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The Walt Disney World Resort is an entertainment complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States. It opened in 1971 and has become one of the most popular tourist destinations around the globe. On a peak day during the holiday season, this place can see up to 155,000 people pass through its gates! To learn more about what attracts them, Reddit user H8TheDrake made a post on the platform, asking everyone to share little-known Disney World facts, and to their delight, many agreed. Here are some of the replies.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Walt’s brother Roy essentially willed Walt’s vision into existence. Without Roy a lot of Walt’s plans for Disney World would have been changed. For example, the Magic Kingdom would have ended up right by 192 and I-4. Roy is also the the reason it’s called Walt Disney World and not Disney World. The man loved his brother.
80 Van 2 years ago
That’s a photo of Roy E. Disney, Walt’s nephew, not Roy O. Disney, his brother.
Fenchurch 2 years ago
You can't expect BP to get photos relevant to the post /S! Seriously I'm amazed they got this close.
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Madam Puddyfoot 2 years ago
Cool fact: In 1919, Disney was fired from one of his first animation jobs at the Kansas City Star newspaper because his editor felt he "lacked imagination and had no good ideas," . After he made it big, he went back and bought that newspaper.
Michael Largey 2 years ago
I presume that editor was given a great going away party.
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Tiny Dancer 2 years ago
Here's a real pic of Walt and his brother, Roy O., if you're curious. After Walt died in 1966, Roy put off his own retirement to continue the work on Walt's dream park. Opened in 1971, Roy named it after his brother in tribute. He finally took his retirement after the park opened in October and died from a stroke only two months later. He was 78. Walt-and-R...a8-png.jpg 
80 Van 2 years ago
Those are both major highways in Florida, so they would have caused a lot of noise and would have potentially impaired their ability to grow.
Load More Replies... Emmydearest 2 years ago
Wait, I don't get it. Roy is the reason it's called Walt Disney World and not Disney World. But if he loved his brother he would have honored him calling it simply Disney World, as a way of including him and give him merit. But on the other hand, isn't it in fact called simply Disney World? I'm confused...
sassawrasse 2 years ago
I didn't know about the i4 thing. That would have been an absolute nightmare today.
RELATED:
#2
The stone lantern in the Japan pavilion in EPCOT was presented to Roy by the then Emperor of Japan as a token of friendship
Roger9er 2 years ago
I probably have too much imagination (already as a kid), but I saw this picture half way through my phone screen and I thought those two bushes together made a hunched back figure, sticking his overweight a*s back. But hey, I have too much imagination...
P.C. 2 years ago
Took me a while because there’s multiple bushes, butt I see what you mean!
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Jojo_hobkin 2 years ago
In the same way, the morrocan chandeleer under the Adventureland building in Disneyland Paris was gifted by the King of Morocco
#3
Disney is the second largest buyer of explosives (for their fireworks shows) in the world. The first is the U.S. Department of Defense.
Anon Yymi 2 years ago
Fireworks are bad for the environment so preferably no.
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Passerby 2 years ago
Imagine if Disney were an army. Right before you die, you see Mickey Mouse with his iconic face and voice throwing a bomb at you, gleefully saying, "Gosh! That sure is swell!"
Louby Of Morrowind 2 years ago
I had to look, google says Disney is the number one buyer of fireworks
Tiny Dancer 2 years ago
Yes, but the title of who buys the most explosives is still the military. According to more than one site, but best described by this one (https://www.disneyfanatic.com/disney-worlds-second-biggest-buyer-explosives-fireworks-pk1/): "The Walt Disney Company is the second-largest buyer in the world of explosives, yes, but Disney’s explosives are fireworks. Not only this, but Disney is also the world’s largest purchaser of fireworks altogether, shipping them from China every year."
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Michael Amato 2 years ago
To woke to step up their game and if the comments below are any indication they wont
JayWantsACat 2 years ago
My girlfriend at the time and I were on the Storyland ride at Disneyland when they stopped it for the fireworks show. We didn't know that the show was going to start nor that the ride stops during it. We were kind of like "well, f**k..." but it ended up being a really cool viewpoint. We were kind of like behind it and off to the side and pretty close. Unexpectedly turned out to be pretty great. And got lucky that it stopped when it did because we were close to going into a tunnel and wouldve been stuck there with nothing to see.
#4
The Seas with Nemo and Friends aquarium is surprisingly large. At the time of its opening in 1986, it was the largest saltwater aquarium in the world. Today, it is the second largest aquarium in the US and 6th largest in the world. Pretty neat.
