“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible” said by the famous Walt Disney, the man who created two theme parks where he imagined dreams could come true on both coasts of the United States. Each park being unique in its own way, gave tourists and Disney fanatics a new experience with endless attractions and adventure that can create unforgettable memories.
First built was Disneyland in 1955 on the West coast in California spreading over 500 acres full of churro stands, hotels, and attractions. Specifically, Disneyland has a total of 89 attractions in the two parks, Disneyland and California Adventure. To begin, Disneyland has eight lands including the new Star Wars galaxy land that is still currently being built. These lands include Adventureland, Frontierland, Mickey’s Toontown, New Orleans square, Critter country, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, and the new Star Wars land. Each land has been added and advanced throughout the years with a little help of imagination. In addition, each land has a particular theme that lets one feel fully emerged into that land. To begin, walking into Disneyland is the original Main Street USA that Walt built in 1955. Full of Disneyland merchandise, candy, and food for all to enjoy. Straight ahead staring at every guest to see is a Sleeping Beauty’s 77’ castle that is the most popular place for pictures and an entrance to Fantasyland. Fantasyland is home for princesses, fairy dust and the tamer rides for the little ones. One ride out of 14 total include in Fantasyland is famous for is Snow White’s Scary Adventure, which was one of the original rides built for Disneyland’s opening day. Next to Fantasyland is Adventureland, Frontierland, New Orleans square, and Critter country. Adventureland is home to jungle like ambiance where one can take a relaxing boat ride through the jungle (Jungle Cruise) or a thrilling high speed turbulent ride with Indiana Jones. Next to Adventureland, one may enter a desert like ambiance of Frontierland with another popular thrill seeking ride called Big Thunder Mountain. Along the way is a New Orleans Square, replicated from what New Orleans looks like in Louisiana today. This land holds the two famous rides, The Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion. One may either take a ride with a pirate or leave with ghost! Next to New Orleans Square is Critter Country, a cabin wood-like feel where families may get a little wet from the terrifying drop of the lands main attraction, Splash Mountain. Across the street is Tomorrowland which is full with a futuristic feel with one of the most popular ride and crowd favorite, Space Mountain and Star Tours. Located in the back of the park is Mickey’s Toontown where all ages can go meet and see Mickey and Minnie along with taking a classic wild ride with Mr. Toad (Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride). On the outskirts surrounding the park, stopping at almost every land is the Disneyland Railroad. A real steam powered train moving tired guests around the park, a time to relax and get away from the crowds.
Across the way, heading out of Disneyland is Disney’s, California Adventure that opened in 2001. Today, California Adventures main entrance takes guests back to the early 1920’s walking down what is called, Buena Vista Street. Which was significantly what Walt experienced when he first arrived to Los Angeles full of shops and merchandise. California Adventure has around five smaller areas / lands with attractions. To the left, is Hollywood Land where guests can take a walk down Hollywood Boulevard feeling like a movie star only to hear the screams at the end of the road that comes from one of the most famous attractions today, Guardians of the Galaxy -Mission: Breakout! That was once called The Twilight Zone Tower Of Terror. Next to Hollywood Land is one of the smaller lands called Bugs Land for the little ones to cool down and enjoy the tamer rides. Next to Bugs Land is one of the entrances to Cars Land where guests feel as though they are inside the actual Cars movie. One of the most popular rides there, even the little ones to enjoy is Radiator Springs Racers where you may need to hold on to your hat! In the back of California Adventure is what was for many years, Paradise Peer but now is called Pixar Peer. Designed to look like California’s board walks. Pixar Peer is home to Mickey’s gigantic ferris wheel and holds Disneyland’s only outside rollercoaster what is now called the Incredicoaster, themed after film The Incredibles with other popular themed rides. On the other side of the theme park is Grizzly Peak designed looking like Yosemite and Redwood National Parks, home to a thrilling water ride, Grizzly River Run where getting wet is unavoidable. Returning back to Buena Vista Street the guest has made a grand circle tour of Disney’s, California Adventure.
On the other side of the coast in Orlando Florida, is home to Walt Disney World. Disney World has four main parks, that spread 40 square miles is made up for Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. These parks are much bigger than Disneylands, although most share the same rides and attractions. To begin, Disney Hollywood Studios has the same ambiance as California Adventures, but with a total of six rides of which includes The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. The Animal Kingdom holds eight rides with two of the most popular, Expedition Everest which is relatively new and Kilimanjaro Safaris where tourists can see real animals in what looks like their natural habitat. Across the way to Magic Kingdom is one of the biggest that holds around 22 rides and attractions. Including Pirates of the Caribbean, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion and Splash mountain as I mentioned earlier that are in fact at Disneyland. In addition, it is home to Cideralls castel that towers 189 feet above the mickey ears below. That is a very popular spot for pictures just like Disneylands. Lastley is Walt’s dream park, EPCOT that holds eight rides, only one out of the eight are at Disneyland. Although this land is very big with endless attractions and rides for all, the different lands inside the park are not walking distance. Individuals have to take shuttles to enter another park. The size of this park may be very intimidating for some. But because the size of expansion Disney World has, the imagination keeps growing. Disneyland is expanding with detail while Disney World is expanding with land.
Although, focusing on comparing and contrasting each park attractions, Disneyland holds some attractions such as Cars land special to just Disneyland in the Anaheim location. While Walt Disney World other than any particular ride special to that land, Disneyland does not have Animal Kingdom or EPCOT. Although these differences may cause controversial bias, Tiffani A Cosson in her article, “Perceptions of Walt Disney World: Antecedents To Return Visits”, states, “The themes that are currently presented are the history of Walt Disney World and other theme parks, defining how Walt Disney World is different from these other theme parks, “the Disney Experience” that is expected… This experience entails a demonstration of the past, present, and future” She continues to talk about the main goal for these theme parks is the experience “Disney” as Walt would want every guest too. Doing the impossible, Walt Disney was able to help families visit lands full of imagination on both sides of the United States that are in fact unique in their own way but hold true to the “Disney experience”. So, which park will it be?
References:
Cosson, T. A. (2011). Perceptions of Walt Disney World: Antecedents To Return Visits. Retrieved from https://www.coastal.edu/honors/thesesarchives/
Disneyland® Official Site. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://disneyland.disney.go.com/
Disneyland® Official Site. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://disneyland.disney.go.com/