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A visit to virtual Disneyland

Experience Big Thunder Mountain, Jungle Cruise, and Haunted Mansion from your couch

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Theme parks are closed for the foreseeable future , but online theme park culture lives on. If a Disneyland attraction exists (in the time of YouTube, at least), then chances are a high-definition video ride-through, walk-through, or POV of said attraction exists, ready to be experienced from home.

Disney parks have a fairly lax policy when it comes to bringing cameras on rides to film the experience. While technically, officially not allowed, as long as filming doesn’t pose a safety hazard (which they would on Hollywood Studios’ Rock ‘N Roller coaster, which goes upside down) or use flash on dark rides like Haunted Mansion, cast members permit recording devices on most rides at Disney parks. While selfie sticks specifically are prohibited at the parks, GoPros, iPhones, and DSLR cameras are all allowed. (Which explains how one mad genius covertly directed an entire black-and-white thriller inside the parks.)

Ride-through and walk-through videos are a big part of theme park culture, showcasing many attractions and interactive areas of the park. Since almost every attraction has at least one video associated with it, one can theoretically hit all the iconic landmarks of Disneyland without every leaving the comfort of home. So behold, a virtual exploration through Disneyland, Anaheim, broken down by each individual land in the park.

Adventureland

Indiana Jones Adventure

The Indiana Jones-themed attraction opened in 1995. A dark, fast-paced ride, Indiana Jones adventure is more thrilling than the typical Disney ride experience, sharing a specific ride track technology used at only one other Disney park attraction: Animal Kingdom’s terrifying Dinosaur .

Jungle Cruise

The live-action movie of this classic Disney attraction may be postponed, but you can get your fix — with all the cheesy animal jokes! — with this ride-through video. Jungle Cruise is one of the attractions that opened with the park and evolved over the past 50 years. One noticeable change? The original Jungle Cruise skippers had real pistols and fired blanks at the animatronic hippos.

Tarzan’s Treehouse

The replica of the treehouse that Tarzan’s parents built at the beginning of the 1999 movie isn’t a ride so much as it is an experience. Luckily, walk-through videos are just as popular as ride throughs.

Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room

The iconic Disney park show features a bunch of talking and singing birds. And it’s available on YouTube so you too can relieve the heavily accented birds crooning about their tropical paradise.

Hulu/Disney Plus bundle

Prices taken at time of publishing.

Disney is offering a bundle combining its three streaming services — Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus — for $12.99/month.

• $13 at Disney Plus

Critter Country

Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes

No motors or tracks on this ride! Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes is a free floating boat experience, which takes guests on a tour around the park, following the tracks of the larger Disney boats, Mark Twain River Boat, and the Sailing Ship Columbia.

The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh

This family-friendly dark ride spins up the adventures of Winnie the Pooh. There are versions of the Winnie the Pooh attraction at Disney’s Orlando, Shanghai, and Hong Kong locations, but the Disneyland one is the only one to feature beehive ride vehicles instead of honey pots.

Splash Mountain

Based on the highly controversial Song of the South (so controversial that the movie isn’t on Disney Plus), Splash Mountain itself is a cheery ride about animated animals in a briar patch. The best part about a video version of this one is that you don’t get wet if you sit in the first row!

Fantasyland

King Arthur Carousel

This carousel was actually constructed 30 years before Disneyland opened and operated in Sunnyside Beach Park in Toronto, Canada. The lead horse, named Jingles, was so popular that all the other horses were painted white.

Snow White’s Scary Adventure

One of the attractions that debuted with the park in 1955, Snow White’s Scary Adventure had one major overhaul in 1983. It was set for another in January.

Alice in Wonderland

A dark attraction based on — you guessed it! — 1951’s Alice in Wonderland (not the 2010 Tim Burton one). Unlike some of the other based-on-a-movie dark rides in Disneyland’s Fantasyland, this one is exclusive to the California location.

Casey Jr. Circus Train

A miniature railroad based on thee train from Dumbo , Casey Jr. Circus Train takes young guests on a little tour of the Storybook area of Fantasyland.

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Ride the skies on Dumbo’s back. This is one of the staples of Disney parks, the one they use in promotional material all the time.

It’s A Small World

It’s a small world after all, it’s a small world after all … get all the joys of riding this multicultural ride, without the stank of old water. No promises on if you’ll be able to get the Sherman Brothers’ earworm out of your head afterward.

Mad Tea Party

Take a virtual spin on the iconic tea cups. For added effect, prop your laptop on your lap as you spin your home office chair in time to the video.

Matterhorn Bobsleds

Modelled after the mountain of the same name in the Alps, which borders the Swiss and Italian border, the Matterhorn Bobsleds borders Fantasyland and Tomorrowland.

Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride

This zany ride takes you through the “Wind in the Willows” segment of Disney’s The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad — and to the depths of hell, even though that isn’t in the movie! That’s right, at one point the ride “crashes” and you “die” and get sent to hell. It’s a ride for kids!

Peter Pan’s Flight

Though this dark attraction is one of the oldest in the park, it is still one of the most popular. Is it the enduring legacy of Peter Pan as a movie? Or the fact that Peter Pan is popular amongst edgy Hot Topic teens? We may never truly know.

