War Tactics on How to Survive the Happiest Place

Sleeping Beauty’s Castle is the center of the park. The design was inspired by Castle Neuschwanstein in Germany that was used by King Ludwig II. The castle is surrounded by a moat with swans and ducks swimming in the water. If you walk around the pathways you can find a small grotto with a statue of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. The castle has been at the park since its opening in 1955 and was one of the original 17 attractions. If you take a look at the map, you can see that the castle is the "hub" of the park, with paths leading off to the other lands. This has become a popular way to set up parks now that Disney created.

During the late afternoon there is usually a parade. If you aren’t interested in seeing it hit the high volume rides. During this time most of the lines are shorter because people are watching the rides. The parades are great. The performers are amazing and full of life and the costumes and floats are amazing. Besides that it is a great way to see all of the characters that you missed that day. At 9:25 is when the fireworks show is scheduled. Much like parade time Main Street is lined with people waiting to watch them. If you aren’t in the park you can watch them from Downtown Disney. One great place to view them is that area between Downtown Disney and Disney California Adventure.

Quick Tips:

Bring your own bottled water. Water in the park can cost as much as . There are different times of the day when lines are longer then others. For Disney hit Fantasayland, Toon Town, and the Matterhorn in the morning and the Tiki Room, the Jungle Cruise, and Whinny the Pooh in the evening for shorter lines. For California hit the Sun Wheel, Soarinn, Jumpin Jelly fish, the Golden Zephyr, California Screamin’, and the Mailboomer in the morning for shorter lines. Rollercoaster’s are faster at night. Get fastpasses for California Screamin, Space Mountain, Soarin, and Indiana Jones early in the day because they go fast. Fantasyland is closed during the fireworks. Don’t skip a ride because you rode it in Disney World. Most of the rides queues are different or the ride itself is different. Bobby pin hats on. If you don’t want to loose your ears four bobby pins will keep your hat on for almost any ride.

If you have a nearby hotel go back for a break around 2pm. From 2pm to 6pm is the busiest time in the park. If you do go back to your hotel do your souvenir shopping then. Statistics show that most people do their shopping before park closing because they don’t want to carry their merchandise around all day. Do attractions like the Tiki room and the jungle cruise in the afternoon as a way to be able to sit and take a break. Check out the park schedule at the official Disney site before leaving. It will tell you what shows they will be doing as well as parade and firework times. They will also tell which rides are closed for rehab.

Tickets can be ordered online. It usually takes about 10 days to receive and is a great way to skip the lines. If you choose not to do this and arrive in Anaheim the day before you go to the park you can stop by in the early afternoon and get tickets without standing in line.

Best Way To Get Around:

If you plan on just heading to the park a car isn’t necessary; however check where you are staying first. Some hotels are within walking distance and others offer shuttles. Not all hotels do this though. If you plan on visiting other areas in Anaheim, Los Angeles, or San Diego I highly suggest a car. Although there are buses and subways that run back in forth they don’t go near all of the attractions that you most likely want to see. Los Angeles is also about 45 minutes away in low to no traffic.

Getting around the park isn’t that hard. Shuttles pick up in the parking lot and take you to the park. I believe that parking at the park is around now. The monorail picks up in Downtown Disney and drops you off in Tomorrowland. There are also other modes of transportation within the park that you can opt to use. The Train picks up and drops off in all of the lands. There are also old fashion cars, horse drawn trolleys, and fire engines that run up and down Main Street.

If you are traveling with young children they offer the option of renting strollers in the park you can rent strollers.

When every other hotel room in Anaheim was going for well over $140 a night, I found this little gem for only $60 a night. I was expecting the worst; cement for beds and Mickey’s rodent "friends" to be staying with us, but I was surprise how great this place turned out. It’s not the Ritz or the Plaza, but it’s clean. The outside is cute...really. It looks like a gingerbread house with ice cycles hanging from it. The rooms are a decent size, the bathroom is small, and water pressure is a foreign concept, but the best are decent and rooms are extremely clean. Bring a pillow, because the ones they provide had former lives as rocks. There is also a really clean and very yellow pool outside. If you need it they offer cots for $10 a night. They also have a great view of the California Screaming rollercoaster, Tower of Terror, and Sun Wheel at Disney California Adventure. You can also see the fireworks from the hotel as well.

