It’s no secret that New Orleans Square and Tom Sawyer Island have been captured by pirates. They lurk everywhere, leaving anchors and crypts in their wake. But what’s the most important thing pirates leave behind? Buried treasure! Over the years, two treasure chests have washed up on the Rivers of America shoreline. The first chest […] Read more…
Tons of different creatures call Critter Country’s forest home: Winnie the Pooh and his friends, the Br’er gang, families of ducks…and one mysterious little creature with his own private home. Welcome to Mr. Bluebird’s House! Have you ever seen this birdhouse? It’s outside the left entrance to Pooh Corner at the end of Critter Country’s […] Read more…
Have you ever noticed two cannons in Main Street USA’s square? These are the famous Town Square Cannons, on the street since 1955. These are real 19th century cannons, once in the possession of the French army. They were never fired in battle, and have now been sealed for permanent use as monuments. When designing […] Read more…
Main Street USA’s City Hall is a busy place. They can help you with basically any possible question you may have, or get you a special pin to celebrate all kinds of occasions. But as you leave City Hall, you may notice a small table to the left of the doorway. What’s remarkable about this […] Read more…
Tomorrowland has the most active skyline of any land in the park; around every corner you’ll see flying rockets, a mountain, towering tracks, and lots of geometric architecture. But you may notice one structure flying high above the rest: the Moonliner! This rocket is a 2/3 replica of the original Tomorrowland Moonliner, which stood at […] Read more…
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…