The original Disneyland

Now who needs an introduction to Disneyland?

Located in Anaheim, California (near, or is it in, Los Angeles), it's the first Disneyland in the whole world - opened 2 years before Malaysia got her independence, and is apparently the only theme park to be designed, built, opened and operated by Walt Disney.

With Walt Disney and the famous fairytale castle

So, the day started, with lots of built-up anticipation because this was my first Disneyland trip (nope, never been to the HK one) and I'd heard so many stories of the Japan one being so fabulous.

By 9.30am, we were at the gates to Disneyland Park, there was no queue to enter and it was a smooth entrance - which was a little odd, to me, because it was a Saturday, albeit the last day of the low season. Armed with a map and a show schedule (very important tools to maximize your time), we started our day.

We entered at Main Street USA - where there's a City Hall (a kind of concierge to ask questions). There's also a Main Street Square - where at 5pm, they raise the flags, sing the national anthem, and ask members of the public who served in the National Forces to stand out and be recognized - very patriotic event.

We walked quickly past the rows of shops at Main Street USA (knowing we'd return later to shop for souvenirs) and headed for our first ride.

We rode on most of the rides we wanted to, especially those marked with "Physical Consideration". Started with the Indiana Jones Adventure in Adventureland - which was pretty cool, bumping our way along in a 4WD roller coaster. Then the guys went onto Splash Mountain (yeah, you guessed it, this ride gets you wet) in Critter Country while we girls went next door to The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh. It was a superbly mild ride - "buzz on in, honeybees", just journeying through Pooh's house, a very bright and happy ride. Came off the ride and took pictures with Pooh - oh that was a happy point of the day.

I've got a cuddly picture with Pooh, too!

We also rode on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Frontierland - which was fun and a ride I'd go on again, and Pirates of the Caribbean at New Orleans Square - which was also very fun, especially to see Jack Sparrow popping up everywhere. And entered the Haunted Mansion - which was pretty cool and not very scary - but I won't spoil it for the rest of you who haven't ridden on it (apparently the Japan one is similar, don't know if there's one in HK).

In Fantasyland, we queued up pretty long for Matterhorn Bobsleds - of which now I can't really remember what's the ride about, except that it involves a little bit of water and it seemed like a very thrilling ride but actually wasn't so.

"it's a small world" - new and improved

My parents had said "it's a small world" was fun - so we joined the queue for that. It's a family ride, showing all cultures of the world in one mild boat ride, with the "it's a small world, after all" tune playing over and over again. Brings you back to kindergarten days, it does.

And occasionally, the big clock outside the "it's a small world" ride chimes, and little toy soldiers and other characters from the ride will come out and dance - like a cuckoo clock show - quite entertaining.

Fantasyland is apparently filled with many kid-friendly rides (actually, every Disney ride is very kid-friendly). We went on Pinocchio's Daring Journey (the names are very kwa chiong) and Snow White's Scary Adventures. I guess if you brought an inquisitive little kid, you'd have to spend the whole day after the rides explaining these fairytales all over again.

Tomorrowland had "futuristic" rides. Autopia was a go-kart that is very similar to the antique-car ride in Genting - not very fun. But Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters was pretty cool. It's an interactive ride - 2 people in one "pod" which can be steered to turn round and round, and each person has a hand gun to shoot at various targets along the ride. And the pod has individual screens showing the player's score. A computer-game ride - pretty cool!

We also went for "Honey I shrunk the audience" - a 3D movie. And queued up for the Space Mountain ride which was not bad - apparently one of the best rides in Disneyland. You can see us in that Disney-taken photo (we snapped that picture on the screen).

And of course, how could we not enter Sleeping Beauty's Castle? We did the walk-thru there - a new attraction. But it was rather crowded, and at times I felt claustrophobic. Definitely don't do this if you're scared of dark enclosed spaces filled with people.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle is pretty in the day and the night - fireworks would have been perfect!

We also took the Disneyland Railroad for one round of the park - the ride was not merely a ride, it brought us through tunnels where you can see dinosaurs and I forgot what else. We didn't expect those extras, so it was nice to rest our feet and be surprised.

Entrance tickets to Disneyland Park cost $69, or $94 to include entrance to Disney's California Adventure Park - located right opposite Disneyland Park. Unfortunately, our tour did not allocate (or purchase) entrance tickets for us into the California Adventure Park, which is apparently where most of the thrilling rides are - not that I want to be flung upside down, but Disneyland Park did feel a little too, urm, young. Very safe for kids, definitely. Though I also doubt I'd be able to finish all the rides in both parks in 1 day. A 2-day park hopper ticket costs $143.

However, the lack of a Character Parade or a Fireworks show in Disneyland really disappointed me. Disneyland Park did not live up to its promise of "The Happiest Place On Earth" - not for me, at least. But, I have to admit it was fun being a kid for a day.

Minnie is prettier than on-screen!

And after a rather tiring day of pounding the pavements at Disneyland, we had dinner at Tony Roma's - the world famous pork ribs - yums!

I cleaned the whole plate up by myself, I did!