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174 - Disneyland Secret Agenda
Sep. 14th, 2015 11:36 amMore stuff for my Niece, Hannah, who is doing Disneyland RIGHT NOW! First up, SECRET FUN FREE STUFF...
THE LILLY BELLE. This is not an easy thing to get on! Maximize your chances of getting a ride on this historic train car by getting in line *EARLY*. Like, if the park opens at 9, you get in line at 7:30 and be one of the first folks in the park! Don't get distracted, go DIRECTLY to the Main Street Station and find the conductor there, ask if you can please ride the Lilly Belle today. IF the Lilly Belle is running, and IF there are no VIP's in the park that day, and IF there's still room on the list, the conductor will write down your name and tell you when you should come back.
JUNGLE CRUISE. While you're in line, ask one of the "Skippers" if you can please have a Jungle Cruise Map. It's a fun little handout that shows you where you're going, and not everyone knows about it.
INDIANA JONES. If you're brave enough to ride this one (and I don't blame you if you don't), there are SECRET MESSAGES on the walls of the cue area and at the exit! Use this decoder to learn the secrets of The Forbidden Eye!
They used to hand these cards out to guests so they would have something to do in the line, but they stopped that back in... 1998 I think? But the messages are still there, carved in the walls.
Meanwhile, outside of INDIANA JONES there's plenty of fun stuff to see - look for the house of "The Little Man of Disneyland" at the base of one of the trees near the entrance, it will look something like this:
"The Little Man Of Disneyland" was a Little Golden Book published in 1957 that told the story of Patrick Begorrah, a Leprechaun that lived in the orange grove that Disneyland was built on and ends with Patrick getting to live *in* Disneyland. His house is right there for anyone who cares to take the time and look for it.
In the back alleys of NEW ORLEANS SQUARE, by the restrooms, you can over hear a conversation going on in the apartments above you. Pay attention, it's kind of awesome and if you're lucky you'll see Jack Skellington and Sally come out of their apartment up there to come meet and greet their adoring fans. You'll also be able to enjoy live Jazz at the Cafe Orleans where, occasionally, Princess Tiana comes out to join them!
Up next would be THE HAUNTED MANSION, which is now all decked out for Nightmare Before Christmas! The ride is now SUPER tame and SUPER fun with a Christmas theme instead of being scary! While you're in line, be sure to ask one of the cast members if you can get a Death Certificate - if their printer is working (it breaks down A LOT), they should have it ready for you by the time your ride is done! ALso be sure to ask if you can take a quick peek at the old Pet Cemetary, a special area to the right of the mansion that was supposed to be part of the cue line but never fully happened - they're going to pave it over soon to make some stroller parking area, so see it while you can!
Over in Frontier Land, you can ask to steer the MARK TWAIN RIVER BOAT! If you do, you get to go all the way to the top for the best seat on the whole boat, as well as getting a special certificate! This is one of those things kind of like The Lilly Belle, it's pretty hard to get since so many people now know about it.
And really, don't forget to stop by the BIG THUNDER RANCH PETTING ZOO, because it's going away and you get to pet cute baby goats!
While you're over there, maybe crossing the park behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, you'll notice a little pond next to a boarded-up cave with some railroad tracks. If you stand there long enough, you'll even see some fish jumping in that pond! This is all a leftover from one of the parks original rides, MINE TRAIN THROUGH NATURE'S WONDERLAND. Those jumping fish are animatronic!
On the IT'S A SMALL WORLD ride, my most racist tip - try to maneuver yourself to a position in line where you are sharing a boat with Japanese tourists. They enjoy this ride on a WHOLE 'NOTHER LEVEL, and it's infectious! Also, try not to notice that although every other kid in the world sings in unison and as part of a chorus, the stuck-up Little Mermaid sings ALONE. It's kind of creepy.
Any time you see the MATTERHORN, be sure to look up and try to spot any mountain climbers. Rarely ever there, but it never hurts to look!
On the KING ARTHUR CAROUSEL, look for the lead horse "Jingles" - she's the one with bells on her. She was dedicated to Julie Andrews a few years back, and it's a privilege to get to ride her :)
In TOMORROWLAND, the only thing I strongly recommend that you take the time to watch one of the bands perform at Tomorrowland Terrace.
In TOON TOWN, be sure to go visit Mickey Mouse at his house, it's the best and most personal one-on-one Character Meet-N-Greet in all of forever! Also, shopping advice, check out the shop at the back of Toon Town - it's the last stop that merchandise makes before getting shipped off to Disney Outlets across the country, and it's often marked down a bit!