They offer free parking (most hotels charge per day), and they let me park there all day before I checked in and all day after I checked out. In the morning they offer continental breakfast, which consists of prepackaged Danishes, coffee that tastes like sludge, and orange juice. The staff are amazing. They will help you with anything that you need. They fill requests in a timely manner, and hold genuine conversations about how your day was. They are always happy to see you; regardless to the time of the day you are seeking their help. This is by far the best service that I have ever at a hotel.

The best part of the hotel is the location. It is basically located in the Timmon parking lot of the park. It’s only about 100 yards from the parking lot entrance, where you can hop a tram to the park. There is very little noise that you can hear from your room. They way the hotel is set up there are no rooms that face the road. The only noise that we could hear was the screams coming form the Tower of Terror and California Screamin’. However this doesn’t happen all night because the park closes earlier then Disneyland.

During the busy days in the park an hour line for food is the last thing that anyone wants to see. A quick detour out of the park provided the relief that was needed to get away from the other park goers and provided some quiet time. The Whitewater Snacks in the Grand Californian was a pleasant surprise too. The exit into the hotel was near the Grizzly River Rapids (make sure to get a hand stamp for reentry). There was also an entrance from Downtown Disney. Just go through the lobby and head toward the pool. Whitewater Snacks was just around the corner from the Napa Rose.

My friend Alison and I stopped by after several Disney vets recommended this place to me and were pleased by how quiet the location was and how tasty the food turned out to be.

The café is buffet style. You get your own drinks, prepackaged sandwiches, and snacks. They do have a list of hot food that you can order. On a typical day they serve coffee, muffins, bagels, sweet rolls, breakfast burritos, deli sandwiches, burgers, hot dogs, and nachos among other things. Alison and I decided to split an order of shredded beef nachos and we were glad that we did. For $8 we got more than we could eat. The chips themselves were delicious, and they came covered in cheese, jalapeños, guacamole, sour cream, beef, and salsa on the side. These were hands down the best nachos that I have ever had. They also offered a second option of chicken in place of the beef. If you don’t want to pay $2 for bottled water you can get it free from the soda machine by just asking.

The café itself is set up in a log cabin style that fits in with the overall theme of the Grand Californian. Tables are lined up near the windows for a view of some shrubs and trees that block the view of the pool. Although the view isn’t great there are some interesting things to look at. The café is home to several cats and kittens that run around outside and can usually be found climbing on the walls. While we were there it was a pretty quiet day. There was enough seating for us, but on busy days for the hotel I can easily see the limited seating filling up both inside and outside. The cast members walk around to make sure that the tables are always clean and bring out your food.

The Rainforest cafe is a wonderful place to eat; however it was one of those places where I would only eat once just to see it. My friend and I made reservations in advance, which I highly recommend. When we arrived the wait was over and hour, but we got seated in about 5 minutes. Much like Disney, the people who run the Rainforest know how to make a penny. When you enter you are told to follow the "footprints" that winds though a nice sized gift shop, before you pass under a fish tank and head up the stairs.

The atmosphere is amazing. The ceilings are covered with vines and had various oversized butterflies, snakes, and lizards hanging from them. In the dining area this theme continues with the walls covered in life size jungle plants. There are gorillas and elephants spread out in various areas throughout the restaurant. Alision and I were seated across from the giant fish tank. I was surprised to see how crowed the place was and how close the tables were to one another, but my surroundings distracted me from my closeness to the child in the table next to me who was playing with her Tinkerbelle doll and hotdog.

Our server was great. He took time to answer all of our questions and explain to us how all of the drinks were made. The actual menu was small consisting mainly of pasta, burgers, and such; however they do have a decent drink list.
I ordered the planet earth pasta for $15 and a Mai Tai for $10 that can in a souvenir glass. The meal was amazingly good. It had two types of cheese in it and sausage. The drinks were also good. There wasn't enough alcohol in it to get but, but enough to slightly taste it.

