The Happiest Place on Earth

Secrets

Think you know all of the Disneyland secrets? The popular theme park harbors some deep, dark, and sometimes amusing secrets that you probably don&#39;t know. Millions are blissfully unaware as they roam the amusement park in search of... well... amusement. But what they don&#39;t know is that they could be enjoying a cocktail at a secret members-only bar next to the Pirate of Caribbean ride, playing basketball inside the top of the Matterhorn, or shopping at a secret Disneyland lingerie store on Main Street.

What are the Disneyland secrets?&nbsp;From the so-called &quot;Hidden Mickeys&quot; located all over the park, to driving an actual riverboat, you&#39;re about to learn the secrets of Disneyland (and a few about Disney World)&nbsp;here on this list of secret spots. Imagine your kids&#39; or friends&#39; surprise when you know all of these fun tricks to do next time you go to Disneyland! As you read through the hidden Disneyland secrets, make sure to vote for the secret you&#39;ll investigate during your next Disney adventure!

There are plenty of fun things to do at Disneyland (and many <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-disneyland-restaurants/adventureman" target="_blank">delicious things to eat</a>), but the best things to do, other than spending time with your family, are the secret ones.&nbsp;Especially if it&#39;s that special day and you can take advantage of all the Disneyland birthday secrets. If you don&#39;t know the facts, you might miss out on a really unique experience, because <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/disneyland-easter-eggs/maddie-crichton" target="_blank">Disneyland&#39;s Easter Eggs</a> abound.

The Coolest, Best Kept Secrets of the Disney Parks

Building/Attraction

Disneyland Secrets | Hidden Tips and Secrets for Disney Guests

Andrew Goff

Lists of spooky places around the world where you might see, here, or feel a real ghost.

Local Haunts

Strange True Stories

Walt Disney created a theme park like no other. It wasn&#39;t just a collection of amusements; it was a complete, self-contained world that looked and felt entirely different than anywhere else on Earth. But sometimes, such singularity can be spooky. There are plenty of creepy&nbsp;things about <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/13-disneyland-secrets-you-may-not-know-about/adventureman" target="_blank">Disneyland</a>, not the least of which are the&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/disney-deaths/mike-rothschild" target="_blank">numerous deaths</a> that have occurred since the park&nbsp;opened in 1955.

From ghosts on the Monorail track to real bones inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, are these&nbsp;Disneyland urban legends, or is the happiest place on Earth actually a Muon Trap, stuffed to capacity with the ghosts of former guests and employees? Hold on tight and take a gander at these creepy Disneyland stories!&nbsp;

Creepy Stories And Legends About Disneyland

General

17 Creepy Stories & Legends About Disneyland That Will Creep You Out

Lisa Waugh

Disney

The <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/full-list-of-walt-disney_s-wonderful-world-of-color-episodes/reference?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">wonderful world of Disney</a> is filled with magic, pixie dust, and secrets. In order to keep the magical realm secure, there are certain things that Disney employees have to keep quiet about. From code words&nbsp;to Disney tunnels&nbsp;to fake bakery smells&nbsp;and beyond.

Do you think you&rsquo;re ready to learn about the best kept Disney World secrets? If so, take a look at these secrets of Disney World revealed by a former Disney cast member. If you don&#39;t want some of the magic of Disney ruined for you, this is a good place to stop reading. You can&#39;t put the toothpaste back in the tube, as they say.&nbsp;You might never be able to see Disneyland or Walt Disney World in the same way again.

Be prepared for your next trip to the Magic Kingdom and make the most out of your stay with these Disneyland secrets.

Secrets From An Ex-Disney World Cast Member

Secrets From An Ex-Disneyworld Cast Member

Emma Murphy

Who&#39;s a member of the club that&#39;s made for you and me? That would be the Mickey Mouse Club, but there&#39;s another <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/13-disneyland-secrets-you-may-not-know-about/adventureman?ref=nodelyrel&amp;pos=3&amp;a=0&amp;l=863573&amp;ltype=n&amp;g=1" target="_blank">super secret</a> club in Disneyland that is decidedly NOT for you and me, but instead for only a lucky few. With so many <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-disneyland-restaurants/adventureman" target="_blank">great restaurants</a>, Disneyland is the most <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-disneyland-rides/reference-list?ref=nodelyrel&amp;pos=6&amp;a=0&amp;l=863573&amp;ltype=n&amp;g=1" target="_blank">magical place</a> on Earth&nbsp;and&nbsp;for those chosen (and wealthy enough) to be among the&nbsp;exclusive&nbsp;VIP ranks, that magic goes even further. It&#39;s these elite few who are granted access to the only alcohol-serving restaurant&nbsp;in the theme park.&nbsp;Club 33&nbsp;at Disneyland provides a jazz-infused,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.disneylandclub33.com/Dinner%20Menu%20Page.htm" target="_blank">upscale dining</a>&nbsp;(and drinking) experience fit for royalty.

