When guests walk through the tunnels under the Disneyland Railroad, they are immediately greeted by the scent of vanilla and popcorn, the whistle of the steam engine, and the visual splendor of the plaza. While the architecture often takes center stage, it is the horticulture that performs the heavy lifting of setting the scene. At […] Read more…
If you grew up in Southern California, there is a good chance your high school experience ended not with a graduation ceremony, but with a midnight bus ride to Anaheim. Grad Nite is one of the most enduring traditions at the Disneyland Resort, serving as a rite of passage for thousands of students every year. […] Read more…
If you’ve spent time in any Disney park, you’ve probably heard of the hidden Mickey phenomenon. All of the parks include these hidden details, giving guests the chance to have a bit of a scavenger hunt as they explore. For a while, there was another kind of scavenger hunt within Disneyland: Hidden Nemos. When the […] Read more…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess – Vol. 108, a monthly Q&A post covering a variety of resort-related topics. Ask The Duchess answers questions submitted by readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me a message here. 1. How much walking should I expect to do on a typical Disneyland day? (submitted by […] Read more…
It’s Maaaaaay!!!! This winter has felt so brutally long, and the spring has been mostly crappy weather where I live. So I’m so ready to shift into early summer (which for me starts Memorial Day, no matter what the solstice says!). Bring on the later sunsets and blooming flowers – we’re all ready. But before […] Read more…
If you’re reading this blog, you’re probably someone very interested in Disneyland history. I love seeing early photos, especially during park development and construction. Well, now, Disney+ has a documentary tailor-made for nerds like us, with restored footage and new insights about the very beginnings of the happiest place on earth. Disneyland Handcrafted focuses on […] Read more…
Source: Disneyland Resort October 2023 – present LOCATION Disneyland Hotel – The Palm Breeze Bar is one of the Disneyland Hotel’s pool area bars, located in the DVC tower of the hotel. You don’t need to be a DVC member to join; just head on up to the pool and you’ll see the open air […] Read more…
Disneyland has always done its best storytelling when it blurs reality with fantasy. To make “fake” things seem incredibly real, Imagineering turns to incredibly skilled artists, including Fred Joerger. Source: D23 Fred Joerger was born in Pekin, IL, in 1913 and earned a degree in Fine Arts from the University of Illinois in 1937. After […] Read more…
If you’ve visited Toontown in the last few years, you undoubtedly saw the stunning El CapiTOON Theater that now serves as a landmark in the downtown area. Head toward the entrance of the theater, and you’ll see one of my favorite Toontown hidden gems: The El CapiTOON box office. Inside the box office, you’ll find […] Read more…
Even casual Disney fans are familiar with the iconic Monorail. Disneyland’s version may not be the mega transportation system of Disney World, but it’s a beloved attraction that has swirling views inside Tomorrowland that bring riders back again and again. But how much do you know about the Monorail’s development, or why exactly it was […] Read more…
You’ve undoubtedly seen this building many, many times if you’ve ever visited Disneyland. It looms over New Orleans Square, usually flanked by massive crowds. But you probably don’t even know its name. This is the Cabildo, home to Pirates of the Caribbean and inspired by a very real building in the Big Easy with an […] Read more…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess – Vol. 107, a monthly Q&A post covering a variety of resort-related topics. Ask The Duchess answers questions submitted by readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me a message here. 1. How early should I arrive at the parking structures to make it for rope drop […] Read more…
It’s officially spring! With warmer weather, spring break crowds, and Food and Wine festival in full swing, March was a very busy month at the Disneyland Resort. I hope you’re feeling renewed energy too…summer is so close! FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL IN FULL SWING As I mentioned above, the Food & Wine Festival kicked off […] Read more…
Grizzly Peak is the Disneyland Resort’s current “bear country”, but it wasn’t always that way. And one hidden gem inside of this land pays tribute to the Bear Country that came before it. Let’s go find Big Al. To visit him, let’s head toward the Grizzly River Run. To the left of the attractions entrance, […] Read more…