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Statue of Walt Disney at Disneyland Resort
Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

Southern California

Spotlight: Disneyland Resort

The undisputed granddaddy of theme parks, Disneyland Resort has been leading the way since 1955, inviting visitors to spend the day in the ultimate land of make-believe. This beloved Anaheim institution serves up vintage rides like the Matterhorn Bobsleds and the Alice in Wonderland Mad Tea Party teacup ride, as well as experiences featuring new innovations, like the incredible special effects, freefall thrills and multiple storylines of the Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: BREAKOUT! adventure, or mystical mouse antics in Mickey and the Magical Map. The sprawling resort, which consists of the original Disneyland Park and the adjacent Disney California Adventure Park, is divided up into themed 'lands' with related rides, shows and attractions.

Keep your map, whether in your pocket or on your phone, handy to make sure you’re heading where you want to go (with all the different 'lands' and activities it’s easy to get a bit disorientated). Once you get in, reduce the time you spend queuing at attractions by using the resort’s Fast Pass system, which allows you to use your ticket at a dedicated time later in the day. Download the free Disneyland Mobile app to know where to head next for the shortest queues, buy your tickets, browse maps and even locate Disney characters.

To make the most of your time here, stay at one of the resort’s three on-site hotels, which extend the Disney ambience through themed decor and character breakfasts—and which also offer guests Extra Magic Hours, a one-hour head-start admission to the theme park rides on selected mornings. 

 

 

 

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Don’t-Miss Snacks at Disneyland Resort

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Don’t-Miss Snacks at Disneyland Resort
Follow the superfans for a unique pineapple treat, the ultimate corn dog and more

Plenty of people come to Disneyland Resort just for the classic rides, the Main Street parades and to snap selfies in front of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Serious fans though, know to centre their activities around one vital feature: snack time. Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park have both launched a variety of only-in-Disneyland culinary experiences, many of which have developed their own cult followings. While some legendary Disneyland snacks are seasonal, such as the hand-pulled candy canes, available in limited quantities during the Christmas season, here are 10 snacks that you can enjoy year-round.

Mickey Doughnuts

The New Orleans Square area of Disneyland offers two options for the Crescent City-inspired, mouse-shaped pastries. If you want to sit down for your snack, go to Cafe Orleans, where your order will include vanilla crème anglaise and fruit-coulis dipping sauces. Fans also rave about the non-mouse-shaped doughnuts in Downtown Disney at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen.

For more portable versions, go to the Mint Julep Bar in New Orleans Square, where an order of three comes in a paper bag and is dusted with plenty of icing sugar. (Note: The lime-and-mint beverages in question are non-alcoholic.) With the return of the Fantasmic evening pyrotechnics show in Frontierland, the Mint Julep Bar now also serves purple-sprinkles-covered Blackberry Doughnuts.

Dole Whip

This non-dairy frozen treat debuted at Disneyland in 1976, created exclusively for Adventureland by the folks at Dole Pineapple. It has developed a passionate cult following and has been called 'a work of art' and even has a podcast named after it, and is now offered at other Disney parks, as well as at a few other selected locations. The original though, is available at the Tiki Juice Bar stand outside the Enchanted Tiki Room. Order yours as a soft-serve, a float with pineapple juice, or be a rebel and ask for the lone pineapple spear. A pleasant surprise: the classic Dole Whip soft serve only contains about 100 calories.

Matterhorn Macaroons

These mountain-shaped coconut treats covered with white-chocolate icing and sugary 'snow' are a rarity among Disney-themed goodies in that they’re based not on a character, but a ride. The classic Matterhorn rollercoaster is even within view of the macaroons’ Main Street home, the Mary Poppins-themed Jolly Holiday Bakery Café (look for the tell-tale weather vane on top).

For anyone who gets confused about the difference between chewy macaroons and the airy sandwich-biscuit macaron, try one of the bakery’s Raspberry Rose Mickey Macarons to settle the matter for good. A bonus: The Jolly Holiday has been applauded for having the best coffee in the parks.

