DISNEYLAND PARK VERSUS THE MAGIC KINGDOM.....A COMPARISON

Disneyland Park is the name of the original park built under Walt Disney's instructions in 1955. It is in Anaheim, near Los Angeles.  During the last years of his life Walt Disney spent a lot of time there, promoting "upcoming" attractions like the Haunted House and Pirates of the Caribbean. So today, despite all the changes,  this particular park is linked to memories of Walt. 

The Magic Kingdom is an almost exact copy of Disneyland, inaugurated in Orlando, Florida in 1971. By then, Walt was gone.  From the visitor's point of view, it gives you an almost identical experience as the Los Angeles park.....unless you are a Disney historian or can "appreciate" the differences.  This is what this article is all about. 

If you look at the maps, the two parks are very similar. The Magic Kingdom is slightly larger, so a visit can be a slightly less crowded affair.

One of the most obvious differences, the castle in The Magic Kingdom is much much nicer.....but remember, the "castles" in these parks are just for the photo ops, they have little to do with what the park really offers. 

Disneyland's castle may be less impressive, but it compensates with other features which are unique. The Matterhorn is only in Disneyland. So is the New Orleans Quarter, and Toon Town.  

OK. Now the main thing.....the rides and attractions.  The main differences?  Both parks have key attractions such as The Haunted House, Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain.  The building of the Haunted House in Disneyland is much nicer, but the ride is the same. 

There are some important differences in the less known rides.....For example The Flying Carpets and the Snow White ride are only in Orlando, Roger Rabbit's Ride is in Disneyland.  The Tiki rooms are different.....but in the end the two parks play to a draw. 

So here is the big one. Disneyland has two very good attractions that are missing in Orlando. The Submarine Voyage....and the Indiana Jones Ride.  The last one is particularly good.     

So if you don't care for history, or the fact the Disneyland has a little more style......When in Disneyland remember the uniqueness of those rides. 

SUBMARINE VOYAGE...only at Disneyland

     

THE STORY BEHIND THE SIGN

There is so much action at the Universal City Walk that few people notice the round sign you see in the picture ….

THE MOST BEAUTIFUL GIRLS…….???    OK, so here is the explanation. The sign is an updated replica of an original sign that was in front of a legendary theatre in Hollywood, and was put on the City Walk by the Museum of Neon Art. Briefly, here is the story behind the sign.    

The Earl Carroll Theatre, owned precisely by New York theatre empresario Earl Carroll,  was located at 6230 Sunset Blvd. just off Vine St.,and opened its doors on December 26, 1938.




 It was a glamorous 
1,000-seat supper 
club-theater, and was famous for its musical comedy shows with…..you guessed it…..beautiful girls.  One of them, Beryl Wallace, was the owner’s girlfriend. As a “sign of love”, and to promote her….he put up the neon sign. It soon became famous.  Next to the sign, a famous “Wall of Fame”, but that is another story.... In 1948, when things were looking good, disaster struck. Earl Carroll and his famous girlfriend died when the aircraft they were travelling in hit some wires  in Pennsylvania. The theater was sold soon later, and during the 50s was known as the Moulin Rouge.  The neon sign, and Wall of Fame survived, but their luck ran out some time during the 60s as the place became a rock club….and then another rock club. 

Today the theatre still exists  ..as you can see in the picture below… the sign?  Just the replica on Citywalk.   So much for old Hollywood.  

THE HOLLYWOOD TOWER: WORTH A VISIT?

You probably saw it from the 101 Freeway.  You may have heard about it as the inspiration of the Disney ride. The Hollywood Tower.....

Is it a historic building?  Yes. It was built in 1929, and is in the National Register. But not because it has a particularly interesting past. The truth: No major actor or really famous person from the Golden Era has lived there. Any ghost lives there?  Any murder?   None that we know of......  

The Hollywood Tower today is a fancy apartment building. A very nice place to live in, with good views from the upper floors, but is not supposed to be a tourist attraction.

Did it inspire the Disney ride?  Probably.  Hollywood does not have another similar tower that could have been the source of inspiration. Then there is the issue of the sign. The Disney one is very similar to the real tower's.   Please note: The architecture however is totally different, although the Orlando park's  tower has pointed spirals that are somewhat similar to the ones in the Hollywood building. Note that this was the original ride.....  

Want to take a picture of the front?   Not very easy. Go up Vine from Hollywood Boulevard, then turn right two blocks before reaching the freeway. Try to find a view from there. 

The actual address: 6138 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028   From the official entrance you will get a picture similar to the one below.     

LIVE IN LOS ANGELES WITHOUT DRIVING.....MUCH

New apartment building in Hollywood. 

When people come to L.A., they are thinking of the beach, Hollywood, the shows......Los Angeles is a great place, but it has a catch.....you need to drive to get around.

Granted, most people know this. L.A without a car is a logistical nightmare. What they don't know is how worse it has gotten the last years. Places where there was plenty of 2-hour free parking, like Glendale, now are a crowded disaster during the weekends.  The main boulevards of most residential areas, relatively easy to navigate before, now seem like the streets of New York. The bottom line: the only easy drives in L.A today are on Sunday mornings, and far away from the malls.

So? It finally gets to you. You have to drive.....and driving in L.A. today is not fun. Even the parking lots are chaotic.  And this has quietly changed the thinking of a lot of people. The news is that slowly but surely, an "urban" L.A. is coming to existence. Yes! It is possible to live in L.A without driving....much. 

Option A: Hollywood, the West Side, Santa Monica etc

One option is to study things carefully before chosing a place to live. Most people want to be within walking distance of a supermarket, a pharmacy, a convenience store, the post office. And have good public transportation to work. Public Transportation?  That rules out most residencial areas like Cerritos, Downey, Pasadena. The areas of L.A. best served by public transportation are Downtown, Hollywood, Santa Monica......now let's take those three places. They all have public transportation, but.....Downtown lacks a good retail infrastructure. Its a ghost town during the weekends.  So.....you guessed.....the other two, and other places like Glendale. 

Option B   Live near a Mall....

The malls of L.A. have changed.....they are full of cars, parking during the weekends is not easy. But there is a positive side to this. The malls have grown so much now, that they are like small cities. Banks, Pharmacies, all types of shops.  You live nearby? You have everything within walking distance. And they are nicer than Hollywood and parts of Santa Monica. Less crazies.....  The secret is out, and people are moving in droves to the apartment buildings around Del Amo in Torrance, Glendale Galleria in Glendale.....and the others. 

How is life then if you live in these areas? You can survive most of the week without driving. Since the city is so spread out, you will probably need the car to visit friends during the weekend, to go to certain places.  But the pressure is off. Hey Hey Hey!!!