Quick Tips For the Family Travelling to Disneyland

The happiest place on earth gets even happier when the day goes well! If you're planning on taking the whole family out for a memorable day at Disneyland, there are a few things you'll want to prepare in advance so that the day can run as smoothly as possible. So make sure your daughter has decided if she wants to dress as a Cinderella princess or a Snow White princess, pull out the park map, and get ready for a few quick tips on how to make your day an extra special, and sane, one.

Where will we go? This is one of the most important decision to make, and is typically best done before you even head to the park. Having a general idea of how your family wants to interact with the park will help they day be less chaotic. If you have older children, you may want to split up in the morning, and meet up for lunch and spend the remainder of the day together. Do your kids want to spend more time in TomorrowLand or in their princess Disney costumes shopping in the Sleeping Beauty castle?

Check out a Disney map online if you can. If not, check with your kids. See if the family will be splitting up, and suggest meeting together for a meal. You can discuss the latter half of the day over lunch. The Pizza Parlour by Space Mountain is a popular place for kids to eat.

Before entering the park, make sure the family has agreed on a designated meeting place if anyone gets lost or separated from the group. There is a "lost children" place in the park, if you choose that as your destination.

What should you wear to the park? To wear a princess Disney costume or not? Little girls love to go to Disneyland in their Cinderella princess costumes or in a Snow White princess dress. While you don't want to get the let Cinderella princess or Snow White princess dress get dirty, letting your daughter dress in her princess Disney costume brings an added benefit of fun for your little girl. She'll love having her picture taken at the Sleeping Beauty castle and when she meets a Princess in the park she'll sure to be excited that she's in a princess Disney costume too.

Don't worry about the dress getting dirty, you can keep an eye on it during the day, and the memories of your daughter truly feeling like princess all day will make up for the wear and tear on the dress.

For the rest of the family, check the weather before going, and make sure to encourage family members to wear hats and sandals or light jackets, whatever the weather is predicting. You want everyone to be as comfortable as possible! Having a second layer (a light coat or a long-sleeved t-shirt) is a good idea if you plan on staying in the park during the evening as temperatures cool off.

An enjoyable necessity, eating at Disneyland adds to the enjoyment of the day. If you're looking to keep on a budget, pack your snacks and plan on eating out only for meals. There are a variety of restaurants to choose from at Disneyland, from casual hot dog stands to the fine dining cuisine inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. To enhance your experience, choose one place that your family is comfortable with (like a casual hot dog place) and another than may put you out of your comfort zone, like Ariel's Grotto or another fancier restaurant.

Just remember to have patience, take pictures, and get ready for an enjoyable day together as a family!

Disneyland Hotels - Map Out Your Holiday

Whether you are in the middle of planning a Disneyland trip or you are just trying to get some ideas for the future, it is a good idea to get a hold of a Disneyland hotels map. When looking at taking a vacation to Disneyland, you want to make sure that you are as prepared as humanly possible. With so much to do and so much to get ready for you need to make sure that you have a good idea of what your options are when it comes to hotels that are right around Disneyland.

Since this is a popular vacation destination there are going to be a lot of choices for you when it comes to picking just the right hotel. This is a great thing as it means that you should have no problem finding the hotel you want and need and for a price that you can easily afford. Most people tend to think that staying as close to the theme park as possible is always the best way to go. Something that you want to keep in mind though is that the closer you are to the park the more expensive the rooms are. Upon looking at a Disneyland hotels map you may find that a nice room can be found a lot cheaper just a block or two further away. Even if you have to walk a little bit further you will find yourself with better room rates.

Every step you take away from Disneyland, the cheaper the rooms are going to be. And this does not mean that they will be low quality rooms either. Of course you will have to watch for some of those lower class rooms but that are just about anywhere you travel to. Also, when thinking about which hotel you should go for you will want to consider just exactly how much time you think you will be spending in the room. Since you will probably be in the park all day and eating out, you will basically just need the hotel room for showers and to get some much needed sleep.

All of this is what you are going to want and going to need to take into consideration when you are looking over the Disneyland hotels map. You would be surprised at all of the money that can be saved just by staying at a hotel that is not right at Disneyland. The money that you save can help pay for the trip or allow your kids to grab some extra souvenirs. No matter what you end up doing with the money that you save it is much better then having to spend it on a room. Also make sure that you are contacting the various hotels around the area to see which ones offer discounts. If you are in the military or if you are a member of a roadside assistance club, you may be eligible for discounts which will make your room rates that much cheaper.

Hong Kong Disneyland

In the early 1950s, Walt Disney dreamed of creating a place where children and grown-ups of all ages could have fun together. The result was the world's first theme park, a magical kingdom of fantasy, imagination and adventure called Disneyland, which opened in 1955 in Anaheim, California, U.S.A. Now, this world of Disney fun and family entertainment is coming to Hong Kong.

Opening in 2005/2006 at Penny's Bay on Lantau Island, Hong Kong Disneyland will feature classic Disney attractions, unique shops and restaurants, themed resort hotels, dazzling live entertainment and all the magic and imagination people have come to expect from Disney parks around the world. At Hong Kong Disneyland, you'll leave the world of today and enter magical worlds of imagination and adventure in which enchanting stories and timeless places literally come to life right before your eyes. Here, fantasy becomes real and reality becomes fantastic. You'll discover medieval castles and futuristic mountains, encounter jungle elephants and elephants that fly, hear snakes that hiss and bears that talk, and ride both old-time fire engines and space-age rockets. And, of course, you'll be able to meet all your favorite Disney characters: Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Cinderella, Aladdin, Buzz Lightyear, Mulan and many others. Hong Kong Disneyland is modeled after the original Disneyland in California. It will also feature some of the best design elements from other Disney parks around the world, including the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World in Florida, U.S.A., Tokyo Disneyland in Japan and Disneyland Paris in France. The result is a familiar yet entirely fresh Disney experience. Hong Kong Disneyland is divided into four lands, each transporting you to another place and time. You can then continue your magical journey at two uniquely themed resort hotels.

Hong Kong Disneyland Fact Sheet

Facts and Figures for Hong Kong Disneyland:

Project Overview: The Hong Kong Disneyland project was announced in November 1999 as a venture between The Walt Disney Company and the Hong Kong SAR Government and scheduled to open in 2005/06. The opening day program will include a 5.6 million annual visitor Disneyland-style theme park, two hotels and retail, dining and entertainment uses. The Phase I build-out includes a 10 million annual visitor Disneyland-based theme park, 2,100 hotel rooms, and a 28,000 square meters (300,000 square foot) retail, dining and entertainment complex.

Size: 126 Hectares (310 acres).

Location: Overlooking the water at Penny's Bay, and on a main transit route from the new Hong Kong International Airport, the project will position Lantau Island as a world-class tourist destination. The Disney resort site will take advantage of the location's easy access by rail, highway and ferry to attract guests to the park. It is located 10 minutes from the new airport (also on Lantau Island) and 30 minutes from downtown Hong Kong.

Current Project Status: Over the past 18 months, The Hong Kong SAR Government has completed the land reclamation and building the preliminary infrastructure work that will support the entire Hong Kong Disneyland Resort, including the roads and support systems to accommodate the thousands of workers and activity taking place on the construction site. Walt Disney Imagineers have been working on the theme park for the past two years with preliminary designs taking place at the Imagineers headquarters in California. The design work has been supported by local Hong Kong architectural firms and has recently been transferred to Hong Kong in preparation for construction.

Benefits and Employment Status: The project is estimated to create 18,000 new jobs at opening -- both from Disney and other employment opportunities, rising to 36,000 once the first park reaches build-out. The Government economist estimated that the first phase of the project will generate a present economic value of HK$148 billion (US$19 billion) in benefits to Hong Kong.

The tendering process for the development of the project has been underway for several months with three construction contracts already secured, and the remainder to be awarded over the next 18 months. In total, the project will award 15 to 35 contracts for large-scale and specialty work that will result in significant job opportunities in the construction industry throughout the two-year theme park construction process.

At the peak of construction approximately 4,000 workers will be on site to help build the theme park resort which does not include the thousands of jobs created industry-wide to support the logistics and production of this large-scale development project.

In preparation for the operations of Hong Disneyland, Disney is actively hiring for key management positions over the next six months and the vast majority of hiring of up to 5,000 Cast Members (Disney's term for employees) taking place in 2004.

Construction Fun Facts: In order to create this theme park resort, the site will contain the following:

* 57 kilometers (35 miles) of pipeline

* 11 kilometers (6.8 miles) of cable

* 1,000 manholes

* 2 million cubic meters (2.5 million cubic yards) of topsoil created solely to support the extensive landscaping on the site.

Walt Disney Imagineering: Walt Disney Imagineering is the master planning, creative development, design, engineering, production, project management and research and development arm of The Walt Disney Company. Its talented corps of Imagineers is responsible for the creation - from concept initiation through installation - of all Disney resorts, theme parks and attractions, real estate developments and regional entertainment venues. It is headquartered in Glendale, California.

Specifics of Hong Kong Disneyland:

Hong Kong Disneyland will be the fifth Disneyland-styled theme park in the world, the eleventh Disney park ever built and the first to recreate many of the exact designs of the original Disneyland in California including its Sleeping Beauty Castle. Guests visiting Hong Kong Disneyland will leave the world of today and enter a fairytale kingdom that celebrates the spirit of fantasy, the world of tomorrow and a sense of adventure.

