Happy end of June Disneylanders! If you’ve been keeping up with Disney news at all this month, you know June marked quite a few major events for the Happiest Place on Earth. Anniversaries, AP policy changes, the arrival of new characters…and the grand opening of a brand new land. Let’s dive right in! NEW PIRATE […] Read more…
Heading to the Disneyland Resort this July? You’re in for a savory treat. This week, Disney Parks Blog hinted at an upcoming event (?) from July 6-8 in both Disneyland and California Adventure: the Fried Chicken Celebration. In this slightly unusual event announcement, Disney didn’t highlight any unique offerings. Instead, they invited guests to check […] Read more…
 Source: Disney Mamas July 1955 – September 1968 LOCATION Main Street USA – Visitors to Main Street USA spotted the Music Hall straight away, thanks to its coveted corner location on the right-hand side of the street. Today, this space houses the Disney Showcase. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – piano/organ showroom (not traditional retail space) Unique Features […] Read more…
Half the fun of visiting the Disneyland Resort is shopping. You never know what souvenirs you might find, and the items you end up bringing home have a memory attached to them! But with so many shops and carts (more than 50 in Disneyland alone), souvenir shopping can feel a little bit overwhelming. Here are […] Read more…
October 1955 – present LOCATION The Disneyland Hotel faces the end of Downtown Disney, on the opposite side from the park gates. Visitors can access the hotel grounds from Disneyland Drive, or by following Downtown Disney all the way to the western end (away from Harbor Boulevard). BACKGROUND When Disneyland first opened in July 1955, […] Read more…
June 2012 – present LOCATION Cars Land – Sarge’s Surplus Hut stands on the southern side of the main street in Cars Land. If you walk into the area from Pacific Wharf (the main entrance), you’ll find it on your right, just after Fillmore’s Taste-In. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Cars toys, clothing, hats, and other […] Read more…
February 2001 – May 2016 LOCATION Downtown Disney – The House of Blues expanded into the central courtyard of Downtown Disney, across from Tortilla Jo’s. Today, this space is home to Splitsville Luxury Lanes. EXPERIENCE Details: Service Type – table service Seating – indoor dining room, adjacent outdoor patio Entertainment – live music If you […] Read more…
It’s amazing how quickly Disneyland memorabilia changes over time. How could we have known back in the day that 50s and 60s souvenirs would be so highly coveted? Originally, Disneyland didn’t have any official place preserving mementos of the past. But in 1995, on the park’s 40th anniversary, cast members buried a time capsule (called […] Read more…
For a long time, I breezed right through Frontierland on my way to Big Thunder Mountain. But over the years, places like Rancho del Zocalo and Tom Sawyer Island drew me in. The island, the riverfront, and the town square that make up Frontierland tell a story of the wild American west. And the magic of […] Read more…
 Source: Insights and Sounds September 1972 – February 1973 LOCATION Bear Country – The Golden Bear Lodge overlooked the Rivers of America on the western side, across the waterway from Fort Wilderness. Today, this space is a similarly themed restaurant: the Hungry Bear. EXPERIENCE Details: Service Type – quick service Seating – adjacent two-story patio […] Read more…
March 1985 – present LOCATION Main Street USA – Disney Clothiers Ltd. boasts a corner location right in the center of Main Street. If you’re walking down the street toward the castle, you’ll see Disney Clothiers Ltd. on your right, just after the street opens up for the center alleyways. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Tees, […] Read more…
February 2001 – January 2018 LOCATION Paradise Pier – Sideshow Shirts marked the last stop on the boardwalk for Paradise Pier shoppers. The massive storefront hid beneath the California Screamin’ track, close to the Mickey’s Fun Wheel entrance. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Tees, plus some ears and other seasonal accessories Unique Features – Giant Barker […] Read more…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess Vol. 31, 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. What time do the bars in Downtown Disney close? (submitted by Mikey) The bars close at 2 am most days, though some holidays may […] Read more…