Though we’ve talked about the lesser-known things you might have missed at Walt Disney World, Disney parks around the globe are full of astounding details and hidden attractions that you might walk right by if you didn’t know they were there. No matter which park you’re visiting, it’s worth venturing off the beaten path to check out some of these hidden gems.
1. Storybook Land Canal Boats, Disneyland and Disneyland Paris
You might be tempted to overlook this as a ride geared for younger kids, but you’d be missing out if you walked past. Whether you’re in Anaheim or Paris, board a boat and head down a slow-moving canal into Storybook Land, which is made up of exquisitely detailed miniature castles, towns, and landscaping. It’s especially worth seeing after dark, when the tiny locales light up. While the two rides are similar, the California version is our favorite as it features a Cast Member who narrates the tour for you.
2. Lilly Belle Parlor Car, Disneyland
Though some sort of railroad exists at every Disney resort due to Walt’s life-long enthusiasm for the railroad, only Disneyland has the fancy Lilly Belle parlor car. Named for Lillian Disney, the car was once used to tour VIPs around the park… but now you can ride it, too. Though the car isn’t always out and space is limited, head to Main Street Station to inquire about rides. Our advice: don’t bother on a hot day, as the enclosed Lilly Belle can get rather stuffy, even with the windows open.
If the Lilly Belle isn’t available, ask about riding in the tender by the engineer for a different sort of treat. These seats are only available on certain trains and there are a number of reasons you might not be able to ride, but give it a try — you might get an up-close-and-personal look at how the trains operate!
3. Animation Academy, Disney California Adventure, Walt Disney Studios, Hong Kong Disneyland
At most parks, the Animation Academy suffers from being tucked away with a cluster of attractions with the vague thread of “animation” tying them all together, which can make it unlikely that you’ll just stumble into this stellar attraction. (The exception is in Hong Kong Disneyland, where the Animation Academy has a prominent spot on Main Street next door to the Opera House.)
At all parks, the Animation Academy is a pleasant way to pass a half hour or so learning how to draw your own Disney characters (and it’s a great way to take a break on a hot day!) If you’re interested in catching a specific character, check the daily schedule or inquire with a Cast Member. But no matter when you show up, you’ll learn a lot and get to keep your masterpiece tape on the fridge at home.
4. Self-Guided Nature Tours, Animal Kingdom
In your search for rides, you might entirely overlook the self-guided parts of Animal Kingdom… but they’re some of the most interesting parts of the park. Each trail takes you to a different part of the world, where you’ll explore exotic destinations as well as different animals. Sure, you could take a Kilimanjaro Safari, but taking the time to explore these trails will give you a better view of more animals, if that’s what you’re after. Look for Discovery Island Trails, Maharajah Jungle Trek, The Oasis Exhibits, and Pangani Forest Exploration — all of which are worth exploring!
5. Germany’s Miniature Train Village, Epcot
At Walt Disney World you can enjoy riding the rails in either large or small scale. If small scale is more your thing, it’s the miniature railroad at the Germany pavilion in Epcot’s World Showcase that you want to visit. Here you’ll find an elaborate miniature German town, complete with its own topiaries and, of course, a railroad. It’s not a ride and, really, it’s hardly an attraction, but it’s well worth a detour to check out.
6. Electrical Water Pageant, Walt Disney World
This nighttime water parade is hard to miss — but since it takes place outside the parks and can only be seen by certain Disney hotel guests and visitors who happen to be waterside when it passes, not everyone realizes it’s there. A Disney World original, the pageant dates back to 1971 where it debuted shortly after the park opened. Today, the pageant’s 14 floats make a slow tour of the Seven Seas Lagoon almost every evening.
7. Sleeping Beauty Castle (Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant), Disneyland Paris
While the castle itself would be impossible to miss, many visitors simply walk through it or snap their photos in front of it and walk away without bothering to peek inside. However, the castle contains two walk-through attractions that are worth a visit: La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty Gallery) and La Tanière du Dragon (Lair of the Dragon).
The upstairs gallery walks visitors through scenes from Sleeping Beauty with tapestries and stained glass windows. But once you head downstairs, the fairy-tale tone changes as you enter the Lair of the Dragon which is occupied by a 27-meter long animatronic dragon. The dragon is often found sleeping — but when woken by passing tourists, it will glare out with its red-eyed gaze, breathe smoke, and roar until it’s scared them off. It’s a massive beast — the largest animatronic built at the time it debuted — that’s more than a little intimidating.
8. The Mysteries of the Nautilus (Les Mystères du Nautilus), Disneyland Paris
The Nautilus from 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea sits prominently in a lagoon in front of Space Mountain and though you might pass by assuming it’s mere decoration (a similar version of the Nautilus at Tokyo DisneySea is just that) that would cause you to miss out on a great walkthrough attraction. Inside the you can explore six rooms of the ship’s interior, which are elaborateely themed and decorated to match their movie counterparts. But it goes beyond a simple walkthrough, featuring scenes and voiceover that tell the story of the Nautilus and Captain Nemo. Just watch out for the squid!