A membership to this club comes with much more than valet parking.&nbsp;The exclusive restaurant at Disneyland features a dining room, called&nbsp;<a href="http://www.disneylandclub33.com/Le%20Grand%20Salon%20Current%20Collection.htm" target="_blank">Le Grand Salon</a>, where diners are offered&nbsp;a&nbsp;fancy array of meals and&nbsp;wine pairings. The ultimate jazz bar atmosphere awaits in the <a href="http://www.disneylandclub33.com/Le%20Salon%20Nouveau%20Exterior%20Photos%20Construction%20Screens%20Removed.htm" target="_blank">Le Salon Nouveau</a>&nbsp;where patrons can enjoy&nbsp;a full bar with mini-menu for a more&nbsp;upbeat experience.

If you&#39;re wondering how to get in to Club 33, just know that&nbsp;it&#39;s <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/12-things-we-hate-about-disneyland/litgoddess?ref=nodelyrel&amp;pos=1&amp;a=0&amp;l=863573&amp;ltype=n&amp;g=1" target="_blank">not easy</a>. The purpose of its creation was to provide a level of exclusivity and class to what is, overall, a family-friendly amusement park. Access is only available to those with&nbsp;<a href="http://www.disneylandclub33.com/membership_information.htm" target="_blank">corporate connections and/or loads of cash</a>. It&#39;s not impossible to join, but it is tricky, so be prepared for a long and expensive ride. Memberships are capped at a certain number&nbsp;with a waitlist that spans over a decade. Individual initiation prices cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Those of us who can only dream of dining at this exclusive restaurant at Disneyland&nbsp;will have to resign ourselves to poring over the&nbsp;photos, blogs, and reviews that the lucky souls with memberships post online. Here&#39;s a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/disneyworld-cast-member-secrets/emma-murphy?ref=collections_btm&amp;l=331990&amp;collectionId=722" target="_blank">look inside</a> the elusive Club 33 to tide you over until you hit either the jackpot or make friends with a card carrying member.

Inside Club 33, Disneyland's Most Exclusive Secret Spot

Inside Club 33, The Most Exclusive Spot At Disneyland

Crystal Brackett

In the United States, there are two places Disney fans consider to be the holy land:&nbsp;Disney World in Orlando, FL, and Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, CA. While both amusement parks are fantastic, in the battle of Disneyland versus Disney World, Disneyland unarguably comes out on top.

To be fair, both parks feature everyone&#39;s favorite characters and exciting rides (with many rides appearing in both locations), as well as&nbsp;<a href="/list/13-disneyland-secrets-you-may-not-know-about/adventureman" target="_blank">amazing secrets that make visiting feel&nbsp;even cooler</a>. And in June 2020, both parks <a href="https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2020/06/new-adventures-with-princess-tiana-coming-to-disneyland-park-and-magic-kingdom-park/" target="_blank">announced</a> they would be transforming their respective Splash Mountains into the&nbsp;more inclusive theme of&nbsp;The Princess and the Frog.

When&nbsp;it comes down to it, however, Disneyland is better than Disney World, even for those who are well-versed in all of the <a href="/list/tips-and-tricks-for-visiting-walt-disney-theme-parks/marty-allen" target="_blank">Disney park hacks.</a>&nbsp;For those among us who have lived their whole lives on America&#39;s East Coast, it&#39;s time to find out&nbsp;why Disneyland is superior to Disney World. After all, only one site can claim to be the &quot;the happiest&nbsp;place on Earth.&quot;&nbsp;

Reasons Why Disneyland Will Always Be Better Than Disney World

14 Reasons Why Disneyland Will Always Be Better Than Disney World

Matt Manser

When walking through the streets of Disneyland, sharp-eyed visitors can spot tons of hidden Mickeys, secret treats, and obscure references placed by park Imagineers for visitors. If you&#39;re trying to <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/13-disneyland-secrets-you-may-not-know-about/adventureman" target="_blank">make the most of your trip</a>, keep your eyes on high alert for the best <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/13-disneyland-secrets-you-may-not-know-about/adventureman?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Disneyland Easter eggs</a>. Some are located within&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-disneyland-rides/reference-list" target="_blank">famous rides</a>, some on&nbsp;magical streets, and others can keep you occupied while you wait it out in the crazy lines. And some, like Disneyland&#39;s hidden Mickeys, are all around you as you wander Walt Disney&#39;s fantasy utopia.

