The Disneyland Book of Secrets 2014: One Local's Unauthorized, Rapturous and Indispensable Guide to the Happiest Places on Earth (90 page)

Court d
es Anges
  (Closed 2013)

[
FastView:
 
A serene escape from the crowds; absorbed by
Club 33
in 2013 – 2014.
]

This isn’t an “attraction” in the sense of an adventure or show, but it’s a beautiful little area of
New Orleans Square
that every Guest in the district should take a moment to see—especially if you have a chance to see it before it’s sealed from the public eye this autumn, preparatory to being incorporated into private
Club 33
.

Over the years
Court des Anges
has served many ephemeral purposes.

Often it has been
pressed into service as retail space during the holidays, presenting merchandise from
L’Ornement Magique
.  It has hosted
New Orleans Square
musicians, too.

In late 2009, the
Court des Anges
was put to use as a setting in which Guests queued to meet
Princess Tiana
and
Prince Naveen
of
Disney
’s Oscar-nominated 2009 hand-drawn feature
The Princess and the Frog
.  This was a short-lived assignment; in February 2010,
Tiana
joined her royal sisters in
Fantasyland
.

In 2012 this courtyard was the site where Guests were given pirate makeovers by the infamous
Pirate League
.

More often than not, however
, this charming little brick-tiled court tucked away behind an arch was often deserted.  It was an enchanting spot to relax for a moment, and a popular place for Guests to snap photographs.  (Please see the “Photos” section of this book for a photo of the courtyard.)

In the
Court des Anges
, a blue-painted staircase winds dramatically to upper levels that are off-limits to Guests, steps lined with potted plants and flowers.  Above the first landing, a statue stands in a niche canopied by a shell arch.  Awning-shaded, shuttered windows grace the upper levels.

Seek out the
Court des Anges
in late September, and drink in its beauty before it’s hidden within the sacred precincts of a refurbished
Club 33
.

Disneyland
Dream Suite
(Private)

[
FastView:
 
V.I.P. elegance very few Guests ever get to see.  This space was originally going to serve as living quarters for
Walt
,
Roy
, and their families.  Note the brothers’ gold initials (
Walt
’s and
Roy
’s) on the balcony.
]

One of
Disney
’s most accomplished artists,
Dorothea Redmond
, was instrumental in developing the style and color palette of this fantastic suite, which was originally intended to accommodate
Walt
and his growing family.  Sadly,
Walt
passed away in 1966.  The rooms were not used as living quarters, but instead served a variety of purposes for the next twenty years.

In 1987
the space was developed as the
Disney Gallery
.  Located high above
New Orleans Square
, on the level above the
Pirates of the Caribbean
loading area, the gallery was accessible via two sweeping staircases that gracefully curved upward from street to gallery level.

In the
Gallery
, Guests who made the climb saw beautiful
Disney
-themed paintings and statuary, and could relax for a few moments in the tranquil inner courtyard behind the
Gallery
’s main rooms.  This serene nook was a hidden treasure that few Guests knew about.

I was glad that my
small niece and I made the climb to the gallery in 2006, and found the courtyard, because the next thing we knew the
Gallery
was closed, its treasures moved to temporary quarters in the
Opera House
on
Main Street
.  The
Gallery
had been emptied so that construction could begin on the
Disneyland
Dream Suite
.

Using
Dorothea Redmond
’s original gorgeous plans for
Walt
’s
Royal Suite
(named for
Royal Street
below),
Disney
builders and decorators, notably
Imagineering Art Director Kim Irvine
, crafted a luxurious living space.  It opened in 2007, not to Guests in general but to lucky Guests who were picked periodically by
Disneyland
’s
Dream Team
to spend a night of luxury in the glorious suite.

Guests were chosen randomly.  You couldn’t arrive at the park and throw your name in a hat, or apply online.  As with those fabulous über
FastPasses
that the
Dream Team
handed out, to be selected you just had to be in the right place at the right time.

Guests who stayed in the
Dream Suite
enjoyed impeccably decorated chambers with a variety of influences, from the Victorian to the French to the wild frontier, the fantastic to the exotic. 
Disney
memorabilia gave historical context and meaning to the suite.  Enchanting touches in each room added to the
magic
.

The
hidden courtyard had become a captivating patio, reminiscent of the
Blue Bayou
, complete with bright paper lanterns and
Imagineered
fireflies, and a fountain resembling the one in the lower courtyard of the
Pirates
queue.

An upper balcony overlook
ing
New Orleans Square
and the
Rivers of America
gave Guests a “suite” (sorry, I couldn’t resist!) view of the river and the mighty
Mark Twain Riverboat
by day, and the nightly
Fantasmic!
performances. 
Walt
and
Roy
’s initials (“WD” and “RD”) were worked into the balcony’s wrought iron railing in gold.

