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Disneyland:

My Five Favorite Rides and Attractions




By Marianne Schwab | Best Travel Deals Tips Blog



I love Disneyland and have my five favorite rides and attractions every time I go. I've been in love with Disneyland since I was a little girl and I think I still love the same rides now that I did then. When I was just seven years old, my parents put my brother, sister, and me on an American Airlines flight from Indianapolis to Los Angeles and treated us to a magical vacation at Disneyland in Anaheim, California. It was our one and only really big family vacation that we ever took together but it planted a seed that lasted a lifetime since that trip inspired me to make a permanent move to Southern California over 20 years ago.


I now enjoy taking my family to Disneyland when they come out to visit me along with meeting up with friends there, too, just to have a fun day at the happiest place on earth. My friend, Erin, and I recently spent a wonderful day at the park in the off season. I enjoy visiting Disneyland during the week in the winter when the kids are in school since there's usually no more than a 20 minute line for any ride which sure beats 90 minute lines during the peak season.



1. Adventureland Jungle Cruise

Where else can you travel from the Amazon to Africa in about 10 minutes? This is my absolute favorite ride at Disneyland for many reasons. First, it's hilarious! Your jungle cruise guide has a commentary that will tickle your funny bone with jungle humor. I take this cruise every time I visit Disneyland California and I always laugh out loud. It never gets old because they add new jokes. Second, the ride just captures your imagination even though some of the jungle animals could use a little updating - it's quirky and fun. Finally, having actually been on a rain forest cruise in Costa Rica, Disneyland's Jungle Cruise actually does a great job of giving you a taste of the real life experience. The only thing missing are the adorable sloths.


2. Pirates of the Caribbean

The popular Pirates of the Caribbean movies have made this ride more popular than ever, but Jack Sparrow or no Jack Sparrow, I love taking the tour of the wretched life of pirates and enjoy all the scenes created that capture your imagination of a pirate's life. The worst thing about this ride is that, "Yo ho, yo ho, a pirate's life for me," will be a tune stuck in your head for a good part of the day.


3. The Haunted Mansion

I actually missed the Haunted Mansion on my first trip to Disneyland California as a child, but it's certainly one of my favorite rides now. This attraction may actually terrify younger kids - my seven year old niece, Alexis, cried the entire time so make sure it's age appropriate for your kids. As an adult, it's difficult to remember that some things seem really scary to a child starting with phrases like, "there's no turning back," once you enter the Haunted Mansion. The magic room that transports you to the ride is a hoot, but my favorite part of the ride is near the end when you are warned, "Beware of hitchhiking ghosts," and you actually do have one in your car.


4. Cinderella's Castle

Nothing captured my imagination more as a child than Cinderella's Castle. If you grew up watching the Magical World of Disney on Sunday nights like I did as a child, you wanted to visit the castle featured in the credits. Who wouldn't want to live in this gorgeous and magical place? I dreamed about living there all through my childhood so it's always a must to visit on every trip to Disneyland and an excellent photo op as well. Of all the Cinderalla Castle's at Disney Theme Parks around the world, this is the smallest one, but it is also the original.


5. It's a Small World

Since I love to travel I love "It's a Small World." As a seven year old, this Disneyland ride was probably my first introduction to a world outside of the United States. This ride was renovated several years ago and is more colorful than ever. Next to "Pirates Life For Me," this is the second tune that will be stuck in your head for days.



There are many ways to save on your Disneyland vacation. If you're a resident of Southern California, always make sure you do a Google search for tickets to Disneyland before paying full price admission. If you're visiting from out of the area you can save on admission by purchasing a value ticket for multiple days, but I personally wouldn't pay extra for park hopper privileges on the same day. Use the money you save on a meal inside the park.





So as for Disneyland, those are my five favorite rides and attractions. They may seem sort of juvenile, but that's what going to Disneyland is all about -- being a kid for a day and recapturing the magic of happy, care free times. So enjoy your day at Disneyland and see for yourself why it's the happiest place on earth.

What are your favorite Disneyland rides, attractions, or tips? Please share them below.

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There are many ways to save on your Disneyland vacation. If you're a resident of Southern California, always make sure you do a Google search for tickets to Disneyland before paying full price admission. If you're visiting from out of the area you can save on admission by purchasing a value ticket for multiple days, but I personally wouldn't pay extra for park hopper privileges on the same day. Use the money you save on a meal inside the park.



Now, enjoy your day at Disneyland and see for yourself why it's the happiest place on earth.



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About Marianne Schwab
TV Travel Show Producer

For over twenty years, TV Travel Show Producer, Marianne Schwab, has been collecting money saving travel tips as a travel producer for high profile television programs. She has flown all over the world and produced live television productions on location from Caesar's Palace on the Vegas Strip to the beautiful island of Oahu. Read more