The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (224 page)

BOOK: The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth
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Condor Flats
:  (1)
Across from Soarin’ Over California

Hollywood
Land
: (2) Next to the
Hyperion Theater
; between
Disney Junior
and
Off the Page

Pacific Wharf
:  (3)
Bay Area
;
Pacific Wharf
;
Wine Country Trattoria

Paradise Pier
:  (2) Near
Paradise Garden Grill
(formerly
Burger Invasion
) and
Goofy’s Sky School
(formerly
Mulholland Madness
); near
Toy Story Midway Mania

 

Disney California Adventure Rest Rooms (Off the Grid)
:

Buena Vista Street
:  (1)
Carthay Circle Restaurant
, off-limits to general Guests

 

Other Disneyland Resort Rest Rooms
:

Central Plaza
between the park entrances:  (2) West of the
Disneyland Main Entry Turnstiles
, near
Guest Services
and the Lockers; east of the
Disney California Adventure Main Entry Turnstiles
, near the
Guest Services
and the Lockers

Disneyland Hotel
:  (3) Basement level (stairs are across from
Small World Gifts
); near
Fantasia
gift shop (behind the wall with the castle painting);
Convention Center
lobby

Grand Californian Hotel & Spa
:  (3) On your right as you near the lobby, approaching from the
Downtown Disney
entrance; near the pool court, next to
White Water Snacks
; near the
porte cochѐre
at the main entrance

Paradise Pier Hotel
:  (2) Near
Pacific Grill
restaurant; on second level near business services

La Brea Bakery
:  (1) Behind the bakery, near the outside tables

LEGO Imagination Center
:  (1) Accessible outside, entrance in the western wall across from the AMC Theater exit

Wetzel’s Pretzels:
  (1) Accessible outside, entrance in the eastern wall of the Wetzel’s Pretzel’s building, across from Häagen Dazs

World of Disney Store
:  (1) Inside, at the back of the store near the western entrance

 

Parking Garage Rest Rooms:

Mickey & Friends Parking Garage
:  (1) Ground level between the escalators and elevators

 

 

Roller Coasters

 

Disneyland Coasters:

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
(
Frontierland
).  Minimum rider height:  40” / 102 cm

Gadget’s Go Coaster
(
Mickey’s Toontown
).  Minimum rider height:  35” / 89 cm

Matterhorn Bobsleds
(
Fantasyland
).  Minimum rider height:  42” / 107 cm

Space Mountain
(
Tomorrowland
).  Minimum rider height:  40” / 102 cm

 

Disney California Adventure Coasters:

California Screamin’
(
Paradise Pier
).  Minimum rider height:  48” / 122 cm

Goofy’s Sky School
(
Paradise Pier
).  Minimum rider height:  42” / 107 cm

 

Though not a roller coaster,
Indiana Jones Adventure
gives Guests that
type
of thrilling and sometimes jolting experience as Guests whip through the expansive dark ride up and down hills and around corners.  Looking for
Grizzly River Run
(
DCA
) or
Splash Mountain
(
Disneyland
) on this list?  Those are thrilling, but they’re not roller coasters.  Please see the “Flumes” entry.

 

 

Roastie-Toastie

 

In every district of
Disneyland Park
you’ll find popcorn carts, and inside each cart a tiny figure turns the crank-handle.  Each figure is themed to the district in which you find it.  The
Tomorrowland
popcorn cart contains a tiny
Rocketeer
.  In the
Toontown
cart, it’s a miniature railroad
Conductor
.  In the
Hub
cart, it’s usually a little mustached
Dapper Dan
wearing striped pants, a red vest, and a straw hat.  During the holidays he’s replaced by a tiny
Santa
.  A small clowns turn the crank near
Storybook Land Canal
and
“it’s a small world,”
and in the cart near the
Matterhorn
, it’s a wee
Abominable Snowman

Frontierland
?  A dapper little
Dapper Dan
lad in blue-striped pants, blue vest, and straw hat–or, as spotted in the last couple of years, a tiny
Davy Crockett
complete with signature coonskin cap. 
New Orleans Square
?  A teeny undertaker with top hat, tuxedo, and green skin; except during the holidays when he’s spelled by
Oogie Boogie
.  What are all these eensy minions called? 
Roastie-Toasties
.  According to a late December 2012 post at the
Disney Parks
blog, the little figures–also known as
Popcorn People
or
Secret Popcorn People
—have
always
been part of
Disneyland
’s popcorn carts (manufactured by
C. Cretors
), although they began life as clowns.  It took some time before the
secret popcorn people
were costumed and themed to their lands.  See how many
Roastie-Toasties
you can spot during your visit!

