"A Bug’s Land" like many things in the park is specifically for kids. This part of the park is cute. It is meant to look like you are the size of a bug. The entrance is made out of cardboard boxes and many of the rides are meant to look like they were made out of things that humans threw away. This land has a lot of kid’s rides like the Flik’s Flyers, which is a hot air balloon rides that lifts you off the ground similar to the Dumbo ride. Francis’ Ladybug boogie is much like the teacup ride. Your ladybug car spins as it twirls around. There is Heimlich's Chew Chew Train, which is like a train that goes through a land of giant fruit. Princess Dot Puddle Park is fun to watch. This is a great way to cool off during the day. Water shoots out of the ground (an oversized water hose) while you run through it.

The theme of this park is really cute. You enter though an arch made out of a box and are shrunk to the size of a buy. Rocks and blades of grass tower over you and boxes are turned into rides. One of my favorite parts was a giant, half eaten watermelon that arches over the tracks at Heimlich's Chew Chew Train. It’s Tough it be a Bug is the same version that is in Animal Kingdom in Florida. You enter an "underground" theater wearing your 3D bug glasses. Flik hosts a show of bugs until it goes horribly wrong. Although it is a cute show this is something that small children might want to stay away from. It gets dark and there are many special effects that might frighten them. If you want to try it out sit to the far let near the door so you can exit if it is to much for your child.

Outside of the entrance to "a bug's land" is the Bountiful Valley Farmer's Market that looks like a fruit stand next to a truck. However you aren't limited to fresh fruit. You can also get BBQ chicken, turkey legs, and beef brisket.
Across from this stand is Sam Andres Shakes. The shakes are "delicious to a fault" cute but corny. They offer a very limited of options. I got a chocolate shake (they had a selection including chocolate and vanilla.) My shake was $3.95. They have other options where you can opt to add in extras such as cookies and gummy bears. The most expensive shake is under $5, but make sure that you have cash handy, because you can’t use a credit card here.
The shakes aren’t that great, a bit watery. This stand starts to close down a little more then an hour before park closing, so make sure that you have ample time to get there. Lesson learned: just because your name is Sam doesn’t mean that you need to eat at this stand.

Located in the Condor Flats is one of the parks most popular attractions, Soarin' Over California. Alison and I were allowed into the park early thinking that only the shops were opened, but were surprised that Soarin' was also opened and quickly got on the ride. Once inside they have you sit on a hand glider(really just a row of seat that isn't attached to the ground) that takes you up to a giant IMAX screen. Seriously, you are only feet away. The ride makes you feel like you are actually flying though various places in California. During the flight you see the Golden Gate Bridge, the ocean, and Downtown Los Angeles ending up in Disneyland. The hand glider moves with the movie making it feel as if you are actually flying and sometimes dropping through the scene. If you are getting a fastpass do it early. The day I was there the fastpasses were handed out by 1pm.

The other part of the Golden State is Grizzly Peak Recreation Area. This area is a throw back to California’s gold rush days. The Grizzly River Run isn’t hard to miss. You can see a giant bear in the form of a mountain appearing over the horizon. Here you’ll find the Grizzly River Rafting Company. Guests are put into rafts that carry eight people. It starts off nice and slow, but don't be fooled. This is a water-drenching ride that takes you down the rapids and over two waterfalls. Be prepared to get wet, sometimes wetter then others. When you go over the falls water can rush into the raft soaking everything. The first time on it I only got a few drops of water on me. The second time I wasn't so lucky. My whole left side was drenched, but my right side went untouched. There are also fastpass available for this ride.
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is across from the entrance of the Grzzly River Run. Kids seem to love it. Set in the California redwoods is a huge play area containing trails and suspension bridges in the trees above. Along the way there are animal prints of various animals that live in California. "Hidden" in the park is also Kenai's Spirit Cave where you can put your hand into a glowing paw print.

Disney Animation was one of my favorite parks of the park. There are several things to see and do here. First we went to see Turtle Talk with Crush. This is an interactive show with Crush from Finding Nemo. You enter a movie theater setting where kids can sit on the floor down front. In a few minutes Crush appears to speak to all of the "humans in the human tank". Crush will ask questions, play, and answer any questions you want to ask him. He talks to the children, but adults don’t think you got away free. Crush loves to talk to adults. Each show is different and worth a stop.

