Disneyland Secrets & Hidden Details
Disneyland is rich in details and history, and thanks to that, there are a lot of little “Easter Eggs,” secrets, quirks, and fun minor experiences to be discovered, most of which go unnoticed by casual guests. They’re obviously not major elements of attractions or substantial things, but they are layers of detail that really enhance the Disney experience for a lot of guests.
There are tons of things in Disneyland that could qualify for this list. Literally thousands. We’re sure there are plenty of things even we don’t know about! Accordingly, this list is not exhaustive. If you’re really into learning more about the secrets of Disneyland, a couple of great books to check out are the Disneyland’s Hidden Mickeys book and great historical books about Disneyland, like Disneyland Inside Story. We’ve tried to put together a fresh list, so we’ve left out common “secrets” like the basketball court in the Matterhorn (sorry, Travel Channel, if you mention this in every special on Disneyland, it ceases to be a secret), Club 33, the stray cats, and, of course, Disney’s “Best Kept” secret, Disney Vacation Club! However, if you’re a die-hard Disneyland fan, there’s a decent chance most of these will be familiar to you.
Unlike our list of Walt Disney World Secrets, which covered all four parks, there are so many details of Disneyland (the park) that we think it’s deserving of its own list. We’ll cover Disney California Adventure in a subsequent post (and perhaps even a post dedicated solely to Cars Land). Note that we’ve updated this post since it was originally published to remove and add things that have appeared or disappeared!
Here are some of our favorite “hidden” Disneyland details, secrets, etc…
Popcorn Turners – Each popcorn stand in the park has a different character attached to its popcorn turner. These range from a yeti (near the Matterhorn) to the Rocketeer (Tomorrowland) to even seasonal turners like Oogie Boogie (near Haunted Mansion Holiday) and Santa Claus (Main Street). This tradition continued at Tokyo Disneyland, where my all-time favorite one exists in Frontierland–Big Al!
Tomorrowland Future Dinosaurs? – If you look carefully in the planters between Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port and Space Mountain, you will notice a few large, blue eggs among the plants. There is scant information about these eggs online, but a couple of reputable sources have indicated that they are meant to be dinosaur eggs. Dinosaurs in the future? Now that’s a promising future to us! (Out of all of these secrets, this one is my favorite…if you know anything more about these eggs, please share in the comments!)
Secret Restrooms – Indiana Jones Adventure probably takes the cake for having the most little secrets scattered throughout it. One of our favorites is the “secret” restroom in the queue. Our understanding is that this was built out of necessity, as the Indiana Jones Adventure queue is looooong, and waits regularly exceeded three hours when it first opened. Because of that, guests having “emergencies” was a fairly regular thing for a while. There are also “secret” (or lesser known) restrooms in the Tiki Room waiting area.
LEGO Captain Jack – Standing in the scene above on top of a treasure chest is a LEGO Captain Jack Sparrow. You can only really see it if you’re looking for it, and once you see it, it sticks out like a sore thumb on each subsequent ride-through. Unfortunately, LEGO Captain Jack has gone missing since the last refurbishment, but keep an eye out, as he may return.
New Orleans Square Mast – From Tom Sawyer Island, a ship’s mast is visible above the roofs in New Orleans Square. This mast is not visible when in New Orleans Square itself, and to my knowledge, it’s only visible from certain elevated spots on Tom Sawyer Island. Pretty nice touch, especially given that very few people will ever notice it!
Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh – Winnie the Pooh displaced the Country Bear Jamboree, and actual audio animatronics for Max, Buff, and Melvin are actually inside the attraction and visible if you look behind you at the right as you enter the “honey” room during the ride! There are other tributes to the Country Bears throughout Critter Country (formerly Bear Country), including at Hungry Bear Restaurant and above the shops.
Plaza Pavilion Mural – During its early years of operation, Disneyland had sponsors for many (most?) of its attractions and restaurants. The Plaza Pavilion, now the home of the Jolly Holiday Bakery, was sponsored by Stouffer’s, and featured a large, whimsical mural about food preparation. That mural was tragically lost forever, but when Jolly Holiday Bakery opened, a tribute to that mural featuring Mary Poppins was added. Most guests probably don’t realize why that quirky “Poppins Tree” painting is in Jolly Holiday Bakery and pass it up without a second thought, but for those who do know the story, it’s a smile-inducing sight.
