The Best of Disney Parks History, News, and Ambiance on YouTube

The world of Disney Parks has changed dramatically over the past decade with the emergence of influencers, vloggers, and live streaming. Some of these theme park fans do it for the pure joy and fun of it. Others have taken their love for Disney and, for better or worse, turn it into a job.

Regardless of one’s feelings towards these individuals, no one can deny their now indelible presence in the community.

At the same time, many Disney YouTube channels go a different route. Some delve deep into Disney history while others discuss the business side. There are also those who focus on ambiance or do a little bit of everything.

Compared to traditional vloggers, influencers, and live streamers, these YouTube channels deserve praise and recognition for what they bring to the Disney community. Each offers something unique and makes the Disney Parks sphere one of the most entertaining on the platform.

 

Mark Brickey has become one of the most respected individuals in the Disney Parks community thanks to his integrity, enthusiasm, and dedication to thoughtful content.

Utilizing his artistic background, the Hey Brickey channel looks at Disney Parks details through an illustrative yet practical lens. He analyzes current attractions, buildings, and construction, and speculates on future projects. Likewise, Brickey looks at Disneyland history from an artistic viewpoint. Some of his most popular videos include “Disneyland’s Invisible Walls,” “Disneyland’s Boats are Lying to You,” and “Abandoned Rides Still Hiding in Disneyland.” Recently, he’s started a series speculating on Tomorrowland’s future.

Brickey also has a second channel, Brickey Vlog, which goes a more traditional vlogging route while still maintaining the same perspective and approach. Both channels showcase a knowledgeable and optimistic point of view without being afraid to be honest or critical. It’s Brickey’s unique style that’s made him a pillar in the Disney YouTube community.

 

Offhand Disney is another channel that has garnered tremendous success and respect in the Disney Parks YouTube world. Run by the affable Dallin, his stoic, sometimes sarcastic, but always likable personality complements his content, which focuses on history, speculation, and Disneyland and Walt Disney World’s future possibilities.

An appealing aspect of Offhand Disney is that he focuses on quality over quantity. He produces slightly less content, but when he does, it’s exceptionally researched, thought out, and well presented. Anyone who knows this channel knows he has a deep love for the Haunted Mansion and the People Mover and has done several videos on these attractions.Some of his earliest videos have earned a lot of attention, such as “5 Disneyland Secrets You May Not Know,” and “3 Ghost Sightings at Disneyland,” which has 2.3 million views. Some of his best and most popular newer videos discuss the aforementioned People Mover possibly returning to Disneyland and Ranking every Haunted Mansion.

 

Recently celebrating 10 years on YouTube, OrangeGrove 55 remains one of the most unique, informative, and entertaining channels in the Disney community. Focusing on Disney news, commentary, and speculation, the channel never resorts to the sensationalized or clickbait tactics that similar channels tend to use.

OrangeGrove 55 is also one of the few channels that discusses the business and corporate side of Disney, which helps many viewers understand that the Walt Disney Company does not and cannot make decisions based solely on creativity.

Informing viewers of the balance between creativity and practicality describes the OrangeGrove 55 channel to a “T.” But make no mistake, the videos remain light and fun. Guests regularly come on the show, and these panel discussions help make the channel one of the most well-rounded out there.

 

As a history enthusiast, Alex the Historian gives YouTube viewers a fascinating exploration into anything from from ocean liners to steam locomotives. His series on the Queen Mary is particularly fun and interesting. Although his sole focus has never been Disney, content that does revolve around Disneyland presents excellent examples of thoughtful, well-researched, and engaging videos that all Disney Parks fans should check out.

His Disneyland Series is, as he says, “a mini-documentary style series all about the history of various Disneyland landmarks.” He has everything from the history of Sleeping Beauty Castle and Snow White’s Grotto to attractions like the Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Peter Pan’s Flight, and the Submarine Voyage. The most recent in the series, “Walt Disney’s Disneyland,” is a full-length documentary about Disneyland’s inception, development, and evolution that can inspire both smiles and tears.

The Alex the Historian channel also features a series about Walt Disney himself, a fun Sims series on Disneyland, and park walkthroughs. His warm and friendly voice and demeanor, in addition to excellent content, make this channel one of the finest
for history buffs.

