Some points of interest at Disneyland are higher at night time. Truly, nearly all the ones that happen at the very least partially outdoor are higher after the solar goes down. This listing ranks the ten greatest nighttime rides at Disneyland in California. (Up to date November 30, 2024.)
Disneyland having so many rides which are nice at night time might be as a result of the park, as a complete, is best at night time. Throughout the night, Disneyland comes alive with vibrant colour from the present lighting, fireworks, and different nighttime leisure that simply appears to provide the park a jolt of vitality.
Not solely that, and perhaps it’s simply me, but it surely looks as if features of the Disneyland expertise are “heightened.” The background music is louder, the scents are extra aromatic, and Disneyland concurrently feels extra tranquil but someway extra alive. Briefly, Disneyland is simply flat out higher at night time.
There are actually whole lands which are superior after sundown. The highest of my listing could be Fantasyland, which feels extra magical (particularly within the final two hours of the night when the crowds have cleared out). Adopted intently behind that might be each New Orleans Sq. and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
Whereas I can’t completely put my finger on why the entire expertise is simply higher at night time, there are some particular points of interest I can level to as being higher at night time, together with the explanation why they’re higher at night time. Right here’s the listing of the highest 10 Disneyland points of interest which are higher at night time…
BONUS: Disneyland Monorail
We view transportation as quintessential Disneyland points of interest which are downright important to the visitor expertise. We’re nonetheless together with them as bonus entries partially as a result of not everybody agrees. However actually, as a result of that’s a straightforward excuse for sneaking two additional points of interest onto the listing!
The Disneyland Monorail makes the minimize due to the good, elevated view it gives of different places all through each Disneyland and Disney California Journey (and since the backstage views are extra palatable at night time when you possibly can’t see as a lot). The most effective of those views happen all through Tomorrowland and bits of Fantasyland because the monorail weaves out and in of tree-covered areas and over the submarine lagoon.
The split-second view of the Pan Pacific turnstiles at Disney California Journey with Carthay Theater and the Cadillac Mountain Vary of Automobiles Land lined up completely is one other nice nighttime view. Feeling the night California air of an open monorail window actually makes this complete expertise really feel like the right ‘freeway within the sky’ experience.
BONUS: Mark Twain Riverboat
This one additionally doesn’t make the official listing as a result of it’s extremely elusive. There are mainly two occasions when you possibly can experience the Mark Twain Riverboat at night time. The primary is throughout the winter, when sundown occurs earlier and the schedule is such that the ultimate cruises finish round nightfall.
The opposite is when Fantasmic will not be being carried out for no matter cause. Regardless, when you’re in a position to do a sundown/nightfall/nighttime cruise aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat (or Crusing Ship Columbia, for that matter), we extremely advocate doing it. Pure magic that’s simply a high 5 entry on this listing.
10. Haunted Mansion
On condition that Haunted Mansion is an attraction that takes place completely indoors, this selection might sound a bit suspect. Okay, actually suspect. However hear me out. The Haunted Mansion’s queue has a lot spookier ambiance at night time, and common complete ‘aura of foreboding’ factor simply appears to be stronger then.
Nonetheless, that’s not the primary cause that Haunted Mansion is best at night time. It’s as a result of you possibly can see extra element within the Haunted Mansion, particularly at the hours of darkness graveyard scenes, as a result of your eyes have adjusted to darkness upfront. Why does this occur? Most likely science or another darkish artwork.
If this listing had 15 entries, I’d be inclined to incorporate Pirates of the Caribbean for the very same cause. Together with just about all of Fantasyland, and the new-look Adventureland Treehouse. (Not technically a experience, however an incredible attraction at night time!)
9. Alice in Wonderland
Right here’s one other “hear me out” entry. Certain, it will be straightforward to provide this to King Arthur Carrousel, a quintessential experience situated dead-center in Fantasyland behind Sleeping Magnificence Fortress. And I’m not right here to let you know not to do this at night time. You need to!
Nonetheless, there’s something that’s pure magic about rising from the indoor portion of the Alice in Wonderland darkish experience to these few seconds descending down the skin path to the grand finale. You’ve got a short hen’s eye view of this nook of Fantasyland and it simply places a smile in your face. It’s unattainable to elucidate, however when you expertise it, you realize precisely what makes this so particular.
8. Tiana’s Bayou Journey
Tiana’s Bayou Journey is the Princess and the Frog reimagined experience that replaces Splash Mountain at Disneyland. Though the attraction is totally totally different and arguably a downgrade as in comparison with its predecessor, its high quality at night time is usually unchanged.
My favourite components of this attraction at night time are on the leisurely starting of the attraction, and the tip after the drop when you’re in a decrease space passing between Bayou Nation and New Orleans Sq.. Should you can preserve your eyes open, the highest of the drop additionally affords a surprising view of Disneyland as a complete.
As for the indoor parts, they’re usually method too darkish, so your eyes having adjusted to nighttime and thus it being simpler to see inside is definitely a plus. It’s like night time imaginative and prescient for the present scenes, which is an efficient factor. (Not precisely ‘good’ for Tiana’s Bayou Journey as a complete, or the overwhelming majority of daytime hours.)
