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.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom, part of Walt Disney World, is Disney’s newest theme park, having opened in 1998, is still in it’s infancy. With the addition of Expedition Everest in Asia, it is starting to feel like a full scale theme park. Part zoo, part theme park, many of the attractions and rides center around the wildlife of the park. While many people do not really like the park, I honestly feel that Animal Kingdom is the most beautiful of all the Disney parks, and one of my favorites. Just spend a few minutes walking around and checking out the details in everything from the sidewalks to the Tree of Life, just amazing.

#10: Maharajah Jungle Trek – This could have just as easily been the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail, both are very nice, but I really like the Majarajah trek and the great viewing areas to see the Asian Tigers. It really looks like they have taken over an abandoned Asian ruin. While technically not a ride, this is one of the attractions that makes Animal Kingdom special.

#9: The Boneyard - Ok, ok, in reality, Animal Kingdom really only has 8 attraction worthy of the top 10, so I had to stretch a bit here. The boneyard is a play area for kids, but I do love that it is inventive, and keeps kids interested for quite some time. It is completely self enclosed, only one exit, so adults can send their kids in to play while they relax on a bench, I call that a win-win.

#8: Primeval Whirl – A family style roller-coaster, which makes it fun. Think Wild-Mouse, but with a free spinning car that seats 4. While in itself it isn’t a great ride, the fact that you can ride with your family or friends and watch them close up makes this a fun ride. While I hope Disney decides to just get rid of Chester and Hester’s Dino-Rama, this ride at least has some redeeming qualities.

#7: Finding Nemo – The Musical – Disney’s newest stage show, Nemo is a Broadway style show, complete with singing, dancing and super sized fish. In a similar style to the Lion King Broadway show, humans are on stage with “puppets”. The actors sing, dance and act as part of the puppet. It is a fun, lively show, and held inside with full air conditioning, which makes it great during the summer hours. I just love Mr. Ray on his bike, makes me smile each time I see the show.

#6: It’s Tough to be a Bug – A special look at the life of bugs, based on Pixar’s Bug’s Life move. A 4-D adventure, full of special effects, jokes and plenty of bugs, this show is fun for the entire family. Part of the experience is walking through the roots of the Tree of Life, being able to see close up the fantastic artistry used to make the tree. The theater is inside the base of the Tree, it really feels like you are at home with the bugs. Warning, this ride may be scary to little kids, it is dark, and loud in places, and again, full of bugs of all sorts.

#5: Kali River Rapids – Take a ride down the Chakranadi River in Asia. A round boat will take you and 7 friends on an adventure filled with white water rafting and plenty of water. Similar to Grizzly River Rapids in California Adventure (which is better, in my opinion), Kali is a fun ride, especially on a hot summer day. Just be warned, you will get wet, maybe even soaked to the bone. Don’t be a baby and wear a poncho, getting wet is half the fun.

#4: DINOSAUR – Originally named “Countdown to Extinction”, it was renamed after the mediocre Disney movie, Dinosaur. The ride takes you back in time to the Cretaceous era, in search for the illusive Iguanadon, which just happens to be star of the movie. DINOSAUR is a dark ride, with plenty of movement and scares, so be careful with little kids, they may be tall enough, but it can be scary (for adults too).

#3: Festival of the Lion King – A Broadway style stage show, but in the round, so the stage is in the middle, with seats all around the stage. The Festival of the Lion King features songs and characters from the movie, plus fantastic acrobatic “monkeys” that use trampolines and gymnastics to entertain. Great songs, great singers and a lot of fun, probably the best show in all of Disney World.

#2: Kilimanjaro Safaris - A fake safari through the savannas of Africa. Disney did a fantastic job of making this more than a safari ride, with interaction with park rangers and poachers. A great way to see some fantastic African animals up close, and a fun ride for everyone. Kilimanjaro Safari itself is bigger than any other Disney theme park, really a fantastic experience that you can ride several times a day and get a different set of animals each time.

#1: Expedition Everest - Kind of a no-brainer here. Everest is a roller coaster, but so much more. This ride is what makes Disney special, a great roller-coaster, but with wonderful special effects, a complete stop in the middle, several changes of direction and a ginormous Yeti. Once you ride Expedition Everest, it will be your favorite Disney ride.

