It is impossible to experience everything Disney World has to offer in a single day. But learning what goes on behind the scenes at Disney’s multiple parks and attractions would take at least a lifetime. Here are just some of the secrets behind the magical world of Disney.
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Disney’s signature scent
Long before aromatherapy existed, Walt Disney recognized the power of fragrances and how they can transport you back to a moment you’d forgotten. That’s why he wanted the parks to smell like popcorn and other delicious delicacies that remind us of our childhood. The Smellitzer, created by Disneyland Imageeners, takes this to a whole new level. This scent-emitting machine produces specific scents – savory, sweet, salty, etc. – to complement each of the park’s many attractions.
Disney’s Signature Scent
Secret underground tunnels
Walt Disney’s precise attention to detail goes far beyond the rides and attractions. One day, Mickey noticed a cowboy passing through Tomorrowland on his way back to Frontierland and recognized how people may be confused by the sight of a cowboy wandering through a park dedicated to the future. To let the workers and characters to move about without breaking the enchantment, Disney designed an underground tube system known as the “Utilidors.”
Secret Underground Tunnels
A matter of perspective
Cinderella’s Castle looks massive when you walk through the gates of Disney World, but you may be surprised to learn that it’s not quite as large as you think. This is due to a nifty little photography trick called forced perspective. The bottom of the castle is built with larger bricks, while the top sections are built with smaller ones. This causes the top of the castle to appear far away from the bottom half, giving the impression that the entire castle is larger than it is.
A Matter Of Perspective
The haunted apartment
While overseeing Disneyland construction, Walt resided in a private apartment on the second story of the Main Street firehouse. He lived there for several months, and some people believe that he never truly left. Shortly after his death, an employee who was at the apartment claimed that he observed the lights turn on and off by themselves. Since then, numerous others have reported seeing the draperies move on their own.
The Haunted Apartment
The hidden suite
There are actually several hidden suites throughout Disney World, which are now used by VIP guests. One of them is located inside Cinderella’s Castle, albeit it was not originally designed for guests. Disney intended for it to be utilized as a private apartment for his family, allowing them to stay at the park anytime they pleased. Unfortunately, the Disneys never got to use it, but lucky guests can experience the lavish furnishings, which include a floor made of 24-kt gold tiles.
The Hidden Suite
Frozen: the Walt Disney version
Soon after Walt Disney’s passing in 1966, there were rumors about the creator being cryogenically frozen, in spite of news reports stating that he was cremated. Disney allegedly intended to freeze himself so that he could be brought back to life in the future. It’s believed that his body is buried in a chamber right beneath the “Pirates of the Carribean” ride. Now, there’s something to think about when you’re floating through the Grotto and hear the echo of “Dead men tell no tales!”
Frozen The Walt Disney Version
They’re alive!
‘It’s a Small World’ is one of Disneyland’s greatest ironies. On the one hand, it’s a whimsical, kid-safe ride about peace and brotherhood. On the other hand, 300 animatronics of costumed children singing the same song over and over is undeniably disturbing. Many park employees would agree, and even claim that the animatronics continue to move when the ride is broken or turned off. Some employees claim to have spotted animatronics moving around at night.
They’re Alive!
For VIPs only
So we’ve talked about secret VIP rooms, but did you know there’s a special club where select visitors and sponsors may enjoy elegant cocktails and exquisite cuisine? The “33” door in New Orleans Square serves as the secret entrance. However, getting inside this exclusive bar and restaurant requires a membership fee that’s reported to be as high as $50,000. Even if you had the money, there is a 10-year waiting list to enroll, so even the wealthy must take turns.
For VIPs Only
You must be this tall…
We’ve all seen the signs that tell us how tall a child must be to ride a bike. Sadly, some parents are a bit too zealous about sharing the magic of Disney World with their kids. For example, there was an incident on Space Mountain where a couple attempted to board the ride with a suspiciously-large bag. It was fortunate that security prompted the couple to unzip the bag, as there was a six-month-old infant inside.