Splash Mountain Critters – Splash Mountain features different characters at Disneyland than at Walt Disney World because Disneyland’s wasn’t built entirely from scratch. Many of the Audio-Animatronics figures in the Disneyland version were sourced from America Sings, which was a stage show that used to play in the Innoventions building. Take a look at this article to see exactly how the Splash Mountain AAs were featured in America Sings.
Miss Tilly – Tilly is a mannequin who works at the Main Street Cinema. Her Cast Member name tag lists here as being from Marceline, Missouri, which is where Walt Disney lived as a child. There are references to Marceline throughout the parks, but this is our favorite because it’s understated. Not sure if there’s any significance of the name “Tilly,” but it seems like more than a coincidence that it’s the name of both this Cast Member and the shrimp boat impaled on Mount Mayday at Typhoon Lagoon. For more info about Tilly, check out this post on Yesterland.
Hidden Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Target – In the second room of the ride 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 is a target, and it’s worth 50,000 points. 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 the payoff is great.
Fantasyland Weather Vanes – Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride has a Mr. Toad weather vane, and Peter Pan’s Flight has a Tic-Toc-Croc weather vane. As you’ll learn from another of these secrets, it pays to look up in Fantasyland!
Captain Rex – Just inside the second queue room are a few droids sitting in and around packing crates. One of these is Rex, pilot of the original Star Tours. Rex is marked as defective and can be heard faintly playing audio from the original attraction in a broken manner. Author Kevin Yee has a good rundown of them here. Our favorite Star Tours “Easter Egg” has got to be the “Hitchhiking Droids” (like the Hitchhiking Ghosts from Haunted Mansion), but unfortunately, that’s only at Tokyo Disneyland.
Eeyore Parking – This borders on being too well known, but we think it’s pretty cool. Behind the projector in the Indiana Jones Adventure queue is a sign with a picture of Eeyore on it. The best way to see this sign is to get to the end of the projection room of the pre-show and turn around to look for it. If you still can’t see it, ask a Cast Member. They often carry flashlights and can point it out for you.
Mine Train Thru Nature’s Wonderland Remnants – Mine Train Thru Nature’s Wonderland was, essentially, the predecessor to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, except it was a leisurely train ride focused on sight-seeing and it encompassed a much larger footprint. When it closed, many aspects of the ride were left in place, probably in part due to cost of removal and in part because they added to the look of Frontierland without being obvious elements of a closed attraction. Nowadays, these remnants are fun reminders of the past for Disney geeks like us. I’ve become obsessed with this ride over the years, and given my fondness of other leisurely rides like the Peoplemover, I wish it were still around.
Evil Queen – Above Snow White’s Scary Adventures, there’s a small window (see the photo above) that opens now and then to reveal the Evil Queen peering over guests. Most people miss this small detail because it’s brief, discreet, and above their sight lines.
Morse Code Telegraph Office – I don’t know Morse Code, but I’ve heard from numerous sources that the telegraph office at the New Orleans Square Train Station “plays” Walt Disney’s opening day dedication of Disneyland in Morse Code. It’s either true or this is a carefully promulgated urban legend. Here’s a fun and interesting story about the Morse Code…its level of details suggests that this is true, or the author of that article has an incredible imagination!
Snow White’s Wishing Well – Another Snow White detail is to the right of Sleeping Beauty Castle in Snow White Grotto. If you listen into the Wishing Well here, you will hear an ‘echo’ of Snow White singing.
Jingles – The “lead” horse of the King Arthur Carrousel was dedicated to Julie Andrews in honor of her service to the Walt Disney Company, including during the 50th Anniversary of Disneyland. Ornate decorations and tributes to Andrews were added to Jingles, and these remain today. Jingles is easy to spot as the horse covered with bells (and the most ornamentation).
Party Line Phones – The Market House on Main Street has a couple of 1800s-era party line phones. Pick up these phones to listen into some mundane, yet humorous conversations. With the recent opening of Starbucks, there was some concern that these phones would disappear, but they are still present!
Edible Plants in Tomorrowland – This is another one I can’t verify the truth of, as I haven’t tried to consume them all, but each of the plants in Tomorrowland is supposed to be edible. The idea behind this stems from Tomorrowland’s original role as offering a glimpse into a better tomorrow for America, from transportation to homes to even horticulture. Over the years its vision has morphed to a science fiction land and the plants don’t make quite as much sense, but they’re still a cool detail.
