The phenomenon of Disneyland has been done to death by all sorts of social critics but the truth is, it can be great fun, especially if you visit out of season and get there early to avoid the crowds, and really immerse yourself in the extroverted joy of it all. Most of the rides are great, each in different ways, from the Pirates of the Caribbean, which inspired the movie of the same name, Space Mountain, and the Mad Tea Party, also known as the classic spinning teacup ride.Like a little bit of Middle America grafted onto the southern edge of los angeles, inland Orange County used to feel like a totally different world. Though the demographics have changed considerably in the past decade or two, in contrast to L.A.'s fast-paced, edgily creative multiethnic stew, Orange County in the 1950s and 1960s was suburban America writ large: mostly white, mostly well-off, and not the most exciting place to be. In short, a perfect place to build the ultimate escapist fantasy, the self-proclaimed Happiest Place on Earth: Disneyland.