 

The DFB Guide, or Disney Food Blog YouTube, started in 2016, evolving from its website that began in 2009, and it has been a steadfast presence on YouTube ever since, earning 1.14 million followers in the process. The channel focuses on all things culinary in the Disney parks and cruise ships, offering helpful guides, food and restaurant reviews, tips, and recommendations. They also do resort news updates to keep their viewers abreast of any changes that impact the parks.

Although they occasionally feature non-culinary-related videos, focusing mainly on food gives the DFB Guide a unique niche. Additionally, the main guide, AJ, offers her reviews, tips, and whatnot with a friendly and warm aura and years of experience. Recommended by renowned publications such as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Parents Magazine, if you’re looking for the best Disney food advice, the DFB Guide is the place to go.

 

Defunctland is another channel that’s garnered tremendous success by emphasizing quality over quantity. With 10 years on YouTube, Defunctland has 2.2 million followers, with view counts on videos in the millions as well. Typically, channels require a frequency of videos to get this kind of traffic, but this channel has been successful with only 163 videos to date.

Indeed, they emphasized well-researched and high-quality videos above all else. The channel focuses on extinct attractions and the history of theme parks, as well as stores, television, and more. The Disney-themed videos have been especially popular, particularly ones about Hong Kong Disneyland, Disneyland’s Videopolis, and Animatronics.

 

Disney Parks ambiance and walkthrough channels offer a very specific and lovely experience for viewers. It gives them a chance to live vicariously through that lens, and to be enveloped by the sights and sounds of the parks like a virtual reality experience.

Of all the channels that do Disney Parks walkthroughs, Document Disney remains the cream of the crop. The videos are high-quality, and the camera work is slow and steady. There’s never a rush or sense of urgency. On the contrary, Document Disney makes us feel like we’re walking right along with them through all the Disney Parks around the world. With complete park walkthroughs, ride POVs, shows, and parades, Document Disney brings the Disney magic to us every day.

 

Similarly to Defunctland, Yesterworld Entertainment has been on YouTube since 2016, and despite only producing 122 videos, has 540,000 subscribers and multiple videos with over a million views. The channel focuses on pop culture of the past, with a darker edge than his counterparts.

While the Disney Parks content has that darker quality, it’s honest and fascinating. Some of the most compelling and popular Disney videos include “The Disastrous History of Disney California Adventure,” “5 Stories of Abandoned & Destroyed Disney Theme Park Icons,” and “The Rise and Fall of the Original Disneyland Hotel.”

 

As one of the most respected vloggers in the Disney community, Justin Scarred consistently delivers thoughtful and entertaining content. Indeed, he’s included on my list of the “Best Disney Vloggers on YouTube.” But Justin does more than walk through the Disney Parks, showing off the rides and restaurants. Justin has a great appreciation for history and art, producing several videos that emphasize these aspects of the Disney theme parks.

Some of his best Disneyland videos feature vintage footage, namely “Disneyland in the 1950s: Time Travel to Tomorrowland and Fantasyland” and “Time Travel to Disneyland in the 1960s.” These videos showcase curated footage and commentary from Justin that highlights the differences between then and now. Anyone who loves Disneyland history will delight in this series.

Other incredible Disney Parks content includes riding Indiana Jones with Sallah himself, John Rhys Davies, Secrets of Hollywood Studios, a Fantasyland Secret, and Exploring the Big Thunder Mountain Suite at The Disneyland Hotel.

 

Like Justin Scarred, Park Pass (formerly Provost Park Pass) has been a pillar of the YouTube and Disney community since 2017, and was included on the “Best Disney Vloggers on YouTube” list- and for good reason. Host Chris Provost offers entertaining content with an affable demeanor and unfailing kindness.

Beyond traditional vlogging videos, Park Pass has an ongoing “Secrets Revealed” series on Disney attractions, lands, hotels, and more, each video offering an engaging and thoughtful deep-dive into each topic. They also offer Top 10 lists such as the “Top
10 Disneyland Snacks,” commentary on park updates and future projects, and fun and engaging tidbits, such as “Disneyland Facts & Trivia Most People Walk Right By.”

What makes Park Pass such a delightful and unique channel is that he blends history, trivia, and ambience together, all while maintaining a positive outlook and encouraging words of wisdom.