May 2019 – present BACKGROUND The Star Wars universe has long been part of the Disneyland Resort – ever since Star Tours opened in Tomorrowland in the 80s. But with the newest trilogy joining the saga in 2015, Star Wars suddenly gained a new generation of fans, and Disney had the perfect opportunity to expand its presence […] Read more…
Pixar Pier has been anchoring the southern side of California Adventure for about a year and a half now, but it still feels new and a little unfamiliar. I still find myself exploring the boardwalk, finding new details and appreciating the brighter color scheme. Paradise Pier was a softer color scheme, playing second fiddle to […] Read more…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess – Vol. 48, a monthly Q&A post covering a variety of resort-related topics. Ask The Duchess answers questions submitted by readers. If you have a question you’d like answered, send me a message here. I am so jealous of all the Oogie Boogie Bash pictures and have sworn to go […] Read more…
Two months to go in 2019, and the Disneyland Resort will spend the rest of the year in full holiday glamour. Over the next few days, the trees will be trimmed, garlands hung, and of course, Elsa will touch up the snow on the castle. But before we turn our full attention to the holidays, […] Read more…
♫ This is Halloween! ♫ Yes, that song has been stuck in my head all day. Although since Disneyland starts Halloween celebrations in September, it kind of feels like it’s already over! This year the parks brought their A game with decor, and I found tons of new details that I had never seen before. […] Read more…
Everyone knows the place to find Jack O Lanterns at Disneyland is Main Street during Halloween; they line the windows of shops, adorn balconies, and sometimes sit on restaurant tabletops. But one special pumpkin hides in Disneyland all year long, in a place you probably wouldn’t expect. Swing by Goofy’s Playhouse during any season, and […] Read more…
If you’ve ever browsed any online Disney forums, you’re bound to have encountered a mysterious rumored park: the Dark Kingdom. This park, almost always proposed as a 5th Disney World gate (and once in a blue moon, a 3rd Disneyland or Disneyland Paris gate), would be an villain-centric park. I’ve seen threads related to the […] Read more…
April 2019 – present LOCATION Pixar Pier – Jessie’s Critter Carousel overlooks the central section of Pixar Pier. To find the attraction, walk over the bridge and follow the path as it curves down to the lower boardwalk. You’ll see the carousel on your left, just after the Incredicoaster. If you’re coming from the other […] 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…
California Adventure draws a lot of attention at night. With neon lights, massive thrill rides, and the always stunning World of Color, crowds flock to the bright excitement of the park. But other lands don’t have that same energy in the evening, and for me, that’s a good thing. If I want to just roam […] Read more…
No expense adds up as quickly as food at Disneyland. When you can smell the popcorn, churros, and pastries all day long, it’s so easy to just keep grabbing little things and watch your cash dwindle from your pockets. There’s no way to totally escape the cost of dining at Disneyland, but there are some […] Read more…
If you follow me on Twitter, you probably saw that I recently attended California Adventure’s new version of the Halloween party: Oogie Boogie Bash! Oogie Boogie is throwing quite the party, with special entertainment, event-exclusive merchandise, trick-or-treating, and all the Halloween food & drinks you can possibly eat in one night. Cars Land, Grizzly Peak, […] Read more…
December 2018 – present LOCATION Adventureland – The Tropical Hideaway is nestled in a cozy corner along the rivers of the Jungle Cruise. To find this spot from Main Street, follow Adventureland’s main path as it curves left. You’ll see the entry bridge on your left, next to the Tiki Room exit. If you’re coming […] Read more…
Sleeping Beauty Castle’s magic comes from its details: the real gold plating along its turrets, the stained-glass windows, and the colorful stone. Walk across the drawbridge and you’ll see one of those details up close, just above the archway. This fixture wasn’t original to the castle; it was added in 1965. Many sources, including Wikipedia, […] Read more…