New Orleans might be one of the most famous waterfront cities in the world. When Disneyland built a square paying tribute to the city in the 1960s, Imagineers had an impossible challenge. How do you build a waterfront city in firmly landlocked Anaheim? Well, one tiny visual trick came to the rescue: the Port of […] Read more…
January 2001 – January 2023 LOCATION Downtown Disney – The Jazz Kitchen Express hugged the side of the larger Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen. You’d see the giant building across from Tortilla Jo’s and Splitsville, between the circular courtyard and the LEGO Store. EXPERIENCE Details: Service Type – quick service Seating – adjacent patio Reservations – […] Read more…
If you’re an observant Disneyland visitor, you may notice some slightly unusual creatures roaming Disneyland…and I don’t mean Wookies or Green Army Men. In addition to the princesses, villains, pirates, and other characters, a family of cats also call Disneyland home. Source: Pinterest No one knows exactly when the first cats arrived in Disneyland, but […] Read more…
April 2015 – present LOCATION New Orleans Square – La Mascarade d’Orleans stands at the end of Orleans street, overlooking the train station. If you’re coming into New Orleans Square from the waterfront side, head down the alleyway between Café Orleans and the French Market. You’ll see La Mascarade on your right, just before the […] Read more…
California Adventure’s Hollywood Land transports guests into the height of old Hollywood. The land looks so much like a glamorous movie set it should be in black and white. This beautiful little street and backlot celebrate the magic of the movies, and inspires guests to dream up a dream of their own. Here are a […] Read more…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess Vol. 32, 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. Where can I get a caricature done? (submitted by Angelina) In Disneyland, try New Orleans Square. And the spot in California Adventure used to […] Read more…
Happy end of June Disneylanders! If you’ve been keeping up with Disney news at all this month, you know June marked quite a few major events for the Happiest Place on Earth. Anniversaries, AP policy changes, the arrival of new characters…and the grand opening of a brand new land. Let’s dive right in! NEW PIRATE […] Read more…
Heading to the Disneyland Resort this July? You’re in for a savory treat. This week, Disney Parks Blog hinted at an upcoming event (?) from July 6-8 in both Disneyland and California Adventure: the Fried Chicken Celebration. In this slightly unusual event announcement, Disney didn’t highlight any unique offerings. Instead, they invited guests to check […] Read more…
Source: Disney Mamas July 1955 – September 1968 LOCATION Main Street USA – Visitors to Main Street USA spotted the Music Hall straight away, thanks to its coveted corner location on the right-hand side of the street. Today, this space houses the Disney Showcase. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – piano/organ showroom (not traditional retail space) Unique Features […] Read more…
Half the fun of visiting the Disneyland Resort is shopping. You never know what souvenirs you might find, and the items you end up bringing home have a memory attached to them! But with so many shops and carts (more than 50 in Disneyland alone), souvenir shopping can feel a little bit overwhelming. Here are […] Read more…
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…