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
I love Disney but When I went there in 2016 I was appalled by the manatees floating around in tanks barely big enough for them to turn around in. I really hope that was temporary because there is no reason for them to be cramped in a tank that small when the ocean they call home is just miles away
Sheila Koek 2 years ago
In the 90s it was "The Living Seas". As with everything Disney names change to fit current culture.
Rick Seiden 2 years ago
We went to Orlando in 2009. I don't remember if it was Disney or not, but one of the aquariums we went to was filled with deformed fish, presumably from inbreeding.
#5
In the vehicle loading area on the Dinosaur ride there’s three pipes running along the ceiling and walls that are yellow, white, and red. There’s also chemical formulas written next to them. These are the formulas for mustard, mayo, and ketchup and are left over from the days that McDonald’s used to sponsor the ride!
Skim Beebles 2 years ago
I don't remember learning about those formulas in organic chemistry..
Sven Grammersdorf 2 years ago
Yeah, ketchup mustard and especially mayo are composed of dozens or hundreds of different chemicals
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#6
The American section of EPCOT has a flag from the rubble of the WTC on 9/11. A ghost of an imagineer who was killed while working on Pirates of the Caribbean supposedly haunts the ride. Crew members say “good night George” when closing the ride in order to protect against ride closures the following day.
Zephyr343 2 years ago
And if you say "Tell him about the rabbits, George." Lenny comes out and...
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Andrew Parsons 2 years ago
I’ve heard if you make stuff up enough times it becomes believed by everyone who sees it
Niall Mac Iomera 2 years ago
Supposedly? You mean, "definitely doesn't". Because ghosts aren't real.
#7
The female ballroom dancers in the Haunted Mansion are wearing older versions of princess dresses.
Upstaged75 2 years ago
The Haunted Mansion has so many cool little details included. It's probably my favorite ride.
Big Chungus 2 years ago
The haunted mansion was my little guys first ride when he turned one :)
#8
The daily popcorn sales in Magic Kingdom cover the daily cost of the Magic Kingdom fireworks
Fakus nameus 2 years ago
So if the us dep of defense sold popcorn, they could use the money from nuke budgets and put them elsewhere
#9
Alright.
I used to work at Disney World.
If you were to get on top of the castle on a clear night. (Which I have as my job pertain to it once in a while).
You can see Universal Studios, almost all of the Disney theme parks, and you can see the Orlando I.
Cool stuff.
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
I used to watch the Disneyland fireworks from my grandma's backyard. 8pm, every night.
Chris Landrum 2 years ago
I was so disappointed when I first went to the castle, I thought it would have all these neat rooms to explore
Baffit 2 years ago
There is literally nothing interesting in higher areas except the view. The towers are unfinished inside with metal braces and rusty ladders. Everything else is mechanical rooms, some elevator motors and attics.
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Tim Fountain 2 years ago
We'll, er, Florida is as flat as a pancake so not too surprising TBH...
Maisey Myles 2 years ago
A murder or a kidnapping? It is Florida after all
Load More Replies... #10
Minnie Mouse has over 365 different individual special event and holiday costumes. I’m sure Mickey has just as many, it was just that they specifically mentioned Minnie.
Buzz Lightyear is the most expensive costume and NASA helped design it. It’s made from fiber glass and costs about $8,000. The cheapest costume is Eeyore at between $300-400 because he and the other Pooh characters are mostly made of carpeting.
Duckie Measles 2 years ago
Oh bother! Of course poor Eeyore has the least amount of money spent on him. He's the only resident of the hundred acre woods without a proper home.
Joey 2 years ago
When is poor Eeyore gonna catch a break and be spoiled a little. I'm bringing him a present when I go to Disney. You should too.
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Tasha Christensen 2 years ago
I worked one summer as a character at WDW and was assigned Eeyore once. Difficult to stay so sad and forlorn for my shift, especially after usually playing Pluto. Although the kids were so sweet to Eeyore, offering to be his friend.
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
Poor Eeyore made of carpet. No wonder he is so depressed depressed. Buzz and Minnie are the golden children
#11
One of my favorites is the fact that the monorail track in the Contemporary isn't connected to the building at all. To prevent vibration from the passing monorails from being felt by hotel guests, the concrete track supports have their own foundations completely separate from the building foundation.
Tiny Dancer 2 years ago
The only time I've been to WDW was in 1976. Why we chose the Bicentennial year I'll never understand! We're Aussie-Canucks with a Brit throw in for good measure. There was more Americana getting throw at us from all angles that year than any human could handle. Anyway, I will never forget pulling in to the Contemporary on that monorail. I was 11 and might as well have landed on the moon, it was SO spacey and surreal for that time.
