Disneyland Resort

The Disneyland Resort is a theme park resort located in Anaheim, California. It consists of two theme parks, Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park. Disneyland opened on July 17th, 1955, and California Adventure opened on February 8th, 2001. Originally opening as just a theme park, the complex officially became a resort in 1998. Both parks feature many beloved dark rides in various different forms. The entire resort includes a combined total of 25 dark rides across both parks. Despite this, many rides feature dark ride elements, even though they are not true dark rides. Such rides include Matterhorn Bobsleds and the Disneyland Railroad. There are also rides that feature outdoor elements, but, at their core, are dark rides. Quite possibly the most prominent examples are Splash Mountain and Radiator Springs Racers.

## History

### Disneyland

Walt Disney, founder of the Walt Disney Company, had thought of the idea for a theme park he called "Mickey Mouse Park." Walt and his older brother Roy had planned for the park to be located in Burbank, CA. However, as the project continued to be conceived, the brothers realized Burbank was too small to fit the park into. The project was moved to nearby Anaheim (which is also where Disney's headquarters is currently located) and placed adjacent to the Santa Ana Freeway, which was under construction at the time. Now named Disneyland, construction began in 1954, with the park opening the very next year in 1955. Across the street from the park is the Disneyland hotel, which was a result from Walt striking a deal with Jack Wrather, a Hollywood producer. Despite the fast construction, Walt had much bigger ambitions for his park, and it continues to expand to this day.

### California Adventure

The idea of a second Anaheim theme park emerged in 1991 when Disney announced WestCOT. The park was to be a west coast variant, or sequel to, Disney World's EPCOT, known as EPCOT Center at the time. Plans for the park were dropped due to Disney's ever increasing financial problems, mostly thanks in part to the failed and expensive opening of Disneyland Paris (then known as Euro Disneyland). To make matters worse, the plans for WestCOT were large and ambitious, which would leave Disney with yet another high price tag to pay. The final nail in the coffin was the death of former Disney president, Frank Wells, in 1994 in a helicopter crash. This ongoing snowball effect led Disney to cancel WestCOT completely in 1995. Later that year, former Disney CEO, Michael Eisner, and various executives met to discuss a new second park. It was eventually decided that the new park would be themed around California itself, including its history, locations, culture, and more (Disney has slowly been straying away from the California theme over the years). The park entered construction in 1998 along with Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Downtown Disney, as well as refurbishments to the Disneyland Hotel and the Disneyland Pacific Hotel. The park officially opened on February 8th, 2001 to poor success. The original park saw significantly more visits that year, mainly due to a lack of attractions suitable for small children, and also the absence of a nighttime show/parade to keep guests in the park after dark. As time went on, many of the park's opening day attractions ceased operation in favor of others. Today, the park is much more popular with guests and is widely considered on-par with the original park.

## Themed Lands

A themed land is an area of an amusement/theme park that is specifically themed around a certain subject and/or IP. While many parks today feature themed lands, Disneyland has some of the oldest in the world, as well as some of the newest. Each of Disney's lands feature elaborate theming, though some more so than others. No matter which land you're in, Disney will always have you immersed in whatever the theme may be.

### Disneyland

#### Adventureland

Themed to exotic, remote jungles in places such as Africa and the Caribbean. Main attraction is Jungle Cruise

#### Critter Country

Themed to various woodland animals. Main attraction is Splash Mountain.

#### Fantasyland

Themed to many different fantasy films produced by the Walt Disney Company. Several attractions are considered must rides, but Peter Pan's Flight seems to be the most popular.

#### Frontierland

Themed to the 19th century American frontier towns. Main attraction is Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

#### Main Street, U.S.A.

Themed to various 20th century small towns, specifically Fort Collins, Colorado (not Walt's hometown of Marceline, Missouri like many people believe). Main attractions are the Main Street Vehicles.

#### Mickey's Toontown

Themed to Mickey Mouse and his cartoon pals. Both attractions are popular. The kids will love both of them, but adult's will likely appeal more to Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin.

#### New Orleans Square

Themed to New Orleans, Louisiana during the 19th century. Both attractions are some of the most popular rides in the park and some of the most famous rides of all time. However, most fans seem to prefer the Haunted Mansion to Pirates of the Caribbean.

#### Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

Themed to the Star Wars film franchise, specifically the fictional planet of Batu. Main attraction is Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, but Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run is an exceptional ride as well.

#### Tomorrowland

Themed to Walt Disney's visions of the future. Main attraction is Space Mountain.

### California Adventure

#### Avengers Campus

Themed to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Main attraction is Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!

#### Buena Vista Street

Themed to Los Angeles, specifically the hillside neighborhood of Los Feliz. Main attraction is the Red Car Trolley.

#### Cars Land

Themed to the fictional town of Radiator Springs and the Cars films as a whole. Main attraction is Radiator Springs Racers.

#### Grizzly Peak Airfield

Themed to a 1950s California National Park. Main attraction is Grizzly River Run, but many people will prefer Soarin' Around the World.

#### Hollywood Land

Themed to 1930s Hollywood. Main attraction is Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! The Red Car Trolley stops here as well.

#### Paradise Gardens Park

Themed to a boardwalk amusement park. Main attraction is The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure.

#### Pixar Pier

Themed to various Pixar characters and franchises. Main attraction is Incredicoaster.

### Adventureland

-**Indiana Jones Adventure**

-Jungle Cruise

### Critter Country

-Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes

**-Splash Mountain**

**-The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh**

Fantasyland

-"it's a small world"

-Alice in Wonderland

-Casey Jr. Circus Train

-Dumbo the Flying Elephant

-King Arthur Carrousel

-Mad Tea Party

**-Mr. Toad's Wild Ride**

**-Peter Pan's Flight**

**-Pinocchio's Daring Journey**

**-Snow White's Enchanted Wish**

-Storybook Land Canal Boats

### Frontierland

-Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

-Mark Twain Riverboat

-Sailing Ship Columbia

### Mickey's Toontown

-Gadget's Go Coaster

**-Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin**

### New Orleans Square

**-Haunted Mansion**

**-Pirates of the Caribbean**

### Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

**-Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run**

**-Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance**

### Tomorrowland

-Astro Orbitor

-Autopia

**-Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters**

**-Finding Nemo: Submarine Voyage**

-Space Mountain

**-Star Tours - The Adventures Continue**

### Avengers Campus

**-Guardians of the Galaxy - Mission: BREAKOUT!**

**-WEB Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure**

### Cars Land

-Luigi's Rollickin' Roadsters

-Mater's Junkyard Jamboree

**-Radiator Springs Racers**

### Grizzly Peak Airfield

-Grizzly River Run

**-Soarin' Around the World**

### Hollywood Land

**-Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!**

### Paradise Gardens Park

-Golden Zephyr

-Goofy's Sky School

-Jumpin' Jellyfish

-Silly Symphony Swings

**-The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel's Undersea Adventure**

### Pixar Pier

-Incredicoaster

-Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind

-Jessie's Critter Carousel

-Pixar Pal-A-Round

**-Toy Story Midway Mania!**

### Miscellaneous

-Disneyland Monorail (has a station in Tomorrowland and Downtown Disney)

-Disneyland Railroad (has stations throughout the park)

-Matterhorn Bobsleds (located on the border of Fantasyland and Tomorrowland)

-Red Car Trolley (can be boarded in Buena Vista Street and Hollywood Land)