March 2023 – present LOCATION Mickey’s Toontown – After crossing under the bridge and into Toontown, turn left and follow the walkway. You’ll see the GADGET Coaster on your left, just beyond Donald’s Duck Pond. BACKGROUND Since its opening day in 1993, Mickey Toontown had always had a “kiddie coaster”. The original, called Gadget’s Go […] Read more…
Disneyland
Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway
January 2023 – present LOCATION Mickey’s Toontown – The Runaway Railway faces downtown Toontown’s open plaza. When you enter the land, walk straight up the slight hill and toward Toontown City Hall. Look to the right, and you’ll see the Railway entrance; it’s a massive marquee and hard to miss. BACKGROUND The Runaway Railway was […] Read more…
The Original Trilogy Boxes
Hidden gems throughout Disneyland are nothing new. From the very first day of park operation to the latest reopenings post-refurbishment projects, park visitors are always finding new details hiding in plain sight. And in Galaxy’s Edge, there are tons to find. Let’s take a look at one of my favorites: the Original Trilogy Boxes. This one […] Read more…
Haunted Mansion Sundial
Stroll the Haunted Mansion grounds, and you’ll notice a little detail on the front lawn. This strange pedestal is the Haunted Mansion sundial, with a message engraved for visiting mortals. The sundial reads: GROW OLD ALONG WITH ME – THE BEST IS YET TO BE Source: Disneyland Today So, if you decide not to join […] Read more…
New Orleans Square’s Fire Marks
If you’ve ever wandered New Orleans Square, you might’ve noticed some strange plaques on some of the building walls. There are 5 in total, scattered throughout the land. These are fire marks. In the 1800s, buildings in New Orleans used these to signal which fire brigades would respond to a building during an emergency. While […] Read more…
Galaxy’s Edge Trash Code
Sometimes when I visit Disneyland, my friends and family are puzzled by the pictures I take. This post is a perfect example. I was trying to get some nice shots of…trash cans. What on earth could possibly be newsworthy about trash cans? Well, as it turns out…in Galaxy’s Edge, the trash cans each feature a […] Read more…
Behind the Building: The Golden Horseshoe
Every western town needs a saloon. It’s the gathering place for the community, and often the epicenter of local entertainment. So when Walt Disney started construction on his wild village within Disneyland, he knew the area needed its own special building. Meet the Golden Horseshoe. Walt turned to Harper Goff, a set designer who had […] Read more…
Queue Closeup: Space Mountain
My favorite roller coaster in Disneyland is Space Mountain, without a doubt. I love whirling around in the dark, feeling like you’re going faster and faster as the turns get tighter. But before boarding a rocket ship, Space Mountain riders go through a large and winding queue, with some interesting views along the way. Let’s […] Read more…
Windows of Enchantment
Main Street USA might just have the most hidden gems of any land at the resort. From the windows above your eye line to details at your feet, you’re completely engulfed by Imagineering magic with every step. One of my favorite little details can be found outside the Disneyland Emporium: The Windows of Enchantment. Sometimes […] Read more…
Magic Happens Parade
February 2020 – present LOCATION Fantasyland & Main Street USA – The parade starts in Fantasyland, at the plaza in front of It’s A Small World. From there, it winds down past the Mad Tea Party and the Matterhorn, along the right side of the castle, and down Main Street USA. The parade then ends […] Read more…
Queue Closeup: Haunted Mansion
Welcome, foolish mortals, to the Haunted Mansion. We’ve been invited by a ghost host to tour this mysterious estate in New Orleans Square. Shall we enter the gates? Our tour beings in the gardens. There’s a strange organization here; despite the mansion long being abandoned, the exterior and landscaping are in pristine condition. Apparently a […] Read more…
Queue Closeup: Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
Some queues in Disneyland are brutally boring; weaving back and forth in close proximity with absolutely nothing to look at. Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin is not one of them. Let’s take a walk through downtown Toontown. First, our tour takes us down the avenue. There are so many cute doorways with colorful front lights […] Read more…
Pelican’s Landing
Whenever I visit Disneyland, I try to squeeze in a little time by the Rivers of America waterfront. There aren’t a ton of seating areas right by the water, so you have to be a bit intentional about spending time here when you’re not racing to rides or watching Fantasmic!. But a few years ago, […] Read more…
Millennium Falcon Battle Scene
If you’ve ever visited Galaxy’s Edge, you know the land is filled with docked ships. Some are kept under close watch by Storm Troopers, while others are resistance ships hidden in the landscape. But did you know there’s one place where you can see ships suspended in the middle of battle? Let’s head over to […] Read more…