USA West Coast Travel Part VI (Disneyland Resort, Anaheim)
USA West Coast Travel VI (Disneyland Resort, Anaheim)
Day 9 (Saturday, 30.5.2014)
Location of Anaheim in State of California, USA
Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
Pictorial Map of Disneyland Park, Anaheim, California, USA
At 9.20 in the morning of Day 9, we boarded a white shuttle-coach at our hotel, Marriott Suites, and it brought us to Disneyland Resort or commonly known as Disneyland. It was a few kilometres from the hotel.
Jay Ho, the tour-guide, briefing the tour-members before going to Disneyland in Anaheim, USA
A white shuttle-coach coming to Marriott Suites and taking tour-members and others to Disneyland, Anaheim, USA
Walt Disney
Disneyland at Anaheim was founded by Walt Disney and opened to public in 1955. There is so much to see and do in Disneyland. It has two main themed parks, viz. Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventures Park. Both are amusement parks with lots of activities for young and old.
Ten minutes later, we arrived at Disneyland. As we had a day to spend in Disneyland our tour guide chose to lead us to Disneyland Park. With a pictorial map of the park in his hand, he showed and advised us to visit some of the attractions first.
Disneyland Park
In Disneyland Park there are 8-themed areas, each having different attractions, i.e. Main Street USA, Adventureland, Tomorrowland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Mickey’s Toontownland, Critter Country and New Orleans Sguare.
Jay Ho, the tour guide, showing a pictorial map of Disneyland Park and telling the members the locations of different themed areas before entering the Park, Anaheim, USA
Main Street, USA, in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Vintage Vehicles
After receiving the tickets from Jay Ho, we entered the park and walked in Main Street USA. We saw many people in the main street heading in different directions for different areas of attractions. There were some vintage vehicles carrying visitors along the street. Some were horse-drawn while others were running on electricity.
A horse-drawn vintage carriage in Main Street, USA, in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
A vintage omnibus in Main Street, USA, in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
A vintage fire-engine in Main Street, USA, in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Captain EO Tribute, a short 3D movie
Jay Ho brought us to Tomorrowland to watch a short 3D movie titled “Captain EO Tribute” starring Michael Jackson in a theatre called “Star Tours”. We queued up for 30 minutes before we entered a spaceship and travelled to another planet with Michael.
Visitors queuing up to watch a short 3-D movie: “Captain EO, Tribute” outside Star Tours Theatre in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
“Captain EO Tribute” was a space adventure with lots of battle noises and loud musics. It was shown as a tribute to the famous singer, Michael Jackson, when he passed away in 2009. In the adventure Michael travelled in a spaceship with some talking creatures to another planet where he, successfully, transformed an ugly queen into a beautiful lady.
Michael Jackson starring in a short 3-D movie: “Captain EO, Tribute” in Star Tours Theatre in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
A spaceship bringing Michael Jackson to another planet where he transforms an ugly queen into a beautiful woman in a 3-D movie: “Captain EO, Tribute” in Star Tours Theatre in Disneyland Park, Anaheim
Indiana Jones Adventure(Adventureland)
After that Michael’s movie we went to queue up in Adventureland to experience an Indiana Jones’ adventure. There were many people in the zig-zag queue. I was surprised that our oldest fellow-members, Wai Yean and his wife, wanted to experience that adventure that involved rough truck ride. Forty minutes later, our turn came.
Adventureland, a themed area in Disneyland Park in Anaheim, USA
Visitors queuing up in a zig-zag manner to experience Indiana Jones’ Adventure in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Wai Yean and wife, the oldest couple in the tour group, going for a rough truck-ride in Indiana Jones’ Adventure, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Dr. Chua and family in a long queue going for a rough truck-ride in Indiana Jones’ Adventure, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Richard Ong and wife in a long queue going for a rough truck-ride in Indiana Jones’ Adventureland, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Visitors in Indiana Jones’ trucks going for a rough ride on a rugged terrain in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
We hopped into a truck and experienced a rough journey on a rugged terrain. Our vehicle had to make sharp turns, sudden drops, forward and backward movements at high speed and more. By the time the ride was all over we were already in a daze.
“Pirates of the Caribbean”(New Orleans Square)
It took sometime for us to recover from that turbulent ride which had been experienced by Indiana Jones in a movie. Later, we went to a nearby place and joined a long queue for another experience which was a slow but pleasant boat ride. It was a ride of “Pirates of the Caribbean” in New Orleans Square.
