Disneyland Family Vacation

Even big kids can't help being awed by Walt's original playground. Rocket ships, pirates, princess castles, and Main Street U.S.A. make it all feel a little like walking through a life-sized fairy tale. Fantasy aside, there are plenty of thrills, too, whether your pleasure is careening around Disneyland Park's mountains (Matterhorn Bobsleds, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad) or gliding over the Golden State on Disney California Adventure™ Park's Soarin' Over California.

With the international appeal of the Disneyland Resort, tourists come to Anaheim year-round. Summer, however, is especially popular and crowded — a good time to take advantage of the FastPass system to reduce line waiting. Expect much lighter crowds mid-week during the school year (roughly after Labor Day through Thanksgiving, and January through March). The downside: during the off-season, hours are reduced and some attractions may be closed for overhauls.

Anaheim is known for its temperate climate, a place where sunny days can be expected all year. Average temperatures hover around 75 degrees. Any rain that falls generally appears in mid to late winter. In summer, the scorching sun can heat things up well into the 90s or above. Get more weather info.

Disneyland is located off of I-5 ("the 5," in California speak) about 30 minutes from Los Angeles. The closest airport is John Wayne (SNA) in Santa Ana. Los Angeles International (LAX), Ontario International (ONT), and Long Beach (LGB) airports also serve the area.

Southern California isn't known for its public transportation, but a few bucks and a couple of bus and train transfers will get the patient there via the L.A. Mass Transit authority. The area is also served by Amtrak. L.A. traffic is the stuff of legend, and the 30 or so miles from the city to Anaheim can take hours at the wrong time — which can be pretty much any time of day or night. Still, Los Angeles is the land of the automobile, and a car is a necessary evil. Disney's hotels operate monorail and tram service to and from the park. If you stay outside of the park, the Anaheim Resort Transit offers regular Disneyland Resort shuttles.

A few events draw extra-large crowds to the Disneyland Resort.

• Halloween Time (Sept.-Oct.)
• Holidaytime (November-December)

Get the latest on the theme park's shows and events at Disneyland.com. To "Relive the Magic" from your childhood, check out our Disneyland Resort Photo Gallery. For more great ways for your families to play at Disney Parks and Resorts, visit our Disney Parks page.

Save money by buying and printing your admission tickets online. Look for more discounts at Anaheimoc.org .

• Since it opened on July 17, 1955, the "Happiest Place on Earth" has welcomed more than 400 million guests.
• Visitors to the Disneyland Park alone gobble up 4 million hamburgers and nearly 2 million hot dogs, but there are also many vegetarian dining options in the park.
• Walt Disney modeled Main Street U.S.A. after his childhood home in the small town of Marceline, Mo.
• In the beginning, actual American Indians demonstrated their dances and customs in the area that's now Critter Country.
• The Disneyland Resort's monorail system was the first daily-operating monorail system in the Western Hemisphere.
• Although other characters roam the park to greet guests and pose for pictures, Mickey Mouse can always be found in his house in Mickey's Toontown.
• Don't get too scared by the spooky narrator of the Haunted Mansion ride. That's Paul Frees — the same actor who voiced the Tony the Tiger.
• If your Mickey balloon pops or flies away, they'll replace it — provided you show a receipt.