Disneyland is the original. Walt himself walked the streets and made sure every detail was perfect. Magic flows into the park starting at the ticket gates. Walt looked at the park not as an amusement park but as a production everything here was a show and despite ridicule he set it up that way from the moment you start your experience. First you need to get your ticket just like any other show and then you will stand in line to have you ticket taken and go in to the waiting area. Once you are in the ticket gates you cannot see the outside world you are greeted with Mickey’s smiling face in flowers and the Train Station above it. Two tunnels await to take you to the show, as you pass through the tunnels you see posters for rides in the park, or upcoming attractions, just like at a theatre so you get excited about what you are about to experience. It always amazes me how much thought and detail Walt put into Disneyland it went against everything parks were at the time and now it is the park by which all things are measured.
Once in the park, Walt's hometown of Marceline Missouri was the model for Main Street USA. Here you can find fun and interesting shopping experiences along with dinning and entertainment options. You should take the time to visit City Hall. At City Hall you can schedule one of many tours, get park information, ask questions, and get the all important birthday and first timer stickers (when you have these sticker on Cast Members can notice them and extend a birthday wish or share useful bits of park information and fun trivia). Across the street at the Main Street bank you can exchange your boring money for fun Disney Dollars. The Opera house is currently showing a special movie about Disneyland's 50 years of magic. Inside there are all sorts of exhibits, including a replica of Walt Disney's office. Sometime in late 2006 or 2007 they should hopefully be bringing back Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln which is a one of a kind video and animatronics presentation with President Lincoln ( Walt admired Lincoln very much and did many school projects on the president). The Fire Station is a noteworthy place because Walt actually had an apartment in the park here above the fire station; it is also the home of the lamp that burns in the window in his memory. In the Main Street Cinema you can see vintage Mickey Mouse cartoons the two cartoons playing are silent films ( Plane Crazy and ) they came after the first Mickey movie Steam Boat Willie which was the first cartoon to have synchronized sound. There are all sorts of fun things like the Penny Arcade the Magic Shop and the Emporium and the Silhouette shop. There is also the flag pole, where flag raising and lowering ceremonies take place everyday. During the 50th celebration a rededication ceremony takes place every morning also. The area where the flag pole is also plays home to the Christmas tree during the holiday season. While on Main Street you can ride on turn of the century vehicles such as the horse drawn street cars. Main Street also has one of the stations for the Disneyland Railway this is a fun and functional way to get around the park if you go on a round tour trip you will get the chance to see the Grand Canyon Diorama and venture back into the time of the dinosaurs.The two steam trains sometimes offer Tinder rides to small parties who ask the conductor, on a Tinder ride you get to ride in seat behind the engine and learn about the Disneyland trains. Some fun things to notice about Main Street are the names in the windows of the buildings are real people who have contributed to Walt’s life or Disneyland, and the forced perspective Walt learned from his movie making is used every where from the buildings to the street and castle. When you walk down Main Street as you come into the park it looks long and full places to visit and things to do and it naturally leads your eye to the castle. When you are tired and it is time to leave you look up Main Street and it seems short and friendly (the music on Main Street also changes through out the day from upbeat and swing in the morning to a more calm and comforting in the evening) Main Street is also home to many street musicians.
At the end o f Main Street you reach the Hub. This is crucial to Walt’s design and shows his forward thinking. From the hub you can head to any one of the lands in the park and there are teasers that you can see peaking out from each land (Walt called these pulls). The pull to Fantasyland is Sleeping Beauty’s Castle and the King Arthur’s Carrousel. The pull to Tomorrowland is the Astro Orbiter. The pull to Frontierland is the fort and if you are lucky the Mark Twain at the dock. The pull to Adventureland is the unseen adventure that awaits us all. In the middle of the hub is the Partners statue it shows Walt and Mickey Mouse looking out on the Magic Kingdom. The hub ties everything together and serves as a great meeting spot and is also the ideal spot to watch the evening fireworks ( although everyone else is trying to watch from here also).
Adventureland is the first land on your left after walking down Main Street. The first thing you are greeted by is Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room. The Tiki room was Walt’s first attempt at audio animatronics. The many singing birds flowers and tikies in this room make it a must see it is also a great place to escape the weather. The lines are usually short and the show is always great, we like to enjoy a pineapple freeze while we are waiting to go in. This attraction is different from the one in Disneyworld and is still how Walt designed it when it launched. In Adventureland you will also find Aladdin and Jasmines storey telling, the famous Jungle Boat Cruise (one of my families favorites) the Indiana Jones ride (FP), and Tarzan’s Tree house. There are also great places to shop and eat. Adventureland tends get crowded we enjoy it most in the early morning or evening best.