Mailboxes – There are working mailboxes throughout Disneyland. Not a huge secret, but many guests don’t realize that these boxes aren’t just for show. Disneyland used to have its own special Sleeping Beauty Castle stamp for the mail, but now it is stamped with the regular Anaheim, California stamp.
Mike Fink’s Keel Boat – Another remnant of an extinct attraction, this little keel boat along the Rivers of America looks like it’s just one of the many little details added to give interest to the River’s edge for its attractions, but it also serves as a tribute to this attraction of the past.
Swisskapolka – Tarzan’s Treehouse replaced the old Swiss Family Treehouse (which still exists at Walt Disney World), but as a tribute to the former attraction, a phonograph in the treehouse quietly plays the Swisskapolka, which is the catchy theme song from the original treehouse.
Fortune Tellers – The very existence of these fortune tellers throughout Disneyland would almost be enough to make the list, but the bonus “secret within a secret” of Esmeralda (in the Penny Arcade on Main Street) playing cards that are themed to the Haunted Mansion puts her over the top. Other fortune tellers can be found in various “hidden” spots around the park!
That’s the list of our favorite Disneyland “hidden” secrets, Easter Eggs, and other details that we most enjoy! As you can see, a lot of our favorite things are tributes to Disneyland’s past; it’s interesting how Disneyland toes the line between staying current (“not being a museum”) and embracing its storied past. We’ve learned about a lot of these from simply experiencing the parks at our leisure, but also from various D23 events, visiting the parks with passionate Annual Passholders, and from the sites and books devoted to the topics. Big thanks to all of the great resources from which we’ve learned about these secrets over the years!
As for figuring out the rest of your Disneyland trip, including what to pack, where to save money on park tickets, whether you should stay off-site or on-site in a Disney hotel, where to dine, and a number of other things, check out our comprehensive Disneyland trip planning guide!
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Your Thoughts…
Now that you know some of our favorite secrets, hidden references, and “Easter Eggs” found at Disneyland, let’s hear some of your favorites! The ones listed in the article just begin to scratch the surface, so post some of your favorites in the comments!
Is there any news on the blue eggs on Tomorrowland? Yesterday we tried searching for them in the planter that matched the description of the location and couldn’t find trace of them. We asked quite a few Cast Members around and some had no idea what we were talking about, while others had only heard of the rumor.
did you know that the popcorn turners are called roastie toasties?
Tilly got her name from working the “till” or register at the box office.
Trying to pin this post from the mobile version of the site and can’t find any Pinterest icons. I’ll just find it on your Pinterest page, and share it from there, but if it’s possible to put those Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest share icons on the mobile site, that could be helpful for folks to spread the DTB love!
Great post, as always! Nice to learn so many new gems when I thought I knew them all! Hope you two are having a nice 2016 🙂
Does anyone know what happened to the box on the shelf at Starbucks on Main St? My sister said she was there today and it was gone.
What about Bones on Indy!? I FINALLY saw him last trip!
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Occasionally, you can see the ship’s mast from Tarzan’s treehouse. The higher you go the easier it is to see…
i cant wait to go to disneyland
Apparently those dinosaur eggs are gone. I looked all through those planters and was told by aCM when I showed them a picture that they had been taken out.
Hi! Here is a regarding to recommend for 60th anniversary for Disneyland 2 more left attractions needs way to be change as much SAFETIER at Disneyland Park.
But first I would like to thank you all to bringing CAPTAIN EO back at Disneyland Park once again on May 24, 2015, right after sneak preview is done, and yes KEEP “CAPTAIN EO” at Disneyland forever, and no more removing to be replacing something else in any longer, BUT keep CAPTAIN EO 4D ride with same special effects with laser cycle, bouncing seats where floor is moving, and air wind effects, and cold air fresh conditioner fans winding up as everything complete the same special effects the way it should be as CAPTAIN EO is the most and best mainly Home of the theater in Disneyland Park forever as it should be, as I will keep coming to Captain EO ride as that’s where I mostly attending at Disneyland, whenever I come visit, so thank you. I am happy to hear Captain EO returns.