Pinocchio’s Daring Journey

Based on Disney’s second theatrical animated feature, Pinocchio , this ride was added to the park in 1983, when Fantasyland underwent a huge revamp.

Storybook Land Canal Boats

Take a leisurely virtual boat ride around the Storybook section of Fantasyland. Think of it as the aquatic companion to the Casey Jr. Circus Train.

Fire TV Stick 4K

Amazon’s Fire TV Stick 4K is an all-in-one streaming device with apps for most major streaming services, 4K streaming and a voice remote powered by Amazon’s Alexa. It’s listed at $50, but often drops down to $35 during Amazon device sales.

• $35 at Amazon

Frontierland

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

The runaway railroad ride is a staple of Frontierland across Disney parks worldwide. The red rock designs are inspired by the American Southwest. With sharp twists and turns, it’s one of the more thrilling rides in Disneyland.

Mark Twain Riverboat

Yet another riverboat ride in Disneyland. Fun fact: this boat runs on a hidden rail beneath the ride. The pilot doesn’t so much drive the boat as they serve as a lookout to make sure it doesn’t collide with the Davy Crocket boats or the rafts to the Tom Sawyer island.

Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island

This video captures some of the raft experience, but is primarily a walk through of Tom Sawyer’s island. The island itself was originally just themed after the Mark Twain novel, but in 2007 got a pirate-themed revamp due to the popularity of Pirates of the Caribbean.

Sailing Ship Columbia

A full-scale replica of the first American ship to circumnavigate the globe, the Sailing Ship Columbia takes guests on a 12-minute tour around the waters of Disneyland. It also serves as a pirate ship backdrop for the Fantasmic! nighttime show.

Main Street U.S.A.

The Disney Gallery

Walkthrough video culture runs so deep, you can peruse the art gallery on Main Street U.S.A via someone’s high-res footage.

The Disneyland Story presenting Moments with Mr. Lincoln

You can now watch an animatronic Abraham Lincoln from the comfort of your own home. It’s like the Hall of Presidents in Magic Kingdom, but if the Hall of Presidents was only about Abraham Lincoln.

Main Street Cinema

This video is a little walkthrough of one of the staples of Main Street U.S.A.

Mickey’s Toontown

Chip ‘n Dale Treehouse

Most of the Toontown attractions tend to be walkthrough focused. This one is the treehouse residence of the mischievous chipmunk duo.

Donald’s Boat

Donald has a boat! Here it is. It’s called the Miss Daisy, which is real cute.

Gadget’s Go Coaster

One of the attractions in Toontown, Gadget’s Go Coaster is geared towards kids.

Goofy’s Playhouse

Goofy’s playhouse has a “loony!” layout, according to the official description on the Disneyland website .

New Orleans Square

Haunted Mansion

Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion was already closed for refurbishment back in January. The spoopy attraction features a very catchy song and once spawned an Eddie Murphy live-action movie. Each Haunted Mansion attraction across Disney parks features a different architectural design deepening on what land the attraction is located in. The Disneyland one, in New Orleans Square, evokes old Southern mansions.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Pirates of the Caribbean existed long before the movie trilogy (which to this day remains the only Disney movie based on a ride that’s found any critical success). Various refurbishments, including the addition of a Jack Sparrow animatronic and an update of one of the more outdated parts of the ride where women were being auctioned off , have kept the attraction fresh.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge

Millennium Falcon Smuggler’s Run

The attraction that opened with Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge takes place inside the iconic Millenium Falcon. It’s like one giant video game .

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

The most ambitious new attraction to open its doors at Disneyland had to close them rather quickly. But check out the action-packed Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance with this ride through video (or our own much abridged version from Hollywood Studios ).

Tomorrowland

Astro Orbiter

This high-flying ride is like the rocket ship equivalent of the Dumbo ride, perfect for Tomorrowland’s retro-futuristic aesthetic.

The Disney race track ride exists under different names at other Disney parks. In Magic Kingdom, it’s called Tomorrowland Speedway; in Tokyo Disneyland, it’s Grand Circuit Raceway. The concept, however, remains the same: drive car, zoom, zoom.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters

The Buzz Lightyear attraction is an arcade-style ride where guests shoot blasters at targets. A ride-through video can’t quite capture the thrill of competing against your seatmate, but it’s still a neon-swathed blast (pun intended).

Disneyland Monorail

Disney fans love the Disney monorail. It technically goes around the whole park, but since it’s stationed in Tomorrowland, it fits here.

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

The Finding Nemo revamp of the original Submarine Voyage ride debuted in 2007 and gave the underwater attraction some Pixar characters. Refurbishing the ride was Disney Chairman Bob Iger’s first major parks project as CEO — right on the tails of his acquisition of Pixar.

Space Mountain

Space Mountain, a roller coaster which hurdles guests almost entirely in the dark, doesn’t seem like it’d make for a fun ride-through video (since it, you know, takes place in the dark of space), but you can’t have the full Tomorrowland experience without a ride on Space Mountain.