 

 

Scary Adventures

 

Do you l
ike a good scare with a spooky, supernatural flavor?  Check out these attractions, which are renowned for their delightfully eerie environments and their chillingly imaginative special effects.  Be forewarned, however; they might be too frightening for some Guests, particularly small children:

 

Disneyland’s Scary Attractions:

Ghost Galaxy
(
Tomorrowland
) – Halloween season only

Haunted Mansion
(
New Orleans Square
)

Indiana Jones Adventure
(
Adventureland)

Pirates of the Caribbean
(
New Orleans Square
)

Snow White’s Scary Adventures
(
Fantasyland
)

 

Disney California Adventure’s Scary Attractions:

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
(
Hollywood Land
)

 

 

Shoes

 

Between navigating the parks and queuing, you’re going to walk at least a couple of miles a day, and more if you do a lot of park-hopping between
Disneyland
and
DCA
, or are first-timers who retrace your steps a lot as you learn your way around.  It’s imperative that you wear enclosed, comfortable shoes or sneakers (tennies) that you’ve already broken in, and comfortable socks that breathe.  This is
not
the day to break in new shoes or go without socks; your blistered tootsies will pay the price!  High heels were stylish on opening day in 1955, but have no place in today’s park (except on
Dapper Days
).  Even if you’re in
Anaheim
for a business trip, trade the heels for comfortable shoes before visiting the parks.  Flip-flops are a no-go; they leave toes and heels exposed, all the better for you to stub them on unfamiliar terrain or for other Guests to step on them or run them over with a stroller.  Flip-flops also tend to fall off on attractions like
Soarin’ Over California
(
DCA
) or
Silly Symphony Swings
(
DCA
)–which is actually one of the few attractions you can ride barefoot.  I cannot emphasize this enough:  If you don’t wear proper footwear, you will be extremely uncomfortable at best and, in the worst case scenario, injured.  Don’t let this one detail ruin your
Disneyland Resort
trip.

 

 

Single Riders

 

If you can’t convince your friends and families to tackle your favorite attraction, that just might be a blessing in disguise, because some park attractions offer a special line for lone riders.  These queues are always shorter than the regular queues and often even shorter than the
FastPass
lines.  As of this writing, there are clearly posted “Single Rider” queue signs at all the attractions listed below.  Navigating the queues, however, can be an adventure at times, involving
Single Rider
passes, entering via exits, taking elevators, etc.  Some Guests try to “work” the
Single Rider
lines, queuing with friends and hoping to be seated in the same vehicles.  Be aware that Cast Members seat
Single Riders
in
separate
vehicles to discourage such schemes, with the exception of
Radiator Springs Racers
, where you might find yourselves seated in the same vehicle, but in different rows.

 

Disneyland Single Rider Attractions:

Indiana Jones Adventure
:  Enter
Single Rider
queue via the exit.

Matterhorn
Bobsleds
:  Enter special gate and see Cast Member near the loading area.

Splash Mountain
:  Enter
Single Rider
queue via the exit.

 

Disney California Adventure Single Rider Attractions:

California Screamin’
:  Enter
Single Rider
queue above the
FastPass
dispensers.

Goofy’s Sky School
:  Enter
Single Rider
queue near the loading zone.

Grizzly River Run
:  Enter
Single Rider
queue near the exit.

Radiator Springs Racers
:  Enter
Single Rider
queue near the entrance (left of the
FastPass
entrance).

Soarin’ Over California
:  Enter
Single Rider
queue via the
FastPass
entrance.

 

 

Smoking

 

There’s no alcohol served, sold
, or allowed in
Disneyland Park
, except at private
Club 33
, but smoking is permitted in designated areas that are off-the-beaten path to protect non-smoking Guests from second-hand inhalation.  As with all
Disneyland
amenities, smoking areas are subject to changes at any time, so check posted signs or consult a Cast Member before lighting up.

 

Disneyland Smoking Areas
:
Outside the park’s
Main Turnstiles
(in the
Main Entry Plaza
);
Fantasyland
(between
Matterhorn Bobsleds
and
Finding Nemo
subs);
Frontierland
(just off of
Big Thunder Trail
); and
New Orleans Square
(on the
Rivers of America
, near the
Harbour Galley
).

 

Disney California Adventure Smoking Areas
:
  Outside the park’s
Main Turnstiles
(in the
Main Entrance Plaza
);
Grizzly Peak
(behind
Grizzly River Run
);
Hollywood Land
(adjacent to
House of Cards Lounge
),
Paradise Pier
(near
Mickey’s Fun Wheel
).

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