Critter Country
Disneyland's smallest area, Critter Country is home to some tame rides and attractions and is a good place to take the little ones, but it's also where you'll find the popular Splash Mountain.
Meet Winnie the Pooh
Near the entrance of the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, you and your kids can meet Pooh, Eeyore, and Tigger at their favorite Thotful Spot, a specially designed place that makes a great photo backdrop as Pooh signs kids' autographs.
A Disney photographer will be on hand, but you can take your own photos, too.
Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes
Ages 2–4: |
N.S. |
Ages 5–10: |
** |
Ages 11–15: |
** |
Ages 16–adult: |
** |
In the heart of Disneyland is the Rivers of America, a circular river surrounding Tom Sawyer Island. Several Disneyland rides take you on the river, but this one does it in a 35-foot-long fiberglass canoe. Originally called Indian War Canoes, they've been around since 1956.
TRAVEL TIP
There are other ways to travel on the Rivers of America, including the Mark Twain paddle wheeler and the Columbia sailing ship, but oddly, Disney assigns them to Frontierland and the canoes (which are just around the bend) to Critter Country.
Sixteen guests and two cast members board each boat. Guests are expected to paddle the canoe and should be able to do so. However, no one makes a fuss if you don't. Although the river is only about waist deep, small children will be required to wear a life vest.
The canoes only run when the weather is good, may be closed during slack days in the off-season, and stop running around dusk. The trip takes about five minutes, but it may feel longer if your arms get tired.
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Ages 2–4: |
*** |
Ages 5–10: |
** |
Ages 11–15: |
* |
Ages 16–adult: |
* |
Based on the Winnie the Pooh stories by A. A. Milne, The Blustery Day and The Floody Place, this dark ride (like Peter Pan or Mr. Toad) makes a trip through the Hundred Acre Wood, past Pooh's house, and ends in Pooh's birthday party. Guests travel in beehive-shaped vehicles that can hold seven adults or nine children.
Lines are usually short, it's suitable for everyone, and the trip lasts a little less than three minutes. You'll get a much better view if you sit in the front row, and you can ask the cast member at the boarding area to put you in the next car if you're assigned to a backseat.
Splash Mountain
Ages 2–4: |
N.S. |
Ages 5–10: |
*** |
Ages 11–15: |
*** |
Ages 16–adult: |
*** |
Based on Disney's 1946 movie Song of the South, Splash Mountain gives you a chance to relive the adventures of Brer Rabbit, Brer Fox, and Brer Bear, along with a colorful cast of more than a hundred other Animatronic creatures, but most people board Splash Mountain for the thrill at the end.
Riders board logs that accommodate six passengers each, straddling a center bench and sitting one behind another. The nine-minute trip starts as a slow-paced, calm, relaxing boat trip. Your heart and imagination will be captivated by the classic Disney music and exciting visuals, and after you leave Splash Mountain, you could be singing the “Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah” song for the rest of the day. Everyone knows what's coming at the end, though, and the adventure concludes with a 52-foot drop (at a 47-degree angle) that creates a big splash. The drop is scary but surprisingly smooth, and you'll probably get wet, especially if you're sitting in front.
FAST FACT
Disneyland is the original recycler, taking portions of older attractions and incorporating them into newer ones. Splash Mountain includes more than 100 Animatronic figures rescued when the America Sings attraction closed in 1988.
If you're wondering what your face looks like when you let out a scream as you plummet downward during the final drop, you can purchase a color photo of yourself as you leave. With or without the picture, Splash Mountain is not something you'll soon forget.
Waits for Splash Mountain can top an hour. It's a fastpass attraction and offers Child Swap and a Single Rider line. Lines are shorter in the evening, but there's a reason. Think twice before getting on it then, because you'll have to walk around soggy and cold after getting soaked.
TRAVEL TIP
The child swap policy gives both adults (Mom and Dad, for example) the opportunity to enjoy the various thrill ride attractions that aren't suitable for kids, without the double wait. To take advantage of this policy, one parent waits in line with a small child while the other parent rides the attraction. When the first adult exits the attraction and returns to the loading area, he or she takes custody of the child while the second parent rides — without having to wait in line.
Guests must be over 40 inches tall and over three years old. Splash Mountain is not recommended for anyone who can't handle steep drops. The log vehicle does not have seat belts, and even if your children are old enough to ride, you may want to evaluate their ability to follow instructions, keep their arms inside, and stay seated before you let them get on board.
Teddi Barra's Swinging Arcade
The arcade combines old-fashioned machines with some of the newest video game hits. You'll need to purchase tokens to play these games because they're not included in the Disneyland admission price.