Frontierland is the second land on your left after walking down Main Street. It has many connections to other areas in the park (Adventureland and Frontierland share a walk way right by their gates, Frontierland has a path to Fantasyland back by Big Thunder Ranch. and Frontierland leads you by the Rivers of America which meets up with New Orleans Square and Critter Country). Walt always thought that it was important to remember our heritage and the frontiersman who worked hard settling the country. The Fort gates welcome you into Frontierland and lead you to a frontier town with old west charm. The Golden Horse Shoe Revue is always a fun place to stop whether it’s to hear Billy Hill and the Hill Billies inside or watch an improvised audience participation skit outside, watch out for Sally May. The Mark Twain and the Sailing Ship Columbia are a couple of the ways to get around the Rivers of America and a nice way to get away from crowds and have a rest. If you can get on the Mark twain and be the first one to the wheel house you can ask to pilot the boat and blow the horn this is a rare treat that few know about but always fun. There are also rafts that can take you to Tom Sawyer Island where kids and adults can go through caves and across barrel bridges and have all sorts of fun. Big Thunder Mountain Railway is the E ticket attraction in this land, it’s the "wildest ride in the wilderness" and well worth the wait in line. Big Thunder Ranch has a petting zoo and is currently home to Yam and Marshmallow, the turkeys President Bush pardoned at Thanksgiving 2005. The Trading Post in Frontierland will also hold you purchases from around the park for you at no charge until park closing or you are ready to leave.
New Orleans Square is a quiet corner with shops and restaurants. Lots of outdoor entertainment, singing groups and Jazz quartets frequent this land and give it an authentic feel. There are many craftsman shops and street artists to do sketches and portraits. Pirates of the Caribbean is a must do ride and is the last ride that Walt worked on, although he passed away before its launch. The Bayou atmosphere is wonderful and you can make reservations and eat inside this attraction at the Blue Bayou restaurant. They 33 club is also in New Orleans Square it is a private club where members enjoy dinning and views of the park from the balconies above the shops. The Disney Gallery is located above Pirates of the Caribbean and is often overlooked. In the Gallery you can see vintage art work of the park rides and advertisements as well as new attraction concepts and figurines. If you make reservations you can also watch Fantasmick From the balcony from the gallery complete with desert buffet (I highly recommend this, you are not fighting for your seat or hanging out for hours securing one, endless hot chocolate and wonderful treats are another bonus. Plus sometimes they let you stay for the park fireworks afterwards). The Haunted Mansion is on the far end of New Orleans Square and is a fun ride that changes for the holidays when Jack Skellington takes over. The Disneyland railroad has a station stop here also.
Critter Country is a fun corner of the park where you can go on Splash Mountain (FP) see Winnie the Pooh, ride in a beehicle and go for a canoe ride. The Hungry Bear is a great place to eat here. The Winnie the Pooh characters are often out signing autographs and taking pictures. Splash Mountain dominates this land and is responsible for most of its traffic but don’t miss the Pooh shop at the back of the land where you can buy wonderful sweets.
Toon Town was Mickey’s get away known only to Walt and toons, until he decided to share it with the rest of us. Here you can Ride the Jolly Trolley around the town. The big ride in town is Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin (FP). You can visit the fab fives homes and see how they live. Mickey and Minnie are often at their homes for autographs and pictures. Lots of characters in this town and fun things, be sure to check out the pay phones that let you add cartoon noises to your calls, the jail with rubber bars, and the fireworks factory. They are currently redoing Goofy’s house and making a toddlers area out of his garden. Donald’s boat is a fun place to explore, and Gadgets Go Coaster is a great starter roller coaster. Toon Town also has a stop on the Disneyland Railway. Toon Town opens after the park and closes early.
Fantasyland the center piece of the park and Walt’s favorite place because this was where he could bring his movies to life. The castle is a wonderful backdrop and contains a couple of cute stores. The most the dark rides in Fantasyland are original ,Peter Pan (usually the longest line in the park) Mr. Toads Wild Ride, Snow Whites Scary Adventures. The newer Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, and Alice in Wonderland. The spinning Tea Cups, and Dumbo the Flying Elephant. Fantasyland feels like a small village and has very detailed themeing fun shops and places to eat. The views from the Storybook Canal Boats and Casey Jr. Circus Train allow you to put your self in the stories we love so much. It’s a Small World is a classic and the holiday version a must see, (my family loves to see the clock chime and all the little children parade out) Disneyland’s first E ticket attraction the Matterhorn is found here. It has two tracks one a little slower, and one faster and longer. It is a replica of its name sake built on a smaller scale again using forced perspective to make it appear larger.
Tomorrowland is constantly changing as tomorrow does. Innoventions is a revolving building where you can experience new and upcoming technologies to make our lives better. My favorite thing in Innoventions is talking with Stitch and the Virtual Vacation. Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (FP) are a lot of fun, (it’s a video game and ride at the same time). The recently re-launched Space Mountain (FP) is better than ever. The original Autotopia (FP) is always fun allowing young people to experience the road in a safe environment (My son recently decided that he wasn’t ready to drive yet because he had four accident on this ride). Space Tours (FP) is a fun ride taking you into the world of Star Wars. The Honey I shrunk the Audience show is a fun family friendly 3D special effects program that is also a great escape from crowds and weather. The Astro Orbiters race around and allow you to control the up and down movements. Buzz Lightyear has a stage here with a great show also bands play nightly on this stage which has a large area for dancing. There is also an arcade and fun shop and places to eat. Watch out for Push a free roaming robot garbage can. The Sub Lagoon will soon be home to a Finding Nemo Attraction where you will ride in submarines and visit Nemo and his friends,
Well, this is a basic Overview of the park I will be adding new details from time to time and expanding each section with trivia and fun facts. I hope that you find this information helpful.
Cem