Premium Mickey Ice-Cream Bars

The much-beloved Mickey choc ices found at kiosks around the two parks are like the little black dresses of frozen treats: Mickey-shaped vanilla ice cream dipped in Nestlé chocolate. To broaden your horizons try the Premium Ice Cream Sandwich version, whose wafers get rave reviews for having a little more crispiness than typical ice-cream sandwiches, and whose ice-cream centre is cookies ‘n’ cream flavoured.

Little Red Wagon Corn Dogs

While corn dogs (deep-fried maize-coated sausages on sticks) may seem like basic fare for a theme park, Disney superfans and foodies alike swear by the Disneyland version, found at an old-school-style food truck, the Little Red Wagon, near the Plaza Inn on Main Street. The secret: these chicken-and-beef dogs are hand-dipped in a house batter, helping them achieve that crunchy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside perfection. You can also get the same dogs at the Stagedoor Café in Frontierland and Award Wieners in California Adventure's Hollywood Land.

Turkey Legs

The jumbo drumsticks offered at hot-food stands around the two parks such as Edelweiss Snacks in Fantasyland and the hot-foods cart in Hollywood Land—have inspired so much awe that an urban legend once circulated that they actually came from ostriches (they don’t). Granted, the hickory-smoked legs look large, even for a turkey (they come from males) and the salt curing gives them an almost ham-like flavour. They are certainly a commitment: each one weighs 750 g.

Themed Churros

There are more than a dozen churro carts dotting the parks, from outside The Haunted Mansion in Disneyland to A Bug’s Land in California Adventure and the fried-dough treats have even inspired their own souvenir shirts over the years. Keep an eye out for limited-edition variations, such as golden sugar-dusted churros in honour of Pirates of the Caribbean, or the Jedi-worthy, red and blue-sugared 'light-sabre' churros in Tomorrowland.

Toffee Apples

They’re almost too pretty to eat. Disneyland Resort’s toffee apples offer a canvas for edible artistry, like the Mickey and Minnie apples at Trolley Treats in California Adventure, Winnie the Pooh apples in Disneyland’s Pooh Corner or the Gourmet Apple of the Month (like a dark chocolate raspberry apple) at the Candy Palace & Candy Kitchen on Main Street (watch staff making the apples through the confectioner's window).

Ghirardelli Sundaes

In its cultural and culinary rendering of the Golden State, Disney California Adventure Park has embraced one key representative of San Francisco: Ghirardelli Chocolate. The Disney branch of the Ghirardelli Soda Fountain & Chocolate Shop, located in the Pacific Wharf section, offers up scoops and chocolate-doused sundaes, as well as the clearly meant-for-sharing Earthquake, with eight scoops of ice cream, eight toppings, bananas, whipped cream and more. Don’t miss the mural of San Francisco in the shop, which reacts to your order: buildings shake when you order an Earthquake, and a prospector pans for gold if you get the hot-fudge-and-peanut-butter Gold Rush.

Cozy Cones

In the Cars Land area of California Adventure, 'refuelling' takes on new meaning at the Cozy Cone Motel, a snack stand with five different cone-based treat options, from the chilli-filled Chili Cone Queso to the flavoured-popcorn Pop Cones. Reviewers especially love the stand’s Chicken Verde Cone and Red’s Apple Freeze, a slushy made with apple juice, passion fruit, toasted marshmallow syrup and mango foam. 

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Anaheim’s Foodie Paradise
Sushi or crepes? Tacos or cakes? California Dream Eater gets musical when trying to decide which dream dishes to try inside the Anaheim Packing District.
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Main Street, USA & Sleeping Beauty Castle

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Main Street, USA & Sleeping Beauty Castle
Two long-time charmers welcome you to the Magic Kingdom

Walking along the vintage American streetscape of Main Street, USA, with the towers of Sleeping Beauty Castle rising in the distance—well, you know you’re in for something amazing. Take a stroll along Main Street, USA, the welcome mat of Disneyland Park, to see Walt Disney’s whimsical brilliance and use of fantasy rooted in reality.

Shop names and building designs allude to his own past, or to those of other Disneyland 'imagineers'. For example, Hotel Marceline is named after the small town in Missouri where Disney spent part of his youth. Period photos of Fort Collins, provided by Disney imagineer Harper Goff who grew up in the Colorado town, helped inspire the design of some buildings.

