A WORD FROM THE EDITOR Walt Disney, the man who pioneered the realm of family entertainment, was at once an artist, entrepreneur, and creative visionary. He was also a dad. And, like many of the folks who visit Disneyland each year, Walt treasured the time he spent with his kids. In fact, while his two daughters were growing up, Walt would accompany them to carnivals, zoos, and local amusement parks. It was something of a Saturday tradition for the Disney family. During these outings he’d often make the same observation: The youngsters were happily entertained, but the adults didn’t have much to do. It didn’t seem right that he’d be stuck sitting on a bench while the kids had all the fun. To his way of thinking, a park should appeal to the sense of wonder and exploration in guests of all ages. His bold vision became a reality on July 17, 1955, when Disneyland had its opening day in Anaheim, California.
These days, more than ever, it seems many of us long for the classic escape that’s uniquely Disney. Walt’s original park is as beloved as ever—and it continues to grow and evolve. Disneyland park has an exciting new attraction in a re-imagined land—Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway is a popular new smile inducer deep in the heart of the newly refreshed Mickey’s Toontown. This cheery realm also boasts the new CenTOONial Park, complete with a majestic tree under which guests are encouraged to dream like Walt. Of course, Disneyland park continues to delight guests of all ages with cherished classics such as It’s a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan’s Flight, Fantasmic!—the park’s nighttime extravaganza, plus the new guest-favorite known as the Magic Happens afternoon parade.
Across the esplanade from Disneyland, Disney California Adventure is firing on all cylinders. Attractions such as Soarin’ Around the World, Guardians of the Galaxy—Mission: BREAKOUT!, and Radiator Springs Racers helped put this place on the map, but they’re just the tip of the iceberg. In addition to a super land dubbed Avengers Campus, guests are treated to an array of attractions and entertainment bearing that distinctive Disney Parks stamp. Among them are Toy Story Midway Mania!, Incredicoaster, and the splashy (wildly popular) nighttime spectacle, World of Color.
When Steve Birnbaum launched this guide, he made it clear what was expected of anyone who worked on it. The book would be meticulously revised each year, leaving no attraction untested, no meal untasted, no hotel untried. First-hand experiences like these, accumulated over the years, make this book the most authoritative guide to the Disneyland Resort. Our expertise, however, was not achieved by being escorted through back doors of attractions. Instead, we have waited in lines with everyone else, always hoping to have a Disney experience like any other guest.
Of course, there’s so much more to the Disneyland Resort than the theme parks. There’s also a dynamic dining, shopping, and entertainment zone known as the Downtown Disney District, and three Disney hotels (with one having received an exciting Pixar make-over). It all adds up to a total that is truly greater than the sum of its parts. And, though it has nearly seven decades of history under its belt, this is still just the beginning—as per its founder’s wishes: “Disneyland will never be completed. It will continue to grow as long as there is imagination left in the world.”
TAKE OUR ADVICE
In creating this book, we’ve considered every possible aspect of your trip, from planning it to plotting day-by-day activities. We realize that even the most meticulous vacation planner needs detailed, accurate, and objective information to prepare a successful itinerary. To achieve that lofty goal, we encourage the submission of factual information and insight from Disneyland staffers—but the decision to use such information is entirely at the discretion of the editor.
We have also packaged handy bits of advice in the form of “Hot Tips” throughout the book. These helpful hints come directly from the copious notes we have taken during our countless trips to the Disneyland Resort and the surrounding Anaheim area. We have also used our “Birnbaum’s Best” stamp of approval wherever we deemed it appropriate, highlighting our favorite attractions, shows, and restaurants—the crowd-pleasers we feel stand head, shoulders, and ears above the rest.
You, the reader, benefit from the combination of our decades of experience and access to inside information from the Disneyland staff—that makes this guide unique. We like to think it’s indispensable, but you be the judge of that 150 pages from now.
THE LAST WORD
Finally, it’s important to remember that every worthwhile travel guide is a living enterprise; the book you hold in your hands is our best effort at explaining how to enjoy the Disneyland Resort at the moment, but its text is not etched in stone. Details change often—especially these days! Disneyland is always changing and growing, and in each annual edition we refine and expand our material to better serve your needs. Just before the grand opening of Disneyland, Walt Disney remarked that the main attraction was still missing: people. That’s where you come in.
Have a wonderful time!
—Jill Safro, Editor
Copyright © 2023 by Disney. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
