Fantasyland can be a little bit overstimulating sometimes. With massive crowds, attractions everywhere, and lots of roaming characters, there are always a million things competing for your attention. So it’s very possible you’ve breezed right past this hidden gem many, many times without ever noticing it. Let’s talk about the stairs to nowhere. In the […] Read more…
I write a lot about hidden gems on this blog; they’re forever my favorite part of Disneyland. And sometimes, those hidden gems are especially exciting to find…because they only appear for a limited window each year. Today’s post is about one of those seasonal details…the Brakes Motel. To find this hidden gem, start at the […] Read more…
Compared to Disneyland, California Adventure is a relatively “young” park. But even with its fewer years of operation, the park has gone through major changes. And once in a while, Imagineers manage to squeeze in little tributes to attractions and spaces that disappear off the park map over time. One of those hidden tributes can […] Read more…
Within Pixar Pier, there are many places to grab a snack. One of those eateries is Angry Dogs, inspired by Anger from Inside Out. But within this snack spot, you can also find a cute little hidden gem: the Angry Dogs Heat Levels. Walk over to the condiment table, and you’ll see the spice levels […] Read more…
Today is a very special day for Disneyland fans! On this day, 70 years ago, Walt Disney opened his theme park to the world. To celebrate this milestone, this post is a roundup of 70 special hidden gems you can find at the park that started it all. From hidden character references to secret passageways, […] Read more…
If you’re a Marvel fan visiting the Disneyland Resort, Avengers Campus is undoubtedly on your to-do list. But don’t race in too quickly, or you’ll breeze past a hidden gem right at the land’s entrance: the arc reactor. For the uninitiated, the Arc Reactor is the crown jewel of Tony Stark’s genius. First glimpsed in […] Read more…
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…