Incredicoaster: Height, Intensity, and the Single Rider Trick

What the Incredicoaster is

Incredicoaster is the launch coaster that runs the full length of Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure. It opened on June 23, 2018, as a reimagining of the former California Screamin coaster, which had run on the same track since 2001, and it carries a story themed to The Incredibles. The ride is the longest, fastest, and most intense coaster at the Disneyland Resort. It begins with a hard launch from a standstill to about 55 miles per hour, climbs a tall first hill, runs a series of airtime hills along the water, and passes through a single full loop, the only inversion at either Anaheim park. Show scenes inside the tunnels follow the Incredibles family chasing baby Jack Jack.

The launch, the loop, and the airtime

Three things make this ride more intense than anything else at the resort. The first is the launch, which is sudden and strong, taking you to about 55 miles per hour before you have settled, so it surprises riders used to a slow lift hill. The second is the loop, the only inversion at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure, which sends you fully upside down early in the layout. The third is the airtime, the floating feeling over the hills along Paradise Bay, which is fun for thrill seekers but can be a lot for a first time coaster rider. None of it is extreme by major thrill park standards, but inside a family resort it is a clear step up, and that is what the height rule is signaling.

The Deep Arrival intensity filter

Use this filter before you put a borderline rider in the line. If the rider enjoys other launch coasters and loops, this one is squarely in their comfort zone and they will love it. If the rider has only ridden gentle family coasters like the 40 inch rides at the park, treat the Incredicoaster as the next level up rather than a sure thing, since the launch and the loop are a real jump. If the rider dislikes being upside down, dislikes sudden launches, or has neck or back sensitivity, this is the ride at the resort most likely to be too much, so weigh it carefully. The height rule clears the body size question, but comfort with launches and inversions is the real decision.

The single rider line strategy

Incredicoaster runs a single rider line, and it is the most useful tool for this ride. It fills the odd empty seats left by groups, so it usually moves far faster than the standby line. The trade off is that your party will be split across rows and cycles, so you do not ride together. For adults, teens, and older children that is a fine deal for a much shorter wait. Families who want to ride together should instead go early in the day or late in the evening, when the Pixar Pier standby line is shortest, rather than fighting the midday wait.

Is it the right first big coaster

For a child who has just reached 48 inches, the Incredicoaster is a common first real thrill coaster, and it can be a great one, but go in with eyes open. The launch and the loop are genuinely more than the family rides they have done before, so talk it through first and watch for nerves in the queue. A confident young rider who has been asking to go upside down will likely have the trip of their day. A hesitant one is better served by building up on gentler rides first and saving this for a later visit, since a bad first launch experience can sour a child on coasters for years.