Disneyland Offers Same Magic for Adult Vacationers
By Ashlee Hess
Marketing Assistant
AAA Central Penn

I have had the very fortunate pleasure of visiting Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., in the same year. Both times I have gone with my boyfriend and each time he has had to drag me to the airport and force me on the plane home.

A trip to Disney is so much more than kiddy rides and character sightings. We have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at Disney parks and I am willing to let you in on our little secret - you don’t have to be a child or a parent to have a fantastic vacation at Disneyland!

Disneyland Resort consists of two parks, three hotels and Downtown Disney (a fabulous shopping district with great restaurants like Rainforest Café, ESPN Zone, Ralf Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen and more!). We have a tradition of starting our Disney vacations in the Magic Kingdom when we are at Disney World, so we started our California vacation at Disneyland Park (the West Coast equivalent to the Magic Kingdom). Here we found the same charming Main Street complete with the same type of shops and eateries. These are great places to wander around in midday when the sun is at its most lethal, because they are air-conditioned and relatively empty. Avoid this area before and after parades and at park closing time when crowds are heaviest.

Dining at a Disney Resort is always something special. We chose to eat at the Wine Country Trattoria. This mid-range price eatery was the perfect place to sit down and enjoy a plate of lasagna and a glass of wine, relatively kid-free. We try to make our reservations for around 6:30 or 7 p.m. to avoid the dinnertime rush. By this time, restaurants are less crowded. At Walt Disney World, we recommend the Hollywood Brown Derby at MGM Studios where the menu is geared specifically toward adults.

The absolute best thing about a trip to Disney is the nightly fireworks. Shows and pyrotechnics vary depending which park you’re at, but you are guaranteed a fabulous show. Disneyland Park says goodnight by presenting Fantasmic! I think this is my new favorite show, and if you’ve ever seen it you’ll know why. Fireworks, water effects, Mickey Mouse, a giant dragon and all of the Disney princesses - all in one show! Being kid-free, we can take our pick of places to watch the show. We don’t have to sit in the very front to see all the action, and we don’t have to worry about finding a bathroom at mid-show.

Our vacation at Disneyland was magical and truly unique. It is distinctive and different from its Florida counterpart and we had a wonderful time. I plan on returning someday in the future with my children where I will wait in lines to take pictures with characters, ride Dumbo the Flying Elephant and enjoy a few handfuls of popcorn for dinner just so we can see more of the attractions. Hopefully my children won’t mind!