Main Street USA‘s shops draw in thousands and thousands of visitors per day. Guests circle each display, to the point where many guests have merchandise locations memorized. But even the most frequent visitors sometimes miss the street’s hidden details. At first glance, the Penny Arcade seems more like a candy shop than an actual arcade. […] Read more…
If you’ve ever stopped to admire the beautiful buildings along Main Street USA, you may have noticed a few names on the second story windows. These are the legendary Windows on Main Street, an extremely rare and much coveted Disney honor. Disney legend Marty Sklar shared the qualifications for a window: Only upon retirement Only […] Read more…
July 1966 – present LOCATION New Orleans Square – Cristal d’Orleans sits on New Orleans Square’s Orleans Street, between the French Market Restaurant and Cafe Orleans. You’ll see the shop about halfway down the alleyway, just beyond Mlle. Antoinette’s Parfumerie. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Tiaras, jewelry, and glass figurines/decor Price Range – Most items over […] Read more…
Mickey’s Toontown may be a busy city center, but a few residents still manage to have beautiful yards. Goofy, in particular, has a small playground on the side of his house. En route to the playground, observant visitors will spot a raised bed poking out of the shade. You’ve stumbled into Goofy’s Garden! Goofy grows […] Read more…
I recently asked a friend of mine what he thought of when he pictured Adventureland, He said, “Just trees. Trees everywhere.” It’s true, Adventureland is drowning in greenery. But there’s so much more detail to this little land, mixed within the trees, and chatting with my friend really motivated me to find it. Don’t get […] Read more…
If you’ve ever strolled down Main Street USA, you’ve seen the overwhelming variety of shops, window displays, and signs covering each block. But there’s more to Main Street than just shopping! This street, modeled after Walt’s hometown of Marceline, MO, has the workings of a functioning town. You’ll see City Hall, the fire house…even a […] Read more…
July 1955 – present LOCATION Main Street USA – The Penny Arcade is hard to miss; it’s the largest open façade on the street. If you walk toward the castle, you’ll see it on the left side, just after Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – candy, pastries, souvenir tins Price Range – […] Read more…
I know I’ve said this before, but New Orleans Square is just the best. Every land in Disneyland pays meticulous attention to the little things, but there’s just so much to find in New Orleans Square. Every alleyway, shop, balcony, garden…EVERYTHING works together to transport you from Main Street to Bourbon Street. Here are just a […] Read more…
It’s no secret that New Orleans Square and Tom Sawyer Island have been captured by pirates. They lurk everywhere, leaving anchors and crypts in their wake. But what’s the most important thing pirates leave behind? Buried treasure! Over the years, two treasure chests have washed up on the Rivers of America shoreline. The first chest […] Read more…
Tons of different creatures call Critter Country’s forest home: Winnie the Pooh and his friends, the Br’er gang, families of ducks…and one mysterious little creature with his own private home. Welcome to Mr. Bluebird’s House! Have you ever seen this birdhouse? It’s outside the left entrance to Pooh Corner at the end of Critter Country’s […] Read more…
Have you ever noticed two cannons in Main Street USA’s square? These are the famous Town Square Cannons, on the street since 1955. These are real 19th century cannons, once in the possession of the French army. They were never fired in battle, and have now been sealed for permanent use as monuments. When designing […] Read more…
Main Street USA’s City Hall is a busy place. They can help you with basically any possible question you may have, or get you a special pin to celebrate all kinds of occasions. But as you leave City Hall, you may notice a small table to the left of the doorway. What’s remarkable about this […] Read more…
Tomorrowland is a tricky land to capture in photos. My pics tend to either be completely overwhelmed by crowds, or look too grey and industrial. But if you’re patient and a little creative, you can capture some really beautiful spots across the land. Tomorrowland is much more than Space Mountain, Star Tours, and the Astro […] Read more…
Tomorrowland has the most active skyline of any land in the park; around every corner you’ll see flying rockets, a mountain, towering tracks, and lots of geometric architecture. But you may notice one structure flying high above the rest: the Moonliner! This rocket is a 2/3 replica of the original Tomorrowland Moonliner, which stood at […] Read more…