No. 1 theme park pick: Disneyland

Walt Disney's original theme park continues to set the standard for the Disney theme park empire. Fresh attractions, such as the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, stand alongside classic favorites, including the ever-popular Haunted Mansion and, of course, the original, now updated Pirates of the Caribbean.

Built amid orange groves in far-off Anaheim, Calif., back in 1955, Disneyland today stands smack in the middle of the Los Angeles/Orange County metropolitan area. The park has expanded beyond its original boundaries, too, with a second theme park, Disney's California Adventure. A connector -- the Downtown Disney shopping and entertainment complex -- opened in 2001. California Adventure is getting a multibillion-dollar facelift now, while Disneyland is enjoying a renaissance, thanks to a loving restoration in honor of the park's recent 50^th anniversary.

AGE APPROPRIATE

Disneyland truly is for kids of all ages. The little ones will enjoy a gentle ride around Storybook Land or flight through the air on Dumbo. Be careful not to overdo it, though. A few hours at Disneyland can provide enough sensory overload to keep any kid wired for a week. Don't forget to set aside some naptime. Mom and Dad will need the break, too.

TOO MUCH FUN

Too hot outside? Cool down with a drenching ride on Splash Mountain, or, for those not seeking thrills, the relaxing musical show in the Enchanted Tiki Room. Overwhelmed by all the choices? Click to on the Disney site and sign up for a guided tour of the park. (Tours cost $25 per person and up, on top of the park’s ticket price.)

BEST ATTRACTION

Get there early, and head past the Matterhorn to the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. Disneyland has revived its classic submarine ride as an undersea voyage through the world of Academy Award-winning Disney-Pixar animated films.

KEEP 'EM HAPPY

Hop on a raft for a quick trip over to Tom Sawyer's Island, where kids can run through caves, climb rocks, explore a tree house, search for treasure, or watch Capt. Jack Sparrow battle a gang of rival pirates. It's a great way to blow off some steam in the middle of the day, especially if the kids get too tired of waiting in lines.

TIMING IS EVERYTHING

Disneyland is open every day of the year, but avoid the week between Christmas and New Year's unless you really love crowds. SoCal schools get out late, so try a late May or early June trip if your kids are out of school then. Whenever you visit, buy your tickets online and arrive before the park opens, so you can beat the crowds to the park's most popular attractions.

AVOID THE CROWDS

Disney's FastPass is a ride reservation system that allows you no-wait visiting times for several popular rides. Put your admission ticket in the FastPass machine outside the ride's entrance and it will give you a ticket with a return time. Send one person in your group, with all your admission tickets, to go get the FastPasses for one ride, while the rest of the group gets in line for another.

CAN'T MISS

Pirates of the Caribbean. The original version of this classic audio-Animatronic boat ride was Disneyland's most popular even before Johnny Depp and Co. made it a billion-dollar film franchise. Disney has freshened the ride over the years, most recently adding Depp's Capt. Jack Sparrow and other characters from the hit films.

BARGAIN LODGING/DINING

Disney offers three on-property luxury hotels, but generations of Disneyland fans have raved about the Candy Cane Inn (candycaneinn.net, 800-345-7057), located on Harbor Boulevard within walking distance of the park's entrance. Visitors also can find a wide range of lunch and dinner options, both within the park and the adjacent Downtown Disney shopping area, as well as on Harbor Boulevard.

INSIDE TRACK
Visiting with a preschooler? When it's “time to go,” visit the Baby Care Center, opposite the Castle on Main Street. They have toddler-size toilets that little ones scared of the “big” bathrooms might just love as much as any other attraction in the park.

-- Robert Niles, founder/editor of ThemeParkInsider.com