The main objective for our vacation in Los Angeles was to take my nieces, ages eight and five, to Disneyland. They have never been to California, nor to any of the Disney parks, and the last time my sister went was at least two dozen years ago, so it seemed like the right time.
At their California location, Disney now has two theme parks: the original Disneyland and California Adventure, which is more geared to the Pixar characters than the classic Disney ones. Since there were two parks, we decided to get a two-day park-hopper pass. One thing we learned was that you do not have to use the passes for consecutive days. This is helpful because going to an amusement park can wear you out. Doing it two days in a row with young children can be overwhelming. As I observed while walking around the park, Disneyland may be the “Happiest Place on Earth” but it is also the most tearful!
We arrived a few minutes before opening time the first day, a Thursday, tickets already purchased online and printed out at home. Thankfully, the typical Southern California weather pattern known as the “June gloom” lasted most of the day, giving us cool temperatures (around 70 F) and an overcast sky that made walking around the park a pleasant experience.
Crowds were not too heavy and we used the FastPass system to secure tickets to the most popular rides – the recently reopened Star Tours, for example – so that we did not have to wait in line for a long time. One thing we learned is that when the park opens, most people head to their right into Tomorrowland and Fantasyland, and not to their left into Frontierland, Adventureland, and New Orleans Square. If you want to beat the crowds, head to the left and do those rides first.
I was shocked to discover a sign leading into Mickey’s Toon Town that has a spelling mistake! Do these things really happen in the Disney organization?
For lunch we ate at Cafe Orleans in New Orleans Square. For amusement park food, it was pretty decent eating. I may write a post with the pictures of the food later on. For now, I will share a picture of the Mickey Mouse shaped beignets.
Among my niece’s many objectives was collecting autographs from the various characters, including the princesses. At the back of Fantasyland is a Princess Pavilion, which offers various princess-themed activities as well as the opportunity to meet princesses from the different Disney films throughout the day. Ava and Emily met Belle, Cinderella, and Mulan (pictured above), to name just a few. I’ll give credit to the young ladies who play the princesses: they do an amazing job of being tirelessly friendly, gracious, and engaging for their young guests.
Something fun to do at Disneyland is to look for the hidden Mickeys. These are representations of the Mickey Mouse silhouette that are intentionally, but subtly, placed throughout the park. Can you spot the hidden Mickey in the above picture of Big Thunder Mountain Railroad?
Our first day at the park went very well. We were there about twelve hours – from opening to closing – and except for one minor bit of lunchtime moodiness by niece number one, everyone was in good spirits the whole day. Above, the section of the It’s A Small World ride that is themed after Thailand.
The following Monday we headed back to Anaheim, this time to spend most of our day at Disney’s California Adventure. This newer park is themed around various areas of California, including Hollywood, the aviation industry of Southern California, the beach boardwalks and amusement piers found along the coast, etc. As you can see from the above picture, it was a sunnier day. While the temperature was only about five degrees higher (75 F), the intense sunlight made it a much tougher day for everyone.
There is an area of the park called A Bug’s Land, themed around the Pixar animated film, A Bug’s Life. It offered a number of fun rides that were perhaps just a little too juvenile for our nieces. The above ride is called Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train, named after the caterpillar in the film with an insatiable appetite.
On the Hollywood Studios Backlot, the girls pretended to talk to each other on a variety of different phone booths ostensibly used in different movie sets. With the hot sun shining on us and a greater amount of open space reflecting that heat, we experienced some after-lunch defections. Tawn left the park and went to the next door Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment district to seek out some air conditioned comfort in a movie theatre and my brother-in-law and older niece went back to the Disneyland park, which has a bit more shade.
My sister, younger niece, and I persevered, though, and took a ride on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. This drop tower thrill ride is a lot of fun and my adventurous five-year old niece (who is only an inch taller than the minimum height requirement), announced upon exiting from the ride, “Let’s go again!”
We concluded our visit to the Disneyland parks by stumbling into Mickey Mouse back on Main Street USA, letting the girls collect their most prized autograph of all. Hindsight being 20-20, I think we could have stuck with just a single day of Disney, visiting Disneyland and not the California Adventure park. But it was a fun visit nonetheless and was probably the highlight of the trip.
christao408 
How nice getting a photo and autograph from Mickey. I have yet to try the Tower of Terror!