Sleeping Beauty Castle has a more direct inspiration. It’s based on a 19th-century Bavarian castle in Neuschwanstein, Germany. (To see the original, take Soarin’ Around the World, the virtual plane ride in neighbouring California Adventure that lets you zoom over a variety of iconic landmarks around the globe.) Although the drawbridge to the Disneyland castle actually works, it has only been lowered twice: when the park opened in 1955 and for the 1983 re-dedication of Fantasyland, which is entered by passing through the castle's archway.

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The Happiest Job on Earth
Making Disney magic is just another day on the job for Imagineer Kevin Rafferty.
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Josh Telles

Halloween Time

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Halloween Time
Experience the Haunted Mansion’s star moment and more

Disneyland Resort turns into a Halloween wonderland throughout October. Halloween events—some scary, some not—include seasonal decorations at both theme parks, a ghoulish version of Disneyland Park’s Space Mountain and a nightmarish makeover at the Haunted Mansion. In Tomorrowland, freaky ghouls amp up the scream factor at Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. And of course, there’s the iconic Haunted Mansion, which is decked out as Halloween Town, hosted by Jack Skellington from Tim Burton’s classic film, A Nightmare Before Christmas.

Disney California Adventure Park gets its own Halloween makeover, too: Guardians of the Galaxy takes on a Monsters After Dark theme, while Cars Land’s 'Haul-O-Ween' zone features costumed characters and the morphing of Radiator Springs into Radiator Screams. For some seasonal music, visit Mater’s Junkyard, which is turned into Mater’s Graveyard JamBOOree.

Disneyland Resort offers spook-free options too, including a massive hand-carved Pumpkin Festival on Main Street, USA. Check out the strolling characters in their Halloween garb (including a fair share of Disney villains), and see a traditional skeleton display honouring Dia de los Muertos in Frontierland.

Insider tip: consider splurging on tickets to Mickey’s Halloween Party. Or join a Happiest Haunts Tour, where a 'ghost host' scares you with special pranks and adventures as you tour the parks throughout the Halloween season. 

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout
Richard Harbaugh/Disneyland Resort

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY – MISSION: BREAKOUT

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GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY – MISSION: BREAKOUT
Marvel superheroes establish their own turf in California Adventure

The tallest building in Disney California Adventure Park houses a classic free-fall ride, but Guardians of the Galaxy–Mission: Breakout is also the home base for a distinct group of characters within Disneyland Resort: superheroes. The Marvel Comics-themed ride deftly combines a shriek-inducing drop with a pop music soundtrack and the cheeky characters of the Guardians of the Galaxy comic-book and film series. 

The 56-metre-high structure in the Hollywood Land section of the park used to be known as the Tower of Terror, which took riders into a haunted, Twilight Zone-themed adventure. But unlike its spooky predecessor, Mission: Breakout has an upbeat, even free-wheeling vibe. (Even so, the ride is intense enough that it’s only recommended for teenagers and older.)

The ride’s storyline follows Rocket (the mechanically minded raccoon Guardian) as he hatches a plan to liberate his fellow Guardians who have become trapped inside The Fortress, a museum of space creatures and oddities overseen by long-standing comic-book villain The Collector.

As the ride begins, look out for the various treasures in the glass display cases that The Collector has already amassed in his bottom-floor museum, a rotating exhibition of Marvel-themed props and gizmos, including Chitauri blasters from the Guardians of the Galaxy series, and Asgardian weaponry of Thor or Avengers fame. Then, a lift takes you up the tower, but as Rocket’s plan goes awry—in various ways—you end up in free-fall.

Fully experiencing Mission: Breakout, however, means going on it at least six times, since there are that many unique variations on Rocket’s escape scenarios and each scenario gets its own catchy soundtrack (the Guardians’ leader, Star-Lord, has a passion for mix-tapes). One experience might feature Pat Benatar’s 'Hit Me With Your Best Shot', and another, The Jackson 5’s 'I Want You Back'.

To keep the groove going, check out the 'Awesome Dance Off' parties staged near the ride, where you can flaunt your moves and meet and greet characters including Groot, the loveable talking-tree Guardian.

