Exploring specific areas of Disneyland is one of my most favorite ways of spending time at the charming and whimsical little park that Walt created. I feel like I uncover a new detail -whether big or small- with each visit. After you walk down Main Street U.S.A., passing Jolly Holiday along the left side, we’re heading straight into Adventureland. The land provides a vintage setting of a lush, exotic adventure, and is home to some of my favorite Disneyland vistas.

Here is adventure. Here is romance. Here is mystery. Walt Disney

Aside from the land’s iconic attractions taking you on those adventures, including Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room, the world famous Jungle Cruise, and arguably the best attraction on the west coast, Indiana Jones Adventure Temple of the Forbidden Eye, there’s plenty of other features and details you just might have skipped over. Here are my must-do Adventureland discoveries you should plan for your next journey through Disneyland!

Adventureland Treehouse at Sunset

There’s two Disneyland Resort locations you’ll find me at sunset: Cars Land for the “Sh’boom” neon moment, or the top of the Adventureland Treehouse taking in the beautiful aerial views of the Happiest Place on Earth.

The walk-through treehouse attraction itself is a hidden gem, many people seem to rush past it just to get to the nearby Indiana Jones Adventure or Pirates of the Caribbean, but it’s worth the exploration any time of day. There are beautifully-detailed vignettes filled with one-of-a-kind scenes and animatronic animals. And you just can’t beat those views!

The treehouse has seen a few different versions, from 1962’s Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse, to the reimagined Tarzan’s Treehouse from 1999. The latest edition, The Adventureland Treehouse, opened in late 2023, and harkens back to the original family-owned treehouse, but with a new, original story. Vignettes are filled with Easter eggs from the past, with some connections to the Society of Explorers and Adventurers (S.E.A.) the fictional organization with stories that link many attractions across Disney’s destinations.

Must-Have Adventureland Snacks

Whether you pick one or all, you can’t go wrong with Adventureland’s food offerings. Here are a few favorites:

Dole Whip from Tropical Hideaway a classic!

Fresh bagged pickles (go for the spicy!) from Tropical Imports, across from the Jungle Cruise

Bacon-wrapped asparagus kebabs from Bengal Barbecue

TIP: Mobile order via the Disneyland App! This line is backed up often throughout the day.

Indiana Jones Pinball Machine

Just next to Bengal Barbecue is an indoor seating area under a “South Seas Traders” sign. Inside here, you’ll find an often overlooked hidden gem: the Indiana Jones Pinball Machine.

While the machine itself isn’t too rare to find at arcades across America, this one is contained inside a one-of-a-kind wooden cabinet with gorgeous features customized for Adventureland. Spend a few quarters to play this retro pinball with Sallah as your guide! When else can you say you played Indy pinball mere moments after looking into the eyes of Mara? Not bad, for tourists…

The Little Man of Disneyland

Just below the attraction sign for Indiana Jones Adventure is the home to the Little Man of Disneyland. Whomst?!

The fable of the Disneyland Leprachaun, Patrick Begorra, takes place before the park opened in Anaheim. The story is from a 1955 Little Golden Book. Patrick once lived in a tree amongst the Orange Groves where Disneyland stands today. One day, while enjoying his peace and quiet, he noticed Donald, Mickey, Goofy, and Pluto walking through and questioned what they were doing. The gang offered to take him via helicopter to Walt Disney Studios to show him the plans for Disneyland. Upon seeing the plans, Patrick allows them to build, but asks for a place he can live in the park tucked away somewhere quiet. He selected a tree for himself within the one and only Adventureland, where he has lived ever since.

Due to the book’s popularity, Disney eventually installed a small house for Patrick near the Jungle Cruise docks, but was lost due to Adventureland renovations, his current home was restored near the Indiana Jones queue in 2015 for the park’s 60th celebration. The Little Golden Book now has a sequel released in 2023, A Change of Luck, where Mickey and Patrick enjoy a day at Disneyland together.

However you choose to explore Disneyland’s Adventureland, be sure to stop and smell the exotic flowers (and Dole Whip). Try and notice something you haven’t before… I’m really bad at goodbyes, so I’m going to make this simple for all of us: Get out. Scram.