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Does anyone else feel very passionate about drinkware? When it comes to water bottles, some people have entire collections of tumblers and insulated bottles! If you know anything about water bottles, you probably have a favorite brand. So, are you team Hydro Flask? Team Yeti? Do you own a Stanley Cup (no, not the trophy)? What about a Corkcicle?
Did you know that there’s a Corkcicle stand in Disney Springs?
In Disney World, Corkcicle is pretty popular! The brand specializes in insulated bottles that come in all different shapes and sizes; some even have Disney character designs. If you’re looking for a new water bottle or insulated cup, now is the PERFECT time to shop Corkcicle — they’re on SALE!
Corkcicle is offering some BIG discounts as part of its Memorial Day Sale!You can get 20% OFF SITEWIDE using the code “MDAY20.”
Look at all those options!
Want to be hands-free when you’re using your new Corkcicle gear? No problem! Pick up one of these Corkcicle Sling Bags for 20% offas part of the Memorial Day Sale!
The Disney100 Mickey Sling!
We’ve spotted some Mickey-themed ones that sell out pretty quickly, but you can still carry your Disney-themed bottle in style!
It holds 16oz of water (or whatever you choose!) so you can stay hydrated all day long. We’re obsessed with the retro sketches on this one — you can also get it in white.
It holds 16oz of hot or cold liquid, and keeps hot drinks hot for three hours. It’ll keep your drink cold for 9+ hours! There are also designs inspired by Belle, Ariel, Jasmine, and Snow White, too!
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
We’ve seen Disney offer a number of sweepstakes over the years with everything from free Star Wars prizes to free vacations to Disney World and beyond. And now another prize (worth over $4,000!!) could be ALL YOURS. Here’s how.
GoNoodle has announced a special sweepstakes that’ll send you to the Happiest Place on Earth (Disneyland) for the vacation of your dreams. All of this is being done in celebration of the opening of Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway in Disneyland.
The winner will get a grand prize worth around $4,895 that includes a 3-day/2-night vacation to Disneyland for them and 3 guests.
Inside the Queue!
Included in the grand prize is:
A 2-night stay at a Disneyland Resort hotel
Up to 4 round-trip coach airfares for the winner and 3 guests
Up to 4 round-trip ground transfers between the airport and a Disneyland Resort hotel
Up to four 3-day, 1-park per-day Disneyland tickets (park reservations will be required for each day of the visit)
Disneyland Hotel
To enter the sweepstakes, head to the GoNoodle website, enter your information, and submit your entry!
No purchase is necessary, and the sweepstakes is open to those in the 50 U.S. states and D.C. who are 18 and over. But act fast — it ends on June 19th, 2023 at 11:59PM so you’ll want to get your entry in NOW. There is a limit of 1 entry per person per day.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you’re a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
PSSST… You know how we love sharing secrets with our readers here at DFB?
Sleeping Beauty Castle
I mean, don’t tell anybody or anything , but we’ve got Secret Menu items that you have to be in-the-know to order. We’ve shared 52 SECRET things to do in Disney World. We’ve even let you in on 15 secret ways to navigate around the crowds in Disney World… because we’re friends, right? Well, today we’ve got 50 (!!!) of Disneyland’s BEST Hidden Secrets so you can impress your friends and family on your next visit. Because I’m about to let you in on another secret about these secrets…
Aaah, there’s nothing like the view of Sleeping Beauty Castle at the end of Main Street, U.S.A… but there’s more than just a pretty view here. The castle drawbridge, for instance, isn’t just for looks – it’s fully functional!
Sleeping Beauty Castle
That said, the bridge has only been “publicly lowered” for guests “twice.” The first time was for was Disneyland’s official opening in 1955, and the second was for Fantasyland’s rededication in 1983.
But it doesn’t stop there… you can stroll inside! In the walls of Sleeping Beauty Castle lies a walk-through attraction that retells the story of Sleeping Beauty.
Inside Sleeping Beauty Castle
The walkways through the castle are dimly lit to show off the intricacies of the scenes and interactive features.
There’s still something hidden much deeper at the Castle. In 1995, a time capsule was buried at Sleeping Beauty Castle.