The draw back to driving at night time is which you could get completely soaked on Tiana’s Bayou Journey. This isn’t actually a brand new improvement, as the identical occurred on Splash Mountain. We had been only in the near past reminded of why we seldom did that attraction within the night hours, regardless of the superior expertise. Simply one thing to remember when you’re visiting on a cold California day.
7. ‘it’s a small world’
‘It’s a small world’ is an attraction that’s predominantly indoors, but it surely nonetheless makes it right into a excessive slot. Just about the only cause for that’s ‘it’s a small world’ vacation, when the facade of the attraction is decked out in hundreds of lovely lights.
You’re solely floating by these lights for a few minutes, however seeing the lights replicate off the water and being so near so many vivid lights (you would possibly need to put in your sun shades!) is a very nice expertise, and is considered one of my favourite vacation “moments” at Disneyland. The remainder of the yr, the out of doors parts of ‘it’s a small world’ are good at night time, however they’re not spectacular sufficient to even land the attraction a spot on this high 10. It’s all in regards to the Christmas lights!
6. Mad Tea Social gathering
Mad Tea Social gathering at nighttime is a Disneyland ceremony of passage. Sorry to these with movement illness, however I don’t make the principles. You should do that when you’re going to be an “official” Disneyland fan.
Okay okay, you possibly can simply stand on this spot and watch from the skin. That’s arguably the higher expertise at night time, as you’ve views of the teacups, monorail, and Matterhorn all of sudden. Disneyland’s kinetic vitality stays undefeated.
5. Astro Orbitor or Dumbo
Astro Orbitor is only a easy spinner attraction, however due to its location on the fringe of Tomorrowland providing views of each Sleeping Magnificence Fortress and the neon of Tomorrowland, it makes the listing.
It could rating even greater if it had been nonetheless on its elevated platform inside Tomorrowland, which might provide an excellent higher view of the entire park. Bonus factors when you experience throughout the fireworks.
Ditto Dumbo, for just about all of that. Equally nice views, albeit from a unique angle and with Fantasyland and Sleeping Magnificence Fortress as an alternative of Tomorrowland. In any other case, there’s no materials distinction between the 2.
4. Storybook Land Canal Boats
Storybook Land Canal Boats is considered one of my favourite Disneyland points of interest any time of the day, however the ambiance is even higher at night time. It might sound curious that the Canal Boats are #5 whereas the very comparable Casey Jr. Circus Practice Journey simply misses the listing.
Canal Boats simply have extra appeal at night time and superior lighting with all the little twinkle lights actually kicking it up a notch. I’m in all probability additionally in all probability biased as a result of “A Entire New World” the primary dance music at our marriage ceremony, and passing below the lit-up archways at night time whereas that music performs takes me again to our marriage ceremony night time.
3. Jungle Cruise
Jungle Cruise is nice at night time since you actually really feel such as you’re in an unique and mysterious jungle slightly than in a cheeky theme park experience. A part of it is because it’s truly tougher to see in Jungle Cruise at night time.
In contrast to different points of interest on this listing that get talked about due to nice synthetic present lighting, Jungle Cruise is talked about due to its awful synthetic lighting, which truly provides to its authenticity (which is in any other case deliberately very low). It’s an particularly huge bonus when you get a skipper at night time who will go for barely edgier (by Disney requirements) jokes if there aren’t many youngsters within the boat.
2. Large Thunder Mountain Railroad
Large Thunder Mountain is a superb expertise at night time. That is one attraction that completely embodies the “tranquil but alive” ambiance discovered all through Disneyland at night time. On the one hand, the frontier feels extra desolate and peaceable at night time, however alternatively, you possibly can see extra element of the mountain and different features of the attraction that don’t stand out throughout the daytime.
It’s troublesome to totally articulate, however Large Thunder Mountain Railroad simply looks like an attraction that was designed to be skilled at night time. Experiencing it throughout daytime after driving at night time is simply type of like driving House Mountain with the lights on. (Okay, perhaps not that excessive, however you get the thought.)
1. Matterhorn
The Matterhorn is #1 as a result of it combines just a few of the strongest parts of different high experiences into one. Like Large Thunder Mountain Railroad, the ambiance is best at night time with cool lighting. Like Tiana’s Bayou Journey, it gives some nice nighttime views of the park.
Like Haunted Mansion (the queue at the very least), it’s simply spookier at night time, with darkish caves and ominous sounds. Along with all of that, it’s extra intense at night time. Or, at the very least it feels that method as a result of it’s not as straightforward to see and predict the place you’re going subsequent–type of like why House Mountain feels extra intense than it will if it had been an outside coaster. All of this makes the Matterhorn our high choose!
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Find out about on-site and off-site accommodations in our Anaheim Resort Evaluations & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Evaluations. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seashore, and lots of different SoCal cities!
Your Ideas
Which Disneyland points of interest do you suppose get higher at night time? Any you suppose are worse at night time? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even if you disagree with us—is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!