Every 30 minutes there was a "show". This is when the lights begin to flicker like lightening and the animals begin to make noise and move. It's fun, but after a while it gets a bit annoying. Overall the experience was great; however the only problem that I could see was the people with cameras. If you are sitting next to an attraction (animals, fish tank...) don't expect to eat in peace. People are constantly running over to get pictures especially during the shows.

One of Disney’s best-kept secrets, Whitewater Snacks in the Grand Californian, was a surprise. Located near the entrance to Disney California Adventure from the hotel (From the hotel look for the signs for Napa Rose. Whitewater Snacks is past the private park entrance next to one of the pool entrances. If entering from the park go through the turn style near Grizzly River Rapids and turn left once past the entrance; however remember that if you aren’t a guest in the hotel you need to renter the park from the main entrance not through the private entrance you left the park from).
The "great Californian outdoors" theme of the hotel is carried throughout the making it feels as if you are sitting in a loge cabin. There is both inside and limited outside seating. The view isn’t great. On one side of the café is the hotel pool that is partially blocked by trees. Even though the café is directly next to the park once again shrubs block any view of it. Although there might not be much to look at there is one thing to look for; cats can be found running through the shrubs and watching quests as they eat. The cats seem very friendly, but don’t beg for food. Most people don’t know about this place so even during peak season the café is nearly empty.
Breakfast is served until 10:30am every day. Guests can choose from Buttermilk Biscuit Sandwiches (fried eggs, smoked bacon, and cheddar cheese for $6.99), Breakfast Burritos ($6.99), or French toast sticks ($5.99). After 10:30 starts their all day menu, which includes hot dogs ($6.29), personal pizzas ($6.99), charbroiled cheeseburgers ($7.59), charbroiled chicken sandwiches ($8.59), veggie burgers ($7.59), and chicken or shredded beef nachos ($7.89). Portions are generous so if traveling with a small child it might be wise to choose from the kid’s menu; the helping are not only smaller, but the prices are as well. Kids can choose from chicken tenders ($5.99), a cheeseburger ($5.99), hot dog ($5.49), and grilled cheese ($5.49). This also comes with fruit or fries, a fun straw, and the choice of milk, juice, water, or soda.
What I like the most about Whitewater compared to its counterparts was the choice that it has available. In addition to the items that I listed above they also serve cold sandwiches (chicken salad, egg salad, tuna salad, roast turkey, and PB&J) that range in prices from $7.49 to $7.99. They also offer an array snacks ranging from pretzels with cheese ($3.29, fruit ($1.59), and yogurt ($1.89) to German chocolate brownies ($3.49), chocolate mousse ($4.99), and pie ($4.99) among other choices.
I decided to split an order of shredded beef nachos with a friend and was glad that we did. We got more then we could eat. The chips themselves were delicious; they came covered in cheese, jalapeños, guacamole, sour cream, beef, and salsa on the side. These were hands down the best nachos that I have ever had.

The Hungry Bear was one of the places that were recommended to me by the experts at www.laughingplace.com. And I was more then happy that I took their advice. It is located in an out of the way place in Critter Country behind Splash Mountain. The great part of this place is that it is in an out of the way of the hustle and bustle of the crowd, so they weren’t very busy. Alison and I made our way over there when it started raining in the park. I’m not sure if it was the location, the fact that Splash Mountain was closed, or the rain, but it was so deserted that it took about 5 minutes to order and get my food. The average that I usually spend in line is 45 minutes. The people who work there are great and best of all there is a great view of the lake from the dining area. If you sit there long enough you can see rafts from Tom Sawyers Island going up and down the river.

There is ample seating both upstairs and downstairs. There is a canopy over the seats to help block the sun, or in our case, the rain. The food was great. I got a bacon cheeseburger with fries and a soda for $12. It was really good for park food. The bun was toasted and the burger was well done. Honestly, it was more than enough to fill me up.