Inside Sleeping Beauty Castle
If you want to find out what’s inside, you’ll have to wait awhile. A placard reads “A time capsule, containing Disneyland memories, messages and milestones, lies beneath this spot. The Disneyland Time Capsule is dedicated to the children of the 21st century, who may unlock its contents on the 80th Anniversary of Disneyland: July 17th, 2035.”
4: The Mickey That Greets You at the Disneyland Train Station
It’s a beautiful thing, isn’t it? I’m talking about Mickey Mouse made of flowers! He’s smiling at you from just inside the gates of Disneyland Park on the grass leading up to the train station.
“To all who come to this happy place… WELCOME.”
This whimsical floral design is replanted SIX times a year, in order to spruce up the area and even dress it all up for the Holiday Season and Halloween Time!
5: Walt’s Apartment and Tribute
Walt Disney made himself at home in Disneyland in an apartment above the Disneyland Fire Department. When the park was being built, he didn’t want to miss a minute of his dream coming to fruition.
Always a Light On for Walt Disney
Walt would always turn a light on in front of his window so that workers would know when he was in the park. And that’s why you’ll see a light in the window that always stays lit in his memory (except when his family members are in the park, as a sign of respect).
6: Strange Lightbulb
Now here’s a great example of Walt Disney’s famous attention to detail… One of the lightbulbs at the Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner at the top of Main Street is painted half white and half red. As the story goes…
Refreshment Corner
Walt Disney was walking through Disneyland one day and noticed two white bulbs right next to each other. He called a painter over and had him paint half of the second white bulb red to correct the pattern!
7: Walt’s Favorite Meal
Walt Disney was a man of simple tastes when it came to food. One of his favorite dishes was chili, and Carnation Cafe on Main Street, U.S.A. serves up his favorite recipe to this day (by the name of Walt’s Chili, of course)!
Walt’s Chili at Carnation Cafe
Obtained from Walt’s oldest daughter, Diane, and The Walt Disney Family Museum, the simple and savory recipe comes from the Disney family cook who was able to perfectly balance the mix of meat and beans for Walt.
8 – 11: King Arthur Carrousel Horses
There is more than meets the eye — literally — when it comes to the horses of the King Arthur Carrousel. There are 85 gorgeous horses featured on this classic attraction, BUT…
King Arthur Carrousel
… only 72 horses are on the carrousel at any given time. Disney has shared that the horses use this little vacation time as an opportunity to be repaired, sanded, refinished, and repainted.
And every single one of those 85 horses is individually named!
King Arthur Carrousel
Previously, guests could pick up the full list of their names from City Hall on Main Street, U.S.A., but that might not be the case for your next visit.
But let’s say you do find that complete list of names. We want to bring one in particular to your attention: JINGLES! She is the lead horse and can be identified by all those shiny golden bells.
Jingles was Walt Disney’s very own favorite horse on the Carrousel.
In 2008, Jingles received a makeover to celebrate Julie Andrews – the “Practically Perfect” Mary Poppins herself – and her 44 years of service to the Disney company. (Imagineers thought that dedicating the lead carrousel horse to the actress would be a fitting tribute since Mary Poppins had ridden a similar carousel horse in the film). That’s how Jingles got her current blue, pink, and gold color scheme, along with Julie Andrews’ initials and more Mary Poppins-themed features.
12 & 13: A Ride Inside a Ride
Did you know that a large portion of the Alice in Wonderland attraction (which opened in 1958) actually takes place on the second floor of ANOTHER classic Disneyland dark ride: Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride! According to the D23 website, “Alice in Wonderland was Disneyland’s first two-level ride-through attraction.” But, due to “spatial constraints,” Alice had to be built on TOP of Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.
Alice in Wonderland
But wait, there’s more! When you board Alice in Wonderland, the temperatures seem normal at first… until you enter the room of the Card Soldiers. The you may notice quite the temperature change…
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
When your ride vehicle enters the playing card room of the Alice in Wonderland ride, you’re actually feeling the heat from the hell scene in Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride beneath you! Heat rises… it’s science, folks.
14: The Story Behind a Less-Than-Perfect Detail
Grabbing some Grey Stuff at Red Rose Taverne? After you polish off this famously “delicious!” dish and are getting ready to leave, look up at the glowing EXIT sign and you may notice things are a little off… off-center, that is. You see, when the restaurant was initially built (as the Pinocchio-themed Village Haus Restaurant, at the time), there was a design flaw that left the EXIT sign just a little too far to the right, and therefore uneven with the archway exits.
