If you asked me what land in California Adventure deserves more attention, I’d definitely pick Buena Vista Street. This stylish, glamorous little town square has so much to offer, yet most visitors breeze right through without a second thought! Buena Vista Street has a cute little corner market, a massive candy store, and shopping that rivals Main […] Read more…
The Astro Orbitor has been a fan favorite in Tomorrowland since the park opened. But like the rest of Disneyland, the Orbitor regularly updates and occasionally overhauls to stay updated and exciting. Did you know that the rockets currently on the Orbitor are not original? That may not seem surprising. But I bet you didn’t […] Read more…
 Source: Lost World February 2001 – September 2010 LOCATION Golden State – Bountiful Valley Farm was a sprawling walkthrough on the eastern side of California Adventure. Guests could find it adjacent to the Pacific Wharf walkway, just after Sunshine Plaza. Today, this space is partially used by A Bug’s Land, and partially used by Cars Land. […] Read more…
May 2011 – present LOCATION Paradise Gardens Park – The Embarcadero marks the border between two lands: Grizzly Peak and Paradise Pier. If you’re passing from Grizzly Peak to the bay, follow the path to the right of Grizzly River Run and keep to the left. If you’re coming from Buena Vista Street or Pacific Wharf, you’ll see […] Read more…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess Vol. 17, 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. Does Disneyland have a Hall of Presidents? (submitted by Marie) No, sadly it doesn’t. But it does have a show called Great Moments With […] Read more…
It’s finally springtime at the Disneyland Resort, which means one thing: color! Walk through the park and you’ll see Main Street’s flowers in full bloom, refurbishment scaffolding coming down, and new seasonal treats popping up in shop windows. I saw this amazing photo on Twitter, snapped by Jesse Rhian.  Source Let’s recap what happened this […] Read more…
We Disney fans know the importance of a countdown…it builds excitement for the trip! And you can build your own little countdown, even if you don’t have wall space to hang up a countdown. This easy DIY will get you pumped for your trip, and makes for a nice little decoration too. What you’ll need: […] Read more…
 Source 1966 – 1988 LOCATION New Orleans Square – Laffite had a coveted corner shop across from the exit to Pirates of the Caribbean. Today, the plaza in front of the shop is home to a caricature artist, and the interior of the shop is actually a dining room for nearby Cafe Orleans. EXPERIENCE Details: […] Read more…
I used to largely ignore Frontierland; I’ve always loved Big Thunder Mountain, but otherwise, this land was pretty much a pass-through for me. But I have to admit that over the last few years, I’ve become a much bigger fan of the wildest land in the wilderness. This land has so many little rustic details, […] Read more…
Any Disneyland fan knows Main Street USA takes you back in time, to an old school American town. But did you know that it’s based on a real place? Â Source: Farm 8 Walt Disney was raised in a small town called Marceline, Missouri. When he grew up and created his magical park, he drew inspiration […] Read more…
March 2013 – present LOCATION Fantasyland – Fairytale Treasures is part of Fantasyland’s little side hub, known as the Fantasy Faire. You’ll see a small bridge leading to the Faire on the left side of the castle. The Fairytale Treasures Shop stands on the left side of the Faire, next to the open theater. EXPERIENCE […] Read more…
I’ve just recently entered the world of pin collecting. It’s an old Disney tradition, and most collectors also participate in a second hobby: trading! Pin traders visit Disneyland with a lanyard full of treasure, and leave with brand new bling. You don’t have to trade if you collect pins (I don’t), but if you want […] Read more…
 Source: Daveland Web July 1955 – July 1957 LOCATION Main Street USA – Bluebird Shoes couldn’t have asked for a better spot on Main Street. The tiny shop overlooked the castle on the eastern side of the street, next to the Kodak shop. Today, this space is part of two different shops: the Silhouette Studio […] Read more…
The jungles of Adventureland are full of mysterious temples, wild animals, and of course, mysterious treasures. Even the gift shop and rest areas have strange mysteries to uncover, and some are friendlier than others. Wander into the Bazaar and you may just bump into a mysterious figure…Shrunken Ned. This strange, floating head claims to be […] Read more…