Discover the Best Disneyland Secrets

Disneyland celebrates its platinum jubilee this year, and after 70 years of delighting visitors, the beloved theme park still has plenty of fun hidden gems to uncover. Peer beyond blockbuster attractions such as Tiana's Bayou Adventure and Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and you’ll discover hidden details and overlooked attractions that may surprise even regular visitors. Plus, the storied park teems with historic lore—yes, there really is a basketball court inside the Matterhorn—that will enthrall first timers and Disney die-hards alike. Here are the lesser-known offerings and sites to seek out on your next visit to Disneyland and California Adventure.

Go behind-the-scenes with an insider tour.

On Walt’s Main Street Story Tour, guests are treated to a rare peek inside the belated visionary’s secret apartment hidden on the second story of a charming, red brick fire station along Main Street, U.S.A. The Victorian-styled flat looks just as Walt left it with some original furnishings, including a modest kitchen where Lillian Disney whipped up Walt’s favorite chili and a desktop lamp that has remained lit since Walt’s passing in 1966. After getting the behind-the-scenes scoop on the creation of Main Street, U.S.A., you’ll enjoy dessert on the patio of the exclusive dwelling that once entertained celebrities such as Louis Armstrong, Salvador Dalí, and a young Carrie Fisher.

For groups seeking a once-in-a-lifetime visit, a VIP Tour may be worth the splurge. Rivaling a day with a Disney Imagineer, you’ll be paired with a specially trained guide—once dubbed “Plaids” for their tartan vests—who will help create your dream day at Disneyland. You’ll bypass lines for all attractions, enjoy VIP seating at park shows, and snag hard-to-get dining reservations such as at the enchanting Blue Bayou. Along the way, your group will be treated to fascinating insights and hidden details including the story behind the Matterhorn’s secret basketball court and Mickey-shaped electrical outlets in New Orleans Square.

Smart Tip: Disney Visa card holders are eligible for discounted tour rates, but note that tour prices do not include park admission.

Explore Sleeping Beauty Castle.

Did you know that you can explore hidden passageways and stone staircases within the iconic Sleeping Beauty Castle? Originally opened in 1957 and shuttered for many years in the early 2000s, the meticulously restored walk-through of the castle’s darkened corridors features vaulted ceilings, stained glass windows, and illuminated, medieval-style dioramas that tell the tale of the slumbering princess. Guests who are unable to climb the castle’s stairs can enjoy a virtual, CGI-enhanced version within a lavishly decorated, ground-floor room.

Sketch Disney characters.

At the Animation Academy, visitors can learn how to draw characters such as Mickey and Olaf from working Disney artists. Set within the Disney Animation Building in California Adventure’s Hollywood Land, the first come, first serve art classes are open to all—no experience necessary—and are offered every 30 minutes throughout the day. Just show up ready to sketch, and you’ll soon walk away with your own souvenir artwork. 

Spy remnants of Disneyland’s past.

Hidden among Disneyland’s lush, atmospheric surroundings, you’ll discover relics from eras past… if you know where to look. At the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, sharp-eyed guests will spot the stars of the former Country Bear Jamboree show, which once took place at the same site. As a tribute to the bygone audio-animatronic show, Imagineers placed the trophy heads of Max the deer, Buff the buffalo, and Melvin the moose just above the arched opening that riders pass through following the Heffalumps and Woozles scene. Another of Winnie’s pals can be spotted in the line for Indiana Jones Adventure. Tucked behind a rear projector in the Temple of the Forbidden Eye’s Projection Room, a slightly obscured Eeyore parking sign harkens back to the character’s namesake lot that predates the ride. In Tomorrowland’s Little Green Men Store Command, a space-age, Pixar-themed gift shop, a closer look at the rocket display shelf and cashier countertop reveals that they are repurposed carts from the defunct Rocket Jets and PeopleMover attractions.

Tie the knot at the Happiest Place on Earth.

Now you can make your big day even bigger with a Disneyland wedding. You and your betrothed can arrive at your ceremony site via Cinderella’s horse-drawn coach, recite vows in the shadow of Sleeping Beauty Castle, and celebrate with your favorite Disney characters. With the help of a dedicated wedding planner, you can customize your fairy-tale day with a variety of settings and entertainment options. 

Stay in a modern villa.

Opened in 2023, the Villas at Disneyland Hotel are some of the resort’s newest yet lesser-known Disney-themed lodging. With condo-like amenities, the 344 units are decked in vibrant artwork from The Jungle Book, Moana, and The Princess and the Frog. Accommodations range from two-person studios to showstopping, multi-level villas with soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, outdoor terraces, and dual-sided indoor-outdoor fireplaces. Guests can take advantage of the many facilities of the adjoining Disneyland Hotel, yet the Villas’ cabana-lined pool deck with a tropical bar and an attraction-worthy, Steamboat Willie–themed splash pad offer a compelling excuse to stay put.