17 Disneyland Secrets They Don't Know Want You To Know‏

12. You Can Drive The Mark Twain

One of the reasons for the Disney theme parks' continued success is that there really is something for everyone at them. The thrillseekers are well catered for with the amount of innovative and crazy rollercoasters on offer, but then there are also more chilled rides for the faint of heart or people below the safe size to get strapped into the more white knuckle attractions.

One of the more relaxing attractions on offer at Disneyland is the Mark Twain Riverboat, a fully operational ship that mimics the sort seen in the Tom Sawyer writer's books, which takes visitors on a 12-minute journey around the Rivers of America.

The Mark Twain Steamboat has been around since the park opened in 1955, and has since appeared at Walt Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland Paris. It's not exactly the ride of a lifetime, but it's pretty fun and relaxed. You get on at Frontierland, slowly sail through a river, and pass by all the attractions in the section of the park.

The real reason for climbing aboard isn't officially advertised, however: if you ask nicely, you can ask to pilot the riverboat. If you're lucky a cast member will direct you to the second floor and, if you knock on a door named "private", you'll be lead by the captain up to the wheel house and get to pilot the boat!

Well, it's on rails, but you can spin the wheel and ring the bell, which is fun. And mostly unknown to the public at large.