Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho To Disneyland We Go!

Well, we Southerners are spoiled.  We love our sweet tea, long hot days of summer and of course visiting Walt Disney World.  If you live South of the Mason-Dixon line, Disney World is just a day's drive at the most.  A lot of us make plans to visit once a year or every two or three years.  We treat it as going to go see an old friend or relative....it is something we must do!  A family member asked me the other day if they should go to Disneyland.  Her family will be staying just outside the park and wondered if they would enjoy it.  My first thought was well yes of course go, you may never be back to that area of the country again.  My second thought was it is hard for us in the South to have a desire for Disneyland since we have such a love for Walt Disney World.

There are plenty of reasons to visit Disneyland if you ever find yourself out in California.  Disneyland was the first park, opening on July 17, 1955 by Walter Elias Disney himself.  Disney placed a lot of his personal touches in this park.  His handprint is everywhere including a private apartment above the firehouse for him and his wife Lillian to enjoy the activity in the Park.

The must-see attractions if you are ever out that way......

1.  Tour Walt Disney's apartment



This tour of his apartment is included in the "Walk in Walt's Disneyland Footsteps" tour.

2.  Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

For those of you who grew up with the 20,000 Leagues under the Sea attraction, this is in similar waters with a Finding Nemo theme.

3.  Mickey's Fun Wheel

  

At 150 feet high, not everyone is a Ferris Wheel fan but the views from this ride are amazing.  Decide beforehand if you want a stationary or swinging gondola to ride in.

4.  Mr. Toad's Wild ride

This was another ride that I grew up with at Walt Disney World and would love to see make another reappearance...still a favorite.

5.  Radiator Springs Racers

I'm a huge fan of Cars and Cars 2 films so this would be an ultimate must do ride.

6.  Billy Hill and the Hillbillies

A 25 minute show in Frontierland that aims to please all ages in the crowd.

7.  Storybook Land Canal Boats

Take a tour of classic Disney fairytale destinations.

8.  Casey Jr. Circus Train

Ride the rails through Storybook Land and experience some of Disney's most beloved locations.

9.  Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin

Steer a runaway Taxi cab as you journey through Toontown.

10.  Alice in Wonderland

Explore Alice's dream world in an over-sized caterpillar.

11.  Disneyland Train

Be sure you make a reservation to ride in Lilly Belle Presidential Train car, designed exclusively for Walt's lovely wife.

12.  Matterhorn Bobsleds

Ride through snow covered mountains to escape the mythical Abominable snowman.

13.  World of Color

According to Disneyland, this is, "the most impressive and fanciful nighttime extravaganza Disney has ever produced.  Nearly 1200 fountains shoot water 200 feet into the air to create an approximately 19,000 square-foot water screen"

There are also many, long-time, not-to-be missed favorites :

Splash Mountain

Space Mountain

Thunder Mountain Railroad

Star Wars

Haunted Mansion

It's a Small World

Peter Pan's Flight

Indiana Jones Adventure

Pirates of the Caribbean

YouTube videos to Enjoy!

Apartment Tour by Disney's daughter, Diane Disney Miller

Goofy Visits Disneyland in the art of Vacationing