Deep in the jungles of Adventureland, there’s a tiny home nestled into a tree trunk near the entrance to Indiana Jones Adventure. Have you seen the home of the Little Man of Disneyland? This Disneyland detail is one of my favorites to stop and visit on each trip!
Who is this “little man”, exactly? I’m so glad you asked. We can find the answer from a 1955 Little Golden Book, published the same year as Disneyland’s opening.
The fable of the Disneyland Leprachaun, Patrick Begorra, takes place before the park opened in Anaheim. Patrick once lived in a tree amongst the Orange Groves where Disneyland stands today. One day, while enjoying his peace and quiet, he noticed Donald, Mickey, Goofy, and Pluto walking through and questioned what they were doing. The gang offered to take him via helicopter to Walt Disney Studios to show him the plans for Disneyland. Upon seeing the plans, Patrick ultimately allows them to build, but asks for a place he can live in the park tucked away somewhere quiet. He selected a tree for himself within the one and only Adventureland, where he has lived ever since.
Due to the book’s popularity, Disney eventually installed a small house for Patrick near the Jungle Cruise docks, but was lost due to Adventureland renovations — his current home was restored near the Indiana Jones queue in 2015 for the park’s 60th celebration.
Due to the original story’s popularity, The Little Golden Book now has a sequel released in 2023, A Change of Luck, where Mickey and Patrick enjoy a day at Disneyland together… before the tiny Leprechaun discovers it all really is a smidge too daunting (he’s just a little guy); but ultimately finds peace in the park after the crowds have left. Relatable.
Each of these storybooks are $5 on Amazon, making them an affordable Disneyland souvenir or gift for any Disney Parks enthusiast. If you plan on going to the Disneyland parks soon, pick up the original 1955 book! You’ll then want to go on the hunt for Patrick’s tiny Adventureland home and say hey to this little legend!