Sitting in a boat, we went into a dark, mysterious cavern where “Dead men tell no tales”. It was a pirates’ hideout where we learned about their way of life-a life of crimes and vices. Although my wife and I had the same boat-ride in Disneyland Tokyo in Tokyo in 2011, we enjoyed the same experience again.
Visitors in boats entering a dark cavern to learn about pirates’ lives in “Pirates of the Caribbean” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Captured ladies are on auction by pirates in “Pirates of the Caribbean” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Pirates in a dungeon enticing a dog that had a bunch of keys in its mouth to go nearer to them in a cavern in “Pirates of the Carribbean” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Haunted Mansion(New Orleans Square)
Immediately after that interesting “Pirates of the Caribbean” boat-ride, we joined a queue to a haunted mansion. After a long wait, we walked into the dark haunted mansion where we saw many kinds of ghosts making sudden appearance and disappearance with scary noises. This place is not for the faint-hearted.
Haunted Mansion where many ghosts make sudden appearance and disappearance with scary noises in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Sailing Ship Columbia(Frontierland)
Stepping out of the haunted mansion, we looked acr0ss a road and saw a small island, Tom Sawyer Island which was a pirates’ hiding place in Frontierland. It was surrounded by water which was known as “Rivers of America”. On the water we saw a beautiful old ship which was a full-scale replica of Columbia Rediviva, the first American ship to circumnavigate the world in 1790. Built in 1958, it now carries visitors for a 12-minute travel experience round the island.
Tom Sawyer Island(L) and a “Columbia Rediviva” replica ship(R) in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
As there were many people lining up in the hot sun for the ship-ride, we went for a jungle cruise near the Haunted Mansion, instead.
Jungle Cruise(Advetureland)
To experience the Jungle Cruise we, patiently, queued for half an hour. It was a strange queue that began in front of a three-storey wooden tower, continued inside the tower, then went upstairs and downstairs, and finally ended at the boat-departing and landing platform.
A two-storey tower where visitors queue up for a jungle boat-cruise in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
After boarding a boat we cruised down a river which flowed through a tropical jungle where wild animals were watching us and making noise, such as elephants, rhinos, giraffes, gorillas, snakes and zebras. Besides, there were natives living in the jungle. Before the cruise ended, we were surprised to see several piranhas suddenly jumped out of the water and back into it.
Visitors on a jungle boat-cruise in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
A large elephant in a tropical jungle in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
A rhino showing its anger to visitors on a jungle boat-cruise in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Piranhas jumping out of water and back into it, suddenly, and surprising jungle boat-riders in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Statues of Walt Disney
After the topical jungle cruise, we walked to the centre of Disneyland Park where we saw a man-sized bronze statue of Walt Disney holding Mickey Mouse’s hand. I spotted a Walt Disney’s quotation of his wish on the statue pedestal and read it to myself: “I think most of all what I want Disneyland to be is a happy place……where parents and children can have fun, together.” I think what he had wished for has come true. The existence of more Disneylands in other places is evident that people, young or old, like to visit them to “have fun together”.
Behind the writer’s back is a statue of Walt Disney holding Mickey Mouse’s hand in the centre of Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Bronze Figurines of Walt Disney’s Cartoon Characters
Around Walt Disney were bronze figurines of Disney’s characters, such as Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pinocchio and Jiminy Cricket, Goofy, Chipmunks, Dumbo and Gerald G. Rabbit. These cartoon characters were so adorable.
A figurine of Minnie Mouse
A figurine of Donald Duck
A figurine of Pinocchio with Jiminy Cricket
A figurine of Goofy
Two figurines of Chipmunks
A figurine of Dumbo
Gerald G Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland
Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
At 4 p.m. a grand, colourful parade, Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, started from the location where “It’s a Small World” was. Classic musics from Walt Disney’s movies were played, loudly. The parade route from “It’s a Small World” site to Main Street USA was lined with hundreds of visitors, some sitting while others standing, closely, on the roadside. My wife and I were standing at a small roundabout where the statue of Walt Disney was located.