Red Rose Taverne
What’s an Imagineer to do? Well, Figaro (the cat from Pinocchio) was originally painted to lasso the sign, making it look like he was trying to pull it in the right direction. Then, when the Beauty and the Beast theming transformed this counter service restaurant in 2017, Sultan the Foot Stool replaced Figaro to take on the attempted shifting of the sign!
15: “We’re All Mad Here…”
If you stare into the mirror (the one up high with the caterpillar as a frame) in Fantasyland’s Mad Hatter shop long enough, you may notice something STARING BACK AT YOU: the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland!
Mad Hatter in Disneyland
He’ll slowly disappear every once in a while but don’t you worry… he’ll be back.
16: I Spy the Evil Queen
The Cheshire Cat isn’t the only one making appearances in Fantasyland…
Snow White’s Enchanted Wish
If you watch the window aboveSnow White’s Enchanted Wish, you may just see the Evil Queen looking out every so often as she pulls aside the curtain (about every 20 seconds or so).
17: A Hidden… Basketball Court?!
Taking on the Matterhorn? Well, here’s a fun fact: tucked inside the Matterhorn Bobsleds, there is actually a quarter of a basketball court!
The Matterhorn
Walt Disney did not like to let any space go to waste, so he asked the Matterhorn climbers what they would like inside. When the vote was tallied, a basketball court was the end result! Cast Members can take breaks and have a little fun shooting hoops there.
18: Hidden Country Bears
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh opened in June of 1999 in Critter Country. The ride displaced the Country Bear Jamboree, but all was not lost…
The Many Adventure of Winnie the Pooh
Actual audio-animatronics for Max, Buff, and Melvin are inside the attraction and are visible if you look behind you to the right as you enter the “honey” room during the ride! Additional tributes to the Country Bears throughout Critter Country (formerly known as Bear Country) can be found at Hungry Bear Restaurant and above the land’s shops.
19 & 20: Haunting History
When paying a visit to the 999 Happy Haunts in the Haunted Mansion, you will see a gigantic spider web in the Grand Ballroom. If you look closely, you can see a HUGE bullet hole in the glass paneling. (It comes up fast, so keep your eyes peeled!)
Haunted Mansion in Disneyland
It’s said that either a child with a BB gun or slingshot made the hole (or that a man with a shotgun created it when he thought he saw something strange…). In any case, the hole could not be repaired, and the glass was too expensive to replace. And so, spider web cover to the rescue, it was!
And since there’s always room for one more when it comes to secrets, here’s another!
Haunted Mansion
The organ inside the Haunted Mansion is the very same one that’s seen inside the submarine Nautilus in the movie 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea.
21 & 22: Let’s Seek Some Pirate’s Treasure, Matey…
“But you have heard of me…” Aaah, yes! We’re talking here about Captain Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean films AND the dark ride that inspired them.
Pirates of the Caribbean
After you ride Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland, be sure to swing by the Pieces of Eight storefront window. Among the pirate-y treasure here, we want to bring your attention to the voodoo doll lying on a barrel with a striking resemblance to our rum-loving Captain… but it’s not just ANY version of Captain Jack. According to the D23 website, THIS seems to be the Captain Jack from Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest – since the face paint on the doll is similar to the “face paint he wore when escaping the natives.”
While you’re at Pieces of Eight, keep your eyes peeled, too, for a white monkey dangling from the chandeliers above the registers.
Pieces of Eight
Do you notice a resemblance to Jack the Monkey from the films? YES! You’ve spied him!
23 & 24: When You Wish Upon a SHOOTING Star… and More Pirates of the Caribbean Secrets
Quick, look! Did you see it??
The Bayou
Your eyes do not deceive you in the twilight bayou scene in Pirates of the Caribbean. There is indeed a shooting star… look above the trees and toward the ceiling for a chance of spotting it.
Now here’s something a little less whimsical: while on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride you’ll notice several skeleton props. What you may not know is that some of the original skeletons were REAL (and one still is).
Pirates of the Caribbean Toothpick Holder
When the ride first opened in 1967, skeletons from the UCLA Medical School were used, as opposed to props, since they looked more realistic (what with the fact that THEY WERE). These days, just one real skeleton remains (look for the skull on the headboard of the bed).