Like most of the quick service places in the park, there were very limited choices. There was a hamburger, the bacon cheeseburger, and a turkey sandwich. They also sell the sides (fries and onion rings) separately if you want them. I was surprised when a side came with my burger and Alison’s sandwich. From what I remember, at the other parks the sides didn’t come with the meal. Other items in the menu include Country fried chicken, roast beef sandwich, double cheeseburger, or a regular cheeseburger. These all come with a side of fires or chips. There is also a BBQ salad available. There is also a kid’s menu that features chicken nuggets and corn dogs. Side of Onion rings, french fries, or a garden salad are also available.

The other great thing about this place is that it is veggie friendly. You can switch out the meat in the cheeseburger for a vegan patty. Just let them know this when you order.

Fashioned after the famous Fishermen's Wharf in San Francisco and Monterey's Cannery Row, Disney created Pacific Wharf. Located on the Pacific Wharf are the majority of the restaurants in the park. Here Alison and I ate at the Pacific Wharf Café and was amazed at how good it was. For $9 I got a delicious sourdough bead bowl filled with broccoli and cheese soup. The Café Bread bowls aren't the only things on the menu. They offer a sandwiches (turkey and roast beef), a variety of soups (Monterey Clam Chowder, Broccoli and Cheese, Santa Rosa Corn Chowder, and Vegetarian Chili), and salads (Newport Nicoise, Sonoma Chicken and Apple Salad, and San Francisco Shrimp Louie). Their deserts are even more tempting. There is everything from the largest Vanilla or Chocolate Cream Puffs I ever seen and very delicious I might add to muffins, cookies, and Pecan or Cinnamon Rolls. They also offer Mickey Mouse shaped sourdough bread for about $7a loaf. They make this at different times of the day. Just ask at the register,

During the peak hours for dining in the park (noon-5ish) expect to wait over an hour before being able to order, but the food is well worth the wait. Seating is located outside. Most tables have umbrellas to block the sun, but the smaller, two person tables along the railings, overlooking the water, don’t. I didn’t mind sitting here since I just got off of Grizzly Water Rapids and was soaking wet. The sun was a well-welcomed addition to lunch.

Attached to the Café is the Boudin Bakery Tour. Here you can get a free sample of the sourdough bread as well as see how the bread is made. The "tour" is really a video that is played at each station and is hosted by Rosie O’Donald and Colin Mochrie. You can actually watch bakers make the bread and then see how the dough goes though the baking process. In the tour area there are monitors where you are given an explanation of what you are seeing. The tour isn’t long and you can move though it as quickly as you like.

Adventureland was the first place that my friend, Alison, and I came upon. It’s hard to miss with its African masks and torches covering the archway. The Enchanted Tiki room is just before the entrance to Adventureland. The queue area outside the Tiki Room is a good place to rest during your day and let the more rambunctious people in the party to run around and take pictures of the various gods and goddesses outside. You can also grab a snack from the Tiki bar, but don’t worry this is one attraction that you can eat on.

The Tiki juice bar is by far my most favorite place to go when I’m in the park. It is a small stand located just before Adventure Land next to the Tiki room. They offer the best pineapple flavored ice cream or whips as they call it. Prices are reasonable for pineapple whips or juice it’s $2.75 and for their amazing floats it’s $4.75.

When the show starts the gods and goddesses outside come to life one by one before you are allowed into the building. Inside you are introduced to a cast of 225 singing birds, flowers, Tiki poles, and statues. Yes you read that right. I was sitting next to a Tiki pole and nearly jumped out of my seat when it begins signing and blinking its eyes. Come on, who expects the walls to talk? This is great to do in the afternoon for several reasons. First the lines are shorter then. It’s also a great way to get out of the sun. The show runs every 20 minutes and the time for the next show is posted outside.

Indiana Jones is a great ride that never gets old. The queue winds through the ancient ruins of the Temple of the Forbidden eyes, before you enter a car that takes you further into the temple. Attached to the back of the seat in front of you is a bag where you can stick valuables. I highly suggest sticking any ‘loose’ items (bags, sunglasses, hats…) in there, and hold on for a very bumpy ride. The car takes off over a rickety bridge, past fire, and past a giant snake. Throughout the ride Indiana Jones pops up in various locations. This is a ride that I highly suggest you grab a fastpass for.

