There are plenty of things we all do when visiting Disneyland. Almost every one of us will wait in a long line for a short ride, buy a pair of Minnie Mouse ears, gobble down a churro (or two... or three). But there’s a whole lot more to do while visiting the happiest place on Earth, from snagging a secret map to going even faster on the tea cups. Check out 17 things you probably didn’t know you can do at Disneyland.
Get your own map of the Jungle Cruise. After going on the epic voyage that is the Jungle Cruise (and hearing a slew of punny humor), stop by the desk at the exit area and see if they have a map available. Be warned! These maps aren’t free; you’ll be asked to perform an act such as roaring like a lion or performing a Jungle Cruise interpretive dance in exchange.
(Photo via Disneyland Resorts)
Go faster on the Tea Cups. Apparently, the purple Tea Cups at the Mad Tea Party go faster than their pink, blue, and yellow counterparts. Try it yourself next time, if you can stomach it. (Photo via Disneyland Resorts)
Get a replacement balloon if yours pops. While the vibrant balloons at Disneyland may be iconic, they aren't immortal; they can easily pop or deflate. Luckily, you can trade it in for a new one. If only that policy applied to everything in our lives. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Get a free button for pretty much anything. It’s your birthday. Get a button! It’s your first visit. Get a button! You just got engaged. Get a button! You’re celebrating anything and everything. Get a button! Stop by City Hall and you can get a free Disney pin for whatever occasion brings you to the park. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Take a ride on the tender car on one of Disneyland’s Trains. The vintage steam trains in rotation at Disneyland — the C.K. Holliday and the E.P. Ripley — both have seats in the tender car where guests can hitch a ride (when conditions are right, that is; if it’s too hot, rides aren’t offered). From this coveted seat, you can watch the engineers work and chat with them about the fascinating history of the antique trains. (Photo via Disneyland Resorts)
Ride with the driver on the Monorail. If a modern ride is more your speed, you can try to secure a seat in the nose cone of the iconic Monorail. Make sure to talk to the cast member in charge of the boarding and ask if the driver is taking passengers, then you’ll queue up in the front of the loading area. You might have to wait a couple rounds to get on, but it’s worth it for the unique view. (Photo via Disneyland Resorts)
Get free Disneyland recipes at City Hall. Are you lovin’ that mint julep from the French Market so much you want to make it at home? Or did you fall for the corn chowder at the Storytellers Café and want to chow down on a bowl in the comfort of your own home? You totally can! At City Hall you can ask for a variety of recipes for some of Disneyland’s favorite culinary delights.
(Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Eat the plants in Tomorrowland (if you dare). If you're for some reason in desperate need of some lettuce leaves, a lemon, or a sprig of rosemary, you can find those (and much more) in the landscaping of Tomorrowland. But with the amount of foot traffic in that area, we wouldn’t suggest actually eating any of them. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Get the secret screens going on Toy Story Mania. There’s more to Toy Story Mania over at Disney California Adventure than meets the eye. In each of the game segments, there are special things you can do that will earn you more points. For example, in Rex and Trixie’s Dino Darts, if you hit all five of the lava-like balloons coming out of the volcano, a bevy of balloons worth 500 points each will erupt. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Visit the First Aid Center. If you’re in need of a bit of TLC while galavanting here and there — maybe you have a painful blister from all that walking — the medical professionals at the First Aid Center are there to help you. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Learn magic tricks. We all know that Disneyland is magical, but did you know there’s also actual magic there? Head to the Magic Shop and learn a few tricks from the magicians on hand (Steve Martin used to work there!). (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Pay tribute to the people who made it all happen by reading the windows. If you’ve ever wondered who else was responsible for making all the magic happen (besides Uncle Walt, that is), look no further than the colorful windows on Main Street. Throughout the area, different Imagineers, artists, musicians, and others are honored on the facades. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Access the Baby Center. As any parent knows, being out all day with a little one is a challenge. Thankfully, Disney is there to help! The Baby Center on Main Street has changing tables, nursing rooms, microwaves, high chairs, and a mini-baby store with diapers, wipes, pacifiers, and more for sale. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Indulge in a boozy Dole Whip. Disneyland itself is a non-alcoholic zone (unless you can snag an invite to Club 33), so those Dole Whips available at the Enchanted Tiki Room are all (sadly) virgin style. But if you head over to the Disneyland Hotel and visit The Coffee House, you can order a Dole Whip Float with a splash of rum. Yum! (Photo via Disneyland Resorts)
Get Fastpasses without rushing to the ride. MaxPass is a new, and very worthwhile, addition the park experience. Back in the day, to get a Fastpass, you’d basically have to sprint to the attraction. But with this handy-dandy function on your phone, you can reserve your rides (one at a time) wherever in the parks you are all for a small fee — it's soooooo worth it. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Order secret drinks at Trader Sam's Enchanted Tiki Bar. You can cause a boat to sink if you order the Shipwreck on the Rocks, a storm will strike if you order a Krakatoa Punch, and the bartenders will start to chant if you order an Uh Oa! Bonus — all the drinks are delicious. (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Have your souvenirs mailed to you. Don’t worry about lugging all your recently purchased goodies around with you all day. If you’re staying at one of the resorts, the shops will deliver your treasures to your hotel for you. If you’re not staying on the property, you can arrange (for a small fee) to have your items shipped to your home (like we did with these adorable Peter Pan plates). (Photo via Sunny Chanel)
Which Disneyland tip do you most want to try? Tell us @BritandCo.