Star Tours: The Adventure Continues

Because Star Tours contains a lot of copyrighted footage, there aren’t as many ride-throughs of it floating around on YouTube as there are on other rides. This ride existed long before Galaxy’s Edge, and regularly adds new experiences as Star Wars movies have rolled out. The latest version included planets from The Rise of Skywalker .

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Guided Tours at Disneyland (Updated for 2024!)

If you’re looking to enhance your visit to Disneyland Resort, I highly recommend adding a Guided Tour to your visit!

A Disneyland Guided Tour is a great way to learn more about Disneyland, and even see some areas that are usually off limits to Guests.

Right now, Disneyland Resort is offering three tours: Walt’s Main Street Story Tour, Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour, and Cultivating the Magic. There are also seasonal tours – Happiest Haunts Guided Tour and Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort.

Keep reading to learn more about these tours at Disneyland including what you can expect on the tour, how to book your tour, and what they cost.

All About Guided Tours at Disneyland Resort in California

Table of Contents

Walt’s Main Street Story Tour

According to the Disneyland website, on this tour Guests will “Experience Main Street, USA through Walt’s eyes while uncovering the history and secrets of this iconic thoroughfare.”

This is a 90-minute tour led by dedicated tour guide. Guests will also learn how Main Street, USA ties into Walt’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri. The tour is offered daily at various times between 9am and 5pm.

The tour ends with a visit to Walt’s apartment over the Disneyland Fire Station in Town Square, including refreshments and photos on the apartment’s patio – which has never been open to Guests before now. Guests will also receive complimentary PhotoPass downloads taken during their tour.

The cost of the tour is $160 +tax per Guest ( prices are subject to change at any time ). Theme park entry and reservation are also required. For more information, visit the Disneyland website .

*Note the popular long-running tour “Walk in Walt’s Footsteps” is no longer being offered.

Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour

Anyone fascinated by trains will love this tour! This 2-hour tour will cover Walt Disney’s love for trains and offer guests a rare glimpse of the Disneyland Park Roundhouse, a backstage area where train vehicles receive maintenance.

Another special perk of the Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour is a ride on the Lilly Belle, the special train car named after Lillian Disney. (Dependent on weather; the Lilly Belle is not air conditioned and will not run if it’s too hot.)

The start date and pricing for this tour has not been announced yet.

Cultivating the Magic Guided Tour

Learn all about the plants and flowers that play a part in the storytelling of Disneyland Park. The tour starts at the front entrance with the Mickey Floral display, and visits nearly every land in the park, culminating with a ride on the Jungle Cruise attraction. 

Happiest Haunts Guided Tour

If you enjoy all things spooky, this may be the best tour for you. 

This 2-hour walking tour through Disneyland Park gives a history of Halloween tales specific to Disney, expedited access to Pirates of the Caribbean, a photo op with the Hitchhiking Ghosts, a complimentary pin and treat, and reserved viewing area for Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular. 

This tour has not been announced yet for 2024. If the tour returns, tickets should go on sale during the summer.

Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort Guided Tour

As you may already know, the winter holidays are a very special time to visit Disneyland. The Holiday Time tour gives Guests the opportunity to experience some of the holiday fun in a new way!

This is a 2.5 hour tour that is only offered during the Holidays at Disneyland Resort. 

Your tour guide will share fun facts and anecdotes about holiday decor and traditions, and includes a ride on “it’s a small world” Holiday and reserved viewing for A Christmas Fantasy parade. The website also promises Guests will receive “delicious holiday treats.”

This tour has not been announced yet for 2024. If the tour returns, tickets should go on sale during the late summer.

Disneyland Resort VIP Tours

If the standard guided tours do not interest you, perhaps you can create your own private tour! But you have to have deep pockets for it!

Any Guest can book their own personal Disneyland VIP Tour for a group of up to 10 people, for the cool price tag of $500 to $700 per hour, with a minimum of 7 hours. So doing the math, that’s $3500 to $4900 as a starting price. That may sound high (and it is!) but if you split the cost between 10 people, it makes the cost a bit more manageable. 

Personal VIP Tours get you a lot of perks. VIP Guests get expedited access to most attractions, so you don’t have to worry about spending most of your day in lines. You’ll also get reserved viewing for any parades, shows, and nighttime spectaculars (if they are included in your time frame). And before your visit, your VIP concierge will help you with any dining reservations you desire.

Be aware that separate theme park tickets and park reservations are required! Park admission or reservations are not included in the price of a VIP Tour.

To book a VIP Tour you can call (714) 300-7710 or email Disney Special Activities at [email protected] , or visit the Disneyland VIP Tour website for more information.

On the Day of Your Tour

• All tours start inside Disneyland, so make sure you choose Disneyland as your starting park if you have a park hopper ticket and your tour starts prior to 11am.
• At the designated time, go to the Disneyland Tour Gardens which is on the west side of the park, between City Hall and the entrance. You will need to give the host/hostess your name and your tour confirmation number. The person who booked the tour may also need to show their photo ID. You’ll be given further instructions once you check in.
• Your entire party needs to be present when checking in. Late arrivals may not be accommodated. 

