You’re reading Mr. Todd’s Wild Ride newsletter <\/p>\n
Todd Martens’ newsletter delivers news and commentary on the past, present and future of theme parks, right from the theme park capital of the world \u2014 Southern California. <\/p>\n
By continuing, you agree to our Terms of Service<\/a>, which include arbitration and a class action waiver. You agree that we and our third-party vendors may collect and use your information, including through cookies, pixels and similar technologies, for the purposes set forth in our Privacy Policy<\/a> such as personalizing your experience and ads. <\/p>\n So when I had the opportunity to talk to Chris Mortensen, one of the Disneyland Resort\u2019s longest-tenured vacation planners, I wanted to know his.<\/p>\n Mortensen recently celebrated his 40th year with the company, and has spent more than 20 of them in his current role as director of West Coast Travel Operations. That means a significant part of his job is talking on the phone with those who want advice on how to plan their Disneyland days.<\/p>\n He comes from a Disney family. His wife has spent about 30 years with the resort, and one of their children is also a cast member. If anyone should know how to plan a special day at Disneyland, it\u2019s Mortensen. <\/p>\n One of his key pieces of advice: Decide what\u2019s most important to you as a guest. \u201cIs it a thrill ride? Is it entertainment? Is it food?\u201d Mortensen asks. \u201cOne of the things that I like to tell people is that you\u2019re going to have a really busy day, but take time for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Here are some of Mortensen\u2019s other favorite park tips. We steered the conversation to Southern California locals, and those who may want a little glimpse of what makes Disneyland so special.<\/p>\n Get around the park by train<\/p>\n Here\u2019s one hint, off the bat, that Mortensen says he gives most everyone: \u201cUse the Disneyland Railroad as a form of transportation. Yes, it\u2019s a great little attraction. Seeing the dinosaurs is one of my favorites. But it\u2019s also a great way to get from one place to another. If you\u2019re on Main Street and don\u2019t want to walk all the way back to see \u2018Bluey<\/a>,\u2019 jump on the railway. It\u2019s a great way to get a little rest, and experience the park.\u201d<\/p>\n Decompress at Disneyland\u2019s most tranquil spot Disneyland\u2019s Snow White Grotto is a tranquil spot overlooked by many guests. <\/p>\n (Todd Martens \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Mortensen notes that it\u2019s impossible to see all Disneyland has to offer in a single day, but rather than stressing about rushing from attraction to attraction, prioritize those that are important to you, and then take a breather at some overlooked park elements, especially those that add to its beauty and tranquility. I couldn\u2019t agree more, and was pleased when Mortensen singled out one of my favorite places in the park: the Snow White Grotto, which is on a path on the eastern side of Sleeping Beauty Castle. <\/p>\n Sculpted by Leonida Parma from Carrara marble, the initial figures have, according to Disney\u2019s fan club D23<\/a>, been since replaced by fiberglass ones built from the original molds. The eight figures are still a sight, and Disney legendary designer John Hench constructed the fountain that holds them in 1960. The character figures, in the midst of a collection of jutting rocks and log bridges surrounding a peaceful waterfall, are all the same height, so Hench used forced perspective illusions to make it seem like Snow White was towering over the dwarf sculpts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Snow White wishing well \u2014 you won\u2019t find that anywhere [else],\u201d Mortensen says. \u201cBring a quarter and toss it in, experience that.\u201d<\/p>\n Take time for the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough, a lesser-known attraction Don\u2019t sleep on the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough at Disneyland. <\/p>\n (Todd Martens \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n \u201cPeople don\u2019t know about it,\u201d Mortensen says of the self-guided mini-tour that tells the tale of Princess Aurora. <\/p>\n Indeed, I had the Sleeping Beauty Castle Walkthrough<\/a> to myself one late Sunday morning. The attraction, best experienced with patience in mind, is largely inspired by the artwork of Eyvind Earle. Earle\u2019s approach, after all, is designed to transport us, to place us in lush, fairy-tale-like environments that contain an ever-so-slightly foreboding atmosphere.<\/p>\n Think of this as a mini-art gallery where illuminated dioramas spring to life and transform before us. The walk-through was updated with new effects and artwork in 2008 but dates to 1957. <\/p>\n It\u2019s Disneyland. Order the iconic turkey leg.<\/p>\n Mortensen and I clearly have different palates. If I\u2019m recommending a must-try Disney snack, it\u2019s not the churro. It\u2019s the corn dog. Mortensen, however, is voting for the turkey leg. A brave choice, I believe, as it\u2019s a hefty item and, well, a lot of tough meat. Mortensen, however, made his case.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s unique,\u201d he says. \u201cYes, you can get a churro, but where else can you walk around and just literally bite out of a turkey leg? It\u2019s about trying to create memories. Every time we have conversations with someone, it\u2019s about, \u2018What\u2019s going to make a memory for you?\u2019 You\u2019re always going to remember walking around Disneyland as a 5- or 6-year-old little boy or girl with a turkey leg.