Anaheimer

Disneyland opened its doors to the public on July 18, 1955. Since then over 500 million people visited the park from all over the world. It is considered the most visited park in the world, second only to Disney World in Orlando, Florida. If you really want to know the history, go to Wikipedia. The park is very large. It sits on 85 acres of land with 60 attractions in 7 themed lands. So it is very easy to get overwhelmed by all that it can offer.

The park is usually open from 10 AM to 8 PM on weekdays and from 8 AM to 12 Midnight on weekends and holidays (times can vary).

To help you plan your visit, Disneyland’s Website allows you to choose an “experience”. For example you can choose “Fairy Tale Fantasy”, “Families with Kids”, or “Families with Teens”.

But before you go there, stick around and learn about the park from a local.

Disney Admission Deals: See bottom of this article for special admission deals.

Anaheimer Tip: Avoid going on the weekends and major holidays. Disneyland is a very crowded place during those times. Expect long lines.

So, what is the best way to enjoy Disneyland? It really depends on what you like and the ages of your kids – if any. (Yes. you don’t have to have kids to enjoy Disneyland).

Here is one way to enjoy the park. It is most suited for a family with older kids (teens and pre-teens).

Starting your day:

Be at the main gate 45 minutes before opening (or even earlier if you can)

Anaheimer Tip: If you are staying at one of the Disney hotels, then your opening time is 1 hours earlier. Take advantage of this perk

The main gate opens 15-30 minutes before the official opening time. Don’t forget to pick up your park map and entertainment schedule

Once the main gate opens rush through Main Street. Do not stop at any of the shops. There is plenty of time for shopping later. Go all the way to the ribbon and wait until the actual opening time

As soon as they open the final obstacle between you and fun, rush to your first ride.

Tomorrow Land:

Tomorrow Land is a futuristic themed area full of thrills and discovery. This land offers a lot of new and original attractions:

Space Mountain: It is part rollercoaster and part movie special effects. Waiting in line is part of the fun. You enter the space port, ride your rocket ship and blast off into outer space. You zip through stars, galaxies and other heavenly bodies. The ride is dark on purpose so you can enjoy the cosmic background <FastPass Available>

Anaheimer Tip: Some rides offer FastPass. It is a way to avoid long lines at some rides. For example if you go to space mountain and find out that the wait time is too long, get a FastPass. It will specify an appointment time for you to come back. When you come back you go through a different line which is usually very short. Be aware that you can only have one FastPass at a time (per rider). In other words, don’t expect to get Fast passes for several rides at the same time.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage: This is the new and improved version of the old submarine ride. It is very popular and the lines could be very long. So consider making it your first destination of the day. This is basically a submarine ride through the famous animation movie “Finding Nemo”. Once you dive into the depths of the “Tomorrow Land Lagoon”, you will be helping marlin and Dory to find Nemo

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters: Another ride based on a popular movie, “Toy Story”. On this ride kids of all ages can use laser guns to hit targets and try to destroy the evil villain “Emperor Zurg”

Start Tours: This is a flight simulator ride based on the “Star Wars” movies. Riders will start on a leisurely trip to the “Endor Moon” and end up in the middle of a space battle between the forces of the empire and the rebels <FastPass Available>

Innoventions: Before leaving tomorrow and heading to a new adventure, spend some relaxing and learning time at Innoventions. This is a new addition to Disneyland in which you can explore current and futuristic technologies first hand. It is located in a round two-story building in which the outer half of the first story rotates. Go watch “ASIMO”, the domestic robot, in action. This is a real robot developed by Honda. It can walk, run and jump, and play soccer. Then take the kids – and yourself – to play the latest XBOX games.

Anaheimer Tip: Innoventions does not have a restroom. So make sure to take a trip to the restroom next to Space Mountan before you go in.

Other attractions: If you have more time to explore tomorrowland, then pay a visit to Autopia, Rocket to the Moon and Honey, I Shrunk the Audience (4D experience).

Disneyland deals - Southern California Pass: If you are staying in the area for a week or more, you can purchase Southern California Pass. It includes 3-Day Disneyland Tickets, tickets for one day each at Universal Studios, SeaWorld and your choice of a ticket to the San Diego Zoo OR San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park: Find City Pass.

Lunch:

Tomorrowland Terrace: Conveniently located next to Innoventions, this fast food restaurant serves fried chicken, burgers, salads and more

Anaheimer Tip: Time your lunch with the “Jedi Training Academy” show right there on the terrace. There is usually a showing every hour

French Market Restaurant: If you feel like something more substantial, then walk across to New Orleans Square and have your lunch at this great restaurant. This cafeteria-style eatery serves Cajun/Creole dishes. On weekends, you can catch some Jazz or Dixieland tunes on the onsite stage.

Anaheimer Tip: Another place for lunch or dinner is the Anaheim Garden Walk. It is a new open entertainment center that has a lot of great places to eat. You can find fancy restaurants with well known chefs and you can find food court style dinning. You can also enjoy other entertainment like movies and bowling. Best of all, it is within walking distance from the Disney resort main gate.

Books about the Disney Resort:

Disneyland Anaheim Vacationland
Everything Family Guide to the Disneyland Resort
Birnbaum's Disneyland Resort 2009

New Orleans Square:

New Orleans Square is a themed land based on 19th century New Orleans. Along with nice riverfront restaurants, it offers two of the most popular rides:

Pirates of the Caribbean: This ride was always very popular and became even more popular after the release of the movie series with the same name. In case you didn’t know, the movie is based on the ride. But the ride benefited from movie with new upgrades and new characters. It is basically a boat ride through Caribbean towns with scenes of pillage and destruction – just like the movie. <FastPass Available>

Haunted Mansion: If the lines are not too long, this attraction might be worth a visit. Using Disney animatronics and visual effects, you get to see various ghosts and goals in action. Watch out for unauthorized ghostly riders in your carriage. <FastPass Available>

Anaheimer Tip: Another way to beat the lines and Disney parks is the single ride line. If you are traveling alone (or willing to pretend you are alone) you can go the single ride line which goes faster than the regular line.

