Disneyland Park & Resort

General Information:

• Phone: (714)781-4565
• Web site: disneyland.com
• Location: Disneyland is in Anaheim, Calif., 30 miles south of Los Angeles.
• Directions:
  • From the south: Take I-5 south, exit on Ball Road and turn right (west). Proceed to Disneyland Drive and turn left (south). Follow the signs to the parking lots.
  • From the north: Take I-5 north, exit on Katella Avenue and turn left (west) to Harbor Boulevard. Turn right on Harbor and proceed to the parking lots on the left at Disney Way.
  • More freeway and street directions: From the Disneyland Web site.

Admission Prices:

• $41, adults
• $31, children under 9 (under 3 free)
• $39, seniors over 60
• Two- and three-day passes available
• Parking: $7 all day

Hours:

• Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day): 8 a.m.-midnight Monday-Friday
• Winter: 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-midnight on weekends
• Open 365 days a year

Disneyland, the "Happiest Place on Earth," is more of a theme park than an amusement park, with less than six "thrill rides." All rides and attractions are devoted to a different Disney movie or character, making each theme "come alive."

Disneyland is split into eight sections. Each section has its own restaurants and gift shops.

• Adventureland has a jungle safari theme. Here is where you'll find the Indiana Jones Adventure (one of Disneyland's best attractions) and the Jungle Cruise, and it was home for many years to the Swiss Family Treehouse before it was turned into the Tarzan Treehouse in 1999.

• Critter Country has a Southern, backwoods theme. It's home to Splash Mountain, the Country Bear Playhouse and Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes. Lots of things for little kids.

  

• Fantasyland is where most of the classic Disney fairly tales "come to life." Sleeping Beauty's Castle is the gateway to this part of the park. It's also home to the Mad Tea Party (the tea cup ride), Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Peter Pan's Flight, the Storybook Land Canal Boats, It's a Small World and other attractions. Many of the rides have the same take-a-car-through-a-funhouse feel, so instead of going on every one, pick your favorite character or story and go on that one.

• Frontierland has an Old West theme with the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster, the Mark Twain Riverboat and rafts to Tom Sawyer's Island. Several water-themed rides, but none will get you wet.

• Mainstreet, U.S.A. is the turn-of-the-century entryway to all of Disneyland. This area has the Disneyland train, horse-drawn streetcars, bus tours and several shops. It's also home to The Walt Disney Story, and the inexplicable "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln."

  

• New Orleans Square's main attractions are the Haunted House, the animatronic classic Pirates of the Caribbean and its restaurants. This is a good area to take a pit stop in the middle of the day.

• Tomorrowland is Disney's retro look at the future of technology. Attractions include the Rocket Rods, Honey I Shrunk the Audience, Space Mountain and the new Autopia. The rotating Innoventions building houses an interactive computer center that's part technology expo and part arcade.

  

• Mickey's Toonland is an area decidedly for the younger members of the family. It might be Mickey's land, but Goofy and Roger Rabbit head the city council. Attractions include Gadget's Go Coaster, Goofy's Bounce House, Minnie's House and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin.