Enjoy the Quiet Charms of Disneyland
Disneyland Theme Park in Anaheim, CA Offers Much More Than Rides
Nov 17, 2008
Disneyland insiders hit the big rides - especially early and late in the day - but they spend most of their time seeking out - and savoring - the quiet pleasures of the big park.
Many of these pleasures date back to the park's opening in 1955.
Main Street, U.S.A. and Vintage Vehicles
Every Disneyland visitor enters the park through Main Street, which is a replica of a small midwestern town during the early 1900s. The elaborate storefronts, gas street lights and horse-drawn streetcars instantly get visitors immersed in another time.
Gorgeous draft horses clop up the street as they pull elaborate streetcars. The horse-drawn streetcars pause in the square near the Disneyland entrance. Conductors often allow visitors to pet the horse - as long as they don't touch the animal's head.
Conductors proudly tell visitors of the 38 horses now in the park's stables - and how the animals work just two hours a day a couple days a week. Horses too old to pull the streetcars live out the rest of their lives on a Disney-owned ranch.
Riding the streetcar is a step into another, slower age. Guests can also hitch rides on the vintage cars and double-decker bus that putt down the Main Street.
Walt Disney's Apartment
Many visitors don't realize that Walt Disney built a hideaway apartment over the Main Street Fire Department when the park was built in 1955. it is almost impossible to visit the apartment, which is still furnished with Disney's decor - but visitors can see the lamp that is always glowing in the window.
It's not hard to picture the brilliant man peering out the window at his creation - and all the visitors walking on the street.
Ragtime at the Coke Corner
Visitors that stroll up the left-hand side of Main Street usually hear the rolling, tinkling wave of ragtime piano coming from the Coca-Cola Refreshment Corner - often called "Coke Corner."
Mature shade trees and colorful umbrellas dot an outside patio - near a beautiful upright piano. That piano gets daily workouts from a top-notch ragtime piano players. The legendary Rod Miller, who played ragtime at the Coke Corner for more than 30 years, is now retired, but the players of today are terrific.
Visitors often find regular park goers - Disneyland lovers who live in Southern California and visit the park once a week or more - seated around the piano or dancing.
The Coke Corner is a very special spot, and the hot dogs are good. Just around the corner, a big band and swing dancers hop, swirl and jump every Saturday evening at the Plaza Pavillion.
Jazz and Tap Dancing in New Orleans Square
A short walk from Main Street takes visitors through Adventureland and to New Orleans Square. Fantastic jazz musicians often play near the world-famous Pirates of the Caribbean ride.
Jazz groups wander the streets, play from ornate iron balconies and set up in New Orleans Square's restaurants. Some of the groups have tap dancers, and these artists often encourage visitors to jump on a square of worn plywood and pop out a rhythm.
The shade trees and comfortable benches of New Orleans Square are a great place to soak in the charms of Disneyland.
Piloting the Mark Twain Steamboat
The Mark Twain Riverboat, which was a special project of Walt Disney's, goes on 12-minute cruises around the Rivers of America waterway in the park. Guests can wander all over the ornate105-foot boat.
Guests can request to ride in the pilot house at the top level of the Mark Twain, and they get a special certificate - for free - at the end of the voyage.
Finding a Golden Horseshoe
Lucky Disneyland visitors will find the Golden Horseshoe Stage in Frontierland. This western-style theater serves up ice cream - and daily shows that combine comedy, dance and top-notch music.
The Golden Horseshoe dates back to the first days of Disneyland, and the show will make the most ride-addled teenager sit down and smile.
The charms of the quieter Disneyland come without lines or crowds - but with lasting memories.
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