The Jungle Cruise is an old classic prep dating all of the rides in Adventureland. It is a slow moving boat ride though the Amazon rainforest and the Congo. Seeing everything from hippos to headhunters. Although it’s not the most exciting ride in the park the tour guides make it worth at least a trip. They point out everything from angry hippos to the illusive backside of water. My tip, if you want to take pictures do it during the day; however night are better in my opinion because it makes the trip seem more real.

Formally known at Bear Country, Critter Country has a tendency to become very busy in the afternoon, because of everyone is trying to ride Splash Mountain and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. However, Critter Country was the quietest place in the park while I was there and usually stays that way until the afternoon. The easiest way to get there is to find New Orleans Square, walk past the Haunted Mansion and keep going. Once you see Splash Mountain you are there.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh can be hard to find. If you can get to Splash Mountain follow the path past the Hungry Bear and you’ll end up at the Winnie the Pooh ride. It’s a great ride for kids, much like the kiddy rides in Fantasyland. It takes you through the Hundred Acre Woods with Pooh and his friends in search of honey. The ride takes you through what starts out as a pleasant day, but soon begins to flood as the characters float around in honey pots and other items. From there you are taken into a dream that Pooh is having full of Heffalumps and Woozles.I did this ride after 7:30pm and there were no lines. However don’t make the mistake of calling the car a honeycomb it’s a "beehicle". The cast members will correct you if you call it anything other than that. There is also a character greeting here with Winnie the Pooh and friends that happens in this area at various times of the day.

Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes also take off from this area. All of the canoes have guides, but don’t expect a laid back ride. Guests paddle for a ½ mile around Tom Sawyer’s Island. If you are traveling with many small children I would avoid this, since they can’t help the canoe paddle that much so that slack has to be picked up by others.

Splash Mountain was one of the rides that I grabbed a fastpass to and bypassed the lines. Since the refurbishments that were done this has become a wetter ride. It starts out clam enough as a leisurely ride on a log passing the story of brer rabbit. There are a few small drops before the looming 50 foot one, but expect to get wet. Even the small drops send a wave over the small log guaranteeing at least the front three passengers to get wet. It’s always fun to watch new people ride because they always keep asking, "is this the big one?" The ‘big one’ happens after the characters start talking about the ‘laughing place’, the ride gets dark, and the log begins its climb up a large hill.

Fantasyland is one of my favorite places in the park. Although it offers a lot of kid rides they are all worth a visit. Get here early, because it is always packed. Kids come a little after park opening and stay until closing. Dumbo is one of the most famous rides in the park. The lines are always long and the ride only lasts for a couple of minutes. My suggestion is to go on this after the fireworks. Fantasyland closes down and if you stand next to the Dumbo ride you’ll be one of the first on when the rides open.

It’s a Small World is beautiful. There is no other way to other way to put this. It’s sister ride in Disney World doesn’t even come close. The queue is wonderful. Outside there are various topiary animals and a clock with dancing figures on it. You board a boat and it takes you though various lands of audio-animatronics dolls, dressed to represent their native country, singing. Unlike the Florida ride the inside is very one sided. Most of the attractions are on the left of the boat; making it the best side to be on if you want to take pictures. The ride floats though Africa, the South Pacific, Europe, and other countries. There is even a brief tour of the rainforest and though the land of mermaids. This is a ride that you want to do during the day, so that you can get a good view of the outside and lines move very quickly. The Mad Tea Party is also worth a stop. Right across from the Matterhorn and next to the Alice and Wonderland it is almost easy to miss. In the morning the lines aren’t that bad and move quickly. The cast members who run the ride are also nice enough to go around and take pictures of anyone who wants them. I haven’t ridden this ride in ages, but it was much more fun then I remembered.

Peter Pan’s Flight is one of the most popular rides in the park. Only a few minutes after opening the lines were over 30 minutes long. With a little help from some pixie dust and a magical flying pirate ship you are taken high above the streets of London to Never Never Land. The ride itself is beautiful. You start off in the children’s room and then fly though a star sky straight into Never Land. Peter Pan joins you along with Captain Hook, Tink, and the Croc. After riding it is easy to see why this is such a favorite. While in line your kids can pass the time by watching for the evil witch from Snow White appear in the window just across the way in Snow White’s Scary Adventure.

