♫ This is Halloween! ♫ Yes, that song has been stuck in my head all day. Although since Disneyland starts Halloween celebrations in September, it kind of feels like it’s already over! This year the parks brought their A game with decor, and I found tons of new details that I had never seen before. […] Read more…
Everyone knows the place to find Jack O Lanterns at Disneyland is Main Street during Halloween; they line the windows of shops, adorn balconies, and sometimes sit on restaurant tabletops. But one special pumpkin hides in Disneyland all year long, in a place you probably wouldn’t expect. Swing by Goofy’s Playhouse during any season, and […] 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…
April 2019 – present LOCATION Pixar Pier – Jessie’s Critter Carousel overlooks the central section of Pixar Pier. To find the attraction, walk over the bridge and follow the path as it curves down to the lower boardwalk. You’ll see the carousel on your left, just after the Incredicoaster. If you’re coming from the other […] Read more…
 Source: Character Central March 1995 – June 2017 LOCATION Adventureland – The outpost faced the exit to the Indiana Jones Attraction, on the western side of Adventureland. To find the shop, visitors wandered over to the main attraction, then did an about face. The shop also stood next to the Bengal Barbecue, so it was […] Read more…
California Adventure draws a lot of attention at night. With neon lights, massive thrill rides, and the always stunning World of Color, crowds flock to the bright excitement of the park. But other lands don’t have that same energy in the evening, and for me, that’s a good thing. If I want to just roam […] Read more…
No expense adds up as quickly as food at Disneyland. When you can smell the popcorn, churros, and pastries all day long, it’s so easy to just keep grabbing little things and watch your cash dwindle from your pockets. There’s no way to totally escape the cost of dining at Disneyland, but there are some […] Read more…
If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw that I recently attended California Adventure’s new version of the Halloween party: Oogie Boogie Bash! Oogie Boogie is throwing quite the party, with special entertainment, event-exclusive merchandise, trick-or-treating, and all the Halloween food & drinks you can possibly eat in one night. Cars Land, Grizzly Peak, […] Read more…
December 2018 – present LOCATION Adventureland – The Tropical Hideaway is nestled in a cozy corner along the rivers of the Jungle Cruise. To find this spot from Main Street, follow Adventureland’s main path as it curves left. You’ll see the entry bridge on your left, next to the Tiki Room exit. If you’re coming […] Read more…
Sleeping Beauty Castle’s magic comes from its details: the real gold plating along its turrets, the stained-glass windows, and the colorful stone. Walk across the drawbridge and you’ll see one of those details up close, just above the archway. This fixture wasn’t original to the castle; it was added in 1965. Many sources, including Wikipedia, […] Read more…
Anyone who’s ever had a blog will tell you: you need a LOT of photos. As a result, I’ve easily taken thousands of photos of the happiest place on earth. After a while, you realize you’ve been snapping the same angles over and over again. It’s easy to fall into familiar patterns. So on my […] Read more…
The Disneyland Resort’s Halloween season is in full swing, with the sold out Oogie Boogie Bash drawing visitors dressed in their best costumes. But many visitors are already looking ahead to the resort’s next big party: the Festival of the Holidays!  Source: Disneyland Resort From November 8 to January 6, Paradise Gardens Park will once […] Read more…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess – Vol. 47, 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 do I purchase an annual pass? Can I buy it online? (submitted by Errol) Yes, […] Read more…
October is here…and so is Halloween madness at the Disneyland Resort. Last month ushered in the start of the spooky season at the happiest place on earth, and both parks now glow with some magical orange accents. Let’s take a look back at September at Disneyland. HALLOWEENTIME BEGINS September 6 marked the official start of […] Read more…