Note: As of 2024, this hotel is no longer in operation, and has been replaced by the Pixar Place Hotel. December 2000 – present LOCATION The Paradise Pier Hotel is tucked behind Downtown Disney, across Disneyland Drive from California Adventure. To find the hotel from the parks, walk through Downtown Disney, take a left and […] Read more…
Disneyland has played host to countless events, parties, celebrations, and grand ceremonies since the 50’s. But perhaps its weirdest event was a contest – a competition for decorated Volkswagen Beetles in celebration of The Love Bug. On March 23, 1969, 101 decorated Beetles drove down Main Street and were judged based on different themed categories. […] Read more…
Election years seem to just drag on and on, don’t they? I’m sure you’re as tired as I am of political ads and campaign news. But the 2020 cast of rambunctious candidates has nothing on the 1972 election. You probably know about the major party candidates, but did you know that one candidate campaigned at […] Read more…
Source: Apple Valley Blogs July 1955 – 1964 LOCATION Main Street USA – Yale & Towne’s little storefront was tucked on the southern side of Main Street, a few doors down from the Market House. Today, the Market House has absorbed this space, though it still displays a marquee reading “The Book Rest”. EXPERIENCE Details: […] Read more…
Some people fly in a plane, some take Amtrak, many drive…there are tons of ways to get to Disneyland. And from 1956 to the early 70s, a helicopter was one of your options for transportation to the resort. The Disneyland Heliport operated from various locations throughout its run, taking guests to and from LAX on […] Read more…
Source: Disney Examiner Spring 1977 – Spring 1998 LOCATION Tomorrowland – The Lunching Pad utilized the space directly beneath the PeopleMover‘s main platform, smack in the center of Tomorrowland. Visitors could see the platform from almost anywhere in the land, lined up perfectly at the end of the main walkway. Today, this space is multi-purpose; […] Read more…
Source: D23 January – May 1996 LOCATION Tomorrowland – The Toy Story Funhouse took over the space in Tomorrowland once used for Mission To Mars. The theater stood next to Space Mountain‘s entrance, on the southeast side of the land. Today, this space houses extra seating for Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port. BACKGROUND Any Pixar fan knows Toy […] Read more…
Source: D23 June 1975 – September 1976 LOCATION Main Street USA & Fantasyland – This parade followed the same route the park’s current parades take. It started at It’s A Small World, continued down by the Matterhorn, crossed onto Main Street’s central hub, and ended down the street in the town square. BACKGROUND 1976 was […] Read more…
Source: Matterhorn 1959 March 1964 – present LOCATION Main Street USA – Ruggles China & Glass Shop had the good fortune of being very close to the central hub, right in a spot where guests often stop to admire the castle. The shop’s location still houses a glassware store: the China Closet. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise […] Read more…
Source: Gorillas Don’t Blog 1957 – April 2009 LOCATION Fantasyland – Tinker Bell’s Toy Shoppe opened in Fantasyland just two years after Disneyland’s opening, in the central courtyard. To find the shop, visitors arriving through the castle archway would keep to the left of the carousel and teacups. The shop’s marquee was on the left, […] Read more…
UPDATE (2022): The tree at the entrance to the treehouse has been removed as part of its re-theming. So sadly, Jabba is now a retired hidden gem. With the opening of Galaxy’s Edge, Star Wars characters and shows have slowly been fading out of Tomorrowland. But not all the tributes to a galaxy far, far away […] Read more…
Source: Character Central March 1995 – June 2017 LOCATION Adventureland – The outpost faced the exit to the Indiana Jones Attraction, on the western side of Adventureland. To find the shop, visitors wandered over to the main attraction, then did an about face. The shop also stood next to the Bengal Barbecue, so it was […] Read more…
Source: Yesterland March 1991 – November 1991 LOCATION Fantasyland – Plane Crazy occupied Videopolis, later renamed the Fantasyland Theater. To find the theater, visitors flocked to the rear of Fantasyland, near It’s A Small World. The theater was on the left side of the open plaza, behind the hills of the Storybook Land Canal Boats. […] Read more…
Source: Disneyland Gazette February 2001 – October 2001 LOCATION Hollywood Pictures Backlot – Steps In Time was the original show in the Hyperion Theater, at the end of Hollywood Blvd on the Backlot. Today, this space is part of Hollywood Land, and the theater houses Frozen Live at the Hyperion. BACKGROUND A Hollywood-themed land certainly […] Read more…