Orlando really is the world’s most exciting, family-friendly destination. But Orlando would not be the amazing vacation kingdom it is without the original theme park in Anaheim, California: Disneyland Park.
Although I have all of Orlando’s theme parks in my backyard, I make an annual journey across the country to Southern California. I’d like to share with you why I do, and what makes the place that started it all so awe-inspiring.
Simply charming
Let’s start off with Walt Disney World, which, until nine years ago, was the only Disney destination I was familiar with. When you add it all up, Disney World truly is its own world – all of the themed hotels, water parks, mini golf, transportation, and the sheer 47-square-mile size of the property make this a truly immersive resort.
However – and I say this with all due respect – there is a certain charm, a certain warmth that is somehow missing at Walt Disney World when compared to Disneyland.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
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I do not mean to say that all other Disney parks are inferior to Anaheim’s; there is just something about the original that hasn’t been replicated. To me, it comes down to one major difference: Walt. Disneyland is the only park that was seen (and overseen) by Walt Disney himself.
Each time I enter Disneyland Park, I look to my left to see the lamp still shining in Walt’s apartment. When he was alive, the lamp was turned on whenever he visited to let everyone know that he was there at the park. Now that he has passed, that lamp is never turned off. Walt is still there.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Furthermore, there are certain attractions, especially in Fantasyland, that are pure classics and would most likely not have been built if the park had opened any time recently. The best examples of this are the Storybook Canal Boats and the Casey Jr. Train.
The Storybook Canal Boats are captained by a Cast Member who takes you on a journey through Storybook Land, a place where the realms of favorite Disney characters are shown in beautiful, intricate, miniaturized detail.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Both of these attractions were part of the inaugural years at Disneyland and still charm guests today. They are small, intimate attractions – their beauty is in their simplicity.
And Orlando doesn’t have anything like it.
More with less space
Many Disney fans like to point out that Disneyland can fit inside Magic Kingdom’s parking lot. While this is true, the park has over 45 attractions, whereas its East Coast counterpart only has about 30. There is so much to do inside Disneyland, and yet a visit to this park does not feel as exhausting as a visit to Magic Kingdom sometimes can.
Fantasyland alone has a handful of rides that can be experienced at Anaheim but not at Orlando. Besides the aforementioned Storybook Canal Boats and Casey Jr. Train, there is Pinocchio’s Daring Journey, Alice in Wonderland (my absolutely favorite dark ride of all time), Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride, and Snow White’s Scary Adventure.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Disneyland is also home to Mickey’s Toontown, which offers two unique attractions: Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin and Gadget’s Go Coaster. What’s more, this land is full of great sight and sound gags and fun photo opportunities.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Finally, there is the exquisite New Orleans Square, which is a favorite among Disney fans for two main reasons. First, it is home to Pirates of the Caribbean (which is loads different than Magic Kingdom’s version) and the Haunted Mansion (which is taken over each year by Jack Skellington for the Haunted Mansion Holiday).
Second – and perhaps much more importantly – it was the last land that Walt personally oversaw the creation of.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Outside the park is the same compressed story: the first time I visited Disneyland Resort, I was shocked at how close Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure are to each other, and that Downtown Disney is right there, too. The three resort hotels encapsulate the entire property, and everything is within easy walking distance.
Disneyland Resort – October 2014.
Fans of Universal Orlando Resort, like you and me, will appreciate and enjoy the similarities that this set-up presents. (It should be noted, however, that Disneyland Resort is only roughly half the size of Universal Orlando.)
Disney California Adventure reborn
When I first visited the resort in 2005, I was a little disappointed by California Adventure, and I obviously wasn’t alone in that opinion. Now, however, I find myself drawn to DCA: after a multi-year, $1.1 billion remodel and expansion, it is a beautiful, fun, exciting, and relaxing theme park that is finally fitting as the sister park of Disneyland.
The highlight of this rebirth, of course, is Cars Land, an all-new themed land that was a parking lot just a few short years ago. Cars Land is very impressive, and it marks the first time that Disney devoted an entire area to just one film (or series of films). It’s astounding how perfectly Radiator Springs is recreated here.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
Cars Land, however, is far from my favorite feature of California Adventure. The place I could spend hours inside is actually Buena Vista Street – the facades are gorgeous, the Red Car Trolley is beautiful, the citizens of Buena Vista are subtle, the new addition of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit is ingenious, and the background music is delightful.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
And the crowning jewel is Carthay Circle. At the end of Buena Vista Street, Carthay Circle is the park’s new icon. Open for lunch and dinner, guests can enjoy California gourmet cuisine and handcrafted artisan cocktails both in the glorious dining room and sophisticated lounge.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
One establishment that continues to be among my favorites has remained a staple of DCA since the park’s opening in 2001: the Golden Vine Winery, now known as the Mendocino Terrace.
This wine bar is always staffed by knowledgeable and passionate Cast Members and is always stocked with a large variety of wines, as well as craft beers. The seating is al fresco, so guests can enjoy the beautiful Southern California weather – and a great view of Cars Land and Paradise Pier, to boot.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
Disney California Adventure – October 2014.
All of this combines to truly make California Adventure a must-do stop on every Disneyland trip.
The characters truly live here
One of the defining characteristics of Disneyland is that Southern California residents love the resort – it is their place, and it has been passed down through the generations. The locals call Disneyland home and visit on a very frequent basis. This means that certain Disney experiences are completely different here, the most notable of which are character greetings.
Disneyland is just down the road from Hollywood, so this makes it the place where the characters live. Almost every meet-‘n-greet takes place out in the open, somewhere along the pathways of the character’s “home” land.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Typically, there aren’t crazy-long lines to meet the characters (that whole locals-are-here-all-the-time thing again). Mickey simply walks out on Main Street without a character attendant – no big deal. Alice and the Mad Hatter can decide to start the day by saying hello to guests waiting in line at the Mad Tea Party Tea Cups if they want to.
The list goes on. In fact, one morning on our most recent visit, we were at Mickey’s Toontown right when it opened, and, without any announcement, Minnie Mouse and Pluto decided to stroll out to the gate and welcome us in!
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Disneyland Park – October 2014.
Such touches help to put a little bit of extra happiness in the Happiest Place on Earth – and help illustrate why, if you only visit Orlando’s theme parks, you’re missing out on most of the magic.
Be sure to hit up the OI Blog Archive for our other special West Coast edition, focusing on Universal Studios Hollywood, as well as all of our normal Orlando trip reports.
Or you can regale everyone with your very own theme park experiences in the OI Forums.
Disneyland Resort – photo gallery
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