Leading the parade were six drummers. They were then followed by energetic dancers and floats with Walt Disney’s animated characters from classic movies. The first float was carrying Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. It was followed by Aladdin’s, Little Mermaid’s, Walt Disney’s royal princesses’, Lion King’s, Tiana’s, Fox Hunter’s and the last one, Chimney-sweepers’. There were altogether 9 in the parade. It was indeed a “soundsational” parade,
Six drummers leading Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Mickey and Minnie Mouse on the 1st. float in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Lion King on the 2nd. float in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Ariel, the little mermaid, on the 3rd. float in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Walt Disney’s princess on the 4th. float in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Lion King on the 5th. float in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Tiana and Louis, the trumpet-playing alligator, on the 6th. float in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Bert and Mary Poppins riding carousel-horses in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Fox Hunter riding a penny-farthing high wheeler bicycle(the 7th. float) in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Chimney sweepers on the 8th. and last float in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Captain Hook and his pirates chasing Peter Pan around in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Abu, Aladdin’s pet monkey, playing cymbals in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Dancers in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
The parade would not be “soundsational” without energetic dancers in colourful dresses, like harlem girls, pinata ladies, ladies in Victorian dresses and can-can ladies. We enjoyed watching the parade all the time. I told myself that I was going to watch it again at 6.30 in the evening.
Genie and harlem girls from Aladdin dancing in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, Disneyland Park, Anaheim
Pinata ladies and flamencos dancing in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, Disneyland Parade, Anaheim, USA
Ladies in colourful dresses dancing, energetically, in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Ladies in Victorian dresses dancing, gracefully, in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Can-can dancers in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Ladies in blue dancing, happily, in Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Disneyland Monorail(Tomorrowland)
When the grand parade was over we went to a monorail station in Tomorrowland. After queuing for half an hour, we boarded a monorail train and were on our way to the Downtown Disneyland Station, 4 km away. On the way we enjoyed the sights of Tomorrowland area and the fronts of Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventures Park. Then we returned to Tomorrowland Monorail Station.
Tomorrowland Monorail Station, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
General Electric’s Carousel of Progress as seen from the Tomorrowland Station, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Writer experiencing a short monorail ride in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Entrance to Disney California Adventure Park as seen from a moving monorail train, Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, USA
Arrival area between Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park in Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, USA
“It’s a Small World” Boat Cruise(Fantasyland)
Immediately after the enjoyable monorail ride, we went to queue up for the “It’s a Small World” attraction. Twenty minutes later, we boarded a boat brought us down a canal and into a large building where a “small world” was. Inside the building, we past, slowly, several countries where children in their native clothes singing the beautiful, classic song, “It’s a Small World”, in their own languages. It was a wonderful experience for us as it brought us back to the time when we were children.
“It’s a Small World” building housing children in their native costumes in a small world
Visitors in boats sailing to a small world to see children in different countries in “It’s a Small World” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Entrance to the small world in “It’s a Small World” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Children in Switzerland in “It’s a Small World” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Children in Kenya in “It’s a Small World” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Children in Hawaii in “It’s a Small World” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Children in Spain in “It’s a Small World” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Children in Mexico in “It’s a Small World” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Children in India in “It’s a Small World” in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
2nd. Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
Coming out of the building where the “small world” was and with the children’s classic song still playing in our heads, we went to look for a spot where we could have a better view of the 2nd. Mickey’s Soundsational Parade which was going to start soon. It was near the At about 6.30 p.m. everybody heard a loud music being played and looked in the direction of Main Street, USA. Soon the parade appeared and we enjoyed watching it again. It was moving to the place where “It’s a Small World” was located where it would end.
A float carrying Walt Disney’s royal princesses and moving to “It’s a Small World” location in the 2nd. Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, Disneyland Park, Anaheim
The last float carrying chimney-sweepers in the 2nd. Mickey’s Soundsational Parade, Disneyland Park, Anaheim
Story Book Land Canal Boat Cruise(Fantasyland)
Next, we went to another place nearby for another boat ride in a winding canal in the open air to learn about the “Storybook Land”. It was a beautiful land where miniature buildings, villages, castle and landscapes that looked like those in Walt Disney’s classic movies, e.g. Cinderella, Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs, Aladdin, The Little Mermaid II, Alice in Wonderland, The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad and more.
