Snow White’s Grotto

With all of the hustle and bustle in Disneyland, it’s hard to find a quieter place to relax and take in the sights. Main Street USA is the busiest land of them all, with a constant stream of visitors and tons of activities at all hours of the day. But did you know that one of the most peaceful spots in the park is tucked away right next to the madness of Main Street?

Next time you’re standing in front of the castle, follow the water on the right. Before the pathway to the Matterhorn, you’ll see a small walkway and a bridge. Across the bridge is Fantasyland’s serene hidden gem: Snow White’s Grotto!

The Grotto is one of the most popular proposal spots in the park, and for good reason: it’s private, and has a large waterfall and pond behind it. Snow White herself conducts meet and greets here on occasion, and visiting guests can drop a penny into the wishing well and hear the first Disney princess sing.

The main feature of the Grotto is the waterfall, adorned with statues of the seven dwarves and Snow White. Imagineers obviously wanted Snow White to be larger than the dwarves, but they found themselves with statues all the same size. To create the illusion that Snow White stands taller than the dwarves, they placed her at the very top of the waterfall, and the dwarves sit closer to the bottom. This forced perspective trick makes Snow White look taller than the dwarves, and closer to their original proportions.

Snow White’s Grotto is the largest hidden gem in Disneyland, but guests don’t really seem to notice this tucked away spot. On your next trip to the park, take a minute to explore the Grotto, drop a coin in the wishing well, and take some photos; the Grotto has great scenery, not to mention a very unique view of the castle.