Which Rides Are the Loudest at Disneyland?
Sometimes, The Happiest Place on Earth can also be the loudest.
A recent Anaheim environmental study has revealed some surprising intel regarding why.
Here are the Disney rides and experiences that are the loudest.
The Near Misses
Disneyland Resort actually performed this research as part of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR).
However, the story has grown in significance beyond Disney’s attempt to expand at Disneyland Resort.
Noise creation dominates discussions in many major metropolitan areas as city and state officials attempt to lessen their impact.
Universal Studios Hollywood recently presented detailed plans for reducing noise on its upcoming Fast & Furious roller coaster.
Since Disneyland has operated for nearly 70 years, management has tracked how loud its attractions can get.
This EIR reflects the most current data, though. Keeping that in mind, here are the ten attractions that are loud but not quite the loudest:
- It’s a Small World – 81 Decibels
- Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree – 81 Decibels
- Jessie’s Critter Carousel (Exit) – 82 Decibels
- Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters – 82 Decibels
- Alice in Wonderland – 82 Decibels
- Matterhorn (West) — 82 Decibels
- King Arthur Carrousel (Announcements) – 83 Decibels
- Radiator Springs Racers (Track Car Pass) — 83 Decibels
- Astro Orbiter – 84 Decibels
- Mark Twain Steamboat – 85 Decibels
Quickly, let’s talk about what these decibel levels indicate.
First, you should notice some specific locations. That’s not accidental.
Park officials are acutely aware that some aspects of the attractions reach a higher decibel level than the rest of the ride.
For example, the announcements on the King Arthur Carrousel require a stern, loud voice so that children and their hurried parents will take it seriously.
Similarly, you can understand why certain sections of the Matterhorn and Radiator Springs Racers attractions would be louder.
Then, we have the Mark Twain Steamboat, which includes a noisy whistle specifically for the purpose of warning tourists in the area.
10. Golden Zephyr – 86 Decibels
So, everything from this past forward represents one of the ten loudest sounds at Disneyland Resort.
I recognize that decibel level is a challenging concept as well. Let’s set a baseline so that you’ll understand how loud this stuff is.
For instance, a normal conversation occurs at 60 decibels. Meanwhile, a vacuum cleaner reaches 75 decibels if you’re standing right beside it.
City traffic hovers in the 80-85 decibels range, and that’s a vital point here.
Most of the attractions we’ve discussed thus far sound no louder than Anaheim traffic.
Everything in the top ten is at least a touch louder. Still, all the attractions we’ll discuss but four remain under 90 decibels.
Personally, I wouldn’t have guessed the Golden Zephyr as an 86-decibel attraction, but it is a mid-air swinging ride.
9. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (West) – 86 Decibels
The other essential point here is that where you are on a ride or at the park matters in this conversation.
For various reasons, the west side of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is where the guests yell the loudest, while the ride cart careens wildly.
8. Splash Mountain (Riders) – 86 Decibels
Yes, I know that Splash Mountain closed during the first half of 2023.
I’ve left it on the list because A) Disneyland officials did and B) Tiana’s Bayou Journey will cause the same commotion.
The attraction didn’t make the loud sounds. Instead, it was the riders as they screamed with joy as they splashed down. That’s not changing.
7. Disney Jr. Dance Party (Queue) – 87 Decibels
Kids are getting ready to dance with their parents. It’s gonna be loud and chaotic.
6. Soarin’ Over California (Queue) – 87 Decibels
Disney specifically listed Soarin’ Over California here, which causes me to wonder whether it was a timing thing.
Perhaps Disney performed the latest analysis during the Disney California Adventure Food & Wine Festival this year.
Then again, maybe nobody has done a noise study since Soarin’ Around the World opened.
I presume it’s the former, but I cannot say for sure.
5. Toy Story Midway Mania! (Cart Noise) – 87 Decibels
My wife is nodding her head vigorously at this one.
I…talk a lot of smack while riding Toy Story Midway Mania!, and it sounds like most other riders do as well.
This attraction also occurs in an enclosed space where audio retains its decibel levels more easily.
4. The Incredicoaster (Takeoff Area) – 90 Decibels
Now we’ve reached a new level of audio. The equivalent of 90 decibels is something like a lawnmower.
In different terms, the Incredicoaster is approximately as loud as a fight where everybody’s yelling.
As you’d expect, most of the audio occurs at the start as people excitedly board/exit the ride.
Then, there’s the excitement as the coaster slowly ascends to the top of the first hill.
You know how loud that can get as riders gradually lose their minds.
3. Disneyland Railroad (Train Horn) – 91 Decibels
This situation is similar to the Mark Twain Steamboat.
Disney equips the vehicle with a train horn that it uses to warn guests. It’s extraordinarily loud by design.
So, the train horn’s placement on this list indicates that the system is working.
2. Grizzly River Run (Drop Point) – 92 Decibels
Okay, I love the presence of this one for the same reason why Splash Mountain earns a spot.
People lose their ever-lovin’ minds when they know they’re about to get wet.
The fear of a Grizzly River Run drenching triggers excitement and a noticeable increase in decibel levels.
1. Monorail Horn Near Matterhorn – 97 Decibels
How loud is 97 decibels? It falls in the same range as an electric drill or a nightclub.
Notably, many audio registers list trains at 100 decibels, which shows that Disney’s train and monorail are quieter than most.
Still, the warning sound that the monorail makes in the Matterhorn area represents the loudest noise at Disneyland Resort, at least for the moment.
Should Disneyland expand, something else could theoretically be louder.
Then again, Disney officials performed this EIR to show that nothing in the park is significantly louder than traffic in the surrounding area.
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Feature Photo: Disney