Team Goelz Welcomes You To...
Ever since Scout McAdams began roaming the Smokies, he always felt like something was missing. He roamed, and he saw, but nothing ever pulled him to the magic of nature that his mother, Lucy Timber McAdams, had told him about. One day, he saw a golden hawk soar through the skies. Intrigued, he reached for his spyglass out, as he looked to the sky. The eagle descended downwards to where a golden beam of sunlight shone down, as he raced after it. He soon entered a majestic clearing full of wonder on beauty, with different realms to explore. He constructed a lodge here, which he called the Timber Lodge in honor of his mother, so that others can discover the true magic of nature, here in
Disney's Mystic Woodlands.
Located on a patch of land formerly held by the "strawberry fields" (located on Katella Avenue, about ten minutes away from Disneyland Resort--without traffic), this enchanted place hosts a variety of activities showcasing the magic of nature, through experiences that only Disney could create. When guests first arrive, they will be greeted by the site of the
Timber Lodge, the main building at the complex.
Here, guests can check-in or out to their camping site, get a bite to eat, or learn about the history of this place. When guests enter the pleasant, three story atrium, a large fireplace in the corner of the room will draws peoples attention, made with rocks in the shapes of deer, hawks, bears, wolves, and other woodland creatures. The first floor also houses
Smokey's Grill, with a Smokey Bear theme, and a barbecue based menu. On the second floor, enchanted portraits portray the legend of Scout McAdams and the Golden Hawk, which is memorialized by a statue in the outside gardens. On the third floor, a signature table service restaurant
Scout's serves high quality steak and pasta dishes, with a wooden atmosphere, akin to that of a winery.
Disney's Mystic Woodlands is home to different loops, each one bringing both the glory of nature and the world of one of Disney's beloved films to life like never before.
The Bambi Meadows Loop
Guests who have requested or are placed in the Bambi Meadows Loop of the campgrounds are in for a very quiet and peaceful stay - the loop is the farthest away from the entrance and as such it is the most isolated of all the loops, perfect for nature lovers or people who just want to get away from it all. This makes it a nice fit for the film it is inspired by,
Bambi, which includes no physically shown human or anthropomorphic cartoon characters. With the exception of a general building near the center that acts as a small laundromat and vending machine depository, this section is devoid of buildings. There are no cabins or RV parking spaces here, just tent campground plots, which helps add to the atmosphere and makes it distinct from the other loops in the complex.
The Rico LeBrun Walking Trail and Animal Sanctuary:
Named after the naturalist painter who advised the Disney animators during the creation of
Bambi, this walking trail is similar in design to the Pangani Forest Exploration Trail and the Maharajah Jungle Trek in Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Like those trails this is a self-guided tour through a wooded environment, but unlike those trails there is a larger selection of co-habilitating animals for guests to see. Guests enter the trail past a small, understated sign next to a tree asking them to be respectful of the animals that live on the trail, as for many of them this is their actual habitat.
The first exhibit is home to a small duck pond and a sitting area. While the trail itself is picturesque, this is a particularly nice photo opportunity and an area for people who don’t necessarily want to go on the trail to relax and wait for those who do go. For those that venture forward, they are greeted by a dirt path that moves crookedly through the forest. The first animals that guests see here are your more traditional woodland creatures, such as bullfrogs, chipmunks and squirrels. This is to ease guests into the trail as well as for practical reasons - the animals that aren’t particularly native to the area are kept overnight in a protective enclosure that is kept purposefully away from the camp as to not disturb the atmosphere.
Next, guests come across some animals that they may be more familiar with from the film, tree creatures such as owls and possums. While encouraged to look up, guests may also see woodpeckers as well. Moving on guests pass through a short cave; on the other side is a meadow, similar to the one seen in the film. The meadow is by far the largest scene in this walkthrough, showing off animals seen in the film such as quails, pheasants, raccoons and moles occasionally popping out of the ground. Guests here are inspired to play a finding game, seeing how many animals they can spot in the grass.
Leaving the meadow and re entering the woods, guests pass through a more secluded section. While mostly used as a transitional area between the meadow and the final portion of the trail, this is a section that seems to have been cleared of animals. The only ones to be seen are field mice and some birds in the trees. Why this is the case is soon made clear - continuing on, guests can see the remnants of a hunting party, meaning that the wildlife aren’t the only things reimagined from the film in the trail. While the hunters seemed to have moved on, it’s clear that it will be a while before the animals venture back here again.