THE LILLY BELLE. This is not an easy thing to get on! Maximize your chances of getting a ride on this historic train car by getting in line *EARLY*. Like, if the park opens at 9, you get in line at 7:30 and be one of the first folks in the park! Don't get distracted, go DIRECTLY to the Main Street Station and find the conductor there, ask if you can please ride the Lilly Belle today. IF the Lilly Belle is running, and IF there are no VIP's in the park that day, and IF there's still room on the list, the conductor will write down your name and tell you when you should come back.
JUNGLE CRUISE. While you're in line, ask one of the "Skippers" if you can please have a Jungle Cruise Map. It's a fun little handout that shows you where you're going, and not everyone knows about it.
INDIANA JONES. If you're brave enough to ride this one (and I don't blame you if you don't), there are SECRET MESSAGES on the walls of the cue area and at the exit! Use this decoder to learn the secrets of The Forbidden Eye!
They used to hand these cards out to guests so they would have something to do in the line, but they stopped that back in... 1998 I think? But the messages are still there, carved in the walls.
Meanwhile, outside of INDIANA JONES there's plenty of fun stuff to see - look for the house of "The Little Man of Disneyland" at the base of one of the trees near the entrance, it will look something like this:
"The Little Man Of Disneyland" was a Little Golden Book published in 1957 that told the story of Patrick Begorrah, a Leprechaun that lived in the orange grove that Disneyland was built on and ends with Patrick getting to live *in* Disneyland. His house is right there for anyone who cares to take the time and look for it.
In the back alleys of NEW ORLEANS SQUARE, by the restrooms, you can over hear a conversation going on in the apartments above you. Pay attention, it's kind of awesome and if you're lucky you'll see Jack Skellington and Sally come out of their apartment up there to come meet and greet their adoring fans. You'll also be able to enjoy live Jazz at the Cafe Orleans where, occasionally, Princess Tiana comes out to join them!
Up next would be THE HAUNTED MANSION, which is now all decked out for Nightmare Before Christmas! The ride is now SUPER tame and SUPER fun with a Christmas theme instead of being scary! While you're in line, be sure to ask one of the cast members if you can get a Death Certificate - if their printer is working (it breaks down A LOT), they should have it ready for you by the time your ride is done! ALso be sure to ask if you can take a quick peek at the old Pet Cemetary, a special area to the right of the mansion that was supposed to be part of the cue line but never fully happened - they're going to pave it over soon to make some stroller parking area, so see it while you can!
Over in Frontier Land, you can ask to steer the MARK TWAIN RIVER BOAT! If you do, you get to go all the way to the top for the best seat on the whole boat, as well as getting a special certificate! This is one of those things kind of like The Lilly Belle, it's pretty hard to get since so many people now know about it.
And really, don't forget to stop by the BIG THUNDER RANCH PETTING ZOO, because it's going away and you get to pet cute baby goats!
While you're over there, maybe crossing the park behind Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, you'll notice a little pond next to a boarded-up cave with some railroad tracks. If you stand there long enough, you'll even see some fish jumping in that pond! This is all a leftover from one of the parks original rides, MINE TRAIN THROUGH NATURE'S WONDERLAND. Those jumping fish are animatronic!
On the IT'S A SMALL WORLD ride, my most racist tip - try to maneuver yourself to a position in line where you are sharing a boat with Japanese tourists. They enjoy this ride on a WHOLE 'NOTHER LEVEL, and it's infectious! Also, try not to notice that although every other kid in the world sings in unison and as part of a chorus, the stuck-up Little Mermaid sings ALONE. It's kind of creepy.
Any time you see the MATTERHORN, be sure to look up and try to spot any mountain climbers. Rarely ever there, but it never hurts to look!
On the KING ARTHUR CAROUSEL, look for the lead horse "Jingles" - she's the one with bells on her. She was dedicated to Julie Andrews a few years back, and it's a privilege to get to ride her :)
In TOMORROWLAND, the only thing I strongly recommend that you take the time to watch one of the bands perform at Tomorrowland Terrace.
In TOON TOWN, be sure to go visit Mickey Mouse at his house, it's the best and most personal one-on-one Character Meet-N-Greet in all of forever! Also, shopping advice, check out the shop at the back of Toon Town - it's the last stop that merchandise makes before getting shipped off to Disney Outlets across the country, and it's often marked down a bit!
