The Joys of Fantasyland at Disneyland California, Part 2
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Photo notes: You've been viewing pictures of Fantasyland (a themed area of Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California) in the slide show above. Some of the pictures of Fantasyland's attractions which will be talked about on this page are the Alice in Wonderland ride, the Mad Teaparty teacup ride, the "It's A Small World" boat ride, the Matterhorn mountain roller coaster, and the Disney Princess Fantasy Faire.
Other Fantasyland photos highlight attractions which were mentioned on the "Fantasyland, Part 1" page of this site. This includes the pictures of Snow White's wishing well and ride, the Dumbo Flying Elephant ride, the King Arthur Carousel, and the Storybookland Canal Boats. If you missed browsing through the other Fantasyland attractions page, you may use the following link to see the Fantasyland Attractions, Part 1" page of this website.
Mad Tea Party ride: take a spin in the teacups!
In the picture to your left, you're viewing the Mad Tea Party Ride in Fantasyland at Disneyland California. This colorful ride is as much eye-candy as it is fun! As you probably imagined, this ride is themed to the Mad Hatter's zany tea party in the Disney animated classic film, "Alice in Wonderland."
When you board your teacup, you'll have a choice of selecting either a "mild" or "wild" experience. It's easy to get the MILD experience. Just sit there! There are 18 cups, with 6 cups mounted on each of 3 "plates." Each of these 3 plates spins in its own circle, while the entire ride itself is revolving in a circle. The total effect is a mildly dizzying rotation around the ride's center point, an experience that almost everyone in the family can enjoy.
For the WILD experience, you'll have to put in a little elbow grease! The more muscle-power you exert, the faster will be your Mad Teacup Ride. By turning a wheel in the cup's center, you'll spin the teacup faster and faster in its own tight little circle. Wow---now THAT can get your head to spinning! Watch out...you'll wobble when you walk when you leave your teacup afterwards!
Now, if you're looking for a fast-spinning ride, here's the controversy--- It's rumored that some of the Mad Teacups are able to spin faster than the others. Is this true? I don't know, because I've never tried to find out! But, the rumor has it that "purple" and "orange" teacups spin the fastest...while "pink" spins the slowest.
If you test out this secret rumor and reach your own conclusions, let me know what happens!
There is no minimum height requirement, but parents should ride along with preschoolers, or children of any age who might become frightened by the whirling movements of this ride. Adults riding the Mad Tea Party Ride should have some tolerance for noise---be forewarned that you'll hear a song from the Alice in Wonderland movie (called "A Very Merry UnBirthday") over and over again as you wait in the ride queue! (Fortunately for me, I enjoy that song! You may not, however.)
Fantasyland Attractions: Another Alice in Wonderland ride!
To your left, here's a photo of The Alice in Wonderland ride, another attraction in Fantasyland which is based on the Disney animated classic movie, "Alice in Wonderland." (The movie itself is, of course, based on the classic Lewis Carroll novel of the same name.)This beautiful, lushly landscaped ride begins as you board a caterpillar-shaped ride car. (As you may remember, a caterpillar is one of the characters from the book and film.) The caterpillar car seats 2 children or adults in front (and 2 more guests in the back seat) comfortably.
After boarding, your caterpillar ride car will wind up, up, up a pathway on the ride's exterior until you reach the entrance of the ride at the top. (Why do you go upwards to enter the ride building? Because, the indoor portion of this ride is actually located on the 2nd story of the "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" attraction!)
The indoor segment of the ride is dark, and features vignettes from the Alice in Wonderland story...highlighted with black-light special effects.
You'll see all your favorite characters from the story, including the always-worried-and-in-a-hurry (Type A personality?) White Rabbit, the lanquid Caterpillar (Type B, definitely!), the mischievous Cheshire Cat, and the domineering Queen of Hearts. Plus...as you exit the final ride segment with a BANG...you'll enjoy seeing the too-crazy-to-believe Mad Hatter, Dormouse and March Hare.
There is no minimum height requirement for the Alice in Wonderland ride, but parents should, of course, ride with youngster who might become afraid in the dark interior segment of this ride.
Are there fans of these Alice in Wonderland characters at YOUR house? If so, perhaps they'd like to use the following link to head to the "Alice in Wonderland" make-at-home greeting cards page of the Disney Activities website!
Fantasyland at Disneyland: The Popular Mr. Toad
Mister Toad's Wild Ride, is a popular family ride featuring the lovable, "common sense-challenged" Mr. Toad.
Before boarding the ride cars, you'll enter the stately Toad Hall. The "prim-and-proper" appearanse of this lordly mansion doesn't give a clue to Mr. Toad's careless attitude...nor to his DANGEROUS style of motoring!
Beware when you get into his car---you just may go careening through the streets of London and get into a crash!
There's a funny surprise ending to this ride, which I can't possibly give away...you'll have to see it for yourself!
"Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" is themed to the "Mr. Toad" segment of the lesser-known Disney animated movie called, "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad." (The "Ichabod" in the title refers to the other segment of the film...about Ichabod Crane and the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.) The "Mr. Toad" portion of the film was based on the children's novel "The Wind in the Willows."
The Adventures of Mr. Toad ride has no minimum height requirement, but parents should accompany children who might become frightened inside this dark and sometimes scary ride.