The Matterhorn is one of my favorite rides in the park. You sit in a bobsled and shoot though the Matterhorn Mountain trying to escape the Abominable Snowman. The bobsleds themselves carry up to eight people; however you see two per seat one in front of another. In other words pretty much on the lap on the person behind you. This is great if you have a small child, but they will sit like this if you are an adult as well. Make sure that you tell them way before you get on the ride that you want to go as a single rider.

There are two lines for this ride; one that wraps around Fantasyland and one that face Tomorrowland. I prefer the Tommorowland route because it seems faster. It also seems more exciting. My other recommendation for the ride is to go at night. All of the rollercoaster’s seem to go faster then. During the day it’s a cute ride at night it’s a thrill ride.
My experience with this ride was mixed. The ride was great, but I rode it twice (at two different times of the day) and the cast members were horrible. They will yell and scream at you if you ask a question and stare you down until you get off the ride. If you can ignore the people working there then the ride is great. Otherwise they really know how to ruin a day.

Pinocchio’s Daring Journey is another ride that you can’t find in Florida. It is another cute ride that is worth a look. You climb aboard a car and are whisked away to follow Pinocchio on his journey. What I like most about the ride was how colorful it was. I’m a person who is attracted to bright, vibrant colors so the sets on the ride were worth the line for me. Snow White’s Scary Adventure is another ride that Disneyland shares with its sister park. I do prefer the ride in Disneyland to Disney World. Unlike the one in Florida it isn’t always stopping, goes though more of the story, and doesn’t seem as scary to kids. This is a dark ride so be careful when taking small children on the ride.

Storybook Land is only good if you have tiny children; however there are few adults who do enjoy it. I went on the ride because I was told not to miss it, but found myself wishing that I didn’t listen. You float though mini replicas of different stories. There is a small version of the three pigs house, Alice’s house, among others. There was even a replica of Sleeping Beauty’s castle and Ariel’s Grotto. What I found interesting was the live ducks towering over the tiny houses. I spend a good few minutes laughing at this. What really saved the ride was as we rounded the corner Pluto, Goofy, Peter Pan, Wendy, Pinocchio, and Geppetto had wandered over to the queue and were singing autographs and taking pictures.

Big Thunder Mountain is one of those rides that you have to do at night, and is the only e-ticket ride in Frontierland. It’s faster, scarier, and much more of a thrill at night. If you want to ride at night grab a fastpass and come back later. The morning is also decent if you want a short line. If you get to the park early Fronteirland is almost empty at opening so this line can be as short as 15 minutes. The ride itself is a throw back to the gold-mining days. There is even a small town on the side of the tracks where you can hear people talking. You board the cars that soon become a runway train that twists and turns through tunnels, past Billy goats, and by water. Be careful, the caves have "bats" and be wary of "falling" rocks. This ride is okay for younger children during the day because it isn’t as fast. It is also easy to keep them busy in the queue by giving them a camera. There is a lot to take in. My favorite thing to do is to try and capture the perfect picture of the train as it passes by people in line.

The ride itself is very tame and great for smaller children who want the rollercoaster experience. The drops aren’t that big. My recommendation is to ask the cast member who is assigning the rows to stand in if you can be in the back. The advantage of this is that you’ll get a more thrilling ride. The train is rather long and mixed with short drops; the people who are in the front are already half way down a drop before the back end is even over. When the back goes over then the train picks up momentum. This allows for a faster ride for those in the back. Tom’s Sawyer’s Island is also located here. Check times for when the boats stop running, because they close down before the rest of the park and when Fantasmic is showing.

Fronteirland is also a fun place just to wonder around. It isn’t as crowded as Fantasyland or Tomorrowland. It is wide open for a lot of great photo opts. From the pathway you can see a giant lake where the Sailing Ship Columbia is anchored and is sometimes cruising by. There is also a nice view of Tom Sawyer’s Island.