Crossing through a second cave, guests come to the final wildlife exhibit, a small clearing filled with rabbits, skunks and of course white-tailed deers. This naturally the most picturesque portion of the trail, because who wouldn’t want a picture of Bambi’s, Thumper’s and Flower’s families roaming around with each other? With this ending, guests are led on a short trail back to the sitting area where they have another opportunity to take a seat or reunite with those who remained behind. Exiting the trail guests return back to the campsite, to wind down or to plan the next leg of their vacation.
The Paradise Falls Loop
Themed to the movie
Up, this loop's signature feature will be a recreation of Paradise Falls (at a smaller scale of course with forces perspective to make it appear larger) complete with Carl Fredrickson's house sitting up top. The falls will cascade over the edge of a man-made mountain that is a part of the berm separating the campground from the real world. The falls empty into Paradise Lake.
Guests can visit
Paradise Lake Rentals to rent canoes, kayaks, motorboats, and other water crafts to take out on the lake and along a man made river that flows through some caverns built into the man made mountain. Special activities such as fishing excursions, waterskiing, and paragliding are also hosted by Paradise Lake Rentals. Chairs and cabanas free for guest use (1 hour limit on free cabanas) are nestled in the sand around the lake as well as a beach volleyball court making this a great place to relax and unwind or to have a great time. Deluxe cabanas are also available to rent by the hour or by the day and feature free non-alcoholic beverages, snacks (from the
Paradise Falls Snack Bar near the Rental place), and discounts on adult beverages. Packages for watercraft rentals, water activities, and deluxe cabanas can be purchased allowing guests to save money by purchasing the experiences together.
Also found near the falls is the creatively named
Paradise Falls Hiking Trail. This trail has a traditional hiking trail portion that loops around the lake as well as a more unique and exciting portion the weaves its way up alongside the "mountain" and through caverns. This trail allows guests to get up close and personal with the falls as well as gives great views looking out over the campground. Don't worry, the trail doesn't go high enough to ruin the forced perspective. Only about half way up the mountain.
Also near the lake are two animal exhibit houses showcasing tropical wildlife. One features South American birds and another is focused on South American reptiles. An exciting and unique feature bringing a very small slice of Animal Kingdom type attractions to California.
Here is a general map of the Paradise Lake area.
Brown is the trail
Blue is lake
Black is the mountain
Yellow is the animal houses
Red is boat rentals
Moving away from the falls and the lake, the campground is a rather traditional campground. It is themed as if the Wilderness Explorer Scouts set up a campground near the falls after Russel came back and told them about his exciting trip there with Mr. Fredrickson. There are tent sites, RV sites, cabins, and even sites designed for floating houses (only one or two just for show as a reference to the floating house from the movie). The main activities pavilion for the campground can also be found here. Children (of all ages) can do crafts and do exciting camping activities lead by "real" Wilderness Explorer Scout Guides! Make Friendship bracelets, learn to the knots, play games, and more! All free* for guests staying on property!
The nightly campfire sing alongs are also hosted here featuring Russel and Doug who can use his collar to talk to and interact with the host as well as guests during the show. This will be reminiscent of the Chip and Dale sing along from Fort Wilderness and a great way to end your day.
*some craft activities charge a nominal fee of five to ten dollars for supplies.
The Neverland Loop
Inspired by the perennial favorite
Peter Pan, the Neverland Loop is the Woodland's main source of "faith, trust and pixie dust".
One thing that distinguishes the Neverland Loop from the other loops in the campground is that it actually is divided up itself into a few smaller groupings of campsites rather than the one larger loop of sites the other sections use. The first mini-loop is the
Pixie Forest. This is the more traditional tent based campsites (With a few RV sites). The most exciting feature is fiber optic lights hidden in the trees. While not bright enough to annoy guests trying to sleep, these lights will twinkle in ways that make it look like Tinkerbell and the other fairies are flying through the trees at night. The second mini-loop is
Lost Boys Lane. This area is all cabins. The cabins are designed to look like they were built in the base of trees like the Lost Boys hideout from the movie. The theming is enough to delight children of all ages, but inside it is not too extreme to alienate people looking for more traditional cabins. A good thematic middle ground. Near a recreation of Hangman's Tree, the Lost Boys' hideout from the movie (exterior only, not a walkthrough) a story teller tells children bedtime stories at 6, 8, and 10 every night (showtimes and number of shows may change based on the time of year and crowds).
