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Disneyland Secrets: A Grand Tour of Disneyland's Hidden Details
Stuff Even Mickey Doesn't KnowWhen a theme park has been around for 60 years, it hides a lot of secrets. Disneyland expert Gavin Doyle has swept aside the pixie dust and uncovered little-known stories about the happiest place on earth that will make you a master of the magic.
Doyle develops each of his dozens of secrets into a brief story that illuminates a forgotten moment in Disney history, or sheds light on a neglected area of the park, or reveals something new about an iconic attraction, such
Why is the address of Disneyland 1313 Harbor Boulevard?
What's up with the Jewish menorah on Main Street?
Why is there a fake book called "Walt & You" at City Hall?
Where can you find Sherlock Holmes at Disneyland?
Is there really a pet cemetery at the Haunted Mansion?
Shhh! It's a Disneyland secret. Until you read this book...
Doyle develops each of his dozens of secrets into a brief story that illuminates a forgotten moment in Disney history, or sheds light on a neglected area of the park, or reveals something new about an iconic attraction, such
Why is the address of Disneyland 1313 Harbor Boulevard?
What's up with the Jewish menorah on Main Street?
Why is there a fake book called "Walt & You" at City Hall?
Where can you find Sherlock Holmes at Disneyland?
Is there really a pet cemetery at the Haunted Mansion?
Shhh! It's a Disneyland secret. Until you read this book...
- GenresNonfiction
196 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2015
41 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Gavin Doyle
1 book3 followersGavin Doyle has been a Disneyland enthusiast since his first visit at age four. His first memory is of a rainy day where the park was joyously empty. The pure bliss of walking onto any ride with no line fed his initial love for Disneyland. He continues to hope he will have the same luck on New Year's Eve, as he returns annually on the most crowded day of the year to celebrate his birthday. Gavin Doyle and his family try to make it down to the parks at least two times a year from their home in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Gavin is now the editor of www.DisneyDose.com, the website that focuses on educating the Disney enthusiast through exclusive interviews, breaking news updates, and photos from Disneyland. Over the years the site has received numerous features in outlets including Forbes, the Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, the Los Angeles Times, and many others.
In 2014 Gavin founded www.MickeyVisit.com, the ultimate online planning resource for Disneyland. This free website helps guests to find the best deals on tickets, hotels, and other excursions. Also, guests can find information on the best restaurants, souvenirs, and time saving strategies. Now, www.MickeyVisit.com is growing to be one of the most popular Disneyland planning websites on the web.
Gavin is also the host of the Disney Dose podcast, where new interviews with Disney Imagineers and others who helped create the magic are shared frequently. Guests on the show range from Jonathan Freeman, the voice of Jafar, to Joe Rohde, the Imagineer in charge of Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Listen to the weekly podcast at www.DisneyDose.com.
Visit him at www.DisneyDose.com and www.MickeyVisit.com
Gavin is now the editor of www.DisneyDose.com, the website that focuses on educating the Disney enthusiast through exclusive interviews, breaking news updates, and photos from Disneyland. Over the years the site has received numerous features in outlets including Forbes, the Huffington Post, Buzzfeed, the Los Angeles Times, and many others.
In 2014 Gavin founded www.MickeyVisit.com, the ultimate online planning resource for Disneyland. This free website helps guests to find the best deals on tickets, hotels, and other excursions. Also, guests can find information on the best restaurants, souvenirs, and time saving strategies. Now, www.MickeyVisit.com is growing to be one of the most popular Disneyland planning websites on the web.
Gavin is also the host of the Disney Dose podcast, where new interviews with Disney Imagineers and others who helped create the magic are shared frequently. Guests on the show range from Jonathan Freeman, the voice of Jafar, to Joe Rohde, the Imagineer in charge of Animal Kingdom in Walt Disney World. Listen to the weekly podcast at www.DisneyDose.com.
Visit him at www.DisneyDose.com and www.MickeyVisit.com
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 14, 2025
Such light book scattered with fun facts, and easy to read! Perfect quick read prior to our upcoming Disneyland trip this April.
July 13, 2015
Secrets to the magic
Loved learning about the little secrets to the park. I will need to keep my eyes open for a few of them on our next visit.
Loved learning about the little secrets to the park. I will need to keep my eyes open for a few of them on our next visit.
July 20, 2015
Great book! Couldn't put it down.
Fascinating secrets, a few I knew, but most interesting and fun. I've made a list of things to look for when i go again in a couple months.
Fascinating secrets, a few I knew, but most interesting and fun. I've made a list of things to look for when i go again in a couple months.
November 14, 2017
I often wonder if I should read books like this. I love going to Disneyland, but I'm not sure if the park loses some of its magic when I know everything about it such as how it's run, the history of park construction, hidden nooks and crannies throughout the various lands, and lots of tidbits of information about "The Happiest Place on Earth." I want to just go and lose myself in the experience without knowing how it's all pulled off. Plus, I'm not really one to sit there and brag or share my Disney trivia knowledge as a way of showing off. Having said all that, I did enjoy reading the many pages of factoids.
