Storybook Land Canal Boats: Attraction Spotlight

Storybook Land Canal Boats is a classic Opening Day Fantasyland attraction. The boats share a footprint and scenery with the Casey Jr. Circus Train. The two attractions playfully interact with each other throughout your journey. While Casey Jr takes the high view, the Storybook Land boats take you right up close to miniaturized versions of many of your favorite classic Disney animated features (and a few modern classics!). The boats are one of the last two attractions in the park featuring a live audio spiel. (The other is the Jungle Cruise). Recorded audio could never

While on board, you’ll see miniaturized sets from the following movies and short films: The Three Little Pigs, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Aladdin, Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, Cinderella, Lullaby Land (a Silly Symphony!), Mr Toad from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad, Frozen, Pinocchio, and the Little Mermaid. What a tour of Disney animation history in just under 10 minutes!

Seasonal Magic

Looking for a little extra magic? Riding on Storybook Land during certain holidays will yield even more festive celebration. Disneyland’s magic makers will add little holiday touches for both Halloween time and the Christmas season. Check out your favorite miniature pumpkins and holiday decorations showcased within the Storybook Land sets.

A COVID note: Sadly, Disney hasn’t consistently brought back all of the holiday decorations after the COVID-closure of 2020-2021. While we are hopeful they will consistently set them all out in the future, they may not be out for your visit.

The Official Word

If you’re interested in the official spiel, here’s how Disney’s site describes the attraction:

It’s a (Very) Small World

Slip inside a 12-person boat for a gentle open-air tour of enchanting homes and villages from classic Disney movies.

The hand-built cottages, towns and palaces feature whimsical landscaping, charming music and special lighting effects. Listen closely as your tour guide tells the tale behind each picturesque tableau.

Mini Magic

The painstakingly detailed models use a scale of one inch to one foot. Be on the lookout for these familiar locales:

Official Disneyland Website

Lizzie’s Take

Randy’s Take

Storybook Land is one of my favorite attractions at Disneyland! I love the fact that it’s still narrated live and you get to be up-close-and-personal with the miniature sets. The live narration makes every cruise on these boats unique — you’ll never have the exact same experience twice. It’s also fantastic to get to interact with the boat’s captain and a small group of guests in such an intimate way.

If you are looking for a ride with classic Disneyland charm, this is a great choice! Personally, I know an attraction like this would never be built again in the modern era, so I absolutely love this blast from the past.

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