Ten Hidden Disneyland Secrets of Magic, History, and Tradition

There are several experiences that Disneyland is famous for—most visitors can tell you the most popular rides, iconic snacks, entertainment, and character meet-and-greets that they look forward to during a day at the park. Visits are often planned around getting on as many attractions as possible, experiencing any special offerings at the parks, and seeing iconic Disneyland entertainment like the fireworks and parades.

However, overlooked details in Disneyland are in abundance. There are so many hidden secrets of the park that you might rush right past if you don't take the time to slow down and appreciate them. Uncover the magic layer-by-layer and you'll find hidden surprises that make Disney special. One of the things that makes Disney so unique is the tiny details of history and tradition you can find scattered across the park.

We have a member of the Mickey Visit team visiting the parks every week, and through our countless trips getting to know the resort inside and out, we have grown to love and appreciate these amazing details. Follow along for ten overlooked details that you'll find across the Disneyland Resort!

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1.  Tribute Windows on Main Street U.S.A.

Perhaps you've been too focused on hurrying down Main Street U.S.A. to catch your Genie+ Lightning Lane reservation time on Thunder Mountain Railroad to stop and window shop. Or you bypass the sounds of the honking Omnibus and the sweet scents of what Candy Palace is concocting. Above all the cacophony of Main Street U.S.A. are the tribute windows. These glass mirrors actually reflect names of Disney contributors and icons who've shaped the studios, theme parks, and company as a whole.

From “it's a small world” designer Mary Blair, to animator Marc Davis and his wife — costumer Alice Davis — you'll find a Disney history book unfolding. Stand in front of the 20th Century Music Company for a tribute to the Sherman Brothers, composers of Mary Poppins songs.  “The Brothers Tunemakers” is painted on the door honoring Robert and Richard Sherman who also penned the earworm theme to “it's a small world”.  Across the way above Emporium, you'll spy Elias Disney's own window. This is Disney's homage to Walt Disney's father.

And, the windows don't just stop in Main Street U.S.A.  Journey to Frontierland to spot Fess Parker's window. Parker portrayed both Davy Crocket and Daniel Boone in early Disney televised series.  He also was a prolific winemaker after his retirement; his wine is part of the Disney's Family of Wines. Walt himself also has a tribute window in Toontown honoring his work with his early Laugh-o-gram series.

There is no specific map of the windows available at the park but you can go online to find updated versions of the windows for any of the Disney theme parks. To earn such a distinguished honor, the person must be retired, have obtained the highest level of service and achievement, and an agreement must be solidified between park management and Disney Imagineers.

The history that goes into these windows is one of the reasons it made our top spot for overlooked details in Disneyland!

2. First Pickle of the Day

Also on Main Street is a throw-down happening that not many guests may know about. This second overlooked detail in Disneyland Resort is the “First Pickle of the Day” button, which goes to the first person to buy this snack.

Walk quickly to the snack vendor between Starbucks and Disney Clothiers, LTD to vie for the first dill pickle of the day. The earlier you get to Main Street, the better chance you have of winning the prize. Afterwards, you can utilize our Disneyland morning strategy to ride popular attractions with a shorter wait time. You can see more on the first pickle Disneyland button here.

Basically, the Cast Member will write “First Pick of the Day” on a celebration button along with the date. Buttons have also popped up celebrating “First Dole Whip of the Day”, and “First Corn Dog of the Day.” For those button collectors, this is a great find!

3.  Walt Disney's Apartment and Bench

The third overlooked detail in Disneyland is a person- Walt himself.  Disneyland Park is the only theme park Walt Disney ever walked so his presence is felt more here than any Disney theme park. Main Street U.S.A. houses some of those memories starting with Walt's apartment located above the Fire Station adjacent to City Hall.

On Walt's Main Street Story Tour, guests can learn facts and trivia about Main Street U.S.A. and get the rare opportunity to visit Walt's apartment during this 90-minute experience. Even if you don't go on the tour, you can still view the light that glows in the window. This light shines continually as a tribute to Walt Disney. This is one of the coolest secret Disneyland spots at the resort!

Next, head to The Disneyland Story Featuring Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln. When you enter the Opera House, you'll notice a bench. The story goes Walt Disney would take his daughters to Griffith Park for a turn on the merry-go-round. He would sit on nearby benches where he'd dream up conceptual plans for a theme park. The bench in the Opera House is one of those said benches.

