Page 664 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

662  C ALIFORNIA

®
v Disneyland Resort Space Mountain is a Disney-
land® favorite that offers a high-
Disney’s “Magic Kingdom®” in Anaheim is not only the top speed roller-coaster ride, 118 ft
tourist attraction in California, it is part of the American (36 m) above the ground.
Dream. Now encompassing the original Disneyland® Park, Conducted almost entirely in
darkness, the ride has sudden
Disney’s California Adventure®, Downtown Disney®, plus meteoric flashes and celestial
three enormous hotels, the Resort has become the model showers, and is not suitable for
for theme parks around the globe. Visitors to “The Happiest very young children.
Place on Earth” find fantasy, thrill rides, glittering shows, and The colorful architecture of
shopping in a brightly orchestrated land of lines, fireworks, cartoons comes to life in Mickey’s
and Mickey Mouse, which is as American as apple pie. Toontown – a three-dimensional
cartoon world where all Disney’s
favorite animated characters reside.
Exploring the Resort and now takes visitors on a ride The most popular residences
Spread over 85 acres (34 ha), into a par allel universe. Star are Mickey’s house and Minnie’s
the original Disneyland® Park Tours was redesigned in colla- cottage. Most of the attractions are
is divided into eight theme boration with the Star Wars geared toward kids from age 3 up.
areas or “lands.” Transport ation genius George Lucas. Its fabulous Chip ‘n Dale Treehouse, a mini-
around the park is provided use of flight-simulator tech no- roller coaster; Goofy’s Playhouse;
by Disneyland Railroad and logy makes it one of the park’s and a floating bumper-boat ride
monorail. Disney’s California most realistic rides. Visitors offer gentle thrills. Roger Rabbit’s
Adventure® Park, is smaller than board a StarSpeeder spaceship Car Toon Spin is the favorite. Its
Disneyland® Park and can easily and are transported through spinning cars take visitors on a
be covered on foot. With three outer space strewn with madcap drive through a surreal
theme areas, it is more suited starships, comets, and asteroids. cartoon world.
to teenagers, as the attractions Currently under con struction, Fantasyland, dominated by the
may be too intense for toddlers. and with an opening date yet to pink and gold towers of Sleeping
At the heart of the Resort, be announced, the 14-acre Beauty’s Castle and a replica of the
Downtown Disney® is a lively (6-ha) Star Wars Land will be the Matterhorn, is a shrine to children’s
area full of restaurants, shops, largest single-themed land dreams. Nursery heroes such as
and entertainment venues. expansion at Disneyland®. Peter Pan and Snow White provide
It takes at least three days It will feature a never-before- the themes for gentle fairy-tale
to explore the theme parks. seen Star Wars planet populated rides. The historic Matterhorn
Both parks stay open late with humanoids, aliens, and Bobsleds offers “icy” roller-coaster
during the peak seasons. The droids. Two significant highlights rides down the slopes of a replica
Fireworks Show in Disneyland® will include, a re-creation of the of Switzerland’s famous peak.
and in Downtown Disney® Millennium Falcon Spaceship Bobsleds climb to its summit, then
are fantastic. and opportunity to experience drop into a high-speed descent,
a battle between First Order passing glacier caves and waterfalls
and the Resistance. While Big as they go. It’s a Small World
Disneyland® Park
Thunder Ranch has been creates a Utopian vision of global
Main Street USA is a colorful permanently closed, many key harmony, with almost 300
street lined with historic buildings. attractions such as Mark Twain singing-and-dancing Audio-
Central Plaza is the venue for the Riverboat and all railroads such Animatronics® dolls dressed in
daily “Mickey’s Soundsational as the Big Thunder Mountain national costumes.
Parade,” featuring Disney characters Railroad are temporarily closed The nightly Parade of Dreams
and scenes from Disney’s most during the expansion. is a family-oriented spectacle
famous movies. Guests can meet
with famous Disney characters and
will find ample opportunities Tickets & Tips
for photographs. City Hall offers Each theme park (except for Downtown Disney®) has a separate
maps, dining, and entertainment admission ticket that covers all the rides and shows, and includes a
schedules, while the Main Street park map and schedule of events. Parking is extra, as are certain
Cinema screens early Disney silent shows, food, and arcades. Multi-day tickets for three to four days and
films. There is also a large selection Annual Passports allow unlimited admission and access to attractions.
of shops and eateries. A Fastpass lets guests obtain a voucher with a computer-assigned
Visions of the future inspire boarding time for specific attractions or rides. This eliminates waiting
the rides in Tomorrowland, in long lines. Guests can also save time at the front gate by buying
where sights change regularly tickets in advance at any Disney store or online at www.disney.com.
to keep one step ahead of real- To help plan your day, there is updated information on show times,
life technology. One of the first waiting times, and ride closures at the information board at the end
attractions in 1955 was Autopia, of Main Street opposite the Plaza Pavillion.
which has since been updated
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp710–12 and pp713–15

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Practical template “UK” LAYER
(Source v1.7)
Date 5th March 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm