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Disneyland

Anaheim, California, USA

“The original… the one and only… the best Magic Kingdom”

It’s nearly impossible to imagine the world without Disneyland Anaheim. It’s safe to say that this is the mother of all theme parks. This may not be the oldest amusement park on Earth, but it’s definitely the most influential one. Every mine train roller coaster is loosely based on Big Thunder Mountain and Haunted Mansion has inspired many parks. Dark rides with pirates and burning facades? They probably would not exist if Walt Disney had never built Pirates of the Caribbean. That’s why I always get goosebumps when I walk through Main Street USA. That’s the moment I realise that I’m walking through the Disneyland that was inaugurated by Walt himself. I’m experiencing legendary theme park history at this moment. Live. Right here, right now.

ROLLER COASTERS

In Disneyland’s rich history, there are a few years that stand out. One of those years is 1959, as no fewer than three major novelties opened. Besides the Disneyland Monorail and Submarine Voyage, Disneyland presented its first roller coaster. Since then, the snowy mountain peak of Matterhorn Bobsleds has been one of Anaheim’s most eye-catching icons. This alpine landscape is stunning and it contains one of the world’s oldest steel roller coasters. Interestingly, Walt Disney opted for two tracks. The tracks have a parallel lift hill, but after that they individually go their own way. With a length of 650 metres and a top speed of 45 kilometres per hour, Matterhorn Bobsleds initially seems like a tame family attraction. Yet, the experience may turn out to be more spectacular than you expected. The layout includes some brutal curves, surprising drops, near-misses and a surprising confrontation with the Yeti. The ride is far from smooth, but I think that’s perfectly normal for a 1950s roller coaster.

In 1977, Disneyland opened Space Mountain, the world-famous indoor coaster with its striking white dome. This ride simulates a flight to a universe full of twinkling stars. I’ve had the opportunity to experience the Californian Space Mountain in three different versions over the past few years: Hyperspace Mountain (a Star Wars-themed overlay), Ghost Galaxy (a darker Halloween version) and the original one. And while all these variations have their strengths, I’m especially fond of the original version. The Space Mountain we experience today gives the most authentic feel, and Michael Giacchino’s soundtrack is just magnificent. We also enjoy clever lighting effects and an incredibly smooth coaster ride, including an iconic three-part lift hill. In short: Space Mountain remains a world-class roller coaster and it’s well worth its legendary status.

Mountains provide excitement at many Disney parks. That’s also true in Anaheim, where the major coaster thrills are provided by Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. This runaway mine train has been around for 45 years, but I still consider it as one of the best family roller coasters ever created. Big Thunder Mountain’s landscaping is spectacular and it just seems as if every rider is having an incredibly fun time. I have to admit that the Parisian version offers a better location and a more thrilling ride, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that this Californian version does a fine job, too.

DARK RIDES

In a previous trip report, I nicknamed Disneyland Resort the Dark Ride Capital of the World and my opinion didn’t change. It’s not just about quantity, but I’m also amazed by the high level of quality. Two Grande Dames of the dark ride world can be found in New Orleans Square. I’m talking about Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion, which opened in 1967 and 1969, respectively. It’s quite an achievement to keep dark rides running for more than 50 years, but it’s even more incredible to keep these attractions in perfect shape. Both rides provide world-class experiences and they refuse to reveal their age. By the way: during our latest visit, we got to experience Haunted Mansion Holiday, a temporary re-theme based on The Nightmare Before Christmas. I’m not a fan of the film, but this overlay is downright spectacular.

In comparison to Haunted Mansion and Pirates, Indiana Jones Adventure is a relatively young dark ride. Still, the Temple of the Forbidden Eye has been a part of Disneyland for 25 years now. You wouldn’t expect it to be that old, because it’s one of Disney’s most immersive attractions ever. This is an exciting tour through a cursed temple with several fabulous scenes and special effects. It’s fast, it’s intense and it’s incredibly good. An elaborately themed queue and a mysteriously-looking temple facade certainly add to the excitement.

