Month: March 2016

Resort Updates - March 2016

Resort Updates – March 2016

Spring is both a positive and a negative change at the Disneyland Resort. The rain subsides, flowers bloom, characters come out of hibernation…but so do the crowds. Spring break time is one of the busiest times of year to visit the parks, and this month was no exception. Just look at the crowds to get […] Read more…

Elias & Co. Partygoers

Elias & Co. Partygoers

Buena Vista Street is Disney’s reimagining of 1920’s Hollywood – the very decade Walt arrived in California and began what would become his magical empire. Though the buildings, restaurants, and trolleys are all reminiscent of the past, most of the guests on the street really don’t fit into the time period…that is, with one exceptional […] Read more…

Toy Shelf

Toy Shelf

If you’ve ever explored the shops on Main Street USA, you know that each has its own distinct personality, its own type of merchandise, and sometimes, its own details and decor. One of the tiniest shops on Main Street is a toy shop, hidden behind a jewelry store and a clothing/accessories store. But this tucked […] Read more…

Rita's Baja Blenders

Rita’s Baja Blenders

LOCATION Pacific Wharf – Rita’s Baja Blenders sat in the center of Pacific Wharf. To find this quick service stand, you’d head across the Pacific Wharf bridge, toward the Lucky Fortune Cookery. You’d find Rita’s straight ahead, to the left of Cocina Cucamonga. EXPERIENCE Rita’s Baja Blenders was a quick-service drink spot located along California […] Read more…

Tomorrowland on the Move

Tomorrowland on the Move: 1967 Expansion and Renovation

Disneyland was Walt Disney’s biggest dream, and was also his most complicated and expensive project. Though Walt always envisioned a park completely independently owned and operated by Disney, he unfortunately couldn’t afford to do that right from the beginning. To offset the cost of building the park, Disney hosted a number of sponsored attractions and […] Read more…

Space Bar

 Source: Disney By Mark July 1955 – September 1966 LOCATION Tomorrowland – The Space Bar sat in the rear of Tomorrowland, to the right of Autopia. Today, this area is part of Tomorrowland’s huge circular building, home to Innoventions and the Star Wars Launch Bay. EXPERIENCE Details: Service Type – quick service Seating – adjacent […] Read more…

Magic Kingdoms

BASIC INFO App Name: Magic Kingdoms Company Name: Disney App Price: Free Free version: N/A HOW IT WORKS Mickey Mouse, the beloved caretaker of the Magic Kingdom, suddenly finds himself in trouble when Maleficent takes control, turning the park into a “playground for evil”. Now Mickey needs your help to bring happiness back to the […] Read more…

Hidden Gem Hunt

If you’re a frequent park visitor or someone who doesn’t like roller coasters, you may be in search of a new way to tour the park. How do you get the most out of your trip to the Disneyland Resort without racing from one attraction to another? During your next visit to the resort, try […] Read more…

Red Wagon Inn

 Source: Photo Bucket July 1955 – July 1965 LOCATION Main Street USA – The Red Wagon Inn sat at the busiest corner of Main Street USA, between the end of the street and the entrance to Tomorrowland. Guests standing at the central hub, facing the castle, would find the restaurant on the right-hand side of […] Read more…

Magic Shop Illusion

Magic Shop Illusion

The Main Street USA windows are always filled with colorful dioramas, delicious candies, and specialty merchandise. No matter how many times I walk up and down that beautiful street, I always see something new! Since there’s so much going on in this busy land, it’s really easy to miss some of its hidden gems, including […] Read more…

Hidden Mickeys

Hidden Mickeys

Disneyland is famous for its meticulous attention to detail, and perhaps no detail is as well known as the Hidden Mickey. A Hidden Mickey is the silhouette of Mickey Mouse hidden somewhere in the Disneyland Resort. Hidden Mickeys are EVERYWHERE in Disneyland, from the shrubs to fences to walls to windows…I mean it when I […] Read more…

Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante

Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante

February 2001 – present LOCATION Frontierland – Rancho del Zocalo sits on the main path through Frontierland. If you enter Frontierland from Main Street USA, you’ll find this restaurant on the right, just beyond the Shootin’ Exposition. If you’re coming from New Orleans Square or Fantasyland, head toward Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. You’ll see the […] Read more…

Ask The Duchess – Vol. 4

Welcome to Vol. 4 of Ask The Duchess, 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. Where are the best areas in the park for really little kids? (Submitted by Edith) Both Disneyland and California Adventure have […] Read more…

Resort Updates – February 2016

February was one of the busiest months at the Disneyland Resort in recent memory. Tons of refurbishments are underway, Star Wars Land is officially under construction, and the resort hosted a number of holiday events and celebrations. With the weather dramatically swinging from heavy downpours to 80 degrees and sunshine, February was as busy as […] Read more…