Disneyland water rides – the best, the worst and everything in between.
Maybe youâre visiting Disneyland in the warmer months, or you suddenly decide that a water ride in the winter isnât such a bad idea (I recently took my first Disneyland trip in December, and thought this A LOT myself). Regardless of your “why”, should know about these rides.
Which ones have the best theming? Which ones do – and DO NOT – get you soaked?!Â
So, letâs talk all things Disneyland water rides!
This post is all about Disneyland water rides.
Disneyland Water Rides
Does Disneyland have water rides?
Wondering ‘are there water rides at Disneyland California?’
Yes, and this post is dedicated to all the Disneyland water rides California has!
How many water rides are at Disneyland?
Including boat rides and non-traditional water rides, as well as log flume and raft water rides, there are 8 between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.
What water rides are at Disneyland?
Disneyland Park Water Rides
1) Tianaâs Bayou Adventure
 Height Requirement: 40 in (102cm) +
Highlights: Princess and the Frog themed water log-flume ride with small and large drops
Location: Bayou Country â Disneyland Park
The newest water ride on this list, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, opened on November 15th, 2024, replacing Splash Mountain.
If you’ve experienced Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (or even Splash Mountain) at the Walt Disney World Resort, this is essentially a more thrilling version (which gets you more soaked!).
A common complaint of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is the lack of a storyline (which is primarily centred around a party).
Whilst this is no better on this version, the more thrilling aspect makes this slightly easier to ignore.
I mean, there’s a 5o foot drop – without a lap bar. Tell me that’s not exciting!
Of all the rides in Disneyland Park, this one will almost certainly get you the most soaked!
2) Pirates of the Caribbean
 Height Requirement: Any height
Highlights: Boat ride with small drops
Location: New Orleans Square – Disneyland Park
Yo ho, yo ho, itâs a water ride for me (iykyk)!
Board your boat and journey through pirate-infested waters, complete with cannon fire, burning towns, and a catchy tune you wonât get out of your head.
The drops and splashes here are tame and minimal (chances are, wonât get that wet).
This is an indoor attraction, so itâs suitable all year round!
3) “it’s a small world”
 Height Requirement: Any height
Highlights: Slow boat ride with iconic music
Location: Fantasyland – Disneyland Park
This Disneyland boat ride is a must for familiesâor anyone who loves a good Sherman Brothers singalong. On Itâs a Small World, youâll cruise through scenes featuring animatronic children from around the globe, dressed in traditional outfits and singing that song.Â
It is almost certain that you wonât get wet on this one – and it doesnât have any drops!
If you get to visit âitâs a small worldâ during the holiday season, you will experience the holiday overlay – âitâs a small worldâ Holiday.
This version of the ride comes with Christmas lights, decorations and music!
âItâs a small worldâ Holiday is scheduled to return November 14th, 2025 – January 7th, 2026.
4) Davy Crockettâs Explorer Canoes
 Height Requirement: Any height
Highlights: Canoe ride
Location: Bayou Country â Disneyland Park
For those who want to add a bit of a workout to their Disneyland day, Davy Crockettâs Explorer Canoes offer a unique twist.
Here, youâre paddling your way around the Rivers of America in a large canoe to Pirate’s Lair (found on Tom Sawyer Island), powered by teamwork.
This isnât your typical âsit back and relaxâ Disney rideâyouâre part of the action, and yes, the occasional splash might find you!
5) Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
 Height Requirement: Any height
Highlights: Slow, unique water ride
Location: Tomorrowland â Disneyland Park
Dive âunder the seaâ without getting wet! Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage is a reimagined classic.Â
Youâll board a submarine and descend into the depths to join Nemo and his friends in a vivid, underwater adventure.Â
From colorful coral reefs to stunning animations, it is somewhat surprisingly great!
This attraction is an ideal choice for kids and fans of Pixar storytelling.Â
Though itâs technically a water ride, youâll stay dry as your ride vehicle is a submarine!
If you struggle much from claustrophobia, please be aware that there a quite a lot of people close together in a ride vehicle.
6) Matterhorn Bobsleds
 Height Requirement: 42 in (107cm) +
Highlights: Roller coaster (which is VERY rough, particularly if you sit at the back), water ride.
Location: Fantasyland – Disneyland Park
I know what may be thinking: the Matterhorn is an iconic Disneyland roller coaster. Of all the Disneyland rides, how did it make it on this list?
Well, although it is not a traditional water ride, a very small portion of the ride involves the vehicle going through water.
On this one, youâll barely get splashed at all.
7) Mark Twain Riverboat
 Height Requirement: Any height
Highlights: Slow boat ride
Location: Frontierland â Disneyland Park
End your day with something peaceful on the Mark Twain Riverboat.Â
Itâs a slow-moving water tour aboard a classic paddle steamer. While you wonât get wet, the serene ride provides picture-perfect views of Tom Sawyer Island and the Rivers of America.
