On July 17, 1955, Walt Disney introduced a family theme park to the world. Disneyland, a place where kids can let their imaginations run wild, and parents can be a child at heart. A place full of magic and wonder. Disneyland has been making beautiful memories for 59 years, and as long as their is still imagination in the world, it will continue to keep making more.
“To all who come to this happy place: welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past…and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams and the hard facts which have created America … with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” – Opening day speech by Walt Disney.
On May 27, 1977 Disneyland presented the park with Space Mountain, a high speed roller coaster adventure through space. At the opening ceremony, Disneyland had some very honored guests: America’s first men is space, the U.S. Mercury Astronauts.
This picture is from 1990, back when Disneyland had The People Mover and the original entrance to Space Mountain.
Walt Disney had planned for Space Mountain since the mid 1960’s, but he didn’t actually get to work on it since the 1970’s due to computer technology. Which wasn’t as advanced back in the 60’s. Space Mountain is the first “indoor” roller coaster. They closed the ride around 2003/2004, and re-launched it in 2005 during Disneyland’s 50th Anniversary with all new special effects. This is one of my all time favorite rides, and very popular among guests. The pictures they take at the end are just priceless and add more to your magic Disney memories. Happy 37th Birthday Space Mountain!!!
On the day of May 13, Fantasmic made it’s debut on the Rivers of America 22 years ago.
This classic nighttime extravaganza is a popular and beloved show, a definite must see for anyone visiting Disneyland Park. Fantasmic, is a show based on Mickey’s imagination and the battle between good and evil. It’s one of the most technically advanced shows presented in Disney Parks. It features pyrotechnics, fiber optics, lasers, water screen projections, and giant props.
I’ve grown up watching this show and it will always be one of my all time favorites. The classic characters, special effects, and the power of imagination gives you the whole vibe and feel of magic. Happy 22nd Birthday Fantasmic!!!
Hello my Disney Dorks!!! Firstly, I want to apologize for my absence on my blog. I was going through a lot and I didn’t quiet have the time to work on anything. I’ll try to do the best I can depending on my schedule. Thank you so much for your support and patience.
A couple months ago, my family and I decided to do the Discover the Magic Tour. That tour leans more towards kids, but if you’re a child at heart, you will enjoy it as well. The tour is approx. 2 1/2 hours long, and the pricing is $59 for the first two people, and $49 for each additional purchase. If you’re a Annual Passholder, Disney visa member, Disney vacation club member, or have AAA, you will get a 20% discount.
The tour is an adventurous scavenger hunt throughout the park. First you start off at the check in area, right next to City Hall, and your Tour Guide helps you look for a mysterious treasure chest. Once opened, it gives us a clue to our next destination.
The clue directed us towards Frontierland. There, we had to look for another treasure chest which contained a map, hooks, and pirate swords. With the map, we had to figure out where we needed to head to next. Let’s see, swords and hooks and a treasure map, it could only lead to Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer’s Island.
After riding the rafts to Tom Sawyer’s Island, we made our way to the hidden treasure and found yet another chest with another clue that lead us to the wilds of Adventureland. But before that, of course we had to ride Pirates of the Caribbean.
There, we looked around Tarzan’s Tree house and found, you guessed it, another treasure chest. Inside that was another clue that would only lead to the futuristic Tomorrowland. We rode the Jungle Cruise and afterwards, took a restroom break.
In TomorrowLand, we rode Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters before heading out to Pizza Port. We looked around and we found another chest, with yet another clue, which lead to Fantasyland.
There we looked around Matterhorn to find our last treasure chest and final clue.
We finally had all the clue pieces and put them together to figure out the final location of our amazing scavenger hunt.
The last clue lead us to Mickey’s House in Toontown. Turns out, Mickey was the one who planned this scavenger hunt all along. We took some pictures with Mickey and afterwards he gave us our treasure. A lanyard with a pin that says, “I discovered the magic at Disneyland.” We said our goodbyes to Mickey and our wonderful tour guides, but not before we got another treat. A cute souvenir cup with a refreshing apple juice freeze.
It was a fun filled, crazy adventure anyone with kids, or a child at heart, would enjoy. If you would like to see a video about the tour, then click on the link and subscribe to my youtube channel. Thanks!!!!
So yesterday, November 12, was the first day of Christmas Time at Disneyland. I decided to spend the day with my cousin and we had a blast, it was nice catching up on things. The first stop to begin our day was the Jingle Cruise, formally known as the Jungle Cruise. This is the first time that the Disneyland Resort has done something festive for this attraction.
