With 85 acres of adventure, Disneyland certainly gives visitors a lot of ground to cover. Fortunately, the park even makes travel fun. So if you’re just trying to get to the other side of "The Happiest Place on Earth," you can soar above the attractions, hop into a vintage car, or use an old-timey train to get you there.
From Your Door to "The Happiest Place on Earth"
Before you can shuttle and trek your way across the park, you’ve first got to get there. Fortunately, if you’re staying in any of Anaheim’s nearby hotels, you’ve got some quick and affordable travel options.
At $5 for an unlimited-use adult day pass and $2 for children, the Anaheim Resort Transit system (ART) is an inexpensive shuttle service that stops near more than 60 hotels. It will also take visitors directly to Disneyland, Downtown Disney, Angel Stadium, the Bowers Museum, Knott’s Berry Farm, and more. Better yet, many hotels offer free shuttle service directly to Disneyland Resort. Be sure to call ahead or check with the front desk to see if your hotel offers such a service.
If you’re staying in the greater L.A. area, the metro bus can drop you right at the park. And, of course, if you’re driving in, Disney offers expansive parking structures priced at $20 per car per day, with free tram service to the front gates.
Ride the Future
Disneyland’s most iconic transportation system, the Disneyland Monorail System, streams through the air, providing excellent views of the park, and has for more than 50 years. The monorail is an above-ground railway system that picks up in Tomorrowland and the Downtown Disney District, then zooms over Fantasyland and California Adventure for a 13-minute ride that takes you into and out of the park in style. Though today's monorail has been redesigned to emulate its original 1950s look, it's still futuristic with sleek styling and changing colors.
Do the Locomotive
If you’re craving something a bit more rustic, hop aboard the Disneyland Railroad. This train winds its way through 1.2 miles of the park with stops at Toontown, Tomorrowland, New Orleans Square, and the beloved train station right at the front of the park on Main Street, U.S.A.
Vintage Vehicles
Catch an old-timey ride down Main Street, U.S.A., and feel what it was like to ride in a vehicle at the turn of the 20th century. Simply stop at a pickup point in Town Square or Central Plaza, then cruise past Victorian-inspired shops, restaurants, and offices as you relax in an early-model fire engine, an open-air omnibus, a horse-drawn streetcar, or a roofless jitney car.
Rollin’ on the River
Looking to explore Disney’s waterways? Venture to the Rivers of America where you can ride on a gleaming steam-powered riverboat—the Mark Twain—or paddle your own way in one of the Davy Crockett’s River Canoes. Guests can also sail aboard the 18th century-inspired Columbia. All three vessels will carry you along the river and treat you to glimpses of Tom Sawyer’s Island, Critter Country, and a few attractions you can only see from the water.
Traveling with Disabilities and Little Ones
Getting around Disneyland has never been easier, especially for those in need of some extra assistance. Each day, a limited number of wheelchairs and electric conveyance vehicles are available for rental starting at $12 per day (along with a refundable $20 deposit), whether you’re visiting California Adventure, Disneyland, or both parks. If you’re traveling with a few young Mouseketeers, feel free to bring their strollers with you, or rent some at the parks’ main entrance area starting at $15 per day. With a bit of planning and coordination, you’ll be rolling and railing through the parks in no time.
Rod Welch is the President of HotelGuides.com, a website that helps travelers find places to stay near all sorts of U.S. and Canadian attractions. He has been a travel agent since 2002 and loves traveling to new destinations.