Along with the classic Disney stories and attractions, Hong Kong Disneyland has the distinction of featuring original attractions designed specifically for Hong Kong, as well as entertainment and parades that will celebrate local culture.

Main Street U.S.A.: Guests will first enter Hong Kong Disneyland through Main Street, U.S.A., designed after quintessential small town America and evoking a time gone by when the gas lamps was giving way to electricity and "horseless carriage" was the latest novelty. Its nostalgic design will help transport guests from the real world into a "magic kingdom" where they can then venture into several different lands.

Fantasyland: Sleeping Beauty's Castle is to be the gateway to Fantasyland. Here the guests will find a magical place where their favorite Disney stories come alive; they can fly to Neverland with Peter Pan, take a spin in a teacup, or meet many of the beloved Disney characters such as Winnie the Pooh, Snow White and the head mouse himself, Mickey Mouse.

The centerpiece of Fantasyland will be the brand new, one-of-a-kind attraction, Fantasy Gardens -- unique to Hong Kong Disneyland.

Adventureland: In Adventureland, guests will begin a journey into the exotic regions of the Asian and African jungles. Adventureland will also showcase some of the most spectacular trees and plant life ever assembled in one place. Here guests can take a daring ride on a jungle river cruise, and explore many other attractions including a whole island devoted to the "King of the Jungle." Adventureland will also include one of the largest, in-door theaters in the world that will be home to a classic Disney live-entertainment show.

Tomorrowland: Tomorrowland will be a world filled with science fiction and soaring space adventures. Taking a whole new approach to Tomorrowland that will be different from any other Disney theme park, Walt Disney Imagineers have created and entire land that becomes an Intergalactic Spaceport - and every restaurant, shop and attraction will be filled with robots, rocket ships and floating planets. Guests will be treated to the warp-speed adventure of "Space Mountain," as well as fly their own flying saucer in the attraction "Orbitron."

Hotels:

Two themed hotels evoking the spirit of fantasy, excitement and adventure, will be built just minutes from the Hong Kong Disneyland theme park.

Hong Kong

Disneyland Hotel: Nestled along the waters edge, the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel recalls the elegance and romance of the hotels at the turn of the 20th century, but with all the advantages of the 21st century living. The luxurious six-story Victorian-style resort features 400 rooms and includes restaurants, lounges, a tea cafe, a retail shop, a "kids Club" child care facility, a full-service fitness center and beauty salon, a garden wedding gazebo and ample convention and meeting space.

Disney Fairytale Weddings will be a featured offering at Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel, allowing guests to host their wedding in true Disney fashion at the theme park resort.

Disney's Hollywood Hotel: Playing on the theme of Hollywood in the golden era of the 1930s and 1940s, Disney's Hollywood Hotel will capture the fun of movie-making with allure of Hollywood's famous Art Deco architecture and style. This stylish eight-story hotel features 600 guest rooms, dining, shopping, and a garden courtyard that unfolds like a map of Los Angeles with popular and well-known Hollywood streets, landmarks and icons.

Main Street, U.S.A., is a trip back in time to America at the turn of the 20th century. The United States was at the crossroads of an era as the discoveries of the late 1800s were changing people's way of life. The gas lamp was being replaced by the electric light, the newfangled automobile was challenging the horse-drawn carriage for the right of way on the town's roads and the slower pace of those times was gradually giving way to the hustle and bustle of modern life. This is the world that Walt Disney grew up in as a boy and it's the era that he looked back on fondly throughout his life as a time of carefree pleasures and happy memories.

Adventureland features adventurous journeys to mysterious, far-off places, both real and imagined. It is strange, exotic and unknown, giving people like you the chance to experience far away locales where "danger" lurks around every bend and surprises appear from every direction. Adventureland at Hong Kong Disneyland also finds inspiration in the world of modern-day Disney animated movies, such as Tarzan and The Lion King.

Fantasyland brings to life characters and stories from Disney's animated movies and television shows. This is literally the place in Hong Kong Disneyland, situated within the walls of a storybook castle, where childhood dreams come true. It's as if the classic stories of our youth have tumbled out of the pages of a storybook and come to life right before our eyes, bringing to reality the make-believe worlds of such endearing characters as Winnie the Pooh, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo the Flying Elephant and many other Disney favorites.

Tomorrowland serves as a space oasis, a curious, lighthearted look at what life might be like on an intergalactic outpost that will take you to infinity and beyond. Here, you'll get the very real feeling that you're blasting off into outer space, while nearby you can embark on fanciful adventures with superheroes like Buzz Lightyear. As Walt Disney once said, "Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Scientists today are opening the doors ... achievements which will benefit our children and generations to come." But tomorrow is also for dreamers, the people with big ideas and rich imaginations. Tomorrowland at Hong Kong Disneyland has room for both in its world of fantasy and reality.

This 400 room Victorian themed hotel is sited prominently between the sea and the Disneyland theme park near the center of the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. The hotel's gabled and turreted roof forms, balconied facades and lush landscaping with multiple garden courtyards will ensure an engaging, gracious and entertaining resort experience for all guests. The richly detailed exterior and gardens reminiscent of the bygone Victorian era are carried through into the soaring interior of the reception lobby and the major public spaces within the hotel. The subtle, and not so subtle, use of Disney characters, icons and artworks woven into the overall Victorian architecture and interior design themes create a one of a kind experience for our guests. Extensive conference, banquet, spa, pools and restaurant venues within the hotel and its extensive grounds will cater to every wish of the Disney guests choosing to experience this exclusive themed resort property.

This 600 room Art Deco themed hotel sits expansively on its generously landscaped site facing the sea. A legacy of art deco design icons drawn from the United States, southern California and Hollywood in particular, are combined with the rich resource of Disney icons and artworks from this period covering the early to mid 20th Century. These elements are melded together to create a distinctive "Disney Deco" ambience throughout the hotel and its grounds, with a little Hollywood playfulness thrown in for fun. Traditional strong horizontal and vertical art deco design elements are contrasted and softened by the use of an overlay of familiar and distinctive Disney themes. Dramatic lighting integrated into both building exterior and interior spaces is another attribute of art deco designs that is being incorporated into this hotel. A highly themed Chef Mickey buffet is the primary restaurant venue here. The adjacent Lobby Lounge provides sweeping views into a lushly landscaped courtyard and the sea beyond. This courtyard includes an outdoor pool, gardens and paths whose design theme is based on a playfully abstracted Hollywood street map with various Hollywood follies placed throughout to entertain our guests.

You can see photos of the Groundbreaking Ceremony and artists renderings of the park at mydisneymagic.com [http://www.mydisneymagic.com/hong-kong-disneyland/hong-kong-disneyland]

Disney World's Polynesian Resort

Disney has 3 luxurious hotels that are a Monorail's ride away from the theme park. These are namely the Floridian, the Contemporary and the Polynesian. Although they are a bit pricey, there are certain benefits you get being a guest.

What makes the Polynesian Resort different from the two is that you feel like you are staying in one of those islands in the South Pacific. The hotel has a total of 853 rooms each with a Hawaiian motif. These are located in eleven two and three story A-frame long houses that have exotic names such as Autearoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Niue, Rapa Nui, Rarotonga, Samoa, Tahiti and Tokelau.

Each of these buildings are scattered over the grounds that have more than 75 species of dense vegetation. There are three white sanded beaches dotted with hammocks for you to lie in as well as lounge chairs. At night, pathways are torch lit and you can hear soft Hawaiian melodies playing nearby.

There are a lot of things you can do at the resort. You can jump in and cool off at the pool or the beach, have fun at the arcade, eat in one of the fine restaurants, borrow a camera, have someone come over to babysit the kids, shop, exercise, fish or borrow one of their watercraft rentals for an extra fee. Every major credit card is accepted so you can save your cash for use in the theme park.

Some of the places you can eat here include the Polynesian Luau, Ohana's Feast, Captain Cook's Snack Co., the Kona Café, the Tambu Lounge and the Barefoot Pool Bar.

The standard room is 407 square feet and can accommodate up to five adults and a child under the age of 3. Here, you get to sleep in one of two queen size beds while king size beds are available if you choose to stay in a suite.

Aside from the kind of bed in the room and the size, the rest is the same. You get to have a bathroom, avail of turndown service which is only available upon request, irons, safe, minibar, some furniture, newspaper delivery, air-condition, fan and a refrigerator that can be rented for $10 a day.

Regular check in at the Polynesian Resort is at 3pm while checkout is at 11am. If you take a morning flight, you will be given a temporary room and then be told to transfer once the room you booked for is ready.

The Disneyland Hotel - Your Chance to Live in Never Land in the Heart of the Magic Kingdom

If you're looking for the ultimate Disneyland experience do yourself a favor and stay at the Disneyland Resort Hotel. It's the original Disney Hotel, located in Downtown Disney.

Its three high rise towers offer 990 guest rooms and all of them are astounding. You have your choice of standard rooms or suites and each has either two queen size beds or a king size bed, room service, phones, a refrigerator, an iron and ironing board, a hairdryer, a safe and make up mirrors.

If you need a crib or roll away beds they're available. And you have your choice of smoking or non-smoking rooms.