While waiting in line and walking through the queue area, you’ll see how the “homesick skippers” decided to decorate for the holidays.
The “homemade” decorations were absolutely cute and creative. It gave you a different perspective on your typical Christmas get up. The actual ride itself stayed the same as it is, the only thing that changed was the jokes. The skippers changed their jokes to fit the festive occasion. Overall it’s a nice ride the family will enjoy for the holidays.
If you would like to watch a video of the Jingle Cruise with the new jokes, then please check out my Youtube account.
September 13th was the first day for Halloween Time at Disneyland, it was also the 13th year for them celebrating the Halloween time.
On this special Friday the 13th, my family and I decided to do the Disney’s Happiest Haunts Tour. This tour is about 2 1/2 hours long, you’ll go on 4 attractions (you don’t have to wait in line), and receive some special treats throughout the tour. Your ghost host will discuss some histories of Halloween from around the world. This tour is only provided during the Halloween season, so when you have a chance, I highly recommend taking the tour. It is better to call a couple days ahead before you go to the park and hopefully they have spots open because it is an amazing experience. Right before the tour you get a headset to wear so you can hear your tour guide and you also get this awesome button with your name on it.
First stop on the ghoulish tour, we headed to California Adventure to go on the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
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Once the ride was done, we got a surprise form Gracie, our “Ghost Host”, who decided to accompany our tour group.
We then headed to Buena Vista Street where we walked into Clarabelle’s Hand-Scooped Ice Cream shop and got a little special treat. It literally felt like going trick or treating on Halloween.
After our awesome treat, we headed back to Disneyland and headed to ride Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. From there we took a quick restroom break, and then continued on towards Fantasyland and rode Matterhorn Mountain bobsleds. For our last special treat we needed to head towards New Orleans Square, but before that we cut through Frontierland and stopped by Rancho del Zocalo Restaurant to see the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) decorations.
We also checked out this Halloween tree
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In New Orleans Square, we got to ride the most awaited attraction of the tour, Haunted Mansion Holiday. Since it was the 13th year, they decided to do something a little special on the ride. Let’s just say that a lot of fans were thrilled and the ride had a long line.
In conclusion of the tour, our tour guide gives us a candy corn shaped cookie and a commemorative collectible pin.
I absolutely loved this tour and would be willing to do it again. It just adds more to the Halloween spirit and Disney experience. If you would like to watch some videos of the tour then check out my youtube account. Thanks.
When I visited the park on 9/5/13, I happened to stop by The Golden Horseshoe to see The Laughing Stock Co. perform. The perform about 6 times a day or less depending on the season. They are a hilarious group the whole family will enjoy. I recommend at least seeing them perform once during a visit to the parks.
One thing I recommend doing is going into the Wheelhouse on the Mark Twain. Right as you enter the turnstile ask the cast member if you can go up with the Captain in the Wheelhouse. You may have to wait on the next trip depending whether or not someone else has asked first. The minute you go in, you have to be very careful with the stairs because they are quite narrow. At the top, you will see the big wheel and a amazing view of Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Tom Sawyer’s Island.The cast members have a log book they have guests sign, which I think is so lovely and adds to the Disney experience.
A couple times throughout the ride, the cast member would ask the guests to either pull the horn or the whistle. The kids will really enjoy doing this.
At the end of the relaxing voyage, the cast member hands out a Pilot’s Certificate.
It’s an amazing keepsake that will only add to the magical memory that the guests will cherish.
Located in Tomorrowland, there is an attraction called Innoventions, which displays household items for the future. There is one room that’s supposed to be a little boys room and it’s amazingly cute. It’s themed Peter Pan, with the bed made to look like a pirate ship. Sometimes in that room, a cast member tells the Peter Pan story, meanwhile the room interacts with the story. It’s something I believe every child will enjoy.
The Enchanted Tiki Room was opened in June of 1963 and it was the beginning of a new era of Audio- Animatronics. (Due to the advanced technology and popularity, the Imagineers added adavanced Audio- Animatronics to attractions such as, Pirates, Haunted Mansion, and Carousel of Progress.)
During the show, more than 225 birds, tikis, and flowers sing some beloved songs such as the popular “The Tiki, Tiki, Tiki Room.”
A little unknown fact, is that you can wake up Jose the Macaw to start the show. All you have to do is just ask a cast member right as you enter the building.
The Enchanted Tiki Room is a wonderful classic attraction the whole family will enjoy. It’s also a nice place to sit and relax and get away from the Summer heat. Be sure to stop by at the Tiki Juice Bar and try out some refreshingly sweet Pineapple Dole Whips.