July 1955 – present LOCATION Fantasyland – if you enter through the castle, follow the path to the back garden, and take a right at Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride. You will see the Storybook Land Canal Boats just beyond the Mad Tea Party. BACKGROUND One of Walt Disney’s first ideas for his “magical little park” […] Read more…
March 2013 – present LOCATION Fantasyland – when standing on Main Street USA facing the castle, you will see the entrance to the Fantasy Faire on your left (between the castle and the entrance to Frontierland). BACKGROUND The princesses used to conduct meet and greets in the rear of Fantasyland, but the venue was largely […] Read more…
July 1955 – present LOCATION Fantasyland – When entering through the castle, you will see the King Arthur Carrousel straight in front of you. It is the central point of the main square in Fantasyland. BACKGROUND Walt Disney knew from the start that he wanted a carousel in Disneyland, and he wanted to build one […] Read more…
August 1955 – present LOCATION Fantasyland – Located directly behind the King Arthur Carrousel, you will reach Dumbo if you walk to the center of Fantasyland from any direction. BACKGROUND Dumbo the Flying Elephant was the first aerial carousel designed for the park. It was scheduled to debut on Opening Day in 1955, but the […] Read more…
April 1957 – present LOCATION Fantasyland – When you walk through the castle entrance, turn left immediately. You will see a small awning above a doorway, which is the start of the castle walkthrough. BACKGROUND When the castle was first constructed, Walt Disney was dissatisfied with the empty interior, deeming it a waste of valuable […] Read more…
July 1955 – present BACKGROUND Tomorrowland is the land that serves as a testament to innovation, growth, and hope for the future. Meant to resemble the “futuristic” world of 1986, Tomorrowland was one of the original lands that debuted on Opening Day in 1955. In keeping with its message of continuing development, Tomorrowland has changed […] Read more…
January 1993 – present BACKGROUND Mickey’s Toontown was the last of the main lands in Disneyland to open, debuting in 1993. This land was also the first designed specifically for the youngest of Disney fans, with no major attractions and a primary focus on characters and the charm of the town. Although it has expanded […] Read more…
July 1955 – present LOCATION Fantasyland – When entering Fantasyland through the castle, continue forward until you reach the King Arthur Carousel. Take a left just after the Carousel and you should see the entrance to the Casey Jr. Circus Train. BACKGROUND Casey Jr. was one of the first rides opened in the park after […] Read more…
July 1955 – present BACKGROUND Modeled after Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri, Main Street USA is park guests’ first glimpse of Disneyland. Imagineers wanted guests to be immediately taken away from their normal lives and into a completely different place and time, thus the old-timey feel of the land. Main Street USA is set […] Read more…
June 1959 – present LOCATION Fantasyland – When facing the castle from Main Street USA, follow the path on the right-hand side and you will see Matterhorn Mountain. BACKGROUND When the park first opened, the ground that had been hollowed out for the castle moat was piled to the right of the castle. This area […] Read more…
July 1955 – present LOCATION Fantasyland – When entering through the Castle, you will find it on the right, just after the archway leading to Tomorrowland. BACKGROUND At first, Walt Disney envisioned a ride in which guests flew through Neverland as if they were Peter. Confused guests didn’t understand why Peter wasn’t found anywhere in […] Read more…
May 1966 – present LOCATION Fantasyland – At the very back, right before the path to Toontown. If you take the path to the right of the castle, you will reach It’s A Small World after passing the Storybook Land Canal Boats. BACKGROUND It’s A Small World was originally conceived of as a celebratory exhibit […] Read more…
July 1955 – present BACKGROUND Without a doubt, Fantasyland is the most famous and heavily visited area in Disneyland. Walt Disney envisioned Fantasyland as a place for children to become part of the stories they loved, and was supposedly his favorite area in the park. Fantasyland is styled as a medieval Bavarian village, but stays […] Read more…
June 1958 – present LOCATION Fantasyland — Alice In Wonderland is nestled in between the Matterhorn Bobsleds, the Storybook Land Canal Boats, and the Mad Tea Party. If you are standing facing the front of the castle, take the path to Fantasyland on the right and you should see the ride on your left. BACKGROUND […] Read more…