#12
My favorite story/fact is that Disney's Hollywood Studios is the only place to have Audrey Hepburn's handprints. All of the handprints in the park in front of the Chinese Theater are real. And when placing her handprints she began to cry. When asked, she said that no one had ever asked her to do this before. When word got back to the real Chinese Theater they were shocked and apologized for not asking sooner and offered for her to come down and place them in the real location. Her response was, "No, they're where they belong." This story always brings a tear to my eye. DHS has always been my favorite park and it's little things like this that keep it special. Bonus fact: in the Tower of Terror, at the exit where you can see your photo from the ride, there is a hotel "lost and found" scene. In the back left corner is a jar of pickled eggs that was not intended to be a part of the scene. It was accidentally left by an imagineer and the prop team glued it in place and painted it up. That is a very real, almost 30 year old, jar of pickled eggs.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I like pickled eggs. I wonder if they're still edible.🤔
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Jane Hower 2 years ago
LOVED THAT RIDE!! Was there 3 days, went there first thing, rode it once and then could NOT get to courage to do it again, until the next day. WOW WOW WOW
#13
This is probably old news to a lot of you, but the water around Tom Sawyers island is exactly the way Disney wants it. They go to great lengths to make the water murky and whatever color you’d call it. The water is constantly being treated. What looks like stagnant bayou swamp water is actually run through a treatment process and returned to the lake. The treatment equipment has the capacity to treat every drop of water in the lake once a day. The reason the water is so murky is to hide the tracks on the bottom of the lake that guide the boats on the surface.
Singing Panda 2 years ago
They probably dont want to risk people drinking it either. Humans are weird man.
Penny Kemper 2 years ago
Doesn't it also have to represent the Mississippi? The muddy Mississippi?
#14
When they built Gaston’s Tavern they built it in the wrong spot and it was covering a manhole by a couple of inches. To fix this they installed a playful mini door that they can open to be able to access the manhole when needed.
#15
In the original Haunted Mansion ballroom scene in California, the women lead the men in the dance because the imagineers forgot the Pepper’s Ghost trick would flip the image. This was done intentionally in WDW.
Em 2 years ago
Also if you look closely at the glass separating you from that scene, there's a spiderweb on one of the panes (second-to-last, I think, but it's been awhile). Someone brought a gun into the park and shot at the glass. Changing the pane out would've required removing the roof, so they disguised the cracks as a spiderweb.
Realistic_Lemons (any) 2 years ago (edited)
I hâte people for doing things like bringing a gun into a park containing mainly children and young adults
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#16
DeSantis got married there.
On the haunted mansion the crow is the narrator. You only see him in rooms where the doom buggies play the audio. The first half of the ride the ghost don’t interact with you because you’re still “living”. When you’re going down backwards, it’s the bride throwing you out the window and that’s when the ghost start to sing and interact with you because you died.
The center of Disney property is in Epcot and there’s a star (maybe a compass) on the floor.
David 2 years ago
Is this Disneyworld? Or perhaps they changed the ride at Disneyland. Years ago there was no 'going down backwards'
Em 2 years ago
The article is about Walt Disney World, so that's probably what they meant, but there is a part where you go down backwards at Disneyland. It's the segue between the attic and graveyard scenes near the end of the ride. It's a pretty quick transition; I wouldn't be surprised if you'd just forgotten it. Been like that as long as I can remember, though I suppose it could have been added during the major rehab in the early aughts. I remember that happening, but I'm a little fuzzy at this point on what specific changes were made.
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Mark Fuller 2 years ago
Honestly did not know or get the impression I was being thrown out of the window by the bride...
Tim Fountain 2 years ago
Just the mention of Rhonda Sanctus is enough to send a shiver down my spine.
#17
There is not one single brick on the castle at all.
The trash system at Disney World was originally designed to be part of Walt's original design for EPCOT as in the city he hoped to design and found.
There are no restrooms in Liberty Square because Disney wanted authenticity. There were no bathrooms/toilets in colonial times.
The Castle is 3 feet under the legal requirement to have a blinking light on the top for planes.
Only 1 US flag on Liberty Square is real. The rest have things like 49 stars, 12 stripes or have a blue area one stripe too big. Therefore they are legally fake flags and don't have to be raised and lowered at night or in bad weather per flag etiquette. (Edit: there is no law saying you have to raise or lower real US flags at night or in bad weather. Disney respects US flag etiquette is all)
They have a airline runway. They used it for their own airline. The last time it was used to land planes was 9/11/2001 due to the terrorist attacks and all air planes being grounded.
