To make the most of Disneyland - the ultimate
corporate-escapist fantasy and the blueprint for countless
imitations worldwide - throw yourself right into it. Don't think
twice about anything and go on every ride you can. The shockingly
high admission price ($43, kids $33; ) includes them all, although
during peak periods each one can entail hours of waiting in line.
Remember, too, that the emphasis is on family fun; the authori-ties
take a dim view of anything remotely anti-social and eject those
they consider guilty.
Over four hundred "Imagineers" worked to create the Indiana
Jones Adventure , based on the Steven Spielberg movie
franchise. Two hours of waiting are built into the ride, with an
interactive archeological dig and 1930s-style newsreel show leading
up to the main feature - a giddy journey along 2500ft of
skull-encrusted corridors in which you face fireballs, falling
rubble, venomous snakes and, inevitably, a rolling boulder finale.
Disney claims that, thanks to computer engineering, no two
Indiana Jones rides are ever alike. Judge for yourself.
Among the best of the older rides are two in
Adventureland : the Pirates of the Caribbean , a boat
trip through underground caverns, giving you the chance to sing
along with animatronic pirates; and the Haunted Mansion , a
riotous "doom buggy" tour in the company of the house spooks.
Fantasyland consists mainly of low-tech fairy-tale rides
that won't scare the kiddies, but is much better than the tedious,
dumbed-down Toontown to the north, a real snooze for adults.
Tomorrowland is Disney's vision of the future, where the
Space Mountain roller coaster zips through the
pitch-blackness of outer space, and the Star Tours ride
simulates a journey into the world of George Lucas. This section of
the park has been updated in the last few years with space probes
and "rocket rods," which underscores how Cold War-era this area
still remains in its outlook.
The latest adjunct to Disneyland, taking over a large chunk of
its former parking lot, is the California Adventure ,
technically a separate park but quite connected in architecture,
style and spirit - it does for California's history and culture
what Epcot Center does for the world's, namely sanitize most of the
fun out of it. Aside from its more exciting roller coasters and
slightly better food, the Adventure is really just another "land"
to visit on your Disney trek, albeit a much bigger and more
expensive one: you cannot get access to both parks with a
single-day admission ticket. Instead, you either have to shell out
another $43 or spend $111 for a three-day pass that covers both -
hardly a deal, considering that an annual pass to either park only
runs $28 more.
As for accommodation, try to visit just for the day and spend
the night somewhere else. Most of the hotels and motels nearby cost
well in excess of $75 per night. You're not permitted to bring your
own food to either park; you can only consume the fast-food
sold on the premises.
Both Disneyland and the California Adventure are at 1313 Harbor
Blvd, Anaheim, 45 minutes by car from downtown using the
Santa Ana Freeway. In summer, the parks are open daily between 8am
and 1am; otherwise opening hours are weekdays 10am to 6pm, Saturday
9am to midnight, and Sunday 9am to 10pm. Arrive early; traffic and
ride queues quickly become nightmarish, especially in the summer.
For further information , including public transportation
details, call 714/781-4565.