Source: Static Flickr May 1956 – July 2003 LOCATION Frontierland – Fort Wilderness was the headline attraction on Tom Sawyer Island, located in the middle of the Rivers of America. To reach the island, guests boarded rafts on the Frontierland shoreline. Once on the island, the fort could be found on the western side of […] Read more…
Grizzly Peak is California Adventure’s quiet, scenic land, tucked between the hustle and bustle of the waterfront and Buena Vista Street. This forest oasis has its own nature trail (Redwood Creek), some misty rapids (Grizzly River Run), and plenty of shady places to sit and take in the scenery. But did you know that Grizzly Peak […] Read more…
New to the resort? Looking for a VIP experience? Want insider info about the happiest place on earth? If any of these apply to you, consider booking a tour during your trip to the Disneyland Resort. You’ve probably seen the VIP & Guided Tour guides out and about; they wear distinctive plaid uniforms and are […] Read more…
If you’re as much of a Disney nerd as I am, you may have encountered this dilemma when planning your Disneyland outfit: ears or a tiara? They’re both fan favorites in the parks, and I always have trouble deciding which to wear. (#Disneyproblems, right?) Instead of choosing, why not wear both? You can create your […] Read more…
Sleeping Beauty Castle is the most beautiful building in Disneyland; it’s stunning 22-karat gold detailing and stained glass windows are noticeable from the very end of Main Street USA. Most park guests are very familiar with the castle and its iconic shape, but did you know that the castle has a feature with its own […] Read more…
You’ve seen it a million times, even if you’re not a Disney fan. Sleeping Beauty Castle is one of the most recognizable buildings in the United States, if not the world. And this fairytale home is not so magical by mistake; it was carefully designed and constructed to transport guests into a fantasy world, completely […] Read more…
The beauty of New Orleans Square lies in the details; every railing, every garden, and every window is ornate and precisely decorated. Everything seems to fit together perfectly…except, perhaps, for one strange waterfront detail. If you walk along the lowest-tiered path in New Orleans Square, toward Critter Country, you’ll notice a small archway built into […] Read more…
I love Disney decor; my room is filled with classic movie posters, photos from my trips to the park, and my childhood figurines of my favorite characters. But Disney art can be a little pricey, so I prefer to create my own decor when I can. This is a tutorial for an easy way to add […] Read more…
Source: Farm 4 April 1990 – January 2012 LOCATION Main Street USA – The Blue Ribbon Bakery stood at the center intersection of Main Street, on the western side. Today, this space is the check-in area and indoor dining room of the Carnation Café. In 1997, the shop moved down the street, to Jolly Holiday‘s […] Read more…
If you’re the type to take notice of even the tiniest details in Disneyland, you may have seen a familiar name scattered throughout New Orleans Square: Lafitte. There’s Lafitte’s Tavern (on Tom Sawyer Island): Laffite’s Landing (a different spelling) in Pirates of the Caribbean: And, of course, Lafitte’s Anchor (on the waterfront): So who is […] Read more…
Welcome to Vol. 3 of Ask The Duchess, 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 have never seen any Disney movies, but my family is going on a trip to the park. Will I still […] Read more…
Happy 2016! This month, the Disneyland Resort was still recovering from holiday mayhem. There are a few decorations still scattered throughout the park, like the wreath on the castle: But the biggest January news from Disneyland is the official start of Star Wars Land construction. This highly anticipated land will debut in 2017, and until […] Read more…
If you ever took the time to explore A Bug’s Land, you may have noticed the amazing use of forced perspective in this area of the park. A Bug’s Land shrunk you to the size of an ant; so that the grass and clovers towered above you, and the cast of A Bug’s Life was suddenly your […] Read more…
LOCATION Adventureland – Tropical Imports sits right on the busiest part of the land’s main walkway, so with so much traffic, it can be easy to miss. When you head into Adventureland from Main Street USA, keep to the left of the path. Tropical Imports will be on the left side, just before the entrance […] Read more…