The Perfect 36 Hours at Disneyland

Walt Disney was a true visionary. When he purchased 160 acres of orange groves over 60 years ago I'm sure even he didn't see the Disney Empire expanding into what it has become today. It's still growing with Disney Parks located worldwide, Disney Cruise Lines, and countless timeshare destinations.  I have been to several locations, but the original park is still my favorite.

Travis Gergen - Unsplash

My first visit was in 1963, and I have been to the park over 50 times since. Together Disneyland and California Adventure (opened in 2001) offer many great attractions, shows, and food options. Always changing, the parks are currently expanding to accommodate the throngs attending when Star Wars Land opens.  If you only have a few days to spend (my wife and I have done many 2 night trips) here is our favorite itinerary.

From Las Vegas, it is a quick 3 1/2 hour drive to Anaheim. We check in at the Ménage Hotel. The rates are reasonable, and the rooms were recently renovated. We are now off to visit Downtown Disney. It also opened in 2001. Here we will spend the entire afternoon and evening. It's after the lunch rush so the restaurants are pretty empty. Our favorite restaurant is Naples Ristorante e Pizzeria.  We start with the arugula salad garnished with shaved fennel and artichoke.  It is tossed in a bright and refreshing lemon vinaigrette. The pizza is excellent.  I love a thin crust that is crispy outside and chewy inside and Naples doesn't disappoint. They offer a bounty of toppings and specialties all cooked in a wood burning brick oven.

After our late lunch it's movie time.  AMC Theaters are currently closed for major renovation but will reopen in 2019. This part of Downtown Disney is quickly changing too. If bowling is up your alley Splitsville Luxury Lanes has recently opened, and they also offer food and drinks.

After the movie we doddle through the shops.  We pop into the trendy Curl Surf, freshen up a little at Sephora, and share a sweet at Marceline's Confectionery. The sun is setting and we are off to see one of our favorite performances. At the Disneyland Hotel make sure and visit Trader Sam's Tiki Bar. We prefer sitting outside under the covered lanai. We settle in on a cozy couch and relax while listening to live music from the South Pacific Islands. Once in a while, the musicians will throw in some classic mellow rock. Of course, you're going to hear everyone's Island favorite, Somewhere Over The Rainbow made famous by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole or Bruddah Izzy for short. 

Day number two, and we are up and off to enjoy both of the parks for the entire day. We plan on closing both parks, but first, we head back to Downtown Disney for breakfast. We always enjoy the food at the La Brea Bakery. The portions are great, and the service is always fantastic.  We tend to order the same thing: sausage and eggs. The plump links don't just taste good they have a great snap ... delicious.  Top off your breakfast with a fresh orange mimosa.

It's 10:00 and California Adventure is open. We have found it to be the least busy time to visit this park. Most of the guests are heading to Disneyland, so we grab our fast passes for Radiator Springs Racers first thing. This is our favorite attraction, and we are not the type to wait in line for two hours. It's time to hit the park, and the rides of our choice: Silly Symphony Swings, Soarin' Over the World, Goofy's Sky School and the Incredicoaster.  Before heading to Disneyland, we break at the Sonoma Terrace and enjoy a lovely glass of wine.

We head to over to Disneyland and enter with virtually no wait. We need another fast pass, so we head to Space Mountain. By now the return times are quite late, and that's just fine since we plan to be back later in the evening. We have close to five hours before dinner to get on our favorite rides. Star Tours, Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Big Thunder Railroad (my favorite), Matterhorn, and of Mad Hatter's Tea Party (best done before dinner, never after).

For dinner, there are two great 5-star options. Carthay Circle at Grand California Park and Napa Rose in the Grand Californian Hotel.  Carthay Circle is under the direction of Executive Chef Alex Flores, who is not only an amazing culinary artist but a dear friend. Napa Rose is a foodies dream.  We love to dine at the chef's table and sit at the mercy of Chef Andrew Sutton and his staff.  We have eaten there dozens of times, and my wife has to have the decadent Portabello bisque every time. I enjoy their wild game dishes and the dazzling selection of ingredients. The staff is integral to their 5-star status, and we always leave feeling like we were a part of something special.  On our last visit, we were served 7 courses, true hospitality ... thanks, Chef.

After dinner, we need to burn some calories, so we walk through California Adventure, and head to Mission Breakout, which is based on the Guardians of the Galaxy. Disney did a great job updating this from the Tower of Terror. Rocket takes over and classic rock blasts during the ride. It is so much fun. We prefer to ride Radiator Springs at night and scoot through the line with our fast passes. Cars has always been one of my favorite Pixar movies, and you feel like you're in it ... so cool.

We take in many other rides and shows until the park closes. Our evening isn't done.  We are closing Disneyland.  We still haven't done a couple of the main attractions, but it's time to use our fast pass for Space Mountain. We blast off and are racing down in total darkness. It feels much faster than 28 mph. I love an evening on the river and the Jungle Cruise is perfect. Your guide is armed with the worst funny jokes of all time. Next door is our last attraction. Indiana Jones blew my mind the first time we rode it. Like kids, my wife and I try to keep our hands up  and our feet off the floor throughout the ride. It's almost impossible, as the vehicle is throwing you up and down and side to side. We've now closed Disneyland. I am officially one of the few people that's opened and closed the park. In the 90's, I was asked to push the button on Main Street, opening the day at Disneyland.

Disney will always be reinventing and expanding. Two new 4-star hotels are currently being built one on the property and one off the property nearby. The crowds will get bigger and bigger too. Plan your trip carefully, there are times when it's almost impossible to move. We find going midweek in early December and mid January to be the least crowded. Do your research and have a great time visiting ... "The Happiest Place On Earth."