The Martlet

A full-toothed grin was plastered on my face as I walked down Main Street in Disneyland’s Magic Kingdom a few weeks ago. It was one of those smiles so big that it that actually hurts your cheeks, but I couldn’t wipe it off my face.

My family was in Disneyland to celebrate several major milestones – three graduations, two birthdays and one unbirthday – and all four of us grown women were giddier than many of the elementary school-aged children who surrounded us just below eye level. Disneyland, you see, is the most magical place on Earth, magical enough to bring out anyone’s inner child.

Granted, I was raised on Disney. My sisters and I had Disneythemed bedrooms and Disney themed-birthday parties and Disney clothes and toys and the only things we were ever allowed to watch on TV were all Disney. So for me, finding my inner child isn’t a taxing ordeal.

But even people whose childhoods weren’t jam-packed with technicolour happy endings can appreciate the magic of visiting the self-proclaimed happiest place on Earth. There really isn’t a height or age limit where you stop having fun there.

Many of the rides are geared toward an older audience, like the Space Mountain, Matterhorn or California Screamin’ roller coasters. Most of them won’t terrify you the way a classic Six Flags coaster will, but they offer the big thrills some of us can’t find on Dumbo the Flying Elephant (a carousel-esque ride where you move the Dumbo you’re riding in up and down).

This past trip was my 15th visit to Disneyland. People are always flabbergasted when I say that.

“Really? Why?” they ask, jaws dropping as they question my sanity. “Don’t you get bored of it?”

But I don’t. Not only does Disneyland hold enough memories to feed my need for nostalgia, it also continues to grow and change, offering me new reasons to keep trekking back to Southern California.

The Disneyland imagineers (the name they give to the people who design and create the park’s attractions) are constantly updating old attractions with the latest technology and adding brand new ones to keep even the most diehard of Disney fans on their toes.

One of the newest attractions, World of Colour, was launched at California Adventure’s Paradise Pier in June. The nightime show features fountains, lasers and pyrotechnics that will simultaneously blow your mind and tug on your heart strings. Set to a soundtrack of classic Disney songs, fountains erupt in ways that make them look like paint, like they’re dancing, or turn the water into video-projection screens. At the end of the show, both my mom and 18 year-old sister
had tears streaming down their cheeks, both simultaneously moved and astounded by the performance.

Of course, Disneyland does have its downsides. Crowds are big. Kids are loud. Food and souveniers are expensive. But if you know what you’re doing, even these factors can be mitigated.

On this particular visit, I visited the parks at the begining of peak season, at the end of June. This is only a good idea if you don’t mind standing in long lines and have a high tolerance for screaming children. Go during the off season (read: any time most schools are in session). Not only will the park be less busy, but the weather should be a little cooler so you’ll be more interested in wandering around outside.

Disneyland is a popular place, however, and the rides will have lines. To combat this, the parks have instituted a “fast pass” on many of the most popular rides. When you go collect your fast pass, you’re given an hour block during which you can come back and stand in a drasticaly reduced line. While you can only have one fast pass at a time, they make rides like Indiana Jones much more convienient.

Another way to get around lines is to do popular rides when other events like parades and fireworks are taking place. We walked right on to Pirates of the Caribean while the Fantasmic show was going on one night; during the day the lineup would have been 30 minutes or more.

Food in the parks is quite expensive, so make sure your hotel has a mini fridge and hit the grocery store when you get to town. Taking drinks, snacks and lunch with you will cut your costs, leaving you with a couple of extra bucks to spend in the plethora of gift stores.

Perhaps the most important tip for enjoying your Disney adventure is don’t be afraid to let go of your inhibitions. Be childish. Scream on the rides. Take photos with the characters. You’re not the only one, after all.