Ranking The LANDS!
1313 Disneyland Drive has been etched in my memory for as long as I can remember. I have pictures dating back since I was at least 3, terrified on the Casey Jr train with my older sister Brandi. When I was 6, my parents took us to stay at the Disneyland Hotel for a whole week! I spent my 9th birthday there with my friend Gina, when Toontown was all the rage, and when I was an official Childless Millennial with an Annual Pass, I spent every Sunday there with my friends shopping and running around the park until it was time to face the reality of another work week.
Disneyland is about the size of 15 football fields according to Google, so it is only right that it is sectioned off into different lands with its own way of storytelling. While each land is great in its own unique way, today I am going to rank the lands in order from least to my favorite. Let me be clear, I love all the lands, however, some lands I don’t necessarily have to visit every single trip- and some are mandatory.
Fantasyland:
Walking through Sleeping Beauty's Castle is an experience all its own, but once you get to the other side, you are transformed into the land of VHS Tapes in those puffy white covers- and you know EXACTLY what I mean. The star of the show to me is Peter Pan's Flight. Visually stunning and a fan favorite because the line stays over 30minutes, even on the slowest day. Across the way is Snow White's Enchanted Wish which is my personal favorite because The Evil Queen is my favorite- we can discuss her immaculate eye makeup at a later date. Home of the famous Mad Tea Party (aka. The Tea Cups) and Dumbo, this is where you go to feel like a kid again. It's A Small World is further in the back and the Matterhorn is on the right. The land is beautiful to look at, especially at night, however, unless I am with my twin niece and nephew, this is a walk through, at times only to get some Grey Stuff from Red Rose Tavern.
Critter Country:
Ok let's be clear- Critter County is FAR! Yes it has Splash Mountain (soon to be taken over by Princess Tiana) but it also has 2 things that are more important- Hungry Bear restaurant and the back entrance to SWGE which is closer to Rise of the Resistance. Hungry Bear is one of my favorite eateries on the property. Chicken Strips are second to none and it is nothing like sitting on the deck in the shade, eat and people watch. My visit to Critter Country really depends on how much time I have that day. Many times, I have a schedule I need to keep, especially being a healthcare worker. Many trips, my time needs to be maximized and time is not carved out to people watch. But when it is, this is my favorite shaded place to do so.
Toontown:
Toontown ranks higher than the two before lands before solely based off the photo-ops! I mean look at the material. It is so colorful, fun and beautiful. Mickey and Minnie's houses are such fun experiences, and I cannot wait until they open Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway. The sun always seems brighter in Toontown with a slight breeze. Even when it rains, I always see a rainbow. The whole land just makes me smile. It is one of the smaller lands so it can be a quick walk through for a childless millennial like myself, but if the outfit is right, we will be taking the Disneyland Railroad back there. You didn't think I would walk all the way back there, did you??
Frontierland:
The Wild West is the theme of this land with its star attraction being Big Thunder Mountain, the wildest ride in the wilderness! Thunder mountain is one of those rides you jump on first thing in the morning, not remembering how fast it is and it is until you are holding on for dear life you are snatched back to reality. It is truly underrated, even by me at times. I know it’s a classic, but sometimes it is like, ok I guess we can hop on it really quick, then when it is over, I want to ride it again!
Adventureland:
First off let me say, Bengal Barbecue is THAT girl. That pork belly skewer has saved me on more than one occasion when I need to eat but can’t stop won’t stop. When there is no time for a sit down but I need to eat, it is my go to without question. I can easily grab one on the way to Indiana Jones, because Lord knows you will need fuel for that exit hike. Seriously, why is the exit for Indiana Jones so long? More than once I have made the mistake of getting on that " on the way out the park"... The walk from the ride to the tram feels equivalent to the LA Marathon. Dramatic? Maybe. Accurate? Absolutely. But back to the lecture at hand. Adventureland has Indiana Jones and some good food. Bengal Barbecue, the Tropical Hideaway and on an extremely hot day, The Enchanted Tiki Room. It is a small land, but it does pack a punch.
New Orleans Square:
Pirates, Pandora, Haunted Mansion oh my! New Orleans Square is a VIBE! Let us start with Pirates of the Caribbean. A true cult classic and a must ride. Every trip without fail. The drops, the music, the singing, the scenes. The ride is so iconic. once you exit and hook a left, the Pandora store is on the right. I love seeing what is new just in case something came out since my last visit. I have three bracelets and counting, all different Disney themes. Keep going around the curve and it is time for the Haunted Mansion! One of my favorite rides in the park. After partying with 999 happy haunts, it is time for a churro and not just any churro, the Haunted Mansion churro cart. The best churro in the parks, including Walt Disney World. This churro cart is ALWAYS hot and fresh. I have NEVER had a bad churro here in my entire life. If the churro doesn't come from here, I don’t want it. Keep it. I will wait until we are on that side of the park. Also, while I got you on the line, there is a cart right across from there that sells AMAZING warm cinnamon rolls.
Main Street, USA:
“Here you leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow and fantasy.” When entering Main Street, that is when the party begins. Soon as you cross that threshold, buckle up Buttercup because that is when the mission beings. For me, it is not the amazing smell pumping through the vents, or the delightful music playing through the speakers. IT. IS. THE. SHOPPING! There are times when I have driven to Disneyland strictly to shop on Main Street. No rides. No snacks. Straight to the mission. A new charm, a new Spirit Jersey, new ear release. I have so many things with tags on them in my closet I can open my own Emporium but that is not the point. Light shopping before going right to Tomorrowland (because that is the proper way) to start rides is my favorite thing. Yes, I walk through all the connecting stores and not on Main Street directly. I need to make sure I see all the merchandise! On the way out, depending on the day, Firefly Chips on the way our from Refreshment Corner is a must.
Tomorrowland:
Space Mountain and Star Tours. The Kobe and Shaq of Disneyland, debate the pavement. The best one two punch in the park and yes, doing them back-to-back makes me nauseous but that is not my business, nor is it yours LOL! No matter the age, that is how it will be done always and forever. Star Tours is my fathers FAVORITE ride and demands to ride it first every time he goes to the park. Star Tours gives that classic Star Wars vibe. I was not too thrilled when it was updated at first, but now, I love how it is a different ride each time. Star Wars Launch Bay I can go get a hug from a Wookie or blow kisses to my forever love Darth. We have taken many of wedding photos in his lair LOL. When Space Mountain becomes Hyper Space FORGET ABOUT IT!! Multiple rides are happening and no I am not sorry about it. I was all types of mad when they took Captain E.O out. THAT WAS A TIME!! I knew every word, note, and move and I would purposefully sit in the very back so I can stand and do choreography.
Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge:
There are not enough words to describe this land in the English language. I wrote blogs on each ride as well as the land preview, but it doesn’t do it justice. When I finally took my father to see it, all he said was WOW. John Williams and Disneyland literally transform you to another planet, and that planet’s name is Batuu. The music, the feeling, the characters. The land is so immersive, that you are either with the Resistance or with the First Order and you better choose wisely. I love how Stormtroopers walk around and take hostages, Kylo is always on a rampage and Chewie is always fixing something. I can spend all day here if I could and the only reason I do not is because my boo Darth is in Tomorrowland.
How would you rank your favorite lands??