When the sun goes down in California Adventure, Cars Land shows its full personality. The buildings shine in neon lights, the mountains glow in brilliant red, and the street buzzes with newfound energy. Every night, Cars Land transforms from a sleepy little town into a bustling neighborhood block party. I love to walk down the […] Read more…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess – Vol. 45, 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 are the rules about bringing a little weed into Disneyland? It’s legal in CA. (submitted […] Read more…
July was an incredibly weird month at the Disneyland Resort: earthquakes, violence, delays and closures…oh, and then a birthday party. It was a strange mix of nightmares and celebration all rolled into one. Let’s take a look back at this month at Disneyland. SHAKE, RATTLE, AND ROLL In July, southern California experienced two major earthquakes, […] Read more…
January 1976 – present LOCATION Main Street USA – The Disneyana shop is hard to miss; it’s the closest retail space to the park gates. To find this shop, keep to the right as you enter the park. You’ll see the shop on your right, just before the Disney Gallery. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – Art, […] Read more…
A few months ago, I wrote about Disneyland’s rooftop tricks and how buildings manipulate perception across the park. One of these buildings, what I call the “3 Land Building”, is one of the best examples of simple details transforming guests’ sense of space. Let’s take a closer look at just how Disneyland can create a […] Read more…
Something unusual happens when the sun goes down in California Adventure. Crowds seem to float toward the neon glow in Cars Land and Pixar Pier, and the other lands start to get a little quiet. No land experiences this quite like Pacific Wharf. That’s not to say the land empties; rather, its walkways are dark […] Read more…
Source: Daveland Blog 1956 –1957 LOCATION Main Street USA – Cole of California Swimsuits had a somewhat hidden location, around the bend from the busy Refreshment Corner. To find the shop, guests would walk the entire length of Main Street, turning left at the end. The swimwear shop faced the central hub, next to the […] Read more…
Sometimes, not everyone in your party can ride the same rides. Maybe you’ve got little ones that don’t meet the height requirements, or maybe you’ve got some family members that hate roller coasters. In either case, that doesn’t mean eager riders have to miss out! Disneyland offers a system called Rider Switch, which enables guests […] Read more…
It may be the middle of the summer for most of us, but in Disneyland, all eyes are already on the fall. Yep, Halloween Season 2019 is just around the corner. Here’s what to expect during this year’s Halloween celebration, which officially runs from September 6 – October 31. OOGIE BOOGIE BASH Source: Disneyland Resort […] Read more…
Source: MouseInfo Summer 1997 – May 2011 LOCATION New Orleans Square – The Jewel of Orleans boasted a coveted spot at the front of Royal Street. To find the shop, visitors would walk beyond the Pirates of the Caribbean entrance, keeping left as the square opens into several alleys. Today, this space is home to […] Read more…
When Walt and his Imagineers designed Disneyland, they included tons of little nods to Walt’s interests, loved ones, and life. Imagineers continued these tributes without Walt during the design of California Adventure, so both parks at the Disneyland Resort celebrate the things Walt loved most. Take Buena Vista Street for example. This street is supposed […] Read more…
Source: Laughing Place March 1991 – November 1991 LOCATION Fantasyland – The Disney Afternoon Avenue took over the walkway between the Storybook Land Canal Boats and It’s A Small World, including the lagoon on the east side and the theater on the west side. Today, this path does not have a separate theme from the […] Read more…
Sometime between 2001 and 2005 – present LOCATION Downtown Disney – As you walk through Downtown Disney, you’ll spot Jamba Juice on the eastern side of the district, across the pathway from Naples. Head toward the parks-side of the strip, and you’ll see Jamba Juice between Sephora and PANDORA. EXPERIENCE Details: Service Type – quick […] Read more…
Pixar Pier has only been in California Adventure for about a year, so for most park visitors, there’s still so much detail to discover. Each “neighborhood” in this land has its own little personality, and with each comes slightly different stylized architecture, decorations, and little gems to find. Visitors to the boardwalk shrink to the […] Read more…