The Disneyland Resort in California is the place where the first ever Disney theme park was officially opened, by none other than Walt Disney himself. It wasn’t until much later that it expanded and became a resort made up of two fantastic parks- Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. A visit to California wouldn’t be complete without spending some time at Disneyland, so make sure you put it at the top of your list. With iconic attractions, exciting shows and classic Disney characters, there really is SO much to do. We’ve put together a handy guide of the things you really shouldn’t miss…
1. Take a selfie in front of the castle
This one has to be on our list because a visit to Disneyland wouldn’t be complete until you’ve had your photo taken in front of the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle. The stunning castle acts as the park’s centrepiece and is famous all over the world. To make your selfie even better, we’d suggest picking up a pair of Minnie Mouse ears! Afterwards, step inside the castle and relive the classic tale of Sleeping Beauty through an interactive 3D display.
2. Explore Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was unveiled to the public on 31st May 2019 and is already a huge hit with guests. Whether you’re a major Star Wars fan or you haven’t seen a single movie, your visit won’t be complete until you’ve explored this unique land.
If you’ve always dreamed of being able to board the iconic Millennium Falcon, now’s your chance. You’ll be able to take control of this famous space craft on the brand new ride- Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run. You’ll also be able to meet some of your favourite characters (including Star Wars villains!), explore a marketplace, try tasty dishes you’ve never seen before and enjoy refreshing drinks that could only come from the Star Wars galaxy. You’ll want to have your camera with you as there’s so many incredible things to see and you’ll want to remember them all.
3. Meet your favourite characters
No matter what age, there’s nothing like meeting your childhood heroes, and at Disneyland, you can get up close to your favourite Disney characters. Make sure you bring along an autograph book and camera, so you can take lots of pictures. At the Disneyland Park you can expect to meet plenty of princesses like Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Ariel at Royal Hall. Over at the Disney California Adventure Park, you can meet heroes like Spider-Man and the Guardians of the Galaxy, as well as Disney Royalty like Anna and Elsa, and of course- Mickey Mouse.
4. Discover Pixar Pier
Pixar Pier is a new, exciting expansion that debuted at Disneyland California back in 2018. If you haven’t heard much about it, Pixar Pier is a new area that has totally transformed the southern shore of Paradise Bay. You can probably tell from the name, that the area is inspired by classic Pixar stories, and it features some very familiar faces. There are four themed lands in total, including neighbourhoods inspired by the Incredibles, Toy Story and Inside Out, as well as an entire land dedicated to several of the iconic Pixar stories. There are also several new attractions like the exhilarating Incredicoaster and the family-friendly Jessie's Critter Carousel.
5. Ride ALL the iconic attractions
Or as many as you can fit in! With so many amazing attractions to experience, it can be hard to know where to start. Our top tip for visiting the parks is to arrive early, so that you can avoid the queues and get straight onto the most popular rides. Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, The Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Soarin’ Around the World and It’s a Small World, are just some of the resort’s top attractions. Although be warned, the latter will leave you singing along to ‘It’s a Small World’ for hours! If you want to experience a true piece of Disneyland history, make sure you try out some of the opening day attractions like Peter Pan’s Flight and Mad Tea Party- these have been running ever since the park’s gates first opened.
Guardians of the Galaxy- Mission: BREAKOUT! is one of the newest attractions. You might recognise it as it was formerly the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. It’s still got the same stomach-churning drops but with a brand new, immersive Guardians of the Galaxy theme.
6. Watch the incredible shows
The perfect way to end the day at Disneyland is by watching one of the incredible night-time spectaculars. Disney really do know how to put on a show, and any one of them is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Fantasmic is not only a must-see, but also one of our favourites. The stunning show, delves into one of the weird and wonderful dreams of Mickey Mouse. There’s music, special effects, dancing water fountains and dazzling fireworks, as well as plenty of familiar faces!
We also love the breath-taking World of Colour show at Disney’s California Adventure Park. This show will have you mesmerised from start to finish, thanks to its huge ‘water screen’. To create the screen, more than 1,200 fountains shoot water an incredible 200-feet into the air, while light projection technology portrays scenes from classic Disney movies onto the water, and colourful fireworks soar into the sky. Make sure you check the full show schedule when you arrive so that you don’t miss out.
7. Try the delicious snacks
Mickey waffles, dole whips, ice cream, churros- with so much to choose from it can be hard to know where to start! One thing's for sure, if you’ve got a serious sweet tooth, you’re going to be in your element. There are some Disney snacks that are almost as famous as the rides, and we’d recommend trying as many as possible!
Ready to experience the Disney magic? Click here, to view our range of Disneyland California tickets.
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Updated: 18/06/19
