Note: As of 2024, the Paradise Pier Hotel has been replaced by the Pixar Place Hotel, and the dolphin has once again disappeared somewhere into Disney’s behind-the-scenes treasure box. The Paradise Pier Hotel takes its name from Paradise Pier, a former land in California Adventure celebrating old-fashioned beach boardwalks and oceanside living. Though Paradise Pier […] Read more…
December 2000 – January 2024 LOCATION Paradise Pier Hotel – The Sand Bar was the Paradise Pier Hotel’s poolside bar. To find it, you’d head to the pool deck. Turn right, and you’d see the small building behind the loungers on the far side of the deck (opposite end from the slide). EXPERIENCE After a […] Read more…
Source: Daveland Web 1960 – 1972 LOCATION Main Street USA – Wonderland Music stood on the southern end of Main Street, and was the first storefront on the eastern side of the walkway. Today, this space houses the Main Street Magic Shop. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Disney movie soundtrack records, sheet music Unique Features – […] Read more…
Yesterday marked an incredible anniversary for space exploration: 51 years since the Apollo 11 mission and moon landing. Incredibly, Disneyland visitors on July 20, 1969 had the opportunity to watch the events unfold live from inside the park. In Tomorrowland, across the plaza from Flight to the Moon, visitors watched an attraction become reality. Source: […] Read more…
December 2000 – January 2024 LOCATION Paradise Pier Hotel – Mickey in Paradise faced the hotel’s central atrium. To find the shop, you’d turn to the right when you walked into the lobby. You’d see the shop on your right, across the walkway from Surfside Lounge. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Clothing, ears, hats, accessories, mugs, […] Read more…
Source: Mickey Mouse Park July 1955 – July 1957 LOCATION Frontierland – The Miniature Horse Corral faced Frontierland’s central plaza, overlooking the Rivers of America. To find the animals, guests entering Frontierland took an immediate right, passing the trading post’s porch. Today, this space is used for the Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition and part of the […] Read more…
December 2000 – January 2024 LOCATION Paradise Pier Hotel – The Surfside Lounge was easy to find inside the Paradise Pier Hotel, right next to the lobby. To find the lobby from Downtown Disney, you would follow the main street walkway past the Disneyland Hotel, and turn right when the path opened up to the […] Read more…
Source: The Blue Parrot approx.1988 – approx. 2004 LOCATION New Orleans Square – La Petite Patisserie hid along one of the alleyways in New Orleans Square, across from the entrance to the French Market. Today, this space is no longer its own dining spot, instead extending as a seating area behind Cafe Orleans. EXPERIENCE Details: […] Read more…
The 1970s were a wild time for Disneyland. The park opened two of its most famous rides: Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain. Iconic but old-fashioned attractions closed their doors, including the Carousel of Progress and Flight to the Moon. And of course…there was that one protest that shut down Disneyland five hours early. Source: Atlas […] Read more…
Over the years, Disneyland has offered a few different membership clubs and perk programs for frequent visitors. The first of these programs, Magic Kingdom Club, actually started all the way back in 1957, just two years after the park opened. Source: iCollector The Magic Kingdom Club offered memberships to employees of local companies and local […] Read more…
Note: As of 2024, this hotel is no longer in operation, and has been replaced by the Pixar Place Hotel. December 2000 – present LOCATION The Paradise Pier Hotel is tucked behind Downtown Disney, across Disneyland Drive from California Adventure. To find the hotel from the parks, walk through Downtown Disney, take a left and […] Read more…
Disneyland has played host to countless events, parties, celebrations, and grand ceremonies since the 50’s. But perhaps its weirdest event was a contest – a competition for decorated Volkswagen Beetles in celebration of The Love Bug. On March 23, 1969, 101 decorated Beetles drove down Main Street and were judged based on different themed categories. […] Read more…
Election years seem to just drag on and on, don’t they? I’m sure you’re as tired as I am of political ads and campaign news. But the 2020 cast of rambunctious candidates has nothing on the 1972 election. You probably know about the major party candidates, but did you know that one candidate campaigned at […] Read more…
Source: Apple Valley Blogs July 1955 – 1964 LOCATION Main Street USA – Yale & Towne’s little storefront was tucked on the southern side of Main Street, a few doors down from the Market House. Today, the Market House has absorbed this space, though it still displays a marquee reading “The Book Rest”. EXPERIENCE Details: […] Read more…