4.  Disneyland Tours featuring History, Disney Magic, and More!

Along with the Walt's Main Street Story tour, Disneyland Park offers a variety of more behind-the-scenes peeks for guests. I'm a big fan of the tours myself so have been on most. The Disneyland Railroad Guided Tour is a 2-hour tour that delves into Walt's passion for trains. Guests who take this tour can step aboard the famous Lilly Belle car, named in honor of Walt's wife Lillian, and see the Disneyland Park Roundhouse.

Disneyland Park also offers “Disney's Happiest Haunts” tour during September and October. If you're a Haunted Mansion fan then I recommend signing up. You'll get a fun photo op with two of the Hitchhiking Ghost animatronics and a reserved viewing area for the Halloween Screams nighttime spectacular as well! See our full review of the Happiest Haunts tour for everything you need to know.

During the holidays, you can reserve the “Holiday Time at the Disneyland Resort” guided tour. I'd highly recommend this tour full of lots of yummy hot chocolate and gingerbread. Plus, you'll get a great view of the Christmas Fantasy Parade.

5.  Hidden Mickeys: A Treasure Hunt for the Mickey Mouse Silhouette

This next overlooked detail in Disneyland may not be as hidden as one may think but it's still a fun option during any visit. A “hidden Mickey” is the classic silhouette of Mickey with the head and ears. We have Disney Imagineers to thank for these incredible details found on attractions, in shops, and even incorporated into Disney films.

Read our full guide to Hidden Mickeys at Disneyland.

Some are easy to spot such as in the carpet design in Disneyland hotels, some are made up of rocks, plants, or odd shapes. Look carefully while standing in any queue and you'll find some. Cast members do their best to continue the tradition as seen in the Haunted Mansion ballroom. Usually, one of the place settings is designed with the Mickey Mouse head. You can create your own list, download several online, or even purchase books about the “hidden Mickeys.”

6.  Disney “Easter Egg” Details that Reference Disney Characters, Movies, Attractions, and More!

The Disney “Easter Egg” is one of my favorite overlooked details in Disneyland.  These hidden surprises usually reference another Disney entity such as a character, movie, attraction, or even Walt himself.  Disney Imagineers love to tease guests with blasts from the past or ongoing Disney stories.  Here are a few I've found over the years.

DISNEYLAND PARK

• One of the easier hidden props to view is the Evil Queen who stands menacingly in the window above Snow White's Enchanted Wish in Fantasyland.  You have to look quickly to see her before the curtain closes on her.
• On the backside of Sleeping Beauty's Castle, look up and sometimes (not often but it happens) you'll view spears and bows leaning against the castle bailey (walkway).  This is in reference to the guards sleeping because of the curse Maleficent placed on Princess Aurora's kingdom.
• I discovered my favorite Disneyland “Easter egg” about a decade after the fact so even as a seasoned guest, I still find new things.  This hidden surprise is on The Many Adventures of Winnie-the-Pooh.  Once you pass the great room where Pooh Bear is spinning in his honey pot, turn quickly and look up.  You can spot some very familiar faces from one of Disneyland's most beloved attractions- Country Bear Jamboree.  Buff, Melvin, and Max are still just hanging around albeit a bit more privately now.  (Note- you must be sitting in the front seats of the Honey Pots in order to turn to see the trio).

DISNEY CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE PARK

• The Little Mermaid:  Ariel's Undersea Adventure pays homage to an off-kilter character who isn't even Disney. Disney (should-be) legend Don Knotts played The Incredible Mr. Limpett– a fishy character in a Warner Brothers movie of the same name back in the 1950s. This undersea character with very similar facial characteristics as Don Knotts, has made his way into Ariel's grotto. You have to look intently to find the character or ask a cast member. And note to the Disney Legends Committee- Mr. Knott needs to be honored. Thank-you from an Apple Dumpling Gang fan.
• Jet to Guardians of the Galaxy:  Mission BREAKOUT! for a terrific Disney treasure hunt. Even if you choose not to go on the attraction (me) you can still peruse the props throughout the queue. Besides a few notable ones from the Guardians of the Galaxy movies including Cosmo the Astro Dog, you'll spy a few familiar Disneyland characters. Matterhorn's Harold the Yeti hangs from the rafters of the fortress queue. He's hard to miss since he's massive but a certain cephalopod is trickier to spot. In the boiler room, you'll see a half-covered portrait (from the original Tower of Terror) and in front is an octopus with a box on her head. She is Terrence the bear's love interest from “Two Different Worlds”, a musical number from Country Bear Playhouse.

