October 1955 – present LOCATION The Disneyland Hotel faces the end of Downtown Disney, on the opposite side from the park gates. Visitors can access the hotel grounds from Disneyland Drive, or by following Downtown Disney all the way to the western end (away from Harbor Boulevard). BACKGROUND When Disneyland first opened in July 1955, […] Read more…
June 2012 – present LOCATION Cars Land – Sarge’s Surplus Hut stands on the southern side of the main street in Cars Land. If you walk into the area from Pacific Wharf (the main entrance), you’ll find it on your right, just after Fillmore’s Taste-In. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Cars toys, clothing, hats, and other […] 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…
It’s amazing how quickly Disneyland memorabilia changes over time. How could we have known back in the day that 50s and 60s souvenirs would be so highly coveted? Originally, Disneyland didn’t have any official place preserving mementos of the past. But in 1995, on the park’s 40th anniversary, cast members buried a time capsule (called […] Read more…
For a long time, I breezed right through Frontierland on my way to Big Thunder Mountain. But over the years, places like Rancho del Zocalo and Tom Sawyer Island drew me in. The island, the riverfront, and the town square that make up Frontierland tell a story of the wild American west. And the magic of […] 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…
March 1985 – present LOCATION Main Street USA – Disney Clothiers Ltd. boasts a corner location right in the center of Main Street. If you’re walking down the street toward the castle, you’ll see Disney Clothiers Ltd. on your right, just after the street opens up for the center alleyways. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Tees, […] 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…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess Vol. 31, 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! 1. What time do the bars in Downtown Disney close? (submitted by Mikey) The bars close at 2 am most days, though some holidays may […] Read more…
Now that we’ve passed Memorial Day weekend, it really does feel like summertime. This month, Disneyland made huge progress on some construction projects, hosted after-hours parties, and launched a new mobile ordering system for quick service restaurants. Let’s take a look back at a busy month inside the Disneyland Resort. STAR WARS NITE To celebrate […] Read more…
Last year I started talking about Halloween season at Disneyland in the middle of July, which is already crazy. But this year, Disneyland upped the crazy and announced the Halloween lineup in the middle of May! So apologies for season hopping before the summer even really starts, but tickets for the Halloween Party go on […] Read more…
Adventureland has no shortage of stunning palm trees, towering above visitors. But one tree has a unique history, predating the rest of the park. Meet the Dominguez Tree, the tall palm to the right of the Jungle Cruise boathouse. Source: Disney Parks Blog This tree’s story begins in 1896, almost 60 years before Disneyland’s opening. […] 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…