Every trip to the Disneyland Resort if filled with fun and memorable experiences, and whether you frequent the resort monthly like my family or once every few years, it’s always fun to seek out those special touches that make Disneyland and Disney California Adventure truly magical. Here are five of my favorite hidden gems that make my kids swoon with delight each time we visit the Disneyland Resort.

Fantasy Faire is Disneyland’s new home-away-from-home for the princesses. Here, just to the west of Sleeping Beauty Castle, guests can meet with some of their favorite princesses in the Royal Hall and see charming shows featuring Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” and Rapunzel and Flynn Rider from “Tangled.” But what many guests miss are those special bits of magic that take Fantasy Faire from lovely to simply superb. During the day, my children love to visit Figaro, the lovable cat from “Pinocchio,” who is perched on a window ledge above the exit of the Royal Hall near the entrance to Fairytale Treasures. As he naps, he periodically wakes to look around and keep an eye on the bird in the birdcage next to him. My children love to yell to him to wake him up and squeal with delight when he opens his eyes and looks around for them.

After dark our family always returns to Fantasy Faire where even more special magic comes to life. In the center of Fantasy Faire, a 16-foot-high stone sculpture pays tribute to Rapunzel’s tower featured in the movie “Tangled.” After dark, her hair, twisting around the tower sculpture, comes to life with twinkling lights and enchanting music. 

With three young sons, Cars Land has become an instant hit, but not just because it allows them to feel like they’ve stepped right into the movie or the fun attractions. My kids love discovering all of the “cool” details. Whether we’re eating lunch in the Doc’s Garage section of Flo’s V8 Cafe so that the boys can check out the Piston Cup trophies or reading all of the signs for the storefronts near Stanley’s statue, it’s easy to get lost in all of the small details. By and large, my kids’ favorite detail is Sally’s office at the Cozy Cone Motel. Most guests don’t realize that if they peek inside Sally’s office there are a lot of incredible details, including Buzz Lightyear peeking out from under a small traffic cone. He appears to be on the run and my kids love making up stories about what has brought him to Route 66 and where he’s headed.

While many guests quickly walk through Buena Vista Street on their way to the attractions in Disney California Adventure Park, my family and I take our time walking through this new land, as we are always looking for the special tributes to Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse that can be found in the architecture, décor and even the address numbers on the buildings. Our favorite gem is the Rock Candy Mountain in the window of Trolley Treats. Modeled after an actual concept for Fantasyland drawn by imagineer and Disney Legend Claude Coats in 1957, the mountain is full of intricate and whimsical details. The sweetest detail of all is a tiny snowman wearing Mickey Mouse ears behind a ladder inside the mountain. It’s not easy to find, but with a bit of patience and a keen eye, the kids joyfully rediscover him every time.

Tom Sawyer Island has been a Disneyland guest favorite since it opened in June of 1956. The island is full of magical, tactile experiences that allow children and their families to explore, run and play including pirate caves, a floating barrel bridge and a bird’s-eye view of the Rivers of America through a “real” spyglass from atop a shipwrecked vessel. Best of all, if families make the trek all the way to the back of the island they will find a trove of pirate booty at the Treasure Dig. This dig has unearthed mounds upon mounds of gold doubloons, jewels, treasure chests and more with a Jolly Roger flag behind it all, perfect photos of the kids climbing all over their discovery. The minute my children’s feet touch the ground on Tom Sawyer Island they get lost in a world of make-believe and adventure, which to me is what the Disneyland Resort is all about.

What is your family’s favorite hidden gem? 

Let us know on our Facebook page or by leaving a comment below!


Lisa Robertson is the publisher of Babes In Disneyland and author of the Babes In Disneyland travel guide now available for iPad on iTunes. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram or Pinterest. The Babes In Disneyland Facebook page is a great place to ask questions about the Resort or meet other fans.