Disneyland is now 50, and is celebrating its birthday with the reopening today of its popular Space Mountain ride plus a new parade, new fireworks show and more.

To get the most bucks for the bang, the celebration — called "The Happiest Homecoming on Earth" — began in May and will continue for 18 months at Disneyland and its sister parks, from Orlando to Paris and Tokyo — and at the new Disneyland in Hong Kong which opens in September.

Arising among what were orange groves and walnut farms in Anaheim, near Los Angeles, Disneyland was the brainchild of Walt Disney and the first of what is now a theme-park empire on three continents. It opened on July 17, 1955. Since then, more than 500 million visitors have come to Disneyland alone. It opened with 18 major attractions; it now has more than 60 adventures/attractions spread over 85 acres, with many more in the adjoining California Adventure theme park.

Here's some of Disneyland's 50th-birthday events and attractions:

• Space Mountain reopened July 15 after a major renovation. The indoor roller coaster has new special effects and a new, on-board soundtrack.

• "Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters" opened earlier this year but is billed as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. Inspired by the popular "Toy Story 2" film, ridegoers command a space mission, fighting invaders with laser cannons.

• New attractions which opened on May 5, when the anniversary celebration began, include:

— A nightly fireworks show, called "Remember ... Dreams Come True" with new pyrotechnics, music and special lighting effects. Disneyland calls it "the most elaborate fireworks display in the history of the park."

— A new parade, "Walt Disney's Parade of Dreams," has rolling stages, acrobats, Disney characters, music and more.

— Sleeping Beauty Castle, Disneyland's icon, has a new look. It's festooned with banners, trimmed with gold paint and illuminated nightly with a kaleidoscope of colors and images.

Want to join in Disneyland's 50th birthday? Here are some things to know:

Where

Disneyland is in Anaheim, south of Los Angeles. The closest airport is Orange County's John Wayne Airport, about a 20-minute drive.

Lodging

• Packages that include airfare, hotel and theme-park passes usually are the most economical way to go. They're offered through airlines (including Alaska and United), by Disney, by online travel companies and through travel agents.

• Staying within walking distance of the park is the most convenient, although hotels a few miles from Disneyland may be cheaper and usually have van shuttles to Disneyland.

• Disney's own hotels, including the Grand Californian within the California Adventure theme park, are the most convenient and have nice pools, but can be pricey. There's a string of more budget-friendly hotels within a five- to 10-minute walk of Disneyland along South Harbor Boulevard, including a Howard Johnson, Carousel Inn and Candy Cane Inn.

• For hotel listings and information, contact the Anaheim Convention and Visitors Bureau, 714-765-8888 or www.anaheimoc.org

Traveler's tip

• Some rides and attractions close for regular maintenance. Check what will be closed during your visit by going to the Disneyland Web site, www.disneyland.com, and clicking on "calendar." You'll get parade and event times plus a list of what's closed for refurbishment during each day of your visit. Or phone Disneyland at 714-781-4565, then press "1" for Disneyland and press "5" for recorded information on closures.

• Get to the park as early in the morning as you can in the morning to beat the crowds. Those with certain Park Hopper passes and guests at Disney-owned hotels can get in an hour or more before Disneyland/California Adventure open to the general public.

• Make use of the FastPass ticket system which assigns you a time for some of the most popular rides; it's a great way to avoid the main lines.

• If it rains, make a beeline for the park. Lots of locals stay home in dreary weather.

More information

• Disneyland general information: 714-781-4565 or see www.disneyland.com

• An online forum for theme-park fans, with useful tips on visiting Disneyland, is www.themeparkinsider.com The travelers' Web forum at www.tripadvisor.com also has good tips on Disneyland.

• Helpful guidebooks include "Birnbaum's Disneyland Resort 2005" (Birnbaum Publishing, $14.95) and "The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland 2005" (by Bob Sehlinger, $15.99, John Wiley & Sons)