Adventureland:

Adventureland is designed to take the visitor to a tropical jungle full of surprises and adventure:

Indiana Jones: This ride is based on the Indiana Jones films. Riders are taken on an adventure in a military transport vehicle through a lost temple with Indiana Jones as the guide. The ride could be rough at times. It doesn’t exactly qualify as a rollercoaster, but comes close to it. <FastPass Available>

Anaheimer Tip: The line for Indiana Jones is usually very long, so if you can, get a FastPass and comeback later. Alternatively, you can make it your first ride and avoid the lines

Tarzan's Treehouse: In between rides take the kids to release some energy at Tarzan's Treehouse. Let them climb the tree, cross the ramp to Tarzan’s secret hideaway and bang on the various musical instruments

Jungle Cruise: The attraction simulates a riverboat cruise down major rivers of the world. Visitors board steamer ships and take a voyage past many different jungle animals.

Frontierland:

Frontierland recreates the setting of pioneer days along the American frontier. Running through this land is “The Rivers of America” where steam boats, sale ships, rafts and canoes float by.

Anaheimer Tip: The must see Fantasmic fireworks display is shown at night at the Rivers of America. Don’t forget to come back to this area at least one hour before show time to find a good spot. One way to beat the crowds is to go early to one of the restaurants overlooking the Rivers of America, reserve a table and have dinner while enjoying the show.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad: This is a mild rollercoaster ride through mine shafts, bat caves and falling rocks and water. The rider gets the feeling that they are riding a runaway train. <FastPass Available>

Anaheimer Tip: If the kids are tired of waiting in lines, hitch a ride on one of the rafts to Tom Sawyer Island in the middle of the river. All members of the family can explore the island caves, a treehouse, shipwreck play area, a barrel bridge, a suspension bridge and plenty of trails. Catch a glimpse of Jack Sparrow (from the Pirates of the Caribbean) at the Pirate's Lair and discover an old fort.

Golden Horseshoe Saloon: If haven’t had your lunch yet, this is a good time to stop at this restaurant, have a good American meal and watch the "Billy Hill and the Hillbillies" perform.

Critter Country:

If you continue your stroll along the rivers of America, you will end up at critter country, the home of Splash Mountain.

Splash Mountain: This ride is part log ride and part movie production. The theme is based on the Disney movie “Song of the South”. At the end of the ride expect a steep drop and a big splash. Most riders will get wet! So only go on this ride when the weather is warm. <FastPass Available>

Hungry Bear Restaurant: Is it dinner time yet? This is a place to relax, enjoy nature and have a good meal. This water-side haven is nestled among the pine trees with ducks swimming under your feet and boats paddling down river.

Disneyland deals - Multi-day park hopper: You get a better value for your dollar when buy multi-day park hopper passes. They come in 2, 3, 4, 5 day packages: Get Disney passes.

Fantasyland

After you experience some adventures in forntierland, adventureland and critter country, skip back to fantasyland where you can fly with Peter Pan, tumble into Alice's Wonderland, ride the flying elephant Dumbo or take a trip around "it's a small world":

It’s a small world: This ride never gets old or boring. Children and adults of all ages will enjoy it. You ride a toy boat through several world destinations, with singing and dancing dolls representing the peoples of those countries. The music is great and it mixes several famous Disney tunes. Once you pass though the lines, it is time relax and enjoy the scenery.

Peter Pan's Flight: Fly with Peter Pan over London onto Neverland and through skull rock. Witness a duel between Peter Pan and Captain Hook. You will get a chance to see many more characters from the movie.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant: The kids get to fly with Dumbo and his friends over fantasyland. They get to control the flight and decide how high to go.

Other Rides: Fantasyland is full of other small rides for the whole family. You can spin as fast as you can at the Mad Tea Party, go as slow as you like at King Arthur Carrousel and visit Alice in her Wonderland.

Enchanted Cottage, Sweets and Treats: The kids are screaming for ice-cream? Desert or dinner time, you will find good snacks in this cottage located in Fantasyland.

Mickey's Toontown:

Mickey's Toontown is inspired by 1930s cartoons. The buildings, roads and rides all look cartoonish. It is targeted towards younger kids. If you have very young one, they will enjoy Gadget's Go Coaster and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin. They can also visit Mickey Mouse house and Minnie Mouse house.

Anaheimer Tip: From several locations throughout Disneyland, you can take the Disneyland Railroad for a trip around the whole park, or just to hop to another faraway land. The train ride takes you through many of the park’s attractions. This is a good way to explore the park before you visit the actual rides. You also get to see a hidden area that is only accessible by train: The Grand Canyon/Primeval World diorama. This is the longest diorama in the world showing live size prehistoric animals in their natural habitat.

Disney Deals:

• Southern California Pass: If you are staying in the area for a week or more, you can purchase Southern California Pass. It includes 3-Day Disneyland Tickets, tickets for one day each at Universal Studios, SeaWorld and your choice of a ticket to the San Diego Zoo OR San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park: Find City Pass.
• Multi-day park hopper: You get a better value for your dollar when buy multi-day park hopper passes. They come in 2, 3, 4, 5 day packages: Get Disney passes.