Gavin Doyle breaks up the sections of the book into the various lands. He then provides a fact and then some more details. He doesn't go into a deep dive with every "secret," but he gives just enough to make it interesting. I wonder if there is a plan to expand some of the stories for future editions or to really delve into that secret. I will also give it to him for being such a young guy and putting this book together. Not every person could have done that.
Overall, it's a nice addition to my library, and I was happy to spend the money to continue to support Mr. Doyle in his love of Disneyland.
Gavin Doyle breaks up the sections of the book into the various lands. He then provides a fact and then some more details. He doesn't go into a deep dive with every "secret," but he gives just enough to make it interesting. I wonder if there is a plan to expand some of the stories for future editions or to really delve into that secret. I will also give it to him for being such a young guy and putting this book together. Not every person could have done that.
Overall, it's a nice addition to my library, and I was happy to spend the money to continue to support Mr. Doyle in his love of Disneyland.
September 28, 2017
Got this for the kids and ended up reading it myself... it's just one short sentence on each page about some area of the park so it was really easy to flip through and read quickly. I wouldn't call them "secrets" so much as just facts but a fun read for anyone headed to Disneyland.
June 15, 2020
Fun and informative! There was actually some information in here that I did not previously know, which, nowadays, is quite rare!
This book is quite fun, especially for Disneyland aficionados!
This book is quite fun, especially for Disneyland aficionados!
March 21, 2017
Had some interesting facts, but I already knew or had heard all but a few. I would recommend it if you haven't read anything about the park though.
February 9, 2016
From BetweenDisney.com
My first Between Book was a parks fact book. And I wonder sometimes if this type of book is exhausted within the book market since I have read many of them. Would I be able to find room for another fun fact parks book on my shelf?
Disneyland Secrets by Gavin Doyle is a land by land reading tour than Disneyland. Doyle takes his readers through each land giving us fun and interesting facts about Disneyland Park. Each page is basically one themed fact with varying detail that all fits on one page. The font is big and easy to read which makes it an easy book to read and honestly easy to give to an upper elementary reader.
Honestly, I was taken off guard. There were several new to me facts that I found on these pages. These ranged from cash values for paper tickets, the C-3PO at Star Tours - The Adventure Continues, half painted lights, the Kimball family still working the Disneyland Railroad and several more. These type of facts are the ones that catch my attention. I find them both interesting because they are in my favorite areas of Disneyland. And I find them instructive because despite the amount I read on the park I still had not stumbled on yet.
Disneyland Secrets is an easy to read fact book. Honestly, I can see dropping it into a backpack to help entertain a kid while waiting in lines. Another easy use in the park would be to get a Kindle version and read from a phone while waiting in lines. For the new to Disneyland guest there will be plenty to talk about and learn about the park. For the experience veteran they will be pleased to find new fact nuggets. In the end, both types of guests should have a good time.
Review Copy Provided by Theme Park Press
My first Between Book was a parks fact book. And I wonder sometimes if this type of book is exhausted within the book market since I have read many of them. Would I be able to find room for another fun fact parks book on my shelf?
Disneyland Secrets by Gavin Doyle is a land by land reading tour than Disneyland. Doyle takes his readers through each land giving us fun and interesting facts about Disneyland Park. Each page is basically one themed fact with varying detail that all fits on one page. The font is big and easy to read which makes it an easy book to read and honestly easy to give to an upper elementary reader.
Honestly, I was taken off guard. There were several new to me facts that I found on these pages. These ranged from cash values for paper tickets, the C-3PO at Star Tours - The Adventure Continues, half painted lights, the Kimball family still working the Disneyland Railroad and several more. These type of facts are the ones that catch my attention. I find them both interesting because they are in my favorite areas of Disneyland. And I find them instructive because despite the amount I read on the park I still had not stumbled on yet.
Disneyland Secrets is an easy to read fact book. Honestly, I can see dropping it into a backpack to help entertain a kid while waiting in lines. Another easy use in the park would be to get a Kindle version and read from a phone while waiting in lines. For the new to Disneyland guest there will be plenty to talk about and learn about the park. For the experience veteran they will be pleased to find new fact nuggets. In the end, both types of guests should have a good time.
Review Copy Provided by Theme Park Press
December 8, 2015
Disneyland facts
As an annual pass holder for many years, most of these I already knew but it was a quick easy read full of fun facts about Disneyland.
As an annual pass holder for many years, most of these I already knew but it was a quick easy read full of fun facts about Disneyland.
December 7, 2015
Not what I thought it was
This was an interesting and informative book. However, I thought it would be more of a narrative, as opposed to stand-alone blurbs.
This was an interesting and informative book. However, I thought it would be more of a narrative, as opposed to stand-alone blurbs.
January 16, 2021
What a great read
A must read for every Disney fan. The author gives a great many tips. Get and read this book. Fun.
A must read for every Disney fan. The author gives a great many tips. Get and read this book. Fun.
October 9, 2020
A good story on Disney , Disney Land and facts not usually mentioned, but interesting for the disney afficionado. Good as a teaser before a visit to Disneyland
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews