Disneyland is filled with secrets and hidden details. These details often have elaborate histories that are hiding in plain sight. In my new book, Disneyland Secrets: A Grand Tour of Disneyland’s Hidden Details, I have collected more than 150 stories behind the small details that are hidden throughout the parks.
Disneyland opened over 60 years ago and now holds hundreds of secrets that are waiting to be unlocked. Learning these hidden stories of the parks is the perfect way to celebrate the 60th anniversary.
Below I have thirteen secrets from the book to share with you. These stories were all collected from interviews (many on the Disney Dose podcast) with Cast Members, previous Disneyland history reading, or time spent roaming Disneyland.
The below are excerpts from the book.
#13 Secrets of the Walt and Mickey Partners Statue
The Partners statue, unveiled in the central hub in 1993 and portraying Walt Disney holding hands with Mickey Mouse looking out toward the future, has several easily missed references to Walt.
According to Disney Historian Jim Korkis: On Walt’s tie there is a small insignia for the Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs, California. Disney had a house there and had the logo stitched into many of his ties. On Walt’s right hand there’s a Claddagh ring in honor of his Irish heritage. Both Walt and his wife, Lillian, purchased Claddagh rings during their 1948 trip to Ireland and wore them often.
#12 The queue of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters is lined with big battery boxes.
Many of these props are labeled Glendale, California, USA. The batteries pay tribute to the home of Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative team of people behind everything in the Disney parks.
#11 A famous, non-Disney character is featured inside Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Behind the middle window of the constabulary is the silhouette of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. He can be seen on your upper left just after leaving the pub room.
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