8) Storybook Land Canal Boats
 Height Requirement: Any height
Highlights: Slow-moving boat ride with subtle classic Disney story theming
Location: Fantasyland – Disneyland Park
The Storybook Land Canal Boats at Disneyland is one of those attractions thatâs easy to overlook but full of adorable charm if you give it a chance.
You hop into a little boat, and a cast member takes you on a ride through miniature scenes from classic Disney moviesâthink castles, cottages, and windmills, all ridiculously detailed.
Is it thrilling or anything super advanced? No, but it’s a very cute opening day attraction for a relaxing experience.
Water Rides at Disneyland California Adventure
1) Grizzly River Run
 Height Requirement: 42 in (107 cm) +
Highlights: Rapids, water ride
Location: Grizzly Peak â Disney California Adventure Park
Grizzly River Run is the only of water ride at Disneyland California Adventure.Â
The ride vehicle is a circular eight-person raft. The calm river may lull you into a false sense of serenity. But hold on tightâbecause once the gentle current turns into rapids, and a lot of splashes!
This ride (similar to Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom) can leave you pretty soaked.
During the ride, donât forget to find the bear profile hidden at the top of the mountain!
So, if youâre planning to ride this in winter, maybe donât wear bootleg jeans if you don’t want your legs to be freezing for hours (totally not from personal experience đ¤Śââď¸).
Choosing the Right Time to Ride Disneyland Water Rides
Timing is everything when it comes to Disneyland water rides.Â
Usually, during the spring and summer, the best times to hop on these attractions are during the hotter parts of the day.Â
However, these are most likely to be the most popular time to experience these rides. So, expect long wait times, unless youâre willing to pay extra for Lightning Lanes.
Early mornings and late evenings might be less crowded, but keep in mind the lower temperatures. Do you mind potentially walking around soaked when it’s cold-ish?
Winter isnât the most popular time for some of these rides (during my December 2024 Disneyland visit, Grizzly River Runâs wait time usually sat at 5 minutes – despite being a busy season. Even Tianaâs Bayou Adventure – which had just opened – sometimes had wait times as low as 15 minutes!
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Staying Dry (or Embracing the Splashes)
Want to stay dry while enjoying the fun? No problem.
 Ponchos are your best friends hereâstore a compact, travel-friendly one in your bag and throw it on before rides like Grizzly River Run or Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
Not fussed about getting wet? Great! Fully embrace the splashes by wearing breathable, quick-drying clothes.Â
You may even opt to switch out your regular Disney park shoes for sandals or water shoes while riding.
Frequently Asked Questions About Disneyland Water Rides
Can you avoid getting wet on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure?
Not entirely. I have sat at the front and back and got at least kind of soaked both times. Anecdotally, sitting at the back was better if you want to avoid getting splashed too much, but it’s pretty difficult to avoid completely.
Are water rides at Disneyland safe for young kids?
It depends on their comfort level. Pirates of the Caribbean and it’s a small world are calm and family-friendly.
Thrill rides like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure or Grizzly River Run might be too intense for smaller kids.
Always check the height requirements in advance (as shown earlier in this post). The height requirements help to indicate how “scary” a water ride may be.
Whatâs the current status of Splash Mountain?
In May 2023, Splash Mountain closed and Tianaâs Bayou Adventure opened in November 2024.
Are there seasonal overlays for any water rides?
it’s a small world gets a beautiful holiday overlay each year, featuring festive lights and music.
Itâs a fan favorite and worth checking out if you visit during the holidays.
Is Matterhorn Bobsleds Disneyland a water ride?
Whilst the Matterhorn Bobsleds is primarily known for being a rough roller coaster, the ride vehicle does go into water towards the end of the ride, so you could consider it to be one of the Disneyland water attractions.
Does Disneyland have a water park?
Unlike Disney World (which is home to two water parks), there aren’t any water parks at Disneyland.
And sadly, based on a lack of information and conversation about this, it doesn’t appear that there will be Disneyland water parks any time in the near future.
Is Grizzly River Run closing in 2024?
As it’s 2025 (at the time of writing and publishing this post), and Grizzly River Run is still with us, no!
The ride is closed for refurbishment January 6th, 2025 – March 13th, 2025 (during the quiet season for water rides at Disneyland).
It’s not unusual to see a Disneyland water ride closed for refurbishment during winter.
Ta Ta For Now
Have you experienced any of these water rides at Disneyland? Do you think any of these are the best rides at Disneyland?
If not, which Disneyland water attractions are you most excited to experience?
Share your thoughts about these Disneyland Resort rides in the comments! đ
This post was all about Disneyland water rides.
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