You Must Be This Tall…
”I don’t know” is not allowed
Working at Disneyland may seem like a dream come true, but there are a lot of rules and guidelines you’ll need to follow if you want to keep your job.For starters, you’re never permitted to answer “I don’t know” when a guest asks you a question. Of course, you can ask a fellow employee for help if you’re really unsure about something. However, if no one is available, your ability to think outside the box will determine how long you remain on Disney’s payroll.
”I Don’t Know” Is Not Allowed
Honorary mouse catchers
The ‘Aristocats’ are clearly the most honored felines at Disneyland, but there’s another group of cats that the parks couldn’t do without. For years, visitors would encounter cats wandering around the grounds as if they owned the area. The parks tried to deny their existence, but finally confessed that the cats played a critical role in keeping down the rodent population. It is thought that Disney currently “employs” over 200 cats, who are compensated with food and medical care for their efforts.
Honorary Mouse Catchers
Sorry, this horse is reserved
Julie Andrews’ portrayal of Mary Poppins, the magical nanny with the flying umbrella, charmed viewers all over the world in 1964. She delighted Disney fans again when she returned to the big screen as Queen Clarisses Renaldi in ‘The Princess Diaries.’ In 2008, Disney rewarded Andrews with her own horse on King Arthur’s Carousel as a token of appreciation for her work. Jingles, a masterwork of a carousel horse, is embellished with elaborate features, including Mary’s fluttering umbrella.
Sorry, This Horse Is Reserved
It depends on the angle
One of the most iconic attractions at Disney World is the Cinderella statue at Fantasyland. To an adult, it may appear to be a simple scene in which Cinderella is surrounded by her animal friends, but this is all dependent on how you view it. From the perspective of a tiny child, the crown on the painting behind the statue is exactly aligned with Cinderella’s head. This was no accident, since Walt Disney was all about hidden meanings that would inspire and delight children.
It Depends On The Angle
Authentic artifacts
While Disneyland is founded on imagination, Walt Disney has always strived to make things as realistic as possible for his guests. This included using actual antiques, such as a 14th-century witches book shown in the Haunted Mansion attraction. However, there were numerous reports of the book falling over or moving around on its own. We’re not sure if they believed the book was truly haunted, but the park finally replaced it with a copy, just to be cautious.
Authentic Artifacts
Don’t be a ‘real’ guest
Along with rules and regulations, Disney employees have their own vocabulary that they have to use whenever they’re on the clock. For example, visitors are always referred to as “guests,” while performers portraying the roles must refer to themselves as “cast members.” Though being called a guest makes most people feel special, the one thing you never want to be is a “real guest.” That is the code word among employees for someone who is impolite or difficult to please.
Don’t Be A ‘real’ Guest
Epcot Center could have been a real city
Epcot is a bit “out there,” even by Disney standards, but there’s a lot more to this futuristic wonderland that you can ever imagine. As a die-hard Disney fan, you may already be aware that Epcot stands for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. But a lesser known secret is the fact that Walt planned to build Epcot into a real-life community of 20,000 people. Unfortunately, he died before this could materialize, but Epcot’s futuristic, space-age attractions continue to captivate visitors.
Epcot Center Could Have Been A Real City
Minnie gets unwanted attention
Disney wouldn’t be Disney without their character suits like Chip N’ Dale, and Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Suit performers in the most renowned roles do not discriminate based on gender. There might be a girl in the Winnie the Pooh suit, or a man in the Minnie.Because the identity of the person in the costume remains hidden, male park-goers often forget, or choose to ignore, that these are just people in suits at the end of the day. It doesn’t stop them from putting their arms around the characters, often inappropriately. The actors can’t say anything at risk of ruining the magic.
Minnie Gets Unwanted Attention
The ghost of Space Mountain
The Disney parks seem to be chock full of ghosts if stories from the workers and guests are anything to go by. Now, spectres at the Haunted Mansion are one thing, but Space Mountain? According to legend, a ghost of a former construction worker haunts the rollercoaster and has been terrifying staff since it opened in 1975. Since the attraction’s inception, staff members have reported passengers being startled by a ghost that appears next to them during the ride.
