The Lilly Belle is Disneyland’s private train car, named after Walt’s wife Lillian and used to entertain VIPs at Disneyland starting with its first passenger, Japan’s Emperor Hirohito.
And I got to ride it.
Oh yeah.
And the best part is that YOU can ride it too! If you’re persistent enough and your timing is good. But more on that in a bit.
The Lilly Belle
The Lilly Belle was originally a regular train car that had been taken out of service to make way for the cars where all the seats face sideways so you can see the Grand Canyon and Primeval World dioramas. In 1976, just in time for the bicentennial, Disneyland converted the Lilly Belle into a private train compartment for VIP guests. The car was decorated in a Victorian theme to match Walt’s apartment above the firehouse.
This carpet is actually from Walt’s apartment
You ride in luxurious velvet seats:
Looking toward the front door
Looking back at the rear door. The Lilly Belle is not actually tilted like this picture.
And the details throughout the car are just wonderful.
Gorgeous woodwork and stained glass run along both sides of the top of the car
Even the light fixtures are fancy
There are a few tables including this buffet.
The flowers are glued down
There are a couple of small side tables, one of which was set up to be a drink-that-comes-in-small-glasses and writing table.
I don’t think it’s iced tea that’s served in those little glasses
Let’s look a little closer–beautiful glasswork.
Kevin and I collect fountain pens and things that fountain pens rest on, particularly Victorian pen stands, so I couldn’t resist a closeup of the pen rest and ink bottles.
Such a great detail
In the rear of the car is a reading table:
Walt’s personal library–reproduction
and a photograph. According to our conductor, this is a reproduction, since someone stole the original. Nice.
Lovely table
What a great picture!
The beauty is in the details!
Fringe on the window shades
Not for real fire
A particular highlight is a kimono near the door, said to be a gift from Emperor Hirohito himself. I’m going to guess that this one is a reproduction, but it’s still very beautiful.
I wanted to reach out and touch it
Even the hooks on which it hangs are detailed
Man, I miss the decorations from the Victorian age. She said as if she’d actually lived there.
Since people have acted poorly in the Lilly Belle in the past, each group has to be accompanied by a conductor. The up side to that is that you get a whole history lesson while you ride.
This was Vern. He was great.
You even get a special Lilly Belle ticket with a hole punch shaped like a locomotive. I forgot to take a picture so I’ll post one later.
The Lilly Belle is always the last car on the train
Vern and a corner of my friend and blog reader, Linus V.
On our trip, the Lilly Belle was pulled by the Ward Kimball locomotive, although any of the locomotives can do it.
I just love this.
So now, I know your burning question–How do I get on the Lilly Belle???
It’s a matter of a little bit of savvy and a lot of luck. Things you should know first are:
- The Lilly Belle is not in service every day
- They don’t allow people in the Lilly Belle when it’s very hot (as we learned on Friday)
- You cannot make an advanced reservation. You have to do it that same day
- The Lilly Belle requires an extra conductor and one may not be scheduled for the day you’re there, which is another reason why they might turn you away.
With that in mind, here’s how to get on:
- As soon as you get in the park, go up to the Main Street train station and when a train comes by, ask the conductor if the Lilly Belle is in service and if so, can you make a reservation or ride immediately. The Main Street station is where all passengers are expected to board and disembark. A passenger who needs to use the wheelchair ramp boards at the New Orleans station. Be sure to ask at the MAIN STREET station unless you use a wheelchair, if you ask at any other stop they won’t let you on. If you use a wheelchair, ask at City Hall.
- If they tell you no, thank them and try again the next day
Now honestly, chances are good you’re going to get a no, so if you want to ride and you’re from out of town, make sure to inquire the first morning of your trip and keep it up until you leave. Don’t wait for your last day to see if you can get a ride.
The Lilly Belle is truly one of those hidden, little-known experiences at Disneyland that make your visit that much more magical. And in the search for Disneyland Magic, I’d say that’s a big hit right there.
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Once again thanks for the information. My son loves this train, and that experience will make it even better. Like riding in a Caboose!
Definitely keep trying until you get to ride it! It was really a special experience. Kevin is huge into trains as well so I’m definitely going to go back with him–this time I was here with my reader Linus who knew how to get on (asking that day, being politely persistent, etc.). If you get to do it, be sure to come back and leave me a comment!
It took me a while to get on the Lilly Belle, but it was definitely worth the wait! It was so awesome! Did you get to sign the guest book? I was just playing around & opening drawers, and I found a guest book to sign and a photo album with some older pictures of Walt’s early life. It’s cool to see all the people who have signed the guest book, there’s some celebs in there. 😀
There’s no more guest book :(. The conductor said they took it out, though I can’t remember why. It was actually very “no touching!!!” and closely supervised the whole time, and I can see why. What a great experience though!
How neat, and it’s something I never knew about before. What a gorgeous train car, and what a great opportunity. Very, very cool and how awesome you got to go on the Lilly Belle.
It was really cool! I read someone’s blog where they proposed to their wife on the Lilly Belle. What a special memory!!!
wow! this might be my favorite blog entry so far!!! I had no idea that the Lilly Belle existed. I definitely want to see if I can ride it sometime. Cool!
BTW: because of one of your posts I wandered into the shop over in adventureland and found alladin’s lamp. It seems to be back in service but I didn’t have 50 cents on me to give it a try. I will next time though 🙂
That’s MYWTM for you! Bringing together things people haven’t heard of and people-who-carry-no-quarters since 2011!
We were there today and inquired at City Hall about riding it, (it was running with an extra conductor), she said that you could not make reservations at City Hall and to go and check with the conductor. I guess we will have to wait until the next time, it sure looks like a lot of fun 🙂
It seems like sometimes there’s a disconnect between City Hall and the conductors. Definitely go up Main St. station and ask. Can’t hurt and you might get on!
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Boo you went without me!! So happy you got on, though envious. It looks amazing, I have a new quest now… to ride the Lilly Belle.
I would’ve waited, but if last Friday taught me anything it’s that you’ve got to take the chance when it comes up! I’m happy to ride it again though ;).
Amazing & thank you for sharing this with us.
That was a great post and fantastic pictures. You really got across what you need to be to get a ride on the Lilly Belle; “patient, insistent, and polite.” Anyone can also become a member of the Carrolwood Pacific Historical Society, an organization dedicated to the preservation of Walt Disney’s railroad legacy. (http://carolwood.com) A member of the CPHS is entitled to ride the Lilly Belle any day that it is in service just by showing his or her membership card at City Hall. (unless it is already booked) “The Carolwood Pacific” is the name that Walt gave to the backyard miniature railroad that he built in the 1940’s
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Another way to get on the Lilly Belle is to have two half asleep/half “having a tantrum because they wanted to see Mickey” six -year-olds. Oh and me being an angel :D. Yup, there was no other room on the train and it was 11 pm. The people in the car noticed us and said we it would be ok if we joined them. Apparently it was against something, (don’t expect me to remember, it was4 years ago) but that’s the magic of Disney.
P.S. The guy who was giving the “lesson” let us in on the fact that the seats were stuffed with horse hair. And that’s why I stood up, (or tried to) for the rest of the ride.
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