\u201d<\/p>\n Turn It\u2019s a Small World into a scavenger hunt Cinderella is one of the many Disney characters that was added to It\u2019s a Small World in the late 2000s. <\/p>\n (Todd Martens \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Mortensen had my attention when he declared It\u2019s a Small World a must-do attraction at the park. After all, the Mary Blair-styled boat excursion is my favorite<\/a> Disneyland ride. <\/p>\n Mortensen highlights a once controversial<\/a> but now beloved late 2000s renovation that added more than two dozen Disney and Pixar characters to the attraction. When riding It\u2019s a Small World, he says, try to spot as many as possible. Disneyland even recently placed Miguel from \u201cCoco\u201d in the ride. Focusing on the scavenger hunt, says Mortensen, helps turn a familiar attraction into one that feels fresh. <\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s more to it than just riding the attraction,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n Spot details in the windows of Main Street Enjoying a horse-drawn trip around Main Street, U.S.A., is a relaxing start to a Disneyland day. <\/p>\n (Todd Martens \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n Disneyland\u2019s introductory land is a joy. Often, I start my day with a ride on one of Disneyland\u2019s horse-drawn carriages, which venture from the foot of Main Street, U.S.A., to the Sleeping Beauty Castle and back. It\u2019s a relaxing way to settle into the theme park and take a look at the exquisite designs of the Main Street buildings, which many guests rush past on their way to one of the park\u2019s many rides. <\/p>\n Mortensen wanted to call specific attention to Main Street\u2019s windows, which celebrate those who were integral to the development of the park. Many are nods to famed Disneyland designers. Most recently, the park awarded a window<\/a> to the just-retired Kim Irvine<\/a> and her mother, Leota Toombs. Irvine and Toombs were longtime creatives with Walt Disney Imagineering vital to the development of the park. <\/p>\n \u201cI love to point out the windows on Main Street,\u201d Mortensen says. \u201cIf you and I were walking in, that\u2019s what I would do. I\u2019d grab a box of popcorn, and just point out two or three of the names. Some people you may recognize. Some people you may not.\u201d<\/p>\n And I certainly won\u2019t argue with popcorn for breakfast. <\/p>\n This week in SoCal theme parks Disney legend Don Iwerks died last week at 96. <\/p>\n (Lori Shepler \/ Los Angeles Times)<\/p>\n A legend was lost. Don Iwerks, whose inventiveness helped transform Disney\u2019s theme parks, died July 9 at the age of 96, reported <\/a>the Walt Disney Co. For Disney and his own studio, Iwerks Entertainment, Iwerks helped develop technologies and techniques like Circle-Vision, the 360-degree camera behind \u201cAmerica the Beautiful\u201d and other early Disney attractions, and the 3D effects used in attractions like Captain EO and Star Tours. He also had major contributions to the world of cinema, instrumental, particularly, in the effects sequences of \u201cMary Poppins.\u201d Read more about Iwerks <\/a>in The Times\u2019 obituary by Corinne Purtill. Have a theme park tale to share? Whether it was a good day or less-than-perfect day, I would love to hear about it. Have a question? A tip? A fun photo from the parks to share? Email me at todd.martens@latimes.com<\/a>. I may feature your note in an upcoming newsletter. <\/p>\n Ride on, <\/p>\n Todd Martens<\/p>\n P.S.<\/p>\n The initial news for those who purchased Disneyland\u2019s specially priced $59 nighttime ticket<\/a> is good. While now sold-out, Disneyland launched the promotional evenings this past Sunday, and the park didn\u2019t appear flooded with twilight guests. Attendance was continuing a summer trend<\/a> of being relatively light, and though wait times increased in the evening, nothing was headache-inducing. <\/p>\n At times, even showcase attraction Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance stood at about 40 minutes, with Space Mountain often showing a similar wait time. Most rides, however, were even more approachable, topping off at around 25 minutes throughout the night. Since the evening ticket only gives guests a taste of Disneyland \u2014 five hours worth \u2014 it\u2019s a positive sign that the event\u2019s opening night kept things manageable, providing those who bought in at a budget price a prime experience. <\/p>\n ![\"Disneyland's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784053268_251_.jpeg\")
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Fiesta Village is no more. The Inland Empire amusement park, which stood for more than 50 years, closed for good last weekend. A center for mini golf, roller skating and go-karting, Fiesta Village announced the closure last week, citing rising operation costs<\/a> and declining attendance.
Montezooma\u2019s Revenge is back. The reimagined coaster, now known as Montezooma: The Forbidden Fortress<\/a>, is set to return to Knott\u2019s Berry Farm on Monday. Shuttered for the last four years, the ride has essentially been rebuilt, now featuring enhanced Aztec theming, new trains and a modern launch system. Look for a report on the remade coaster next week.
It\u2019s almost Halloween season. Disneyland in mid-August will launch its Oogie Boogie Bash<\/a>, Universal will follow in early September with Halloween Horror Nights<\/a> and Knott\u2019s Berry Farm isn\u2019t far behind with its Knott\u2019s Scary Farm<\/a>. The latter is the longest-running Halloween event in the Southland, and defined the maze-focused haunt formula. Tickets are now on sale for all three happenings.
Happy 71st anniversary, Disneyland! On Friday, Disneyland will turn 71. While the occasion won\u2019t be as grand as the 70th anniversary,<\/a> which has been celebrated for the past year and will essentially continue up until the start of the park\u2019s Halloween activities, the Anaheim theme park typically recognizes the birthday with some light festivities for guests. Think, perhaps, a character cavalcade or some specialty treats. Tell us your stories. Ask us your questions.<\/p>\n