Not only that, the Neverland Loop is also home to...the
Mermaid Lagoon Swimming Hole.
Guests who wander toward the northeastern side of the camping ground will find themselves in a lush, tropically-themed landscape surrounded by beautifully-carved, rainbow-colored rock formations. Guests will recognize this swimming hole as Mermaid Lagoon. While the mermaids themselves are not visibly present (their absence is likely attributed to the threat of nearby pirates), their presence is still very much felt by guests. The faint yet enchanting sounds of their singing occasionally echoes off the rocks at sunset, and guests can often hear them giggling and splashing in the nearby grottos. The swimming hole itself is loosely divided into three sections: a central swimming area, a waterslide landing area, and a separate area dedicated to younger guests. The waterslide, a spiral, teal-colored slide with a simple yet efficient design, will compliment the nearby swimming hole nicely. The waterslide landing area itself is stationed just beside the main pool area, mainly due to safety concerns. Both the waterslide landing area and main swimming hole are not at all divided; guests can access both areas by simply swimming to each end.
The 'kiddie pool,' on the other hand, is divided by a large body of rock. It is here that younger guests can enjoy a dip in the pool without parents having to worry about compromising their safety. The pool is shallow enough for both adults and even the youngest of their children to safely enjoy. It is here that Captain Hook's infamous pirate galleon, the
Jolly Roger, is anchored, a faithful yet perhaps slightly scaled-down recreation of the ship from the film. The ship is primarily here for aesthetic purposes, although guests might find it has a few surprises in store for them at night. As an added bonus, the rock formations that stretch across the entire area are padded to further reduce the inherent safety risks that come along with pool areas of this nature. Additionally, guests can enjoy the swimming hole during both the day and night hours; the entire area is heated, and so the fun continues even when the sun sets on the Anaheim sky. The most exciting element of the swimming hole, however, is exclusive to nighttime swimmers. As older guests enjoy the central pool area, they'll hear the sound of panpipes in the air, followed by the sight of a familiar shadow skating along the rock formations. The shadow will fly around the pool area, much to the delight of guests, who continue to swim and splash alongside each other. Suddenly, the sound of a loud 'BOOM' will blast through the air. What's that? Cannonfire! A massive splash of water blasts through the surface of the pool, along with a flash of blue light. Peter Pan's shadow circles around the lagoon, taunting the culprit of the cannonfire, the nearby Jolly Roger. The shadow, achieved by means of simple projection mapping, combined with the sound of cannonfire, lighting effects, and water blasts, achieved with hidden underwater cannons a la 'Pirates of the Caribbean,' create an immersive, altogether exciting swimming experience for guests that can't be matched by any other swimming hole. The mini-show will occur every ten minutes, with the position of the cannonfire alternating at random.
The Enchanted Forest Loop
Perhaps the most enchanting loop of the campground is, fittingly enough, the Enchanted Forest Loop. This is the Princess themed loop, but it takes primary influence from
Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and the Seven Dawrfs, Cinderella, and
Brave. This section has tent sites and RV sites as well as the campground's Premium Cabins. These Cabins are loosely themed to either the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs or the hut where Princess Aurora spent the first sixteen years of her life. These cabins feature amenities fit for royalty while not losing the somewhat rustic feel associated with campground cabins.
This loop has a number of exciting special features! A
Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique can be found here tucked near a recreation of Cinderella's Carriage and the fountain found behind Cinderella's house where she first meant the Fairy Godmother.
The
DunBroch Archery Range can be found here as well with a small range with fake arrows set up for little adventurers to learn from Merida herself on select afternoons!
Fittingly enough, this loop is also home to the
Enchanted Forest Trail. Here, the dreams of the Disney Princesses who once dwelled in the forests are brought to life in a way only Disney can recreate, as we explore the stories of Snow White, Aurora, Belle, Pocahontas, and Rapunzel in this new innovative and immersive experience found only at Disneyland. As we enter the trail, a clearing of trees welcomes us to the bright and happy forest of Snow White. Animals surround every conceivable part of the area. Continuing on, we go through a dark section of trees with evil faces and finally stumble upon the cottage of the Seven Dwarfs.
Past the cottage is a forest straight out a medieval tapestry where Aurora and Philip met. An expansive reflecting pool lines the path.
