Ask The Duchess – Vol. 50

Welcome to Ask The Duchess – Vol. 50, 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 any areas in Disneyland or California Adventure close before the park officially closes? (submitted by Aimee)

Yes, some officially and some unofficially. Here’s the official list (these areas close at dusk, since they’re difficult, if not dangerous, to navigate in the dark):

• • Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes
  • Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
  • Tarzan’s Treehouse
  • Tom Sawyer Island

Unofficially, you’ll find that a lot of shops and restaurants will gradually close down, starting about a half hour before park close. This doesn’t happen in the busy areas like Main Street or Cars Land, but you’ll notice it in the outer lands like Critter Country or Grizzly Peak, that aren’t as busy at the end of the day.

2. Where is the stroller valet/check for the larger shows like fireworks and Fantasmic? (submitted by Karen)

There is no stroller valet/check anywhere in the parks or Downtown Disney. You will need to either park your stroller in designated parking areas or keep it with you.

3. Can I return a purchase made at Disneyland to my local Disney store? (submitted by Nico)

Unfortunately no, Disney stores don’t offer this service. You will either need to bring it back to the park, or if you’re not local, contact Merchandise Services at 877-560-6477 to determine your options.

4. Disneyland was really crowded during my visit this Christmas so I would like a partial refund. It is not right for me to pay full price when I couldn’t ride everything without waiting in these lines. What number do I call to receive this refund? (submitted by Mary)

It’s always a bummer when you’re stuck in holiday crowds, but Disneyland does not offer partial refunds because the park was crowded. Tickets are non-refundable, no matter what time of year. If you plan a future trip, I highly recommend you try a different time of year – especially one without a major holiday break from schools/work for many people.

5. Who is Clarabelle and why was she doing photo ops at the Festival of the Holidays? (submitted by Angie)

Clarabelle Cow is one of Minnie’s best friends, and unfortunately goes largely under-appreciated at the Disney parks. She’s been around since Steamboat Willie! Clarabelle’s Frozen Yogurt and Clarabelle’s Hand Scooped Ice Cream at the Disneyland Resort are both named after her.