There is an abundance of Disney “Easter Eggs” throughout the Disneyland Resort.  You could spend days trying to find just a portion of them.  It's an ongoing adventure with every visit.

7.  Disneyland Resort Coin Presses

Disneyland Resort has pressed coin machines to press coins into elongated souvenirs. Disneyland Park introduced the first two in 1987. The first elongated coin image was Mickey with “Disneyland” emblazoned behind him. The second imprint was Big Al from Bear Country.  These images are no longer available – in fact, a coin with the Mickey image recently sold on eBay for $122 because of its rarity. The plates are rotated out which makes the collecting very desirable because once the plates are gone, they do not reappear.

These stretched coins are the cheapest souvenir from any Disney theme park (minus the free celebratory buttons). To get a pressed penny it costs $1.00.

The idea is simple. Just select the image you desire, put the coins in the slots, and push in the lever to disperse the coins. The machine will press the image on your flattened coin and you'll have a prize to take home in mere seconds. Fold-out books are available to hold the pressed coins. There are also two hand-crank machines located in Downtown Disney District as well. Disneyland Resort does not have an official map of the machines but for a great reference, check out parkpennies.com.

8.  Jungle Cruise Map

This happy little piece of Disneyland memorabilia is available at request on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Yes, it is an actual map of the Jungle Cruise tour complete with the “backside of water.” Just ask the cast member stationed upon your disembarking from the attraction. You have a better chance of scoring one of these if you come first thing in the morning to grab your souvenir of this overlooked detail in Disneyland!

9. Little Man of Disneyland

You can find the dwelling of the Little Man of Disneyland built into the tree that has the Indiana Jones Adventure sign. At the base of the tree, you'll see what looks like a tiny entrance to a dwelling.

This is the tribute to the 1955 Little Golden Book about the Leprechaun who lived in Disneyland. There's never been a sighting of Patrick Begorra, the Little Man himself, but maybe he's only a third-shift Leprechaun.

The story is that Patrick Begorra used to live in a tree in Anaheim's orange groves before Disneyland was built. As Mickey, Goofy, Donald, and Pluto are coming in to prepare for the construction of the park, they find him and bring him to see the Walt Disney Studio to see the plans for Disneyland, and he agrees it can move forward as long as he still gets a place to live there.

This overlooked detail in Disneyland is a favorite of many- you can even find that the Little Man of Disneyland will decorate for the holidays! See how it's decorated for St. Patrick's Day below.

10.  Molly and Millie on Buena Vista Street

The last overlooked detail in Disneyland Resort I'd like to mention is a group of characters who can completely make your visit magical. The Citizens of Buena Vista Street in Disney California Adventure are hilarious! From Officers Clyde and Calvin Blue to Donna Linn de Laria- the unofficial mayor- spending time with these characters will put a smile on your face. Seek out the bike messengers Molly and her sister Millie who deliver packages to the rest of Buena Vista Street citizens. Ask if you have a message because you just might from the big mouse himself- Mickey! What an impressive souvenir to take with you!

Looking for even more Disneyland Secrets? Check The Book

Stuff Even Mickey Doesn't Know

When a theme park has been around for 60 years, it hides a lot of secrets. Disneyland expert Gavin Doyle has swept aside the pixie dust and uncovered little-known stories about the happiest place on earth that will make you a master of the magic.

Doyle develops each of his dozens of secrets into a brief story that illuminates a forgotten moment in Disney history, or sheds light on a neglected area of the park, or reveals something new about an iconic attraction, such as:

• Why is the address of Disneyland 1313 Harbor Boulevard?
• What's up with the Jewish menorah on Main Street?
• Why is there a fake book called “Walt & You” at City Hall?
• Where can you find Sherlock Holmes at Disneyland?
• Is there really a pet cemetery at the Haunted Mansion?

Shhh! It's a Disneyland secret. Until you read this book…

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Plan Your Disneyland Vacation and find Overlooked Details in Disneyland!

The list goes on and on with so many overlooked details in Disneyland Resort.  Maybe you'll find a few of your own during your next visit.  Let us help you plan your vacation! Subscribe to our free deals newsletter! You will receive helpful planning information, exclusive Disney deals, and access to the lowest priced Disney tickets anywhere. You can find more information on planning your vacation here:

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