No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a visit to the "Happiest Place on Earth!" Disneyland is a must-see attraction for the young and old alike. It's not just a theme park... It's a wonderful, magical world where your favorite Disney characters and movies come to life.
In 1923, brothers Walt and Roy founded the Disney Brothers Cartoon Studio and their dreams of making animated films quickly became a reality. The company's most beloved and recognizable character, Mickey Mouse, was created in 1928 and introduced to the public in the studio's first sound film, Steamboat Willie. After much commercial success, Walt Disney opened Disneyland in 1955. The idea was to create a place where parents and kids could go and have fun as a family.
Unlike other amusement parks of the era, Disneyland provided visitors with a one of kind experience centered around its most popular films and characters. Families could wander the halls and turrets of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, fly high in the sky with Dumbo and take a ride on Mark Twain's Riverboat. Since its inception, the park has continually added new rides and attractions, and today it attracts nearly 16 million guests every year.
Start your day with a stroll down Main Street, U.S.A. The old fashioned architecture and vintage streetcars make you feel like you've stepped back in time. Be sure to indulge your sweet tooth at the Candy Palace and stop in the Main Street Cinema to watch a couple of animated shorts. Then make your way through Sleeping Beauty's Castle to visit Fantasyland. See how fast you can spin your teacup at the Mad Tea Party and sing along with children of every nationality as you float through It's A Small World.
See what the future holds in Tomorrowland. Ride Space Mountain, one of the world's most celebrated indoor roller coasters, and laugh yourself silly on the Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. Then be bold and explore Adventureland, home to the hugely popular Indiana Jones Adventure ride and the classic roller coaster Big Thunder Mountain. If you're not afraid of getting wet, you can cool off with a log ride through Critter Country on Splash Mountain.
It's Mardi Gras all year long in New Orleans Square, home to the Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion. And life gets seriously wacky in Toontown, where Mickey, Minnie, Donald and Goofy live in technicolor splendor. If you're brave, you can hail a cab on Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin or take a ride on Gadget's squirrely Go Coaster. Be sure to get some tasty treats and fun souvenirs throughout your day: there are restaurants, food carts and shops throughout the park.
