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Disneyland & California Adventure Park
Goofy at Disneyland with my nephew, Logan, and niece, Tori
Overview: “It’s a small world…” The Magic Kingdom has enchanted young and old for decades. Located about 40 miles south of Los Angeles in Anaheim, Disneyland sprinkles its renown fairytale dust far and wide. It’s hands down the most famous and favorite of all amusement parks in California and possibly the United States (outside of Disney World in Florida). People from every corner of the world know about Disneyland and cross oceans to celebrate “the happiest place on Earth.”
Cruising Disneyland’s Main Street
Disneyland could be a city itself; it’s that big. Sandwiched between Harbor Blvd and Walnut Street on the east and west side, Disneyland’s sprawling campus includes Downtown Disney, Disneyland Park and Disney’s California Adventure. More for the grown-ups, Downtown Disney consists of popular retail shops and restaurants, inlcuding the popular House of Blues, which has a nice patio section from which you can view most of Downtown Disney. also has the monorail that goes back and forth from the parking lot. Disneyland Park is the stuff we all know: it has the rides and the charming and colorful shops. Disney’s California Adventure is at the southern west tip of the Disney campus. California Adventure is a replication of some of California’s highlights and history.
Hollywood Tower at California Adventure
Not for naught is Disneyland, which opened its doors in 1955, the king of the amusement park jungle. As you approach the front gates, the swarm of people generate excitement for you. When you enter the park’s gates, your senses are smacked with a bed of colorful flowers. Enter the archway just beyond and you’re in fairytale land. Buildings are motley and ornate, people are milling about the streets which have trolly tracks and Disney characters run around guffawing with children and families. Disneyland may not have the exhilarating rides like a Six Flags Magic Mountain or Knott’s Berry Farm but it doesn’t need to. It has live entertainment and enough big kid rides such as Big Thunder and the Matterhorn. Plus, Disneyland has the best atmosphere.
Opened in 2001, Disney’s California Adventure Park is an addition to the overall Disneyland Resort. California Adventure is considered a separate park so you must pay for admittance. You can either buy a ticket for California Adventure or buy a combo, “Park Hopper” for both Disneyland Park and California Adventure.
California Adventure is situated south of the actual Disneyland Park. Its theme replicates the history and achievements of California – somewhat. Probably the most exciting ride at California Adventure is Soaring Over California. The premise of the ride is that you’re supposed to feel like you’re soaring over California in a hang glider. You sit in seat in front of a huge Imax-like projection screen and are taken over various parts of California such as the Golden Gate Bridge. There’s wind to create the effect that you’re flying and the seat dips down and up, depending on where you are in the air in the screen. The aerial views are fantastic and it’s scary how realistic the simulated ride is. When you glide down in the sky, you can feel your stomach drop. That’s how spectacular Soaring Over California is.
Other notable rides at California Adventure include the Grizzly River Run and the rapid, loopy California Screamin. The Hollywood Tower of Terror creepiness and bouncy drops are noteworthy too. The drops come when you’re not expecting them.
Location: 1313 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim, CA 92802
Site: http://disney.go.com/
Ph: (714) 781-4000
Cost: 1 day pass, $69.00/adult, $59.00/kids (age 3 – 9). Park Hopper for both Disneyland and California Adventure, $94.00/adult, $84.00/kids.
Tram ride from parking to Disney park
Accessibility: Immediately to the right of the Disneyland Park entrances, there is a service building that rents out strollers and wheelchairs. The park itself is very wheelchair friendly. Lines have been widened for most rides, though, rides like Big Thunder and Splash Mountain still require wheelchairs to go through the exit. This is great. You can bypass the long lines and being your friends and family with you to the front of the line without waiting!
Getting There: www.metro.net, www.ladottransit.com