What I Miss About Disneyland

What I Miss About Disneyland
micky magic hat photo

With the news about Magic Keys renewals coming out, I am missing Disneyland a lot. I cannot believe that between the pandemic and us moving to Texas, it has been over 2 years since I have been to Disneyland and California Adventure. This is a shock for me because I am a Disney lover and grew up near the resort, so I have been frequenting the parks since as long as I can remember, and was an annual passholder not that long ago.. It was one of the first places our parents let us go without adult supervision. Our grad night was there. So, as you can see, the parks hold a special place in my heart. And I miss it so much! What do I miss about Disneyland? Well, the rides, the food, the vibes… everything!

Corn Dogs

The first thing that comes to mind about what I miss about Disneyland is the hand-dipped corn dog at the end of Main Street. As you approach the end of Main Street heading towards the castle, tucked on the right hand side is the Little Red Wagon, my favorite place for a corn dog. There are other locations inside Disneyland and California Adventure that have them as well, but I feel like the best ones are from the Wagon. It’s the perfect snack to hold you over between meals.

Craft Beer at California Adventure

matt and me with beer cars land photo

The best part about California Adventure? Being able to walk around with a drink! This may not be a big deal for those coming from WDW, but the only place to get drinks inside Disneyland my whole life was at Club 33 (which, I wish 🤩), until Oga’s Cantina came around. Some of my favorite times at DCA was to get a beer at Flo’s then hop in line for Radiator’s Springs. Or on days we would get to the parks but the lines were too long, we would just chill at the beer garden and enjoy the moment with friends.

Avengers Campus

Okay, this isn’t technically a “miss” since I have yet to experience it (Avengers Campus didn’t open until after we moved out of LA).  Just recently I really fell down the MCU rabbit hole and I cannot wait to check out the new land as a fangirl! Guardians Mission: Breakout was already a thing before I left and that ride is amazing. I hear mixed things about the Spiderman Web Slingers but am excited to ride it. I can’t wait to try something fun from Pym Tasting Lab. And if I get to meet a hero by at the Avengers Headquarters or explore the Ancient Sanctum, my day will be made!

Rides

space mountain group photo

Of course, right? This one is obvious. My favorite rides include Radiator Springs, Space Mountain, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and Indiana Jones. Which ride is your favorite?

Holidays

Holidays at Disneyland are done right. And I’m not just talking about Christmas, though that is magical.. My favorite holiday is Halloween and Disneyland Resort does Halloween up beautifully! The Nightmare Before Christmas overlay of the Haunted Mansion is a must see. So is the giant pumpkin on Main Street and the transformation of Radiator Springs. The merch is adorable for Halloween as well. This year we are going to Oogie Boogie Bash for the first time. I’m so excited!

CNY group photo with Chip - What I miss about Disneyland

Besides the major holidays that come to mind, such as Christmas and Halloween, Disneyland also does a fun job with other holidays, such as Lunar New Year. It’s only a couple weeks long, but it makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside that they include part of my culture  in the parks. It’s fun to see Mickey and Minnie in their Lunar New Year outfits and to see characters that aren’t as popular in the parks.

Fireworks

The grand finale – fireworks! Nobody does fireworks like Disneyland (except maybe Electric Daisy Carnival but that’s a different story). While it is nice to be closer to the castle, I prefer to watch them on Main Street, because I like the music and the light projections on the side of the buildings. And even if you are on a ride during the fireworks, nothing is like being on an outdoor ride, like Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, while the fireworks pop off.  Call me sensitive, but I always tear up during the fireworks.

TL:DR

So what do I miss about Disneyland? Corn dogs, walking around DCA with a drink, can’t wait to check out Avengers Campus, rides, holidays at the park and lastly, fireworks!