With the family? Then consider a one-, two-, or three-bedroom suite. And of course they have all of the amenities of the standard rooms.

The Concierge Service

Your concierge is there to make your vacation as enjoyable and as trouble-free as possible and the Concierge Service at the Disneyland Hotel is tops.

The Concierge Service entitles you to priority check-in, a continental breakfast, admission to an exclusive lounge and an evening wine and cheese reception.

You will also be pampered with a nightly turn-down service, complimentary movies and DVD players, as well as an unlimited supply of soft drinks and bottled water.

Living in Never Land

The finest Disney touches are everywhere. You'll feel like you're living in Never Land. Even the swimming pool has a Never Land theme.

You also have a choice of several cove pools and a sandy beach at the Disneyland Hotel.

The kids can be occupied at the children's playground and there are Koi ponds and a volleyball court.

The recreational area at the Disneyland Hotel is 5,000 square feet and was inspired by Peter Pan. There you'll feel like you're in the tropics, with all the foliage, scenic waterfalls and mysterious caves scattered about.

And if you feel the need to work out there's state of the art gym equipment at the Team Mickey work out room.

Stay at the Disneyland Hotel and your vacation goes on and on, even long after your day's sight seeing and park attractions are done. Remember - at the hotel you'll be going asleep and awakening in the Magic Kingdom that is Disney.

General Article About Disneyland Paris

Disneyland Paris Holidays are very popular with European holiday-makers and the resort receives greater than fifteen million visitors every year. Disneyland Paris is a Walt Disney Business, the biggest media plus entertainment company globally.

The resort was opened on April twelve in 1992 in Marne-la-Vallee, a new town inside the commune of Chessy in Seine-et-Marnein in the east bounds of Paris, France. It currently consists of two theme parks and 7 hotel resorts that have been constructed in the initial phase of development when Disneyland Paris opened in April 1992.

Since opening, six resort hotels have been added to the complex with plans to construct extra in the years to come.

The resort is open all year round and, if you look carefully, it is generally feasible to pick up a cheap package holiday bargain at nearly all times throughout the year.

The second and more recent theme park is the Walt Disney Studios park and you should set away time to visit and revel in the fantastic attractions here also.

Paris is definitely a popular destination in terms of quick breaks and with the joy of Disney too, family holidays there are also a complete must. The sheer number of attractions and rides available in the two complexes means that there is something to do for everyone.

Micky and Friends

Needless to say Micky, Daffy and pals are all waiting to give you a tremendous, friendly greeting whenever you get there. All of your favorite Disney characters are very much at home in the resort thus seeing your favorite is never any problem.

Booking

You usually do not need to book your Disneyland Paris Holidays ahead of time, for the reason that passes may be obtained at visitor information centres and RER ticket offices. Buying your pass in the rail station might prevent queuing when you arrive in the resort.

Best Time To Visit

Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays frequently are the quietest days to visit if you want to stay away from queues.

Getting There

Disneyland Paris is simply a 40 minute train journey from Paris.

Take the RER A-4 ligne (destination Marne La Vallee-Chessy, which is the final stop) directly to Disneyland Paris. A day return pass costs the exact same total as the single day MOBILIS Zone 1-5 travel pass, so buy the travel ticket (at any RER or Metro station) and the rest of the days travel (on RER, Metro, Bus, Tram, Funicular, within Paris) is at no additional cost.

Entry and Tickets

A 1 day ticket is around 48UKP for adults and 41UKP for children between ages 3 and eleven. This day pass allows for unrestricted access to either Walt Disney Studios or Disneyland Park.

Meals and Catering

At lunchtimes the cafes and eating places could be incredibly hectic, in particular through the holidays. Now and then, there just isn't sufficient seats, so it is best to eat earlier or else later than normal and steer clear of the rush.

Being a relatively inexpensive and fun holiday choice for families, it's no surprise that Disneyland Paris Holidays still continue as trendy as ever.

Disney Cruise and Land Vacations

Can't decide between a Disney cruise and spending time at the world-famous theme parks? So plan a vacation that has both. You can actually arrange a vacation package that has the theme parks and a cruise bundled together. Your luggage will move from your resort to the ship, and back again without any hassles. If you are staying at a Disney resort, you will even be able to use the same room key at your hotel and for your cabin on board.

They've recently changed how the "Land and Sea vacations" work, so you don't have to be staying at the pricier resorts in order to get a good cruise cabin. You can pick and choose what level of accommodation you want in your resort as well as on the boat.

Disney on Land

There is a reason why the Walt Disney World family of parks has been the top vacation destination in the USA for the past 30 years. You can enjoy the varied sights and activities of:

- Hollywood Studios - where movies come alive

- Epcot - centre for technology and the future

- Animal Kingdom - to see wildlife up close

- Magic Kingdom - the classic original Disney theme park

In addition to the parks, there are beaches and swimming at Blizzard Beach and the Typhoon Lagoon. For the most convenience, plan to stay at one of the many hotels and resorts that are located right on site.

Disney on the Water

Disney has been offering cruises since 1992, and they are doing it well. All their cruises get high ratings and rave reviews. There are 3, 4 and 7 day cruises to choose from, all that travel from Florida down to the Caribbean islands. The shorter cruises are on the Disney Wonder, and the 7-day one is on the Disney Magic. Each one is filled with Disney entertainment for the kids, and nightlife for the adults. During the holiday season, there are special 11-day cruises that spend more time farther south in the Caribbean.

If you thought that taking a cruise with small children was a bad idea, you haven't checked out a Disney cruise. They are designed with kids of all ages in mind.

4 Tips on How to Be More Comfortable on Your Disneyland Vacation

One of the easiest ways to ruin your Disneyland vacation is by trying to walk around with blisters on your feet.

So make sure to wear comfortable shoes that are already broken in because you're going to be walking a lot more than you usually do on your Disneyland vacation.

Waiting in line, aside from being a big waste of time, is also rather tiring and hard on your feet.

You can avoid this by buying and using a Disneyland FastPass.

FastPass can be obtained from machines located near the rides that accept FastPass.

This doesn't mean that you will immediately go to the front of the line. Instead you'll be scheduling an appointment for the ride later in the day - at which time you actually will move to the front of the line.

In the meantime, go enjoy the other sites and rides around the park.

When you get a FastPass ticket, you'll be given a one hour time window in which to enjoy that ride. For instance, your FastPass ticket may say 11am to 12pm.

This means that you can show up and you'll move to the front of the line anywhere between the hours of 11am and 12pm. You must have your Disneyland ticket in order to obtain a FastPass ticket.

At Disneyland, FastPasses are available for Indiana Jones, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin, Autopia, Space Mountain, and Buzz Lightyear.

Bring a change of clothes.

Whether you get a FastPass or not, it's also important that you bring a change of clothes. You can rent a locker at Disneyland to store your extra clothes.

Why would you want to do this?

You can rub your thighs raw if you ride water rides in denim shorts and then try to walk around while you dry out.

So enjoy the water rides - but then go change into dry clothing.

Bring extra shoes as well. Walking around in wet shoes is not only uncomfortable; it can also contribute to blisters.

What to do with tired feet.

If your feet are tired and sore at the end of the day, soak them in cool water with Epsom salt. This will offer more relief than soaking them in hot or warm water. After a good twenty minute soak, your feet will feel refreshed and ready for more walking.

The History of Disney World

The history of Disney World begins over 40 years ago, when Disneyland creator Walt Disney wanted to expand on his original creation. Disney World has been such a part of the landscape for so many years; it is hard to imagine a time without it-or what it looked like on opening day, October 1, 1971. Planning and construction for Disney World began a full decade prior to the opening of the Magic Kingdom, when Walt Disney began seeking a spot for another theme park to complement his California original, Disneyland.

Planning and Construction:

Disney chose Orlando, Florida for its great weather, inexpensive property, and the proximity of major thoroughfares. The company began purchasing land in secret, hoping to avoid rumors and a huge jump in prices. By 1965, all of the desired land had been purchased, and Walt Disney announced his plans for a new park-plans that included both the Magic Kingdom and Epcot, along with resorts and transportation systems. Though Walt Disney died a year later, in 1966, his brother Roy was able to complete the project, and the newly named Walt Disney World opened five years later.

Grand Opening:

While Walt's original plans and dreams were larger in scale, the Disney World that opened to guests in 1971 was small compared to what visitors experience today. Along with the Magic Kingdom, guest accommodations opened that year in the Polynesian, Contemporary, and Fort Wilderness resorts. Many of the attractions we enjoy today were present at the opening of the Magic Kingdom, including the "Haunted Mansion", and the "Jungle Cruise". Disney world continued to grow in the 1970's, adding several new resorts, and a shopping district that would eventually become Downtown Disney.

Epcot:

Epcot was part of Walt Disney's original plan for Disney world, and it opened on October 1, 1982. Epcot's unique design is modeled after a "city of tomorrow", and the park features two sections, Future world and World Showcase. Future World was created to hold "World's Fair" type exhibits, some of which are still open today. Others, like Horizons and World of Motion, have been replaced by updated attractions. World Showcase allows guests to enjoy a mini trip around the world, and learn a bit about each of the countries represented. World Showcase has retained all of the countries it had on opening day, though some exhibits have been updated.

