A couple months ago, a friend and I went on a trip to Pensacola and Anaheim.  After spending a day already at another theme park: Knott’s Berry Farm and at Downtown Disney, we were ready to visit Disneyland Resort’s 2 theme parks for our last 2 days.  I have previously visited Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park back in 2015 and was looking forward to see how both parks have since changed.

Getting There

Staying at Super 8 Maingate, it was only a 20 to 25 minute walk/stroll to Disneyland Park.  I always like to see the area where our hotel is and get photos taken of sights along our journey.  There is a Mc Donald’s that is right by the entrance to the theme park that we would frequent to get a quick breakfast before spending the day at Disney. 

Disneyland Park

Disneyland Park opened in July 1955 and is the only one designed and built under direct supervision of Walt Disney.  It has gone through many expansions and renovations over the years and now consists of 9 themed lands/areas on 99 acres (40 ha): Main Street USA, Adventureland, New Orleans Square, Frontierland, Critter Country, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Fantasyland, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland.

Since I last visited, Big Thunder Ranch in Frontierland and some backstage area became Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.  Also, Mickey’s Toontown just closed in March 2022 for a full year for renovations and an expansion.

I also registered for DAS (Disability Access Services) online and video chat prior to visiting Disneyland as this saves us a lot of time instead of doing it in person at Guest Services at one of the theme parks.  DAS allows myself and my companion to go on a virtual queue on the Disneyland app and not have to physically wait in line for a ride.  I also got to book 2 DAS advance selections each day in addition to DAS which was a huge bonus.

Here is a recap of what we did for the day and which area it could be found at:

Central Hub

(Main Street, USA)

After entering the theme park, we automatically start in Main Street, USA.  This area is modelled after a Midwest town from the early 20th century.  There is a train station, a town square, movie theater, fire hall, shops and an arcade. 

At the end of Main Street, USA is the Central Hub where the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Partners statue is located.  This is where everyone take their selfie pics and try to have the castle behind them in the picture.  The Central Hub does directly connect you to some of the lands and we got to see the Pearly Band perform live right in front of Fantasyland.

Snow White’s Enchanted Wish

(Fantasyland)

We then continued to explore Fantasyland and went on our first ride of the day together.  Snow White’s Enchanted Wish actually opened in 1955 and is one of the few remaining attractions that is still operating from opening day.  It has gone through some renovations over the years and was most recently refurbished in 2021 when it changed from Snow White’s Scary Adventures.  That version of the ride was too dark and was changed to a more fun theme.

I had to have my friend transfer me to a ride vehicle for this ride.  It was a slow moving ride that never went sideways or upside down, so it was easy for me to sit properly for the ride.  It was great to see the animatronics of Snow White and the dwarves and to see all the bright colors and the songs from the movie.  I really enjoyed the ride overall.

“it’s a small world”

(Fantasyland)

I just did this ride a few months prior and knew this ride was wheelchair accessible so it was one of my DAS Advance selections.  I already chose our hour time slot for this ride and we timed it perfectly to be at this ride in Fantasyland.

This boat ride opened in 1966 at Disneyland and does have a wheelchair accessible boat with a ramp.  I really enjoyed this slow moving boat ride in Orlando and seeing all the little animatronics dancing to the song, “it’s a small world” that I wanted to do it again for this trip.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

(Tomorrowland)

Our next DAS Advance selection was for Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters which was located right next door at the area Tomorrowland.  I previously went on this ride on my last visit in 2015, at Magic Kingdom months earlier, and will also ride it in Disneyland Paris.  I knew this ride was wheelchair accessible so I had to include it as 1 of 2 DAS Advance selections.

This ride opened in 2005 at Disneyland Park and has a ride vehicle with a fold out ramp that allows guests with wheelchairs to roll inside the ride vehicle.  I can’t use the attached to shoot at the targets during the ride but I still have fun watching my friend shoot the gun and rotate the ride vehicle trying to shoot the targets.

Disneyland Band

(Main Street, USA)

We happen to hear music and see The Disneyland Band along with Disney characters march along Main Street, USA.  We stopped to watch this and to take more pics with the Partners statue and the Sleeping Beauty castle before heading to explore Adventureland and going to our next ride.

Jungle Cruise

(Adventureland)

My friend went alone on the Indiana Jones Adventure ride and when he was done, we went on one of my favorites classic Disney ride: Jungle Cruise.  I have been on this ride only once before and it was in 2015 when I visited this park.    This ride is wheelchair accessible as there is a ramp and lift to get inside one of the boats.

This ride opened the same time as the park’s opening in 1955 and is a simulated riverboat cruise that travels though Asia, Africa and South America.  A Disney cast member is our tour guide and points out all the animatronic animals and gives us a description of everything we see over the speakers.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

(Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge)

We then made our way to Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and explored the really realist Star Wars area as portrayed in the movies.  Our DAS return time for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance was over 90 minute so it gave us time to eat some food at one of the food places in Galaxy’s Edge.  We both got a Ronto Wrap at Ronto Roasters.  It is roasted pork, grilled pork sausage, peppercorn sauce and coleslaw wrapped in a pita.  It was good, but a bit small for the price.

I really enjoyed this ride when I previously rode this a few month back at Hollywood Studios but wasn’t as wowed as last time.  I knew what to expect while in the queue area and saw all the Star Wars props already.  Once my friend transferred me to the ride vehicle, I still had a lot fun and enjoyed my experience the ride.

Main Street Electrical Parade

(Main Street, USA)

I was going to try Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run ride but decided not too since the ride vehicles were for single riders and I could not fully support myself in the seat.  My friend went without me and when he was done, we headed to Main Street to make sure we got a good spot to watch the Electrical Parade.  Luckily, a Disney cast member ushered us to a designated wheelchair area where I was out in front to watch the show.

The Electrical Parade originally debut in 1972 at Disneyland Park and went through different versions of the show.  We were lucky because this show just returned to the park a few days before our visit.  It has been on hiatus because of covid.  This show features floats and live performers covered in over 600,000 LED lights with synchronized Disney music. 

It was the 50th anniversary of this show and it was very spectacular.  The whole street had all the lights shut off so when the floats and performers went by, it made the lights look even brighter coming from them.  This show was just under 30 minutes and I wish it was longer.  At the time Disneyland Fireworks only occurred on Fridays to Sunday so we did not get to see it.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

(Critter Country)

We saw the first showing of the Electrical Parade so we had time to do another ride before the park closes at midnight.  We went all the way to Critter Country to do another wheelchair accessible ride: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.  This ride opened in 2003 and is based on the 1977 movie of the same name.

The ride was like a slow moving rollercoaster for kids.  I was glad that my wheelchair can roll into the ride vehicle which saved my friend from having to lift me in.  All the characters were nice and bright and the ride never went upside down or sideways.  I had a lot of fun on this ride and since it was not busy, we rode this twice in a row.

Final Thoughts

Just as we were heading out to go home, we saw “it’s a small world” Encanto Projection show, on the front of this ride ride.  It was just a couple minutes long and played the song “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” with lights and animation.  We ended staying at the park almost 12 hours and it was definitely time to get back to our hotel.

I really enjoyed my second time visiting Disneyland.  There has been some changes since my last visit and I was happy to do new things and different rides this time.  I really like being able to now pre register for DAS and getting 2 DAS advance selections as this saves us a lot time doing it in person at the park.  I will remember this tip for when I next come back.