One of the most common questions I get from readers is, “Can I bring my own water bottle into the park?” And the answer is YES! (so long as it’s not glass). Not only are guests welcome to avoid buying an overpriced plastic Dasani during their visit, they are invited to use a super handy […] Read more…
Tips & Trivia
Holiday Season 2024
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! I personally LOVE the holiday season, as much as I appreciate Disneyland’s halloween celebration. This year’s festivities start next week, running from November 15 through January 6. Source: Disneyland Resort THE BEST DECOR SPOTS Disneyland, California Adventure, and Downtown Disney all bring out the shiny decor for […] Read more…
Halloween Photo Album 2024
Hello, fellow happy haunts. We’re just two days away from Halloween, and this season at the Disneyland Resort was a ton of fun. Between Oogie Boogie Bashes, roaming villains, and spooky decorations across both parks, the whole resort fully embraced the celebration in 2024. Here’s a quick look back at Halloween across the resort…and then […] Read more…
Imagineer Influence: C. Randy Bright
All Imagineers bring a magic touch to the parks – from artists to engineers to architects. And some don’t neatly fall into one category. That’s the case for today’s spotlight, C. Randy Bright, a true renaissance man within Imagineering. Source: D23 Long Beach native Bright (born in 1938) started out on a very non-artistic track, […] Read more…
Behind the Building: El CapiTOON Theater
In Mickey’s Toontown, the place to catch a show (and maybe a ride on a runaway train…?) is none other than El CapiToon Theater. This building arrived in Toontown in 2023, and has become one of the most photographed and popular places in the land. Let’s take a closer look. El CapiTOON Theater’s name spoofs […] Read more…
Concept Art: Avengers Campus
You know the old adage, “underpromise, overdeliver”? Well, I unfortunately think Avengers Campus is a really good example of doing the exact opposite. I was looking through concept art for this pretty new land, and was amazed at some of the big differences between what we saw then and what we see now. It’s not […] Read more…
Summertime Photo Album 2024
Today is a special day for me…it’s my birthday! I know that technically summer has a few weeks to go, but growing up my birthday always signaled the start of the school year, so in my head it’s still the end of the season. Old habits are hard to shake! So to mark the “end” […] Read more…
Lightning Lane Explained
Fast pass. Genie+. Lightning Lane. Single pass. Multi pass. In the last few years, Disneyland’s “cut the line” system has changed a lot – both in name and in practice. The ever-changing system can be super confusing, especially if you’re not a frequent park visitor. So let’s take a moment to go through exactly what […] Read more…
Disneyland Updates from D23 2024
If you’ve been on any Disney-related social media at all this last weekend, you probably saw a lot of commentary on D23! D23 is a bi-annual convention held just down the road from Disneyland, where Disney shares all kinds of news on what’s coming – to the parks, to theaters, to cruise lines…basically the whole […] Read more…
Renie Bardeau’s Magical Disneyland Photography
Every day, hundreds if not thousands of photographers walk through the gates of Disneyland with cameras in hand, snapping every conceivable angle of the happiest place on earth. Sometimes, they’re amateurs like myself capturing memories. And other times, they are incredibly talented professionals capturing official photos on behalf of Disney. One of those professional photographers […] Read more…
Concept Art: Tomorrowland
In the early years of Disneyland, Tomorrowland was probably the most malleable land. What I mean by that is it was clearly (and by Walt’s own admission) not done when it opened. A lot of the attractions were intentionally temporary due to both financial constraints and time constraints for park opening, and everyone knew that […] Read more…
Halloween Season 2024
Summer is never long enough for me, but as we all know, Disneyland is always jumping at the chance to look ahead to Halloween. This year’s season celebration will run from August 23 to October 31 – finally copying Walt Disney World’s trend of extending the season into August. Source: Disney Parks Blog SPIRITED ATTRACTIONS […] Read more…
Good Neighbor Hotels
Unlike Walt Disney World in Orlando, the Disneyland Resort does not have a vast collection of hotels to choose from on property. There are three hotels: the Grand Californian, the Disneyland Hotel, and Pixar Place Hotel, and all three are quite expensive. If you don’t want to spend that much on a hotel during your […] Read more…
Behind the Building: Carthay Circle Theater
When you walk down Main Street, there’s a magical pink castle waiting for you at the end, signifying your entrance into another world. And in California Adventure, Buena Vista Street‘s answer to an iconic castle is the Carthay Circle Theater. Let’s take a closer look at the street’s crown jewel and its real life inspiration. […] Read more…