These days, the most popular photo spots at the Disney Parks aren’t the ones marked by a PhotoPass icon. Don’t get us wrong—you’ll still see plenty of guests flock to Sleeping Beauty Castle, Spaceship Earth, and the Tree of Life, among many other iconic spots around the parks. More recently, however, selfie-takers and professional photographers alike are opting for harder-to-find locations in areas that you wouldn’t typically find a PhotoPass photographer snapping away (though it’s not too difficult to imagine that may change in the future).
Thanks to social media apps like Instagram and Twitter, these have quickly become some of the trendiest photo spots in the Disney Parks. So, the next time you’re looking to ditch the castle shot and switch things up with an impromptu photoshoot, here’s a rundown of the 10 Disney Parks photo opportunities you should know—and all the info you need to snap the perfect pic, too.
1. The Purple Wall (Magic Kingdom)
Image: Frank Phillips, Flickr (license)
Hashtag: #purplewall
Where to find it: If you’re facing the entrance to Tomorrowland (as in the photo above), the Purple Wall will be along the first building to your right.
Tips: Not only is the Purple Wall well-shaded and protected from the temperamental Florida weather, but it’s one of the larger walls on this list, too. As one of the best-known photo spots across the Disney Parks, however, it does tend to get more crowded than most—even after it underwent a semi-controversial makeover. If you’re hoping to score some snazzy special event photos—for, say, Dapper Day or one of Magic Kingdom’s exclusive holiday parties—make sure you show up early or come prepared to wait your turn.
2. The Bubblegum Wall (Epcot)
Image: Luis Brizzante, Flickr (license)
Hashtag: #bubblegumwall
Where to find it: The Bubblegum Wall runs through the entrance to Spaceship Earth and can be seen on either side of the “Project Tomorrow” sign.
Tips: Significantly smaller than the Purple Wall but no less popular, the Bubblegum Wall provides amateur and professional photographers alike with another shady spot to snap a few pics. With the railings in place, there isn’t a lot of room to stand and pose, so this one is slightly better suited to solo photos or selfies.
3. The Blueberry Wall (Epcot)
Hashtag: #blueberrywall
Where to find it: Good news: If you successfully located the Bubblegum Wall, you also found the Blueberry Wall. It’s positioned right in front of the Bubblegum Wall with the “Project Tomorrow” sign hanging at the top of it.
Tips: Unless you’re a really big fan of Spaceship Earth, you should have plenty of room to duck out of the way of the large “Project Tomorrow” sign and use the blue background for a more neutral backdrop.
4. The Toothpaste Wall (Epcot)
Image: MattCC716, Flickr (license)
Hashtag: #toothpastewall
Where to find it: Catch this wave—er, wall—at the exit area of The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion.
Tips: Like the best Disney walls, the Toothpaste Wall also offers visitors a chance to stand in the shade and avoid any unflattering direct sunlight. Aesthetically similar to the Blueberry Wall, this spot offers a more diverse color palette and, more importantly, ample room to strut your stuff without any pesky signage getting in your way.
5. The Moss Wall (Animal Kingdom)
Image: elisfkc, Flickr (license)
Hashtag: #mosswall (#pandorawall also works, as it seems to return more search results for the actual Moss Wall instead of DIY moss projects)
Where to find it: There are a plethora of moss-covered rocks and walls throughout Pandora – The World of Avatar, but the most-Instagramed ones are located in two prominent locations. The pink-blue flecked wall can be located upon exiting the Flight of Passage gift shop and turning right, while the yellow-green flecked wall can be found opposite the entrance to Satu’li Canteen.
Tips: There’s no right or wrong way to take advantage of Pandora’s moss walls. Despite the lack of direct covering, these photo spots seem to attract less direct sunlight than others, making it ideal for a pit stop at any point during the day. Don’t waste your time waiting around to take a photo at any specific moss wall (unless you’re dead-set on incorporating the vibrant pink-and-blue hues of Flight of Passage’s backdrop)—there’s plenty to go around.