I would really like to see what the photo looks like that you were snapping as you went down Splash Mountain.And a quick correction, this was the girls’ first trip to southern California. They’ve been to northern California.
Looks like alot of fun!
Do they still have Soarin’ over CA in the CA Adventure Park — it was my fave when they opened the new park. Other than that, I’d agree that Disneyland is far more fun with kids. Glad you had perfect weather for Disney — it will be too hot from now on till late fall! Looks like lots of fun!
it has been a long time since i visited micky. I had a meeting in Anaheim conventrion last year, and got free pass into CA Adventure and i did not even had time to go in. 😦
It looks like you had an awesome time. My family went to Disney almost as soon as we arrived in the states. I only remember a few rides from it.
Disney is so much fun! I want to go again. This time without the kids – so I can ride “It’s a Small World” without the whining. hehe!
This makes me want to go back to Disney World. I have to plan a trip to Disneyland though!
This entry is triggering all sorts of memories and emotions. I’m happy that both you and Tawn manage to find time to be part of each of your families lives.
Very nice, I’ve been to Disney World but not Disneyland yet. It’s on my to do list. Mulan looks great btw.
I find it funny that one of the “Related Posts” that Xanga is suggesting is Fish Tacos with Avocado Cilantro Lime Cream Sauce. Really? How is that related?@Roadlesstaken – Yeah, Mulan was pretty attractive. I was about to pass her your blog address, but thought that might be déclassé. @ElusiveWords – Want to talk about those memories, Matt?@jennfaceee – Having gone to both, I enjoy Disney World more simply because it is larger and more spread out. It is easy to feel crowded in Disneyland, which takes away some of the magic.@murisopsis – Oh, so you weren’t the one whining about riding “It’s a Small World”? Usually, it is the parents who whine about that one. =D@flann00 – As near as I can figure, Disneyland should be a must for all new immigrants to the US. It tells you more about America, or at least how America perceives itself, that just about anyplace else.@stevew918 – Such a shame, although you live near enough that you should be able to get there with no trouble. In between all your globe-trotting, of course.@slmret – Yes! Soaring Over California was a highlight of the park, I think. Very enjoyable and, as a native Californian, something that made me feel a lot of pride in the natural beauty of my state.@The_Eyes_Of_A_Painter – It sure was.@alextebow – Alex, of course you are correct. They attended your wedding up in the Bay Area a few years back.@CurryPuffy – Plus, the photo turned out really nice. Added bonus!
I don’t know if I could keep the pace that you did during your visit. It has been years since I went to the parks here.
I have never been to any Disney Park. Though I live in Hong Kong, I have not been to the Hong Kong Disney Park yet. Maybe it is high time I visited one and wrote a blog about it.
u really do look extra happy at the happiest place on earth! the photo with the girls in the telephone booth is so cute.btw, ur younger niece is super brave to go on the drop tower and looks sooo happy in that picture with the log ride!!
Great pictures! I love the Tower of Terror.
Great pictures! I love the Tower of Terror.
How wonderful Chris. Saadia was two years old when I had taken her to the Disneyland in CA. Your pictures are delightful.
Hi. Long time no visit. I went to Disney World for my honeymoon. OMG 16 yrs ago. I did the exact same thing when I rode Tower of Tower. I got off and practically screamed, “I want to do it again!”
I was told that Disney is more fun when you’re older, is that true? Looks wonderful actually, the kids are so happy!
Photos all showed happy grins, so that’s the record for this trip and what should be remembered anyway.
You didn’t enjoy the Adventure Park?
Tawn looks like he’s in a state of tranquility and utter ease, even on the little roller coasters hahaha
Awww! 🙂
wow! i can’t even remember the last time i was there…brings back memories =)
A lot of my college and jr college friends got jobs at the Magic Kingdom as entertainers. They formed Barbershop quartets, saxophone quintets, played in orchestras, danced and sang there, some for many years. Others, like my neighbor’s son-in-law have worked there for years starting as ride operators and working his way up to ride engineer. I understand the worst job is wearing a hot, big headed costume in the summer.Your nieces are the perfect age to enjoy the park, they will remember the visit for a long time.