4. Incredicoaster

Earlier, I said that only two Disney California Adventure attractions have remained open since the beginning. That’s technically accurate, but a third almost qualifies. The former California Screamin’ remained in operation from 2001 until the start of 2018. Then, it shut down for a few months and returned as the Incredicoaster.

The newly repurposed coaster takes an already-phenomenal ride and elevates the experience through character theming. The tunnels that once served a modest purpose, blocking out the sun and unsightly views, now tell a story. The Parr family demonstrates each member’s superpowers in these tunnels, as they attempt to retrieve runaway baby, Jack-Jack.

While I’m ambivalent about Mission: BREAKOUT! as a replacement due to what was lost, I wholeheartedly support the upgrades to California Screamin’. The “new” ride is effectively the old ride combined with characters that I adore. This update represents one of the best things that Disney has done this decade.

3. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run

You know that the top three is phenomenal when Smugglers Run doesn't win! Yes, one of the two new attractions at Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge certain embodies everything about the E-ticket premise. Guests happily pay to visit this themed land, which recreates the Star Wars universe in an eerily accurate fashion.

Both of the Star Wars attractions are breathtaking, but the Disneyland version of Rise of the Resistance isn’t open to the public yet. So, I had to exclude it. That leaves the “lesser” ride, the one where you get to live out your lifelong fantasy of flying the Millennium Falcon.

The realism of this attraction is such that the complaint I hear the most involves its length. The ride lasts five minutes, but it seems much shorter due to the hypnotic aspect of videogame immersion. You’re so actively engaged in the story that it seems over too quickly. Some call that a negative, but I believe it speaks to the greatness of the attraction.