A lot of rides at the Disneyland Resort have theming from Disney and Pixar movies, but not all of them do, especially the older rides. These are the Disneyland rides that are not based on movies. There used to be more, but Disney has adding theming from their movies to them.
Astro Orbitor
Astro Orbitor is a spinning ride in Tomorrowland. The ride vehicle is a rocket you board and take a ride in. This ride is not based on a Disney movie.
Autopia
Autopia is a ride in Tomorrowland where you drive a car around a track. This ride will be undergoing some changes in the near future to change from gas-powered vehicles to electric ones. Some people are really hoping this ride will be rethemed to being a Pixar Cars ride.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is a roller coaster in Frontierland in Disneyland. It’s super fun and thrilling. The theme of it is Wild Wild West.
Disneyland Monorail
The Disneyland Monorail is an attraction that takes you around the park and also has a stop in Downtown Disney. It is not based on a Disney movie, but the monorails do have Mickey Mouse on them.
Disneyland Railroad
The Disneyland Railroad is a classic train ride attraction. There is a train stop at the beginning of Main Street, USA and there are more loading stations around Disneyland park. This ride does not really have a theme. It’s more about taking in views of the park. There is a section with dinosaurs, but they are not from a Disney movie.
Golden Zephyr
Golden Zephyr is a spinning attraction in Paradise Gardens in California Adventure park. It was inspired by science fiction from the 1920s, which is obviously not a Disney movie.
Grizzly River Run
Grizzly River Run is a water rapids ride in Grizzly Peak in California Adventure park. It was inspired from rivers in the California mountains. This park was originally all themed like California, but over the years it has changed to be a lot more Disney.
Space Mountain
Space Mountain is a dark roller coaster in Tomorrowland in Disneyland. It doesn’t have a Disney theme, it’s just space themed. During Season of the Force each year it becomes Hyperspace Mountain, which is Star Wars themed.
It’s A Small World
It’s A Small World is a cute ride with dolls in Fantasyland that has a very catchy song. It used not have a Disney theme at all, but that has changed in recent years. The ride is still not based on any one Disney movie, but Disney has added dolls of Disney characters to the ride. You can now see Aladdin and Jasmine, Lilo & Stitch, Ariel, and more. You can see all of them here.
Main Street Vehicles
Main Street Vehicles are another attraction not inspired from a Disney movie. Main Street as a whole was inspired by Walt Disney’s home town of Marceline, Missouri.
Mark Twain Riverboat
Mark Twain Riverboat is a large riverboat that sails on the Rivers of America in Frontierland. It does not have any Disney theming, but is iconic to Disneyland since it’s been there since day one. See all of the Disneyland opening day attractions that are still there here.
Sailing Ship Columbia
Sailing Ship Columbia is another ship that sails on the Rivers of America in Frontierland in Disneyland. It’s a replica of a ship from the 18th century and does not have any elements from Disney or Pixar movies.
Soarin’
Soarin’ is an attraction in California Adventure. It switches between Soarin’ Around the World and Soarin’ Over California. Neither version is themed from the Disney movie.