The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (231 page)

Money

It’s no secret: 
Disneyland
is expensive.  Bring as much money as you can.  Even in
the happiest place on earth
, people can argue, and one of the leading subjects of
Disneyland
squabbles is money, or lack thereof.  Do your expense research ahead of time and be ready to pay the entrance fee, with spending money to spare.

Before your trip, visit the
Disneyland Resort
website and/or call your travel agent or
Disneyland Resort
Vacation Planner
to get a realistic sense of what your visit will cost, find deals, and determine how much spending money you can and should bring.  Park food and souvenirs exist at all price points, but bring as much cash or traveler’s checks as you can afford, and bring a credit card just in case.

Discuss your trip budget with the family and friends accompanying
you in advance so there are no unpleasant surprises.  Agree on areas where you’ll economize (for example, staying at a budget hotel) and areas where you’ll splurge (like a fancy meal on the final evening of the trip).  Especially if you have children, make sure
everyone
in the party has a “mad money” budget for each day and that they know that they have to stick to it.

Once you pay the entrance fee,
everything in the park is free
except for food, merchandise, the
Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition
(
DL
), the
Games of the Boardwalk
(
DCA
), and random diversions like fortune-telling machines and the contraptions at the
Penny Arcade
.

U
nless you’re going to buy a lot of
Disney
souvenirs or clothes, your main expense, particularly if you have a large family, will be
food
.  Consider whether a dining package will save you money; seek out mid-priced and low-priced dining options; and perhaps eat a meal or two off property.

Everyone, whatever their budget, can
have a great time in the parks, because at heart it’s about fun, and time with loved ones, more than anything else.

Opening Day Attractions, Shops and Eateries Still in Operation

While the overall layout, themes, and
magic
of
Disneyland Park
haven’t changed over the years, individual attractions, stores, and restaurants have come and gone.

Here is a list of
Disneyland
sites that have stood the test of time since July 17, 1955.  There have been some name changes and refurbs, but they’re still in operation an astonishing fifty-nine years later.

Autopia
(Tomorrowland)

Casey Jr. Circus Train
(Fantasyland)

Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner
(Main Street, U.S.A.)

Disneyland City Hall
(Main Street, U.S.A.)

Disneyland Fire Station
(Main Street, U.S.A.)

Disneyland Railroad
(Main Street, U.S.A.
and
New Orleans Square
(formerly
Frontierland
) stations
)

Dumbo the Flying Elephant
(Fantasyland)

Emporium
(Main Street, U.S.A.)

Golden Horseshoe Restaurant
(Frontierland)

Golden Horseshoe Stage
(Frontierland)

Horse-Drawn Streetcars
(Main Street, U.S.A.)

Jungle Cruise
(Adventureland)

King Arthur Carrousel
(Fantasyland)

Mad Tea Party
(Fantasyland)

Main Street Cinema
(Main Street)

Market House
(Main Street)

Mark Twain Riverboat
(Frontierland)

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
(Fantasyland)

Penny Arcade
(Main Street, U.S.A.)

Peter Pan’s Flight
(Fantasyland)

Snow White’s Scary Adventures
(Fantasyland)

Storybook Land Canal Boats
(Fantasyland)

Although
Main Street
’s
Opera House
and
Fantasyland
’s
Sleeping Beauty Castle
both existed on
Opening Day
, they were lovely facades, not attractions, and their interiors were off-limits to the public.  The castle was all unfinished beams and girders inside, and the
Opera House
was used as a wood mill before and for several years after the park’s opening.

In 1957 the
Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
was opened to Guests; ecstatic visitors could
finally
tour the stairs and chambers of
Princess Aurora
’s castle.

Guests were first invited into the
Opera House
in 1961.  No longer a mill, the
Opera House
’s vast interior housed the massive sets from the 1961
Walt Disney
film
Babes in Toyland
which starred
Annette Funicello
, the most popular of the original
Mouseketeers
.  After the sets departed, the
Opera House
hosted the
Mickey Mouse Club Headquarters
(1963 to 1964), and then theatrical presentations such as
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
(from 1965 off-and-on until the present),
The Walt Disney Story
, the
Disneyland Story
, and
Disneyland: The First 50 Years
(still running today in the
Opera House
lobby).

Escape From Disneyland

As much as effort as it can take to reach
Disneyland
–the saving, the planning, the travel–it can often be nearly as difficult to leave the resort when your visit is over.  How so?


        
The Fun Factor
.  Disneyland is so much fun, it’s literally difficult to say ‘goodbye’ when your visit ends.  Unless you have non-refundable airline tickets home, you might find yourself staying an extra half day or booking another night at your hotel.  If you can swing it–go for it!


