In honor of Canadian Spring Break beginning in the next few weeks and the countless searches we’re seeing for Canada to Disneyland road trip, we present one of the hidden secrets of Disneyland you might not know about: Riding the Lilly Belle. (And if you do know about it, I like you already. Let’s be friends.)

The charm and wonder of Disneyland starts when you stand in front of Main Street Station, admiring the huge Mickey floral display and wondering which entrance tunnel to take. And when you do finally pick a side (I’m not fussy, but some people swear they have to enter a certain way), you can literally feel the stress lifting off your shoulders.

There’s a lot to take in when you first walk into Disneyland, but the one thing you can’t miss is the Disneyland Railroad. For the casual visitor, the Disneyland Railroad might seem like just another method of transportation. With stops in New Orleans Square, Mickey’s Toontown, and Tomorrowland, the Railroad is a great way to rest your feet and get from point A to point B. But for the person interested in Disney history, you know the Railroad is the cornerstone of the entire park.

Just watch the opening footage of Disneyland on July 17th, 1955 and you’ll see the Railroad front and center. Originally called RETLAW 1 (Walter spelled backwards), the train seating faced forward. When they decided on side facing seats in order for guests to get a better view of the Grand Canyon Diorama, they retired and sold off all the RETLAW-1 cars except one.

The Lilly Belle, a bright red caboose, is the last RETLAW car in existence at the park. Named for Walt Disney’s wife Lillian Disney, it is outfitted in beautiful, plush red Victorian decor. Originally restored for Disneyland’s Bicentennial, only VIP guests were permitted to ride the car.  Luckily for us non-VIP folks, they’ve lightened the restrictions and you can now request seating in the pretty little caboose.

How do you get a ride on the coveted Lilly Belle? When you enter the park in the morning, head straight to Main Street Station. Inquire with a conductor as to whether the Lilly Belle is running that day. Keep in mind that politeness is key here (as it is everywhere in Disneyland), and they don’t have to give you a spot to ride. It also doesn’t run when its raining or looks like it might rain.

If you get a coveted spot on the Lilly Belle, be sure to ask for a souvenir ticket and sign the guest book. Once onboard, you can see frame photos of Walt and Lillian as well as other artifacts. A conductor rides with you, answering questions and giving you the history of the car.

There are so many hidden gems located in Disneyland, and the Lilly Belle is definitely one of the best.

Be sure to check out tips for getting the best price on Disney tickets here and see the three part series on ‘Vancouver to California: Disneyland Road Trip” and watch for more of Survive Parenthood Magazine’s – A Canadian Guide to Disneyland

Disneyland: From the moment you walk through the gates and hear that wonderful little tweet saying your tickets are valid (and believe me, I’ve been there a few times to see other people around us who had bum tickets. The sound is not quite as wonderful), you enter a magical world. A world where, if you shut off your cell phone, sweeps away your problems and gives you the promise of happy tomorrows. It really will, if you just let it.

I’ve been to Disneyland so many times I’ve actually lost count, and each time I get the same thrilling feeling when I walk through those gates. Because I’ve been so many times, because I participate in Disney forums, read any and all Disney books, see all the films, watch the documentaries, and am friends with quite a few Annual Passholders, you could say I’m a fan. You could also say I have a few secrets up my sleeve that I’ve picked up along the way.

With Spring Break right around the corner, more and more people will be heading down to Disneyland, so I’ll be updating on a weekly basis and sharing a few things I’ve found out along the way.

The Canadian Guide to Disneyland presents:  Getting the best price on Disneyland tickets

This is going to be a little bit of Do and Do Not. Listening to the Do Nots are quite important, because they will save you a lot of time and hassle in the long run.

Do Not Buy your Disneyland Tickets on eBay or Craigslist

This is the big one, the most important one. Never, and I mean never ever, buy your tickets on Craigslist or eBay. I’m not saying all of the tickets being sold through these venues are fake, or used, but a lot of these businesses practice something called ‘Ticket Sharing” and it’s a big No No at Disneyland.

Basically what you do is ‘buy’ the option to use the tickets for a few days, then return them to the person/business when you are finished. The problem is that these tickets are often already used, and you’ll have no way of knowing if they are valid at the gate. You could be the people who are standing there with their kids, looking crestfallen at the fact they were completely suckered in an effort to save $100.

Buy your Disneyland tickets on Flight Centre

As a Canadian, you don’t have to fall prey to scams like that. We have the glorious option of Flight Centre.  Go ahead, give them a call. Flight Center has the best deals on tickets that I have ever, ever, seen. The more days you buy, the better deal you get. And as a Canadian you can buy up to 8 day Park Hoppers. I bought my park hoppers in November of 2011 and they cost me $214 each, with the kids being slightly cheaper. $214 for 8 days? I’ll take it.

If you plan on going back to Disneyland within a year, you can use your tickets to upgrade to a season pass. At this time, the Premium Annual Pass has no blackout dates (days when you won’t be able to go into the park) and allows you to obtain a discount on food and merchandise. I believe that will change this spring when they lose the merchandise discount, but its not carved in stone yet.

If you upgrade to an Annual Passport on your first day, the food savings alone (if you are eating in the park) will pay the extra $280 you spend on the passport. And then you have an excuse to go to Disneyland again within 6 months or a year.

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Be sure to check out a few tips and secrets to Disneyland here and see the three part series on ‘Vancouver to California: Disneyland Road Trip” and watch for more of Survive Parenthood Magazine’s – A Canadian Guide to Disneyland