Disneyland Tour Additional Information

• Most tours can be booked 30 days ahead of time. Same-day bookings may be available, but it’s best to book in advance if there’s a tour you really want to do during your visit!
• The theme park reservation system has made booking tours a little more difficult. Be sure you check for both theme park availability AND tour availability before booking anything! Note that park hopping is not allowed until 11am. 
• There are no tour discounts for Magic Key holders.
• Guests ages 2 and under do not need a tour reservation. 
• Guests under the age of 14 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the tour.
• There is a 24-hour cancellation policy for guided tours, and 48-hour cancellation policy for VIP tours. If you cancel after that time, you forfeit the entire cost.
• Tours are subject to cancellation for any reason. All offerings are subject to change.

Need Disneyland Park Tickets?

I highly recommend Undercover Tourist for the best prices on multi-day Disneyland tickets!

About Mindy

Mindy Marzec is a life-long Disney fan who grew up in Los Angeles. She started This Fairy Tale Life to share Disneyland travel tips for adults. When not at Disneyland, you can find Mindy at home snuggling with her cats and re-watching Thor: Ragnarok for the billionth time.

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Two Fan-Favorite Disneyland Guided Tours Returning! One Includes Ride On Famous Lilly Belle Train Car

Disneyland's guided tours are one of the best ways to step behind the scenes at Disneyland to get up close to Disney history. Whether it's touring Walt's original apartment or taking pictures with the animatronics from Haunted Mansion, these tours are perfect for Disneyland fans.

Most of Disneyland's tours were suspended in 2020 and we have seen most of them return in phases over the past few years.

Now we have news that two of Disneyland's most iconic tours are returning with one giving guests the unique opportunity to experience a piece of Walt Disney history!

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In this planning guide:

Disneyland Tours Returning Soon

Disneyland has announced the return of two popular guided tours: the Cultivating the Magic Guided Tour and the Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour.

The most popular of these tours being the Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour (previously known as The Grand Circle Tour) which gives guests the chance to view the iconic Lilly Belle train car. Lillian Disney (Walt Disney's wife) designed the interior of the car so the coach was named in her honor. This train car has been given limited access over the years to preserve its history and I am thrilled to see it return as part of this fan favorite tour.

Cultivating the Magic Disneyland Tour

During the Cultivating the Magic Guided Tour guests can learn more about how the plants and flowers play an essential part of the storytelling at Disneyland. The tour includes trips to the flower beds in Town Square, the hub in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, Tomorrowland, the exotic foliage on the Jungle Cruise, and more.

The tour includes front of the line access to the Jungle Cruise as the tour guide explains the significance the plants and flowers have while guests ride this classic attraction.

Tour guests will also receive a special keepsake. In the past these special keepsakes have included pins with the name and year of the tour. See below for an example of the pin I received during the Happiest Haunts Tour during the Halloween season at Disneyland.

Current pricing hasn't been revealed quite yet but I imagine we'll see the cost in the $100 per person price range which is standard for most Disneyland tours.

Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour

The Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour has always been one of the most popular tours at Disneyland since it focuses on such a quintessential part of Disney history which is Walt Disney's affinity for trains.

Guests on the tour will learn about the impact trains had on Walt Disney's dreams and vision for both animation, film, and theme parks. Behind the scenes moments on the tour include a trip to the Disneyland Park Roundhouse which is not typically viewed by the public.

But the best behind the scenes stop includes the special ride on Disneyland Railroad's special Presidential Car called the Lilly Belle. Keep in mind that the trip on the Lilly Belle is not guaranteed, which is the same as in the past, as it depends on weather and other factors. Disney's biggest priority is preserving the history of this famous train car so that will always be top priority.

This tour also includes a special keepsake plus a beverage and pastry. Pricing is not yet available but past pricing was $85 per person.

When Can I Book The Disneyland Tours?

The Cultivating the Magic and and Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour reservations are available starting on April 30th (likely at 6AM PT) for tours that begin on May 11th. You can book these tours on the Disneyland website. 

Disney Visa Card Members receive 15% off guided tours. You will need to pay in full for the tour at the time of booking. Unfortunately, Disney gift cards cannot be used for guided tours. There is a 24-hour cancellation policy otherwise payment will be forfeited.

The most popular of these tours will be the Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour so if you are interested in experiencing this iconic tour then make sure you are online and ready to book so you do not miss out.

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About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay is a college English instructor and has years of writing experience through various nonprofits, charities, newspapers, and online magazines. As the content director of Mickey Visit, she oversees article content and leads our fantastic team of writers to meet guest vacation needs. You can still find her writing weekly content to help make your Disney Parks trip fantastic here on Mickey Visit and Disney Dose- you can also view her recently featured posts on Disney Parks travel on Visit Anaheim, Nerd Wallet and SFGate. Lindsay comes from a dedicated Disney family and enjoys taking her son to the Disney parks as often as possible.

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Will Disneyland get an Avatar land? It’s likely. Here’s what else may be in store

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With the city of Anaheim unanimously voting to pass DisneylandForward , the Disneyland Resort will be forever changed.

Twice in the last 69 years, Disneyland has been significantly transformed. Four years after the park opened in 1959, Disneyland added its monorail, the Matterhorn Bobsleds and a submarine ride and expanded Autopia. It was a message that would begin to fulfill Walt Disney’s promise that Disneyland would never be completed.

