MainTour Theme Park Tipsheet
This special feature not only lists the best theme parks in the area but is loaded with tips on how to beat the admission price, the crowds, the heat and more.

Tour Oceanside Oceanside, found a short ways north of San Diego, boasts 3.5 miles of some of the widest beach in all of Southern California. Great adventures abound for golf, surf, theme parks and nature trails.

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This is a very big theme park, and you will not be able to get to even half of all the attractions, shows and restaurants in a single day.

Here is the lowdown on the principal recreation areas of Disneyland:

A. Main Street U.S.A.

• Fire Engine - Old fashion equipment, crew and ladder
• Horse-Drawn Street Cars -
• Horseless Carriage
• Main Street Cinema - Features vintage original Disney film shorts
• Omnibus - bright red two decker bus
• Penny Arcade
• Walt Disney Story - Features "Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln" - must see animation combined with film.
• Some 22 gift shops, souvenir stands, art galleries and photo studios.
• Ten eateries includes the Carnation Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant.

B. Adventureland

• Enchanted Tiki Room - Popular attraction for both the young and old crowds features performances at least every half hour by a large flock of animated birds.
• Temple of the Forbidden Eye - One of the newest (1995) and technically advanced rides created by venture between Disney and George Lucas. Guests hop aboard a troop transport for an Indiana Jones death-defying adventure with snakes, darts and that famous 50-ton rolling ball.
• Jungle Cruise - Create for both ages. Take a boat ride around Disney's jungle while you enjoy dumb jokes from your tour guide.
• Swiss Family Treehouse - Childrens playground area includes rope bridges and ladders.
• Aladdin's Theater - Dinner/theater includes meal and professional live show. Costs extra but worth it. Check show schedule.
• Four gift shops and three eateries - personal favorite is the Bengal Barbecue.

C. New Orleans Square

This section recreates the of 19th century New Orleans. Look for their famous Haunted House Holidays in the weeks before Halloween.

• The Disney Gallery
• Haunted Mansion - Full scale huanted house with hundreds of scary spooks. Very popular during Halloween.
• Pirates of the Caribbean - Semi-thrill / adventure ride lets you join a 17th century pirate expedition of pillage and plunder. One of the earliest and most famous rides in the park.
• Also check out eleven gift shops featuring high quality period merchandise, crystal, artwork and sourvenirs.
• Seven period eateries includes a cafe and two full-service restaurants: Blue Bayou and French Market. Also a French pastry shop.

D. Critter Country

A.K.A. Bear Country - this place loosely recreates outdoor wildland adventure.

• Country Bear Playhouse - Animated Musical show, great for youngsters
• Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes
• Teddi Barra's Swingin Arcade
• Slash Mountain - Big thrill ride that could get you wet. Popular during summer.
• Hungry Bear Restaurant and three other eateries.



E. Frontierland

• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad - This roller-coaster is a personal favorite.
• FANTASMIC! - Giant waterbased presentation every evening during summer. Large crowds form early along the main shore line.
• Frontierland Shootin' Exposition
• Golden Horseshoe Stage - Dinner/theater includes meal and professional live show. Costs extra but definitely worth it - personal favorite and very hilarious performance. Check show schedule.
• Mark Twain Riverboat - Bit white paddlewheel steamboat makes regular trips around that lake.
• Mike Fink Keelboats
• Rafts to Tom Sawyer Island - The only way across the lake.
• Five gift shops including a candy shop. Also eight cafe's and eateries.

F. Mickey's Toontown

This whole section is based on the very popular movie Roger Rabbit and is a great place for the youngsters to just run around.

• Chip 'n Dale's Tree Slide and Acorn Crawl - childrens playground
• Gadget's Go Coaster - Mini Roller coaster
• Goofy's Bounce House
• Jolly Trolley -
• Mickey's House -
• Minnie's House
• Donald's Boat - "Miss Daisy"
• Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin - Very popular silly thrill ride
• Three eateries.



G. Fantasyland

Many of the rides here are designed for small children and usually have shorter waiting lines than the rest of the park.

• Alice in Wonderland - Childrens ride
• Casey Jr. Circus Train - Childrens ride
• Dumbo the Flying Elephant - Childrens ride
• Fantasyland Autopia - Children can drive a car on track
• Fantasyland Theatre
• It's a Small World - An absolute must for all children - canal boat ride inside large castle filled with a thousand animated dancers and music.
• King Arthur Carrousel - Geniune carrousel ride
• Mad Tea Party - Spinning thrill ride for older kids
• Matterhorn Bobsleds - thrill ride
• Mr. Toad's Wild Ride - Fun childrens ride
• Peter Pan's Flight - Childrens ride
• Pinnochio's Daring Journey - Childrens ride
• Sleeping Beauty Castle - Large castle is landmark in the middle of the park - popular reunion area
• Snow White's Scary Adventures - Childrens ride
• Storybook Land Canal Boats - Childrens ride
• Also ten gift and children's toy stores.
• Three eateries include Ice Cream Train and Village Haus Restaurant.

H. Tomorrowland

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters - New in 2005
Use Fastpass for a line shortcut!
Newly added in the Tomorrowland section of Disneyland is this attraction where guests board a moving space vehicle fully equipped with real lazer blaster guns and get to target shoot through a whole series of fun targets. I had so much fun firing my blaster that it was until the end ride was almost over that I fugured out you can use the steering wheel to steer your spacecraft to better face the targets.

• Disneyland Monorail - Commutes between here, Disneyland Hotel and around the park.
• Space Mountain - Giant all indoor roller-coaster. Best seats are the second to sixth rows. It's dark inside and you can't see the track.
• Starcade - game arcades
• Star Tours - Thrill ride
• Autopia - Older kids drive cars along a giant track
• Four gift shops and three eateries.

Disneyland Railroad
This Steam Engine train takes you to several other area of the park. A big hit with the kids with stations located at Main Street U.S.A., New Orleans Square, Toontown and Tomorrowland. The best stretch of track is between Tomorrowland and Main Street where you pass through the land of dinosaurs.

MainTour Las Vegas - Preview over 80 of the biggest and brightest resorts on the Strip and related special features for adventure, recreation, entertainment, wedding packages and other great attractions.

I usually plan lunch and dinner breaks around the my favorite Disneyland shows. During the peak vacation season you will have to arrive 30-45 minutes early to guarantee attendance at some of the more popular shows. Be at least 60 minutes early to get a good spot for Fantasmic!

Fantasmic!
Nightly 9PM at Rivers of America (10:30PM show available Spring Break and Summer);
This is by far the biggest and most unusual live stage production. This show features Mickey Mouse in a larger-than-life battle of good vs. evil and is filled with great special effects. Stick around for the "Fantasy in the Sky" Fireworks show immediately following.

Golden Horseshoe
Several shows midday - be at least 30 minutes early - Located in Adventureland;
Usually features some bluegrass musical madness - part comedy and part great music.

Club Buzz Band
Popular nighttime dance spot located in the heart of Tomorrowland. Dance the night away to some great live music.

Buzz Lightyear Adventure
Calling all Space Scouts. Join Buzz Lightyear in a space adventure showdown against the Evil Emperor Zurg. Show runs several times daily at the Club Buzz Stage in Tomorrowland.

Aladdin's Oasis
Popular dinner show features the romantic tale of Aladdin and Jasmine in the magical land of Agrabah.

Snow White - An Enchanting Musical
One of Disney's most popular productions is retold in a lavish outdoor production on the Fantasyland Stage.

Mickey's Magic Kingdom Celebration
Children join Mickey's fun dance party held outside of Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

Sleeping Beauty's Royal Celebration
A late afternoon dance party outside Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

Take that someone special on a date that he/she will never forget. These places provide fun and excitement yet at the same time creating that serene atmosphere where something special begins to happen.

• Fine dining at the Blue Bayou Restaurant: This place is a full service restaurant the recreates the ambiance of eating outdoors on the edge of the Louisiana Bayou. Share a quiet moment while off in the background you can here the blood-curdling screams of Pirates of the Caribbean.
• Catch a show at the Golden Horseshoe Playhouse: Share in some spectacular comedy acts in a small playhouse setting.
• FANTASMIC! - Giant waterbased presentation every evening during summer. Large crowds form early along the main shore line.
• Visit the attractions along Main Street USA: Do some window shopping at the many shops, arcades and other attractions here.
• Watch for the New Year's Eve Party. Several major music artists are booked by the park.
• Find a good seat for the nighttime outdoor show spectacular. Be early!
• The Haunted House during Haloween is a must.

Tour Morro Bay
In the heart of California's Central Coast between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Located next to historic San Luis Obispo and adjacent to great shopping, beaches, golf and adventure.

Beside Summer, the following attracts huge crowds to Disneyland:

Halloween
October is a popular time to visit the Haunted House and Pirates of the Caribbean located in New Orleans Square.

New Year's Eve
Annual giant bash after dark, features big name performers and dance crowds. Requires separate evening admission.