Main Street USA is a throwback to the Walt Disney’s boyhood hometown. Along the streets you’ll find shops, bakeries, and restaurants. The first sight that you’ll see upon entering the park, even before you can see Sleeping Beauty’s castle is the Disneyland Railroad. Here you can get aboard a steam engine that will take you around to the various lands with in the park. You can also see a fire engine and a horse drawn streetcar going up and down Main Street. Guests of the park can take a trip on these from one end of Main Street to another. The shops contain almost any Disney souvenir that you could want among many items that you may have forgot to bring.

The 20th Century Music Company sells CDs and the greatest variety of videos in the park; however the number of videos is a bit disappointing. They sell only videos that aren’t in the vault and can be found in most stores. While there the only "classics" that we could find were Peter Pan, The Little Mermaid, Dumbo, and Lady and the Tramp. Most of the movies in the park are current things like High School Musical and cartoons like Chip N Dales Rescue Rangers and Dark Wing Duck. Main Street Photo Supply you can find cameras, film, and batteries that you might need. They also develop film for you. The Mad Hatter is a great place to get your ears or any crazy hat that you may want.

There are also various shops where you can find t-shits, sweaters, mugs, magnets, scrapbook supplies, statues, and other Disney souvenirs. The Blue Ribbon Bakery is located on Main Street, and isn’t worth the stop. I went before the fireworks at 9 and stood in line for about 20 minutes. The bakery is cute, and has a hometown feel but is more overpriced then the rest of the park. They have a variety of cookies, cake, and coffee. I got an oversized Mickey cookie for just under $3. It was a nice treat, but dry and not worth the money.

What a fun and colorful place this is. Even if you aren’t at the park with kids I suggest that you stop by and see this place, look at the different signs for at good laugh. One of the great things about this place is that you can meet many of the characters here such as Mickey. Also many things in Toon Town can be poked, prodded, and make sounds. There is a set of dumb bells that are smashed into the ground that people can pretend to try and lift and wiggly bars that you can escape thought. This place is nothing but fun.

Toon Town closes before the rest of the park so make sure that you get there early and check the times that the posted in the Entertainment Times Guide that you can get at the park entrance. Chip ‘n Dales Treehouse is a cute tree house with a spiral staircase inside so that you can go to the balcony on the second floor. Donald’s Boat is another great place to walk though; however my favorite was Mickey and Minnie’s houses. Minnie’s House is decorated in pink with a large vanity, a bed, and living room in which you can sit. There is even a computer where you can check her e-mail from her friends.

Mickey’s house is right next door. You enter into his living room complete with couch, fireplace, and desk. Everything in these two houses is a great photo opt regardless of how old you are. If you had out the back though and into the barn you can visit Mickey. This line is long and takes a really long time to though. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin is another ride that you can get a fastpass for, although the line isn’t really that long. This is a crazy ride aboard a Toon taxi following Rodger though Toon Town as he is being chased by the Weasels. The fun part about this is that the wheel in the car can be used to turn the car as you pass though the China shop and Gag Warehouse.

New Orleans Square is one of the most beautiful areas in the park and houses some of the best and expensive restaurants in the park. There are a lot of nook and crannies to explore here making a place that you want to see in the light. I made the mistake of trying to do the rides there at night and couldn’t find anything. The Haunted Mansion is home to 999 spokes with room for one more. Once you enter this mansion you are taken into the foyer, which magically stretches reveling what happened to the people in the painting on the walls. From there you are taken to a car, which moves you through the house. Although a little corny, it’s a must see on every visit. From hitchhiking ghosts to zombies popping poorly hidden zombies that pop out from behind the tombstones there is always something to see.

My favorite part of the ride is the cast members who work here. They really act the part saying everything from "please fill in the dead space" to "step on the blood red carpet". This isn’t a ride for small children. I remember going on it when I was 4 and was never so scared in my life. Pirates of the Caribbean is another great ride in the park. Recently Captain Jack Sparrow was included into the ride. When you get on a slow moving boat ride that takes you past guests who are dining at the Blue Bayou. From there you head into the depths of a cave, past various pirate treasures and finally into a town over run by pirates. This is one of the longer rides in the park. I believe the whole ride takes about 15 minutes. This ride can be a bit hard to find and very easy to pass. It is located near Tarzan’s Tree house. Look for the walkway passing by the Royal Street Veranda. The entrance to the ride is under the walkway.

