Ride Tips for teens at Disneyland and California Adventure Disney • Mom Behind the Curtain

Disney theme park tips are often written by Disney Die-hards who have gone so many times that they are bored by the older rides. But if you’re a first time Disney Park visitor – even if you’re an older teen or adult – don’t miss these classic rides! Also check out descriptions to help not waste time in lines for rides you really have no interest in. Read on for more tips for teens at Disneyland and California Adventure Disney.

For our bigger family trips, I planned ahead. I read books and scoured blogs and websites. We got to see and do SO MUCH MORE! Planning ahead and tips from others are essential to making the most of your time. Here are some tips I assembled for our teenage daughter’s next trip to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure.

Disney Ride Tips for Teens

There aren’t too many rides that will be too scary for teens, but don’t overlook how much fun teens can have on some of the classic rides, especially if it is their first trip to Disneyland.

Scope out the rides ahead of time. Here’s a good quick visual guide to Disneyland: Disneyland® Park Things To Do. Here’s a good quick visual guide to California Adventure: Disney California Adventure® Park Things To Do.
Yes, this is your mom talking. I know you listen to loud music all the time, but some of the rides can be REALLY REALLY LOUD. Take a set of earbuds that can be used as earplugs on some of the inside rides that are loud. (We experienced the loudest rides at Universal, but they can be loud at Disney, too.)
Single Rider is sometimes the best way to minimize your time in line at Disneyland. On the actual ride, you will get split up to ride with different groups, but you’ll get to ride more. Also note that you might miss features in the wait line, so consider using it for repeat rides. You can find a list of rides that offer single rider lines at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure here: a list rides that have Single Rider lines at Disneyland.
For the most part, the rides in California Adventure are just Disney themed versions of rides you encounter at other theme parks. And most are aimed at smaller kids. But there are two I think teen girls might be interested in. Especially Soarin’ was one of our favorites on past trips! And the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror has been updated with a Guardians of the Galaxy theme. Here’s a good quick visual guide to California Adventure: Disney California Adventure® Park Things To Do.
The bumpiness of rides can vary. While we loved Thunder Mountain on an earlier trip to Disneyland, but when we rode it at Disney World a few years later (and a few years older!) it gave us headaches. (I understand that it may have been upgraded to be smoother now.) Lilo and Stitch (not a ride, just kind of an experience), was very jolty when we went, and the constraints really rammed my daughters shoulder hard at one point. So it doesn’t hurt to check out bumpiness of rides on different websites. This website has good descriptions of rides that note which ones might be bumpy. Trip Savvy gives assessments of ride smoothness, such as for Star Tours.
There are some important tips for the Star Wars part of Disney, Galaxy’s Edge. First off, consider not visiting first thing, but visit later in the day.
Galaxy’s Edge – From multiple sources, several of the essentially shopping experiences, require reservations, preferably months in advance. You can get some same day reservations, but going to these is going to cost you extra money. On your first time trip, unless there is one essential experience, I would skip the extra cost and experience all the things you have already paid for instead. But still be sure to browse the themed shops that you can!
Star Wars characters will interact and talk to you.
Be sure you download both Disney Park apps to experience Galaxy’s Edge. Visit Traveling Mom for full descriptions of why you want both apps, from waiting in line from games you can play with your phone in Galaxy’s edge.
Don’t forget to check out the classic rides! May of these will not have long lines. What’s a trip to Disney without It’s a Small World?