I know, I know. Walt Disney World is big. It’s flashy. It’s impressive. It’s absolutely in every sense a world-class theme park. But you know, for some people, there’s just no mistaking the original. That’s Disneyland!
Opened all the way back in 1955 and first owned and operated by Walt Disney himself, Disneyland is the original Magic Kingdom, known and beloved by millions as “The Happiest Place on Earth.” So much of what we associate with Disney theme parks, even when we’re thinking Disney World, actually started here in Anaheim, California: the famous monorail, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, The Haunted Mansion, The Matterhorn Bobsleds, the parades on Main Street U.S.A., the castle, Pirate of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, It’s a Small World … need I go on.
Of course, there’s a lot more Disneyland today than what the park had on offer 50 years ago. Taking a cue from the rampant success of Walt Disney World in central Florida, the company took a new look at Disneyland in the mid-90’s, resulting in new rides, shows and attractions, refreshed grounds, additional accommodations and finally, in 2001, the opening of Disney’s California Adventure, a full-sized sister park, and Downtown Disney, a mixed-use shopping, dining and entertainment attraction that’s free to enter.
At that moment, Disneyland officially rebranded to Disneyland Resort, and just as they did back in 1955, guests, industry insiders and travel writers are still raving about it to this day.
Now on to logistics: if it’s your first time visiting Disneyland you’ll no doubt want to do it all, and you should provided the money isn’t an issue. If you’re trying to have something approaching a “budget” Disneyland vacation, though, consider saving with single-park tickets to Disneyland Park. California Adventure, while improving at a snail’s pace, is still an underwhelming counterpart to its neighbor, lacking in both high quality shows and attractions for what is essentially the same price.
You can easily get a couple days out of the original park, and after two exhausting days of “The Happiest Place on Earth”, you may not have the energy for another. Remember, don’t spring for the Park Hopper® tickets unless you’re sure you want them. Get more tips and tricks here.
You can also save by avoiding the Disney hotels. Rather, we prefer the Holiday Inn Anaheim Resort. It located just a mile from the entry plaza (shuttle available) for a quick trip to the park, but the room rates are often more reasonable. Book one of their Disneyland vacation packages for an even better deal.
Have fun at Disneyland!
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Disneyland Vacations in Anaheim, California
I know, I know. Walt Disney World is big. It’s flashy. It’s impressive. It’s absolutely in every sense a world-class theme park. But you know, for some people, there’s just no mistaking the original. That’s Disneyland!
Opened all the way back in 1955 and first owned and operated by Walt Disney himself, Disneyland is the original Magic Kingdom, known and beloved by millions as “The Happiest Place on Earth.” So much of what we associate with Disney theme parks, even when we’re thinking Disney World, actually started here in Anaheim, California: the famous monorail, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, The Haunted Mansion, The Matterhorn Bobsleds, the parades on Main Street U.S.A., the castle, Pirate of the Caribbean, Splash Mountain, It’s a Small World … need I go on.
Of course, there’s a lot more Disneyland today than what the park had on offer 50 years ago. Taking a cue from the rampant success of Walt Disney World in central Florida, the company took a new look at Disneyland in the mid-90’s, resulting in new rides, shows and attractions, refreshed grounds, additional accommodations and finally, in 2001, the opening of Disney’s California Adventure, a full-sized sister park, and Downtown Disney, a mixed-use shopping, dining and entertainment attraction that’s free to enter.
At that moment, Disneyland officially rebranded to Disneyland Resort, and just as they did back in 1955, guests, industry insiders and travel writers are still raving about it to this day.
Now on to logistics: if it’s your first time visiting Disneyland you’ll no doubt want to do it all, and you should provided the money isn’t an issue. If you’re trying to have something approaching a “budget” Disneyland vacation, though, consider saving with single-park tickets to Disneyland Park. California Adventure, while improving at a snail’s pace, is still an underwhelming counterpart to its neighbor, lacking in both high quality shows and attractions for what is essentially the same price.
You can easily get a couple days out of the original park, and after two exhausting days of “The Happiest Place on Earth”, you may not have the energy for another. Remember, don’t spring for the Park Hopper® tickets unless you’re sure you want them. Get more tips and tricks here.
You can also save by avoiding the Disney hotels. Rather, we prefer the Holiday Inn Anaheim Resort. It located just a mile from the entry plaza (shuttle available) for a quick trip to the park, but the room rates are often more reasonable. Book one of their Disneyland vacation packages for an even better deal.
Have fun at Disneyland!
Related Posts
No related posts.