One of the newer pieces in Disneyland’s dark ride collection is Star Wars – Rise of the Resistance. The ride can be found in a somewhat remote corner of Galaxy’s Edge, a Star Wars-themed land that opened in 2019. The theming level of the area is world class, and so is this attraction. Rise of the Resistance combines several different ride systems: it consists of two pre-shows, a walk-through experience, a trackless dark ride and an elevator-style free fall segment. The Imagineers really outdid themselves when it comes to storytelling, so this definitely counts as one of the world’s most immersive dark rides. I’m not into Star Wars, but the ride blew my mind in a very unexpected way. Be prepared to queue, though. Although west coast Rise of the Resistance doesn’t create the same mass hysteria as the one in Orlando, it isn’t uncommon to see a 60+ minute line for the ride. An early arrival (or a $25 Lightning Lane) may help to reduce the wait.

Disneyland Anaheim is the mother of all Disney parks. Therefore, most classic Fantasyland dark rides are present at this park. The original It’s a Small World (which once stood at the World’s Fair in New York) and Peter Pan’s Flight are here, for example. Besides, Disneyland also offers attractions that don’t exist in other Disney theme parks. The first one is Mr Toad’s Wild Ride, a hysterical and quite pointless trip to England. Fortunately, the second unique dark ride is a lot more interesting. Alice in Wonderland reminds me of Roller Coaster Tycoon, although theming is nicer in real life than in the computer game. This ride got a pretty big upgrade in 2014 and it features some modern projections since then. It used to be a classic and simple blacklight ride like Pinocchio and Snow White, but nowadays it’s obviously superior.

Mickey’s Toontown is a zone that could be described as a cartoonish extension of Fantasyland. It’s certainly not my favourite area in the park, but it features two attractions that I love. The first one is Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin. This character is practically unknown in Europe, but the ride proves that you don’t need to understand a story to enjoy it. It’s hysterical and loud, but it’s also fun and long waits are quite rare here.

The second big ride at Toontown is Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway, which can be found behind the facade of the El Capitoon Theater. The pre-show and dark ride are nearly identical to the version at Disney’s Hollywood Studios and that’s a good thing. The catchy title song is stuck in our heads and we notice once again that Runaway Railway is full of clever effects. Have you ever seen how quickly the ominous factory is transformed into a lovely nocturnal park, during the penultimate scene? By the way… this Californian version deserves extra points for the theming in the queue, as it is a lot nicer than in Florida. The queue passes through the El Capitoon cinema, which is packed with funny details and references to Mickey Mouse. I’d almost describe it as a walk-through rather than a queue.

OTHER EXPERIENCES

Bayou Country is Disneyland’s newest themed land and it also contains the newest attraction. Yet that is relative in both cases. In fact, Bayou Country is the new name of the old Critter Country and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure reuses the ride hardware of Splash Mountain. The theming of this 1989 log ride had become somewhat controversial, so I find it positive that they opted for an update of the decors. I’m also very glad Disney chose Princess and the Frog. The music always was an integral part of the Splash Mountain experience and the Princess and the Frog soundtrack certainly isn’t inferior. Besides, we are impressed by the beautiful exterior, the world-class audio animatronics and the long ride duration. However, if I may mention one drawback… Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is too wet. Despite the fact that we armed ourselves with jackets and ponchos, we were soaking wet after our ride. After the two tallest drops, water literally pours into the boats from all sides. This is kind of acceptable on hot summer days, but spring and autumn can get pretty chilly here in Los Angeles. So… Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is almost perfect, but be prepared to continue your day with soggy shoes.

If you’re looking for another ride in which water plays an important role, just head to Tomorrowland. Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage has been a beloved attraction since 2007. I understand why it’s so popular: it’s the only ride of its kind in the world and the Finding Nemo theme works surprisingly well. I hope that you don’t suffer from claustrophobia, though. The submarine’s seats are cramped and you need to stare through a tiny window for 15 minutes. This long duration and the minimal comfort create a low repeat value, but Submarine Voyage is a fine family attraction nevertheless.

