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, the last 7 decades have given Imagineers a long time to build magic into every corner of the happiest place on earth. This is by no means an exhaustive list…just a sample of all that you can find while exploring the park!
Main Street USA
Let’s start our tour at the entryway. In the town square area, you’ll find our first batch of hidden gems:
1. Disneyland Railroad Museum – the perfect place to learn more about trains as you wait for your turn to hop aboard
2. Kalamazoo Handcar – a special car parked on the tracks since 1958
3. Lilly Belle Car – if the train is parked at the station, we may see Walt’s private caboose, named after his wife Lillian
4. Windows on Main Street – the highest possible honor for a parks or Imagineering contributor
5. Walt’s Park Bench – the very place where Disneyland first began in Walt’s mind
6. Town Square Cannons – real 19th century cannons once in the possession of the French army
7. Emporium Balconies – some odd characters at work above you while you shop
Moving down the middle of the street, the hidden gems keep rolling in!
8. Magic Shop Illusion – a strange optical trick along the street’s thoroughfare
9. Esmeralda – the Penny Arcade’s resident fortune teller
10. Test Brick Wall – a strange wall that reflects the trial and error that went into the park’s creation
11. Party Line Phones – the perfect way to snoop on neighborhood gossip
12. Potbelly Stove – an opening day original, which weighs 450 pounds
And now we’ve reached the hub, another spot rich with hidden gems that many guests miss as they choose where to head next:
13. Partners Statue – a celebration of Walt and his most iconic character
14. Hitching Posts – a nod to Main Street’s turn-of-the-century era transportation
15. Refreshment Corner Bottles – a look back at Coke bottles throughout the decades
16. Poppins Tree – a little tribute to Mary Poppins
17. Hidden Path to Frontierland – a hidden way to reach the wild west along the water
Adventureland
Let’s take a hard left and wander through Adventureland. Disneyland’s mysterious jungle has plenty of things to discover:
18. Rosita – the missing bird we all wonder about from the Enchanted Tiki Room
19. Jade Elephant – a special elephant that made her start in Disneyland Paris
20. Aladdin’s Other Lamp – do you dare test your luck and rub the lamp?
21. Shrunken Ned – one of the jungle’s most unusual inhabitants
22. The Dominguez Tree – a tree who’s origin dates far earlier than Disneyland
23. Indiana Jones Truck – a movie prop that found its way into the jungle
24. Three Wise Monkeys – see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil…
25. The Little Man of Disneyland – the park’s very own leprechaun, hiding in plain sight
New Orleans Square
We continue our tour in New Orleans Square, my personal favorite land in the park:
26. Disney Brothers Initials – a special engraving to celebrate Walt and his brother, Roy
27. Fortune Red – a mysterious pirate that may offer you some wisdom
28. Lafitte’s Anchor – something important a famous pirate left behind
29. Jack the Monkey – the inspiration for one of a franchise’s most famous characters
30. New Orleans Square Fire Marks – some plaques that add authenticity to the land’s time period
31. The YAYA Storytelling Chair – a celebration of New Orleans culture
32. Treasure Chests – of course a land of pirates would have treasure!
33. Port of Orleans – a very special optical illusion, only visible from a particular spot
34. Haunted Mansion Sundial – your first welcome onto the mansion grounds
35. Miss April – December – a lady who changes the longer you look at her
Bayou Country
As we keep moving along the water, Bayou Country offers up a few hidden gems too:
36. Pelican’s Landing – a beautiful spot to relax right between New Orleans Square and Bayou Country
37. Fowler’s Harbor – a special tribute to Admiral Joe Fowler, who was instrumental in Disneyland planning
38. Critter Country Cottages – homes for the tiniest critters, who now reside in Bayou Country
39. Ray’s Jar – a very special home for a very special lightning bug
40. Pooh Stix Bridge – celebrating a real game inspired by everyone’s favorite honey-obsessed bear
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Now we turn to Galaxy’s Edge, which has its own details and odd architecture to discover:
41. Galaxy’s Edge Trash Code – the smallest of details from the original trilogy
42. Dianoga Water Fountain – watch carefully when you take a drink – there are creatures close by
43. Dok-Ondar’s Pets – tamed creatures in a galaxy far, far away
44. The Wampa – a hidden foe that waits above unsuspecting shoppers
45. Carbonite Wall – Han Solo’s not the only one who had a taste of freezing alive
Frontierland
Back on planet earth, Frontierland is teeming with beautiful views, bustling shops, and of course, some hidden gems:
46. The Bridge Beaver – a creature who may cause some problems in the near future
47. Popcorn Turners – special figures that help make the snacks go ’round
48. Petrified Tree – one of Walt’s gifts for Lillian, that now sits within the park
49. Golden Horseshoe Hall of Fame – a celebration of the Horseshoe’s iconic performers
50. Flags of the Revolutionary War – some patriotic gems along the frontier wall
51. Woody and Hoofin’ Henry – a repurposed gem that has been in the park for decades
Fantasyland
Now, our tour takes us to Fantasyland, which also piles on the magic in the smallest of places. We start in the central courtyard:
52. Aurora’s Carriage – a multipurpose shop and remnant of Aurora’s transportation
53. Evil Queen – watch the curtains closely to catch a glimpse of her
54. Briar Rose’s Birthday Cake – my favorite hidden gem of all time!
55. Dumbo Organ – a special instrument tucked in a busy line
56. Former Ticket Booths – nods to Disneyland’s days of individual attraction tickets
And then, on the outer reaches of the enchanted land:
57. Figaro – Pinocchio’s feline friend hiding on a window sill
58. The White Rabbit’s Cottage – do you think he’s home?
59. Peter and Wendy Tree – a very special, very hidden detail
60. Snow White’s Grotto – one of the most peaceful places in the park
61. Mugo Pine – the oldest tree at the resort
62. Viollet-le-Duc Spire – French inspired architecture brought into Disneyland
Mickey’s Toontown
Our tour continues in Toontown, which is almost nothing but hidden gems and gags:
63. Toontown Hysterical Society – an organization dedicated to preserving the town’s goofiest history
64. Firehouse Dalmatian – ring the bell, and he’ll come say hello
65. Jessica’s Secret – one of Minnie’s favorite magazines, for her guests to peruse
66. Toontown Mailboxes – the heart of Toontown conversation
67. El CapiTOON Concessions – the busiest snack bar in town
Tomorrowland
And finally, we end our tour in the land of the future, with just a few hidden gems to close out our day:
68. Three Fences – the cross section of three different Disneyland eras
69. Observatron – a hidden gem that towers above the land
70. Original Astro Rockets – pieces of an original attraction now hiding in plain sight
I hope you had a nice little tour of the Disneyland Resort – and felt like in some small way, you got to celebrate the 70th anniversary…even from home!