As you wander downtown Toontown, it’s not hard to get lost in the chaos and not really take in every detail of your surroundings. But if you look up at the rolling hills behind Minnie’s House, you’ll notice a very special hidden gem. This is Walt’s Carolwood Barn. Originally standing in Walt’s back yard (on […] Read more…
Every day, hundreds if not thousands of photographers walk through the gates of Disneyland with cameras in hand, snapping every conceivable angle of the happiest place on earth. Sometimes, they’re amateurs like myself capturing memories. And other times, they are incredibly talented professionals capturing official photos on behalf of Disney. One of those professional photographers […] Read more…
June 2012 – present Note: I think this location officially got its name and started serving drinks when California Adventure 2.0 opened, based on historic park maps I’ve seen. However, if you know of a different date – please let me know so I share the most accurate information possible here! LOCATION Hollywood Land – […] Read more…
Radiator Springs Curios is an eclectic little shop in Cars Land. But if you look beyond the assortment of goods for sale, you’ll spot a hidden gem that celebrates a very famous American road. On the eastern wall (behind the cash register), you’ll see a map. This is a stylized version of Route 66, one […] Read more…
August 2023 – present LOCATION San Fransokyo Square – Rita’s Turbine Blenders sits right at the heart of the square. If you enter from any direction, just head to the big orange hexagon; it’s hard to miss. EXPERIENCE Details: Service Type – quick service Seating – shared outdoor patio Reservations – no Entertainment – none […] Read more…
In the early years of Disneyland, Tomorrowland was probably the most malleable land. What I mean by that is it was clearly (and by Walt’s own admission) not done when it opened. A lot of the attractions were intentionally temporary due to both financial constraints and time constraints for park opening, and everyone knew that […] Read more…
New Orleans Square celebrates the best of The Big Easy, from the food to the architecture to the sounds of jazz rolling down the street. But in a little corner shop, there’s a hidden gem that also pays tribute to local artists and generations of storytellers within the city. To find this hidden gem, head […] Read more…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess – Vol. 88, 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. Are you going to expand your posts to guides for the other parks like Epcot or […] Read more…
I can’t believe it’s already July. Summer is flying by and I’m trying my best to savor it before the fall and Halloween and then the holidays come crashing in. June was decently quiet at the Disneyland Resort, with some new offerings, some reduced offerings, and unfortunately – a devastating behind-the-scenes incident. Let’s take a […] Read more…