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The Disney family crest is on Sleeping Beauty Castle; it’s located above the drawbridge.
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Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

Themed lands

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Themed lands
Travel through time, space and twisted realities

From glimpses of the future in Tomorrowland to the rustic world of Frontierland, the scenery changes quickly at the Disneyland Resort theme parks. Take a swashbuckling cruise (and look for Johnny Depp as the devilish Captain Jack Sparrow) on the raucous Pirates of the Caribbean ride, then step outside into the smell of fresh doughnuts in New Orleans Square. It is a quick walk to Fantasyland, where young children can catch a ride on an elephant on the classic Dumbo ride, and pint-sized princesses wait with wild-eyed anticipation to meet Elsa, Ariel, Belle and other classic Disney heroines. Disney fans of all ages will find plenty of timeless cultural references: the classic rides here include nods to Mary Poppins, Peter Pan, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White and even The Wind in the Willows (Mr Toad’s Wild Ride, one of the park’s original rides, was loosely based on the children’s classic).

Make sure your youngsters are light-sabre ready for any adventures by signing them up for Jedi Training Academy. Travel into the deep and see Dory and the gang on the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, or zap your opponents with lasers in Toy Story inspired Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. For more galactic explorations, blast off on Space Mountain.

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Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

CARS LAND

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CARS LAND
Get your kicks at this movie-inspired attraction

Rev up for retro fun in Cars Land, one of the star attractions in Disney California Adventure Park. This colourful high-octane ‘land’ recreates the world of Radiator Springs from the Cars animated film series. The tongue-in-cheek nod to Route 66 icons include comfort foods at Flo’s V8 Café and the colourful rocky outcroppings and Southwest landscapes of the Cadillac Range. At the Cozy Cone Motel—the main character meet-and-greet spot—stop for a churro, soft-serve ice cream or a Chili Cone Queso (chili, cheese and tortilla chips served in a bread cone). 

Of course, what would a trip to Cars Land be without a road trip? So buckle up for the ride of your life on the Radiator Springs Racers, where you’ll come grille-to-grille with Lightning McQueen, Doc Hudson and other popular characters from the film. Your six-person car will race side-by-side with your competition, zooming over hills and through turns at high speeds en route to the finish line. Although the ride picks up some speed and features a few dips, the rollercoaster is incredibly smooth. Take advantage of Disneyland’s FASTPASS service for this ride to avoid the queues, available in the park or on the Disney MaxPass app.

If you’re entertaining younger children, take them to Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree for a barn-dance-style spin on dancing tractors. Or hop aboard the free-wheelin’ Italian micro-car replicas at Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters and let your car dance across the courtyard on a trackless system.

Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.
Walt Disney
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MORE DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE ATTRACTIONS

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MORE DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE ATTRACTIONS
Celebrate the Golden State with rides and shows

While Cars Land grabs much of the spotlight in Disney California Adventure Park, there are plenty of other amazing attractions in this part of the resort. A ride that ranks as one of the resort’s biggest crowd pleasers is Soarin’ Round the World in Grizzly Peak Airfield. Strap yourself into simulated hang gliders to swoop through the air and get bird’s-eye views of iconic locations around the globe, such as the Great Pyramids of Egypt, Sydney Harbour and two places that inspired features in the Magic Kingdom: the Matterhorn in the Swiss Alps and the 'Sleeping Beauty' castle in Bavaria.

Next up (and preferably when it’s hot), experience the thrill of a white-water rafting trip in the Sierra Nevada with a splashy ride down the Grizzly River Run. Take a clanging streetcar along Buena Vista Street, a carefully recreated homage to a Los Angeles neighbourhood circa 1923, when young Walt Disney first arrived from Missouri. Have freshly made chocolates or hand-dipped toffee apples at Trolley Treats, or—if you’re a grown-up—a retro Manhattan in the stylish bar at Carthay Circle, also serving classy fare by Chef Andrew Sutton in a swanky setting that feels like a vintage Hollywood supper club.

