Disneyland Park
Welcome to Disneyland Park, officially known as the "Happiest Place on Earth!" Located in the heart of Southern California, Disneyland? park has attracted millions, perhaps even billions, of visitors to it's doors for over 50 years. There are eight lands that rotate among a 'central hub', with Sleeping Beauty Castle (the prominent symbol of Disneyland) as it's center.
Adventureland, the first land from the hub, is dedicated to the explorers who have circled around the Earth for years, and, of course, the animals who are a part of this mega-giant world. Frontierland celebrates the true spirit of the American cowboy with shows, attractions, and restaraunts themed to the wild wild west. New Orleans Square, though not directly connected to the hub, celebrates the true New Orleans with it's prominent food, atmosphere, and down-to-earth culture.
Fantasyland (found directly across Sleeping Beauty Castle) is certainly where the dreams come true with it's array of attractions, tiny shops, and amazing characters. Mickey's Toontown is the home of Mickey Mouse and his pals. Tomorrowland, the last land located at the hub on the far right, celebrates the imagination and wonder of the human mind, and how space opens up so many possibilities for humans in the future. And, of course, there's Main Street USA with it's quaint shops, delectible cafes, and amazing vehicles. No wonder Disneyland is the place Where Dreams Come True.
General Information
Location: Anaheim, California (Approx. 25 miles south of Los Angeles)
Date Park Opened & Dedicated: July 17th, 1955
Annual Attendance (Estimate): 12.5 million
Size: Approx. 75 acres
# of Attractions & Rides: 44
# of Entertainment Choices: 16
# of Dining Options: 27
# of Shopping Locations: 50
# of Lands: 8
Ticket Information/Options
Park tickets are available from several sources and in many different combinations from tickets good for just one of the parks for a single day up to tickets good for five days of admission at either park. From there you can get an annual pass at one of several levels.
Ticket Prices:
Single Day, Single Park: $59 Adult/$49 Child.
Single Day, Parkhopper: $79 Adult/$69 Child.
Two Day, Parkhopper: $116 Adult/$96 Child.
Three Day, Parkhopper: $169 Adult/$139 Child.
Four Day, Parkhopper: $199 Adult/$169 Child.
Five Day, Parkhopper: $219 Adult/$189 Child.
Southern California Select Annual Pass: $119, all ages ($168 with parking).
Southern California Annual Pass: $149, all ages ($198 with parking).
Deluxe Annual Pass: $229 for all people.
Premium Annual Pass: $349 for all people.
On-Site Ticket Purchase: Ticket booths are located at both ends of the Esplanade (the section between Disneyland Park and Disney's California Adventure) as you approach either from the Harbor Blvd. side or the Downtown Disney side. If you already have tickets, you can proceed directly to the park entry gates; tickets are not sold at the entry gates.
Online Ticket Purchase: Tickets can be purchased online directly from Disney. Discounts are offered for multi-day parkhopper tickets.
Other Purchase Locations: Certain ticket types can be purchased at Disney Stores. Good Neighbor hotels in Anaheim can also sell tickets to hotel guests.
Parking/Direction/Transportation Information
The Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim, California, just off of the Interstate 5 freeway. If you are trying to get to the main parking at the Mickey & Friends parking structure take the Disneyland Drive exit and follow the signs to the parking garage. You'll also want to use this exit if you're going to one of the three on-property hotels. One exit farther south is Harbor Boulevard, which provides access to other area hotels.
Disneyland has three parking areas. The Mickey & Friends parking garage is one of the largest parking garages in the world and is the main lot. Access from here to the parks requires taking a tram or walking about three-quarters of a mile. The secondary parking lot is the Timon lot and is accessed from Harbor Boulevard. Annual Passholders are not allowed to park in this lot, and space is limited. After the Timon lot is full, all cars will be directed to the Mickey & Friends garage. The Timon lot also requires taking a tram or walking about half a mile. The third parking lot is the Pumbaa lot and is a more remote overflow parking area. If this lot is in use, signs on Harbor Boulevard will indicate this and provide directions. Tram service is not provided from this lot and requires a walk of almost 1 mile.
All lots have the same rates:
- $10 for cars
- $12 for large vehicles.
Park Hours
Park Hours: Disneyland is open seven days a week, every day of the year, holidays included. Hours vary by day of the week and season. Disneyland generally opens earlier and closes later than Disney's California Adventure.
Upcoming Hours: Park hours are subject to change without notice. Hours can be confirmed at the official Disneyland Web site.