Hollywood Studios:

Disney's Hollywood Studios, originally named Disney-MGM studios, opened May 1, 1989. The park was originally a working animation and movie/television studio, allowing guests to get a behind the scenes peek at how movies are made. Today, the studio no longer produces entertainment, instead, it focuses on movie themed rides and attractions like "Star Tours", "The Great Movie Ride" and "Toy Story Mania".

Animal Kingdom:

Disney's Animal Kingdom On April 22, 1998, Disney's fourth large theme park opened. The Animal Kingdom features live and animatronic animals from all over the world-and a few that exist only in memory. Visitors can take a safari trip, scale Mount Everest, and travel millions of years into the past to meet a dinosaur.

Throughout its almost 40 years, Disney World has continued to grow and change. In addition to the four large theme parks, Disney now houses over 20 resorts, several shopping and entertainment districts, and two water parks. Visiting Disney soon? Be sure to visit the Hollywood Studios' attraction One Man's Dream-it is all about Walt Disney and the History of Disney World.

Compare Disneyland and Universal Studios Hollywood For Your SoCal Vacation

Imagine you're taking a vacation to Southern California and realize you don't have enough time to visit all of the seven world-class theme parks. What do you do? Given how much there is to see and experience in So Cal, this is not such a far-fetched dilemma.

First of all, can you name the major theme parks? It's like naming the Seven Dwarves or Santa's reindeer. There's Disneyland (plus California Adventure, a worthy park in its own right), Knott's Berry Farm (the oldest of the parks), Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Sea World and Legoland (for the little ones).

The first thought would be to hit Disneyland Resort; after all, who doesn't want to visit the original Magic Kingdom? But there's a good chance that you've already been to Disneyland and maybe you should broaden your horizons-try something new. So let us do a brief comparison between Disneyland and one of the most likely alternatives, say Universal Studios Hollywood (USH).

USH has a distinct personality and offers an experience you won't find in Anaheim. The theme park was built around a working studio and one of the defining features is the Studio Tour. You can also purchase a VIP tour that really immerses you in the movie-making process. Disney offers nothing comparable to this.

In fact Disney is all about carefully creating and maintaining that fantasy façade-a wonderful pretend world where backstage activities are hidden from the "guests." Universal Studios revels in showing you the magic behind the scenes. The Studio Tour, Waterworld Stunt Show and other smaller shows let you see back stage very clearly.

Both parks employ lovable characters in the public relations department. Disneyland has the Seven Dwarfs; USH has Ghostbusters. Anaheim has Goofy; Hollywood has Homer Simpson. Disneyland puts up Minnie Mouse and it's answered by Betty Boop. Disney movies vs. Universal Pictures. There's Indiana Jones vs. The Mummy's Revenge.

In Anaheim you'll catch the evening fireworks and the Fantasmic show; in Hollywood you'll catch the Blues Brothers tribute show. For shopping, dining and street entertainment there's Downtown Disney...or there's Universal City Walk. Overall, Disney probably wins but Universal Studios does give them a run for their money.

Your vacation schedule could affect your decision. You probably need the better part of two days to really see Disneyland. A single long day at USH will most likely do the job unless the lines are really long. You might be frustrated with a single day in Anaheim-especially with Disney's California Adventure next door (which we aren't even talking about here). Bottom line: if you really don't have enough time to do the Magic Kingdom justice, it may be a better call to have a great single day at Universal Studios.

Both parks offer fun for visitors of all ages. But, you'll not find quite as much at USH for very small children. On a hot summer day, Universal could be tough on toddlers in strollers. They won't appreciate spending as much time on the tour or shows as your older children. On the other hand, Disneyland is more expensive overall. If the budget is a significant issue, Universal Studios could save you a bit of money.

How to Find a Hotel Deal Near Disneyland

When one mentions Disneyland, an image of excitement and fun will immediately jump into his mind. As one of the most popular travel destinations for both adults and children, Disneyland appeals for millions of tourists from all over the world every year. Disneyland, located in California, is surrounded by a lot of grand hotels, vacation resorts and budget motels from which you can make a wise decision. If you are looking for the best hotel for your Disneyland trip, this article is worth reading, for it will help you choose the hotel that fit your family and your wallet most. It's not easy, but it will save you a lot of money and be a great touch to your fascinating trip.

Searching online for information about hotel deals is the most convenient way to find an affordable accommodation near Disneyland. You will surprisingly find that various deals and hotel discounts are offered online if you spend your time on it. You don't have to book hotels online necessarily, but it is better for you to know different discounts offered by several companies. The more information you know, the easier you'll find it to bargain your way into the best offer.

Scanning Disneyland's local newspaper and looking for useful advertisement on accommodation is another smart way to get great deals. Generally, most hotels near Disneyland spare no effort to make their names at an eye-catching location on the newspaper. Offering unexpected deals and discounts is an effective way to draw tourists' attention. You can also find ads provided by travel agencies on the newspaper. The travel packages that they offer usually include cheap and comfortable accommodation and the tickets to Disneyland. If you spend a little time on getting these ads, a lot of money can be saved for other use.

It is strongly recommended for you to get involved in a large group on your vacation in Disneyland, as group rates are much easier to get. It will not only save your own time for bargaining but also save your money due to the group deals on hotels. In order to benefit most, the most important thing is to ask the hotel how they qualify a group and what kind of group rates do they offer. Most hotels have their group discounts much higher than individual discounts.

Don't forget to turn to your local travel agent for help and see what he or she can do to get an ideal deal for you. Many travel agents are allowed to buy in bulk and then sell rooms and tickets at a lower price. So maybe you can keep your money in pocket just by asking your travel agent for an exclusive deal.

Last but not least, picking up a right season for your trip to Disneyland in California is a crucial point when you plan your trip. During some certain seasons, all companies including hotels, restaurants and travel agencies will try every method to boom their business. Undoubtedly, rock bottom prices are frequently-used method. Being aware of these seasons is a convenient way to get a best deal. If you want to enjoy your vacation in Disneyland without pities, getting you and your family a cheap and comfortable hotel deal is a quite important precondition.

Disney Princess Enchanted Castle

Little girls who dream of becoming a Disney princess will surely imagine their favourite characters living an enchanted fairy tale life in a wonderful Disney Princess Castle with her Prince Charming. Of course, this is only a fantasy, although it creates a certain desire within every girl to want to own her own special castle where she can rule and feel like a special princess.

One great solution is to let your little girl accommodate herself during play times in a superb Disney Princess Enchanted Castle of her own, where she can entertain and play Princess games with her family and friends. Perhaps she can dress up in her favourite princess gown and invite her other Disney friends characters to tea and then give them a tour outside of her new castle where she might even have her own princess pony.

It's very possible to purchase some realistic castles which offer some amazing features such as windows with shutters, working doorbells and a great tower and even an exterior fountain. There are also some great furniture items that come with the castles and of course other products can easily be added to the existing collection.

A Disney Princess Castle is probably more suitable for children aged around 12 months to 8 years old. If your little girl is older, then it's possible to create an environment that is similar to a Disney Princess Palace within her own private bedroom. This can be created with lavish items such as the Disney Princess bedding products that are hugely available in a wide range of colors, patterns and designs. There is a large selection of bedroom accessories that can be purchased to transform your little girl's room into a Disney Princess Enchanted Castle.

Disneyland Savings - How to Save Big on Your Next Trip

If you are a big fan of Disneyland, then you are absolutely going to love this article. And that's because I'm going to share one of Disney's super secret, unadvertised deals that you simply cannot afford to miss...especially if you visit Disneyland more than once a year.

You see, most people who go to Disney California plan for their trip, but they fail to plan to save money. And believe me, there are countless ways to save money (BIG money) when you visit this famed theme park--no matter what time of year you go. From food deals to saving huge on tickets, a family of four (with proper planning) can easily save well over $500 on a 3-4 day Disneyland vacation...and even more if you stay longer.

Right now, adult Disney Park Hopper tickets are running as follows:

3-day hopper: $179

4-day hopper: $194

5-day hopper: $204

6-day hopper: $209

I've got a way to pay less than half these prices, but that's for another article. For the purposes of this article (My BIG Disney secret), I'm going to show you how to convert your park hopper pass into a year long season pass, for a fraction of the cost it normally costs.

Here's the secret that Disney does not advertise:

Once you purchase a park hopper pass, on the last day of your visit, you can go to the Annual Pass center (in front of the park on Main Street) and you can apply the cost of your park hopper pass to the cost of a Annual Pass.

For example, a Deluxe Annual Pass runs $269 a year. If you and your family were to visit the parks and buy a 6-day park hopper pass, on your last visit, you can take this pass (which cost you $209) present it to the clerk at the window, ask to apply to an annual pass (AP) and pay just $60 on top of what you had paid. And now, you can come and go to Disneyland as you please for a whole year for just $60 more!

Again, Disney does not advertise this, but I have done this successfully every year for the past six years. It's a great deal that should not be missed!

Cheap Disney World Vacation Packages

Going to Disneyland is the greatest dream every child or even an adult could ever wish for. Disneyland is one of the coolest vacation destinations and is the most famous theme park around the world.

If you are a traveler then finding for cheap Disney World vacation packages is definitely your main goal in searching for ways in going to that world-renowned park at a cheaper rate.

Fortunately, a lot of travel agencies have provided different packages exclusively for those who want to feel the Disneyland experience. However, cost effective fees and packages going to Disneyland entails extensive research.