25: Keep an EAR Out
Staying in New Orleans Square, the land’s train station has something you need to keep an EAR out for, instead of an eye this time.
New Orleans Square in Disneyland
The clicking sound you hear is that of a telegraph typing out a message in Morse Code. The message? It translates to a portion of Walt Disney’s speech on the opening day of Disneyland: July 17, 1955!
26 – 33: Adding to Your Indiana Jones Adventure
We’re heading to another adventure now… Indiana Jones Adventure! This ride takes you on a winding, bumpy journey to escape the wrath of the temple god, Mara. An unstable bridge, a chamber of mummies, a GIANT BOULDER HURTLING YOUR WAY… all in a day for Indy, right? But there’s something a little less adventurous to note…
Indiana Jones Adventure sign
Your vehicle also drives over an old parking lot (though you’d never realize it if you didn’t already know. And now you do)! The area where The Indiana Jones Adventure now resides used to be part of the cast member parking lot, and not actually part of the park itself.
Did you know that the Temple of the Forbidden Eye contains over 2,000 replicated human skulls AND 2,129 sculpted, carved, painted or living representations of snakes, according to our friends over at AllEars.net?
Indiana Jones Adventure
Okay, c’mon… Say it with me, you know you want to… “Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?”
Sure, you may already be well aware that your ride on Indiana Jones Adventure is different each time (and that it’s based on which of the three doors — Youth, Riches, or Knowledge — that your jeep drives you through at the beginning of your adventure).
Indiana Jones Adventure ride vehicles
BUT! It’s much more than 3 simple options. The jeeps are preloaded with a “variety of movements” that have the potential of creating almost 160,000 different moving combinations!
Now, let’s discuss that queue. If it seems like walking through the queue for Indiana Jones takes as long as walking through the entire park… well, it’s because it is almost like that.
Indiana Jones Queue
In fact, once you’re in the Spike Room, you’re actually walking underneath the Disneyland Railroad Tracks.
To keep that long line more interesting, there are several secrets to look out for! For instance, once you are inside the Temple and have made it through the cave (good job!), look out for the part of the line that resembles a bridge.
Indiana Jones Adventure Queue
Then, look to your left for a unique-looking bamboo post. If you pull on it, the ceiling will drop just a bit!
As the line continues, you’ll come to an open room featuring a large obelisk in the middle. As you walk around it, you will notice a sign that says “Do not pull rope.” Do you know that just so happens to be Disney Code for PULL ON IT?!
PSSST… This is Disney’s way of telling you to Pull a Rope!
The Indiana Jones Adventure queue is SO LONG (“HOW? LONG? IS IT?”), that there is even a “secret” restroom along the way for any necessary moments.
What secrets will you unlock in the line for Indiana Jones Adventure?
Ok, Indy has one more for ya.. Behind the projector in the Indiana Jones Adventure queue is a sign featuring a picture of… Eeyore! The best way to see it is to go to the end of the projection room for the pre-show, then turn around to look for it. Still can’t see it? Ask a Cast Member. They often carry flashlights and can likely point it out.
34: The Story of the Banyan Tree
While you’re enjoying your Jungle Cruise, look for the large Banyan tree (it stands amidst the angry hippos). This tree was purchased from a home in Beverly Hills in early 1955. As the story goes, Harper Goff (Jungle Cruise designer), and Bill Evans (Disneyland’s chief landscaper), were looking for a tree to fill the background specifically in the hippo scene.
Jungle Cruise
Goff and Evans would cruise (pardon the pun!) the streets of Beverly Hills on the lookout for trees for the park. One day, they discovered the perfect tree in the front yard of a house in Beverly Hills. Upon inquiry, they learned that the homeowner couldn’t stand that tree, saying they could have it if they removed the Banyan tree and planted something new. And that’s how the Banyan tree still has its Jungle Cruise home today.
35: Authentic Mining Equipment
Most of the mining equipment throughout the queue and attraction of Big Thunder Mountain is the REAL DEAL.
Big Thunder Mountain
Imagineers searched swap meets, abandoned mines, and ghosts towns throughout Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, and Minnesota to find enough authentic equipment to fill the line and the ride!
36: Hidden Target on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Wanna know the secret to scoring MEGA POINTS on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters? It lies in the second room of the ride. At the space where Zurg stands and turns (revealing and concealing targets with his cape), there is a small “Z” on his chest that does not look like the other targets…. But it TOTALLY IS A TARGET.