Huge Disneyland expansion to add new rides, restaurants and hotels wins OK

Anaheim City Council approves a plan to amend zoning rules to allow Disneyland to build new rides, hotels and stores within its existing footprint.

April 17, 2024

More than that, however, it revealed that Disneyland would continue to look to the future. Disneyland in 1959 showed its guests possibilities — a transportation system in the monorail that could remake urban communities, a tease of the freeway system that would reshape travel and a glimpse at the sort of deep-sea excursions only a lucky few could witness. The Matterhorn, while inspired by the film “Third Man on the Mountain,” also was meant to be a transportive experience, to not only bring to Disneyland a new kind of thrill ride but give visitors a taste of international adventure.

Disneyland’s second reimagining came much later. In 2001 the Walt Disney Co. would open Disney California Adventure, the Grand Californian hotel and the Downtown Disney District. These additions would attempt to make Disneyland, the company’s original park, one that could, in theory, rival Florida’s Walt Disney World by becoming a resort that could demand multiday stays.

This expansion succeeded as well, but not overnight.

The original vision of Disney California Adventure proved to be lackluster, relying heavily on on-the-shelf rides and lacking emotion-driven experiences that take visitors out of their daily life. While the Grand Californian is a Craftsman-inspired triumph, Downtown Disney is in the midst of a transformation and is still attempting to outgrow its reputation as a home for chains and midtier eateries.

And now we’re entering a new era of possibilities, one that likely will look much different from the prior two. Modern Disney is centered on intellectual property — or IP, in corporate speak — rather than Walt-era idealism, and the most tantalizing prospects of DisneylandForward center on building around existing structures rather than erecting a new park.

With DisneylandForward, the company won the flexibility to redesign the resort. Zoning rules will be amended so that Disney can add new attractions alongside hotels on the west side of Disneyland Drive. These will, if they come to fruition, likely be extensions of Disneyland or Disney California Adventure rather than a third park. Additionally, a new shopping, dining and entertainment district can be created to the southeast on what is currently the Toy Story parking lot at Katella Avenue and Harbor Boulevard.

Company brass and the DisneylandForward materials have offered teases of what could be built. Most of these have centered on recent expansions at Disney’s international parks, such as the World of Frozen at Hong Kong Disneyland or Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort. There’s been little ideological talk about the future of Disneyland, as the focus has centered squarely on popular properties and franchises rather than the resort’s status as a cultural hub and gathering space.

But DisneylandForward came with a pledge. The Walt Disney Co. has promised to spend a minimum of $1.9 billion on Disneyland attractions, lodging, entertainment, shopping and dining in the next 10 years. That money can go quickly, with modern attractions costing sometimes in the high six figures, but the Walt Disney Co. also is in the midst of doubling down on its theme parks. Disney has guaranteed to spend $60 billion over the next 10 years in its experiences division, with at least half of that total dedicated to parks and resorts, according to a recent SEC filing .

It’s safe to say that the next 10 years will shape Disneyland for decades to come. While there’s much to be revealed, there are, perhaps, some safe bets. Here are a few educated guesses as to what to expect with an expanded Disneyland in the near term.

Get ready for Pandora

DisneylandForward materials reference everything from “Tangled” to “Peter Pan” to “Tron” as possible experiences that could come to Anaheim. One word, however, is missing, and it’s one that’s been regularly referenced by Disney brass in recent weeks: “Avatar.”

Disney CEO Bob Iger mentioned it at a recent shareholder meeting, even sharing the “Avatar” concept art, which was referred to as “inspirational artwork.” Josh D’Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences, wrote in a blog post after the shareholder event that further news on Disneyland-related attractions such as the “Avatar” experience was tied to the approval of DisneylandForward.

“We are excited about the stories our guests could experience at Walt’s original theme park destination after approval of DisneylandForward — including the chance to experience all-new Avatar adventures with a visit to Pandora,” D’Amaro wrote . And last night in Anaheim, Disneyland Resort President Ken Potrock again teased “Avatar” at the DisneylandForward hearing and vote. Finally, one of Disney’s most respected theme park creatives even posted the “Avatar” concept art on Instagram , expressing the hope of sharing more on the project in the future.

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April 4, 2024

Consider a large-scale “Avatar”-inspired land all but a done deal, and the art shared for Disneyland isn’t an exact replica of Florida’s Pandora — The World of Avatar, which resides in that coast’s Animal Kingdom park. Now where to put it? Expect Pandora to be bound for Disney California Adventure. There’s been speculation that it could replace the area currently served by water ride Grizzly River Run or move into a largely vacant slot of Hollywood Land, but neither is ideal. The latter requires a rerouting of the monorail, and Grizzly River Run remains a popular attraction.

Here’s betting it’s positioned in one of the DCA expansion areas near the Pixar Place Hotel, as that would allow the company to give the James Cameron property a plethora of space, especially if Disney must hide a large show building behind an illusion of floating mountains.

Expect more hotel options

With Disneyland lacking the acreage of Florida’s Walt Disney World, hotel prices in Anaheim are at a premium. Rooms for the recently revamped Pixar Place Hotel — Anaheim’s “budget” option — can routinely top $500 per night. More hotel space is needed, and if Disneyland goes all-in on “Avatar,” expect lodging and more entertainment options to follow close behind. Disney has long touted development of the Toy Story Lot as prime space for hotel, dining and entertainment modeled after Florida’s Disney Springs district.