Also, you need to identify how much you are willing to spend; this means stretching your financial budget for the whole trip. Being in Disneyland would really require you to spent a great deal of money.

One way of doing this is through proper analysis of the total cost of cheap Disney vacation packages. This mainly comprise of food allowances, lodging and a pocket money for shopping souvenirs and other unexpected expenses.

Another good way to find cheap Disney world package deals is to go online. Many online travel sites will often have promotions from time and time and some of the Disney vacation packages are actually a lot cheaper than what you can bargain for in travel agencies.

Formulating a good plan prior to your trip is necessary. This means figuring out which attractions you want to visit before your trip and determine the cost as well. Most online travel sites provides an overview of the various attractions and the entrance fees.

Going off-season is a lot cheaper and economical compared to peak seasons. Therefore, I highly recommend going during off season peaks if possible.

Most importantly, looking for cheap Disney vacation packages need not be strenuous for this is the best time to relax and enjoy a once in a lifetime experience.

Eurostar Disneyland Paris

Enjoy all the delights that Disneyland Paris has to offer this weekend.

Disneyland Paris brought all the Disney experiences to be found in their parks in the USA to Europe in 1992. But thanks to Eurostar Disneyland Paris has now become one of the most popular day and long weekend destinations for many theme park fans across Britain and Europe.

Today you can go directly from Waterloo Station London to Disneyland park without ever having to change trains. When you visit Disneyland Paris you will see that it offers you all the successful elements to be found in its five imaginary lands and is just on the outskirts of Paris.

Today you are able to get a daily service from London and Ashford Direct which will deliver you to the Disneyland Paris station and takes around three hours to get there. Then within 15 minutes your can either be settling into your hotel room or if you would prefer you can leave your luggage at the station and it will be delivered to your hotel why you take full advantage of getting some time in at the park itself.

The train departs from London at 09.37 each day and then returns from Disneyland Paris at 19.35 each day. In fact this train is more affectionately known as the Disney Train the Disneyland Resort Paris representatives appear during the journey and will hand out fun packs for the children to them amused whilst on the journey. But with so much excitement on the train it is not only difficult for the kids to keep still but the adults find it difficult also.

But if you want to ensure that you and your family are provided with the highest level of comfort possible during the journey it may well be worthwhile paying an additional sum so that you can travel first class. During the journey when traveling first class with Eurostar to Disneyland Paris you will be served a meal midway through it and also drinks are offered to you at regular intervals. So you will not need to end up walking backwards and forwards through endless carriages in order to carry food and drinks from the buffet car because your kids are hungry or thirsty.

So if you are looking for the way of giving your child that birthday they will always remember then why not considering booking some Eurostar Disneyland Paris tickets for the whole family.

The Best Activities at Disneyland

The best activities at Disneyland are always the ones that you'll enjoy the most. So how do you know ahead of time which activities are right for you? Read through this list of great Disneyland activities, and make note of the ones that sound best for your family.

Rides and Attractions: The park of Disneyland is separated into several areas, like Tomorrow Land, Mickey's ToonTown, and Main Street USA. If you've got a few little ones, Mickey's ToonTown will be sure to bring smiles all around as you visit Mickey's house. The classic ride, It's a Small World, is also sure to please younger kids.

Older kids will enjoy riding an off-road vehicle, dodging arrows and snakes, and barely escaping with Indiana Jones on the Indiana Jones Adventure ride. The starry thrills of a roller coaster dropping without seeing what is going on happens on Space Mountain. The Matterhorn and the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad are also musts on the teenager and adult list, since they are the most popular roller coasters at the park.

Younger girls will insist on visiting the Sleeping Beauty castle, as well as the new Pixie Hollow. At the new Pixie Hollow area, the Cinderella princess, Snow White princess, and other Disney princesses come to visit and take pictures with their guests. Little girls will love getting to hug the real Cinderella princess and getting a picture with the Snow White princess. Other classic rides to make note of are the Mad Hatter's Tea Cups, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, and Pirates of the Caribbean.

Restaurants: Eating is an experience, and Disneyland provides a variety of eating options. Families will enjoy Redd Rockett's Pizza Port, which sells pizza and a variety of Mediterranean foods, which are sure to satisfy the family. The Village Haus restaurant offers a nicer sit-down atmosphere. Do you love a good barbeque? The Big Thunder Mountain Barbeque has an all you can eat buffet, and with the vegetarian options, it will please a crowd of hungry teenagers.

If you're looking for somewhere with finer dining, try the Blue Bayou restaurant. It offers a moonlit fine dining experience within the Pirate of the Caribbean ride. The Rainforest Café is also at Disneyland, which is a fun place for kids to eat and also provides nicer meals.

Make Disneyland your own experience. Do your little girls like to dress up? Do you like to dress up? Pull out the princess Disney costumes and pick out one to wear. It's not unusual to see little girls dressed up as a Cinderella princess or a Snow White princess walking throughout the park. The princess Disney costumes allows little girls to make Disneyland a more magical experience.

Children may want to get autographs and pictures with the characters throughout the park. There are autograph books available at the park for the kids to use as they seek out the characters. If you like shopping, there are a variety of shops throughout the park as well. Store like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, the World of Disney, and the Emporium are scattered throughout the park.

Don't forget the shows! The Enchanted Tiki Room and Honey I Shrunk the Audience are entertainment-oriented attractions. Disneyland also offers live shows, like Playhouse Disney on stage, Turtle Talk with Crush, and the Aladdin Musical Spectacular. Check the park list for show times and places.

Visit Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city of France. The city is located in the Île-de-France region on the river Seine and has an estimated population of 2,153,600 as of 2005.

Paris is the most popular tourist destination and is visited by approximately 30 million foreign tourists each year. There are numerous places to see in place including the Arc de Triomphe, the Basilica of the Sacré Coeur, the Champs-Elysées, the Eiffel Tower, the Grande Arche, the Invalides, the Louvre, the Musée d'Orsay, the Musée National d'Art Moderne, Notre Dame cathedral, the Opéra Garnier and the Panthéon.

Additionally, another place you will want to see, especially if you have a family is Disneyland Resort Paris. This is a holiday and recreation resort in Marne-la-Vallée, a new town suburb, approximately 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the center of the city. The resort includes:

- Two theme parks - Disneyland Park (the main Disney park, based on Disneyland California, with five "lands" each based on a different theme or time period), and Walt Disney Studios Park (a theme park based on film and how movies are made).

- An entertainment district - Disney Village - containing shops, bars and restaurants.

- Golf Disneyland - A Disney-themed golf course, principally for adult visitors but also with a children's section.

- Seven Disney-owned hotels.

Paris is of course also a very important center of business, industry and government. The Paris region produces approximately one quarter of France's GDP, and La Défense, which is the largest purpose-built business district in Europe contains the headquarters of many major French companies as well as 15 of the world's 100 largest companies. Many international organizations including UNESCO, the ICC and the OECD, also have offices in Paris.

Walt Disney & Animation

The word Animation has some magnetic power. Starting from a child of hardly three years to a mature man - all fall in love with the mesmerizing effect of animation. Animation is nothing but the display of a 3-D or 2-D images on the screen and that too done in a serial order. It had been said that the invention of animation film is a much earlier invention than the feature films. People always love to get entertainment in any way and in any form.

From the Victorian Age the experiments were carried on the animation. In those times these were the most popular form of entertainment. Belgian Joseph Plateau, William George Horner, Reynaud tried to make out different method to provide entertainment to the common masses. J. Stuart Black ton presented the first film based on animation--Humorous Phases of Funny Faces 1906. Humorous Phases of Funny Faces in 1906 got huge success in New York.

Different types of cartoon character born in the hands of their creator. They had born many years back. But still they retain their popularity. Who can forget the characters like Mickey Mouse. A small mouse but very intelligent. A very good boyfriend of Minnie Mouse and a good master of Pluto. The maker of these popular characters is Walt Disney. A man who took the world into storm. His company Walt Disney Corporation produces a large number of animated films. The animated films of Disney have the power and full control over the audiences of a large range. Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Pluto are very much well known and popular characters all over the world. Mickey Mouse was first introduced with us in the Steamboat Willie (1928). And it is the first animated cartoon with sound. Disney gave his voice for Mickey.

The audience is very much interested in watching the action and reaction of the little characters. Along with Mickey and Minnie other characters like Goofy, Donald Fuck and Pluto receives full attention and interest. The Three Little Pigs is another important animated film. It portrays the hard work of the three pigs against a wolf. The wolf needs courage and guts at the face of economic disaster in 1930's. Disney conveyed the socio-economic problems through which the whole world is facing. Flowers and Trees (1932), The Grasshopper and the Ants (1934) and The Tortoise and the Hare (1935) were produced in colors.

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937), was the first full length animated cartoon film. The film was produced by the Walt Disney Corporation. Dumbo (1940), Fantasia (1940), and Cinderella (1950) are the other animated film that came into the screen one after another. Besides full length animated series the company started documentaries based on nature, short cartoon films, and programs for television. The Little Mermaid (1989) and Toy Story (1995) are the other important works of the company. Toy Story the first full-length computer-animated cartoon.