Disney has a evacuation plan for terrorism, and other emergencies. They almost used in California recently when Murphey caught fire.
Disney World has a program with Easter Seals and other associations to help handicapped people become certified to Dive. They teach them in the Living Seas aquarium. You can also pay to dive in it
You can purchase a real car at Test Track.
You can purchase a real sword in the Great Britain Pavilion at EPCOT.
You used to be able to ride in a real race car at Walt Disney Motor Speedway. It was called Richard Petty Driving Experience.
Not necessarily Disney World fact per say, Pete The Cat is Disney's oldest CONSECUTIVELY owned character. Oswald is oldest if considered NON-CONSECUTIVELY owned, meaning they lost ownership for a time. Alice Little from Alice in Wonderland is second.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
Ty. You would think BP could have at least conjured up the correct Alice.
Load More Replies... Bill Tinsley 2 years ago
Not those kids books. He means the big cat that was pretty evil until recent years where he's mellowed out more and is moreso an annoyance than straight up villain
Sven Grammersdorf 2 years ago
Do people in your country disrespect the symbol of your nation?
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PattonPawter 2 years ago
First and fourth fact extra info: the castle isn’t made of bricks in case of hurricanes, and the tower of terror and expedition Everest also follow the “less than 200 feet tall rule” (ToT is 199’, Everest is 199.5’)
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 2 years ago
They do indeed have a runway. It was a musical one, too. When you landed. The grooves in the tarmac made the vibrations in the landing gear sound like music. The tune? " When you wish upon a star".
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
"They almost used in California recently when Murphey caught fire." I live nearby, so... what????
Leenda Luna 2 years ago
That must be the name of the dragon in the (previously) nightly Fantasmic show. It caught fire in Apr 2023.
Load More Replies... Sven Grammersdorf 2 years ago
They've been maintaining a runway that hasn't seen traffic since 2001?
The Kitten Overlord 2 years ago
Not the children books, Pete the villain towards Mickey Mouse. A lot of people don’t know he’s a cat. FUN FACT, Goofy is a dog
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UnicornSnotRules 2 years ago
My son and I got to snorkel in the Living Seas Aquarium when he was six, so about 19 years ago. It was an amazing experience! It was exactly what you would expect from a Disney experience, and at the time, it wasn't ridiculously expensive.
#18
WDW is one of the largest private wildlife reserves in the US. and since the incident with the toddler being attacked more than 250 alligators have been removed from the park for guest safety
sassawrasse 2 years ago
People come down here, we say "all water has gators in it". People ignore that and bad things happen.
Andrew Parsons 2 years ago
Humans put animals around humans. Animals do animal stuff. Humans: 😱
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
... Lane Graves, two years old, from Elkhorn, Nebraska. He deserves to be remembered.
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Soton_Sherpa 2 years ago
Please tell me that they led them out in a crocodile line and told to make it snappy?
The Original Bruno 2 years ago
NOT EVEN CLOSE to being true. Not in the top several hundred. Not by an order of magnitude.
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
Do you mean the part about it being the largest wildlife reserve?
Load More Replies... #19
One of Walt’s original Carrolwood Pacific train cars is in a very understated display case in the Boulder ridge building at wilderness lodge. Easily one of my favorite spots in all of disney world to sit in some peace and quiet.
#20
Outside the Land pavilion, the mosaic on either side is completely symmetrical -- except for one emerald tile on the right side (facing the entrance) not far from the door, maybe 6' off the ground
Germany was supposed to have a boat ride, the Rhine River Cruise. They built the loading dock for it before the ride idea got scrapped. Now, if you go behind Sommerfest, there's a mural along the back wall. It's actually a tapestry; if you push on it it's hollow, and if you tore it down you'd see the railings for row assignments
#21
Former Imagineer here, the reason why Stitch will never have a major attraction overhaul is because it shares the same building as Cosmic Rays. Due to the asbestos in the facility and building code changes since the 70’s, both Cosmic Rays and the attraction would have to go down and be brought up to code. Cosmic rays generates Millions a week and they cannot lose that revenue.
They can re-theme Stitch all they want and not trigger code change requirements.
Sven Grammersdorf 2 years ago
They have a duty to their shareholders to not do anything that will probably lose money
Load More Replies... sassawrasse 2 years ago
Stitch is looooong gone. The queue area is stroller parking and the main ride area is boarded up. (Does anyone remember being terrorized by Alien Encounter too?)
