Note: This post is part of a 15 Day challenge with questions referring to Disneyland or Walt Disney World. For more information, or to see all 15 questions, please refer to the introductory post, The 15 Day Disneyland Challenge. As stated in that post, I am not the creator of the challenge – just a willing participant!
Day 9: Your Favorite Park
For some more traveled readers, this one may not be as easy. For me it’s a no-brainer. Even with California Adventure taking many steps in the right direction, nothing will ever be able to nudge the original park out of my heart and mind.
I Know You’re Shocked.
Really… I don’t think any other words are necessary.
Anyone else have a different favorite?
Confessions Of A DisNerd 
Nope, no different. To keep it interesting, I might as well rank them out of a sample of DLR, DLP, and TDR…
1) Disneyland USA: The original, of which all others are copies. To me, Disneyland isn’t just a theme park to be judged on its technical merits. It is, in itself, a heritage site… The first of its kind, a national institution, the one that Walt Disney built and walked in, which in turn revolutionized the role of television in the West. Some might complain that it is an inauthentic copy of a jungle or the American southwest, but it is 100% authentic Disneyland.
2) Tokyo Disneysea: Probably the most sophisticated theme park in the world, and home to my favourite single land and pair of attractions (Mysterious Island, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Journey to the Center of the Earth). What I really love about it above all else is its overriding theme of the romance of exploration, discovery and adventure. In one way or another, nearly all the attractions have exploration as their motivating logic rather than coflict, from the aforementioned Vernian adventures to Sinbad to Indiana Jones and even to Tower of Terror in its own perverse way.
3) Disneyland Paris: Probably the most aesthetically stunning Magic Kingdom-style park, which one would expect for such an aesthetically stunning country. It is also an interesting experiment as the first to really diverge from the traditional Disneyland USA model, from the Vernian Discoveryland to replacing Tom Sawyer’s Island with Adventure Isle (sorry Pirate’s Lair, you’re a wanna’ be). If I didn’t love its version of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle so much (the walkthrough and dragon are incredible!), I would be sad that they didn’t go with the initial plan of an Art Deco-esque tower as the centrepiece.
4) California Adventure: It’s a nice idea and the rennovations are exciting, but it still faces the greatest single problem that any second gate possibly could. It’s right beside Disneyland. For me, spending a day there is an effort, knowing what is right across the Esplanade. Maybe next time I go down there I’ll purchase an extra day and set it aside specifically for DCA alone, to give it a fair chance.
5) Tokyo Disneyland: Yep, it’s a Magic Kingdom-style park. I imagine that it’s very much like Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, with the Cinderella Castle and Hudson River look of the Haunted Mansion. It’s a Magic Kingdom-style park which starts it out as pretty awesome, but it’s still only a version of one. I will say that it’s Winnie the Pooh ride is AMAZING though!
Of the parks I want to visit and haven’t, it would go about that order, too – so good to know!
Disneyland. And even if this was pick your favorite Disney park in the world it would still be Disneyland even after working 6 months at Disney World.
I’ve never been to any other Disney park besides Disneyland or DCA. It’s a goal to go to all of them, but I haven’t gotten very far 😉 I think that no matter what, Disneyalnd will ALWAYS be my favorite. It feels like home to me. I love it more then I can ever express =)
I’ve been to WDW twice and those were great experiences. But I never felt like I did when I’m at Disneyland. That magical feeling is right in your face at Disneyland. I feel it in my veins! I feel it on Ball Road making my way to the parking structure!
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