The DisneylandForward materials mention the land as “the perfect location to cater to locals, conventioneers, hotel and Disneyland Resort guests with restaurants, hotels, live music, shopping, ticketed shows and theme park experiences.” A new proposed parking structure to the north would solve the parking issue, and Disney has done extensive research on this already, as it was part of an earlier, pre-pandemic planned development known as the “Eastern Gateway.”

Walkways to and from the new parking structure would connect the current resort to the new entertainment area. And while fans may want Disney to rapidly fill the available space with theme park attractions, if the resort is planning to increase capacity it’s first going to need a spot for those guests to park. Additionally, Iger at a recent media event said the company likely would hold back some of its theme park funds so the organization could move on the popularity of new films or franchises.

“We actually have a fairly good idea in the near term of what’s being built, but we’re purposefully not going to allocate it all,” Iger said. “Because who knows? In five years we can end up with a giant hit movie — think ‘Frozen’ — that we may want to mine essentially as an attraction, or a hotel or restaurant in our parks. So you want to maintain some flexibility.”

What about ‘Frozen’s’ Arendelle? Or a ‘Coco’-themed experience?

Beyond “Avatar,” which seems a sure thing as it’s been mentioned by Iger on multiple occasions, any future aspects of DisneylandForward become pure speculation. But a couple of franchises may have higher priority than others.

Disney now has a “Frozen” attraction in Walt Disney World, a land in Hong Kong and experiences in the works for Disneyland Paris and Tokyo DisneySea. Walt Disney Imagineering, the company’s secretive arm devoted to theme park experiences, clearly has done the work on bringing “Frozen” to life in physical spaces, and it stands to reason that expansions to the original Disneyland Park, with its fairy-tale feel, would go more of a Fantasyland-inspired route.

What’s more, re-creating Arendelle in the expansion plots located near the Disneyland Hotel would give Disney the opportunity to construct a second castle, as any extensive changes to park centerpiece Sleeping Beauty Castle are prohibited due to structural limitations . The enduring popularity of “Frozen” seems relatively assured at this point, so bringing the franchise to Disneyland is far from a risk.

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But if the company opts to create something unique for Southern California rather than importing Hong Kong’s World of Frozen or Shanghai’s Zootopia, one franchise that seems to be routinely brought up by executives is “Coco.” When mentioning blue-sky concepts last year year at an investor event in Florida, D’Amaro teased “Coco” as a key film that has yet to be properly explored in the Disney parks.

Potrock again mentioned “Coco” in an op-ed in the Orange County Register touting the benefits of DisneylandForward, writing that the initiative could pave the way for “the chance to celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in a ‘Coco’-themed experience.” Disney California Adventure, of course, is home to a Dia de Los Muertos celebration that does center a short “Coco” show, and the property seems especially ripe for Southern California and our heavily Latino communities. That makes it an opportunity to give Disneyland an unique land not found in other parks while also tapping into the region’s diverse fan base. Walt’s original park deserves no less as it looks ahead to closing out its first century.

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Todd Martens joined the Los Angeles Times in 2007 and covers a mix of interactive entertainment (video games) and pop music. Previously, Martens reported on the music business for Billboard Magazine. He has contributed to numerous books, including “The Big Lebowski: An Illustrated, Annotated History of the Greatest Cult Film of All Time.” He continues to torture himself by rooting for the Chicago Cubs and, while he likes dogs, he is more of a cat person.

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A Tarzan deathtrap and an 80ft Goofy: prepare for your tour of scrapped Disneyland rides

A recent auction of designs – including a Pinocchio-themed flume and Anything Can Happen Land – shows how much Disney has changed. But what might the next generation of attractions look like?

S ad to say, but you have just missed out on one of the greatest auctions of all time. Earlier this month in Beverly Hills, as part of its The Art of Disneyland collection, Heritage Auctions sold off a collection of artwork commissioned by Disney, for a number of rides and attractions that were initially conceived for Disneyland but never actually built.

As such, the lots amount to a parallel universe; one in which millions of visitors a year would have strolled through the bellies of giant crocodiles gazing at aquarium exhibits, travelled around on Steamboat Willie’s paddle boat and embarked on another Pinocchio-themed water flume that would have flung visitors through the mouth of Monstro the whale.

Also included in the auction was something called Anything Can Happen Land, based on a weekly segment of the Mickey Mouse Club TV show, that would have led tourists through a maze of attractions based on classic Disney shorts.

Obviously some ideas were never going to make it to fruition. One – in which the park’s iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle was never built, in favour of a nightmarish-sounding 80ft statue of Goofy dressed up as a clown – sounds so terrifying that it isn’t unreasonable to assume that it would have single-handedly destroyed Disney as a functioning entity.

Another, a Tarzan-themed area where children would have been able to swing freely on jungle vines, may well have necessitated changing the park’s motto from “The Happiest Place on Earth” to “The Place Where Your Children Will Almost Certainly Shatter Their Bones”.