Later the Company opened Disneyland amusement park in 1955 in Anaheim, Calif. The park well known for its amusement. And a must see place for the visitors. In 1971 the company opened second and larger complex in Orlando. Walt Disney Corporation is the well known company in the 20th Century that produces a number cartoon films, cartoon characters, amusement parks in many places, hotels and other fun filled activities.

But after death of the leader Walt Disney in 1966 the company got a set back for some time. As we time makes us forget every thing in the same way the company returned with all glory and royalty with new ventures and plans. In 1992 the company owned Euro Disneyland at Marne-la-Vallée. At present the company owned even an entertainment channel Disney Channel in the television.

No one can ever forget the enormous contribution of Walt Disney in the field of animation.

His work is the inspiration of the present day's animators. Walt Disney received Honorary Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for the creation of Mickey Mouse. Besides the awards he receives love and well wishes from millions and millions audience through out the globe. He created a history in such a time when the art of animation is really a miracle. He added sound, music and dialogue that too full of fun. It is really fun and wonders to see the small characters are performing and pointing out the social problems at the same time.

Disneyland CA: How to Enjoy the Theme Park With Very Young Travelers

You may be wondering whether you should take your very young children to Disneyland in California. If this is your family's first trip to Disneyland, you may be wondering whether they are old enough to enjoy the theme parks, and whether your group could possibly have a good time. Well, leave it to Disney to get this one right. Disney's success is largely based on their ability to appeal to all age groups. Here are some of the areas that are geared especially to young ones and their parents.

• Baby Care Center - this wonderful, quiet and calming facility is tucked between "Main Street Photo" and the "Plaza Inn". Although there are no places for children to nap, there are rocking chairs available for nursing mothers to feed their child. There are also nice sized changing tables and even child sized flush toilets to help with potty training needs. If you run out of diapers, you can buy one at the center. This prevents you from having to go all the way back to your hotel room to change a diaper. The center also has an area to warm bottles and baby food, and to clean out baby bottles. If you need extra formula or baby food, they have a selection on hand for purchase. Although there are also changing tables located in both men's and women's restrooms in various locations around the park, if you and your little one need a break from the heat, crowds and noise, this is the place to go.

• Fantasyland - there are many rides in Fantasyland that are especially good for small children. These include: Casey Jr. Circus Train, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, It's a Small World, King Arthur's Carrousel, Peter Pan's Flight, and Storybook Land Canal Boats. Some of the other rides in Fantasyland are considered "dark rides" and may scare young children.

• Mickey's Toontown - this is another good place for young children. There are many interactive things to do here. There are also fun places to explore, like: Chip 'n' Dale Treehouse, Donald's Boat, Goofy's Playhouse. Minnie's house and Mickey's house. If your child is comfortable around characters, this is a great place to get autographs.

• The Disneyland Railroad - this train goes all of the way around the park. It's a great way to get from one land to the other if you're tired. If you have a collapsible stroller, you can bring it right on the train.

• Main Street - some of the attractions that might appeal to small children in this area are: Horse-Drawn Carriage, Horseless Carriage, Omnibus and the Fire Engine.

• There are some other rides scattered around Disneyland that younger children might enjoy. These are: Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in Critter Country, Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia, Big Thunder Ranch and Tom Sawyer's Island in Frontierland, and Jungle Cruise, Tarzan's Treehouse and Enchanted Tiki Room in Adventureland.

If an adult in your group has their heart set on riding one of the "thrill" rides, Disney has this covered too. (Note that there are height requirements on some of the rides). Check out the Fast Pass System and Single Rider Service, which are available on some rides. Both are free services that will significantly cut your wait time for boarding a ride. Also check out "Child Swap" which allows one adult to wait in line to board an attraction and ride, and then "pass off" the child to the second adult who boards the attraction without waiting in line. You will need to ask the cast member at the entrance to each attraction that has a height requirement about this option. This can be a lifesaver if each parent wants to take a turn riding an attraction while the other adult stays with the little one.

Disneyland California - One of the Biggest Amusement Park

The Walt Disney World Tickets give you a chance to experience world's most popular amusement park. This unique amusement park houses four theme parks and two water parks and located at Orlando City in Florida, USA. Disney's Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney Universal Studios are main theme parks of Walt Disney World. Disney's Blizzard Beach and Disney's Typhoon Lagoon are water parks of Walt Disney World. Animal Kingdom is dedicated to the animal and environmental conservation, while Magic kingdom is fanatical to the adventure and entertainment segment. On the other hand EPCOT offers ride and attractions related to the science and innovative future aspects and last but not the least Disney's Universal Studios is a theme park which shows all activities and facts about movies and its techniques. To enjoy all these theme parks you need to purchase Walt Disney World Tickets which are available in different categories.

Orlando is not an only American city which has a credit to house Disney's magic, the other cities also houses Disney's magic. California is one of them and here Disney's amusement park is called Disneyland California. In Disneyland visitors will find rides by height restriction, rides are good for kids and cool for adults too. Some popular rides and attractions of Disneyland are; Indiana Jones Adventure, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Casey Jr. Circus Train, King Arthur Carrousel, Storybook Land Canal Boats, Tarzan's Treehouse, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Peter Pan's Fights, roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin, and many others.

No doubt there are plenty of rides and attractions to keep you entertained, but if you are looking for something different, you can find plenty of stage shows, films, and other going on to keep you busy all day long. Some popular shows of Disneyland California are Aladdin & Jasmine's Story Tale Adventure, Billy Hill & the Hillbillies, Disneyland Parade, Disneyland Firework, Enchanted Tiki Room, Disney Princess Fantasy Faire, Jedi Training Academy, and Honey, I shrunk the Audience with many other options. These all shows are unique in presentation and very popular among the visitors. Disneyland California is a wonderful amusement park which offers something for every single visitor. Disneyland California is not only offer world class rides and attractions but also offers best shopping places and restaurants for quality dining.

To enjoy both amusement parks (Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland California) of Disney you just need to visit Orlando and California Cities of USA.

Disneyland - The Magic of Different Experiences at the Happiest Place on Earth

When I was just a wee bit, I too, wondered about the magic of Disney, where kids could meet Cinderella and her lovely prince. It seemed like the place where dreams did in fact come true. I knew it was a place that I had to go to at least once in my life, so when the opportunity came up at the ripe albeit older age of 28, I was raring to go.

I was excited even though I no longer believed in Prince Charming and I knew that Snow White was an actress employed by Disney to bring the character to life. The experience was spectacular and disappointing, larger than life and, well, definitively man-made.

Recently, I took my daughter who as she calls it "is officially a teenager" at thirteen. Coming back with her for her first time was refreshingly better than the last. Perhaps it was because I knew what to expect, perhaps it was because I could see the newness and excitement glistening in her eyes. Perhaps it was because this time I was not in a rush.

Sadly, Splash Mountain was closed for repairs and we quickly learned the popular rides by their "fast pass" designation and otherwise 45+ minute standby lines. We went through several rides and shows, meandered in their gift shops, and ate at several of the theme-based food joints. Since we had the 3-day resort hopper pass, we spent the days (and nights) alternating between Disneyland and the California Adventure theme park.

The rides were magically fun at Disneyland focusing on the characters that we know and love which seemed more traditional compared to its California themed brethren (Mickey Mouse vs. A Bugs Life cast) . My daughter took well to California's Paradise Pier which contains the oldie and goodie amusement park favorites such as giant roller coasters, Ferris wheels and other terrifying thrill rides which appeals more to her as a newly official teenager.

Since I prefer to keep close to the ground, I went to watch the Toy Story Block Party, which was a party on wheels. The crowd danced and sang along with Green Army Man Toy Soldier which was much livelier than the daily parade at Disneyland. I had a great time until I was accidentally decked in the chest with a promotional ball. Clearly, someone wanted me to stop singing.

All in all, I personally loved the tradition of Disneyland although I enjoy the shows at California Adventure quite a bit as well. The kiddies will have a great time connecting with the magic of Disneyland while the older ones will love the thrills of California adventures, while perhaps learning a little more about the "the Golden State". I look forward to going again, perhaps next time with my four-year niece, to see the same old rides with new eyes.

Disney Fireworks: When and Where at Disneyland

Everyone knows that Disney puts on great fireworks; the fireworks bursting behind the Castle of Sleeping Beauty are a signature image seen at the start of nearly every Disney movie, show and commercial. In addition to the magical pyrotechnic shows shot off nearly every day of the week, fireworks at Disneyland are also tailored to the specific season and feature different shows for summer, Halloween and the winter holidays. Some of the best viewing locations include Main Street, U.S.A., between Central Plaza and the Main Street Train Station, in front of "It's A Small World," and along the Rivers of America in Frontierland. If visiting, remember to call guest services in advance to find out exactly when and where these six extravaganzas of firework sparkles will be held.

"Remember... Dreams Come True" Fireworks Spectacular: This state-of-the-art fireworks spectacular lights up the sky using Sleeping Beauty Castle as a majestic backdrop. This show, sponsored by Honda, captures the wishes, dreams and imagination of Walt Disney and is the largest night-time celebration the part offers. Young and old alike will feel inspired by the magical display of pyrotechnics that links generations together.

Magical: This fireworks display combines vivid bursts of color and breathtaking visual effects together to create legendary Disney magic. Guests will enjoy having every sense engaged in the display as colorful fireworks dance about choreographed to some of our most favorite Disney theme songs. One of the favorite parts is when glittering pink hearts twinkle in the sky as a tribute to princes and princesses everywhere.

