It’s a sad but true fact that there are some people who will only have the opportunity to visit Disneyland once in their lives. For these poor, blighted individuals, it can be very difficult to decide what to do and what to see since time may be limited and it would be very disappointing to learn that you had missed something when you will have no opportunity to return.
To assist these individuals, we have put together a suggested “bucket list” of attractions, sights, and entertainment at Disneyland that should not be missed under any conditions. If you are taking a once-and-only trip to the park, bring this list with you as a handy way to make sure you haven’t missed anything important. (And remember, this isn’t an exhaustive list, just a “best of the best.” If your favorite isn’t listed, let us know!)
Not To Be Missed Items at Disneyland
- 20th Century Music Company
- Adventureland Bazaar
- Adventureland Entrance Restrooms
- Aladdin’s Oasis Restrooms
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
- Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland Restrooms
- Astro Orbiter
- Atmosphere Characters (various)
- Autopia
- Autopia FASTPASS machines
- Autopia Restrooms
- Baby Care Center
- Bengal Barbecue
- Benches (various)
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Botique
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad FASTPASS machines
- Big Thunder Ranch
- Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue
- Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue Restrooms
- Blue Bayou Restaurant
- Blue Bayou Restaurant Restrooms
- Bonanza Outfitters
- The Briar Patch
- Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
- Cafe Orleans
- Candy Kitchen
- Candy Palace
- Captain America: The Living Legend and Symbol of Courage
- Captain EO Tribute (or whatever is currently displacing it)
- Captain’s Treasure at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Carnation Café
- Carnation Café Restrooms
- Casey Jr. Circus Train
- The Castle Heraldry Shop
- Castmembers asking you for your email address
- Cemetery at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- China Closet
- Chip ‘n Dale’s Treehouse
- Churro cart
- City Hall
- City Hall Restrooms
- Clarabelle’s Frozen Yogurt
- Club 33
- Club 33 Restrooms
- Cristal d’Orleans
- Crystal Palace
- Cultivating the Magic Tour
- Daisy’s Diner
- The Dapper Dans
- Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes
- Dead Man’s Grotto at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Disney California Adventure
- Discover the Magic Tour
- Disney Clothiers, Ltd.
- The Disney Gallery
- The Disney Gallery Restrooms
- Disney Showcase
- Disneyana
- Disneyland Monorail
- Disneyland Railroad – Main Street, U.S.A.
- Disneyland Railroad – Mickey’s Toontown
- Disneyland Railroad – New Orleans Square
- Disneyland Railroad – Tomorrowland
- The Disneyland Story presenting Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
- Disney’s Happiest Haunts Tour
- Donald’s Boat
- Downtown Disney
- Dream Suite
- Ducks
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Edelweiss Snacks
- Emporium
- Esmeralda
- Evil Queen window
- Fairy Tale Treasures
- Fantasmic!
- Fantasy Faire
- Fantasyland Theatre Restrooms
- Feral cats
- Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage
- Fireworks
- First Aid
- Flag Retreat Ceremony
- Floral Mickey
- Former Mine Train Through Nature’s Wonderland tunnel
- Fort Wilderness
- Fort Wilderness Restrooms
- Fowler’s Harbor
- Fortune Red
- French Market Restaurant
- Frontierland “Cigar Store Indian”
- Frontierland Shootin’ Exposition
- Frozen treat cart
- Gadget’s Go Coaster
- Gag Factory
- Gibson Girl Ice Cream Parlor
- Goat trick
- Goofy’s Gas Station Restrooms
- Goofy’s Playhouse
- Golden Horseshoe
- Grand Canyon Diorama
- Guided Tour Pavilion Restrooms
- Harbour Galley
- Haunted Mansion
- Hidden Mickeys (various)
- The Hub
- Hungry Bear Restaurant
- Hungry Bear Restaurant Restrooms
- Indiana Jones Adventure Outpost
- Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye
- Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye FASTPASS machines
- Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye queue
- Innoventions
- “it’s a small world”
- “it’s a small world” Toy Shop
- Jambalaya Jazz
- Jedi Training Academy
- Jolly Holiday Bakery Café
- Jungle Cruise
- King Arthur Carrousel
- La Mascarade D’Orleans
- Lafitte’s Anchor
- Landscaping (various)
- Le Bat en Rouge
- Le Petit Chalet
- Lily Belle Train Car
- Little Green Men Store Command
- The Mad Hatter
- Mad Tea Party
- Main Gate Restrooms
- Main Street Cannons
- Main Street “Cigar Store Indian”
