Disneyland's Best Kept Secrets!

Tips From A Disneyland Insider

When our friends over at Theme Parks Done the Grown Up Way asked if I had any special insider tips I could share I of course jumped at the chance.  There are so many little things to at Disneyland®  that will make you feel like a VIP for sure and all you have to do is ask.  Over the next few weeks I'll be helping you to become an insider too, making your next visit to the Happiest Place on Earth even more magical. First up on the list, how to have the best seat on the boat-all aboard the Mark Twain!

No trip to Disneyland®  is complete without a ride aboard the Mark Twain, one of the remaining original Disneyland attractions from 1955.  Located in Frontierland nothing is better than going back in time and cruising along the scenic Rivers of America-unless you’re doing it from the top of the boat.

Disneyland insiders all know that you too can be the Captain of the Mark Twain merely by asking but warning, once you’ve been the pilot of this magnificent vessel, you’ll never want to travel any other way. So just how does one pilot the Mark Twain for this half-mile excursion? Upon arriving at the dock, which also houses the Sailing Ship Columbia, locate a Cast Member before you board to inquire about availability for this once in a lifetime experience.  Depending on the time of day and crowds, you may be able to do it immediately but don’t worry if there’s a bit of a wait as it will be worth it. When your time comes, you will be boarding the boat and directed to the second floor where you will find a door marked “Private” but today that door will be opening for you. Upon knocking, the Captain will be there to greet you and take you on the rest of the way. You will need to climb a steep staircase, emphasis on the steep, as in reality it is more like a ladder. Once reaching the top you will find yourself in the Wheel House itself. 

Part of the honor of steering this magnificent vessel is the signing of the guest book. Be sure to take a moment and look through the list of celebrities that have stood in the same place as you have. One of the most magical parts of being in Disneyland is the history that goes with it and knowing that you are standing in the exact spot where Walt Disney himself once stood.  As part of your command duties, the Captain will tell you to ring the bell and blow the horn at certain points along with steering the Mark Twain itself.  Be sure to take a moment to take it all in and enjoy one of the best views in the Park. 

Along the way you’ll be transported back to in time for a glimpse of frontier life of days gone by, a Native American village and of course  Pirate's Lair . Don’t forget to wave to everyone as they all look up, wave back and wonder who you are and how you got to steer the boat.  All too soon your voyage will come to an end but not before the Captain presents you with a commemorative certificate suitable for framing to always remind you of the day you were the Captain of the Mark Twain Riverboat, located in Frontierland on the Rivers of America Next up-riding on the Lilly Belle Presidential Train Car on the Disneyland Railroad.

Gayle is a lifelong educator by day and avid blogger by night and is the owner and cofounder of the Disney Gals, one of the most popular Disney blogs around! Proud mommy to 5, Grammy to 4 she is blessed to share her life with amazing family and friends who encourage her to chase her dreams no matter where they may lead.  When not in the classroom, she can be found following her son as he dances his way through life, or working with young performers in free nationally recognized after school children’s theater program that she founded 13 years ago. On any given day you will find Gayle skipping her way through life with a giggle and a smile knowing that today is meant to be lived and enjoyed. To learn more about Gayle, click here.