Health & Wellness Wednesdays

"All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them." -Walt Disney

If you’re planning to visit Walt Disney’s original park in Anaheim, California, you’re likely counting on walking down Main Street, U.S.A., riding on many of Walt’s original attractions, and even stopping in Mickey’s house to snag the perfect selfie. But there are plenty of lesser-known spots and secrets about Disneyland that you might not be aware of.

For example, did you know that the apartment above the fire station was an in-park home for Walt Disney and his family? How about the fact that the resort does not sell gum to help maintain park cleanliness? There are a ton of interesting (and surprising) tidbits about Disneyland to discover.

From where to find a hotel inside the park to secrets about Sleeping Beauty Castle, here are 16 things you probably didn’t know about Disneyland.

Disney California Adventure Park used to be a parking lot.

When Disneyland first opened on July 17, 1955, Disney California Adventure Park was still over 45 years away from welcoming visitors. In fact, the land for Disneyland’s second theme park was originally the parking lot for Disneyland Park.

Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

The Haunted Mansion features a working elevator.

Unlike its Florida counterpart, which just features a ceiling that moves upward, the stretching room inside the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland is a real elevator. It takes guests underground to a passageway, which leads to the ride’s show building just beyond Disneyland's official boundaries.

All of the Rides at Disneyland, Ranked From Worst to Best

Sleeping Beauty Castle uses paint to make it look bigger than it actually is.

Disneyland’s Sleeping Beauty Castle is a mere 77 feet tall. To make the structure look larger and more grand, Walt Disney Imagineering uses a technique called atmospheric perspective. The warmer pink hues are used on the lower towers and the team gradually added blue to lighten the colors near the top.

Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes are not on a track.

Critter Country guests can board a 20-person canoe and explore the areas around the Rivers of America and Tom Sawyer Island. Many parkgoers believe these canoes are on a track, but they are not. This is the only Disneyland attraction that is solely powered by guests.

Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort

A Buddy Pass can get you on a popular ride even faster.

Over at Disney California Adventure Park, single or coupled riders can ask for a Buddy Pass at Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue! This allows up to two people to enter the line at the exit queue and ride with a smaller group who may have waited in the regular line.

Sleeping Beauty Castle has a hidden attraction.

Inside the Sleeping Beauty Castle lies a lesser-known walk-through attraction that retells the story of "Sleeping Beauty." Guests can explore dimly lit meandering passageways lined with interactive dioramas and surprises like Maleficent's shadow moving across a wall.

Carnation Cafe at Disneyland Park features one of Walt’s favorite meals.

Walt Disney was a man of simple taste 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 for lunch and dinner. Obtained from Walt’s oldest daughter, Diane, and The Walt Disney Family Museum, the savory recipe comes from the Disney family cook who was able to perfectly balance the meat and beans for Walt.

Paul Hiffmeyer/Disneyland Resort

This restaurant is a replica of a famous Hollywood theatre that doesn't exist anymore.

At the end of Buena Vista Street, guests at Disney California Adventure Park will see Carthay Circle, a restaurant serving lunch and dinner in a relaxed, upscale atmosphere. This is a replica of the original Carthay Circle Theatre — demolished in 1969 — which premiered Disney's first animated film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves." The interior pays tribute to the film that launched the Disney empire, while also keeping alive a piece of Hollywood history.

The Disneyland Resort has a hotel inside a theme park.

The Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is Disney’s first domestic hotel to be built inside a theme park. The property is located at the edge of Disney California Adventure Park and even has a secret guest-only entrance, which drops people off inside Grizzly Peak near Soarin’ Around the World and Grizzly River Run.

The Disneyland Hotel wasn’t always owned by Disney.

When the Disneyland Hotel first opened in 1955, it was owned by Jack Wrather, who Disney licensed the name. In 1988, the company finally acquired ownership of the property, making everything at the Disneyland Resort owned by Disney, including both theme parks, three hotels, and a shopping and dining district.

Tom Nebbia/Corbis via Getty Images

Walt Disney’s former apartment is located above the fire station.

When Disneyland was under construction in the 1950s, Walt Disney added an in-park apartment above the fire station on Main Street, U.S.A. to shorten his commute. Today, you can still see the lamp in the window (which remains illuminated as a symbol of his legacy). Those looking to peek inside the famous animator’s former living quarters can join Walt’s Main Street Story Tour, which costs $160 on top of your park admission and covers secrets about the thoroughfare and hidden apartment.

Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout! offers six different experiences.

When entering the Collector's Fortress on Guardians of the Galaxy — Mission: Breakout!, you might notice a few familiar artifacts from other Marvel movies, like Cosmo the Spacedog. 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. Since the ride is programmed to select a sequence at random, you may have a different experience each time. If you visit in October, you'll get to enjoy the ride's Halloween overlay, Monsters After Dark, which features spooky video elements, different lights, and a custom soundtrack.

The Mickey Mouse floral design is replanted multiple times a year.

Just inside the gates of Disneyland Park, you’ll see a giant floral Mickey Mouse on the grass leading up to the train station. This flower bed is replaced and replanted six times a year to spruce up the area and make it more festive for holidays like Halloween and Christmas. The display has been a fixture of the park since its opening in the 1950s and it's often the first thing people photograph.

The New Orleans Square Train Station plays a special message.

If you listen closely while waiting to board the Disneyland Railroad at New Orleans Square, you’ll notice that there’s Morse code coming from the small train house across the tracks. The message that’s being relayed is the first two lines of Walt Disney’s opening day speech at Disneyland: "To all who come to Disneyland, welcome. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future."

Disneyland does not sell chewing gum.

To keep the park clean, Disneyland does not sell chewing gum at any of its stores. The rule was created by Walt Disney himself, who wanted to ensure visitors weren't inconvenienced by stepping on sticky substances like chewed gum, cotton candy, or ice cream purchased in the park. While you’ll now find shops carrying cotton candy and ice cream, gum is still nowhere to be found (though guests are welcome to bring their own). 

Matt Stroshane/Disneyland Resort

Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park has a recreation of Ornament Valley.

In the movie “Cars,” the characters all live in Radiator Springs, which lies in the shadow of Ornament Valley and Cadillac Range. Walt Disney Imagineering recreated this space inside Cars Land at Disney California Adventure Park. Here, the Ornament Valley mountain range covers 300,000 square feet and is 125 feet tall at its highest peak, making it the largest rock structure found at a domestic Disney park.

Experience & Adventure

Have you ever taken small kids to Disney? What was your experience like?