle, desert and prairie before entering Epcots greenhouses. Check out the innovative ways Disney grows food for many of their restaurants, including growing food without soil. Very informative, and relaxing. Little kids and teens may find some of the ride boring, while other parts hold their interest pretty well.

#7: The American Adventure – Located in the American Pavilion in the World Showcase, the American Pavilion was long the center piece of Epcot. Fantastic animatronics, wonderful historic footage and unique technology are used to tell 200+ years of American history in 30 minutes.

#6: Turtle Talk with Crush – Located in The Seas with Nemo and Friends, Turtle Talk was a unique attraction for Disney that has now been reproduced at Disneyland (California Adventure) and more recently the Monsters Inc.Laugh Floor in the Magic Kingdom. Crush, while completely animated on screen, interacts with audience guests, including answering questions and poking fun of adults. Great attraction for kids, and different every time, so you can easily see it several times during your trip.

#5: Honey I Shrunk the Audience -  The original 4-D Disney Movie (if you don’t count Captain EO), it has kicked off a few other versions including It’s Tough to be a Bug and Mickey’s Philharmagic. Watch as Professor Szalinski, the star of the Honey I shrunk the “blank” movies receives an award for the inventor of the year, and accidentally shrinks the audience. Fun, action packed “movie”, with a few scary parts. Some little kids may be scared, but you an always leave if needed.

#4: Mission: Space – Located in Future World, Mission: Space is a great ride, taking you to Mars, complete with full G-Forces and troubles galore. Great ride, including guest interaction required to get you to Mars.  Mission: Space isn’t for everyone, and several people have actually died after riding it. Disney now offers a non-spinning side, which isn’t quite as fun, but if you suffer from nausea, you might want to consider that side.

#3: SpaceShip Earth – The original attraction of Epcot, SpaceShip Earth takes you on a history of the world, specifically, a history of communication. Great animatronics , complete with sound and smells to match the scene, SpaceShip Earth is entertaining and educational at the same time. A recent update has added to many of the scenes. If there is a line, come back later in the day, usually by late afternoon, you can walk right on.

#2: Test Track: Located in Future World, Test Track was Epcot’s original thrill ride. Replicating a car testing grounds, Test Track takes you through the testing of a new car, including the high speed banked turns. The single rider line is a great way to bypass the line if it is long, but be warned, your party will be separated.

#1: Soarin’ - Located in The Land pavilion, Soarin’ is basically a duplicate of Soarin’ Over California that opened in California Adventure. Soarin’ replicated a hang glider ride over California, including a visit to Disneyland. Fun for kids and adults, the sights, sounds and smells are amazing, just a fantastic family ride.

Epcot features some great rides, and really shouldn’t be missed on your Disney World vacation. Give it a try, you will be amazed how fun and beautiful the park is. Oh, and lines for Soarin’ and Test Track are often very long, so make good use of the Fast Pass system early in the day.

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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.

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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!

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Many people think of Fantasyland in the Magic Kingdom, full of rides for the under 8 crowd, and assume that the rest of Walt Disney World is just like that. Well, over the past few years, Disney has added quite a few “thrill” rides for teens, and others who want to add a little spice to the Disney adventure. Here are our top 10 Disney World rides for teens.

#10: Soarin’ - Located in Epcot, Soarin’ is a replica of Soarin’ over California originally built in California Adventure in Disneyland. With an eye towards the future, the California part has been left off the title, as we will surely see an updated film sometime in the future. Replicating a ride on a hang glider, Soarin’ gives you a thrill that is hard to replicate. While not necessarily fast or scary, it is a fun, cool ride.

#9: Dinosaur - Located in the Animal Kingdom park, Dinosaur takes you back in a time machine, in search for a “friendly” dinosaur that you are to bring back in the future. Unfortunately, things go wrong, and your time machine vehicle goes through quite an experience before returning home. A dark ride, huge, hungry dinosaurs, plenty of chances to get your hear pumping, it is all that you can ask for in a scary ride.

#8: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad – Located in the Magic Kingdom, Big Thunder is the classic run away mine train adventure. Mild, as far as a roller-coaster goes, it is still fun, loud and worth the wait. After all, it is the wildest ride in the wilderness!

#7: Splash Mountain – Located in the Magic Kingdom, much of Splash Mountain is a kid friendly trip through the adventures of Brer Rabbit. It isn’t until Brer Rabbit is caught by Brer Fox where the real fun starts. A huge drop awaits, and it ends up being a fun, exciting ride.

#6: Test Track - Located in Epcot, Test Track recreates an automobile testing ground, with bumps, turns and high speed test included. You board a test car, and are taken through a series of test including high speed turns. Once outside the building your test car accelerates to over 60 MPH, giving the riders a big thrill.

#5: Space Mountain – Located in the Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain has been around for 30+ years, but is still a fantastic ride. You are launched into space, and then you hurtle back to earth, dodging asteroids and other space materiel. In itself, it isn’t a fantastic roller coaster, but the dark atmosphere and theme of the ride make it a great thrill ride.

#4: Mission Space – Located in Epcot, Mission Space takes you to Mars on a fantastic journey. Not only do you feel the full G-Force that astronauts feel, you get a great ride out of the experience. If you get motion sickness at all, opt for the non-spinning side. You still get the great ride, without the G-forces.

#3: Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster staring Aerosmith – Located in Disney Studios, Rock ‘N’ Roller Coaster is a full fledged indoor roller coaster. With a 0-60, under three second start, RNR is as exciting as it gets at WDW. Full loops, corkscrews and loud music make for a fun, fast ride for teens and just about anyone else willing to ride.

#2: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror – Located in Disney Studios, Tower of Terror is a unique Disney experience. Enter an abandoned Hollywood Hotel, that has not been entered since a tragic accident in the 30′s. While the original elevators are now gone, they were lost during the storm that closed the hotel, there is still a maintenance elevator that is in use. Unfortunately, as you use the maintenance elevator, things get a bit out of hand. Big drops and unpredictable situations make for one of the best thrill rides anywhere.

#1: Expedition Everest – Located in Animal Kingdom Park, Expedition Everest is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad meets the Matterhorn, updated for a 21st Century ride. The Everest Yeti is out to get the Expedition Everest train, and will do anything to destroy it. From destroying tracks to swiping at passing trains, Expedition Everest is fast paced, exciting and offers a few unexpected twists not seen in any other roller coaster. Ask for the front row, it is worth the wait.

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