If you love simulator-type rides, Disneyland offers two different options. Interestingly, both rides are inspired by the Star Wars universe. The oldest one is Star Tours – The Adventures Continue in Tomorrowland. I never really considered this as a must do, but the attraction’s 2011 reboot has changed my mind in a positive way. Nowadays, Star Tours treats its passengers to better special effects and the story line is different every single time. At Galaxy’s Edge, Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run offers an experience which is similar to Star Tours. Six guests board the cockpit of the legendary Millennium Falcon and they’re sent on an interactive mission by Hondo Ohnaka. Honestly, Smugglers Run was a little underwhelming to me. The ride’s exterior is nothing less than spectacular, but the actual experience felt rather simple and predictable.

SHOWTIME

Daytime parades are hit or miss at Disneyland Anaheim. I adored the cheerful SoundSational Parade, but Pixar Play Parade (which ran in 2018) was a bit of a misfit for Disneyland. Both parades have been retired and the park is home to Magic Happens nowadays. YouTube videos didn’t convince me, but the experience in real life may be totally different. I hope that I’ll be able to find out soon. The most popular entertainment offerings take place after sunset, when Disneyland is transformed into a huge open-air show stage. The park’s fireworks displays are usually very impressive and New Orleans Square is the home of Fantasmic. I always preferred the California version over its namesake at the east coast, but that has changed since my most recent visit to both resorts. I’m still convinced that Disneyland’s intimate viewing area is superior to the enormous theater in Florida, but the actual show isn’t as good as it used to be. I’m not a huge fan of the (quite long) Peter Pan scene and the villains scene just feels incomplete without the Maleficent dragon.

BEAT THE CROWDS

If you have visited Disneyland during Spring Break or Christmas, you know that crowds can be immense. This isn’t a surprise for a theme park that attracts 17 million visitors annually, but it can ruin your day… if you aren’t prepared. Luckily, there are many ways to cope with the crowds. Lightning Lane Multi Pass is a great way to minimise your time in queues… if you’re willing to pay extra. This virtual version of Disney FastPass allows you to make and adjust ride reservations on your phone. It’s comparable to its namesake at Walt Disney World, but ride availability seems to be a lot better here in Anaheim. Thanks to Lightning Lane, it shouldn’t be a problem to ride every major attraction in one day.

Lightning Lane Multi Pass is one good way to handle the crowds, rope-dropping is another one. This expression means that you enter the park as early as possible. This allows you to visit multiple E-Ticket rides with minimal lines. Many local guests tend to arrive in the late afternoon, so the early hours are usually the sweet spot for attraction lovers. In fact, arriving early is considerably more productive than staying late at the Disneyland Resort.

WORTH A VISIT?

Warning: Disneyland isn’t the most relaxing travel destination. You have to deal with big crowds, crying babies and long queues for rides and restaurants. But despite these disadvantages, Disneyland definitely is one of the world’s best theme parks. A major strength is the willingness to improve. This park has reached a considerable age, but they’re constantly evolving towards the future. Good examples are the upgrades Alice in Wonderland and Splash Mountain/Tiana’s Bayou Adventure received. Disneyland certainly isn’t the most perfect theme park on Earth. It has grown to something a lot bigger than Walt probably envisioned, so some places in the park feel cramped. That’s okay, though. Disneyland makes up for that with an indescribable charm which can only be found here in Anaheim. If you haven’t got a clue what I’m talking about, then please book a flight to Southern California and enjoy the splendor of the Disneyland Resort. This truly is The Happiest Place on Earth.

Is Disneyland Anaheim the best Magic Kingdom-style theme park on Earth? Do you agree that it’s a dark ride paradise? And which parade is your favourite? Share your opinion in the comments section at the bottom of this page.

This article reflects my personal experience at Disneyland during a visit in November 2024.