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Ms DisneyMagic
DISNEYLAND
Photo Credit: Disney Parks
Disneyland is one of two parks located in California. Disneyland opened in 1955 and was the first theme park Walt ever built. It is home to 9 different themed lands.
Attractions
Entertainment
Dining
Shops
Magic Facts
Adventureland
Critter Country
Fantasyland
Frontierland
Galaxy's Edge
Main Street
New Orleans Square
Tomrrowland
Toontown
- There are no churro or popcorn stands located here. Walt worried the smell of them would take away from the jungle-ness of Adventureland.
- It’s the only land you can’t see from the main hub (the Partners statue).
- When Walt Disney was planning the construction of Disneyland, he searched for an expert from the Navy to help him build the Mark Twain River Boat. Walt hired Admiral Joe Fowler. Admiral Fowler was one of the major contributors to the success of Disneyland. Fowler’s Harbor is an homage to his legacy. Next time you are at Disneyland, take a walk on the hidden dock. Walk behind Fowler’s Harbor Fish and Chips and watch park guests as they plunge into the briar patch from Splash Mountain. Fowler’s Harbor is also the home port for the Mark Twain River Boat and the Sailing Ship Columbia when they are not navigating the Rivers of America.
- This land has more clocks than any other land in the park.
- 3 opening-day ticket booths remain: Casey Jr., Alice’s Mushroom, and the Storybook Canals lighthouse
- If you travel past Snow White's Wishing Well and up a set of stairs, there is a tree with Peter Pan and Wendy Darling's initials carved into it.
- The log fort was built in 1955 out of real Ponderosa Pine logs and Davy Crockett himself came and helped place a few of them. He also rode his horse through Frontierland on opening day.
- If you look at the floor as you enter any of the buildings in Frontierland, you will notice the wood at the edge is lighter and scuffed. This is because proper cowboys would use the edge to scrape the mud off their boots before entering a building.
- The petrified tree is from the state of Colorado. It was a gift from Walt's wife Lily
- When Frontierland originally opened, it had dirt ground. This was very messy, but the concrete now has boots and horseshoes and prints to make it still look authentic. The cracks in the concrete are intentional and are actually the breaks in the slabs of concrete from when they were pouring.
-A cave from Nature’s Wonderland can be seen across from the exit to Big Thunder. Back when the park first opened, you were actually allowed to fish in the Rivers of America.
- Back when the park first opened, you were actually allowed to fish in the Rivers of America.
- Press the button for water at the "hydrators" and an audio-animatronic Dianoga beast will pop up in the glass cistern tank feeding the drinking fountain. The one-eyed space squid from the Death Star trash compactor scene in the original 1977 Star Wars movie lives in the pipes supplying the refresher and hydrator.
- You can send mail in any of the mailboxes.
- The red bricks laid in the ground as you enter are meant to make you feel like you are on a red carpet. -- The gas lamps that line Main Street are real and over 150 years old. Walt bought them for 3 cents a bundle back in the day.
-- The cannons on Main Street were bought from France and were placed to honor those who serve. They have never been fired. They are from the 1700s.
-When Walt would visit the park, he would turn the lamp on in the firehouse window where his apartment was. Now, the light in Walt’s is always on, showing that he is always with us in the park.
- When Walt would leave the apartment in the firehouse, he would actually use the fire pole to slide down, until one day when one young guest tried to climb it and it had to be sealed off.
- In the Baby Center, there is a photo of baby Walt Disney.
- In Center Street (by the lockers) there is a test wall where Imagineers tested two different types of bricks. This wall has been left since Imagineers tested it.
- The windows in the back of Center Street will sometimes open up to sell ice cream.
- If you sit in Center Street and listen, you may hear the citizens of Center Street talking to each other.
- ‘Smeltzers’ are used to pump out the smells of Main Street food. Disney invented two new colors so certain objects would fade into the background: ‘noseeum grey’ and ‘ goaway green’.
- Rumor has it that Walt had a trash can placed 25 steps away from the hot dog cart because that was how long it took him to eat one. This rule is still followed today.
- When Disneyland first opened they had mesh waste baskets that caused many problems so Walt went to many trash can companies asking him to make ones that guests couldn't see, couldn't smell, and would hold liquid. Only one company said they would try to make one and Walt told them if he liked it, they would have a contract forever. They created the design we love and know today and the Disney company still honors their promise.
- The Palm Parlor used to be a lingerie shop called “Wizard of Bras.”
- The giant penny outside of the Penny Arcade is dated 1901 for Walt's birthday
- The Mickey flowers out front are changed 7-8 times a year and is one of the most photographed places in the WORLD.
- The copper backing to the drinking fountain in New Orleans Square is an old fireplace cover. There were no fireplaces in New Orleans Square, but Lillian loved it so Walt had them install it on the wall and surrounded it with hand-painted tiles. The fountain itself is made from a gable from a ceiling. There is also an added step stool.
- The buildings are purposely painted to be rusty and show grime to replicate the moist, humid air of Louisiana.
- There is a pirate mast on top of one of the buildings. You can see it best from the island.
- There are 6 buildings with plaques on them. These are authentic, antique fire insurance plaques from New Orleans, LA. These were placed on houses back in the day to show firefighters which houses to save first because they had paid for them.
- There are 3 flags in New Orleans Square to represent the 3 countries that owned New Orleans. If you look up at the apartments, there are all sorts of clues as to who lives there.
- The anchor across from Rivers of America supposedly once belonged to the pirate Jean Lafitte.
- All of the plants are edible. The reason for this is that Walt wanted Tomorrowland to be set in 1982 and he thought everyone in the future would be healthy and growing their own food.
- When dreaming up Toontown, the Imagineers said “no straight lines and no right angles.”
- The Jolly Trolly’s wheels are all different sizes
- The manhole covers will sometimes make sounds.
Tips
Favorites
Must Do
Skip
-Indiana Jones! This ride is so cool and my favorite. I love to start my trip by riding this ride.
-Pirates of the Caribbean here is so fun, I love the bayou scene and the caverns.
-Haunted Mansion here is a classic and a must-do.
-I love doing the full-circle tour on the train. It's a great way to see around the park and also some fun, different things too!
-All of the dark rides in Fantasyland are fun if this is your first/only trip. They are unique and some of the original rides Walt intended for the park.
-Big Thunder Mountain. It's fun and thrilling in the best way!!
-Space Mountain here is exciting. It can have a long wait, but it's a nice one to rope drop or use lightning lane for.
-Autopia. Stinky and slow moving.
Quick Service: The Golden Horseshoe
Table Service:
Shop: Disneyana
Ride: Indiana Jones
Show/Other Entertainment: The Dapper Dans
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