A Brief Reunion in Gurnee

After visiting the Manitowoc County Fair, I headed straight to Chicago O’Hare Airport to pick up my friend Carl, whom I had met rather randomly at Disneyland in Anaheim the year before. The plan was to spend the next two days together at Six Flags Great America.

We stayed at the Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in Gurnee, directly across from the park. After that, we had planned to head into Chicago together. That idea did not last very long, though. On our second day, Carl unexpectedly got a call from Disney telling him he needed to be back at work in Anaheim the following day.

So in the end, we only had one full park day together. We finished it off with dinner at Hayashi Japanese Restaurant, which offered much more than the usual American-style sushi rolls. The Japanese dishes were genuinely good, and the eel in particular was excellent. After that, we headed back to the hotel, bringing our much shorter-than-planned trip together to an end.

 

Click here to get to the next report of The Great Mid-Western Road Trip.

Disneyland



Theme Park:Disneyland Park (since 1955)
Part of the Resort
Disneyland Resort
Address:Disneyland Resort
92802 Anaheim
https://disneyland.disney.go.com
Operated by:Walt Disney Parks and Resorts


Disneyland in Anaheim, California, is the original Disney theme park and the only one designed and built under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Since opening in 1955, Disneyland has become one of the most influential theme parks in the world, inspiring every Disney resort that followed while continuing to set the standard for themed entertainment.

The park is divided into a series of themed lands, each offering its own atmosphere, attractions and experiences. From the nostalgic charm of Main Street, U.S.A. to the adventures of Adventureland, Frontierland and Tomorrowland, Disneyland combines classic attractions with modern additions such as Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. Signature attractions including Pirates of the Caribbean, Haunted Mansion, Space Mountain and Indiana Jones Adventure have become icons of the theme park industry.

More than seven decades after opening, Disneyland continues to evolve while preserving the ideas that made it famous. The combination of historic attractions, immersive themed environments and Walt Disney’s original vision makes Disneyland one of the world’s most celebrated theme parks.

 
Reviews

Exploring Disneyland



 
 
 

Highlights of the Theme Park

 




 

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The classic runaway mine train

 


 

Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

A great musical sensation

 


 

Haunted Mansion

The eerie haunted house

 


 

Indiana Jones Adventure

A fast-paced experience

 


 

Jungle Cruise

The trip to the backside of water

 


 

Matterhorn Bobsleds

The classic steel coaster

 


 

Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Train

An awesome dark ride

 


 

Pirates of the Caribbean

The great classic attraction

 


 

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

The best dark ride

 


Disney California Adventure



Theme Park:Disney California Adventure (since 2001)
Part of the Resort
Disneyland Resort
Address:Disneyland Resort
92802 Anaheim
https://disneyland.disney.go.com
Operated by:Walt Disney Parks and Resorts


Disney California Adventure in Anaheim, California is the second theme park at the Disneyland Resort and opened in 2001. While neighboring Disneyland celebrates Disney’s classic characters and timeless stories, Disney California Adventure draws inspiration from California itself, along with Pixar and the Marvel Universe. Following a major transformation over the past decade, the park has become an essential part of the Disneyland Resort experience.

Among the park’s biggest highlights are Cars Land and Grizzly Peak. Cars Land faithfully recreates the town of Radiator Springs from the Pixar films, while Grizzly Peak captures the atmosphere of a national park with towering pine trees, waterfalls and its iconic mountain backdrop. Other major attractions include Radiator Springs Racers, Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: BREAKOUT!, Incredicoaster and a variety of family-friendly dark rides.

Although Disney California Adventure is smaller than neighboring Disneyland, there’s easily enough to keep visitors busy for a full day. Its mix of immersive themed lands, major attractions, live entertainment and seasonal events makes it an experience that perfectly complements a visit to Disneyland.

 
Reviews

Going on an California Adventure



 
 
 

Highlights of the Theme Park

 




 

Grizzly River Run

The great rapids ride

 


 

Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Break Out

A very fun drop tower

 


 

Incredicoaster

A large-scale launch coaster

 


 

Pixar Pal-A-Round

The Coaster Wheel

 


 

Radiator Springs Racers

A world-class ride

 


 

Web Slingers: A Spider-Man Adventure

A fun interactive dark ride