And the last 2 things attractions left needs to be change confirm for what is best rightful way as possible and much more SAFETIER that these 2 attractions must be change:
1. DINOSAUR (new ride for Tomorrowland) to replace Disneyland INNOVENTIONS and since Disneyland closed Innoventions in Tomorrowland attraction in Disneyland Park in California Anaheim and so DINOSAUR is best way to replacement from INNOVENTIONS to reopen the ride as exactlt same type scenes, rides that happened at Walt Disney World in Disney’s Animal Kingdom park in Florida was opened and so it is time for DINOSAUR ride to reopen to replace at INNOVENTIONS this year at Disneyland.
2. SPLASH MOUNTAIN is best to change to REPLACE bring back “THE COUNTRY BEARS SHOW” this year 2015 announce it to make permanently close SPLASH MOUNTAIN forever to make way for original THE COUNTRY BEARS SHOW to be replacing back to Critter Country into BEAR COUNTRY again in return at Disneyland Park.
Because I don’t really like Splash Mountain at all, it was unsafety issue with no seatbelts, no safety bars and this log flume ride really bothers me and my a lot of my friends, and co-workers and my parents, and that’s why we are sick and tired of Splash Mountain and we really wanted Splash Mountain to remove it and replace something like to bring THE COUNTRY BEARS Show in this time for new replacement for The Country Bears Jamboree show to new replacement from Splash Mountain!!!
So Splash Mountain is better way to be taken down forever!!! We’re sick of Splash Mountain and so long time Country Bears show to replace Splash Mountain into make way for new return for the Country Bears show? P.S. Splash Mountain ride is too much waste of time and especially water is a bunch of waste and unworthy as well.
These are all 2 more left best ideas of best thoughts for regarding and inquiries for Disneyland Park in best new 60th anniversary to have this to be change into 2 more new attractions left as best celebrating to be inspire these?
Jeffrey Baek
[email protected]
+1 (949) 422-0750
THIS IS A DISNEY PARK FAN CLUB NOT A PLACE WHERE YOU TELL DISNEY WORKERS WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST FOR THE PARK SO I RECOMMEND THAT YOU ASK DISNEY WORKERS FOR CHANGES TO BE MADE GOOD DAY. P.S: I’m not trying to be rude, so don’t take it the wrong way LEL
For those who are wanting to see Lego Jack Sparrow on Pirates of the Caribbean
just to clarify that it’s been roughly 10 years since the last time I went and even though at that time I had a season pass and went at least once a week for however long I was able to park in downtown Disney for free I hardly ever rode the train. the last time I went I did ride the train and as it pulled into the toontown(?)station I could see a closed attraction that ive never heard of or been able to find anything about. thank you to anyone that knows of this and spills the beans! it was a giant stage designed like a forest. even the seating for the audience had a foresty type of quality. cant find anything on any closed attractions site. what gives? again thanks to any who help!
I remember them doing a disney princess show there back around 2004-06
The Jack Sparrow is now GONE! 🙁 My friend and I are APs and after we found out about it the first time we got so excited to see it every time! Well the next time we came back, ole Jack was gone. I’m guessing a cast member took him or moved him? :/
I’m sad he’s gone too didn’t even get to see him /(*_*)\
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Just a side note to the Tomorrowland horticulture. Each land, including DCA, have plants that are themed to match the look of the land. I know pretty obvious but I love this fact 🙂
We love it, too. Definitely makes the lands feel more authentic.
My favorite secret at the Disneyland Resort is the hidden “incredible Mr. Limpet” in the Little Mermaid ride. He is on the wall opposite of dancing Ariel in the ‘under the sea’ room.
Thanks for these little tidbits. Could you tell me where the restroom is in the Indiana Jones Queue? We were in line once and saw a lady let her child pee right in the queue line. Terribly disgusting. (We did tell an CM)
I was in Disneyland a few weeks ago and while waiting in line for the Peter Pan ride I kept staring at the Evil Queen in the window and I was looking to see if anyone around me would notice her. A few people glanced up there because I guess the noticed I was staring at one spot but the curtain would always be closed when they looked. I found it pretty funny.
I wonder if the dinosaur eggs have anything to do with the train tunnel behind that area? When you ride the train from Tomorrowland to the Main station you go thru a tunnel that has a prehistoric exhibit. It’s actually really cool and kind of a nice little break in the day. Thank you for this fun list! We are HUGE Disneyland fans and can’t wait to experience several things from your list on our next visit. My boys are going to go nuts over the Lego Capt Jack Sparrow!
No, they truly were supposed to be alien dinosaurs added as part of the 90s Tomorrowland overhaul. I don’t know the full story, but they’re unrelated to Primeval World.