What’s so fascinating about these designs, however, is just how quaint they are. The rides and lands are all based on the early years of Disney, when the brand was built on delicate, wholesome films like Dumbo, Peter Pan and Pinocchio. Given what Disneyland is now – essentially a garish, noisy hellscape where various absorbed intellectual properties scream themselves hoarse in a desperate bid for your attention – it’s almost impossible to conceive any of them enduring to this day. The aquarium would have never survived Blackfish, while the proposed Alice in Wonderland walk-through funhouse, as well-intentioned as it was, seems like it was exclusively designed to bore children unconscious.

Indeed, if the auction highlights anything at all, it’s the delicate balance between tradition and modernity that Disneyland has to walk. The original Disneyland Park, for instance, has largely been kept to Walt Disney’s original and slightly stuffy worldview, giving it an air of the Island of Misfit Toys in comparison to the neighbouring Disney California Adventure Park. The latter area is basically where all the cool new inclusions like Marvel and Pixar are kept. It’s also the bit where your children will want to go first.

And this is something that will keep happening as Disney keeps evolving. The bits people like now, like the Spider-Man thing and the Guardians of the Galaxy Dance-Off, will start to lose their lustre over the years and will need to be replaced. The question is, by what?

The newest advertising campaign to tempt more subscribers to Disney+, for example, involves reminding people that it isn’t just a platform for brightly coloured innocence. It’s also home to The Bear, and the Predator spin-off movie Prey. And maybe this will one day be absorbed into the wider Disneyland experience. Who knows, perhaps as we speak some underpaid artist is slaving over his desk conceiving an as-yet unmade world set in a professional kitchen where dozens of people scream at you at the same time until you end up accidentally getting stabbed, or a ride where you’re systematically hunted down and killed by a merciless alien.

Maybe there’ll be a Shōgun world in the future. Or a Renegade Nell world. Poor Things was just added to the platform. Maybe soon there’ll be a walkthrough attraction where you get to stroll through stylised versions of retro-futuristic cities as you are gradually gripped by the gnawing worry that its intended feminism has in fact turned out to be exploitative and vaguely misogynistic. Anything is possible in The Happiest Place on Earth.

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Disneyland | review: disneyland chefs turn up the heat with spicy star wars food, video: watch as we eat our way from galaxy's edge to tomorrowland during the season of the force..

Disneyland chefs have turned up the heat for the Season of the Force with a spicy lineup of Star Wars foods that are as hot as the fiery Outer Rim planet of Mustafar where Anakin Skywalker was left for dead in “Revenge of the Sith.”

The spicy hot lineup of Star Wars-themed limited time menu items are available through June 2 during the Season of the Force seasonal event at Disneyland.

@the.socal.local Disneyland’s Season of the Force is happening now through June 2. The Star Wars festival features limited food items such as Fried Chicken Baos and a Wookiee Parfait. Our theme park reporter Brady MacDonald brought us along to try out some of the new food and drinks fans can get at the Anaheim theme park. To read more about the items we tried visit OCRegister.com or check out the link in our bio. 🎥: Carolyn Burt, SCNG #disneyland #disney #anaheim #orangecounty #seasonoftheforce #starwars #galaxysedge #thingstodo #food #yummy #foodtok #disneylandfood ♬ Powerful sound like Star Wars – Yukari Okano

I tried all the Season of the Force foods and drinks at Docking Bay 7 Food and Cargo in Galaxy’s Edge and Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland and was surprised by the amount of spice Disneyland chefs used to bring a little Mustafarian fire to the Star Wars-inspired dishes.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland explores ‘backside of fireworks’ with Star Wars pyro show

The first thing I tried turned out to be my favorite. The Fried Chicken Baos ($14.99) looked delicious before I even put them in my mouth. The first thing I tasted was the spicy katsu sauce at the bottom of the taco-like folded bao bun.

That bite set in motion an afternoon culinary adventure that left me repeatedly wiping sweat from my forehead and reaching for a cold drink to douse the fire. The creamy slaw and the cloud-like fluffy bao also helped temper the heat.

ALSO SEE: Disneyland adds space whales to Star Tours during Star Wars festival

The Dewback Chili Noodles ($17.99) were less interesting to me, but no less spicy. The chili flakes on the spiced fettuccine noodles weren’t too hot, but the chili sauce at the bottom of the bowl delivered a concentrated kick.

I headed from Batuu to Tomorrowland after trying the two seasonal items at Docking Bay 7. Galactic Grill had a larger assortment of Season of the Force foods and drinks on the menu.

I have extremely low expectations for theme park cheeseburgers. So I was pleasantly surprised by the taste — and the heat — on the Bantha Burger ($15.99).

I’m not sure who Disneyland chefs think they’re appealing to with an Angus beef and vegetable patty. It’s certainly not vegetarians who can’t touch the Bantha Burger. Carnivores like myself might be turned off by the mere mention of a veggie patty — but in this case it was more about introducing a flavor profile than about satisfying a lifestyle choice.

What really made the Bantha Burger work for me were the chunks of marinated pork belly hiding at the bottom of the burger. The sambal sweet mayo mixed with the Asian-inspired slaw delivered a hint of heat that sneaks up on you.

