| The original Disneyland Park
is located at
1313 S Harbor Blvd off on the South West side of the 5
Freeway. You can take a free tram to the main park entrance from
one of the parking garages. If you know where to look you can
actually see
parts of Disneyland peaking above the rest of the
buildings as you zip down the 5 freeway. Everyone has heard of
Disneyland with its theme rides, entertainment & attractions for
all ages. This is the original Disneyland location - now there
are Disneyland's in select countries worldwide. This is a huge
complex containing not only the featured attractions in Disneyland but a plethora
of rides and other attractions in neighboring Disneyland Adventure Park. Allow at least a full day but
for a slower paced experience, 2 days would be better. Note that FastPass
allows you to secure your place in line (provides a return time)
and lets you explore other areas of the park until it is time to
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ride. This is only available for some rides. Note that
Disneyland often offers Southern California residents cheaper admission.
Proof of residency required (Driver's License).
After you go through security, you will be in a large "courtyard" which
provides access to the main Disneyland as well as the Adventure Park. A
good photo opp here is with one of the large letters that spells
"California". Disneyland can be fantastically crowded especially on
school breaks, weekends and many summer days. Its best to get here
before the park opens, get in line early and then make a dash for the
"popular" rides. Check the schedule of events, Disneyland has something
for everyone including the nightly fireworks spectacular at 9:30pm. A
closing time of midnight ensures you can have one very long day should
you choose to stay here all day!
Main Street USA leads to the famous Disneyland Castle and bridge and is
surrounded by specialty shops and a few restaurants. Disneyland is separated
into sections, each with its own theme. Be sure to pick up a map at the
entrance. The "Town Hall" is also located near the main entrance -
information about the parks and special requests can be made here.
Rides/Attractions Disneyland
The following are some of the rides we enjoy and have been on. One of
our favorites is Pirates of the Caribbean - this is a ride that all ages
can enjoy although we have seen parents walk out with the young ones
after the kids became scared of the dark entrance. Great special
effects. You float down the stream past various pirate themes.
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The Indiana Jones Adventure ride is a real
crowd pleaser. Lines are the norm in Disneyland but why not make
lines part of the "ride" experience. The designers of this ride
have done just that as the line snakes through jungle like
foliage and through narrow caves - yes there is a skeleton or
two! Strap yourselves in with a number of other people in a
large jeep like vehicle and head out. Bumpy, steep, slow and
fast - your jeep does it all passing a number of "Indy" themed
scenes all complete with great special effects.
Watch out for the large snake and even Indiana Jones himself
makes an appearance hanging on a rope above your jeep!
Mickey's Toon Town is a happy place for the kids. From a kid's
perspective this place would be amazing and overwhelming at the
same time. Lots of little houses and attractions specifically
geared towards kids are found here. |
As with anywhere in Disneyland Keep a close eye on
the young ones but especially here due to the crowds. The Gadget's Go
Coaster is a small short roller coaster very popular with kids and
families.
Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island - hop on the raft for a short ride
from the mainland to the Island. This is a paradise for kids with
tunnels, caves, funky bridges and a tree house located on the highest
point of the island. Sometimes musicians dressed as pirates will perform
near to where the raft lands.
Splash Mountain is an adrenaline booster but not to the extreme as you
might have with one of the upside down roller coasters. One long
"waterfall" is the highlight of this ride. You slowly climb the tracks
to the top in your "hollowed out log" where you speed down with
unadulterated enthusiasm. Folks, this is the time to yell as loud as you
can and wave your hands. A camera snaps a photo at this point which you
can view on the screens later as you exit. Despite the name, this ride
won't leave you wet.
Rides/Attractions Adventure Park
Where else can you visit the Golden Gate Bridge, the Palace of Fine Arts
building and a winery in one location? Yes, there are even trellised
vineyards! The Adventure Park screams of California and even offers a
ride of a similar name...
California Screaming is one of the more adrenaline inducing roller
coaster rides you will find at Disneyland. Note the ages of people
standing in line - you won't see many young kids here. Depending on your
level of daring, the "kid meter" can be a good way to judge if
a ride
is fit for you. This ride starts out harmless enough, slowly pulling
away from the gate and then stopping on the flat longest part for a 3,
2, 1 countdown while you sit on the tracks in full view of those looking
down from the railing. You then pull away with the forces pushing you
into your seat and from this point on there is no stopping. Steep
downhill grades at incredible speeds will leave you either sick or
longing for more. Throw in an upside down loop in one of Mickey's "ears" for good measure and you
have one thrilling roller coaster ride.
Grizzly River Run is a ride you almost are guaranteed to get wet on. You
and about 6 or 7 other people float down a river. There are some class 4
rapids on this ride. Before one particularly steep section you can
clearly see that other kayakers and river runners have portaged their
equipment as their gear is strewn along the river bank. Not you guys - you fall down the rapids with water splashing
in everywhere. Look out for the river geysers - when these are going off
in the middle of the river you can't help but get soaked!
Soaring Over California is one of the highlights of the Adventure Park.
This is a ride that can be enjoyed by most people unless you have a fear
of heights (you can always close your eyes). Its an IMAX experience with
the addition of "movement". You are strapped into your seats in a large
machine which lifts off the floor into the air. A huge screen is in
front of you. The movie is entirely taken from a plane and you have the
feeling and sensation of actually being in that plane. Soar over the
Napa Valley, the Golden Gate Bridge, Yosemite, downtown Los Angeles
(following the 110 freeway) the ocean, the desert and of course you end
your trip at the Disney Castle at Disneyland.
Sun Wheel is a very slow moving ride which gives one excellent views of
Disneyland and surrounding Orange County and the Anaheim Hills. There
are two lines, one for the static cars and one for the swinging cars.
The swinging cars are highly overrated despite the line for these which
is often dramatically longer than for the static cars. For example, when
you have a 25 minute wait for the swinging cars, the wait for the static
cars may be just a few minutes. There is no difference in time spent on
the actual ride between the type of car you choose.
View our photos below and for more information visit:
www.disneyland.com
Knott's Berry Farm is
located at 8039 Beach Blvd near where this blvd meets the 91 and the 5
freeways in the city of Buena Park. Knotts bills itself as "America's
First Theme Park". If you exit the 5 freeway you will
drive through a bunch of residential neighborhoods until you actually
arrive at Knotts.
| This theme park is much smaller than nearby
Disneyland (located 10-15 minutes away) and offers a bunch of rides and other attractions for
the entire family.
The name Knotts is also synonymous with jams and other preserves
(Knott's is no longer
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family owned - the original owners actually started Knotts as a
berry stand in its current location and were the ones to familiarize the
general public with Boysenberries (originally grown and sold on the
site).
Snoopy has been their mascot for a number of years. Visit:
www.knotts.com
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Magic Mountain,
one of the Six Flags Signature Parks, is located near Valencia
well north of downtown Los Angeles on the 5 freeway. This is an
entertainment epicenter. Thrill busting rides, rides that drop
so fast you almost leave behind body parts, roller coasters that
run upside down for several loops, or scream around hair pin
turns are among many of the featured rides here. Other
attractions, & events are also part of this adventure park. If
you are not "into" these types of
rides, do not despair! In addition to the thrilling rides there
are also many family attractions and much less adrenaline filled
rides. Admission is not cheap to any of major parks such as this
one however, look
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in local tourist guides for money saving coupons.
Magic Mountain direct link:
www.sixflags.com/magicmountain
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Raging Waters is
located in San Dimas just off the 57 freeway north of the 10. This park
is all about water rides - for more information visit:
www.ragingwaters.com - We will visit this park at some point for a
full review. |
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Dave's Pick