The more you can catch, the bigger Disney fan you&nbsp;are.&nbsp;

Disneyland Easter Eggs Only A Super Fan Could Spot

Maddie Crichton

Disney Parks

List of the best rides at Magic Kingdom, including photos, types of rides, and more information. This ranked list of the best Magic Kingdom attractions includes roller coasters, kids rides, indoor / dark rides, and water rides, as well as parades, live shows, and Magic Kingdom tours. The rides on this list have been voted on by amusement park fans and Magic Kingdom enthusiasts. From the newest rides at Magic Kingdom to the classics that have been around forever, this is a list of all the most famous attractions at Magic Kingdom. Which is better for an overall top ranking of this topic, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train Ride or It's a Small World? List rides range from Country Bear Jamboree to Space Mountain.This list answers the questions, "What are the best rides at Magic Kingdom?"

Splash Mountain

The Best Rides at Magic Kingdom

Amusement Ride

Best Rides at Magic Kingdom | List of Top Magic Kingdom Park Attractions

Reference List

When most people think about Disney, they are probably thinking about the Happiest Place on Earth or the <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-disney-animated-movies/ranker-film" target="_blank">massive collection of delightful animated movies</a>.&nbsp;Most people are probably&nbsp;not&nbsp;thinking about thousands upon thousands of commemorative pins - but surprisingly, pins trading comprises a major <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/weird-subcultures-that-actually-exist/loretta-donelan&nbsp;" target="_blank">subculture</a> within the Disney fan universe.&nbsp;These little metal pins might seem like a <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/celebrities-with-weird-collections/celebrity-lists&nbsp;" target="_blank">strange thing to collect</a>, but according to some&nbsp;insane Disney pin trading stories, there are people who have over 5,000 pins, some of which can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Some&nbsp;adorn the vests of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-disney-gangs/donn-saylor" target="_blank">Disneyland social club members</a>, while others are kept pristine in velvet-lined binders.

Inside The Insane World Of Disney Pin Trading

Anna Lindwasser

Culture

Founded in 1999 by Noah&nbsp;Korda, Bats Day is a mix of two seemingly opposite cultural groups&nbsp;- goths&nbsp;and Disney lovers. In reality, though,&nbsp;Disney is no stranger to the darker side of pop culture. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/greatest-animated-disney-villain" target="_blank">Many relevant Disney villains</a> have devoted fans, and movies like&nbsp;The Nightmare Before Christmas&nbsp;give inspiration to many goths, both young and old.Korda&nbsp;created Bats Day, an event where people&nbsp;dress up in their best anti-culture garb and interact with one another&nbsp;at Walt Disney's famous California theme park, to celebrate those who&nbsp;may have otherwise felt left out. As of January 2018, Bats Day&nbsp;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/batsdayinthefunpark/posts/10154932467645706" target="_blank">ceased to exist formally</a>, but the goths&nbsp;who flocked to Anaheim, CA, will live on in spirit.

Once A Year, The Happiest Place On Earth Transforms Into A Hangout For The Grim And Morbid

Learn About Bats Day, The One Day A Year Disney Turns Goth

Lowe Saddler

Funny

The happiest place on Earth also has the most dedicated fans on Earth. And what do dedicated fans do to the things they love? They make memes! And as seen on the subreddit r/<a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Disneyland" target="_blank">Disneyland</a>, there are more memes than there are popcorn carts in the entire park.&nbsp;

27 Disneyland Memes Only Annual Passholders Will Appreciate

Mark Rennie

Anyone who considers themselves a Disney Parks fan is familiar with the spectral entities that lurk in the Haunted Mansion. These semi-transparent ghouls dance, dine, and even play organ in the classic <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-disneyland-rides/reference-list" target="_blank">Disneyland ride</a>.&nbsp;Invented before modern holograms and other high-tech optical tricks, the Imagineers had to use a technique called Pepper&#39;s Ghost to create the realistic-looking, phantasmal beings.

The Pepper&#39;s Ghost illusion has been around since the dawn of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/facts-about-victorian-era-spiritualism-and-the-occult/amandasedlakhevener" target="_blank">Victorian-era spiritualism</a>, which featured a love - or perhaps obsession - for&nbsp;all things spooky and supernatural.&nbsp;

The History Of Pepper’s Ghosts, The Special Effect Behind Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion

A Behind-The-Scenes History Of Pepper’s Ghost Illusion

Maggie Clancy

Historical Photos

These photos illustrate&nbsp;how much work really went into the happiest place on earth. Walt Disney wasn't just a visionary; he was a pioneer for an industry that didn't even really exist yet. His idea to build a park where you can go on rides, take your kids, and meet your favorite characters&nbsp;was one-of-a-kind.Disney wanted people to really get his vision, so he put extra time into every single detail of the park. He oversaw the creation of the hand-made horses on the carousel, and supervised the final products himself. He met with contractors about the details of each and <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/everything-morrissey-hates/donn-saylor?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">every single thing</a> he could.This is a photo history of Disney rides being built, featuring&nbsp;pictures of Main Street, classics like the Jungle Cruise, and even snapshots of Walt Disney himself surveying his eventual magic kingdom. You're bound to learn a <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/13-disneyland-secrets-you-may-not-know-about/adventureman" target="_blank">Disney secret</a> or two about your favorite attractions. Photos of the first Disney park's construction show you not only how little there was at the beginning, but how different everything looked. If you go to Anaheim anywhere near Disneyland today, the park has taken over the immediate area. But back then, when all the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/list-of-disneyland-rides/reference-list" target="_blank">Disney rides</a> were being made, it was just a place 20 miles south of Burbank. And this is where it all started.