July 4th Firework Show: Celebrate Independence Day at Disneyland with a salute to stars and strips in a bang-up way that only pyrotechnics can bring. Chest-swelling patriotic songs are played as the background to fiery burst of red, white and blue fireworks and every guest is sure to leave reminded of the hopes, dreams and opportunity offered by the land of the free and home of the brave - America!

Halloween Screams: Halloween brings a haunting season of fireworks that are meant to keep guests on the edge of their seats. Not too scary, this family-friendly show incorporates eerie Disney melodies along with dazzling, electric fireworks to leave you breathless, on edge, but begging for more! All the Disney villains will be out and about during this spook-tacular season.

"Believe...In Holiday Magic" Fireworks Spectacular: Winter brings a fantasy of fireworks to the sky as the Sleeping Beauty Castle transforms into a wonderland complete with faux icicles, sparkling snow and holiday spirit. Enjoy the magical Disney fireworks show while singing along to the soundtrack of beloved holiday songs.

New Year's Eve: Ring in the New Year with a nod to magical beginnings at Disneyland. The "Ring in the New Year" fireworks spectacular happens only one night a year; but the awesome fireworks that illuminate the skies will be remembered by guests forever. If you can't get to Disney for New Year's, you can always host a firework show yourself!

The Wonderful Theme Park Called Disneyland

Disneyland in Anaheim, Orange County in California to the north east of Los Angeles was thought of, designed and built under the supervision of the famous Walt Disney. It was finally finished and opened to the public on 18th July 1955. In fact it was during a visit to the Griffith Park with his two daughters whom he watched as they were on the merry-go-round. It was then he felt that he would love to create a place where both parents and children could enjoy themselves together.

Ever since it has remained at the top of the list of family entertainment parks and has something to offer for people ranging from the tiny tots to adults alike. Walt Disney's main objective when he conjured up this fantastic place was that it should the "Happiest Place on Earth". But the fact remains his idea of a small theme park escalated into a really vast one that was in time to become what is today Disneyland.

For want of funds Walt Disney signed a partnership with ABC Television Network where he said he would create a children's show called Disneyland in exchange for a partial funding of the park by ABC Network. The other company that funded the project was Western Publishing Company. Of course in a matter of five years Disney bought over the shares from ABC Network of the project. He was able to get enough funds to carry out his dream project which stated construction in 1954 and was open toed to the world exactly one year later in the July of 1955.

Unfortunately the opening day which was officially the 17th July 1955 was a fiasco with the temperature rising to an unusual high making people ever so thirsty. The selling of counterfeit tickets and invitations created mayhem that day resulting in a terrible press report of the opening. This was why it was referred to as Black Sunday. Walt Disney re-invited and opened the place again on 18th July which he officially declared was the date that it was open to the people at large. Despite the fiasco Walt Disney sprang back to become the most widely known landmark in the united States even to this very day. Disneyland became so popular that many other parks have been constructed like the Disney world in Florida, Disneyland in Japan, China and Paris.

A visit to Disneyland which was later renamed Disneyland Park is any child's fervent dream and has become the hot spot visiting theme park the world over. It is not just an entertainment center, it is a theme park that that a variety of theme shows, a lot of fairytale characters walking around the streets, special tours, movie houses, movie sets where many well known movies have been filmed, a wide variety of rides, games and plenty of restaurants that offer a wide variety of fare.

Everyone knows Mickey Mouse the cartoon character that was created by Walt Disney in 1928 and is one of the most unique figures with its huge black ears and nose wearing red shorts adorned with white buttons and big yellow boots. In fact it is Mickey's ears and nose that is the famous logo of the Walt Disney Company. It's exciting to see Mickey Mouse walking and talking to people who visit Disneyland and children feel so thrilled that they have come face to face with him.

Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts

Walt Disney World Moderate Resorts are a perfect blend of Disney luxury mingled with tight budget. These resorts offer many little extras for a slightly higher price than their value resorts. Walt Disney World moderate resorts are best for families with children who are independent, first-time visitors as well as experienced Disney travelers, and those who are still trying to have a great vacation on a tight budget. No matter where you stay in Walt Disney World you are going to have the time of your life, why not splurge a little bit and enjoy the little extras a Walt Disney World Moderate resort has to offer.

When you are taking a family vacation with kids who are around age 7 and up, it's hard to keep them happy all the time. They enjoy the fast-paced theme park adventure but still need time to wind down, relax and just play. Walt Disney World moderate resorts are a perfect place to stay for them. These resorts offer great food options in their quick counter service food courts and also a great family atmosphere in their sit down restaurants. They have exciting themed pool areas with fun water slides and hot tubs, fun playgrounds, well equipped arcades and on-site recreation such as bikes and boat rentals. When you have kids in this age group it's easier to make a well thought out plan of all the theme park rides and events you want to see, which will free up some time to enjoy your resort each afternoon or evening. A great Walt Disney World moderate resort to stay at with kids is the Caribbean Beach resort, the food court kid meals are served in a sand bucket with a shovel. It makes a free souvenir you can play with on their beach area. Kids enjoy the colorful themes and designs and parents enjoy all the relaxation and freedom. Walt Disney World moderate resorts are a perfect match for families with independent kids.

Whether you are a first-timer or a year after year Walt Disney World visitor you will appreciate all that Walt Disney World moderate resorts have to offer. With larger rooms, a great selection of dining options, luggage service, themed swimming pools with slides, free Disney transportation to and from all Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts, on-site recreation, amazing themes and décor and water views you just can't go wrong. If you come year after year, you already know what you want to see and when to go on your favorite rides and all those little tips. The Moderate resorts are great for you because they offer so many different activities to do that you actually will have the time to take advantage of them. Why not spend the morning in a theme park and then enjoy the afternoon with the kids driving around the bay in a boat rental. Have a pizza party in the food court and follow it up with a nice sunset bike ride. Then finish your Walt Disney World day with a firework show and dessert at your favorite theme park. If you enjoy a nice mix of fast-paced theme park adventure with low-key resort time, then the Walt Disney World moderate resorts are an excellent choice for you.

Another great benefit of staying at a Walt Disney World moderate resort is the price. You get to enjoy little Disney extras for a rate not much higher than the value resort rate. The larger rooms allow a more comfortable relaxed atmosphere. The beach areas are perfect if you need stress-free alone time. The themes are so beautiful ranging from the tropical islands to a woodsy wilderness. Each resort will offer something different to your family vacation. For those who are on a strict budget but still want to enjoy a little extra, Walt Disney World moderate resorts are a great solution to your accommodating needs.

Before you choose your resort, decide which theme parks you want to visit, which days to visit them, what tours if any you want to partake in, any additional events you want to see, make your dining reservations, then decide which resort will best fit your plan. If you find you have a nice mix of theme park-adventure and low pace down time, a Walt Disney World moderate resort is an excellent choice for your accommodations. Walt Disney World offers five moderate resorts they include: Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, Disney's Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter, Disney's Port Orleans Resort-Riverside and The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort. Each offers a unique experience that is sure to make your stay one that will be a cherished for a lifetime.

Finding Affordable Walt Disney World Tickets

Before you purchase Walt Disney World tickets, you should consider all the options available to you. For example, you must first consider if you plan on staying at a Walt Disney World resort or one of the hotels near Disney World.

There are different benefits for each decision. For instance, while you could save a few bucks staying nearby, you may have to rent a car or pay for parking. Next, you must consider whether or not you want to buy tickets for one park - like the Disney Animal Kingdom - or if you want a combo package to experience it all. Is this a brief stop, or a Disney vacation?

If you plan on just making a quick run through Disney World Orlando and it's not the sole basis for your trip, then there are a few ways to save on single day tickets. For some, $71 is small potatoes for a whole day of fun. However, when you add meals, parking and hotel accommodations, that single day can be somewhat expensive.

"Discount Theme Park Vacations" is currently offering two one-day Disney tickets for $25! However, you will have to stay at one of the hotels near Disney World that the site is partnered with. The good news is that these hotels are value-conscious and if you don't have a spot booked yet, then this will be the least expensive way to see Disney for the day.

On the other hand, if you're planning a Disney vacation, you'll want to find a package deal that includes Walt Disney World tickets. Many travelers are surprised to find that the official Walt Disney World Orlando website has many super affordable deals. If you want to look elsewhere, travel sites like Expedia or Orbitz offer last-minute deals too.

A sample trip from Expedia would be a 4-night air/hotel package for two, leaving from New York and staying at Disney's Pop Century resort, for $353. Orbitz is offering a $150 discount on 5+ night Disney vacation packages, for a stay at a Walt Disney World resort.

When looking for Walt Disney tickets, you should beware of Time Share solicitation deals that offer free or discounted park admission. While there is no mandate saying that you have to buy something, the presentation always lasts longer than a few hours and you'll encounter several persuasive salespeople pressuring you to buy, buy, buy!

Time Shares are a great deal if you and your family plan to travel every year and if you're the type of family who needs 5-star accommodations. If you're considering vacation ownership, then you could always look into the Disney Vacation Club, with memberships starting at $16,640, plus closing costs & small annual dues. That way you'll at least be entitled to special Disney privileges, and discounts and trips outside the country with one of Disney's many partners.