For classic rides, head to Pixar Pier, which opened in summer 2018 (formerly known as Paradise Pier) and features the Incredicoaster, Midway Games and a Ferris wheel—all featuring characters from Pixar movies such as The Incredibles, Inside Out and the Toy Story series. The film-character theme extends to food, too, from the Señor Buzz Churros and Hangry Dogs to the sit-down Lamplight Lounge, filled with Pixar sketches and memorabilia. Throughout the summer of 2018, all of Disneyland Resort is getting into the spirit with Pixar Fest, which features an array of Pixar-inspired entertainment—such as the Pixar-character-fuelled Paint the Night parade in California Adventure, the Pixar Play Parade in Disneyland Park, and the new nightly fireworks show, Together Forever—A Pixar Nighttime Spectacular, over Disneyland. Also don’t miss, at California Adventure’s Hollywood Land, the Pixar Shorts Film Festival, showcasing the acclaimed short films that precede Pixar’s films.

 

It's a Small World at Disneyland
Lucas Himovitz

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort

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Holidays at the Disneyland Resort
Experience Christmas in the Happiest Place on Earth

Southern California is known for its sunshine and beaches, even in December. But you can still experience a winter wonderland when 'the happiest place on Earth' transforms into 'the merriest place on Earth' for the season.

Holidays at the Disneyland Resort is a special time, with magic around every corner. In Disneyland Park, there’s an 18-metre-tall Christmas tree in Town Square, complete with 70,000 lights and 2,000 custom-made ornaments. Wander down Main Street, USA with the smell of candy canes and gingerbread hanging in the air and decorations adorning the buildings.

Classic attractions take on a completely different feeling. Sleeping Beauty Castle sparkles with snow-capped towers, countless lights and a giant wreath. It’s a Small World Holiday dazzles with a spectacular light show and a seasonal version of the classic song. The Haunted Mansion gets a seasonal makeover too, courtesy of Jack Skellington and friends, for the Haunted Mansion Holiday. Fan favourites including A Christmas Fantasy Parade and Believe...in Holiday Magic make this time of year extra special.

Over in Disney California Adventure Park, a 15-metre tree sits on Buena Vista Street, and the spirit of the season is in full swing with the Festival of Holidays, featuring delicious foods and entertainment from many diverse cultures. And of course, Santa and his elves turn up at the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail for some seasonal fun and games.

There are seasonal treats throughout the resort as well, from themed doughnuts and gingerbread men to decorated toffee apples and the ever-popular candy canes. Only a limited number of candy canes are made, so make sure you queue up at park opening time at the Candy Palace in Disneyland or Trolley Treats in California Adventure for a chance to try this tasty treat. You can find out more by calling the Disneyland Candy Hotline on +1 (714) 781 0112.

Insider tip: while the parks’ Christmas trees are first lit for the year in early-to-mid-November, both Disneyland and California Adventure have tree-lighting ceremonies every day during the season at 5 pm. Carollers roam the parks singing Christmas favourites while the giant trees come to life.

 

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More than 500 million guests have passed through the gates of Disneyland since opening day on July 17, 1955.
A Shopfront in the Downtown Disney District
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Downtown Disney District

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Downtown Disney District
Find restaurants, shops and spirited nightlife

Open-air cafés, street musicians, sparkling shops and soaring temples to everything Disney—this tempting pedestrian zone in Anaheim is as must-see as the resort's two theme parks. If you’re hungry when you get here, you won’t be for long: find creative and delicious dishes at born-in-California favourites such as La Brea Bakery Café (the outdoor seating under leafy trees is particularly nice). Feel like you’re relaxing on an Italian piazza at Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria. Or take it up a notch with contemporary Mediterranean cuisine at Catal, created by Los Angeles-area chef-restaurateur Joachim Splichal.

For those with a sweet tooth, there’s a branch of upmarket cupcake purveyors Sprinkles—the creative cupcake bakery credited with launching the cupcake craze—that’s not to be missed. And save room for a few scoops of artisanal goodness from Salt & Straw, an innovative family-run ice cream shop that offers hand-made, small-batch seasonal flavours such as Mummy’s Pumpkin Spiked Potion and Sightglass Coffee Cashew Praline.

There’s also plenty of live entertainment, activities and shopping: New Orleans–inspired music is the main course at Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen®. Take the family bowling at the rock 'n roll-themed Splitsville Luxury Lanes after dining indoors or al fresco at the on-site restaurant Splitsville Dining Room. And stock up on gifts at the World of Disney® shop, or browse big-name stores such as The LEGO® Store or Sephora. Girly Disney fans will appreciate the vintage-inspired clothes and accessories at The Disney Dress Shop, and if your home is lacking some magic, call in at the Disney Home store to find the perfect themed kitchenware and decor. 

