Disneyland...The Happiest Place on Earth!

With over 50 years carrying the title of 'the happiest place on earth', I finally fulfilled my childhood dream and ventured into a world full of fantasy. I had always longed to meet my favourite Disney princesses, go inside Cinderella's castle, try out the rides and food, and check out the parade and shows. But would it live up to its name?

As such a Disney fanatic, even at 21 years of age I could not contain my excitement as I walked through the entry gate, classic Disney orchestral music playing, and saw the giant Mickey Mouse flowerbed ahead. With so many happy people and children around you all filled with the same excitement, I would challenge anyone to walk through the entrance and not have a beaming smile on your face, coupled with a bountiful urge to skip or do cartwheels! Walking down the main street past all the themed shops and food stalls, onward to the various 'lands', my first impressions of Disneyland had definitely lived up to my expectations. I had the same butterfly feelings as when I was a little girl imagining myself here, getting so excited as I experienced the true wonders of this magical world.

Disneyland and California Adventure Park are both included in your ticket, you can go in and out of each, which are just across from each other all day. Disneyland has the more classic Disney themes and lands including Main Street USA, Toontown, Fantasyland, Tomorrowland, Frontierland, New Orleans Square, Adventureland and Critter Country. Whereas California Adventure Park is based more on the modern Pixar films including Buena Vista Street, Paradise Pier, Grizzly Peak, Condor Flats, Hollywood Land, Pacific Wharf, A Bug's Land and Cars Land. There are ample amounts of rides for children and the whole family to enjoy, with an obvious huge budget where no expense is spared. Any age can enjoy the array of various worlds brought to life in each ride. Of course there are also enough larger, faster, higher, scarier rides for the adrenaline junkies to thrive off! Being mid-season when I visited in September, I could not complain about the line-ups for rides, which were mostly no longer than 20 minutes each. The larger rides were longer, up to 60 minutes however with the use of 'fast passes' this wait was dramatically reduced to about 10 minutes. I could not fault the staff either, always happy to help and their customer service displayed the true Disney happiness no matter what they were doing.

The longest wait was to meet the Disney princesses,which is well worth it! I did this twice to meet them all. They really take on their character and relate everything they are saying to their Disney story. Arial told me my eyes were as blue as the crystal sea. You can meet 3 of the favourite Disney princesses at once by lining up and they rotate every hour between Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Ariel, Tiana, Jasmine and Mulan. However you will only be given a minute or two with each to have a chat and get a photo or autograph before you are shuffled to the next! You just have to be lucky to meet other characters with shorter lines. I found Cinderella near her castle, Pluto outside his home in Toontown and Mickey and Minnie in various places around Main Street. Just keep walking around and you will find them.It took me four full days to get a photo with each character but is well worth it.

The entertainment is enough in itself to keep everyone happy and delighted! With a full schedule each day, you could just go from one show to another. I highly recommend the Aladdin musical, which is so professionally put together you would pay Broadway prices to see it! The lighting spectacular is a wondrous show of fountains and coloured lights, combined with holograms of different Disney movie scenes and their soundtracks. Definitely worth getting a good position for, this show will truly enchant and take you to another world of fantasy. It is impossible to describe the effect of these elements and the amazing atmosphere they created, an experience I will never forget.

Food choices are vast, with classic 'burger and fries' everywhere as well as themed restaurants in each land ranging from family to fine dining, including options to dine with the characters for an extra price. That's if you ever stop and make time to eat!

Accommodation options are also endless. There are of course the various Disney themed hotels, however for just as much convenience and a fraction of the price, we stayed at the Holiday Inn & Suites, Anaheim. A "Disneyland Good Neighbour Hotel", this superbly located accommodation adjacent to Disneyland is just a 15 minute walk through downtown Disneyland, the shopping precinct. It offers deluxe rooms, suites and family rooms, all with flat screen TVs, private bathrooms and expected amenities. With a fully equipped gym, pool, spa, restaurant and always helpful and knowledgeable staff, your Disneyland adventure is truly taken care of. Tickets can be organised, maps provided and all interests catered for, even if your stay is for business at the Convention Centre or if you want to explore more of what Anaheim has to offer. Being greeted each day by the smiley reception staff and featured Disney toys around the lobby ensures your stay can be magical 24 hours a day. Disney movies are even played on a large projector by the pool each night, so parents can relax in the spa while the children (or children on the inside!) can lay in or by the pool and continue to be mesmerised by Disney fantasies.

What better way to finish off long days in Disneyland than with a cocktail by the pool, then climbing into the ever-so comfortable beds to rest and recuperate for another day of adventures. Dreaming of the fantasy worlds, then waking and realising I had another day in 'the happiest place on earth' immediately put a smile on my face each morning as I climbed out of bed, dressed in my colourful Disney gear (ears included!) and took the stroll back to what I can only describe as all of my childhood dreams in one place, the 'Happiest Place on earth'. I would return in a heartbeat to experience that indescribable feeling of excitement and wonder I challenge anyone not to feel, as you explore the magical lands.

*Written by Sarah Llewelyn, who was a guest at Disneyland and California Adventure Park last year and whose accommodation was provided courtesy of Holiday Inn & Suites, Anaheim.