Enjoy Disneyland in an unhurried manner, taking in the beauty and wonder of the grounds. Annual Passport holders or anyone who takes the time for a leisurely Disneyland visit will be rewarded with a deeper sense of appreciation for the park.

For many people, a visit to Disneyland is a rare event. These visitors typically have a limited amount of time to experience everything they can during their brief stay at the Happiest Place on Earth. Consequently, they miss out on a great deal of beauty and detail in the park. Annual Passport holders and those who are not in a rush to conquer all the attractions are more likely to enjoy a leisurely Disneyland visit, drinking in the special points of interest along the way. But even those on a time budget will get more out of their visit when they reserve some moments to experience the serenity of the park.

Tulips welcome guests for a leisurely Disneyland visit

Gorgeous Gardens

Disneyland is famous for its exquisitely manicured grounds. The most prominent landscaping display is found at the park entrance, where the likeness of Mickey Mouse is portrayed in flowers planted across an expanse of lawn. Pass through the entrance portals and stroll down Main Street, pausing to admire its walkways lined with cheerful hanging flower baskets. This street leads to the hub, the central plaza located in front of the park’s iconic castle. Here, a 360-degree turn will reveal landscaping styles reflective of the lands they border, bidding you to spend a few idle moments visually feasting on a pleasing effect rendered in foliage.

Landscaping ideas abound throughout the park. A ride on the Storybook Land Canal Boats in Fantasyland reveals a patchwork quilt garden, with sections of plantings “stitched” together on slopes to create a whimsical arrangement. Other fun plantings can be viewed in front of the it’s a small world attraction, where amusing topiary animals greet visitors to the ride. In addition to sculpted animals, the hedges adjacent to the show building give ideas for balanced design, and the flat-trimmed trees in the area testify that topiary does not necessarily require elaborate shaping to achieve a pleasing effect.

Relax on benches by the Matterhorn’s entrance, and enjoy the colorful burst of blossoms planted nearby. These provide a much needed breath of nature along a heavily travelled cement footpath, demonstrating the power of a small garden in a largely paved area. Conversely, the creative use of a great deal of nature is showcased at the Briar Patch store in Critter Country. This enchanting little shop appears to emerge from the hillside, with its roof entirely covered in ferns and other greenery.

On the park’s opening day back in 1955, not everything was quite ready for the public. In an effort to enhance the landscape experience for guests, Walt Disney himself instructed the gardeners to create plant identification signage and post the Latin names of the weeds throughout the grounds. Imagine early guests happening upon a clump of Senecio vulgaris and believing it to be a rare specimen imported by Mr. Disney to delight his park visitors!

The Briar Patch store demonstrates a creative use of greenery

Fountains and Water Features

Fountains, streams and water features flow all over Disneyland. The most conspicuous body of water, visible from Frontierland, Adventureland, New Orleans Square and Critter Country, is known as the Rivers of America. The park’s Columbia and Mark Twain sail upon these waters, but one of the best ways to experience the beauty of these waterways up close and personal is to board the Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes. This ride brings each visitor into close interaction with the water, as guests provide the paddle power for the trip around Tom Sawyer Island. It takes a little work, but you’ll be rewarded with breathtaking “back country” views while you burn off those theme park calories. There’s something about dipping an oar into the water, hearing that little “schloop” sound and seeing the ripples emanate from the oar’s tip that brings a sense of peaceful calm to an otherwise hectic day.

Stop by the Snow White Wishing Well near the castle, and allow your gaze to appreciate the artistry of the Italian marble statuary in the nearby waterfalls. And keep an eye on the statues in the water for a little surprise when Snow White begins singing her song. A less obvious water feature is located at the bridge along the Big Thunder Mountain Trail pass. Across from the loud whirr of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad roller coaster is a pool of water flowing from the Rivers of America. Linger at the fence overlooking this portion of Nature’s Wonderland, a remnant of an attraction from long ago, and you may notice some activity in the water. This delightful feature is often missed by those rushing by to get in line for the roller coaster, but is a treasure to see, particularly just before sundown when the natural lighting is just perfect for the scene.

Other refreshing water features include the central fountain in New Orleans Square, the spinning granite sphere fountain in Tomorrowland, and a water clock in the form of the tiki god Maui, keeping time in the courtyard of the Enchanted Tiki Room.

Sit for a Portrait

In our fast-paced, high-tech world, it’s easy to snap a picture and whisk it off to friends via mobile devices while dashing to the next ride on the map. Grant yourself a reprieve from the crowds and take an intermission in New Orleans Square, relaxing in gentle repose before an easel. As you listen to the sounds of the passing Disneyland Railroad mixed with the jazz music emanating from the French Market, a Disney artist will capture your likeness in charcoal. Profile or full-face portraits, rendered in black and white or in full color, somehow portray more than a snapshot can capture. It’s a productive and convenient diversion while you take a breather for 20 to 30 minutes.

Even if you’re really pressed for time, you can still carve out the few moments required to have a custom silhouette cut for you. A very brief respite is all it takes for the skilled artisans on Main Street to seize your profile in black paper, an art form hearkening from the turn of the previous century. You can walk in the door, sit for the silhouette, have the finished work framed, and be back outside in just a matter of minutes.

Architecture of Reassurance

Walt Disney cleverly planned his park to make his guests feel comfortable, and designed pathways to allow for fluid egress. He even considered that over-sized buildings might psychologically overwhelm his guests, so he directed that structures be built on a smaller scale and in a manner to bring about contentment and ease. An entire book has been written on Disney’s “Architecture of Reassurance,” and many building designers and engineers have adopted this approach for their own projects.

The great attention to detail in reproduction and theming is evident throughout Disneyland. Each structure in every land is themed to lend authenticity and suspension of disbelief. Disney artists and craftsmen spent a great deal of time closely studying original structures to bring a sense of realism to building designs. One example that is often overlooked by guests is the presence of fire medallions installed in the building facades of New Orleans Square. These fire marks are reminiscent of those plaques installed in building fronts during the 1700s and 1800s as insurance identifiers to alert firefighters that a building was covered by fire insurance. The various medallion designs functioned as logos, denoting which company held the policy for each building.

Make the Time to Take the Time

Perhaps having time constraints on a Disneyland visit is all the more reason to allocate extra moments to pause for an unfettered span of quietude, enjoying some precious moments of renewal at the park. When time is not severely restricted, plan at least one visit to Disneyland where the intent of the trip is not rooted in getting on as many rides as possible, but in encountering and appreciating the little details that add fullness to the park experience. Chances are, you’ll find a leisurely Disneyland visit to be more enriching and satisfying.

© M.S. Ross

Castle and tulips image © Sally Ann French, used by permission.
Briar Patch image © Bretman Photos, used by permission.
Bretman Photos features over 3000 images of the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim.