Current and former areas
Disneyland Park consists of nine themed „lands” and a number of concealed backstage areas, and occupies over 100 acres (40 ha) with the new addition of Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway that came to Mickey’s Toontown in 2023. The park opened with Main Street, U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland, and has since added New Orleans Square in 1966, Bear Country (now known as Critter Country) in 1972, and Mickey’s Toontown in 1993, and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge in 2019. In 1957, Holidayland opened to the public with a nine-acre (3.6 ha) recreation area including a circus and baseball diamond, and was closed in late 1961. Throughout the park are „Hidden Mickeys„, representations of Mickey Mouse heads inserted subtly into the design of attractions and environmental decor. An elevated berm supports the 3 ft (914 mm) narrow gauge Disneyland Railroad that circumnavigates the park.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Main Street, U.S.A. is patterned after a typical Midwest town of the early 20th century, and took much inspiration from Walt Disney’s hometown, Marceline, Missouri. Main Street, U.S.A. has a train station, town square, movie theater, city hall, firehouse with a steam-powered pump engine, emporium, shops, arcades, double-decker bus, horse-drawn streetcar, and jitneys. Main Street is also home to the Disney Art Gallery and the Opera. At the far end of Main Street, U.S.A. is Sleeping Beauty Castle, the Partners statue, and the Central Plaza (also known as the Hub), which is a portal to most of the themed lands: the entrance to Fantasyland is by way of a drawbridge across a moat and through the castle. Adventureland, Frontierland, and Tomorrowland are on both sides of the castle
Adventureland
Adventureland is designed to recreate the feel of an exotic tropical place in a far-off region of the world. „To create a land that would make this dream reality”, said Walt Disney, „we pictured ourselves far from civilization, in the remote jungles of Asia and Africa.” Attractions include opening day’s Jungle Cruise, the Indiana Jones Adventure, and the upcoming Adventureland Treehouse, inspired by Walt Disney’s 1960 film Swiss Family Robinson.
Frontierland
Frontierland recreates the setting of pioneer days along the American frontier. According to Walt Disney, „All of us have cause to be proud of our country’s history, shaped by the pioneering spirit of our forefathers.” Frontierland is home to the Pinewood Indians band of animatronic Native Americans, who live on the banks of the Rivers of America. Entertainment and attractions include Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Mark Twain Riverboat, the Sailing Ship Columbia, Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island, and Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition.
Fantasyland
Fantasyland is the area of Disneyland of which Walt Disney said, „What youngster has not dreamed of flying with Peter Pan over moonlit London, or tumbling into Alice’s nonsensical Wonderland? In Fantasyland, these classic stories of everyone’s youth have become realities for youngsters – of all ages – to participate in. Attractions include several dark rides, the King Arthur Carrousel, and various family attractions. Sleeping Beauty’s Castle features a walk-through telling the story of Disney‘s 1959 film Sleeping Beauty.
Tomorrowland
During the 1955 inauguration, Walt Disney dedicated Tomorrowland with these words: „Tomorrow can be a wonderful age. Our scientists today are opening the doors of the Space Age to achievements that will benefit our children and generations to come. The Tomorrowland attractions have been designed to give you an opportunity to participate in adventures that are a living blueprint of our future.”
Initial attractions included Rocket to the Moon, Astro-Jets and Autopia; later, the first incarnation of the Submarine Voyage was added. The area underwent a major transformation in 1967 to become New Tomorrowland, and then again in 1998 when its focus was changed to present a „retro-future” theme reminiscent of the illustrations of Jules Verne.
New Orleans Square
New Orleans Square is based on 19th-century New Orleans, opened on July 24, 1966.[67] It is home to Pirates of the Caribbean and the Haunted Mansion, with nighttime entertainment Fantasmic!. This area is the home of the private Club 33.
Critter Country
Critter Country opened in 1972 as „Bear Country”, and was renamed in 1988. Formerly the area was home to Indian Village, where indigenous tribespeople demonstrated their dances and other customs. The main draw of Critter County was Splash Mountain (1989–2023), a log-flume ride based on the animated sequences of Disney’s 1946 film Song of the South. Splash Mountain is being rethemed to Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, inspired by Disney‘s 2009 film The Princess and the Frog. In 2003, a dark ride called The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh replaced the Country Bear Jamboree (1972–2001). The area also includes Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes.
Mickey’s Toontown
Mickey’s Toontown opened in 1993 and was partly inspired by the fictional Los Angeles suburb of Toontown in the Touchstone Pictures 1988 release Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Mickey’s Toontown is based on a 1930s cartoon aesthetic and is home to Disney’s most popular cartoon characters. Toontown features three rides: Chip ‘n’ Dale’s GADGETcoaster, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin. The land also includes Mickey’s House and Meet Mickey, Minnie’s House, Goofy’s How-To-Play Yard, and Donald’s Duck Pond. From March 9, 2022, to March 18, 2023, the land underwent a refurbishment. In January 2023, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway opened in Mickey’s Toontown replacing the Toontown Five and Dime shop. The new family-friendly dark ride increased the size of Mickey’s Toontown as well as the size of Disneyland Park from 99 to 101 acres (40 to 41 ha).
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is set within the Star Wars universe, in the Black Spire Outpost village on the remote frontier planet of Batuu. Attractions include the Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. The land opened in 2019, replacing Big Thunder Ranch and former backstage areas.