Star Wars fans will love Star Wars™: Secrets of the Empire by ILMxLAB and The Void, a total-immersion virtual reality experience with state-of-the-art 3-D imagery and sound. Teams of four, in VR disguise, can engage with their favourite Star Wars characters, as well as with one another.  

Insider tip: you don’t have to have a ticket to Disneyland to visit Downtown Disney (admission is free). Plus there's no need to worry about parking—it’s free for up to five hours with validation from participating locations.

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Lucas Himovitz

Special Tours at Disneyland

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Special Tours at Disneyland
Get a behind-the-scenes look at Disneyland Resort

Disneyland Resort is undeniably magical—and that’s part of its charm. But understanding how the magic is made can be entertaining too. You can get sneak peeks and hear some amusing anecdotes on the resort’s cool tours.

Perfect for first timers, or for veteran Disneyland-ers who want to bone up on cool trivia, the Welcome to Disneyland Tour provides a thorough introduction to both Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park—plus there are plenty of anecdotes to make you feel in the know.

In Disneyland Park, the Walk In Walt’s Disneyland Footsteps tour offers an intimate perspective and opportunity to experience attractions significant to Walt’s past, in addition to those that connect with Walt’s very personal vision. Personal VIP tours are also available, and the specialised Star Wars at Disneyland tour offers a Jedi’s-view perspective of the resort’s many attractions related to the saga. The subject-specific Cultivating the Magic tour sheds light on Disneyland’s extensive gardens.

Live shows & parades at Disneyland
Scott Brinegar/Disneyland Resort

LIVE SHOWS & PARADES

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LIVE SHOWS & PARADES
Watch your favourite characters strut their stuff

Everyone loves a parade, and Mickey Mouse seems pretty fond of them too. Consider the daily Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, which begins along Disneyland Park’s Main Street, and includes a line-up of Disney characters and marching bands playing Disney melodies. Other parades light up the calendar, especially during the winter holidays. Visitors often line up for prime viewing in advance; keep your park guide handy to make sure you’re at the right spot when parades begin.

If it’s time for a break from the inevitable walking around the resort, relax with a live show. Favourites include Frozen: Live at the Hyperion, a surprisingly good Broadway-style production staged at the Hyperion Theatre, in California Adventure Park. Outside on Buena Vista Street, see a hyper-athletic song-and-dance routine by the Red Car Trolley News Boys, or get your bee-bop on with the Five and Dime jazz ensemble.

After sunset, keep an eye out for the fireworks that illuminate the sky above Sleeping Beauty Castle. Starring some of your favourite Disney characters and set to classic Disney tunes, it’s definitely a show you don’t want to miss. And with different shows throughout the year—from the patriotic Fourth of July show to the hauntingly fun Halloween Screams—you’re in for a spectacular treat year-round. (Fireworks are seasonal and subject to change without notice.)

Evenings also bring two different pyrotechnic shows: Disney California Adventure Park has World of Color (closed until late 2018), while Disneyland Park has Fantasmic, a 'battle between good and evil' featuring classic Disney characters, which plays out in Mickey Mouse’s mind and across the 18-metre-wide mists over Frontierland’s Rivers of America.

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WORLD OF COLOUR

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WORLD OF COLOUR
See a nightly spectacle of music, animation, fountains and laser light

With fire, water and lasers, the nightly extravaganza of World of Color, at Pixar Pier in Disney California Adventure, is a definite dazzler. Disney characters materialise on an immense 'screen', created by projecting film clips onto the misty spray generated by 1,200 fountains shooting 60 metres into the night sky. To commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the Disneyland Resort, an all-new, special edition of 'World of Color' illuminates the night in a glittering, contemporary celebration of the colourful world of Walt Disney, whose pioneering vision brought Disneyland, Mickey Mouse, and a treasury of films and characters to life. Note: if you sit close to the harbour you might get soaked; ask Disney cast members where to sit if you want to be out of the spray zone.

