The first Disney park in the world, Disneyland is located in Anaheim, in Orange County (California), about fifty kilometres south-east of Los Angeles. Inaugurated in 1955 under the direct supervision of Walt Disney, it remains to this day the only park personally designed by him. The Disneyland Resort complex today includes two parks (Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure), a shopping and dining district (Downtown Disney) and three hotels.

Why visit Disneyland

Nicknamed "the happiest place on earth," Disneyland stands out from its successors (Walt Disney World, Tokyo, Paris, Shanghai) by its role as the original matrix. Several historic attractions exist only here in their original form, such as the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the world's first steel roller coaster, or the Enchanted Tiki Room, the world's first show to use audio-animatronics technology.

The park remains human-scaled compared to its Asian equivalents or Walt Disney World in Florida: it can be walked through entirely on foot, and most thematic areas are accessible within minutes of each other. It is also the only Disney park where Walt himself stayed: his private apartment, preserved in its original state, remains above the Main Street fire station.

Park History

The idea germinates in Walt Disney's mind in the early 1940s, after several visits to amusement parks with his daughters. He envisions a family-friendly, clean and themed location, far removed from the fairgrounds of the time. The chosen site in Anaheim occupies former orange groves. Construction begins in 1954 on a tight schedule.

The park opens its doors on 17 July 1955. The opening day, broadcast live on television, will go down in history under the name Black Sunday: asphalt melting in the heat, plumbing problems, counterfeit tickets in circulation and crowds far exceeding expectations. Despite this chaotic start, the park quickly establishes itself and redefines the entertainment industry.

New areas are added over the decades: New Orleans Square in 1966, Critter Country in 1972, Mickey's Toontown in 1993, and Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge in 2019. The second park, Disney California Adventure, opens in 2001 just across from the historic entrance.

Thematic areas and flagship attractions

Fantasyland

The heart of the park, dominated by the Sleeping Beauty Castle, the centerpiece visible from the entrance thanks to the forced perspective of Main Street USA. Here you'll find Peter Pan's Flight, It's a Small World with its hundreds of animated dolls, and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, adapted for young children.

Frontierland

An evocation of the American West. The Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, a family-friendly roller coaster crossing a gold mine, and the Mark Twain Riverboat, a steamboat sailing around Rivers of America, are the two main attractions.

Adventureland

A world of tropical exploration. The Jungle Cruise is hosted by a skipper with B-movie jokes, while the Enchanted Tiki Room maintains its historic status as the first audio-animatronic attraction. Tarzan's Treehouse offers a pleasant viewpoint over the park.

New Orleans Square

A recreation of 19th-century New Orleans. Pirates of the Caribbean inspired the eponymous film franchise. The Haunted Mansion houses, according to park legend, 999 resident ghosts — with always room for one more.

Tomorrowland

A retro-futuristic vision of the future. Space Mountain offers a roller coaster ride through the dark, and Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters will delight fans of interactive family games.

Mickey's Toontown

A cartoon universe dedicated to classic characters, featuring notably Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway and Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin.

Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge

The most recent area, opened in 2019. Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run offers interactive piloting of the spacecraft, while Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is considered one of the most technically accomplished attractions ever designed by Disney.

Must-sees

• Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage: a journey in yellow submarines along underwater scenery.
• Matterhorn Bobsleds: a replica of the Matterhorn housing the world's first steel roller coaster (1959).

Disney California Adventure Park

The second park, accessible from the same entrance esplanade, celebrates California culture and history. Three areas stand out: Pixar Pier, inspired by Pixar films; Avengers Campus, dedicated to the Marvel universe; and Cars Land, which faithfully reproduces Radiator Springs with its reconstructed Route 66. A "Park Hopper" ticket is required to move between parks on the same day.

Practical Information

Tickets come in 1 to 5-day options, with variable prices depending on the season (low, medium or high). Expect a substantial budget per adult per day, to be adjusted depending on the season. Children under 3 enter free. Pre-booking tickets is required for most dates.

Disney offers a paid skip-the-line system (formerly Genie+, renamed Lightning Lane in 2024), accessible via the Disneyland app. Its value depends heavily on daily crowds. The official Disneyland app is otherwise essential on-site: it displays real-time wait times, show schedules and allows you to order from restaurants.

The park generally opens in the morning and closes late in the evening, with variable opening hours depending on the season. Check the opening hours on the official website before your visit.

When to visit Disneyland

Crowds are the determining factor. The busiest periods correspond to American school holidays (summer, Thanksgiving in late November, Christmas and Easter holidays), during which wait times can exceed two hours for flagship attractions.

The best windows for visiting are late January-February (except President's Day), May before summer holidays, and September-early November (except Halloween). Temperatures are mild and attendance moderate during these periods. Halloween (September-October) and the Christmas season (mid-November to early January) offer special theming of the park, but in exchange for heavy crowds.

How to get there

From Los Angeles

Anaheim is about 45 km south-east of Los Angeles. By car, allow between 45 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes depending on traffic, often heavy. Several car parks are available around the Resort. By public transport, the Metrolink railway line or Amtrak Pacific Surfliner service connects Union Station to Anaheim's ARTIC station, from where Anaheim Resort Transit (ART) shuttles reach the parks.

From the airport

The most convenient airports are John Wayne Airport (SNA, 20 km away) and Long Beach (LGB). Los Angeles International (LAX) remains the most served by international flights, but requires at least an additional hour of travel.

On site

Many hotels in Anaheim, within a radius of 1 to 3 km, offer shuttles or are within walking distance. The three official Disney hotels have direct access to the Resort.

What to see in the area

If you extend your stay in Southern California, several sites are worth visiting near Los Angeles. You can explore the upscale residential neighbourhoods of Beverly Hills and Bel Air, or venture further east towards the spectacular landscapes of Antelope Canyon in Arizona for a striking contrast with the Disney universe.

Plan your trip

Disneyland integrates easily into a larger itinerary in California or on the West Coast. To plan a custom-made trip combining parks, cities and wide open spaces, consult our trips to the États-Unis.