Astro Blasters
And it’s worth 50,000 points!!! Fair warning: this target can be very difficult to hit (even if it looks like you squarely got it), and it only registers about half the time. But when the stars all align, the point payoff is GREAT.
37: The Disneyland Cats
It’s true: over 200 feral cats live in Disneyland park.
Disneyland Cat (Rest in Peace, Nutmeg.)
The felines are there to keep rodents away (though consider yourself lucky to encounter one of the cats as the majority are said to be nocturnal creatures).
38: The Little Man of Disneyland
The Little Man of Disneyland is named Patrick Begorra and he made his first appearance in one of the Disney Little Golden Books (which, according to Disney, was published in 1955 — the same year Disneyland opened). Who is Patrick? Why, he’s a leprechaun who, these days, spends his hours in a teeny tiny house at the base of a tree in Disneyland’s Adventureland.
Ready for an ADVENTURE?
You can even see it for yourself! Patrick’s home is near the entrance of Indiana Jones Adventure at the base of a tree trunk – it’s tangled within the roots. You’ll see an itty bitty door, a itty bitty window, an itty bitty smoke stack, and and itty bitty porch light. Home Sweet Home!
39: The Smellitizers!
Do you have a sudden craving for cookies the minute you set foot on Main Street, U.S.A? That probably has something to do with the Smellitizers. You see, different areas of the park smell like different things thanks to perfumes being sprayed out from Ye Olde Smellitizer (I added the Ye Olde , don’t mind me), with each area having its own unique scents to play on our senses.
Main Street, U.S.A.
Riding Pirates of the Caribbean? You might unknowingly get a whiff of sea salt in the air. Closer to The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh? You guessed it — you may pick up on a honeyed aroma! Oh, and those cookies you crave walking down Main Street? Well, you’re going to smell freshly baked cookies… whether there are actual cookies in a nearby oven or not. During the holidays, you might smell peppermint candies being made, or pumpkin spices and candy corn near Halloween.
Our first secret stop in Disney California Adventure is Avengers Campus where we’re checking out a tree. Well, THREE trees, actually. And while that may not sound like major secret material, allow me to explain… Just outside of the WEB SLINGERS: A Spider-Man Adventure ride building are three trees. But you’ll notice that the middle tree TOWERS over the other two. On either side of it, you’ll see a pipe leaking a mysterious green goo.
WEB Slingers
But that mystery is solved by a warning label DIRECTLY above the pipe that reads: CAUTION: GAMMA RADIATION. And it’s this sign that provides the clue for the gargantuan size of that tree. You see, Gamma radiation is what transformed Dr. Bruce Banner into the HULK. So I guess what we’re saying is… don’t make the tree angry. You won’t like it when it’s angry.
Once you enter the queue for WEB SLINGERS, you may find it hard to take in all the details. But we’d like to point a specific one out right here: it’s in the pre-room show. Here in the lab, Peter Parker is preparing for the big Open House to show off the latest WEB Slinger vehicles… but that’s not the only thing being worked on in this room. Check out the whiteboards to find science equations for how webs could be built and fully functional.
WEB Slingers
These equations are actual formulas! The math truly checks out! It’s not just for show, my friends… and you can trust me on that. (Okay, that’s SO not true — you can’t trust me on anything math-related. But you CAN trust those Disney Imagineers!)
Next, you’re gonna want to look for a lamp. I know… a LAMP? “You’re asking me to take the time to check out a LAMP in the WEB SLINGERS queue?” You bet I am… because the lamp on Peter Parker’s desk is (if I may steal a quote from Aladdin) “NO ORDINARY LAMP!!!”
WEB SLINGERS
It’s the iconic Pixar Luxo Lamp! Do you see it right next to Peter?
We’re still in the WEB SLINGERS queue for this last one… Keep your eyes peeled for Lucky Dog’s Pizza boxes. This is an in-universe a nod to Lucky the Dog, the pup Kate Bishop rescued in Hawkeye.
HINT: Look under the Pixar Luxo Lamp
P.S. There’s also a Lucky Dog’s Pizza phone number displayed in the queue. If you dial it, it will indeed go through (though the automated voice message will tell you the line has been disconnected).
