In the early days of Disneyland, Frontierland stood out as the quiet, slow-paced frontier town between the bustling Fantasyland attractions and mysterious Adventureland jungle. The town included a saloon, shops, small restaurants, trails, and a Marshal’s Office. Source: Gorillas Don’t Blog For the first year of Disneyland’s operation, the Marshal’s Office stood in the center […] Read more…
Source: Disney Mamas July 1955 – September 1968 LOCATION Main Street USA – Visitors to Main Street USA spotted the Music Hall straight away, thanks to its coveted corner location on the right-hand side of the street. Today, this space houses the Disney Showcase. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – piano/organ showroom (not traditional retail space) Unique Features […] Read more…
February 2001 – May 2016 LOCATION Downtown Disney – The House of Blues expanded into the central courtyard of Downtown Disney, across from Tortilla Jo’s. Today, this space is home to Splitsville Luxury Lanes. EXPERIENCE Details: Service Type – table service Seating – indoor dining room, adjacent outdoor patio Entertainment – live music If you […] Read more…
Source: Insights and Sounds September 1972 – February 1973 LOCATION Bear Country – The Golden Bear Lodge overlooked the Rivers of America on the western side, across the waterway from Fort Wilderness. Today, this space is a similarly themed restaurant: the Hungry Bear. EXPERIENCE Details: Service Type – quick service Seating – adjacent two-story patio […] Read more…
February 2001 – January 2018 LOCATION Paradise Pier – Sideshow Shirts marked the last stop on the boardwalk for Paradise Pier shoppers. The massive storefront hid beneath the California Screamin’ track, close to the Mickey’s Fun Wheel entrance. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Tees, plus some ears and other seasonal accessories Unique Features – Giant Barker […] Read more…
With the news that we’re experiencing A Bug’s Land‘s last season, I’ve been pouring through my photo albums and admiring this special land. No other land at the resort uses such intricate forced perspective from top to bottom. Sure, the attractions don’t have the same draw as neighboring lands, but the appeal here comes from […] Read more…
December 2002 – January 2018 LOCATION Paradise Pier – Ariel’s Grotto stuck out, as it was the only restaurant to actually extend into Paradise Bay. To reach the entrance of the restaurant, visitors walked along the bridge to Paradise Pier, next to Pacific Wharf. The entryway was on the right of the bridge, before the […] Read more…
Disneyland’s landscape has changed dramatically since 1955, even excluding the addition of a new park and a Downtown Disney district. Walt’s original Magic Kingdom added three new lands after opening day, with a fourth currently under construction (Star Wars Land). Roller coasters sprouted up across the park. And in each land, Imagineers perfected decor from top to […] Read more…
Legend has it Walt Disney used to stroll around Disneyland in the mornings before park opening (a.k.a his morning constitutional). Those of us fortunate enough to visit Disneyland during a quiet morning know how peaceful and beautiful the park is in the early hours of the day. On the morning before Disneyland opened to the […] Read more…
Source: Mice Chat May 1983 – 2004 LOCATION Fantasyland – Both iterations of Geppetto’s shop were strategically located next to the exit to Pinocchio. If you walked through Fantasyland from the castle, you’d see the shop on your left, across from Casey Jr. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Toys, marionettes, dolls Unique Features – Periodic princess […] Read more…
Source: Disney Parks Blog July 1966 – August 1972 LOCATION New Orleans Square – The Creole Cafe overlooked the Rivers of America, on the main pathway of New Orleans Square. To find the restaurant, visitors needed only walk the route from Frontierland to the Haunted Mansion; the cafe sat on the left of the path. […] Read more…
Walt Disney’s lifelong obsession with trains became an integral part of Disneyland’s landscape. In the early years of park operation, Disneyland ran two separate train systems – the Disneyland Railroad and the Viewliner. But Walt’s interest in transportation technology extended beyond trains. Disneyland also boasted a riverboat, smaller boat cruises, canoes, cars, rockets, and an […] Read more…
Source: Trulia February 2001 – October 2008 LOCATION Paradise Pier – The Sun Wheel was pretty difficult to miss; the massive Ferris wheel overlooked Paradise Bay. The wheel still stands today, but is now Mickey’s Fun Wheel. BACKGROUND Every California beach boardwalk needs a Ferris wheel, and Paradise Pier was no exception. Imagineers designed a […] Read more…
Source: Blogspot December 1976 – Spring 1978, October 1983 – August 1992 LOCATION Main Street USA – The Town Square Café sat in the corner of the square, just before the street narrows (next to today’s Mad Hatter). Currently, this largely forgotten space serves as a character meet and greet area, and the interior kitchen […] Read more…