Downtown Disney isn’t known for its attention to detail in quite the same way as the resort’s two parks. But if you wander the shops, restaurants, and hotels with sharp eyes, you’ll definitely spot some amazing little details. One of my favorites is in the last place you’d guess: Starbucks. Head over to the Starbucks […] Read more…
Month: September 2019
Salt & Straw
October 2018 – present LOCATION Downtown Disney – You’ll find Salt & Straw in the center section of Downtown Disney, near Naples. To find the restaurant, head toward the side of Downtown Disney closest to the parks. You’ll see it in the last block of shops on the north side, across the walkway from Marceline’s […] Read more…
Plane Crazy
Source: Yesterland March 1991 – November 1991 LOCATION Fantasyland – Plane Crazy occupied Videopolis, later renamed the Fantasyland Theater. To find the theater, visitors flocked to the rear of Fantasyland, near It’s A Small World. The theater was on the left side of the open plaza, behind the hills of the Storybook Land Canal Boats. […] Read more…
Old Fashioned Candy Vending Machine
Buena Vista Street is California Adventure’s primary nostalgia spot. Guests here can enjoy handmade sweets, listen to the 5 & Dime, or hop on the Red Car Trolley. Like Main Street, Buena Vista Street’s nostalgia doesn’t fully extend into the shops; virtually every retail space sells the newest Disney goods. But one shop has a […] Read more…
How To Store Your Ears
Even though you’ll catch me wearing a tiara in the parks 99% of the time, I too have been bitten by the ear bug. It’s so, so hard not to snatch some up – they keep designing cuter and cuter pairs! For a long time, I stuck my ears in a basket in my closet, […] Read more…
Lands In Pictures: Paradise Gardens Park
At first glance, Paradise Gardens Park might seem like a land without an identity. It’s the only land in California Adventure without any clear marker indicating its beginning or end, and its hosting of festivals means the décor and layout often change with the season. But when you take some time to really explore the […] Read more…
Phrases From Galaxy’s Edge: How To Speak Like A Batuu Native
 Source: Disney / LucasFilm Visiting Galaxy’s Edge is unlike any other part of Disneyland; when you arrive, you leave earth and head to the planet of Batuu. You won’t encounter cast members, just villagers trying to make a living. And you’ll hear them use some Batuuese phrases that sound a little strange the first time […] Read more…
Steps In Time
Source: Disneyland Gazette February 2001 – October 2001 LOCATION Hollywood Pictures Backlot – Steps In Time was the original show in the Hyperion Theater, at the end of Hollywood Blvd on the Backlot. Today, this space is part of Hollywood Land, and the theater houses Frozen Live at the Hyperion. BACKGROUND A Hollywood-themed land certainly […] Read more…
10 Tallest Disneyland Structures, Past And Present
When you think of Disneyland, you probably have a mental image of the castle standing tall at the end of Main Street. But Sleeping Beauty’s home isn’t even close to the tallest structure at the Disneyland Resort. In fact, at 77 feet, it doesn’t even make the top 10! Here are the 10 tallest Disneyland […] Read more…
Holiday Season 2019
Even though we just transitioned into the Halloween season at Disneyland, the holidays are just around the corner! If you’re planning a trip to the Happiest Place on Earth between November 8 and January 6, you’re in for a magical treat. Welcome to the Merriest Place on Earth…Disneyland’s holiday transformation. WINTER WHITES & BOUGHS OF […] Read more…
Sunglass Icon
 Source: Disneyland Resort January 2001 – present LOCATION Downtown Disney – Sunglass Icon faces the eastern end of Downtown Disney, closer to the parks than the hotels. To find the shop, head toward World of Disney, the massive Disney store in the district. Sunglass Icon is the last shop on the block before World of […] Read more…
Ask The Duchess – Vol. 46
Welcome to Ask The Duchess – Vol. 46, 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. Do Disneyland and California Adventure open and close at the same time? (submitted by Ed) Almost never, […] Read more…