By Jennifer Loucks
Disneyland in Southern California is a destination that any Disney fan should visit in his lifetime. This is the original park created by Walt Disney, which opened in 1955. Disneyland has a mystique that takes you back in time to when Walt Disney stood on the train station looking over his magical creation.
Disneyland Resorts
Disneyland offers three on-site resort options: Disney's Grand Californian, The Disneyland Hotel and Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel. These resorts are beautifully themed and within walking distance of both parks. The down side is that they are quite costly.
Off-Site Hotels
Disneyland's location makes off-site hotel stays convenient and economical. There are a large number of hotels on Harbor Boulevard, which is across the street from the main Disneyland entrance and an easy walk to the parks. These hotels are considered Good Neighbor Hotels. Hotels that have been rated highly include Howard Johnson Anaheim, Candy Cane Inn, Portofino Inn and Suites, and Tropicana Inn & Suites.
Best Time to Visit
Disneyland is frequented by local California residents on the weekends. The best days of the week to visit are Tuesday through Thursday. The best times of the year to visit are the middle of September through November before Thanksgiving, the middle of January until before spring break time in March, and the middle of April through May before school is out. These dates are considered low-volume times.
Length of Stay
Disneyland is not as large as Disney World, and many people take a shorter vacation when visiting this theme park. There are two parks: Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure. There also is the Downtown Disney shopping and dining area. Three days is a nice length of time to visit Disneyland. Many people incorporate visiting other Southern California attractions during their vacation stay.
Discounts for Disneyland
Disneyland discounts are different than the discounts available at Disney World. The discounts and package specials change periodically, so it is best to contact Disneyland directly at (714) 520-5060. Another option is using a certified Disney Travel Agent such as Dreams Unlimited. They specialize in Disney travel and search out the best discounts available. Dreams Unlimited can be reached online at www.dreamsunlimitedtravel.com/.
About the Author:
Jennifer Loucks has been writing since 1998. She previously worked as a technical writer for a software development company, creating software documentation, help documents and training curriculum. She now writes hobby-based articles on cooking, gardening, sewing and running. Loucks also trains for full marathons, half-marathons and shorter distance running. She holds a Bachelor of Science in animal science and business from University of Wisconsin-River Falls.
