Disneyland Dreams in California (Disneyland Resort California (Anaheim))

Member Name: kellylouj

Product:	Disneyland Resort California (Anaheim)
Date:	12/11/07 (73 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fastpass system saves you time in queues

Disadvantages: Small Parked so can get cramped when busy

Disneyland California the first ever Disney park I visited and also the first ever Disney Theme Park opened on July 17th 1955.

Located in Anaheim, California, Disneyland California consists of 2 theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure Park, 3 resort hotels, Disneyland Hotel, Disney’s Grand Californian and Disney’s Paradise Pier and Downtown Disney for all your shopping, dining and entertainment needs.

*~*Tickets*~*

I always would recommend purchasing your tickets before you leave the UK as you tend to get better value. You can purchase 2,3,4 and 5 day hopper tickets allowing you access to both parks starting from £65 per adult and at least you don’t have to queue up to purchase tickets when you arrive.


*~*Disneyland Park*~*

As with all Disney Parks there are themed areas, at the entrance you will access Disneyland via Main Street USA designed around the 1900’s it is here where you will find shops, dining facilities and the rail station to move you around the park.
One thing I noticed about this park is that it was very small, at the time I had nothing to compare it to but having been to Walt Disney World this is very compact, squeezing as many rides as possible into this small space.

Tomorrowland is designed in a futuristic manner and this is accessed to the right of Main Street USA and this is where you will find Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters a great ride for all ages also present in the other Disney Parks, it is a spinning ride with laser guns used to beat off Buzz’s evil nemesis.
Space Mountain is a fantastic rollercoaster in the dark its fast and one of the best rides in Disney.
Startours is one of the original rides there and is a little outdated now but you just have to still go on it.

Fantasyland is designed with the younger generation in mind offering storybook character rides such as Alice in Wonderland and Dumbo the flying elephant and the ever popular ride “It’s a Small World” which will have you singing the tune over and over and over in your head! A great learning experience with animatronics in miniature that resemble puppets wearing the traditional costume from that country and the song is designed to bring all the countries together as one a nice slow moving ride for everyone to enjoy.

Mickey’s Toontown is where you can meet your favourite Disney Characters Mickey and Minnie and even climb aboard Chip”n”Dale’s treehouse which is exactly what I did!!
You can have a photo opportunity outside Mickey and Minnie’s House and meet all of the Winnie The Pooh Characters too its like walking straight into a cartoon.

Adventureland is thrilling with the Indiana Jones ride its definitely one of the most popular rides there fast, fun and a little surprise thrown in as well you won’t want to miss this one!
Jungle Cruise is another great ride where you can experience different jungles with you very wacky Jungle Cruise guide its entertaining from start to finish as a bit of interaction is required.

Frontierland is themed as the Old-West with Big Thunder Mountain a traditional rollercoaster suitable for any rollercoaster enthusiast and this is also the area that you can board that Mark Twain Riverboat and take some time out from all those high adrenalin rides and step back in time.

Critter Country is where you will find Spalsh Mountain which is a real Zip a dee doo dah ride with Brer Rabbit a friends a thrilling water ride and one of my favourites.
The Country Bear playhouse is also in this area offering a show with animatronics its entertaining and fun, maybe geared around the younger children as I was not all that impressed with this one.

New Orleans Square houses the Haunted Mansion a ride with real ghosts it’s a proper ride that is really enjoyable for everybody. Pirates of the Caribbean is also now located in New Orleans Square but at the time of my visit it was not finished so I am unable to review this ride…even though I really want to!!
The Enchanted Tiki Room is a great show that you won’t want to miss and that is all I am going to say on this show. Don’t miss it!!

I would also recommend the Fastpass tickets for the bigger rides if there are large queues then enter your admission ticket into the fastpass machine and a ticket will be generated for your to return and bypass the queue. It’s a free service so make use of it and fill up the time watching a show or visiting another attraction and that way you will make the most of your time at Disneyland.

Shows and Parades are not to be missed and make sure you get a good place at the front if you want some good photographs to return home with the parades start at Main Street USA and the streets tend to be closed off about an hour before the parade is due to start and this is normally the best time to grab a drink and relax before they start.

The park is immaculate there is never any rubbish to be seen as it is quickly swept up by the many staff circulating the park and as for the washrooms these are serviced all the time you will find them the best public toilets ever.

I do have to say if I was to visit any of the Disney Parks in the States in the near future I would have to choose Walt Disney World despite there being many similarities I had a much better time in Florida than in California as the park is smaller which gives you a cramped feeling which as you can imagine when it is busy it really can be a pain to get around and some of the battling that goes on for a good place to watch the parades I have never seen anything like it!!

I have set myself a quest to try and see all of the Disney Parks and with my visit to Disneyland Paris coming up I am sure I will find it very similar to this park in terms of size and attractions.

One thing to remember though it you will have a good experience in any of the Disney Parks that is what they are designed on to take you away from everyday reality and bring you into Walt Disney's world of dreams and that's really how you feel in a Disney Park.

Summary: A great little Disney Park