Inside the Theme Parks of the Disneyland Resort

We just wrapped up a five year, billion dollar expansion and we're ready to show it off to the world. As we like to say here -- "The Happiest Place on Earth just got happier!" Let's take a look. The big news, the really big news, is Cars Land, a 12-acre addition at Disney California Adventure Park. Stepping into this area is like cruising right into the Disney Pixar 'Cars' movie because the town of Radiator Springs has been brought to life in this entirely new land. Touring along old Route 66, you can hitch a ride on your own twisting, twirling, little tractor at Mater's Junkyard Jamboree. Or hop on board at Luigi's flying tires and glide on a cushion of air. When you're ready for a high octane adventure, buckle up at Radiator Springs racers, where you race head to head with another car on the straight-aways and thrilling hair pin turns in and around Ornament Valley's amazing red rock formations. Along the way, you'll have a great time with Lightning McQueen, Mater, Sally, Luigi and ***, and more. And once the sun goes down, the streets of Radiator Springs come alive with upbeat music and a glorious neon glow. It's a magical transformation. Speaking of magical transformations, welcome to Buena Vista Street, the all-new entrance to Disney California Adventure Park. It's been through such an extreme makeover, you barely recognize it. Much like Main Street USA over at Disneyland Park recreates a small Midwestern town from Walt Disney's youth, Buena Vista Street recreates Los Angeles of the 1920s when Walt first arrived as a young adult. Towering at the end of Buena Vista Street is the Carthay Circle Theater, the recreation of the iconic movie palace that hosted the premiere of Snow White and the Seven Dwarves back in 1937. Here, we don't premiere movies, we offer premiere dining in the Carthay Circle Restaurant. The food is the star with modern cuisine featuring bold, diverse flavors. I'd tell you more but then I'd be too hungry to keep going. The last five years of expansion have brought all sorts of new experiences to Disney California Adventure Park in just about every one of its eight themed lands. Grab some 3D glasses, board a ride vehicle, and zip off into a world of Midway-style games inspired by Disney Pixar's Toy Story films at Toy Story Mania. Or board a clam shell and descend under the sea on the Little Mermaid Ariel's Undersea Adventure. And at night, fall down the rabbit hole into a wild, whimsical world of Mad T Party, an all-new nighttime family celebration inspired by the world of Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland. Of course a visit at Disney California Adventure Park isn't complete without seeing World of Color. This amazing nighttime water spectacular takes the best of Disney and Pixar stories and transforms them through water, color, light, and a heavy dose of Disney magic of course. But Disney California Adventure Park is only part of the story, because just footsteps away is the first Disney park of them all -- Disneyland Park. For nearly 60 years, this has been the home for fantasy, imagination, and magic. It's the place to find family-friendly classic Disney attractions, like It's a Small World, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Haunted Mansion. Step inside the movies on Finding Nemo's Submarine Voyage, the Indiana Jones Adventure, or one of my favorites, Star Tours: The Adventures Continue. In case you hadn't heard, this attraction has been recently reimagined. It's now in 3D and offers up more than 50 different adventures. Thrill-seekers will want to challenge the Disney mountain range: Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and the mighty Matterhorn Bob Sleds. With real mountain climbers, this is a true classic that you can only find at Disneyland Park. And nights light up with firework spectaculars over Sleeping Beauty Castle and the amazing nighttime show Fantasmic. You have to see this show to believe it, it's got everything -- fireworks, lasers, fountains. It's definitely a do-not-miss experience. In fact, I'd plan a couple of nights at Disneyland Park so you can see it all. The Disneyland Resort is packed with more magic than you might have imagined with things for the whole family to do, from day to night. There's so much to do here, it could easily take a few days just to see it all and I've only scratched the surface. There are old favorites and new classics to explore at both theme parks. Add in everything to do at the three hotels of the Disneyland Resort, and all the shopping, dining, and entertainment of the Downtown Disney District, and you'll find there's more than enough here to fill three or four days of discovery, exploration, and hopefully a little relaxation. With all the new exciting things happening, it's no wonder that the happiest place on earth just got happier. Well that's all for now and I hope to see you real soon.