Disneyland’s popcorn carts are typically not noteworthy; they’re mobile stations too packed with snacks and drinks to have much room for theming. But on Buena Vista Street, there’s a special popcorn cart. It draws attention, with its shiny exterior and unusual appearance… This strange popcorn cart actually fits perfectly with its surroundings if you know […] Read more…
I write a lot about “hidden gems” on this blog: little details to find around the park. Some take on a life of their own, and most guests spot them right away. But others remain very, very hidden. Perhaps the most secretive hidden gem in the entire resort is the hidden Pascal. Remember Pascal, Rapunzel’s chameleon […] Read more…
If you’ve ever read this blog before, you know I’m obsessed with New Orleans Square. Every street and alleyway has hidden secrets to uncover! And if you ever find yourself wandering the alleys, you may just bump into a mysterious pirate: Fortune Red. Drop a coin into Red’s mysterious trunk, and he may just send […] 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…
Toontown is Disneyland’s busiest neighborhood. With character meet & greets, houses to explore, and musical fountains to interact with, there’s no shortage of things to do. But if you stop for a second to look around, you might discover a hidden gem. Right in the center of Toontown, Goofy is the proud owner of his […] Read more…
The Genie’s magic lamp has to be one of the most famous Disney artifacts of all time. Everyone knows the rule: rub the lamp, and you get to make three wishes. But what happens if you stumble across Aladdin’s Other Lamp? If you explore the bazaar in Adventureland, you may find a dimly lit corner with […] Read more…
Disneyland’s Opera House is most closely associated with animatronic President Lincoln. But deep inside its curtained, Mr. Lincoln is not the only representation of the American spirit. These statues might look familiar to EPCOT fans. They’re tiny versions of the Spirits of America, which appear at the end of the American Adventure show. These figures represent traits at […] Read more…
I don’t know about you, but I feel like I just eat all day long at Disneyland. With churro and popcorn stands on every corner, I just can’t help but stop and grab snacks as I walk around. Most people don’t think twice about these snack stands, but they too share in each land’s theming. Which […] Read more…
Disneyland tends to keep storytelling elements distinctly separated by land. You’d be hard pressed to find any cowboys outside of Frontierland, or rockets beyond the borders of Tomorrowland. But there is one exception to this rule…an out-of-place hidden gem: Mrs. Potts and Chip. Welcome to Adventureland, a land celebrating the world’s most exotic and remote jungles. Let’s take […] Read more…
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad is one of my favorite attractions at the Disneyland Resort; the queue, track, and mountainside are each so intricately detailed. There’s so much to see, and it’s impossible to take it all in when you’re racing on the train. Lucky for us, the Disneyland Hotel offers a unique birds-eye view. Venture into […] Read more…
Happy Halloween! Monday is the big day for costumes, candy, and spooky fun, but the Disneyland Resort has been celebrating Halloween all month long. In fact, each fall Frontierland hosts a seasonal hidden gem: the Halloween Tree! The tree, which lights up the courtyard next to the Golden Horseshoe, draws inspiration from a 1972 novel by […] Read more…
The Disneyland Resort’s largest hotel is the massive Grand Californian, which sits right between California Adventure and much of Downtown Disney. The hotel lives up to its name, with tons of restaurants, lounges, and floors to explore. But did you know that the hotel has a hidden gem which pays tribute to some of California’s […] 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…
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…