Wonderful things to do at Disneyland & California Adventure

Disneyland is a wonderful place to visit while in Southern California. There seems to always be something new there to try out, but they never seem to lose the old favorites that make Disneyland and Disney World part of what they are. We had the opportunity to go this summer while we were out visiting my family there. I just love to come back to the "Happiest Place on Earth."

The biggest, and still relatively new addition to Disneyland is still the whole other park, California Adventure. It's a whole other amusement park, with its focus on all things California. With such a big and long state, the diversity is vast and this park tries to capture that. I love it, but in a different way than I love Disneyland. There is a big open area to walk across in between both "lands." The good news is, if you buy a ticked for Disneyland, it covers being able to go to California Adventure.

The most exciting new thing however at Disneyland is the show, World of Color. I was simply astounded by this show!

I have a true soft spot in my heart for all things having to do with Disneyland. I started going there when I was a very young girl, and have been off and on for much of my life. So over these visits, I have had the benefit of really getting to know Disneyland, the rides, the characters and all the rest. I have seen many things come and go, but I have to say that now in 2010, its better than I can ever remember it.

From Frontier Land, to Adventure Land, to Tomorrow Land, to Fantasy Land you will find something you will enjoy. There are rides, shops, all kinds of places to eat, shows and the like. There are even some places if you are into fine dining and don't mind spending a little bit extra. However there are many snacks to grab just about anywhere. Keep in mind, even the snacks add up, so we sometimes skip those and just do a nicer meal instead as its not much more.

This go around, some of the highlights for us were Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Splash Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Winnie the Pooh Ride, and Thunder Mountain just to name a few. We then had lunch and went on to Fantasy Land after that. There, we went on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, Pinocchio, Sleeping Beauty, Tea Cups, Snow White and Seven Dwarfs. We also stopped at the Mad Hatter, as well as tried to pull the Sword from the Stone. Even though my youngest is nearly a teenager, we all had a really good time in this land!

After this point, we went back and forth to California Adventure a few times, but we also went on Space Mountain, saw Captain EO, and did a little shopping around.  I don't think I can ever outgrow Disneyland.

I have been riding the bobsleds on the Matterhorn for many years. In fact, since I was a very young girl, like 5 years old! As an adult, I still ride it on occasion when I am in California and it is a ride everyone wants to go on.

Here you see a video from someone's point of view. This video shows both tracks of the Matterhorn Bobsleds. In line and afterward, you hear happy and fun music, but inside has a scary snow monster that you want to watch out for! You hope your bobsled gets by him quickly, as he seems very upset, and has glowing red eyes!

As far as rides go, the ride isn't as smooth as some of the newer roller coasters, but it is fun all the same. I would recommend going on it.

California Adventure is a huge park all its own.  You could literally spend the whole day there.  You would definitely run out of time long before you will run out of things to do there.  I have to say that I finally broke down and went on the Tower of Terror with my husband and boys!  It was actually kind of fun, not that bad, truly! I think that it is a mind over matter thing.  I would not recommend taking on small children that don't want to go however. 

That aside, they have a great rides like the Grizzly River Run, which is a very fun and exciting water rapids ride.  I would highly recommend this to anyone, its so much fun.  Soarin' over California is a really neat ride, where you get a visual and actual feel of flying over many parts of California.  From the mountains, to the deserts, to the national forests and back to the ocean you will be amazed at this ride.  Its a good break from a long day, and lets you get off your feet, and is cool and refreshing.  It really feels like you are flying.

One of my all time favorite roller coasters is now California Screamin'.  This ride is a super fast but smooth roller coaster ride that starts of super fast.  My recommendation is that you just relax and keep breathing and just truly enjoy the ride.   You will go upside down, and down big hills and all kinds of crazy things.  We would get off this ride, and then go right back again and get in line again.  

There was a fun light and dance show later in the night, that was actually very engaging with the crowd, and the music was loud and fun.  People were dancing in the streets.

These are just some of the things we did at California Adventure.  I would very highly recommend you visit California Adventure.  You won't regret it.  

The World of Color Show at Disneyland's California Adventure is just simply amazing. We had heard so much about it before we go there. When we did arrive at California Adventure, we had forgotten to get our fast pass ticket at first for World of Color. By the time we did get our tickets (which are free with admission to Disneyland, but you still have to get them), it was for the 11:00 pm showing. That didn't sound so late at the time. Let me tell you though, that by the time 10:00 pm came around, we were beyond tired and just about done with our day. If you literally run between two parks all day, and go on rides and do things non stop, you would be tired too. So we hesitated on going or not. I had a hard time keeping my eyes open in line.

Let me just say, that all of us were so happy we did stay to see the World of Color show. I kid you not, it took my breath away to be there in person and seeing it. I have seen light shows, and laser shows, and water fountain shows... Never before could I have even have thought of such a show. It incorporates many different portions of Disney movies and characters throughout. The lasers literally play what they are showing on the water mist as the fountains and waters are doing their part. The music is all in tune with it, and get this, from the water there, came bursts of fire even, in a show on water with water in the air. We could feel the heat from it and the misting at the same time.

I was quieted and even got tears in my eyes, and you could hear the crowd gasp at times and make sounds that let me know they were all enjoying it as much as I was. The colors, the technology, the content just really wowed me. If there is any way at all you can see this show, please do. Its probably the best show of its kind (even though its in its own whole class) that I not only have ever seen, but that I can even imagine to be created. Disneyland truly outdid themselves with World of Color.