A few weeks ago, I shared the first of a new series highlighting some amazing Imagineers that shaped Disneyland. For this post, I’d like to share the contributions of a lesser-known Imagineer: Alice Davis. Source: The Kingdom Insider Alice Davis, born 1929, never set out to be an Imagineer. As a student as the Chouinard […] Read more…
If you’ve been a reader of this blog for any amount of time, you know New Orleans Square is my absolute favorite land at the resort. I love exploring the different streets, listening for the sounds coming from the windows and admiring all the little details. And when you take a look at the land’s […] Read more…
You probably haven’t thought too much about the soda you drink as you wander Disneyland. But for the first few decades of park operation, there was a battle happening for dominance in the park: Pepsi vs. Coca-Cola. The grand prize? Exclusivity across the park. Source: World’s Fair Photos Coca-Cola sold drinks in Disneyland from day […] Read more…
Most Disneyland fans know that Imagineers are amazingly talented people. They design and create one-of-a-kind attractions, pushing the boundaries of both storytelling and technology. And unfortunately, many park visitors know so little about the people that created their favorites spaces within the parks. So welcome to a new series: Imagineer Influence, where we’ll take a […] Read more…
If you’ve ever stopped for some Dole Whip or just a moment’s rest inside the Tropical Hideaway, you may have noticed some names on the back wall. But who are they? Meet the SEA These are members of the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (SEA for short), a fictional troop filled with all kinds of […] Read more…
It’s extremely difficult to get permission to film ANYTHING on Disney property – so it’s not a surprise that very few movies ever show the parks. But over the years, a few shots of Disneyland have made their way onto the big screen – sometimes with permission, sometimes without it. Here’s a list of movies […] Read more…
Sometimes, age doesn’t guarantee success. For the most part, if a Disneyland attraction survives a few years, it’s probably going to stay in the park. But every so often, whether it be a changing land, waning interest, or re-theming, decades-old attractions close their doors for good. Here are the 10 oldest attractions in the park […] Read more…
Some of Disneyland’s attractions are globally famous, even among non-Disney fans. Maybe it’s the storytelling, visuals, tales from park visitors…and maybe it’s their catchy theme songs that never leave your brain. While virtually every attraction across the parks features music of some kind, a lucky few actually have specially composed theme songs, leaving guests humming […] Read more…
Source: Matthew Luhn A while back, I wrote a post about land concepts for Disneyland that never came to fruition. And of course, lands aren’t the only creative concepts that don’t become reality! Here are a few of Disneyland’s concepts for thrill rides, that ultimately would never see the light of day. Late 1960s Space […] Read more…
Disneyland is famous for its attention to detail – everything from trash can placement to smells in different lands. But this obsession with perfection didn’t happen overnight. Over the years, Imagineers get better and better at manufacturing the perfect park experience. This starts with the gates opening in the morning, and ends with lighting the […] Read more…
You’ve undoubtedly noticed Disneyland’s railroad circling the edges of the original park. When people ask, “where does the train go?”, you can probably explain the route without skipping a beat. But have you ever wondered how far the trains actually travel? (Plot twist: the railroad is NOT Disneyland’s furthest traveling train!) Here are some quick […] Read more…
You’ll be hard pressed to find a crazier spot in Disneyland than Main Street at parade time. If you try to get through this area during a show, good luck winding through tiny roped off pathways with people anxiously racing in both directions. But if you’re lucky, you’ll get to skip this altogether. Sometimes, when […] Read more…
I was recently flipping through my Disneyland Encyclopedia, when I came across some super interesting stats. Inside the book, the author includes lots of trivia and lists. One of these lists measures distances around the park by football fields (100 yards or 91.44 meters). I found this list fascinating, so I thought I’d share in […] Read more…
If you’ve ever browsed any online Disney forums, you’re bound to have encountered a mysterious rumored park: the Dark Kingdom. This park, almost always proposed as a 5th Disney World gate (and once in a blue moon, a 3rd Disneyland or Disneyland Paris gate), would be an villain-centric park. I’ve seen threads related to the […] Read more…