Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Courtesy Disney




Disney

What can we possibly say about Disney that hasn't been said before? There's a reason why when most people think of "theme park" they think of Disney. Nobody does it better. All four locations (Anaheim, Calif., Orlando, Fla., Tokyo and Paris) are staggeringly huge and have everything from rides, games, restaurants, animals and water parks to learning centers and spas, all with the backdrop of the ubiquitous mouse and kids clamoring for Disney-related merchandise. 

Walt Disney World in Orlando consists of four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Disney-MGM Studios. Disneyland in Anaheim recently added a California Adventure Park that taps into the Golden State's obsession with outdoor thrills, such as hang gliding and white-water rafting (what next? Wheat-grass shots in mouse-shaped cups?). Despite a bumpy beginning, when mouseaphobic protesters nearly shut down the rail system, Euro Disney eventually became a moneymaker. It's now renamed Disneyland Paris, and in early March a new park, Walt Disney Studios, opened right next door. (Vive le Mickey, n'est-ce pas?) 

 

Disney is even bigger in Japan. Today Tokyo Disneyland is the most visited amusement park in the world, with over 17 million visitors in 2001 (according to the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions). The company also has plans to build a park in Hong Kong, which just goes to show that mouse ears have become an international currency. 

Prices for one-day admission are $45 for adults and $35 for ages 3-9 at Disneyland. Walt Disney World is $48 for adults and $38 for ages 3-9. Disneyland Resort Paris is 27 euros ($23) for adults and 23 euros ($20) for children. Tokyo Disneyland is 5,500 yen ($41) for ages 18 and up, 4,800 yen ($36) for ages 12-17 and 3,700 yen ($28) for ages 4-11. 

Disneyland 
Anaheim, Calif. 
Phone: (714) 781-4565 
Disney World 
Orlando, Fla. 
Phone: (407) WDW-MAGIC 
Disneyland Resort Paris 
Marne la Vallee, France 
Phone: (33) 1 60 30 60 81 
Tokyo Disneyland 
Wangan Expressway, Japan 
Phone: 045 683 3777

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