44: Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: BREAKOUT!
Did you know that Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! offers six different storyline experiences? Once you’re on the ride vehicle, you’ll be dropped into one of six different scenarios featuring Star-Lord, Groot, Gamora, Rocket, and Drax. Each of the scenarios features a different song from the ’70s or ’80s as you speed to the top of the tower and drop to the bottom.
Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission BREAKOUT!
Before all of that happens, though, as you enter the Collector’s Fortress, keep your eyes out for a nod to Cosmo the Spacedog as first seen in the Collector’s Fortress in the Guardians of the Galaxy! (Bad dog or good dog? )
But guess what? If a Magic Key Holder is visiting with a non-passholder pal, they’re allowed to bring up to six guests along to chill for a bit, drink some wine or share an appetizer, and enjoy the awesome view of Cars Land. Speaking of Cars Land…
46 & 47: Cars Land Easter Eggs
Many of the ride vehicles in Cars Land have special license plates featuring the initials of Imagineers who helped this ride come to life.
Cars Land
According to an interview from Forbes.com, “The baby tractors [over at Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree]… also have letters that represent initials and birthdays of key contributors to the Cars Land project from Walt Disney Imagineering and Pixar Animation Studios.”
In 2015, Luigi’s Flying Tires closed up shop and was replaced with Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters just a year later. Now, with more recent additions like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, we’re all more familiar with trackless rides these days.
Luigi’s Rollickin’ Roadsters
But back in 2015, Luigi’s Rollicking Roadsters “dancing cars ride” came the FIRST-EVER “trackless vehicle tech to open at a Disney park in the US!”
In Disney California Adventure, we’ve spied Duke Caboom working his magic on Pixar Pier! Seriously, don’t miss your chance to seek out all of these truly charming details when you’re in Disneyland.
Just Outside the Parks
49 & 50: Sneaky Park Entrances
Sure, you can enter Disneyland park and Disney California Adventure from the iconic entrance gates, but there are other ways to get in (oh, umm… you still have to purchase a ticket and everything, but stay with me)…
Disney California Adventure
If you catch a ride on the Disneyland Monorail, for instance, you’ll arrive right into the heart of Disneyland’s Tomorrowland!
Disneyland Monorail
But we’ve got TWO MORE secret entrances on top of that! Staying at the Grand Californian Hotel? Well, guess what…. then you’re actually staying IN Disney California Adventure. The resort exits out into Grizzly Peak: home of Soarin’ and Grizzly’s River Run to start your day with a flight or a SOAK!
Soarin’n in Grizzly Peak
And the newest Disney California Adventure entrance is part of Disney’s Paradise Pier Hotel (soon to be Pixar Place Hotel!). This entrance leads guests into the park between Seaside Souvenirs and Corn Dog Castle in the Paradise Gardens area.
WHEW!! Ready for EVEN MORE Disneyland magic? Then check out our ULTIMATE Guide to Disneyland for 2023 in our DFBGuide YouTube Video right here…
Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro spoke on the boundaries of two domestic parks expanding during the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media & Communications Conference. Disneyland in Anaheim and Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World were included in his discussion.
Domestic Park Capacity Investments
Josh D’Amaro, Disney Parks Chairman for the Walt Disney Company, commented on the current ability of Disneyland and Magic Kingdom to increase capacity, including expanding the borders of the parks themselves.
D’Amaro stated that the parks’ management teams and Imagineers were always hard at work to not only improve the guest experience at the resorts but to include additional capacity in several ways.
Josh explained that one of the primary ways Disney increases capacity at the parks is by adding attractions. Recently, Tron: Lightcycle / Run was added outside the “berm” or border boundary of Magic Kingdom, increasing the park’s actual space and adding capacity with an additional attraction.
Adding a ride or show to a theme park increases capacity because many visitors spend time waiting in line or experiencing the attraction itself, which in turn allows more people to navigate the park comfortably. In Disneyland, Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway was added in January. The reimagining of Toontown also opened recently. These two additions increased the respective park’s current capacity as well.
Current Park Bounds and Berms
D’Amaro then stated that Disney believes there is plenty of opportunity within the parks’ footprints to increase capacity inside current bounds by way of additional attractions or reimagining spaces. In addition, he stated they have space both in and beyond the park berms, claiming they can utilize this space outside the current boundaries “pretty aggressively” at both Magic Kingdom and at Disneyland in Anaheim.