Tomorrowland is always one of the most exciting places in the park usually making in it one of the most crowded places in the park. My favorite, new ride in the park is Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters’. The Evil Zurg is attacking the universe and you, as his new recruit, must help. You board a Space Cruiser and begin to blast away at Zurg and his army. In each of the cars there is a laser that you use. Point it at the battery packs and shoot. For each pack that you shoot you rack up more points. The joystick in the car allows you to move the car in any direction that you want so that you can aim better. At the end check your score, which is on the dashboard of the car. It will also tell you which level you are at. As you round the corner on the right side on the wall is a list. Match your level up to the ones on the wall and it will tell you where you rank. You can get a fastpass for this ride.

Another ride in Tomorrowland that has a fastpass is Space Mountain. Get it early because they run out really fast. Space Mountain has had a make over and became Rockin’ Space Mountain. The queue area is great. They have giant screens everywhere that keep you entertained and from the fastpass line you can even watch people broad the ride and take off. The ride itself is amazing. You are sitting on subwoofers that blast The Red Hot Chili Peppers as you blast though the twists and turns of this indoor rollercoaster. A few years ago they renovated the ride and added new lighting and meteors to make it feel like you are really in Space. In my opinion this ride is much better then its counterpart in Florida.

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.

The elevator has four rows to sit in (the front gives the best view of the park). The elevator slowly rises and the ghost-like images of the vanished quests disappear. Shortly the elevator doors open only to reveal that a view of the park. This is also a photo opt. Once the camera flashes you drop, but they don't leave you there. The elevator goes up again and you drop another few flights. I've heard that if you lift your feet off the ground and put your hands in the air it feels like there is no gravity. I haven't tried this because I'm usually trying to escape.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

Downtown Disney is a great place to eat and shop, however there is one store that stands out form the rest: World of Disney. This is a massive store dedicated to everything Disney. Although they don’t carry everything that you can find in the park they do carry a majority. The list of items that they have is endless: shirts, T-shirts, hats, pins, beads, jewelry, toys, pictures frames, mugs, jackets, movies, toys, slippers, and more. The store is divided up so each section has a theme. For example one section is set up like Pirates of the Caribbean, another is dedicated to Peter Pan. I did my entire gift shopping here and even got my Mickey Ears before I went into the park.

Besides the World of Disney there is a plethora of things to do and see here. Sephora is always a favorite of mine. This shop is dedicated to makeup, but that’s not why it is fun. What makes it great is that they have samples of everything that sell in the store for you to try on. You can spend as much time as you want trying on makeup and no one will bother you. The Disney Vault 28 is interesting to look in only if you are into fashion or have a lot of money to buy. I found a basic empire waist shirt that was selling for a mere $180. That was more then I was paying for my hotel and tickets. Just to get an idea of the expense of the store they sell brands like Toki Doki and Betsey Johnson.
The Build-A-Bear Workshop is fun for everyone. In the store you can actually make your own teddy bear, dress it, and name it.

Other stores that you can find here include Lego Imagination Center, Fossil, Sunglass Icon, and more. There is even a pin trading spot where you can choose from a ton of pins. The tables that you see off to the side of the stand is for pin trading. This is amazing to watch serious pin traders pull out their suitcases, yes suitcase, full of pins and trade with others. After a full day of shopping it’s time to kick back and eat. Downtown Disney has a variety of places to choose from each offering its own type of cuisine. For sports fans there is the ESPN Zone. If you want dinner and a show hit up the House of Blues, if you are into a different type of show, an animal show head over to the Rainforest Café.

If it’s a snack you want Downtown Disney has got that too. From the Hagen-Dazs Shops to Jamba Juice there is something for everyone. If its sweats you want head over the Marceline’s Confectionery. They have every overprice sweet that you could ever want. My favorite is the La Brea Bakery. They have some of the best coffee ever.