Drawn to Animation is another great place in the Disney Animation building. You enter a theater where you meet a Disney animator and learn how to sketch a Disney character. Each show is different so you never draw the same thing twice. In the middle of the building they occasionally do character greetings. When we left Turtle Talk with Crush Sleeping Beauty, Woody, and Mickey were giving autographs and taking pictures.

Aladdin at the Hyperion Theater can’t be missed. It is about an hour long, Broadway quality show. It follows along the movie of Aladdin; however not exactly and many thing are left out like Abu. Although it isn’t the same the beauty of the show well makes up for it. My favorite part was when Jasmine and Aladdin soared over the crowd on the magic carped. There are a few different seating options. One is the preferred seating, which you need to make reservations to see. I sat in the Merranine section and couldn’t be happier with my view. Times for the show can be found in the Entertainment Time Guide handed out at the entrance of the park. Make sure you get the at least 15 minutes before the show, earlier if you want your choice of seating.

This is one of the most beautiful parts of the park. Regardless of what time of the day you are there you are guaranteed a great picture. This area of the park is reminiscent of the Santa Monica pier. Complete with a rollercoaster, board walk games, and a bay. By far my favorite ride in the park is California Screamin’. Get a fastpass or two early in the day because they run out quick for this ride. The ride starts out sitting on Paradise Bay when the count down begins. Then you blast off across the bay to the sound of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. This is by far the best rollercoaster in Disneyland. The drops are extreme and the loop (which is shaped like Mickey’s ears) is amazing. They do take seating requests before the park closes. I rode it three times and each time I had great seating. My first two times were in the last car, seats 11 and 12. The back is great because it is always faster. The last time I rode it I was in the first row. This was the scariest place to sit with the most amazing views ever. Around the last turn of the ride pictures are taken before the ride ends.

Most of the other rides in this area are for kids. The Golden Zephyr is a slow ride much like the swings, but you sit in a car and swing out over the bay. The Orange Stinger is fun if you like swing rides. Sit on the outside of the rows to get a better ride. The Mailboomer isn’t worth the line. In the morning expect less then five minutes (at park opening), but if you are claustrophobic don’t bother. The seat you are in has a plexus glass covering that goes over your head and is enough to spark a panic attack.

The sun wheel is amazing. It isn’t your normal ferries wheel. The gondolas are on oval shaped tracks that swing back and forth on the rays of the sun taking the Ferris wheel experience to the next level. Don’t worry there are stationary gondolas on the ride. This is a better option for smaller children. The whole theme of the pier is similar to that of the carnival. There are games to play on the boardwalk, a ferries wheel, and a merry-go-round. However there is some rumors that that the games are slated for removal to add more rides. Already they are building they are building a new Toy Story themed ride under California Screamin'. Most of this area is rather disappointing. Not much excitement or things to do in this area if you are over 7.

Living in Hollywood’s backward I wasn’t impressed with the Hollywood Backlot. It came across as a second rate version of Universal Studios or MGM Studios and didn't impress me as much as the real Hollywood. They had a less than grand version of the entrance into the Kodak Theater and the streets were named after famous Hollywood Avenues such as Wilshire and Hollywood and Highland. The Monster, Inc. Ride (Mike & Sulley to the Rescue) was another let down. This is a slow moving dark ride through Monstropolis. The outside is an attractive array of doors, but the second you enter the queue, it's nothing more then a rails to separate the line and a few posters. Once inside you board a Taxi that has individual TVs that brings you news of a child that is somewhere in the city. The ride follows with scenes from the movie. Although I like Disney's dark rides, the reason I disliked the ride was because many things were out of sequence.

The Tower of Terror is the other e-ticket attraction in the park and my friend dragged me kicking and screaming (I hate drops). We grabbed the fastpass and before we knew it we were being pushed past the crowd and into the boiler room to meet our fate. This is another ride that is duplicated from its sister park, MGM. I much prefer the outside of the building of the Tower in DCA, however, the interior isn’t as elaborate as the Florida version; however, the drop is the same wherever. The lobby looks like an abandoned hotel complete with dust and cobwebs. On a side note I was told that the queue area is full of references to classic Twlight Zone episodes.

You are ushered into a library were you learn the "history" of the ill-fated guests when they vanished one night. The room goes dark and lightening starts flash. A TV flickers on and the Twligh Zone theme playing. The story is of five guests who checked into the hotel only to disappear after the tower was hit by lightening. From there you are taken into the boiler room and to a freight elevator where you can test your fate. I’ll ruin the surprise and tell you that your experience is the same as the ill-fated guests. Nothing you do will stop you from being dropped.