Written by: Rachel Webb, Travel Planner
The “Happiest Place on Earth” is a Disney enthusiast’s dream park because you can stand where Walt stood and truly be surrounded by his magical touch in every little detail. This past month, I recall standing on Main Street taking in those initial views of Aurora’s castle and the famous Walt saying “all our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them”came to mind. I stood in awe of the magic that has transcended worldwide and is still present 70 years after his dream came to fruition. With the 70th anniversary celebration quickly approaching, let’s look at why Disneyland is the perfect destination for families and what sets it apart from its sister to the east (and no it’s not the difference in sizes of the castles).
From a regular at Disney World, a few notable differences at Disneyland are the character interactions and the layout of the parks which created a different vibe. I absolutely love that there’s no shortage of characters at Disneyland and that it’s a mix of traditional and unique pals, whether catching Lightning McQueen drive past you in Cars Land or meeting Bing Bong at the Pixar Place Hotel or hugging Horace Horsecollar on Buena Vista Street or saving the galaxy with your favorite Marvel character – there’s a surprise at almost every turn!
Park Hopping at Disneyland is the perfect set up with the two parks being located a short walk apart – for those families who have wrestled with breaking down a stroller full just imagine not having to do that! Want to have lunch at California Adventure, but ride the Matterhorn that afternoon and then back for World of Color – no problem! With purchase of a park hopper ticket and lightning lanes, you can easily switch between the two parks starting at 11am. While Disney World is more spread out within and between the different parks, Disneyland and California Adventure manage to fit a ton in a more compact space making maneuvering the parks for the most part easier and less stressful! You are literally walking and experiencing the vision that Walk himself developed!
While I’ve often heard the saying that Disneyland is “more of a locals park” than its eastern counterpart, it’s the perfect spot for locals and non-locals alike! The close proximity of on-property resorts makes midday resort time a breeze! And with these three resorts (Pixar Place, Grand Californian, and Disneyland Hotel), you’re going to want to spend time at the resort! From the pools at each resort to the character interactions to putt-putt at Pixar Place, theresorts are a vacation experience in themselves! The attention to detail at each resort is top notch as well from hidden Pixar pals on the elevator floor of Pixar Place or the wallpaper at the Disneyland Villas – each resort is full of fun Disney attributes!
As we approach the 70th anniversary of this incredible park, it’s the perfect time to visit! With a team of experienced travel planners at Disney destinations across the globe, Middle of the Magic is ready to help get you there.
