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Family Travel Forum gives you a look at accommodations and favorite attractions at the Disney theme parks of Disneyland and California Adventure.

Disneyland, the classic staple of theme parks, added the California Adventure in February 2001, a theme park celebrating California's varied cultures, diverse natural scenery, and the glory days of Hollywood. But don't expect to see Mickey Mouse there -- instead you'll find lively parades, contemporary stage shows (Hakuna Matata is performed as a hip hop dance and there is a High School Musical performance featuring songs from the original film and the sequel) and plenty of rides for the most intrepid members of your family.  But, of course, no matter how new and fresh the California Adventure may seem, one cannot forget the tradition and fun that can be found at Disneyland.  Both of these parks will keep your family more than busy during your stay in Anaheim.

Disneyland's $1.4 billion expansion invites families to stay at least another day with the addition of the 745-room Grand Californian Hotel and Downtown Disney. The hotel is almost within the park; a five-minute walk through Downtown Disney -- with its lively pedestrian zone full of shops, restaurants and clubs -- leads guests to Disneyland or the California Adventure.  

California is the Theme

This fairly new Disney theme park is divided into five main areas: the Golden State, with Grizzly Peak as its centerpiece; Paradise Pier, which has a boardwalk atmosphere; Hollywood Pictures Backlot, where the emphasis is on animated shows; Sunshine Plaza, the entrance area of the park that makes guests feel as though they are standing in a life-size replica of a California postcard; and A Bug's Land, which is based on A Bug's Life and featured kid-friendly attractions.

Hands down, our favorite attraction was Soarin' Over California, located in Golden State. We felt as if we were on a gentle glider as scenes of California's natural beauty appeared on an 80-foot domed screen. Although we were only 40 feet off the ground, our dangling feet and slightly swaying seats made us feel as if we were skiing at Lake Tahoe or golfing at Palm Springs.

Another favorite was the woodsy northern California atmosphere of the Grizzly Peak Recreation Area. The Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, a woodland recreation site, was a big hit with my daughter Alexandra and other grade school children. Alexandra loved racing us down slides that look like giant sequoias, climbing on a small rock wall, and riding on tires, which swung quickly across a cable.