The Disneyland Resort is full of hidden details that are so cool and can be hard to find. These are the best hidden gems in California Adventure park that you’ll have to look for on your next park visit.
Randall’s Patterns
On the ride Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue there is a scene where Boo is hitting Randall. Every time she hits him his pattern changes. One of the patterns it changes to is the Haunted Mansion wallpaper that’s purple with eyes on it.
Cars Land Stoplight
In Cars Land there is a stoplight outside of Flo’s V8 Cafe. It flashes yellow and every 3rd time is slower. This is a reference from the Cars movie where Filmore says “every third blink is slower”.
Pixar Pier Bridge Silhouettes
When you’re walking across the Pixar Pier Bridge in California Adventure, make sure you look up. You’ll see silhouettes of tons of Pixar characters from various movies including Mr. Incredible, Dory, Mr. Potato Head, and more.
Buttons At Carthay Circle
Outside of the Carthay Circle restaurant look in the black section of the ground to find 2 white buttons. This is a nod to when Walt Disney lost the buttons on his coat at the premiere of the Snow White movie. There’s a really cool hidden Mickey here too. See more California Adventure hidden Mickeys here.
Cadillac Mountain Range
The Cadillac Mountain Range is in Cars Land where the Radiator Springs Racers ride is. The mountain peaks look like Cadillac tail fins of certain models.
Seashells on the Ground
When you’re walking in the queue of The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, look at the ground. You’ll see tons of seashells in the cement.
Sh-Boom Lighting
The Sh-Boom lighting happens every evenings in Cars Land right at sunset. The Sh-Boom song from the movie plays and all of the neon lights turn on one by one. Cars Land is beautiful at night with the lights on. See all of the most beautiful places at Disneyland at night here.
Graffiti in San Fransokyo Square
San Fransokyo Square has tons of nods to the movie Big Hero 6. There is some graffiti that says “SFS” for San Fransokyo and “BH6” for Big Hero 6.
You Can Smell Ginger
On the ride Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue you can smell ginger right as you enter the sushi restaurant. This happens pretty early in the ride, so get ready for it.
Roz is Interactive
Another hidden gem on the Monster’s, Inc ride is with Roz at the very end of the night. She’s interactive and will talk to you. Say something to her and see how she responds. One time I said “Roz do you like paperwork?” and she said “I hate paperwork”.
Toy Story Characters in the Cozy Cone
This is a really fun Easter egg in Cars Land. There’s a scene in Toy Story 2 where the Toy Story characters hide under traffic cones to cross the road. Go look in the windows of the Cozy Cone Motel and you can see some of them, like Buzz Lightyear, hiding under traffic cones.