The Ghost Of Space Mountain
Jack Sparrow is too handsome for Disney
The Pirates of the Caribbean ride at the Disney parks is a firm fan favorite, whether it’s in Florida, Paris, or Tokyo. And while the ride is not going anywhere, if you go there in search of the actors roaming around as Jack Sparrow, you might be disappointed. The temptation of the dashingly gorgeous pirate became too much for several female park visitors. In addition to the character’s waning importance within the Disney property, they decided to cease employing actors to play Sparrow when women were spotted flashing in photos with him.
Jack Sparrow Is Too Handsome For Disney
Is that flag missing something?
You’d certainly need superman vision to spot this, but there’s one small feature that’s commonly overlooked on all of the American flags flying throughout the park. Each of these flags is missing one star and one stripe, which is entirely intended. You see, flying authentic American flags means following a lot of rules, like flying them at half-mast, and raising and lowering them depending on the occasion. Using inaccurate “decoy” flags was a simple technique to get around these rules.
The abandoned water park
In spite of Disney World’s monumental success, there have been some failures over the years. That appears to be the case for River Country, a long-abandoned waterpark that was formally closed in 2001. Disney never explained why the park closed, but there was no need because most people had forgotten it existed. However, it probably has to do with the fact that Disney opened two larger water parks with more advanced rides and attractions.
The Abandoned Water Park
We owe it all hot dogs
It sounds stupid, but Disney’s goal to capture his guests stemmed with a pack of hot dogs. One day, he was taking some hot dogs out of the fridge in his home, when he noticed the ecstatic joy on his dog’s face upon seeing these tasty treats. At that point, Disney knew the emotion he intended to evoke in his guests while they were visiting Disneyland. That inspired him to design some of his most memorable masterpieces, such as the castle at Magic Kingdom.
We Owe It All Hot Dogs
Don’t just play the character…
Be the character! This is not just a recommendation, by the way. As a cast member, you are expected to portray your role in every manner possible, from your hand gestures to the level of your voice. Oh, and don’t even think about taking off your outfit in front of the guests! Breaking the illusion is a really bad idea. If the heat gets overwhelming (as if often does in those giant costumes), you can slip away backstage for a quick break.
Don’t Just Play The Character…
Heroes in real life
There is, however, one exception to the breaking character rule. If a guest is plainly in distress, you should take whatever steps are necessary to guarantee their safety. Former cast member Chris Mitchell recounted in his memoir of an event in which a youngster fell into Tom Sawyer Island’s lagoon.
The actor playing Tarzan happened to be nearby, and saved the boy from drowning. This dedicated actor remained in character as he warned the boy’s mother, “Keep him safe…” Tarzan very brave. But everybody can be hero.”
Heroes In Real Life
Watch that finger
Here’s another really crucial rule for all employees: never point with one finger. This directive originated from Walt himself, who believed that pointing with one finger was offensive. Instead, he would insist on his signature 2-finger point, or simply gesturing in a certain direction with the hand. However, there is another, more cynical reason. Disney had a well-known smoking habit, and the 2-finger point was the way he would hold his cigarettes, which would be air-brushed out of publicity photos.
Watch That Finger
Main Street is based on reality
The beloved section of the park known as Main Street makes us nostalgic for a simpler place and time. It did the same for Walt Disney, who based Main Street on his birthplace of Marceline, Missouri. The windows and shopfronts, for example, are based on the stores that Walt remembers from his childhood. But the finest secret of all are the horses’ shoes, which are coated in polyurethane to generate the real clip-clopping sound.
Main Street Is Based On Reality
A final resting place
It’s strange to think of Disneyland as a final resting place, but it’s not an unusual occurrence according to the employees. Believe it or not, many people have sprinkled their loved one’s ashes throughout the park, including their favorite ride. One of the most popular final destinations in Disneyland is the Haunted Mansion. Because of the ashes that have been spread there, many visitors and employees believe the site is haunted.
A Final Resting Place