What’s At Disneyland?
The Disneyland Resort is in Anaheim, California which is a 34 mile drive from the Los Angeles airport. It’s closer to some smaller, regional airports (SNA-Santa Ana and LGB-Long Beach). There are many other fun areas to visit in the Los Angeles area. You can easily build out a longer trip beyond Disneyland.
Anaheim has some of the best year-round weather in the United States. Rainfall totals are low, humidity is on the low side and sunshine is relatively abundant.
There are two theme parks, Downtown Disney, and three hotels at the Disneyland Resort:
- Disneyland Park is a theme park which requires a purchased ticket
- California Adventure Park is a theme park which requires a purchased ticket
- Downtown Disney is a shopping, restaurant and entertainment area that anyone can visit
- Three Disney-owned Hotels are also part of the overall Disneyland Resort
There are many nearby hotels not owned by Disney and many are walking distance. These are not considered part of the Disneyland Resort. Some are “Good Neighbor Hotels”, and you can book them on the Disney website through vacation packages that include tickets. You can also book them directly.
When people say “Disneyland” – they may mean the Disneyland theme park, or the entire Disneyland Resort area.
About Disneyland Theme Park
Disneyland Park is the original Disney theme park, overseen and inspired by Walt Disney himself. It’s far more popular than California Adventure Park based on the number of people visiting. It opened in 1955 and has gone through many changes over the years, welcoming about 17 million visitors each year.
Disneyland has 36 rides which range from major thrill rides to rides designed for young children. Disneyland offers entertainment like the Fantasmic nighttime show and fireworks among other shows. The offerings vary by season and day. Disney characters abound throughout the Park and there are often street musical performances.
Disneyland Park has that original, classic magic, castle-park, happy feel. There is a high level of nostalgia for many people who visit. There is cherished history at Disneyland Park.
Disneyland Park is 74 acres – divided into nine themed lands:
- Main Street, U.S.A. is the park entry point into a turn-of-the-century themed American town. You can shop at stores and get a bite to eat at some charming restaurants. You can ride in the Main Street Vehicles.
- Adventureland includes jungle adventures, hidden rivers, and exotic treasures. The most popular ride here is Indiana Jones Adventure.
- Bayou Country is charming and marshy, inspired by the natural beauty of America’s bayous in Louisiana. The most popular ride here is Tiana’s Bayou Adventure.
- Fantasyland brings whimsical, classic Disney stories to life in a Bavarian village setting. There are rides based on classic Disney movies. The most popular ride here is Peter Pan’s Flight.
- Frontierland evokes the Wild West, with a frontier riverboat and a saloon (that serves no alcohol). The most popular ride here is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Tom Sawyer Island is a large play area in Frontierland.
- New Orleans Square is based on 19th-century New Orleans. It’s known for detailed architecture and a vibrant atmosphere that transports visitors to the French Quarter. The most popular rides here are Pirates of the Caribbean and The Haunted Mansion.
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is the newest land at Disneyland that immerses visitors in the Star Wars Universe. It’s set on the planet Batuu where you’ll find Characters from the Resistance and the Empire roaming. The most popular ride here is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance.
- Tomorrowland is a futuristic-themed area offering attractions that explore space, technology, and innovation. The most popular ride here is Space Mountain.
- Toontown brings the whimsy and wackiness of classic Disney cartoons to life along with lively play areas for children. The most popular ride here is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. Much of Toontown is a children’s play area.
About California Adventure Park
California Adventure Park opened in 2001 as a celebration of the history and landscapes of California. It’s gone through many updates since. Disney has transformed many areas to include other themes and stories like Marvel Avengers Campus, Cars and Pixar lands. They they have big plans for more rides and areas themed to Coco and Avatar.
California Adventure Park has 18 rides or half as many rides as Disneyland Park. It’s a one-to-two-minute walk from the gates of Disneyland Park so park hopping is a breeze.
