BY MARJORIE TREGER

I have to admit that having grown up going to Disneyland, I have some strong emotional attachments to that park. I remember traveling with my grandparents for my sister's and my birthdays every year in March, when it inevitably rained and we would stand in our Mickey Mouse golden yellow ponchos peering out from under those 70's domed plastic umbrellas designed to see through. We would never let the rain dampen the excitement of the trip as we waited out the wetness in the movie theatre on Main Street.

Later, I have memories of traveling with teenage friends when we would all rent a bus together. It smelled like rubber and the springs in the seats poked through to your butt. We had that extreme, manic, teenage energy, running from ride to ride, cramming in as much forced fun as we could generate; playing word games while standing in line ("Can you "coffeepot" underwater?"), holding hands with semi-secret crushes, and shopping for the best candy deal on Main Street.

When Disney's California Adventure opened, it just didn't hold the same allure for me. But maybe that's not all bad.

When I walk into Disneyland, old emotions and memories wash over me like a tidal wave. I'm lost in my own world of misspent youth. But my traveling companions have changed since I was one of those rowdy teenagers forcing out every ounce of fun from a trip to Disney.

Now I travel with my husband of nine years, Stephen, who has his own share of Disneyland memories. We often get into a kind of Disney duel down memory lane, comparing rainy visits and outrageous friends' bad behaviors. And now we have the pleasure of reliving the Disney experience through the eyes of our five-year-old daughter, Jamison and three-year-old son, Elias. And what beautiful blue eyes they are!

While my kids love Disneyland Park, DCA is now extra-special to us as a family.

With Disney themeing and characters, DCA is familiar in feeling. The moment we walked in for the first time we had a sense of, "Hey, I know this place." While DCA is certainly not Disneyland, it feels comfortable, but new at the same time. It's a clean canvas upon which to paint memories of our young family with our good old Disney friends! And I'm sure when my kids are grown, they'll have as many fond memories associated with DCA as my husband and I do with Disneyland.

When DCA first opened its gates, lots of Disney fans were disappointed. It wasn't a "good enough" park. They wanted something more extreme and exciting, like DisneySea in Tokyo, which opened seven months after DCA. Also, the California themeing of DCA was not appreciated by everyone, as a lot of park guests come from California and thought a romanticized history of the "Golden State" would be less than interesting. Then there were complaints that there was nothing for the wee ones to do in the new park.

Well, I have come to love DCA and must differ on each of these points!

I love the romantic vision of our great state that comes across in DCA. I love the historic element offered to visitors who want to learn something, whether it's about agriculture and what has succeeded or failed to grow in California, or understanding the wine making process, or witnessing the production of tortillas or sourdough bread. Any kid playing hooky from school for a DCA trip could satisfy a teacher with numerous reports on these topics.

I love the wide open walkways of DCA, how the entrance area can be crowded, but then you can find a pocket where you're not crammed in with the humanity, and take a deep breath. I love the tribute to the state and national parks with the waterfalls splashing and the smell of camping lingering at the Redwood Creek area. I love the gorgeous panoramic views of my San Diego hometown offered in "Soaring Over California." I love the Paradise Pier area lit up at night, conjuring romantic feelings of seaside walks and times gone by, eating cotton candy and being silly with the boy you love.

But, most importantly, my kids love DCA and we feel like there's tons for them to do there!

Here's our touring plan for DCA with two small tykes:

First, we always make a beeline for the baby care facility. My kids are more than willing to use the tot-sized potty there that doesn't have that scary automatic flush! In DCA it's located straight back from the main gate, behind the Mission Tortilla Factory.

On our most recent visit, Santa's Beach Blast was going on in Sunshine Plaza. Santa was a kick in his shorts and Hawaiian shirt! Pictures and autographs ensued as there were many other characters hanging out there as well. They even had a ring-toss game and a Mr. Potato Head-like snow man for the kids to assemble. Santa led us all in a dance party and the kids had a great time!

After that we headed over to "a bug's land." This area was put in after the park officially opened, to cater to the younger set. I find "Heimlich's Chew Chew Train" mind-numbingly boring, but my kids love the oversized eye-candy and getting sprayed with the scent of watermelon! The other rides are simple but fun. There are bumper cars, a ladybug version of the teacup ride and Flik's Flyers. There is also the "It's Tough to be a Bug" movie, which we have not seen because it can be too scary with the interactive features. With all of this, the water play attractions, tractors to climb on, agriculture exhibits to interact with and a very cute live show featuring Flik and Princess Ata, my kids can spend upwards of two hours in this section of park!

As far as the rest of the park is concerned, the Aladdin show at the Hyperion Theatre is not to be missed and we always enjoy the "Muppets Vision 3-D" movie. The Disney Animation exhibit is interactive and can be lots of fun for kids, too. All of these are in the Hollywood Pictures Backlot area.

In the Golden State section the Mission Tortilla Factory and Boudin Bakery are fun, instructive tours that you can zip through or travel at your own pace and nibble samples. When touring on my birthday, the folks at the Mission Tortilla Factory were kind enough to not only give me a sample, but also a dozen freshly made tortillas and a cookbook!

Be sure to allow lots of time for the kids to run wild in the "Redwood Creek" area, which has lots of things to climb on and splash through and the recently debuted "Magic of Brother Bear Show," an interactive show specifically for the younger set.

While Paradise Pier has most of the fast, grown-up rides, we had no trouble finding things for the kids to enjoy there as well. The "Golden Zephyr" and "Sun Wheel" ferris wheel are both favorites with my kids. They even like the car that swings on the "Sun Wheel!" The "S. S. Rustworthy" is fun for more climbing adventure and we spent at least half an hour just watching the "California Screamin" roller coaster take off below the pier. We enjoyed screaming with the passengers as they shot off up the first steep incline of this great ride.

But the golden moment for me came as we were riding "King Triton's Carousel" for the third time in a row because there was no line and my kids could not be wrenched free from the gorgeous sea creatures traveling round and round and up and down.

I love my family. I especially love my family on vacation at DCA.

As I watched my daughter bobbing up and down on a beautifully crafted, teal and purple, glittering seahorse, the sun just setting and the sky generating that magical purple dusk light, her blonde hair tossed back, eyes and mouth open wide with laughter and joy, it hit me hard. I'm absolutely in love. In love with my children. In love with my family. In love with the idea of creating new "magical" memories in a familiar but unique Disneyland Resort park that will be cherished for years to come.

As my friend Mary points out, it's just like that MasterCard commercial: Priceless.

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