September 1986 – April 1997, February 2010 – June 2014 LOCATION Tomorrowland – Captain EO entertained guests from Tomorrowland’s Magic Eye Theater. The theater, located between Space Mountain and the Star Trader gift shop, has been used for tons of different previews and movie clips over the years. Today, it currently houses a Star Wars […] Read more…
June 2012 – present LOCATION Downtown Disney – Wonderground Gallery sits on the western side of Downtown Disney’s large circle courtyard. The Gallery sits between Build-A-Bear Workshop and Tortilla Jo’s. EXPERIENCE Details: Merchandise – unique art prints, paintings, and collectible souvenirs Price Range – smaller collectibles under $20, with some paintings as much as $500+ […] Read more…
Take a stroll through Buena Vista Street and you’ll quickly be overwhelmed by passing trolley cars, busy candy shops, and Mickey and his friends exploring the street in their dressiest attire. But if you stop to take in the details, you might just find a living piece of park history: the Old Oak Tree! When […] Read more…
I always try to mix a little Disney magic into my day, but last Friday was a whole different level! I went to Mickey’s Halloween Party for the third time, and this one was the best one yet. Mickey’s Halloween Party is an after-hours event than runs through September and October (full details here). Virtually […] Read more…
 Source: Disney Pal February 2001 – July 2011 LOCATION Sunshine Plaza – Bakers Field Bakery occupied one of the main cars in the California Zephyr. Guests walking into the main plaza found the Bakery on the right, next to Bur-r-r Bank Ice Cream. Today, this space is part of the Fiddler, Fifer, & Practical Café. EXPERIENCE […] Read more…
Disneyland and California Adventure both offer all kinds of thrills, drops, and drama. Each attraction has a completely unique look and feel, so you get swept up in the magic every single time. But have you ever wondered how fast you’re actually going on those coasters? You might be surprised by which coasters fly at […] Read more…
There’s one unavoidable activity at the center of every Disneyland trip: waiting in line. But some lines are easier to manage than others. Some lines move quickly, so you at least feel like you’re making progress, while others force you to stand in the same spot for what feels like forever. Here’s my list of […] Read more…
 Source: Disney By Mark November 1955 – September 1956 LOCATION Fantasyland & Holidayland – The Mickey Mouse Club Circus combined a parade with a traditional tent circus show. The festivities began on Main Street, with grand marshals leading the parade around the hub, while the main event took place at the end of the parade […] Read more…
Have you ever strolled through New Orleans Square and noticed a mysterious staircase? These are the stairs leading to the most exclusive place in all of the Disneyland Resort: the Dream Suite. Â Source: California Travel Expert The Dream Suite was initially slated to become the second private residence inside the park. Walt had a tiny […] Read more…
Welcome to Ask The Duchess Vol. 11, 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. Is there somewhere to buy discount Disneyland tickets? (submitted by Chad) I know some schools and organizations offer discounted tickets for students or club […] Read more…
If you pay any attention to Disney Park news (or Twitter), you know the last few weeks have been non-stop announcements…and dramatic reactions. Well, the change train hasn’t slowed down in the slightest this month! There are new closures on the horizon, new arrivals in the works, and some exciting Halloween changes in full swing. Here’s […] Read more…
January 2001 – September 2017 LOCATION Downtown Disney – Fossil held a coveted spot in the center courtyard of Downtown Disney. Whether you were coming from the hotel side or the park side of the district, you’d walk to the center circle with the outdoor bar (Uva). Fossil was on the southern side of the […] Read more…
The Market House on Main Street USA is Disneyland’s largest coffee shop. Thousands of guests stream by every day, some stopping in for hot drinks, pastries, and sandwiches. But most park visitors have no idea that within the Market House lies an amazing artifact: a real turn-of-the-century Potbelly Stove. This Potbelly Stove came from Baltimore, […] Read more…
 Source: Photo Bucket July 1955 – October 1973 LOCATION Frontierland – The Pack Mules led guests on a tour of Frontierland, starting in the town square. Guests would wander through Nature’s Wonderland, which included the land currently beneath Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and the now-closed Big Thunder Ranch. BACKGROUND In the early years of Disneyland, […] Read more…