Fantasyland Attractions: "It's a Small World"
In the photo to your left, you see a very popular ride in Fantasyland at Disneyland California---the "It's a Small World" boat cruise through a wonderland of international scenes. Each scene features dancing, animatronic dolls dressed in their native costumes against backdrops featuring famous natural or man-made landmarks of their country. You'll see dozens of scenes featuring countries from all the continents of the Earth, and the islands of the sea.The last and largest scene of the "It's a Small World" ride features all of the international dolls dressed in costumes of white. To me, this scene emphasizes the fact that we human beings, no matter from what country we come, are all brothers and sisters in the family of humankind. And, perhaps someday (even if it takes until we reach Heaven,) we'll be able to put our differences aside to RECOGNIZE that fact...and just enjoy one another!
Major ride refurbishment in progress: "It's a Small World" ride won't re-open until November, 2008. If seeing "It's A Small World" is on your list of "must do" attractions at Disneyland Park, you'll be affected by this ride's closure throughout most of 2008. The ride is getting a major refurbishment done, and will remain closed until Fall 2008.
Small World to reopen for the Christmas holiday season, 2008: The GOOD news is that Disneyland's Small World attraction will be open by the time the magical winter holiday season begins at the theme park. As you may already know, during the Christmas holiday period each year, the ride is decorated in special seasonal decor.
If you'd like to enjoy pictures of the Small World ride's Christmas decorations, you may visit the "Small World Holiday Pictures" page of this website.
Fantasyland Attractions: Lovely Matterhorn Peak
Ah---the beautiful Matterhorn mountain in Fantasyland at Disneyland California! The Disneyland Matterhorn is actually a faithfully-reproduced 1/100 scale model of the REAL Matterhorn mountain in Switzerland. What is the Matterhorn mountain doing at Disneyland? Believe it or not, it actually IS themed to a Disney movie---the lesser-known live-action film, "Third Man on the Mountain."
The Matterhorn was Disneyland Park's first roller coaster. Does it still thrill? That depends on the rider! Some feel that it's rather ho-hum...while others still scream with terror! You'll just have to ride it for yourself to find out how YOU'LL feel!
One thing is sure---you'll see some spectacular aerial views of Disneyland California from the top! Not only will you see great views...you MIGHT even glimpse a sighting of a snow monster as you zoom through the Matterhorn's interior!
At the end of the ride, you'll splash down in a crystal "Alpine" pool. (Don't worry, though---this ride won't get you TOO wet!)
Throughout your day at the park, don't forget to glance occasionally at Matterhorn mountain. From time to time, real climbers give us a show of their skills as they scale up the sides of the mountain.
There is a 35" minimum height requirement for children wishing to ride the Matterhorn roller coaster. In addition, parents should ride with young children who might become frightened by this attraction.
Fantasyland Attractions: Strolling Disney Princesses...and the
Disney Princess Fantasy Faire!
Fantasyland at Disneyland California is a great place to spot strolling Disney characters. To your left, you see a picture of Princess Aurora (from the animated classic, "Sleeping Beauty) posing with my granddaughter, Natali.As well as trying to spot princesses as they stroll throughout Fantasyland, you can always find a Disney Princess at the Disney Princess Fantasy Faire!
What is Disney's Princess Fantasy Faire? It's an attraction with so many different entertainment options going on that it took a whole page of its own to describe the activities! In brief, the Fantasy Faire attraction is aimed at young girls who love the Disney Princesses...and would love getting to spend some time seeing them up close (and even interacting with them!) Young boys will also enjoy the fact that there are Disney Prince characters, a male host of the event, and a number of male helpers---all dressed in period attire from the days of chivalry.
If you'd enjoy viewing pictures of the Princess Fantasy Faire and discover what activities your kids might like, you may visit the Disney Princess Fantasy Faire pictures page of this website. Is there a young fan of the Disney Princesses at your house...who can't wait until her Disneyland trip to enjoy Princess activities? If so, she might like to try some coloring pages of the Disney Princesses on Disney's children's activities website!
Greet Princess Ariel in Fantasyland! Princess Ariel (AKA "The Little Mermaid") has her own special spot to reveive guests, take photos with them, and sign autographs. This cute undersea-themed greeting spot sits to the side of Matterhorn Mountain (by Triton's Garden.) Except for her break times, Ariel will ALWAYS be in her grotto to greet your children; it's a permanent character-meeting spot at Disneyland park.
You may meet Ariel and take your own snapshots with her completely free of charge! On the other hand, if you'd prefer, you may use Disneyland's own photographer who's always stationed at the greeting place to take your pictures. He or she will have an expensive, high-powered camera (AND will take several shots of your group) to ensure that you may leave the park with some very good photos of your visit. Prints or discs of these photos will be available for a fee; Ariel's photographer will tell you where you may preview them. Photos can be ready instantly. You may take them home with you...rather than needing to wait for them to be mailed!
MORE DISNEYLAND PARK PICTURES! --->
Use the button above to see photos of still MORE Disney rides, attractions and fun!
Disneyland Collectibles: Alice in Wonderland
The beautiful Alice in Wonderland ride (together with the adjacent Mad Tea Party teacup ride) are two of Fantasyland's most colorful attractions. Collectors of Disneyana enjoy the whimsical characters from this attraction...everything from trading pins to hats to stuffed animals. If you love picking up a collectible Disney item with each visit to the park, you might enjoy browsing through Ebay's collection of Alice in Wonderland merchandise that's up for bid right at this very moment! (In the widget below, you'll always find the very latest Disney Collectibles auctions; when one item sells, a new one moves into the box to take its place!) If you'd like to be able to add to your collection in between theme park visits, then EBay is a wonderful site to investigate!
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