Disneyland’s Opera House is most closely associated with animatronic President Lincoln. But deep inside its curtained, Mr. Lincoln is not the only representation of the American spirit. These statues might look familiar to EPCOT fans. They’re tiny versions of the Spirits of America, which appear at the end of the American Adventure show. These figures represent traits at […] Read more…
March 1967 – present LOCATION New Orleans Square – Pieces of Eight can be found next to the exit of Pirates of the Caribbean. To find the gift shop, head down Royal Street (the first alley way in New Orleans Square), and keep to the left. You’ll see Pieces of Eight on the left, just […] Read more…
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I just eat all day long at Disneyland. With churro and popcorn stands on every corner, I just can’t help but stop and grab snacks as I walk around. Most people don’t think twice about these snack stands, but they too share in each land’s theming. Which […] Read more…
March 1967 – present LOCATION New Orleans Square – The Blue Bayou is truly a restaurant hidden in plain sight; it’s inside Pirates of the Caribbean! To find the entrance to the restaurant, head down Royal Street (the street to the right of the Pirates entrance). You’ll see an ornate waiting room and a check-in […] Read more…
With Star Wars Land construction changing much of the park’s landscape, Disneyland’s Railroad will be closed until the new land’s debut. But this closure isn’t all bad; guests now have a unique opportunity to get up close and personal with the train! Let’s go behind the scenes at the Disneyland Railroad. Stop by the New […] Read more…
UPDATE: as of November 2023, the Treehouse is now the Adventureland Treehouse, and this hidden gem is no longer part of the campsite. The post below is from the Treehouse’s former variation as the Tarzan’s Treehouse! Disneyland tends to keep storytelling elements distinctly separated by land. You’d be hard pressed to find any cowboys outside […] Read more…
Happy Halloween! Monday is the big day for costumes, candy, and spooky fun, but the Disneyland Resort has been celebrating Halloween all month long. In fact, each fall Frontierland hosts a seasonal hidden gem: the Halloween Tree! The tree, which lights up the courtyard next to the Golden Horseshoe, draws inspiration from a 1972 novel by […] Read more…
The Market House on Main Street USA is Disneyland’s largest coffee shop. Thousands of guests stream by every day, some stopping in for hot drinks, pastries, and sandwiches. But most park visitors have no idea that within the Market House lies an amazing artifact: a real turn-of-the-century Potbelly Stove. This Potbelly Stove came from Baltimore, […] Read more…
When guests walk into Disneyland, the very first thing they see is the Main Street USA railroad station, typically with a train parked out front. Many park visitors don’t realize that Disneyland actually runs multiple trains, and one train tows a hidden gem at the rear. Train #1, the C.K. Holiday, dates all the way […] Read more…
July 1955 – present LOCATION Main Street USA – The two largest Disneyland bands, the Disneyland Band and the All-American College Band, play primarily on Main Street. But they do also play in other lands, and smaller bands perform in other lands. As you roam the park throughout the day, you’re bound to run into […] Read more…
June 1956 – present LOCATION Main Street USA – The fireworks are designed for the view from Main Street USA, but they don’t technically belong to any particular land. The show lights up the night sky at roughly 9:30 pm every evening, and virtually every land in the park offers at least partial views of […] Read more…
Mickey’s Toontown may be one of the smaller lands in Disneyland, but that doesn’t mean it has any less magic. Every time you turn the corner in Toontown, you’re bound to discover some kind of secret or hidden gag. Some of the most popular gags require a little effort, like pushing a button or pulling […] Read more…
If you’ve ever been to Disneyland, you’ve almost certainly walked along the Rivers of America. You’ve seen the Mark Twain Riverboat and the Sailing Ship Columbia, and you’ve walked by the dock next to Frontierland. But did you notice that on the other side of the river, there’s another dock? This dock is part of […] Read more…
Disneyland is known for its exciting coasters and nostalgic rides, but behind the headliners there’s so much more to discover. In fact, Disneyland holds so many hidden treasures, its almost like a museum in and of itself. Some of these treasures include a series of Orchestrions, early 20th century instruments meant to mimic the sound […] Read more…