Travel Throwback #3: Disneyland

Thursday 26 June 2014
One thing people might not know about me is that I'm a certified Disney freak! My mom took me to Disneyland for the first time when I was two-years-old, and after that I went to Disneyland two or three times a year, most years I even had an annual pass. As one can imagine, I have a lot of Disneyland memories with my mom and my fellow Disney girl, Amy.

For this travel throwback I thought I would take the opportunity to share some of these with you. I dedicate this post to my fellow Disney girls, my mom and Amy, who made so many of these memories with me!

Disneyland Girls in New Orleans Square
Disneyland Girls in New Orleans Square (April 2010)

First off, let me start by saying that one of the things I love about Disneyland is that everyone has their own unique traditions when they visit The Happiest Place on Earth!

One of my Disneyland traditions starts the night before, when I would watch Disney's Sing Along Songs' Disneyland Fun. My mom bought me the VHS before one of my trip to Disneyland to help explain where we were going. Later on we bought it on DVD and now you can watch it here in all its 90's glory thanks to YouTube!

This tradition still stands, I even made Luke watch it with me before our first trip to Disneyland together in April 2010.

 
The second of my traditions is getting a picture taken in front of the White Rabbit from Alice In Wonderland's door. The door is located to the side of The Mad Hatter in Fantasyland. My earlier photographs prior to age fourteen are unfortunately still at my mom's house but I do have a number from my trips throughout high school and beyond.
 
Alice In Wonderland's the White Rabbit's Door at Disneyland
Selection of photographs in front of the White Rabbit's door in Disneyland
 
Now, you don't become a Disney freak without learning a few secrets about Disneyland over the years. Rather than keep these secrets for myself, I decided to stop being so selfish and share some of these secrets with you! So here are my top 5 Disneyland secrets:

1. There is a secret members-only club in Disneyland known as Club 33. Walt Disney had it built to entertain his guests.

Disneyland's members-only Club 33
Dining at Club 33 in Disneyland

2. In the nursery on Peter Pan's Flight, the blocks on the floor spell out "Disney" and "Pan" but look quickly, you'll soon be flying off to Never Never Land!

Peter Pan's Flight in Fantasyland, Disneyland

3. If you are visiting Disneyland for the first time or celebrating a birthday there, then pop over to City Hall in Mainstreet U.S.A. to receive a "Disneyland 1st Visit" or "Happy Birthday" badge!
 
Disneyland First Visit Badge
My step brother proudly showing off his "Disneyland 1st Visit" badge!

3. The statuettes in Snow White's Grotto were gifted to Disneyland anonymously. All the statuettes are the same size but thanks to a little Disney magic (forced-perspective) Snow White appears bigger than the dwarves.
 
Snow White's Grotto in Disneyland
Visiting Snow White's Grotto during our 8th Grade Disneyland trip!
 
4. Walt Disney reportedly wanted to use real animals in Disneyland's Jungle Cruise but was advised against it. As a special BONUS secret, apparently Kevin Costner (one of my mom's favourite actors for some reason) used to be a Jungle Cruise Skipper! I'm assuming this was before his Dancing With Wolves days.
 
Disneyland's Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
Disneyland's Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
Disneyland's Jungle Cruise in Adventureland
This Jungle Cruise photograph would be so different with real animals.
 
5. There are dead bodies in Disneyland! There have been reports of several families attempting to scatter their loved ones' ashes in the Haunted Mansion. Well, they did say there was "room for one more".
 
Disneyland's The Haunted Mansion
Disneyland's The Haunted Mansion

Q: Have you ever been to Disneyland? Do you have any traditions or fun facts?


For more travel throwback fun, be sure to read my previous travel throwback posts to Windsor Castle and London.

Erin x

10 comments:

  1. Those photos of you by Alice in Wonderland's door are super cool! What a lovely tradition! I love Disney too. I went to Disney World Florida and Disneyland Paris, I absolutely adored both!

  1. Thanks Holly! I've only ever been to Disneyland but I want to go to Disneyland Paris so bad! For whatever reason I'm not as interested in Disney World.

    Erin x

  1. Camila said...:

    I have never actually been - and although as a child I had a phase, it didn't last very long, to me the movies were so true and magical that I never thought of going! But my gosh those pictures of you with that door through the years is the cutest and it's such a lovely tradition to do it every time you go!

  1. Unknown said...:

    Yay Disneyland! I am currently listening to the Youtube video you posted. I went to Disneyland in Hong Kong and it was great. Ahhh, I am such a Disney freak too!!

  1. Wow cool post - I love the photos of you through the years, how neat to be able to look back like that! I have never been to any Disneyland - one day... :)

  1. Unknown said...:

    Thanks for all your lovely comments and welcome fellow Disney freaks! I'm glad you liked the post and my memories! You all need to put the original Disneyland on your lists! I hope to one day be able to go to all Disney properties.

    Erin x

  1. Unknown said...:

    I've only been to Disneyland once or twice...but I love that you have your traditions when you go!

  1. Thanks Amy! I love making travel traditions!

    Erin x

  1. Diana L. said...:

    I like the photos of you throughout the years;.. I've only ever gone once to Disney World in Orlando and once to Disneyland in LA

  1. Unknown said...:

    I've never been to DisneyWorld but I certainly will do one day!

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