Doing Mr Disney Proud (Disneyland Resort California (Anaheim))

Member Name: zoe_page_1

Product:	Disneyland Resort California (Anaheim)
Date:	28/09/01 (204 review reads)
Rating:

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Back in 1994 I got to miss the last week and a bit of the autumn term for a very important reason – we were off to California. My uncle lives in a town near LA, and we were going to spend the next few weeks with him, “doing” all the tourist attractions over there. It was for this reason that a week or so into our stay, we found ourselves queuing up to get into Disneyland. There was only one problem - he had bought our tickets in advance. Not a problem in itself, except for the fact that these were “special” tickets for Southern Californian Natives. In an effort to blend in, I did what any theatrical pre-teenager would have done. I started talking at the top of my voice, using phrases like “Gee Mom, it’s mighty cool out”. It was not, in fact cool. It was 30 C or thereabouts, but I figured that most locals would not be finding it as gloriously warm as I was.

A while later we were in and exploring. Disneyland, as you may well know, is made up of several themed areas – there’s Frontierland, Tomorrowland, New Orleans Square, Adventureland, Main Street USA and many more. For listings of specific rides and attractions, hop over to the website, but I will say there’s a good variety – wet rides and dry rides, rides suitable for little ones and rides that scare even the most macho of men.

Toon Town was one of my favourites. Here, everyone from Chip and Dale to Goofy and the cuddly old tubby Winnie the Pooh were wandering around signing autographs and posing for pictures. The only exceptions were Mickey and Minnie who were holed up inside special houses with neatly formed queues outside due to their popularity. Now I know they’re aimed at ickle kiddywinks, and obviously, aged 12, I knew they weren’t “real” (I came from a household in which children were never told there was a Santa or an Easter Bunny or whatever, let alone a real, big mouse with huge ears living so
mewhere in the States), but still – for children at the “inbetween” stage who weren’t quite sure, and who were remotely awake at the time, it was so obvious: Going in in groups of maybe 20 visitors, we were split in half and directed into different rooms. 10 mins later we all emerged blinking into the Californian sunshine jabbering on about how we’d just seen Mickey. With the number of visitors they have, they’d have to have more than on “Mickey” at a time, but it seemed they could have organised it a little better.

The Staff were incredible but then what else would you expect? With American approach, teamed with the Disney Corporation’s Ethos, nothing less than the best would be good enough. They were helpful, knowledgable, polite and happy, and obviously loved their jobs.

The place was spotless (amazing compared to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, for example, which is a fraction of the size) and well laid out, with lots of room to move but never to far to walk to the next ride. Some of the queues were a bit long, but at least you know what you’re letting yourself in for as they have the “30 mins from here” etc signs all over.

Shops an eateries are well spread out throughout the park, and with the dining in particulate they seem to have taken on the food industry’s version of the Argos approach – ordering and paying for your meal at the till, and then being directed to the relevant counter to collect it.

For directions, entrance fees and opening times etc, check out the official website (link above).

A must-do place when you’re in the area.

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