Anaheim Attractions
- Overview
- Attractions
- Events
- Facts
- Kids
Anaheim Resort
Area
Disneyland
1313 S.
Harbor Blvd
Anaheim,
CA
The
Happiest Place on Earth" is an enchanted kingdom of fantasy and imagination
filled with family-friendly attractions and entertainment, dining and shopping.
Disneyland is divided into eight theme "lands”, each of which has a
number of rides and attractions that are somehow related to the theme of that
geographic designation.
A. Main
Street U.S.A.
At the
park's entrance, Main Street U.S.A. is a picture perfect version of small town
America. The streets are lined with gift shops, candy stores, a soda fountain,
and a silent theater that runs early Mickey Mouse films. There is an information
booth to the left of the main entrance which has a schedule of the day's events.
B.
Adventureland
Adventureland is home to several popular rides with the theme of the most exotic
regions of Asia, Africa, India, and the South Pacific Among these are:
Tarzan's Treehouse Jungle Cruise,
(aboard a Mississippi River-style paddleboat)
Enchanted Tiki Room
20-minute musical show
Indiana
Jones Adventure,
Riders follow Indiana Jones in all-terrain vehicles and experience the bubbling
lava pits, whizzing arrows, fire-breathing serpents, collapsing bridges, and a
tumbling boulder.
C. New Orleans Square:
A large grass filled park illuminated by gas lamps, New Orleans Square is home
to the Haunted Mansion.
Pirates
of the Caribbean,
one of Disneyland's most popular rides, has visitors float on boats through
underground caves, entering an enchanting world of pirates and buried treasure.
At the Blue Bayou Restaurant, located in the depths of the ride, you can eat
surrounded by cool moonlight and listen to the sound of crickets.
D.
Critter Country is a version of Frontierland. Older children and grown-ups love Splash
Mountain, one of the largest water flume rides in the world. Loosely based on
the Disney movie Song of the South, the ride is lined with about 100
characters that serenade with "Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah." Riders paddle around in log
boats and often get sprayed or dunked.
E.
Frontierland:
Inspired by 19th-century America, Frontierland features a raft to Tom Sawyer's
Island and a play area with balancing rocks, caves, and a rope bridge. There is
also a petting zoo and a log cabin for the family to explore.
In season,
Frontierland presents Rivers of America This fascinating spectacle mixes
magic, music, live performers, and sensational special effects. Mickey Mouse
uses his magical powers to create giant water fountains, enormous flowers, and
fantasy creatures. A 45-foot-tall dragon breathes fire and lights up the water
of the Rivers of America.
F.
Mickey's Toontown:
This is a colorful world of cartoon characters inspired by the "Roger Rabbit"
films; a land populated by 'toons. There are several rides, including Roger
Rabbit's CarToonSpin, but Toontown itself is the main attraction.
G.
Fantasyland: A land
with a storybook theme. Most of the rides are designed for children under age 6,
You'll also find Alice in Wonderland, Snow White's Scary Adventures, Pinocchio's
Daring Journey, and more.
It's a
Small World is a
slower moving indoor river ride through a confection-filled panorama as the
world's children sing It’s a Small World.
Matterhorn Bobsleds
gives a roller coaster ride through chilled caverns and drifting fog banks. It
is one of the park's most popular rides.
H.
Tomorrowland:
Conceived as an optimistic look at the future, Tomorrowland is designed in the
stark, metallic look popularized by futurists such as Jules Verne. Longtime
Tomorrowland favorites include Space Mountain and Star Tours, the original
Disney-George Lucas joint venture. It's a 40-passenger StarSpeeder that
encounters a a series of challenges on the way to the Moon of Endor, achieved
with wired seats and video effects
Disney's California Adventure
Opened on
February 8, 2001, Disney's California Adventure occupies about 55 acres of the
original 100 acre Disneyland parking lot. Located immediately to the south of
the Magic Kingdom, this entirely separate gated attraction features all the best
of California in condensed form.