We have plenty of opportunity within these existing footprints to optimize. To find ways to increase capacity of existing attractions. And we have space within what we’ll call the “berm,” Tron is a good example of that, to build additional capacity in. That said, and this is sometimes a misconception, we have plenty of opportunity outside of the berms of those theme parks to continue to grow pretty aggressively at Walt Disney World, at the Magic Kingdom. At Disneyland.
Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro
Disney parks have expanded this way in the past already. Both Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge and the Mickey & Minnie Runaway Railway attraction at Disneyland were added beyond the park’s former boundaries. This also occurred internationally, at Hong Kong Disneyland. Over a decade ago, the Hong Kong Disneyland expansion added three new lands beyond the train tracks, expanding the park’s boundaries.
Disney has historically used parks’ berms to increase capacity, and D’Amaro states they will continue this trend.
Disneyland Forward
Also for Disneyland, the community outreach group Disneyland Forward allows the company to look at their entitlements and significantly increase the Anaheim resort parks’ capacities, both inside the current park boundaries and within the parks’ berms. D’Amaro stated that most people do not realize how much potential they still have at their parks in California.
We have a project in place called Disneyland Forward which allows us to look at our entitlements and significantly increase the footprint from a capacity and attractions perspective. So that’s underway right now.
We have both internal opportunities to grow capacity and create new experiences and opportunities outside of the berm to essentially expand the size of these theme parks.
Disney Parks Chairman Josh D’Amaro
In addition to specific notations on space and capacity, D’Amaro explained that with intellectual properties such as Marvel and Star Wars continually adding new content, Imagineers and executives are able to bring these to life in the parks just as easily and with as much excitement as their older content. He used Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway as an example of using a very old content property to spark guest delight, stating that all of the properties in their portfolio are “incredibly powerful.” He intends to continue utilizing a range of these properties in parks moving forward.
It’s possible this means Disney is moving forward with Beyond Big Thunder, the “Blue Sky” concept for several lands in Magic Kingdom announced at D23 last year.
Other Announcements
Also during the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media & Communications Conference, Josh D’Amaro made other announcements, as well. He claimed that Disney World’s closure of the Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser in September will enable them to claim a tax write-off of approximately $300 million. Check out the full article on this announcement here.
He also spoke on the overall financial success of the company, that park attendance at Walt Disney World would be “moderated,” this year with the end of the 50th Anniversary Celebration, and that international parks were performing admirably in both capacity volume and guest spend.
What are your thoughts on Disney potentially expanding park boundaries? We’d love to see your opinions in the comments below.
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The Starcruiser’s last voyage will be from September 28th through the 30th (this final trip is now sold out). Disney executive Josh D’Amaro just shared more details about WHY the Starcruiser failed and how this will affect The Walt Disney Company.
On Monday, May 22nd, Josh D’Amaro participated in a Q&A session as part of the JP Morgan Global Technology, Media, and Communications Conference. D’Amaro is the Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences, and Products at The Walt Disney Company. He was interviewed by Phil Cusick.
Josh D’Amaro, Head of Disney Parks and Resorts
During the interview, Cusick asked D’Amaro about Disney’s future plans for the parks. D’Amaro said, “We’ve invested aggressively in these parks,” mentioning the upcoming Frozen lands at a few international Disney parks as well as the new Avengers Campus at Disneyland Paris.
Cusick then asked D’Amaro, “You’re closing Starcruiser — What drove that and how should we think about the impact?”
Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser
D’Amaro responded by stating that the Galactic Starcruise hotel is “a pretty stunning asset.” He said, “It’s essentially a spaceship that guests board, themed out to feel exactly like Star Wars. Our Imagineers did an incredible job pulling this asset together, and our guests gave it very high ratings.” Despite those high ratings, however, D’Amaro said, “It didn’t perform exactly like we wanted it to perform, so we decided that we’re going to sunset this in September.”
Starcruiser cabin
Although the hotel apparently didn’t fulfill Disney’s expectations, D’Amaro emphasized that the Cast Members who ran the hotel did everything they could have done: “Our Cast Members […] did just an exceptional job.”
