You’re a “veteran” of many visits to Walt Disney World, but are thinking about visiting the original Disneyland in Anaheim, California? Fantastic! Despite the fact that the Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida was modeled after Disneyland, the two have a lot of differences, and Disneyland has plenty of unique attractions and entertainment. These are my top tips for what Walt Disney World visitors should check out on their trip to Disneyland.
Radiator Springs Racers – The whole Cars Land area is unique to Disneyland, and is so well-themed that it’s absolutely worth visiting. Radiator Springs Racers is the land’s flagship ride, and is our favorite ride in Disneyland’s neighbor park, Disney California Adventure.
Matterhorn Bobsleds – Fantasyland’s classic thrill ride at Disneyland, the Matterhorn Bobsleds send you careening down the mountain attempting to avoid an abominable snowman. We’re big fans of the single rider line for this one.
Indiana Jones Adventure – A supposedly cursed temple with lots of missing tourist cases – what could possibly go wrong? This thrilling ride takes you through encounters with forbidden all-seeing eyes, booby traps, and giant snakes. Walt Disney World regulars may recognize the ride’s motion as similar to DINOSAUR at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Storybook Land Canal Boats – This little boat ride is possibly my favorite ride that’s unique to Disneyland. Guests get to float past incredibly detailed miniatures of Disney film locations such as Agrabah, Pinocchio’s village, and Cinderella’s castle.
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride – This ride used to be in Walt Disney World where The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh is now. It’s one of Disneyland’s original classic dark rides, and we always love to take a spin.
Snow White’s Scary Adventure – This is another classic Disneyland dark ride that was also once in Walt Disney World, as well. Watch for the Evil Queen occasionally appearing in the window above the entrance.
Bonus: Haunted Mansion Holiday and ‘it’s a small world’ holiday – The Haunted Mansion and it’s a small world are two attractions you can find at Walt Disney World, without many significant differences between the two versions. During the holidays, however, these two attractions have fantastic overlays that you can only find at Disneyland. Haunted Mansion Holiday transforms the classic attraction into the story of Jack Skellington from The Nightmare Before Christmas from September through December. Over at ‘it’s a small world’, from November through December the exterior is covered in a gorgeous light display, and the ride itself has several holiday additions.
Disneyland is the “original” and is worth the trip to California for any Disney fan!
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I’m Elizabeth, and I’m a planner, a vacation enthusiast, and quite the nerd. Even better, I’m dedicated to helping you plan an unforgettable vacation without all the stress. I like to say that I specialize in nerd travel – to me, being a nerd has always meant being unashamedly passionate about the stories I love. This is why I love planning for my favorite destinations – these are places that can take you right into the world of your imagination and make it real. If you’re just a grown-up kid like me, you’ll love these destinations, too. Whether you’re imagining fairytale castles or adventures with wizards and dragons, I can help you make it happen! I’m putting all that I’ve learned about vacation planning and my nerdy love of fantasy to work for you, so that you can write your amazing vacation story. Visit my blog NerdTravelPro.com to learn more about how you can get help planning your next adventure, and come visit me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for even more vacation fun and tips. Contact me at elizabeth@theaffordablemouse.com to start planning.
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