Walt Disney World Rides - Top 10 Thrill Rides For the Adrenaline Junkie

You might think that Walt Disney World rides are only for small children with teacup rides, bumper cars and Disney Princesses all about. The truth is, however, Disney offers some serious thrills for adrenaline junkies! Check out the top 10 adrenaline packed rides available at a Disney World park near you.

1. Goofy's Barnstormer- Don't let the name of this mini-coaster fool you; it is a great adrenaline rush. It is a short little ride hidden in toon town, but with dips and twists that will leave you breathless.

2. Soarin- Have you always wanted to hang glide but were not too sure about safety? Take a trip on Disney's Soarin a simulated ride that gives you the feeling of soaring over the city and eventually the park itself. The creators paid so much attention to detail that you will actually smell the orange groves as you "glide" over them!

3. Space Mountain- One of the classic Disney World rides that will take you into outer space! Not really, but you will think you have left the planet. Space Mountain is an indoor rollercoaster that boast high speeds and a few dips and turns, in the dark!

4. Splash Mountain- Instantly you should know that this ride could get you wet, especially if you are in the front. Splash Mountain is a wildly popular indoor water ride that lasts an incredible ten minutes and finales with a five-story drop and a big splash.

5. Test Track- Have you ever wanted to be the one who test-drives the cars on a closed course. Here is the closest you can get without changing your job title. Rough terrain, hills and turns all come together to give you the ultimate ride. Test-drive futuristic cars at speeds up to 60 miles per hour.

6. Rock n Rollercoaster- Jump on the Rock n Rollercoaster for some cool speeds, corkscrew turns, loops and drops. Your late for the concert and must reach some ridicules speeds to get there.

7. Expedition Everest- Head for the summit of Mount Everest and prepare for some tight turns, speed and dips as you travel through a Nepalese mountain village.

8. Mission Space- For everyone who has ever dreamed of being an astronaut there is Mission Space. Blast off for parts unknown and experience G-Force like never before!

9. Star Tours- If you cannot get enough of space travel head out to Star Tours. Your guide on the journey is a rookie pilot who does not quite have it all figured out yet. This means your journey will be a bit bumpy and exciting.

10. Twilight Zone Tower of Terror- Last but definitely not least is the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Ride the elevator up 13 stories. Each floor will reveal a different scene from Twilight Zone until you reach the top and plunge straight back down all 13 floors!

Walt Disney World rides are not just for little kids. Adrenaline junkies can more than get their fix from these and other great thrill rides. If you are out for a day of spills, chills and thrills, you might want to stay away from the concession stands!

How To Save Money On Disneyland Tickets

Disneyland holidays are often the most memorable holiday experiences, it is such a fun and fantastic place to go with so much to do and see. However the one factor that puts people off visiting Disneyland is often the cost of the tickets themselves. I am going to discuss some ways to save money on your Disneyland tickets so that everyone gets to experience the magic of Disneyland.

Disneyland has 4 parks in total, it is important that you do not make the mistake of paying entry fee to each of the parks as this will cost you a fortune. Instead you should ask about the various ticket packages which are available, a park hopper pass is usually good value as this gives you unlimited access to all the parks for the duration of your stay.

To save money try to book your trip during the week instead of the weekend and the cheapest months at Disneyland at between January and April.

Travelling during the off peak times are definitely the best way to save money on your Disneyland vacation.

All the hotels within the Disneyland area will be competing for your first basis, contact as many of these hotels as possible and compare the prices, ask them to offer you discounted Disneyland tickets should you stay with them and never be afraid to negotiate to get yourself the best deal.

Try to get into the peak as early as possible in the morning to avoid the large queues. It may also be worth considering getting a fast pass ticket, this allows you to go to the front of the queue for an attraction. This is a great way to get around the park much quicker.

Finally try to avoid buying food in your hotel or in the Disneyland park itself, instead pay a quick visit to the local supermarket and stock up on food there. You will be amazed at the savings you will make.

Disneyland CA - How to Be a Part of Disney's 2011 Promotion Called "Let the Memories Begin"

Disney offers a new promotion to celebrate each year for its theme parks around the world. For 2011, the promotion is called, "Let the Memories Begin".

As part of this promotion, Disney has a show called, "The Magic, the Memories and You". The stars of "The Magic, the Memories and You" are you and me, the guests of the Disneyland theme parks, past and present. A ten minute slide show is shown at least once a night on the face of the "Small World" attraction in Fantasyland. Disneyland has an entertainment schedule that they hand out at the theme park entrance that lists the times for this show each day. The number of performances depends on the time of the year and the day of the week.

So, what is this show all about? As a tribute to all of Disney's guests, past and present, 500 different photos and videos are chosen for each show to be presented in a slide show format. This is accompanied by spectacular special effects and lighting on the front of the Small World attraction. Classic Disney music plays in the background of this special show. The grand finale features fireworks that explode over the Small World attraction building.

So, how can your pictures and videos be considered for inclusion in this show? There are two ways. The first way is to submit your photos and videos on Disney's "Let the Memories Begin" website. This website can be accessed at http://memories.disneyparks.disney.go.com/ The second way is to have your photo taken before 3 pm each day by one of Disneyland's "PhotoPass" photographers in either Disneyland or Disney's California Adventure Park. You do not have to buy the photo to be eligible for consideration for the slide show. All of Disney's theme parks around the world have these two options available to their guests.

If you are planning to visit any Disney theme park in 2011, this promotion might be something special for you to consider!

How to Find Disneyland Discount Tickets

Disneyland is part of that wonderful franchise of amusement parks that claims to be the "happiest place on earth." Anyone who has been to Disneyland recently knows that all of that happiness comes at quite a price. It is not cheap to gain admission to Disneyland and everyone would love to know how to get Disneyland discount tickets and save some money on admission to the California fun park. Getting a price break on Disneyland tickets is not as easy as it may sound. Disneyland continues to be one of the most popular attractions in Southern California and in many instances Disney does not feel the need to offer discounts to get people into Disneyland. But like any good corporation the Disney people have put some discounts out there and it is up to you to find them.

The first, and probably easiest, way to get a discount at Disneyland is to go there on your birthday in 2009. Contact Disneyland to be certain of what kind of identification is required to prove that it is your birthday but once you have the proof you are in that day for free. As discounts go a free ticket on your birthday is about the best discount you will ever get at Disneyland. That leaves the problem of what to do on the other 364 days of the year.

Buying your tickets online can save you money over buying them at the gate. Purchasing your passes in advance over the internet is a way to lower your cost and helps you to enjoy the benefits of planning ahead. The discount can be pretty substantial depending on how many days you are purchasing and when you can make a substantial savings on Disneyland passes you have more money to spend in the park.

Go online and find the various travel agents that offer Disneyland tickets as part of a package deal and they have them at a discount. There are not many travel agents that offer these kinds of programs because Disney does not release a lot of discount tickets to travel companies but when you can find one that has the lower priced tickets you should try and take advantage of that.

Finding Disneyland discount tickets is not easy but if you do your research you should be able to find them. Another thing you can do to help yourself is possibly reduce the number of days you intend to spend in the parks. That may put a bit of a cramp on your vacation plans but when it comes to Disneyland on a budget you need to do everything you can to keep your expenses down.

Tickets to Disney Fantasyland and Tomorrowland

Very few people can disagree with a fact that Walt Disney World is a most popular tourist attraction of America. It's a best choice for memorable vacation for any age group of people. It is truly a one stop vacation destination, offering everything you want and need all within the confines of this mega central Florida resort. Indeed, once you've arrived, you'll never want to leave from Disney world and you won't have to! You can sleep, eat, and play at Walt Disney World Orlando and never need to get in your car. Every single attraction is unique in itself which can't be neglect.

Walt Disney World houses theme parks and two water parks and every theme park has various other parks. Tomorowland and Fantasyland Disneyland are two very popular attractions of Magic Kingdom theme park. Both the park has unique features and their own charms.

Tomorrowland is a theme park which shows the futuristic aspects of earth and our surroundings. To create this park lot of neon, glass, and gleaming metal is used. Over by Space Mountain, there are metal palm trees that actually react to sunlight. Tomorrowland also houses several snack and counter serve venues. One of the best in the Magic Kingdom is Cosmic Ray's with tons of indoor seating, entertainment and a menu that offer more choices than most of the other counter serve destinations. The major rides and attractions of Tomorrowland are Astro Orbiter, Buzz Lightyear's spin, Stitch's Great Escape, Tomorrowland Speedway, Carousel of Progress, Tomorrowland Transit Authority, And Space Mountain. To enjoy all these attractions you need to purchase Disney Tomorrowland Tickets.

Fantasyland in Disney is another wonderland in Magic Kingdom theme park. The entrance of the Fantasyland, Cinderella's Castle is the most photographed building at the Walt Disney world. The building is stand at 180 feet tall, the graceful spires and towers were inspired by the French castles of the 12th and 13th century, as well as Disney's animated feature, Cinderella. Inside this wonderful Castle you will get a chance to see the Disney family coat of arm. The popular attractions and rides of Fantasyland are Ariel's Grotto, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow Whites Scary Adventure, Winnie the Pooh, Mad tea Party; it's a small world, and many others. The Fantasyland tickets make your trip easier and comfortable; you can arrange these tickets from admission of the park or through some good online Disney World Tickets services.