Kind of strange reading through this list, but you realize how badly Animal Kingdom needs a few more E-Ticket rides to complete the park.

The Magic Kingdom is overwhelming in shear number of rides and shows compared to the other Disney theme parks. Based on the original Disneyland in California, the Magic Kingdom has expanded over the years to include new rides, while keeping many of the original favorites. While lacking a true “thrill ride” a la Rock N Roller Coaster or Expedition Everest, the Magic Kingdom is hard to beat when it comes to great rides.

#10: Carousel of Progress – Originally built by Walt himself (though he probably had help in the construction) for the New York World’s Fair in 1964, Carousel of Progress is the longest running stage show in the world. Just sit back and relax and follow your favorite animatronic family through 20th Century technology. See it once and “It’s A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow” will be in your head the rest of the day.

#9: Walt Disney World Railroad – Another of Walt’s pet projects, the Disney Railroad encircles the Magic Kingdom. While not a super efficient mode of getting around the park, it is hard to beat the relaxing feeling of climbing aboard one of the cars and listed to the miles pass by (or feet as it may be) while the steam engine moves you from land to land.

#8: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - Welcome to the Wildest Ride in the Wilderness! Your runaway mine car is a thrill a second, narrowly missing falling rocks, dangerous cliffs, a goat chewing dynamite and a dinosaur skeleton. Not the fastest or biggest of roller coasters, Big Thunder does offer a run ride, and is one of the first roller coasters little kids can ride, a great introduction for toddlers!

#7: Tomorrowland Transit Authority Peoplemover – Ugg, is that a long enough name? C’mon Disney, just pick Peoplemover or TTA, not both together. If it had a better name, it would have been ranked higher. Powered by magnetic forces, TTAP whisks you through Tomorrowland, giving you a bird’s eye view of the land and an interesting perspective of many of the Tomorrowland rides. A great way to relax, the line is usually short, I would much rather ride TTAP than sit on a park bench for a rest any day.

#6: Jungle Cruise – Full of corny jokes, silly animatronic animals and an impossible itinerary, the Jungle Cruise is a favorite of young and old. While the jokes get a bit stale (The Backside of Water!), the ride can’t be beat for pure Disney fun.

#5: Haunted Mansion – Creepy and fun all in one ride. Climb aboard the Doom Buggy and ride through the Haunted Mansion where a the one and only Ghost Host introduces you to his closest 999 dearly departed friends. While not overly scary, the Haunted Mansion does offer some of the best effects in all the parks, it is always fun to see which hitchhiker you get.

Hurry back… be sure to bring your death certificate, if you decide to join us. Make final arrangements now. We’ve been ‘dying’ to have you…

#4: Splash Mountain – A combination water ride and roller coaster, Splash Mountain offers guests a fun ride through the world of Brer Rabbit and friends, including Brer Rabbit’s capture and eventual “toss” into the briar patch. One of the most picturesque rides in all of Disney, Slippin’ Falls is viewable from the walkway around the ride, and many guests spend hours just watching the poor fools go over the falls.

#3: Peter Pan’s Flight – An original Disneyland attraction, Peter Pan’s Flight allows you to fly over London and Neverland just like Peter Pan, in little flying ships. A magical ride, you really can ride this over and over and love it every time. While you will still grow up, Peter Pan gives you a few minutes of your childhood back.

#2: Pirate of the Caribbean – Pirates is one of the rides that makes Disney better than any other theme park out there. Magical, adventurous and fun all at the same time, Pirates is the ride to ride for most people who visit the Magic Kingdom. While the addition of Jack Sparrow was a mistake (though I can understand why Noobies would want to see him in the ride), the essence of the ride remains, and it is wonderful.

#1: Space Mountain – The closest to a thrill ride the Magic Kingdom has to offer, Space Mountain still offers more to guests than most high speed roller coasters at other parks. Dark, twisty and full of fun, Space Mountain takes you on a short ride into space, including new Starry-O-Phonic sound and lighting effects. Space Mountain is the icon of the Magic Kingdom.

Did you like the top 10? Did I miss your favorite ride, or include one you think shouldn’t be there?

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.

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.