Early Entry: As of January, 2005, purchase of a 3-Day, or longer, Park Hopper pass includes one Early Entry ticket. Early Entry allows the ticket holder to enter Disneyland one hour earlier than regular park opening. Select shops and dining on Main Street are open and Fantasyland will be completely open with all rides available. Early Entry days are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness: As of January, 2005, purchase of a travel package from Walt Disney Travel Company will include one Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness. Toontown opens one hour later than the rest of the park, but on select days Toontown will open at the same time as the rest of the park just for holders of this ticket. It is an opportunity to interact with several Disney characters. Mickey's Toontown Morning Madness days are Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Late Departure: There are currently no programs or offers that would allow you to spend extra time in the park at the end of the day. However, for an hour after official closing, stores on Main Street remain open "for your shopping convenience."
Facilities
ATMs: ATMs are located at the Main Street Bank, to the left as you enter Frontierland, in Fantasyland somewhere, and in Tomorrowland somewhere. The ATMs are provided by Union of California Bank and will charge $2.00 to non-account holders.
City Hall: Disneyland's City Hall is just inside the left train tunnel as you enter the park. There you'll be able to get almost any question answered, as well as file complaints or — hopefully — compliments.
Disney Dollars: Disney Dollars are the private currency of Disneyland. Any cash accepting location inside of the park will accept Disney Dollars as well. You can purchase Disney Dollars at two locations inside of Disneyland, at the Disneyana store on Main Street or at the Disney Gallery in New Orleans Square. Purchases of Disney Dollars can be made with cash or credit card, and one good tip is that to avoid the fees at the ATMs, you can purchase Disney Dollars instead (they will show on your credit card bill as a purchase and not a cash advance). When making a purchase with Disney Dollars change will be given in U.S. currency. Disney Disney Dollars can be returned for cash at the same two locations. Unused Disney Dollars can be spent at Disneyland, Disney's California Adventure, and anywhere at the Walt Disney Resort. They are not accepted at Disneyland Paris or Tokyo Disneyland (not that you'd want to in Japan, since that would be a very painful exchange rate).
Equipment Rental: Strollers, manual wheelchairs, and ECVs can be rented inside the park. Rentals are a flat price for the entire day. If your rented stroller goes missing through the day you can return to the rental station (near the right train tunnel as you enter the park) for a replacement. Strollers rent for $8, wheelchairs are $7, and ECVs are $30. Both wheelchairs and ECVs require and additional refundable $20 deposit.
First Aid and Baby Care: The first aid station and baby care center are located right next to each other at the castle end of Main Street. Take a sharp right as you pass the Kodak Photo Store and go behind the corn dog wagon. The baby center provides a quiet place for feeding as well as size appropriate toilets. The first aid station can provide over-the-counter medicines for aches or pains as well as bandages for blisters and other minor maladies. If the matter is more serious they can refer you to the nearest hospital facilities or get you the assistance needed. The first aid station is manned by registered nurses.
Lockers: There are two sets of lockers available inside Disneyland. The first are on Main Street, turn right at the intersection halfway up Main Street towards the castle. The second set is towards the back of Disneyland near the theater for "Snow White – An Enchanting Musical." Additionally, there are three locker areas outside of the park that are available to anyone: in the picnic area, in the same building as the restrooms to the left of the Disneyland entry gates, and across the Esplanade to the left of the entry gates for Disney's California Adventure. Rental prices are $5 for a regular locker, $6 for a large locker, and $7 for a extra-large locker. Bills and credit cards are accepted, no change is given. A single payment pays for the entire day and you can open and close the locker without further charge.
Restrooms: Restrooms are of course easily found throughout the park, with varying levels of amenities and theming. Some smaller restrooms are in out of the way corners and the closest restroom may not be where you think.
Kennels: There is a kennel available just outside of Disneyland Park. The fee is $15 per day and pets can not be left overnight.
Smoking: Smoking is allowed in only designated areas in the park. Disneyland has four such areas. They are in Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, and New Orleans Square.
The Lands
Disneyland is divided into eight "lands" or sections. Each land has a theme it tries to stick to, with rides, shows, stores, and dining to choose from. Clicking on one of these links will take you to that lands page where you can learn general information, history, and trivia as well as drill down to all the options within that area.
- Adventureland — Home of exotic lands and interesting people. The Jungle Cruise is this lands signature attracion, though Indiana Jones may be more popular.
- Critter Country — Follow Brer Rabbit into the briar patch or ride a beehive through Pooh's hunny dream.
- Fantasyland — The busiest part of the park and where all the great animated classics come together.
- Frontierland — Head out to Old West to ride a mine train, a pirate ship, a riverboat, or just see a show.
- Main Street, U.S.A. — Themed to a turn-of-the-20th-century rural town, it has all the standards: city hall, bank, arcade, fire station, cinema, and soda fountain among others. Main Street station for the Disneyland Railroad is the first things you'll see when you enter the park.
- Mickey's Toontown — As shown in the movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, this is where all the classic characters live.
- New Orleans Square — Find yourself in the French Quarter, perhaps eating at The Blue Bayou, right on the water. This is the land where Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion battle it out for the title of greatest Disney ride of all time.
- Tomorrowland — Look to the future, or perhaps look at how people use to look to the future.