Amazing Photos Of Your Favorite Disney Rides Under Construction

21 Amazing Photos Of Your Favorite Disney Rides Under Construction

Brian Gilmore

On July 17, 1955, Disneyland <a href="http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/disneyland-opens" target="_blank">opened its doors</a> to the public for the very first time after only one&nbsp;year of&nbsp;construction. <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/walt-disney-facts/coy-jandreau" target="_blank">Walt Disney</a> had finally completed the amusement park he had been dreaming of on a <a href="http://www.justdisney.com/disneyland/history.html" target="_blank">160-acre Anaheim lot</a>, complete with different themed &quot;lands,&quot; such as the now-famous&nbsp;Adventureland and Fantasyland. Although only 6,000 invitations were sent for that first day, more than 30,000 guests flooded the park, armed with forged tickets.

Today, Disneyland is a beloved park with an avid following of fans and its own share of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/13-disneyland-secrets-you-may-not-know-about/adventureman" target="_blank">secrets</a>. While the extreme heat of&nbsp;the first opening days nearly thwarted Walt&#39;s plans, Disneyland has since blossomed into a mega corporation that strives to bring magic to life. In fact, it has only closed a total of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/disneyland-close-due-coronavirus-1282529" target="_blank">three - almost four -&nbsp;times&nbsp;since</a> 1955.&nbsp;It closed for the first time&nbsp;following the assassination of President JFK, for a second time following the events of September 11, 2001, and again from March 14-31, 2020, in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. After the 1994 Northridge earthquake, the park was partially closed to inspect for damage.&nbsp;

Check out the photographs below that commemorate the birth of the world&#39;s&nbsp;most popular theme park.&nbsp;

20 Magical Photos From Disneyland's Opening Day

20 Fascinating Photos From Disneyland's Opening Day

Chanel Hwang

List of the best rides at Epcot, including photos, types of rides, and more information. This ranked list of the best Epcot attractions includes roller coasters, kids rides, indoor / dark rides, and water rides, as well as parades, live shows, and Epcot tours. The rides on this list have been voted on by amusement park fans and Epcot enthusiasts. From the newest rides at Epcot to the classics that have been around forever, this is a list of all the most famous attractions at Epcot. Also, rides on this list like United Kingdom and Morocco probably need more votes. List rides include Test Track, Circle of Life: An Environmental Fable and many additional rides as well.This list answers the questions, "What are the best rides at Epcot?"

Universe of Energy

The Best Rides at Epcot

Best Rides at Epcot | List of Top Epcot Rides

List of the best rides at Disneyland, including photos, types of rides, and more information. This ranked list of the best Disneyland attractions includes roller coasters, kids rides, indoor / dark rides, and water rides, as well as parades, live shows, and Disneyland tours. The rides on this list have been voted on by amusement park fans and Disneyland enthusiasts. From the newest rides at Disneyland to the classics that have been around forever, this is a list of all the most famous attractions at Disneyland. Not a fan of Space Mountain or Big Thunder Mountain Railroad? Them vote them down! The list you're viewing has a variety of rides in it, like Star Tours and Pirates of the Caribbean.This list answers the questions, &quot;What are the best rides at Disneyland?&quot;

Peter Pan's Flight

The Best Rides at Disneyland

Best Disneyland Rides | List of Most Popular Attractions at Disney Land

List of the best rides at Disney's Hollywood Studios, including photos, types of rides, and more information. This ranked list of the best Disney's Hollywood Studios attractions includes roller coasters, kids rides, indoor / dark rides, and water rides, as well as parades, live shows, and Disney's Hollywood Studios tours. The rides on this list have been voted on by amusement park fans and Disney's Hollywood Studios enthusiasts. From the newest rides at Disney's Hollywood Studios to the classics that have been around forever, this is a list of all the most famous attractions at Disney's Hollywood Studios. Which is better for this list, The Great Movie Ride or The American Idol Experience? Examples of rides on this list include Toy Story Mania and Rock 'n' Roller Coaster.This list answers the questions, "What are the best rides at Disney's Hollywood Studios?"

Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage

The Best Rides at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Best Rides at Disney's Hollywood Studios | List of Top Disney's Hollywood Studios Rides

Disney Parks lists at Ranker - The ultimate source for hundreds of disney parks lists and rankings