There’s a famous hidden gem above Main Street’s fire station: Walt’s Lamp. The idea is that it stays illuminated permanently, to symbolize Walt’s spirit staying in the park. So when I started to notice an always-on light in California Adventure, I started to wonder if it had special meaning too. Head over to Hollywood Land […] Read more…
I talk a lot about hidden gems on this blog (it’s my favorite subject!), but there may be none as hyper-specific than the topic of today’s post. This is the kind of hidden gem that if you spot it and point it out to your family, they’ll probably be confused and…not that interested. But if […] Read more…
Step into the bustling world of Mickey’s Toontown, and you’ll find no shortage of hidden gems and details. Many of those come together under one particular organization, determined to keep these treasures in the public interest. The Toontown Hysterical Society (their version of a historical society) is dedicated to preserving and presenting moments from Toon […] Read more…
Ever since Critter Country evolved into Bayou Country, I’ve been on the hunt for the new hidden gems that always pop up with new theming. And one of my favorites I stumbled upon can be found in Ray’s Berets, the cute little hat shop tucked in the foothills of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Enter the shop, […] Read more…
From time to time, the Disneyland Resort leverages something they already have to make something new. A few examples: Flik’s Flyers became the Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, and animatronics in America Sings moved into Splash Mountain or Star Tours. And sometimes, these redesigns happen on a much smaller scale. Let’s head over to Frontierland to […] Read more…
If you walk into El CapiTOON Theater in Toontown to visit Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, you’re immediately entering a historic toon theater. And what good theater doesn’t have some concessions? Let’s check them out. This concessions stand is quite special – as it’s loaded with references to Disney animation. Just take a look at […] Read more…
Have you ever watched a super hero movie where a city got absolutely wrecked in the big fight and thought…yikes. Who cleans that mess up? If you have, Marvel has an answer for you – and you can see nods to it in Avengers Campus. Scattered throughout the land, you’ll find boxes labeled “DDOC”. DDOC […] Read more…
As you wander downtown Toontown, it’s not hard to get lost in the chaos and not really take in every detail of your surroundings. But if you look up at the rolling hills behind Minnie’s House, you’ll notice a very special hidden gem. This is Walt’s Carolwood Barn. Originally standing in Walt’s back yard (on […] Read more…
Radiator Springs Curios is an eclectic little shop in Cars Land. But if you look beyond the assortment of goods for sale, you’ll spot a hidden gem that celebrates a very famous American road. On the eastern wall (behind the cash register), you’ll see a map. This is a stylized version of Route 66, one […] Read more…
New Orleans Square celebrates the best of The Big Easy, from the food to the architecture to the sounds of jazz rolling down the street. But in a little corner shop, there’s a hidden gem that also pays tribute to local artists and generations of storytellers within the city. To find this hidden gem, head […] Read more…
When California Adventure first opened, it looked quite a bit different than it does now. Lands have come and gone as the park evolved and grew over time. In the Grizzly Peak airfield, there’s a hidden gem that pays tribute to a former land that once called the area home. To find it, head over […] Read more…
One of my favorite shady places to sit in Mickey’s Toontown is also a bit of a hidden gem. Let’s head over for some porch seating at the 3rd Little Piggy Bank. As you can see in these photos taken during the holiday season, the bank’s currency is simoleons, with bills going up to a […] Read more…
Galaxy’s Edge has so many shops, big and small, with strange goods for sale and even stranger details. If you visit the Den of Antiquities, you’ll find one of my favorite details within the shops: shopkeeper Dok-Ondar’s pets. First, in the muggy water tank, you’ll see his ollopom, Ollie. Here’s his official bio from the […] Read more…
Have you ever heard the proverb, “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil”? Well, in Adventureland, you can actually find a few wise monkeys demonstrating the proverb. To see them, head over to the Bengal Barbecue. Look closely at the tree behind the counter, and you’ll see the Three Wise Monkeys carved into […] Read more…