Best Little Details

[mom23boyz]

I plan on spending time during this trip letting my teenage boys do a lot of running around and riding rides while I absorb the atmosphere. Please clue to me in to any small details or overlooked attractions that I should focus on. I love Disney for all those special details they put in and I want to make sure I look for them. Thanks for any and all suggestions!

 

[SGDisneyFam]

If you take your time and walk the parks at a leisurly pace, then you will notice them.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Look in places that are easy to miss like fences, flooring, sides of buildings, windows, etc. In stores look up for the decorations that are easy to overlook because you are looking at all the merchandise. In Fantasyland look up to see details above eye level. Check out the bathroom signs and trash cans. I started noticing that they are all different and match the land they are in. Check out the Main Street train station. Lots of details in there.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

As far as things to do, since you have teenage boys do you find that you have never done or rarely done the following:

Listened to Farley the Fiddler in Frontierland.
Seen the Dapper Dans perform a whole show.
Wandered through New Orleans Square at a leisurely pace.
Watched the Billy Hillbillies.
Ridden the Mark Twain or Columbia.
Sat at the Hungry Bear seating area and just watched the activity on the Rivers of America.
Listened to a set during the Saturday night swing dancing.
Made a wish at the wishing well.
Spent time in the art gallery or even looking at the various pieces of Disney art for sale in the stores.

Spent time in the Animation building in DCA.
Wandered through Bugs Land with an eye for the details and theming.
Listened to the Mariachi Divas while eating sourdough bread.
Gone through the bread factory tour.

 

[azdisneylover]

I would suggest checking out the popcorn venders' machines. Each one has a different 'person' cranking the machine. Very interesting. Take a ride around the park on the train and enjoy the scenery. Each time I do this, I see different things! I love the train.

 

[stitchy626]

For my DD's 15th b-day she brought a friend so I had quite a bit of time on my own. It was wonderful. I spent over an hour sitting on the floor of the animation building soaking up the atmosphere and then the next day did the same thing in the Disney Gallery (but not sitting on the floor this time )

I took the time to ride the vehicles on Main Street and sit along the water at the Hungry Bear Restaurant. I enjoyed my time alone during the day and then at night we all hung out together. It was the best of both worlds trip. This summer I get to do it again for my DD's grad trip. She is bringing her BF (also graduating) who has never been before.

 

[mom23boyz]

Wow...all really great suggestions. I'm really looking forward to my time alone! Keep 'em coming...I'm making a list for myself. Thank you!

 

[PinkBudgie]

Last summer DH and I kept trying to encourage our two 17 year olds to go off by themselves more (and they did some) but they said we knew all the tricks for when to go on which ride with the shortest wait so they wanted to stick with us! A few times I was able to send all three of them (sons and DH) off to ride Splash while I got some extra shopping time. Having some time to look around the stores without 3 males saying, "Haven't we looked here long enough?" was wonderful!

 

[Disney Dreams]

YAY! Someone who wants to do my favorite thing at Disneyland!!! Take in the fine details that sooooo many people miss while they are checking off rides.

One of my favorite? On Main Street, find the hotel window. Stand below it and listen. You will hear a man singing in the shower, gargling, brushing his teeth, etc.... LOVE it!

Oh, and another... in Fantasyland, after you pass through the Castle from Main Street, look up to the long window to the left. There are drapes that are covering the window. If you wait about 20 seconds, you will see the curtain pull back and the wicked Queen from Snow White peeks out from the curtain.

So many great little things to see! Enjoy!

- Dreams

 

[mom23boyz]

More great details...thanks for sharing. Any more???

 

[CanadianDisneyDad]

one thing we always enjoyed is loooking for the hidden mickeys on rides and walking about.....

cheers

 

[Mouse13]

We love to discover all of the things in DLR that we read about on these boards and realize that we've never seen. Two of the things we're going to find during our upcoming trip in March are the balcony of the Voodoo Priestess in New Orleans Square and the clock that is inside the castle gateway.

 

[Porturican]

YAY! Someone who wants to do my favorite thing at Disneyland!!! Take in the fine details that sooooo many people miss while they are checking off rides.

One of my favorite? On Main Street, find the hotel window. Stand below it and listen. You will hear a man singing in the shower, gargling, brushing his teeth, etc.... LOVE it!

Oh, and another... in Fantasyland, after you pass through the Castle from Main Street, look up to the long window to the left. There are drapes that are covering the window. If you wait about 20 seconds, you will see the curtain pull back and the wicked Queen from Snow White peeks out from the curtain.

So many great little things to see! Enjoy!

- Dreams

Touch the apple at the snow white ride if you never have.

The man in the shower effect is that near the lockers off of main street near and the Ice cream window? If not there is something like what was mentioned above if you stop and listen in that area.

I only recently found the area in New Orleans Square that has the beautiful picture perfect staircase. (when you come off Pirates go to your left and its off that back area, usually there is a cartoonist near by)

I also like to try and look out for the veggiatation they plant in Tomorrowland (lettuce, strawberries, etc...)

 

[KCmike]

Ride in the canoes
Take a ride in the omnibus down mainstreet
Eat a hamburger downstairs at the Hungry Bear Restaurant and watch the boats go by
Ride in the Lilly Belle train car
The staircase in New Orleans is the "Court De Angels" I believe
Sit stage left or right for Bill Hill & the hillbillies
People watch from the mainstreet store with a porch

 

[S. S. Columbia]

Here's a photo of Farley the Fiddler at the Big Thunder Ranch Jamboree.

Photo by DisneyGeek (Saturday, May 5)

According to DisneyGeek, the Cowboy Roundup show is shown at the BTR Jamboree on the weekends.

He said that this weekend (May 5) it was shown at high noon and 2:15pm.

DisneyGeek has many photos at this link:
http://www.disneygeek.com/updates/disneyland_update.php?page_id=67&update_dir=2012_05_05

 

[Pixiafurie]

Two words: Hidden Mickeys

Look closely for them and they will appear

 

[Pesky]

Definitely take some time to poke around Main Street, like listening into the party line phones at the general store (presuming they are still there). Maybe take in some shows that you might not otherwise do, like the Tiki Room. Ride the train.

 

[BELLEDOZER]

I personally love exploring the back alleys of NOS. There's so much to see that get's missed if you are in a hurry. Go visit the Pirate fortune teller there (similar to the one on Main St, but is Pirate themed), and get your fortune read. Look up at the balconies and see all the neat stuff on them. There is some beautiful fountains and statues in NOS that normally get missed if you are in a rush.

 

[krispin41]

Not my photo, but I will be looking for this in New Orleans Sq. during my next visit.


Ship sails by FrogMiller, on Flickr

 

[bakerudall]

I am going to fit in the flag retreat ceremony on our next trip. I have heard it's a great experience.