To really feel like you’re part of the production, splurge on Glow with the Show Ear Hats. These high-tech Mickey Mouse ears have computer chips that make the ears change colour and flash in unison with the show and all the other ears throughout the show.

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Every Disneyland Cast Member wears a name tag, even the draft horses that pull the trolleys up and down Main Street, U.S.A.
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Getting Around Disneyland Resort

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Getting Around Disneyland Resort
Take the Monorail or clip-clop by Clydesdale

For a break from walking, board the iconic Disneyland Monorail. Futuristic when it made its début in 1959, the ride still feels surprisingly modern. Offering great views from an elevated rail, the Monorail covers a 2½-mile loop in 13 minutes. But it’s not the only way to get around Disneyland Resort.

For a very different train experience, the steam-powered Disneyland Railroad circles the park in 18 minutes, with stops at destinations such as Tomorrowland and Mickey’s Toontown. One of the five vintage narrow-gauge trains is named after Ward Kimball, a legendary studio animator and, like Walt Disney, a train enthusiast.

In the Magic Kingdom, you can also travel along Main Street, USA between Sleeping Beauty Castle and Town Square on old-fashioned streetcars, buses and fire engines, pulled by handsome heavy horses. At Disney California Adventure Park, all-electric Red Car Trolleys, like the ones that used to operate in Southern California, travel to four stops along Buena Vista Street.

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Courtesy of Disneyland Resort

Lodging at Disneyland Resort

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Lodging at Disneyland Resort
Book a stay at a trio of on-site hotels

Stretch the fantasies even further by staying at one of the resort’s on-site hotels. Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa aims to replicate the soaring wood-and-stone styling of The Majestic Yosemite Hotel in Yosemite Valley. The central great room, with cushy, oversized Arts-and-Crafts-style chairs, a soaring stone fireplace and live piano music, is a fantastic place to relax after a long day in the park. (Non-residents are welcome to dine and enjoy the lounges, too.) The guests-only pool feels like an exclusive party, with poolside drinks and plenty of lounge chairs and fluffy towels, and enough room for children and grown-ups to enjoy themselves. The full-service spa is open to all (appointments required).

For a sleek, retro-modern getaway, book a stay at the nearby Disneyland Hotel, which also offers whimsically themed accommodations, such as the Mickey Mouse Penthouse or the sumptuous Fairy Tale Suites. The Monorail Pool, with two towering watersides, is wildly popular; for a quieter retreat, relax in a plush lounger at the adjacent E-Ticket or D-Ticket pools.

Paradise Pier Hotel captures the spirit of an old-fashioned beach boardwalk, with rooms done up to look like you’re holidaying on the coast. Most popular spot? Check out the complex of rooftop pools and waterslides and we’ll let you guess.

Disneyland is not just another amusement park. It's unique and I want it kept that way.
Walt Disney
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Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland

Disneyland Resort for Younger Kids

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Disneyland Resort for Younger Kids
Fairytale fun plus some silly spaces for free play equals a whole lot of magic

Flying elephants, giant teacups, costumed characters making the rounds—for more than 60 years, this magical world of make-believe has been the happiest place on earth. Fantasyland, with all its low-thrill classics—including Peter Pan’s Flight and It’s a Small World—is the go-to spot for children aged 5 or younger, but queues are the longest here, too, so tackle it first thing. Staying at a Disneyland hotel means you can beat the queues by entering the park an hour before it opens to the public.

When you've had your fill of ride-hopping, skip over to Toontown to blow off some steam. Children will have a blast touring Mickey and Minnie’s homes, where anything goes—from climbing on Mickey’s furniture to snooping in Minnie’s fridge. (Spoiler: it’s stocked with cheese.)

You can always count on this Anaheim park to make it easy on parents. With the Disneyland App, you’ll have access to waiting times and the locations of their favourite characters, FastPass machines and, most importantly, toilets. There’s also a well-stocked baby care centre with private areas for breast-feeding, microwaves for warming food and potties for those who are toilet training.

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Welcome to Kidifornia
The 'Welcome to Kidifornia' ad offers a quick peek at some trip-of-a-lifetime family holidays in the Golden State—filled with beaches, national parks, theme parks and much more.