We visited Disneyland on the occasion of the ''Happiest Celebration on Earth''. It was my first time visiting since I was five years old. I am a frequent visitor of Walt Disney World in Florida. Disneyland, comparatively, has ''kitsch'' as well as a more intimate feel.

Disneyland is great, but I'm going to give you some insight on how to see the best things in the park:

First get a map! Look up which characters your children are interested in seeing and selectively go to those spots during their viewing time. Don't just walk aimlessly looking for characters or you won't find them. Each character now has a particular location in the park that they are stationed and a schedule by which you can come visit them.

Get a Disney FASTPASS as often as possible. This is a way to avoid the long lines, not like the old days of waiting in line for hours at a time. Again, look at the map and plan out what rides are a must for your visit that day. Get a Disney FASTPASS for the rides that normally are quite the wait. That allows you to go on another ride and then go back to the popular ride and literally cut in line! You can only hold one FASTPASS at a time, so as soon as you use one, go get another! Great rides that are a must: Star Tours, Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Matterhorn Bobsleds, and Indiana Jones Temple of Doom. The little ones will love all the rides in Toon Town and Fantasyland.

For Dining inside the park there are several great places to eat, but for a great sit down place... eat at the restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean. Here there is good food and a very cool atmosphere!

If you have children this is a must for your visit to Southern California. Spend the money, your kids will talk about Disneyland for years to come and then they will take their own kids... just like you and me!

Disneyland just leaves you in awe from the moment you get there till the time you leave. It's like stepping into another world and you'll be amazed that there are many more adults than kids. The rides are full of surprises because most of the time you don't really know what you're in for, and that's the beauty of it all.

You can get into the park early, spend hours there, get stamped, leave for a swim at your hotel, and come back later for the night show, which is filled with colours and wonders.

Indulge yourself here, be it food, souvenirs, or rides. Unforgettable.

We just happen to be there during the 50 year anniversity. Whoopee. Everyone in the world was there except the government officials that were still in Hong Kong trying to decide - just hand them over to China no big deal, we waited in lines for hours. The children were very excited and wanted to ride, not wait in line.

Disneyland was Walt Disney's original creation, from which the Florida Disney World kingdom was created and expanded. It is not as large as the Florida location because the land was not available, but they are gradually expanding and adding new vistas. It is enjoyable for young and old alike. But it can be very tiresome. If you want to take a break during the day, get your hand stamped for re-entry later in the day. Sometimes younger children get overwhelmed by the constant stimulation, or even afraid of the larger-than-life Disney characters. It is truly a fantasyland for all to enjoy. Don't overdo it and you'll enjoy it to the fullest. Fast-Pass is available for certain rides and shows; all you have to do is register at the show or ride in question, and they will give you a time to return. You are then free to roam the park, and return at your check-in time. No waiting in line at that point. It is a free service and a good one to utilize. The lines can be very lengthy. In the heat of the summer, try to visit the air-conditioned shows during the hottest part of the day. Drink plenty of fluids. Have a blast in Tomorrow Land, Fantasy Land, Frontier Land, and the Magic Kingdom. Shop 'til you drop on Main Street U.S.A. In-park restaurants can be rather expensive, so be prepared. Credit cards accepted.