The Ferrixian Fries ($13.49) are essentially chorizo loaded nachos over waffle fries instead of tortilla chips. The hearty portion suitable for sharing is topped with pork chorizo, Oaxaca cheese, black beans, green onions and avocado-tomatillo sauce.

The heat in this case is courtesy of chile de arbol cheese sauce — delivering a kick that’s hotter than cayenne peppers on the Scoville scale.

Fortunately for me, Galactic Grill had a pair of Season of the Force slushies that helped put out the five-alarm fire brewing in my mouth by now.

The “Dark Side” Watermelon Slush comes with a Death Star Glow Cube while the “Light Side” Granny Smith Apple Slush has a Millennium Falcon Glow Cube ($12.19 each).

Most Disneyland drinks tend to be too sweet for my taste. I liked the Watermelon Slush way better than the Apple Slush — which left me recoiling from the mouth-puckering sweetness. These are essentially 7-Eleven Slurpees with tiny toys floating on top. They’re fun, Instagramable and cool you down on a hot day — or after a fiery feast.

The final culinary stop on the Season of the Force menu was also my most anticipated. I love chocolate and nobody does sugar better than Disneyland. So the notion of chocolate done four different ways had me drooling before I even took a bite from the Wookie Parfait ($7.49).

The delectable dessert is essentially chocolate pudding presented as a layered treat. Dig down and you’ll find chocolate pearls, chocolate-coffee crust and chocolate sponge cake. A layer of caramel mousse adds just a little bit of variety.

There are plenty more Season of the Force foods and drinks to try on the limited-time menu at Kat Saka’s Kettle, Ronto Roasters, the Galaxy’s Edge Milk Stand, Oga’s Cantina and Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel. But those will have to wait for another day. My mouth needs some time to cool down and recover from the spicy Mustafarian menu.

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Barry keoghan and girlfriend sabrina carpenter enjoy disney date, barry keoghan eyes only for sabrina magical disney date.

Barry Keoghan and Sabrina Carpenter took their budding romance to the Happiest Place on Earth -- hitting up Disneyland's sister park, where the cool kids go.

Check out these photos, obtained by TMZ, which show the singer and actor hanging out Wednesday at Disney's California Adventure with a group of friends ... where they all seemed to bouncing around and having a good time.

Specifically, we're told they hit up the theme park's Mendocino Terrace wine lounge at one point ... yes, this is the park that actually serves booze, and they wanted adult beverages it seems.

The lovebirds appeared to be in their own little world -- and Barry couldn't help stealing some adoring glances at the blonde. Clearly, the magic's still in the air for the duo -- who've been inseparable since they were first seen together on a cozy dinner date back in December.

The duo certainly appear dedicated to making their high-profile romance work ...  the Oscar-nominated actor jetted off to Singapore in early March just to catch Sabrina opening for Taylor Swift 's 'Eras' tour.

And let's not forget the viral scene recently melting hearts everywhere: Sabrina waving to Barry as he's vibing out during her Coachella set this past weekend.

It's clear BK and SC are still basking in their honeymoon phase ... but if you need more proof, Barry recently droolin' over Sabrina's sultry SKIMS shoot should do the trick!

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Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour

All aboard .

Get a look into Walt Disney’s love for trains and discover the impact it had on the Disneyland Resort. On this eye-opening, 2-hour tour sure to delight both Disneyland fans and railroad enthusiasts alike, you’ll:

Start with a Treat Enjoy a beverage and a pastry to steam power your journey through Disneyland park.

Step into the Past Walk through the park listening to stories about where the idea behind Walt’s train creations first started. Understand the impact trains had on Walt Disney’s dreams—from animation and film all the way to the theme parks.

Catch a Rare Glimpse of the Disneyland Park Roundhouse This is where “the magic happens” for the historic Disneyland Railroad system and it’s not typically viewed by the public. You’ll learn more about the Imagineers that look after the Disneyland Monorail and trains.

Take a Special Ride During your guided tour, climb aboard Disneyland Railroad’s special Presidential Car, the Lilly Belle. Take the scenic route along the Rivers of America to see landscapes inspired by 4 of America’s majestic rivers: the Mississippi, the Columbia, the Missouri and the Rio Grande. Each are carefully recreated, complete with indigenous rock formations, natural forests, wildlife and 5 picturesque waterfalls.

Riding in the Lilly Belle is dependent on weather and availability.

And Enjoy a Special Keepsake A memento to remember your tour is included.

Know Before You Go

Required Park Reservation and Admission

Reservations

Late arrivals may not be able to join the guided tour. Please be prepared to present your reservation confirmation, photo ID and the credit card provided at the time of booking.

This tour is only available during regular park hours at Disneyland Park.

Cancellations

There is a 24-hour cancellation policy. Full price will be charged and forfeited if Guest cancels within one day or is a no-show for the reservation.

Riding in the Lilly Belle

Guests utilizing wheelchairs must be able to transfer from their mobility device to a wheelchair provided at the attraction.

Guests younger than 14 years of age must be accompanied by an adult 18 years of age or older during the entire experience.

Important Details

All prices, experiences, information and offerings are subject to restrictions, change or cancellation without notice.

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