Disneyland Basics

          Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, CA, is said to be "the happiest place on earth." Only 13 miles from the John Wayne Airport in Orange County (SNA), and 35 miles from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is where this joyful place lies. According to Google Maps, it is anywhere from 43 to 51 minutes from Hollywood and 36 to 44 minutes from Downtown Los Angeles. Walt Disney hoped to make it a "source of joy and inspiration to all the world," and in my opinion, it has.
          It opened in 1955 with 22 rides (36 attractions), as opposed to March 2008 with 36 rides (55 attractions). The rides that have been in Disneyland since it first opened are the Storybook Land Canal Boats (which were then the Canal Boats of the World), Casey Jr. Circus Train, Dumbo's Flying Elephants, Mad Tea Party, Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Peter Pan's Flight, Snow White's Scary Adventures (which then had no "scary"), Autopia, Mark Twain Riverboat, and Jungle Cruise. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea was closed in 1966, as was changed into many themes before and after it was closed, but opened as Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage in 2007. California Adventure, Disneyland Anaheim's second park, opened in 2001. Disneyland and California Adventure are places that accommodate all ages. Rides range from It's a Small World to Splash Mountain and Matterhorn Bobsleds. There are eight "lands" in each park. In Disneyland, there is Main Street U.S.A., Fantasyland, Adventureland, Frontierland, Critter Country, New Orleans Square, Toontown, and Tomorrowland. Tommorrowland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, and Adventureland are based mainly on ages 8+, while Fantasyland, Critter Country, and Toontown are mainly for ages 3-7, but everyone can enjoy them. Main Street U.S.A. is for the folks that like to shop and take pictures, but there is also an educational attraction called "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln." Parades are great for little kids (and their parents) when a break from walking is needed.
          In California Adventure, the "lands" are Buena Vista Street, Hollywood Land, "a bug's land," Cars Land, Pacific Wharf, Paradise Pier, Grizzly Peak, and Condor Flats. Buena Vista Street is like Main Street U.S.A., minus the attraction. Hollywood Land has major thrill rides, such as The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, but also have a Disney Junior Show. "a bug's land" is for little kids, and Pacific Wharf consists of no rides. Cars Land has mainly family rides. Grizzly Peak and Condor Flats each only have one ride, but both are for families. Paradise Pier everyone can have fun in. It has the only upside-down ride at Disneyland Anaheim, and also has The Little Mermaid-Ariel's Undersea Adventure, a ride that moves about 1 mile an hour and stops frequently. California Adventure's night life contains an AMAZING water show called World of Color. These are just some Disneyland basics, and I hope you enjoyed!

Thanks to yesterland.com, wikipedia.org, wiki.answers.com, the Disneyland Explorer App, and about.com for some of this information!