Hidden Gems of Fantasyland

October 10, 2018

Fantasyland is the true heart of Disneyland.  It is found right through Sleeping Beauty's castle. When you spot King Arthur's Carousel you know you have arrived in Fantasyland.  



We absolutely love Fantasyland, even though our boys are older.  In fact, they insist on going over there and riding every single ride when we visit the park.  There is such magic and wonder in every corner of this area.  The nostalgia of the original attractions brings a sentimental feeling every time we walk through.

 Here are our favorite tips and hiddens gems for Fantasyland at Disneyland!


King Arthur's Carousel  

First off, this ride rarely has a wait, which makes it a great option to keep those little ones from feeling frustrated with wait times. 



 This is one of the original attractions in the park. The vignettes from Sleeping Beauty are handpainted and still original.  There are bobbing horses that go up an down in true carousel style, however, there are stationary seats as well for those who don't care to climb up on a tall bobbing horse.  If you are concerned about a young one on a horse, don't worry, adults may stand next to their child's horse which makes it an opportune picture site. In fact, one of the horses named Jingles was Walt Disney's favorite and was dedicated to Julie Andrews.  You can spot Jingles by the bells around his neck.


Park Center  

Just as you walk through Sleeping Beauty's castle you will see a gold dot in the middle of the ground.  Its nothing spectacular actually, but it is the parks geographical center.  I always look for it.


The Evil Queen in the window


 When you are standing in Fantasyland, near Peter Pan and Snow White, look up at the window above Snow White's entrance.  That window will give you a surprise now and then.  The Evil Queen will make a spooky appearance!  Keep watch!

Peter Pan's Flight


If you check wait times on your Disneyland App, you may have noticed that the wait time for Peter Pan's Flight has a pretty significant  wait time on the regular.  That is because this ride has so much nostalgia and magic to it that people flock to it every visit!  Seriously, it is a lovely ride for all ages that tells the tale of Peter Pan.  You fly in a ship over Neverland and back to London.  It is pretty magical and one of my all time favorite rides!  I recommend this ride to anyone wanting to soak up a bit of Disney magic while on their trip.

Park Benches 

Walt Disney was said to have come up with the idea for Disneyland while sitting on a park bench watching his daughter on a Carousel at Griffith Park.  For this reason, he wanted to make sure Disneyland (especially Fantasyland) had park benches where parents and grandparents could sit and enjoy watching their children enjoy the magic.  Side Note: the actual bench from Griffith Park is found in the Opera House on Main Street USA, not in Fantasyland.  Make sure you go check that out if you like Disney history.

Characters

Many Characters are roaming through Fantasyland throughout the day.



 Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Rapunzel and Flynn, Alice and the Mad Hatter, Belle and Gaston have all been spotted in Fantasyland!  It is the place of fairy tale after all.  Keep your eyes out as they are often wandering through.    

Sword in the Stone 

We HAVE to get a picture here every year!  It is such a fun pic spot.  In fact, they usually have a picture person stationed there to get your magical shot.  Sometimes of the year they do a little showing where someone actually gets to pull the sword from the stone.  Check your park itinerary to see if they are doing it while you are there.  My father was chosen one year to give it a try!


There are a TON of rides in Fantasyland!  I am counting 12 right off the top of my head, and I may have missed one.  There is so much to do and see in this small area!  Here is a complete list of the Fantasyland Rides.

  • Snow White's Scary Adventures
  • Pinocchio's Daring Journey
  • Mr. Toad's Wild Ride
  • Peter Pan's Flight
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Mad Tea Party
  • King Arthur's Carousel
  • Casey Jr. Circus Train
  • Dumbo the Flying Elephant
  • Storybook Land Boats
  • Matterhorn Bobsleds
  • It's a Small World
This is part of what makes it magical.  Keep in mind, this area will get crazy busy though out the day as many families with young kiddos will fill the area.  All the rides here area accessible for all ages making it great for families.  If you want to ride all the Fantasyland rides, make sure you get there early before it gets crazy!  

I hope this gives you some reasons to head over to Fantasyland, old or young.  There is plenty of Disney magic happening.  What is your favorite thing about Fantasyland?

XOXO,
Leah


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6 comments

  1. JessicaNovember 13, 2018 at 7:59 AM

    I once was fortunate enough to take a guided tour in Disneyland, and the cast member shared that the gold spike story is a myth. It never marked the center of Disneyland, but was actually one in a series of markers ensuring the castle was centered with Main Street. Still a cool hidden detail though!

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  2. UnknownNovember 13, 2018 at 10:12 AM

    Regardless of which park, Fantasyland is my favorite. I could spend my whole Disney trip in Fantasyland!

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  3. UnknownNovember 14, 2018 at 5:59 PM

    It's a tradition of ours to ride King Arthur's Carousel every time we go! :) Every element down to the details on the horses to the songs playing are perfect.

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