Boat carrying passengers entering a large whale’s(Monstro’s) mouth that has swallowed Pinocchio in Storybook Land Canal attraction in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Storybook Land Canal along which mini-buildings representing homes of the Walt Disney’s animated characters in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Cinderella’s castle atop a white mountain in Storybook Land Canal attraction in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
The dwarfs’ cottage from Snow White & the 7 Dwarfs in Storybook Land Canal attraction in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
A sultan’s palace from Aladdin in Storybook Land Canal attraction in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Prince Eric and his wife, Ariel, living in this sea-side castle from The Little Mermaid II in Storybook Land Canal attraction, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
A church, cottage and the White Rabbit’s hole from Alice in Wonderland in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Toad Hall from The Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad in Storybook Land Canal attraction, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
King Arthur Carousel(Fantasyland)
After the boat-ride we walked about near Sleeping Beauty Castle and were attracted to King Arthur Carousel. The carousel consisted of 68 wood-carved white horses that moved round and round in anti-clockwise direction, slowly. We waited for the carousel to stop and visitors to get off the horses. Then we climbed onto the horses, and soon we were galloping away as the carousel was moving round and round. Frankly speaking, that was my first carousel horse-ride experience and I enjoyed it.
Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
King Arthur Carousel in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Visitors enjoying King Arthur Carousel ride in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey(Fantasyland)
After that enjoyable carousel horse-ride, we looked around and noticed that there was a very short queue for the Pinocchio’s Daring Journey attraction. Soon we were in a wooden cart that brought us to follow Pinocchio’s daring journey starting from the Stromboli’s Marionette show to Pleasure Island, some places to see Pinocchio’s encounters, a sea where Monstro existed and finally Geppetto’s workshop where Pinocchio turned into a real boy and other objects became alive. I think children would love that attraction.
Geppetto testing Pinocchio’s reflex action in Pinocchio’s Daring Journey attraction in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
A fox and cat trying to cheat Pinocchio of his gold coins meant for Geppetto, his creator, in Pinocchio’s Daring Journey attraction in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Peter Pan’s Flight(Fantasyland)
Then we went to an old English-looking building to experience Peter Pan’s flight. In the building we hopped into a miniature sailing ship. It brought us to Darling’s nursery, soared high above the rooftops of London in the moonlight and finally reached Neverland where Princess Tiger Lily, Mr. Smee, Tick-Tock and Captain Hook lived. It was an interesting Peter Pan’s flight.
Visitors entering this old English-looking building to experience Peter Pan;s Flight in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Sailing boats that can take visitors for a Peter Pan’s flight over old London in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Visitors in a sailing ship going to experience Peter Pan’s flight over old London in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Magical, A Firework Spectacular
The finale of the Disneyland Park day was a grand firework display at 9.30 p.m. over Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Before it started, the area around the castle was already crowded with people. My wife and I took some time to look for a spot where we could have a clear, unobstructive view of the castle and firework that was going to be displayed soon. It was in a garden about 400 metres from the castle.
Several minutes later, fireworks with white, sparkling stars and bright lines behind them were shot into the dark sky over the Sleeping Beauty’s Castle from a few locations. The sky was continuously illuminated with more dazzling, vibrant, colourful fireworks of diverse shapes and sizes making all of us excited and thrilled almost all the time.
Then 80 seconds later Tinker Bell, a little fairy, appeared and flew above and around the castle for a brief moment. In the middle of the spectacular, magical firework display, Dumbo, a small elephant, appeared, and flew above and around the castle for a short while. Just before the display ended, Tinker Bell reappeared for another short moment. Then, finally, large multi-explosions of fireworks illuminating the sky over the castle. The awesome display of fireworks lasted for about 12 minutes and had made us feel awestricken all the time. It was a magical night experience.
Fireworks bursting high over Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Colourful “meteors” high over Sleeping Beauty Castle and Tinker Bell flying around the castle in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Continuous burst of fireworks high over Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Massive fireworks exploding around and over Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Dumbo flying around Sleeping Beauty Castle and a firework exploding in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
“Meteors” rocketing into the sky over Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Beautiful fireworks high over Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Beautiful fireworks brightening the sky with sparkles over Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
Continuous burst of fireworks brightening the sky over Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Park, Anaheim, USA
When the firework display was all over, we and other visitors left Disneyland Park, feeling satisfied and happy.
Visitors leaving Disneyland Park after the grand, awesome display of fireworks, “Magical, Fireworks Spaectacular”, Anaheim, USA
(Continued in USA West Coast Travel Part VII (Los Angeles City))
Written by Choo Chaw, Kluang, Johor, Malaysia
U.S.A West Coast Travel:
Part II San Francisco, Fresno. Las Vegas
Part V Premium Outlets in S, California
Part VI Disneyland Resort, Anaheim
Part VII Hollywood Walk of Fame, Los Angeles
Part VIII Universal Studios Hollywood
Part IX Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park
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