F
amilies that won a night’s stay in the
Disneyland Dream Suite
also served as
Grand Marshalls
of the
Disneyland Parade
.  Their whole day was made
magical
and unforgettable.

Randomly selected Guests enjoyed the truly incredible experience of t
he
Dream Suite
during 2007 and 2008 as part of the
Year of a Million Dreams
celebration.  Presently the property is available for use by celebrities, V.I.P.s, and
Disney
execs, and their families, and by lottery for
Disney
Cast Members.  As recently as late 2013, the author saw a lucky family relaxing on the balcony!  The
Dream Suite
remains closed to general Guests, as signs posted on the grand staircases make clear. 
Did You Know?
 
Dorothea Redmond
, the
Imagineer
who developed the original designs for the suite, worked in Hollywood as well as for
Disney
.  The talented illustrator contributed to many films, including 1939’s “Gone With the Wind” and Hitchcock’s ravishing “Rebecca” (1940) and “Rear Window” (1954).
Walt
, Selznick, and Hitchcock were all geniuses who reached for perfection; it’s a testament to
Redmond
’s genius that she worked well with and was highly valued by them. 
Did You Also Know?
 
Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
also has a
Dream Suite
.  The
Cinderella Dream Suite
is located in the upper levels of the iconic
Cinderella Castle
.  Themed as a 17
th
-century
chateau
, the luxurious suite features
magical
Disney
surprises like a real glass slipper.
Night Vision?
  Those lucky enough to stay in
Disneyland
’s
Dream Suite
enjoy stunning views of
New Orleans Square
and
Fantasmic!
from their suite. 
FastPass:
  No.  Exclusive accommodations, the
Dream Suite
experience is not appropriate for the
FastPass
system. 
Kid’s Eye View:
I think it’s [a bad idea] they closed the
Disney Gallery
to make a
Dream Suite
.  More people used to be able to enjoy it.

Haunted Mansion
(FP October through New Year’s Day)

[
FastView:
 
A
Disneyland
masterpiece and a Guest favorite.  A spooky spectacular not to be missed!
]

The
Haunted Mansion
is one of
Disneyland
’s most popular and beloved attractions, a great success with “foolish mortals” of all ages since its opening on August 9, 1969.  One of the last attractions to benefit from
Walt
’s personal touch, it was crafted by a team of
Imagineers
that included the wildly diverse trio of
Claude Coats
,
Rolly Crump
, and
Marc Davis
, with a resulting complexity and depth of tone and style that blends harmoniously and pleases Guests.

Walt
reportedly liked to team up
Imagineers
with different artistic perspectives and sensibilities in the belief that the constructive friction and debates among them would lead to something
magical
, and it usually did.  It certainly did in this instance!

Because th
e
Haunted Mansion
is such a deeply cherished and heavily analyzed attraction, a few pages about it, while interesting, won’t do it justice to the degree that it deserves.  For a thorough exploration of its history and design, I encourage you to read the books and websites that are devoted to the
Haunted Mansion
; you will find some listed in the “Resources” section of this book.  One of the most comprehensive websites is
www.doombuggies.com
.

Actor, comedian, and kid favorite
Eddie Murphy
starred in 2003’s
The Haunted Mansion
, a live-action
Disney
film based on the attraction.  The reviews by critics and
Haunted Mansion
fans alike were mixed, but if you’re a
Haunted Mansion
aficionado
, you’ll want to rent or download the movie and make up your own mind.  You should also read
The Haunted Mansion:  From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies
, a beautifully illustrated book written by
Imagineer Jason Surrell
.

I scheduled my 2009 birthday trip to
Disneyland
for August 9, 2009, the attraction’s 40
th
birthday.  The park celebrated with an early-morning appearance and signing by artist
Shag
, who’d designed imaginative new
Haunted Mansion
-themed pins, T-shirts, and knick-knacks–even a fantastical shirt, stylish but heavy on the purple and spooky imagery, a must for
Haunted Mansion
die-hards, but for wear at the resort only; its garish ghoulishness won’t translate to the board room or local super market!

It was a crowded day in the park, being one of the last Sundays of the summer season, and I was surprised that the line for the
Haunted Mansion
wasn’t longer, given it was the old pile of stones’ 40th birthday.  Still, it meant less waiting for my family and me, and we were able to enjoy the ghoulish fun and still have plenty of time for other attractions.  (Tip:  The
Haunted Mansion
is most crowded during the Halloween-to-Christmas season.)