        
Just One More Thing
.  Often when your bags are packed and that final breakfast or dinner has concluded, the kids, the spouse, Gramma, and perhaps you yourself will think of a fun
Disneyland
activity that you want to do
one last time
.  One last journey through the
Haunted Mansion
.  One last soar over California.  One last
Mickey Cookie
.  One last stroll through the
World of Disney
store.  One last dash down the
Monorail Water Slide
.  One last riverboat ride along the
Rivers of America
.  One last hug for
Goofy
.  You might not stay another half day–or full day–but you certainly will be departing from the resort later than anticipated.  And it will be worth it.  Note that if you’re staying at one of the resort hotels, you can keep your car parked on property,
without additional charge
, for the entire final day of your visit, up until midnight.  Let the
magic
continue!


        
Elevator Traffic Jams.
  At the
Paradise Pier Hotel
, there are only three elevators accessible to all Guests, and one elevator which descends only for concierge-level Guests.  What does this mean?  Major traffic jams at check-out time.  You can wait
more than half an hour
for elevators with enough room for you and your luggage.  Solutions if you have trains or planes to catch:  a)  If you can foot the bill, stay on an upper-level concierge floor, and take the concierge elevator when it’s time to check out.  b)  Stay on a lower-level floor; you’ll miss out on great views, but you can take the stairs when it’s time to check out.  c)  Head for the lobby an hour or so before you actually need to check out.


        
Taxi Cab Distressions
.  So, OK.  You’re packed; you’ve checked out of your hotel; you’re ready to leave.  If you arrived at
Disneyland
in your own car, you merely hop into it and drive away, bidding ‘farewell’ to
the happiest place on earth
as the peak of the
Matterhorn
recedes in your rearview mirror.  But if you’re among the many Guests that arrived–and must now depart–via taxi cab … aye, there’s the rub!  Around 2010,
Anaheim
taxi cabs were told to begin using very limited drop-off and pick-up zones.  Taxis are no longer allowed to drop off or pick up Guests at the
Harbor Boulevard
entrance to the resort.  Instead, anyone who wants to enter or leave
Disneyland
by taxi
must
be dropped off and picked up at
Downtown Disney
or one of the three resort hotels.  Rebellious taxi drivers are fined if they’re caught breaking this mandate.  What does this mean for Guests?  If you’re staying at a non-
Disney
hotel or motel on
Harbor
or
Katella
, you have to wait much longer for a taxi, as most of them are now clustered near
Downtown Disney
and the resort hotels, clear on the other side of the resort.  And even if you’re at
Downtown Disney
or one of the resort hotels it can be difficult to snag a cab.  Taxis are supposed to be available at the
Downtown Disney
taxi stand (near the
ESPN Sports Zone
) but you’ll rarely find a cab waiting there.  Your best bet is to hail a taxi at one of the three resort hotels.  And even then it can be challenging to secure a cab.  Toughest place to grab a taxi? 
Paradise Pier Hotel
.  There’s no room for taxis to idle nearby, so your taxi has to be called from one of the neighboring hotels.  Be prepared to wait … and wait.  Don’t cut it close if you have a train or plane to catch.  So-so place to grab a cab? 
Disneyland Hotel
.  There’s a nearby taxi queue where cabs often idle, but it’s somewhat hidden behind foliage and depending on the time of day it can still take a while for a cab to pick you up.  Best place to catch a cab?  The
Grand Californian
.  As befits a grand hotel, it
always
has a line of taxis waiting outside its main entrance, ready to ferry departing Guests to whatever destination they choose.  It’s always a bit sad to leave
Disneyland
–so why not depart efficiently, and in style?

Disneyland Fitness

Visits to
theme parks like
Disneyland
and
DCA
can pose all sorts of challenges and temptations if you’re striving to keep fit.  And when walking miles, often in the hot sun, there are health and safey considerations too.

The author caught up with fitness expert and adventure guide Jack Witt of North Hollywood, California, for his take on how to keep healthy and fit while still enjoying the
Disneyland
experience.  He’s the author of exercise books
Tight, Tone & Trim
and
Cut, Cool & Confident
.  For more fitness and health tips and information about upcoming book releases, visit
www.getfitwithwitt.com
.

             
NEW!
  11 Questions for Jack Witt

             
Q:
How long have you been a fitness trainer and adventure guide?

             
I've been helping people, companies, and organizations take charge of their health and wellness since 2003.

             
Q:
What first interested you in becoming a trainer and coach?