The “Little Things” at Disneyland

[TikiTroll]

For our upcoming trip (4 days!) we’re wanting to spend a little more time on all the little things at Disneyland. You know... not the major attractions (although those are all a part of our plan), but rather the little details and elements that highlight the depth and richness of the park. I already have a few things on my list to seek out:

• Patrick Begorra’s house
• Ducks and crawdads by BTMRR
• A variety of hidden Mickeys
• Hidden remnants of original Disneyland, like the piece of fence over by Autopia
• any one of the elusive cats

Is there anything special that falls into this category, whether it is an intentional bit of detail, a piece of history, or just a fun accidental or incidental part of the park that you might miss if you’re not looking for them? Anything special that you seek out on your visits, or that maybe you stumbled across and were like... wow, that’s cool!

No detail is too small or mundane, really. On my last trip I was examining the screws they used to construct things, because I’m a total set-building nerd. So... don’t think your favorite fence post is boring.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

There was a post about this EXACT thing fairly recently, and I can’t find it! I’ll look again later.

 

[TikiTroll]

There was a post about this EXACT thing fairly recently, and I can’t find it! I’ll look again later.

I looked but didn’t see anything! I seem to remember seeing it at one point, but couldn’t track it down so I figured I’d just ask again.

 

[mouschievous]

• One of my favorites is all the Disney Tributes in Tarzan's tree house. I'm one of the old people who really misses it being the Swiss Family Robinson tree house, but I do appreciate the little tributes to various Disney shows and characters (including Swiss Family Robinson!) in the tree house.
• Check out the odd little building that was the original Casey Jr Train ticket booth.
• The Telegraph office in New Orleans Square plays part (or maybe all?) of Walt's opening day message. It could be fun to listen to it and see if you can decode it!
• When you ride the train, you can see a couple of fun things. 1, The T-Rex has 3 fingers, at Walt's insistence, because he thought it looked better than the more accurate 2 fingers. 2 - There is a dog house with the name Indiana painted on it ("we named the dog Indiana!" from the Indiana Jones movie where he meets up with his dad, I can never remember which one is which!)
• Look for Davy Crockett's buckskin shirt and coon skin cap hanging on the cabin on Rivers of American.
• Take a look at the picture on the "Lost Parents" sign on Main Street and see if you recognize the people.
• If you go on Peter Pan, check out the blocks that Nana is stacking.
• Walt and Roy Disney's initials are hidden in the balcony railing above Pirates. The initials are in gold.

 

[gerilyne]

Here is the thread from before I just don't think it has been commented on in a while. In case anyone is interested.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/your-favorite-dl-little-detail-that-you-love.3753513/

 

[TikiTroll]

Here is the thread from before I just don't think it has been commented on in a while. In case anyone is interested.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/your-favorite-dl-little-detail-that-you-love.3753513/

You’re amazing.

 

[WonkaKid]

I know I posted this in the earlier thread mentioned above but it’s still one of my favs.



As you may know, this is at the entrance of Coke Corner. As I understand it, Walt wanted an even number of red and white bulbs. This was the only way that they could be split evenly.

 

[Aurora0427]

Oh my gosh this is awesome!!!! Following along for our Labor Day trip. My daughter loves this kind of stuff!

There is a rock by the castle that Walt sat on for opening day and there’s a photograph of him sitting on it in one of my daughter’s books. If you’re facing the castle, it’s on your left under a tree right next to the walkway that leads up to BBB. The first time we went to DL in June, our eight year old couldn’t wait to show us that rock and the history behind it. She personally thinks it deserves a plaque and shows it to us every time we go! We are traveling for two weeks but I’ll try and take a picture of it in her book and post!

 

[Aurora0427]

Where exactly is the fence post by Autopia??? It’s an original fence from 1955? Must see this!

 

[midnight star]

One of my favorite little things I remember is eating breakfast at river belle terrace (I’m pretty sure it was river belle. It had the pancakes) with my parents in the morning. We were the crazy family who would use precious morning time to eat breakfast at 9am lol. But it was fun watching people walk/run by going to rides. Little things can also be memories you make together!

 

[FrazierFamily]

Where exactly is the fence post by Autopia??? It’s an original fence from 1955? Must see this!

I need to know about this too!

 

[momtohms]

I don’t know if these are all “little things”, but some of my bucket list/to do items for my next trip are:

1. ride Jingles on the carousel
2. Grab a snack and walk the “secret path” by Harbour Galley and people watch as they float by in their Splash Mountain logs after the drop
3. Clap with Peter Tu! He’a an older gentleman that I believe comes almost every day in the mornings and walks around clapping. He also has a special handshake he does with all the CMs
4. Ride the street car (or horse drawn street car/carriage?) with the Dapper Dans - I did this before, but I want to do it again!

I’ve seen the Disney cats on all my trips. One over by BTMRR late at night, a couple around the DLH and Downtown Disney (close to the DLH) also at night. Then a couple hang around GRR that I’ve seen during the day!

 

[Nonsuch]

Where exactly is the fence post by Autopia??? It’s an original fence from 1955? Must see this!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/3-fences-in-disneyland-interesting-disney-trivia.2829932/

 

[Erin M]

I don’t know if these are all “little things”, but some of my bucket list/to do items for my next trip are:

1. ride Jingles on the carousel
2. Grab a snack and walk the “secret path” by Harbour Galley and people watch as they float by in their Splash Mountain logs after the drop
3. Clap with Peter Tu! He’a an older gentleman that I believe comes almost every day in the mornings and walks around clapping. He also has a special handshake he does with all the CMs
4. Ride the street car (or horse drawn street car/carriage?) with the Dapper Dans - I did this before, but I want to do it again!

I’ve seen the Disney cats on all my trips. One over by BTMRR late at night, a couple around the DLH and Downtown Disney (close to the DLH) also at night. Then a couple hang around GRR that I’ve seen during the day!

We've seen Peter Tu a few times and I just love watching him do the handshakes. We heard him clapping on Indy last trip and we got a little excited that we knew a little insider info!

 

[redleader74]

Oh man, I’m the king of focusing in on tiny details. But maybe this type of details are the ones you’re looking for
I really love the green color that they use to paint the low railing along the landscaped/flower bed areas, it’s rich and bright at the same time and they’re always so freshly painted.
I enjoy perusing the souvenirs (often kitsch/camp/tacky ones) at the newsstand just at the entrance near the gates. I love seeing if the same souvenirs I saw/bought back in the 80’s are still on sale now: that funny shaped yello flashlight that had Disneyland in raised red letters, the mickey mouse back scratcher, the giant pencils with eraser top, the accordion fold post card books, etc. These days most souvenirs employ colorful LED’s to an extent.

 

[poptart90]

I LOVE Soarin’ over California and now that it’s back for a bit, I love watching for a particular Hidden Mickey! Have you seen it? FORE!!!!! Lol

 

[TikiTroll]

Where exactly is the fence post by Autopia??? It’s an original fence from 1955? Must see this!

I guess it’s by the subs, actually. Here’s a thread that talks about it.

 

[JoanneAZ]

Where exactly is the fence post by Autopia??? It’s an original fence from 1955? Must see this!

Follow the fencing around the sub lagoon from Tomorrowland, keeping the fence on your right. You’ll see the edge of the lagoon and the 3 fences coming together, different colors and styles. It’s tucked back by the old smoking area.

 

[TikiTroll]

Just realized my link just came back to this thread. Try this one.

 

[Malcon10t]

Take in the windows on Main St. Many people are honored there. I was fortunate enough to be there for Tony Baxter's unveiling.

Spend some time in the small street between Clothiers and Market House. Listen the the "stuff."