Before we move on to the best walls at Disneyland, here are a few more recommendations for your next Walt Disney World shoot: Magic Kingdom’s Carousel of Progress Wall (#carouselofprogresswall) and Neverland Wall (#neverlandwall), Animal Kingdom’s “You Are Most Beautiful” Wall (#youaremostbeautifulwall) and Mickey Wall (#mickeywall), Epcot’s Galaxy Wall (#galaxywall), and Disney’s Hollywood Studios’ Toy Story Land Popsicle Wall (#popsiclewall).
6. The Blue Wall (Disney California Adventure)
Image: Disney
Hashtag: #bluewallpics
Where to find it: The official Blue Wall is located at the back of the Hollywood Backlot. However, there are also several other blue walls in the area, including a few that are under the awning of the Sunset Showcase Theatre (pictured above).
Tips: The Blue Wall has no covering over it and is subject to harsh light for most of the day, so it’s best to try for a photo on a partly sunny day or in early evening when the sun starts to go down. The blue walls over by the theater are mostly covered, but receive significantly less natural light as a result and may be too dark to photograph against.
7. The Once Upon a Time/Happily Ever After Wall (Disney California Adventure)
Image: Loren Javier, Flickr (license)
Hashtag: #onceuponatimewall and #happilyeverafterwall (and #pixiedustwall)
Where to find it: You’ll find these walls at the entrance and exit of Hollywood Land’s Animation Building in Disney California Adventure.
Tips: The walkway for the Animation Building is relatively crowd-free during most of the day, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding a quiet moment to snap a few photos. The “pixie dust effect” extends well beyond the words “Once upon a time” and “…and they lived happily ever after,” which works nicely if you’re looking for a less romantic vibe (or the perfect backdrop for your Tinker Bell DisneyBound). One thing to note: If you prefer natural lighting, you’ll want to stay as close to the entrance of the building as possible, since the lettered parts of the mural are fully indoors and under dim lighting.
8. The “it’s a small world” Gate (Disneyland)
Image: Loren Javier, Flickr (license)
Hashtag: #smallworldwall
Where to find it: As you approach “it’s a small world,” you’ll find a blue-and-white gate on your left (just before you reach the Fantasyland Theatre restrooms).
Tips: The Small World Gate is both tall and wide, making it ideal for group photos. However, keep in mind that while this area is fairly out of the way and shaded (late afternoon or an overcast morning is still your best bet for great lighting), it is pretty popular with parkgoers and tends to see a lot more foot traffic and general crowd congestion during the afternoon parade.
9. The Star Wars Wall (Disneyland)
Image: Jeremy Thompson, Flickr (license)
Hashtag: #starwarswall
Where to find it: Head straight for the entrance of Tomorrowland’s Star Wars Launch Bay and look just to your right.
Tips: The Star Wars Wall wraps around a significant stretch of the Launch Bay exterior, so if you want to fit in all six words of the series’ catchphrase (“May the Force be with you”) you’ll have to take a full-body photo or get creative with a fish-eye lens. Much of the rest of the building is also decorated with stars, which makes the perfect background for a subtle, space-themed close-up.
10. The Poultry Palace Wall (Disney California Adventure)
Image: Disney
Hashtag: #poultrypalacewall
Where to find it: Head down to Poultry Palace at Pixar Pier, and you’ll find this apple juice box wall facing out toward Señor Buzz Churros and the Pixar Pal-A-Round (formerly Mickey’s Fun Wheel). It’s conveniently situated far enough from the food stand counter that you won’t inadvertently get in anyone’s way (or be forced to cut or jump the line) during your photoshoot.
Tips: Given how small the wall itself is, you can crop your picture in close for a bright yellow-and-purple portrait or take a wide shot to capture the larger take out box-themed stand itself. Since this spot only provides shade occasionally, it may be best to wait for an overcast morning or early evening before snapping your photos here.
Like Walt Disney World, there are still many, many more photo opportunities and themed walls to explore around the Disneyland Resort, including the Mint Julep Bar Wall (#mintjulepwall) in New Orleans Square, Big Thunder Wall (#bigthunderwall) in Frontierland, and Buzz Lightyear Wall (#buzzwingwall) over in Hollywood Land.
What trendy Disney walls are next on your (photo) bucket list?