Starcruiser Cast Members
D’Amaro went on to say, “We did decide that, despite the fact that this was a never-before-seen type of experience, and I think it’s raised the bar from a creativity perspective on where we can go next, we thought it was time to sunset this beginning in September.” Disney has adopted this optimistic perspective on the Star Wars hotel’s closure, repeatedly emphasizing that they will take the lessons they’ve learned from the experience and apply those to future experiences.
Breakfast on the Starcruiser
In Disney’s initial statement about the hotel’s closure, they said, “Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser is one of our most creative projects ever and has been praised by our guests and recognized for setting a new bar for innovation and immersive entertainment. This premium, boutique experience gave us the opportunity to try new things on a smaller scale of 100 rooms, and as we prepare for its final voyage, we will take what we’ve learned to create future experiences that can reach more of our guests and fans.” Details on what will happen to the building and location have not yet been shared. Thus far, there are no current plans to announce.
Starcruiser entrance
The “smaller scale” mentioned in that statement may have been one of the problems with this hotel. With just 100 rooms, the hotel just can’t accommodate huge numbers of guests. In the JP Morgan interview, D’Amaro noted that the size of the hotel means that its closure won’t have much of an impact in terms of Disney World’s capacity: “The Galactic Starcruiser got a fair amount of attention. It’s a boutique hotel — it’s 100 rooms — and if you think about Walt Disney World, it’s actually 30,000 rooms. So this is this very very small in the context of what we deliver at Walt Disney World.”
Hallway to Passenger Cabins
In terms of the financial impact of the hotel’s closure on Disney, D’Amaro said, “I will note […] in both Q3 and Q4, as we accelerate depreciation on that Starcruiser, we should expect about $100 to $150 million acceleration in depreciation.” Cusick clarified that D’Amaro meant $100 to $150 million in each of the quarters (not total), to which D’Amaro said, “Correct.” In other words, Disney expects to lose about $100 to $150 million in value in both Q3 and Q4 with the Star Wars hotel’s closure.
The Galactic Starcruiser’s final voyage on September 28th to the 30th has officially sold out. Bookings for other dates are currently paused for most guests and will reopen on May 26th. Anyone who had a trip booked for after September 2023 is able to reschedule right now.
The experience is unlike anything else in Disney World, but it won’t be around for long so you’ll want to book your trip as soon as you can if you’re hoping to experience it before it’s gone.
A cabin on the Starcruiser!
Once reservations become available again, you can reach out to our friends at Small World Vacations to help you with all your booking needs, so you don’t have to worry about it all on your own.
Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise.
Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you — they’ve literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They’re DFB’s recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!)
If you’ve been to Gideon’s Bakehouse, you know that the shop is no stranger to all things dark and spooky.
Gideon’s Bakehouse
In case you’re unfamiliar, Gideon’s Bakehouse has locations both in Disney Springs and in Orlando’s East End Market. At the shop, you’ll find perfectly oversized cookies, cakes by the slice, frosting by the cup, coffee, and more — all nestled in a quaint shop with dark-academia vibes. Occasionally, the owner will whip out special recipes in honor of certain holidays, and today is no different. Let’s see what Gideon’s is up to today.
Today, May 22nd, is National Goth Day, which is right up this bakery’s alley. In honor of this holiday, Gideon’s is serving up Black Velvet Cake today only while supplies last. Let’s check it out!
ThisBlack Velvet Cake is covered in black cream cheese frosting and layered with dark raspberry filling. It’s only available by the slice, and each customer is allowed two slices while supplies are available. Can we take a moment to just admire this cake?
What do you think? Will you be headed to Gideon’s to pick up a slice (or two) of this Goth cake? Gideon’s seems to roll out new and delicious-sounding desserts all the time, so we’ll continue to keep you updated when more offerings come our way. Oh, and click the link below to check out more yummy things we’ve seen at Gideon’s lately!
It is beginning to look a lot like…….Christmas!? Especially if you are a fan of holiday ornaments, Hallmark and Disney. Hallmark has released its 50th anniversary Dream Book and it is complete with holiday ornaments from the traditional to Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars. And once again, Hallmark does not disappoint when it comes […]
“When will Walt Disney World release 2023 dates for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party?” and “why haven’t tickets for MVMCP gone on sale yet?” are reader questions we’ve been receiving more. We’ll try to answer based on what we know based on historical release dates, current trends, past demand, and more. As with all of […]
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