Where: Anaheim, California
When: June 1996
With: Dad & Ashley
So as I mentioned in the San Diego post, our family trip to California was supposed to be a change of pace from our usual Florida vacation. And while it definitely was, there was a reason it felt like a safe bet: Disneyland. Our family was a Disney family, and my dad may have been (and remains) its biggest fan. So on a week long trip to California, where most people may give the theme park a day, we gave it 3 days. More than LA and San Diego combined. Not that I was complaining at the time.
But here's the thing. Disneyland is not Disney World. The names themselves give the problem away. In Orlando, there is a "world" of Disney parks, at the time three theme parks, two water parks, tons of hotels. In Anaheim, there was one "land", effectively the size of Orlando's Magic Kingdom with a couple of the rides from MGM Studios and Epcot. So we're talking about three whole days dedicated to one theme park. (They have since opened Disney California Adventure Park, so it's definitely expanded since then.)
But like I said, we were ok with it at the time. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, the only official hotel of the theme park at the time. It was a bit dated, but right in the thick of it all. It felt like stepping back into the 1960s when Walt Disney himself dreamed up his original theme park as a way to bring his cartoon mouse to life.
It was fascinating stepping into the park that was so familiar and at the same time so different. It was almost the same as the Magic Kingdom, but enough differences to make it new and exciting. Plus, the hotel gave access to a different entrance of the park, separate from the usual Main Street USA entrance. Even the small difference in details, like the statues and water fountains, were noticeable to an expert like me.
When: June 1996
With: Dad & Ashley
So as I mentioned in the San Diego post, our family trip to California was supposed to be a change of pace from our usual Florida vacation. And while it definitely was, there was a reason it felt like a safe bet: Disneyland. Our family was a Disney family, and my dad may have been (and remains) its biggest fan. So on a week long trip to California, where most people may give the theme park a day, we gave it 3 days. More than LA and San Diego combined. Not that I was complaining at the time.
But here's the thing. Disneyland is not Disney World. The names themselves give the problem away. In Orlando, there is a "world" of Disney parks, at the time three theme parks, two water parks, tons of hotels. In Anaheim, there was one "land", effectively the size of Orlando's Magic Kingdom with a couple of the rides from MGM Studios and Epcot. So we're talking about three whole days dedicated to one theme park. (They have since opened Disney California Adventure Park, so it's definitely expanded since then.)
But like I said, we were ok with it at the time. We stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, the only official hotel of the theme park at the time. It was a bit dated, but right in the thick of it all. It felt like stepping back into the 1960s when Walt Disney himself dreamed up his original theme park as a way to bring his cartoon mouse to life.
It was fascinating stepping into the park that was so familiar and at the same time so different. It was almost the same as the Magic Kingdom, but enough differences to make it new and exciting. Plus, the hotel gave access to a different entrance of the park, separate from the usual Main Street USA entrance. Even the small difference in details, like the statues and water fountains, were noticeable to an expert like me.
Different Disney, same charm.
One land that was distinct from Florida was Toon Town, where all the major Disney characters "reside". Guests can tour their homes, each tailored to the expected specifications of the mouse, dog, duck, etc. that may have lived there. They were, of course, not home for the day, but we could walk through and see where they rest their heads at night.
Another ToonTown ride was a tour of all the major facades of the Disney franchise: from the cottages to the castles to the city of Agrabah.
However, as different as it was in Disneyland, the old staples were there too. Some were exactly the same, like Autopia, where guests can "drive" along a motorway. Dad's a champ with no hands and I don't even have to watch the road.
Some of the staple rides were the same, but different in their facade. It's a Small World was quite a different exterior than the relatively simple one in the Magic Kingdom. But, as I tried to remember, this is actually the original one of the two.
The Magic Kingdom is also known for its three mountains: Space, Splash and Thunder. All three are also at Disneyland.
However, as someone who LOVES rollercoasters, I was excited to try the fourth peak unique to Disneyland and one of the original rides: the Matterhorn. Dominating the skyline of the park, this ride was my number one goal, perhaps of the entire California trip. With two different tracks, each giving a slightly different experience, and three days, I must have ridden this twenty times. It was like a hybrid experience of the cars and smoothness of Space Mountain with the mountainous turns of Thunder Mountain, all while being chased by a Yeti. It was amazing.
Some other notable rides we didn't take any photos of are the Indiana Jones Adventure (nothing like it at Disney World) and a way more exciting Tom Sawyer's Island. Also, Disneyland continues to operate some old favorites that have since been replaced in the Magic Kingdom, like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride and Snow White's Scary Adventures.
It was amazing to experience the original park that started it all. As a huge Disney aficionado, it felt like a very big check off my very small childhood bucket list. So while I don't know if I'd spend another 3 days there, I definitely would love to go back. Even if for just one more ride on the Matterhorn.
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