The
entrance to California Adventure is under a jaunty rendition of the Golden Gate
Bridge flanked by two tiled murals representing California's riches. Disney
designers traveled throughout the state while drafting California Adventure. The
result is a celebration of the brightest and best that California offers (past
and present)
The themed
areas within include an area representing a seaside resort, complete with a
Boardwalk and "ocean front” amusement park, with a roller coaster, California
Screamin', and other rides, a "Cannery Row" area representing the Monterey area,
something of Tinsel town with the Hollywood Studios backlot, a high desert
aviation area named Condor Flats, an area for agriculture called Bountiful
Valley and wine tasting with the Mondavi family from Napa Valley. Finally, a
wilderness area, Redwood Creek, featuring the symbol for the entire park,
Grizzly Peak (it's a rocky outcropping in the shape of a bear head) which has a
white-water rafting adventure. Also included within the park itself is the Grand
Californian Hotel, themed as a wilderness lodge in the architectural style of
the National Parks lodges.
Soarin'
Over California in Condor Flats
is also a favorite. This is a theatre attraction that lifts each guest 20
degrees up and down. Participants soar, as though on a hang glider, over the
most scenic and exciting places in California, including Yosemite, the Golden
Gate, the Central Valley, the coast, San Diego, Los Angeles and Disneyland,
along with other locales. You can feel the wind in your face, and each guest
"glider" moves and tilts in full compliance with the scenes above, below, and to
each side.
Paradise Pier
Paradise
Pier is the amusement park section of Disney's California Adventure. On the
surface, it looks like a seaside recreation park from years gone by, but beneath
the veneer are state-of-the-art thrill rides and amusements and midway games
along the boardwalk at the edge of the lagoon. Paradise Pier lights up at night
with thousands of lights and visual effects.
Other
Area Attractions
Knott’s
Soak City USA
8039 Beach
Blvd.
Buena Park
The park
is a 10-minute ride north on I-5 from Disneyland. From I-5 or Calif. 91, exit
south onto Beach Boulevard. The park is about half a mile south of Calif. 91.
Open May
through September
Orange
County’s wildest water adventure park! Thirteen water-logged acres packed with
21 of the most intense water rides, all themed to the surf woodies and
longboards of the 1950s Southern California coast.
Knott's
Berry Farm Theme Park
8039 Beach
Blvd.
714/220-5200
Buena
Park. The park is a 10-minute ride north on I-5 from Disneyland. From I-5 or
Calif. 91, exit south onto Beach Boulevard. About 1/2 mile south of Calif. 91.
Knott's
Berry Farm's hours vary both during the week and week to week, so call ahead.
The park is usually open during the summer daily from 9am to midnight.. Special
hours and prices are in effect during Knott's Scary Farm in late October (a
hugely popular event). Stage shows and special activities are scheduled
throughout the day. Pick up a schedule at the ticket booth.
This park
focuses on newer and faster thrill rides that target Southern California youths
and families instead. With 165 fast-paced amusement rides, shows and
attractions. Enjoy Wild West stunt shows, thrilling roller coaster rides, and
the children’s favorite: Camp Snoopy.
The
Motts Miniatures Museum & Dollhouse Shop
7900 La
Palma Ave.
Buena Park
Just up
the street from Knott’s Berry Farm
The museum
showcases the History of America in miniature from the Pilgrims to modern times.
Some exhibits are so small that they must be viewed under magnifying glasses.
There are dressed fleas, rice carvings, 350 hand-carved ivory elephants in a
bean shell, portraits of U.S. Presidents on the heads of pins, the world's
smallest folding pocket knife, and more.
Richard
Nixon Library
18001
Yorba Linda Blvd
714/993-5075
Fax:
714/993-3393
Hours:
Mon-Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 11am-5pm
This
presidential library, located in Nixon’s boyhood town, celebrates the roots,
life, and legacy of America’s 37th President. The 9-acre site contains the
modest farmhouse where Nixon was born, manicured flower gardens, a modern museum
housing presidential archives, and the final resting place of Mr. Nixon and his
wife, Pat.