California Adventure Park is known for seasonal events including Oogie Boogie Bash and the Food and Wine Festival. The World of Color water show runs most nights of the year. It’s our personal favorite show at the Disneyland Resort.
The availability of alcohol at California Adventure Park is much greater than Disneyland (if that’s important to you).
California Adventure Park is 53 acres divided into nine areas:
- Buena Vista Street is the Park main entry point themed to 1920s Los Angeles. The street is lined with shops, dining, and architecture that creates a nostalgic atmosphere.
- Avengers Campus is where you can see your favorite Marvel heroes. The architecture blends futuristic elements with industrial design. The most popular rides here are Guardians of the Galaxy and Webslingers.
- Cars Land transports visitors to Radiator Springs, a meticulously detailed town from Disney-Pixar’s “Cars” films. The most popular ride here is Radiator Springs Racers.
- Grizzly Peak displays natural beauty inspired by California’s national parks. The most popular rides here are Soarin’ Around the World and Grizzly River Run. Redwood Creek Challenge Trail is a children’s play area in Grizzly Peak.
- Hollywood Land was designed as a replica of a movie studio. It has industrial buildings and faux sound stages. It’s the area most in need of re-imagining. The only ride here is Monster’s Inc. Mike and Sulley to the Rescue!
- Paradise Gardens Park is themed to beach boardwalk amusement parks. The most popular ride here is Goofy’s Sky School.
- Pixar Pier is another beach boardwalk-themed area with a Pixar theme overlay. The most popular rides here are Toy Story and Incredicoaster.
- Performance Corridor is an area that has remnants of the old California theming. There are some wine country restaurants themed to Napa Valley, California. There is one street themed to San Francisco.
- Sanfransokyo Square is an outdoor food court inspired by the film “Big Hero 6.” It blends the iconic styles of San Francisco and Tokyo architecture.
About Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney is an outdoor mall with shops and restaurants. It’s next to the entrances to Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park. You don’t need a theme park ticket to visit here.
Most of the businesses are not owned by Disney, but there are some Disney shops and the monorail stops here. The restaurants are mostly excellent, and often have larger menus than the theme park restaurants.
About the Disney Hotels
There are three Disney hotels that are walking distance to the Parks and Downtown Disney.
- Grand Californian Hotel
- Disneyland Hotel
- Pixar Place Hotel
These hotels are all considered Deluxe Resorts meaning there are no value or moderate priced Disney hotels at Disneyland.
Our Favorite Park, Hotel and Lands
Disneyland Park is our favorite, but we love Californian Adventure Park and we always visit both. Our favorite hotel is the Grand Californian Hotel and it’s the most expensive.
Below are our top 3 favorite Lands in order, but that’s just our opinion and many people have other favorites.
- Cars Land at California Adventure Park has detailing and depth that is spectacular. Don’t miss the night-time glow with the neon lights and lively music. It’s so uplifting to stroll down Route 66 with its vibrant colors and transformative design. The Radiator Springs Racers is our second favorite ride in all of Disneyland. During Halloween, which runs from late August – October 31st, Cars Land is the brilliant epicenter of decor.
- Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Park is where every detail is other-worldly. Skyrocketing mountains and buildings envelop you, and you can catch roaming characters putting on a show throughout the day. The Star Wars Rise of the Resistance ride is our favorite ride in all of Disneyland.
- New Orleans Square, Disneyland: A close third on our list of favorite Lands is New Orleans Square at Disneyland Park. It’s also spectacularly lit at night and is probably the most intricately detailed and beautiful Land. It also draws visual beauty from the Rivers of America. We adore the gorgeous architecture and winding alleyways that transport us back to 1950 New Orleans. This land has two world-class rides – The Haunted Mansion and Pirates of the Caribbean.
Summary
That’s our overview of the Disneyland Resort. There is a lot to learn about Disneyland. We highly recommend that you check the official Disneyland Website because they have so much advice and information there.
Thanks for reading this and please check out our full website for lots more content. We at the Bippity Club wish you the very best and hope you enjoy an awesome Disneyland trip!