- Main Street Cinema
- Main Street Fire Station
- Main Street Lockers
- Main Street Magic Shop
- Main Street mezuzah
- Main Street Piano Player
- Main Street Pin Shop
- Main Street Vehicles — Fire Engine
- Main Street Vehicles — Horse-Drawn Streetcar
- Main Street Vehicles — Jitney
- Main Street Vehicles — Omnibus
- The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
- Mark Twain Riverboat
- Market House
- Matterhorn Bobsleds
- Matterhorn Mountain basketball court
- Maurice’s Treats Snack Cart
- Meet Anna and Elsa from Frozen
- Meet Tinker Bell & a Fairy Friend at Pixie Hollow
- Merchant of Venus
- Mickey and the Magical Map
- Mickey’s House and Meet Mickey
- Mickey’s Soundsational Parade
- Mickey’s Star Trader
- Minnie’s House
- Mint Julep Bar
- Mlle. Antoinette’s Parfumerie
- Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
- New Century Jewelry
- New Orleans Square Restrooms
- New Orleans Square Station Telegraph
- Newsstand
- Observatron
- Parking
- Parking lot tram
- Penny Arcade
- People watching
- Peter Pan’s Flight
- Petrified Tree
- Photopass photographers (various)
- Pieces of Eight
- Pin trading opportunities (various)
- Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
- Pioneer Mercantile
- Pirate’s Den at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island Mill Dock Restrooms
- Pirate’s League
- Pirates of the Caribbean
- Plaza Inn
- Pluto’s Dog House
- Pontoon Bridge at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Pooh Corner
- Popcorn cart
- Port Royal
- Pressed Penny Machines (various)
- Primeval World Diorama
- Professor Barnaby Owl’s Photographic Art Studio
- Rafts to Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante
- Rancho del Zocalo Restaurante Restrooms
- Real human skull in Pirates of the Caribbean
- Recorded conversations (Main Street)
- Recorded conversation (New Orleans Square)
- Redd Rockett’s Pizza Port
- Refreshment Corner
- River Belle Terrace
- Rivers of America
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin
- Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin FASTPASS machines
- Royal Street Bachelors
- Royal Street Sweets
- Royal Street Veranda
- Sailing Ship Columbia
- Secret Cave at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Shipwreck at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Silver Spur
- Skyway to Tomorrowland building (abandonded)
- Sleeping Beauty Castle
- Sleeping Beauty Castle Exact Center of Disneyland Before Toontown Was Built Mark
- Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough
- Smuggler’s Cove at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Snow White Grotto
- Snow White’s Scary Adventures
- South Seas Traders
- Space Mountain
- Space Mountain FASTPASS machines
- Space Mountain Restrooms
- Splash Mountain
- Splash Mountain FASTPASS machines
- Stage Door Café
- Star Tours — The Adventures Continue
- Star Tours — The Adventures Continue FASTPASS machines
- Starcade
- Storybook Land Canal Boats
- The Straw Hatters
- Stroller Rentals
- Suspension Bridge at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- Sword in the Stone
- Tarzan’s Treehouse
- The Golden Horseshoe
- Thor: Treasures of Asgard
- Tiki Juice Bar
- Tomorrowland Entrance Restrooms
- Tomorrowland Terrace
- Tomorrowlanding
- Toontown Five and Dime
- Trash cans in Main Street, U.S.A.
- Trash cans in Adventureland
- Trash cans in Adventureland (Indiana Jones queue)
- Trash cans in New Orleans Sqaure (near Pirates of the Caribbean)
- Trash cans in New Orleans Square (near the Haunted Mansion)
- Trash cans in Frontierland
- Trash cans in Frontierland (Fowlers Harbor)
- Trash cans in Frontierland (Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island)
- Trash cans in Frontierland (dock area)
- Trash cans in Frontierland (on the Mark Twain
- Trash cans in Fantasyland
- Trash cans in Fantasyland (“it’s a small world” area)
- Trash cans in Toontown
- Trash cans in Tomorrowland
- Tropical Imports
- Troubadour Tavern
- Turkey leg cart
- Village Haus Restaurant
- Village Haus Restaurant Restrooms
- W. Turner Blacksmith Shop at Pirate’s Lair on Tom Sawyer Island
- “Walk in Walt’s Footsteps” Tour
- Walt Disney’s Apartment
- Walt Disney’s Apartment’s Restroom
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room Restrooms
- Wandering Balloon Sales
- Watching over-stimulated children melt down (various)
- Water fountains (various)
- Welcome to Disneyland Tour
- Westward Ho Trading Company
That’s it — enjoy your trip!
You forgot to mention watching parents yell at their kids, “I spent a fortune on this vacation. You’re going to have fun, damnit!”