Anaheim Indoor
Market
1440 S.
Anaheim Blvd. The marketplace, Orange County’s largest indoor swap meet, has
more than 200 stores selling merchandise at 50 percent to 70 percent below
retail price. It is open six days a week, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., closed on
Tuesdays.
The
marketplace has a food court, and shoppers can enjoy mariachi music, 3-5 p.m.
Saturdays, and live concerts, 1-4 p.m. Sundays.
Believe it
or not, you can also watch professional wrestling in the marketplace’s back lot
arena, 1-4 p.m. Sundays.
Call:
(714) 999-0888.
Anaheim Museum
241 S.
Anaheim Blvd.
714-778-3301
10 a.m.-4
Wednesday-Friday; noon-4 Saturday, and by appointment Sunday-Tuesday.
The
Anaheim Museum houses a combination of history, culture, and art in its 1908
building. Children can visit the Communications Room for interactive activities.
The Anaheim Room has displays of pictures and tools essential to Anaheim’s
settlers.
The
Farmers Market and Crafts Fair,
at Center Street Promenade and Lemon Street. Every Thursday 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.,
the Farmers Market features more than 60 vendors selling fruit, vegetables,
baked goods, flowers and craftwork.
Call:
(714) 956-3586.
Hobby City
1238 S.
Beach Blvd.
Families
can enjoy 10 acres of hobby, craft and collector shops. A half-scale replica of
the White House offers rare dolls and toys. Hobby City also has a theme park
called Adventure City, where children can enjoy rides, face painting and puppet
shows.
Aquarium of the Pacific
100
Aquarium Way, Long Beach
(Los
Angeles County)
(562)
590-3100.
This
internationally renowned aquarium creatively examines the treasures of the
Pacific Ocean, the planet's largest, most diverse body of water. The Aquarium of
the Pacific explores three regions of the Pacific Ocean: the Southern
California/Baja Pacific, the Northern Pacific, and the Tropical Pacific. The
aquarium features futuristic design and technology.
Discovery
Science Center
This
59,000-square-foot facility is filled with fun, hands-on exhibits for children
and adults. Visitors can experience an earthquake in the "Shake Shack," lie on a
bed of 3,500 nails, walk through a tornado, engage in live science
demonstrations, watch a 3-D laser show and more.
Crystal
Cathedral
The
Crystal Cathedral is situated in Garden Grove less than two miles from
Disneyland. Located at the southwest corner of Chapman Avenue and Lewis Street
between Harbor Boulevard and The City Drive.
Guided
tours every half-hour, Monday through Saturday, from 9 -3:30. Sunday church
services are at: 9:30 AM and 11 AM, plus an Hispanic (Spanish-speaking) service
at 12:45 PM, and an evening (English-speaking) service at 6:30 PM.
Each year,
the Crystal Cathedral presents two major pageants: The Glory of Christmas. (in
December), and The Glory of Easter (in March). These feature a cast of 200 in
Biblical period costumes, a choir, angels, live animals, and joyous music from a
70-piece orchestra.
The
largest glass building in the world, the Cathedral was built by the Rev. Robert
Schuller. Schuller started out in 1955, as pastor of California's first
"drive-in" church, in Garden Grove. It was originally located in a drive-in
movie theatre, and Rev. Schuller preached from the roof of the concession stand.
After his radio broadcasting success, Rev. Schuller opened the Crystal Cathedral
in 1980.
Universal Studios
Located in
Universal City, Hollywood, about a 40 minute drive northwest of Anaheim
100
Universal City Plaza
Universal
City
Hours
fluctuate seasonally. Open everyday except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.
Universal
Studios Hollywood, the world's largest movie studio and theme park, allows
guests an exhilarating opportunity to experience a genuine working movie studio
through their thrill rides, one-of-a-kind attractions and live shows based on
movies actually filmed at its fully functioning movie studio.
Themed
rides and shows propel the visitor into the exciting worlds of their favorite
movies. Among these are the new rock n’ roll Spider-Man Rocks, the popular Mummy
Returns: Chamber of Doom or the monster plunge of Jurassic Park: The Ride, plus
more attractions and shows.