A far off castle beckons us further along the path as a French forest with towering pines and red wild roses. A grand waterfall leads to a turn into a brand new world.
The towering mountains and hidden pine trails of colonial Virginia come to life as the colors of the wind lead us through the world of Pocahontas, leading us to a clearing and an encounter with Grandmother Willow.
Our final world is the one where a lost princess explored and found her way home. The bright trees and clear sun with the occasional wanted poster lead the way for an encounter with a large tower, the former home of Princess Rapunzel.
As we end our journey we reflect on the stories of these princesses. How the kindness of Snow White, the grace of Aurora, the intelligence of Belle, the understanding of Pocahontas, and the adventurousness of Rapunzel have guided us through this adventure and how we can take these through the rest of our journeys at Disney's Mystic Woodlands.
Also found in the Enchanted Forest Loop is the
Royal Courtyard, an outdoor tiled courtyard surrounded by ivy covered pillars that is not themed to any specific story. During the day, girls and boys of all ages (With priority given to 12 and under) can learn how dance at the ball from Snow White, Belle, Cinderella, Aurora, Ariel, or Rapunzel (it will be unadvertised which princess it will be that day). Also, during the afternoon children can learn sword fighting (with soft foam swords and shields) from Prince Phillip, Hercules, Flynn Rider, or Merida (it will also be unadvertised which hero it will be that day).
Every night, two
Grand Balls are held in the courtyard. One at 7-9 PM aimed towards younger guests and one at 10-11:59 PM aimed at older guests as a romantic date night. Live music every Friday and Saturday! While the Grand Balls are free to campers, it is recommended to reserve a spot as this is a popular nightly event. Non-campers can attend, but they will have to pay an admission fee. Don't worry, the Courtyard is in a secluded enough spot that the music should not bother campers trying to sleep. The Grand Ball should be a magical experience for Princes and Princesses of all ages.
That's a general idea of what you can find here. But, perhaps, the crowning jewel of Disney's Mystic Woodlands is...
The Pastoral Symphony Trail
Inspired by the iconic "Pastoral Symphony" sequence from Fantasia, this is truly a world where nature reigns supreme. The strains of Beethoven's work fill our ears as we step inside.
Guests walking the main trails of the park may eventually come across a small wrought iron, vine-covered sign which reads "Bacchus' Grotto" with an arrow pointing towards a narrow plum blossom tree-lined dirt trail. As guests follow this trail, they may occasionally see a
cherubim or two hidden deeper in the forest, peering out at the passing hikers. This initial trail eventually leads into a small cave, built into the park's mountain.
The mouth of the cave is rather large, with the floor totally submerged, presumably from runoff from an underground lake. An old-looking wooden bridge crosses over this pool, allowing guests to cross deeper into the cave. Past the mouth of the cave, the cave becomes a bit tighter. The deep gray stone walls are illuminated solely by small lanterns meticulously nailed to the walls. As guests make their way deeper into the cave, they can hear a faint banging. Like metal on metal. As guests continue, the banging becomes louder and louder. The cave opens up a bit, into a small atrium. Towards the side of the atrium is a small break in the rock face which looks out into a much larger cave through a set of stalagmites. Off in the distance, the silhouette of
Vulcan can be seen as he quickly hammers lightning bolts for Zeus. as guests continue through the winding cave system. The sound of Vulcan's smithing quickly fades as the cave opens up again into daylight.
Leaving the cave, guests now find themselves in a small grotto hidden deep within the park's mountain. This secluded area is entirely hidden from the rest of the property is incredibly beautiful.
The sweeping, colorful hills of the grotto, surrounded by small streams and waterfalls, are fully explorable by hikers. Some of the area is covered by grape vines, with most of the hills being covered with multicolored plantlife, giving the area a very otherworldy appearance. Greek columns and pottery are strewn about the hills, partially covered with grapevines. Towards the back is a small throne, obviously set aside for Bacchus and his centaur party. Guests who venture towards the outskirts of the grotto may hear some of its' centaur dwellers, as they semi-inconspiculously watch their surprise guests. Guests who venture even further may find a blocked cave where they can hear Bacchus as he loudly snores, obviously sleeping off the past day of drinking. After exploring, guests may leave back through the cave and out onto the main trail.
With all this in store, we're confident that Disney's Mystic Woodlands will be a wonderful new addition to the Disneyland Resort experience.
