Disneyland is in the Disneyland Resort with Downtown Disney and Disney's California Adventure. Disneyland is the Original Disney Park. This was Walt's dream and it became a huge reality. Opening in 1955 the park is still "The Happiest Place on Earth.” The main thing you’ll notice in the park is how small it actually is. Unlike Disney World in Florida the California Park is much more compact which leads to less tiring out of young children’s legs….and your own! The small park is not a bad thing, because it’s still big in the number of rides, attractions and shows.

Split into 8 magically themed lands, this park is a wash of color and excitement. It is sure to turn the oldest of adults back to the youngest of children. With everything from rides, to shops, restaurants to shows dramatically themed you can loose sense of reality for just that one day in Disneyland.

Those 8 themed lands are Main Street U.S.A is a composite of small-town America, circa 1900. On Main Street you’ll find a huge selection of different shops and restaurants, if you are lucky you might also spot a character or two! Adventureland is home to the exotic regions of Asia, Africa, India and the South Pacific, featuring the Park's thrilling attraction, Indiana Jones Adventure. This ride may at certain times of the day been called “Indian Jones and the Never Ending Line!” which is true, you may be stuck in line for a bit, but it’s certainly worth it. Take into mind Fastpass though, which I’ll be talking about a bit later because this will reduce your queuing time by a large amount! The line is for a change rather interesting, in fact all the lines at Disney are elaborately themed, so your attention never really lags; these lines also set the story for the ride. I’ll leave you to find out the story, but once you have and once you’re on the ride, you will not be forgetting it! You ride in Land Rover style cars through the mystical temple, and its one hair-raising, rip-roaring adventure! Reaching huge speeds, doing hand-break turns, bumping around and being chased by the famous rolling ball are all just part of the fun! You meet Indy on your journey for good measure as well. The ride itself is just perfectly themed, thought the journey from entering the line, to leaving the exit path, the themeing never lets up. That is what Disney is great at, themeing a ride, making it believable and adding another layer of excitement to your day. No ride is ever the same as well! Every time you ride something is different, whether it be which door you go through to ride, or what Indy says at the end, there are hundreds of different things in each ride. This is a unique adventure, and a unique thrill-ride it is most certainly not to be missed, in fact go on it first!

 Frontierland is just across the way from Adventureland, but is a whole other world, an exciting realm of pioneers and a return to the heritage of the Old West. Home to one of the three Disney Mountains, “Big Thunder Mountain.” The large, brown and yellow mountain is home to a fun family coaster, with moments of speed and themeing throughout the ride. Your mine train goes round and up and down and round the mountain, which will leave even the youngest of adventurers smiling at the end.

Over the river which is home to the Mark Twain and Columbia boats, which you can board for a relaxing journey you can see New Orleans Square, the jazzy home of quaint shops, and the classic rides. Pirates of the Caribbean is a swash-buckling boat ride featuring pirates, treasure, songs and animatronics so life like you’ll be sure those Pirates are real! An outstanding ride when it first opened, and still one now which is full of history. Another adventure, but a scarier one this time is Haunted Mansion. Beginning as a walk through attraction you are taken into the mansion, before boarding your doom buggy and traveling through the home of 999 happy haunts. Some great effects and memorable tunes make up this attraction.

 Critter Country shows a down-home, backwoods setting for Splash Mountain and the Country Bear Playhouse. Splash Mountain is Disney’s second mountain, and where you can board a boat and see Brer fox trying to catch brer Rabbit in animatronic wizardry. Don’t let the cute animatronic characters fool you though because part of your journey is a thrilling drop down the side of the mountain, which is splashing good fun!

 Tomorrowland is a launching pad for space age attractions into imagination and beyond. The two notable rides are Disney’s third mountain, Space Mountain and the 4D Show, Honey I Shrunk The Audience. Space Mountain is another Disney coaster, meaning everyone will find it fun and thrilling! Going through the galaxy in your own spaceship, and in the dark you’ll find this coaster to reach some high speeds, as the stars whiz past you. Honey I Shrunk The Audience however has no speed, but is a whole lot of fun! Join the stars from the original Movie as you watch the Scientist Of The Year award be given out, but things go wrong and the whole audience is shrunk! The fun film is not just a 3D movie, with normal 3D effects oh no, it goes into the 4^th Dimension! Moving Seats, Water, and Air jets are all added to make the film feel more realistic and to get the whole audience screaming with delight!

 Fantasyland is the happy kingdom of storybook enchantment, which awaits beyond Sleeping Beauty Castle. The kids will adore this place, with themed rides like no other depicting their favourite Disney films, from Snow White to Pinocchio. Each ride is unique, but all share a common bond, fun for all. You child will be smiling and looking in delight as their favourite movie comes to life. Finally everyone will love Mickey's Toontown, a three-dimensional cartoon world, hometown to Mickey Mouse and his friends. And as it’s there home you’re bound to see a few of them there, ready to be pounced on by children, signing autographs and posing for photos. Throughout the themed lands you’re bound to find everyone in your family a favourite ride and thanks to the Disney magic you’ll never forget your Disney Day!

Disney's Fastpass has now been introduced at the Disneyland Resort and is the innovative timesaving service, which has changed the way guests, enjoy the Disney Parks. Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, The Indiana Jones Adventure, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Mountain, Star Tours and Autopia all feature this time saving device. Fastpass allows you to collect a voucher, which gives you a time. Then you can go experience the rest of the park and turn up at your attraction at the time said and ride! It is a lifesaver! Avoiding large lines makes your day so much more relaxing and fun, and this really works. Picking up your ticket is simple then returning at the time and getting on is even easier. Take advantage of this improvement to the park, and make you day ride filled, not line filled.  

On the evenings what ever you do make sure you don’t miss Fantasmic, a show like no other, and Believe a firework spectacular featuring a Mickey shaped firework! In Fantasmic you go on a brilliant journey through Mickey's imagination meeting the villains from famous films on the way. This spectacular show features water jets with films projected on to them, amazing characters, brilliant songs, fire, dragons, lights, fireworks and explosions....what more could you want?! The show stirs up your emotions and can make you feel like a child, oo-ing and ahh-ing your way through the technologically stunning show.

Disneyland manages to have something for everyone, and you’ll never get everything done in one day. It’s packed full of different rides and experiences each featuring their own magical theme. Everyone will turn into a child for a day, and enjoy the splendors that Disney has to offer. None of the rides are horribly scary or amazingly thrilling but they don’t need to be. Disney is an institution and long may it continue. To not visit the park when anywhere near the USA is a travesty on your imagination and your soul! Disney can still do it, Disneyland is the original Theme Park and still unique.

Park Images, Click to enlarge in a new window

Mickey and Co!	The Entrance	The Castle	Walt and Mickey	The Carosell
Main Street		The Matterhorn		Space Mountain
Frontierland	The Mark Twain		New Orleans Sq	Splash Mountain

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