#22
OK, someone mentioned a youngster dying of a brain amoeba at River Country. So I have a super sad one, too- In 2004, cast member Javier Cruz, who was playing Pluto, died when he was run over by a float preparing to enter the parade route behind Splash Mountain in MK. An oversized Pluto shoe got caught on the edge of the trailing float (second float in a unit, being towed by the first) and he was dragged under. It's believed that that parade unit was far enough back behind the railroad tracks that guests didn't see what happened. OSHA fined Disney a pithy $6,500. or something like that. But after that I think Disney's big-boy floats are now mostly single units... so the potential of a trailing unit hitting a CM is reduced. Also I think they now have E-stop buttons on all corners of the floats if you look real close.
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
FYI, about the floats... my ex worked for a company that filled Disney contracts. Just some indie construction company in Burbank, owner loved cars and motorcycles, so he'd bid on floats, especially for Disney, because they paid well and generally stayed out of their hair. Let me reiterate: Disney contracts their floats and has minimal oversight. While these guys were good and took pride in their work, they only made a few (and none for the home team in Anaheim; their jobs were for Disney Beijing, Hong Kong, Singapore, and -- I think -- one went to Paris), so suffice to say, these floats are made by whichever company's bid Disney goes with. Quality may not be consistent.
BJ Hage 2 years ago
That's not just Disney. Companies, governments, hospitals, schools send stuff out for bids all the time with varying degrees of quality consistency for things "that are made by whichever company's bid" they go with.
Load More Replies... Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
This happened during our high school homecoming parade when i was a freshman. A senior girl tried to run and jump on the back of the float (aka 18 wheeler trailer bed) and got dragged under the tires. She didn't die but was in the hospital for the rest of the year. No more homecoming parades ever.
#23
When Disney was buying land in Florida, there were 10 different shell companies who purchased the land (so prices wouldn’t go high). One of them was called M.T. Lot Company.
Alexander Brior 2 years ago
Probably none. Venomous snakes, on the other hand...
Load More Replies... #24
The utildoors technically aren't underground, due to the fact that it was built in Florida's marshland. They're on the ground floor, and the ENTIRE PARK WAS BUILT ONE FLOOR OFF THE GROUND
Em 2 years ago
The Haunted Mansion's "elevator"/stretching room does not actually descend for the same reson. The California version is an actual elevator; the one in Florida achieves the effect with a rising ceiling.
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
That slowly sinking feeling on the elevator really adds to the creepiness, I gotta say. I can't imagine Haunted Mansion without it.
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Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
It's pretty amazing but also a well known fact and the novelty has worn off.
Load More Replies... #25
If you parked in a different spot at EPCOT every day, it would take you about 31 years to park in all of them.
#26
The tram driver at MK last night said that you could drop Disneyland Park and California Adventure on MK’s parking lot and still have parking spaces left over.
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
I believe it. The entire city of Anaheim is 50 square miles, not that much bigger than WDW. Disneyland itself is about the size of a homestead -- 160 acres. And still better than anything in Florida.
Robin Roper 2 years ago
Many years ago, my sister and her family forgot where they parked their car. She approached a worker in the parking lot and asked what to do. This person asked her what time they arrived and was able to find their car within a few minutes. The parks know what time each section is filled.
FranzWoman 2 years ago
100%. If you've ever Google Earthed the two parks it's INSANE the size difference
#27
The voice of Uncle Orville in Carousel of Progress is Mel Blanc, the voice of Bugs Bunny and many other Looney Tunes characters!
#28
Disney World is almost the size of the city of San Francisco (WDW 43 square miles SF 47 square miles)
#29
The tower of terror in Hollywood studios is painted the color that it is because it can be seen in the distance when looking at the Morocco Pavilion in EPCOT.
Jojo_hobkin 2 years ago
Wrong one ! This one was at Disneyland, Anaheim and is now only at Walt Disney's Studios, Paris.
Shelli Aderman 2 years ago
It’s now the Guardians of the Galaxy ride, and I SCREAMED the whole way! 🤣👍🏽
P.C. 2 years ago
Wait, did they change all of the towers of terrors or is Disneyland called Hollywood studios now or-??
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#31
Disneyland and Disneyworld are both in Orange County.
Tee Rat 2 years ago
My mom sent pictures of a 5 yr. old me at KBF in the 70's climbing onto the laps of fancy dressed fiberglass women. I think it was Knott's although it could have been Universal or Busch Gardens.
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sassawrasse 2 years ago
Fun fact: in Florida, it was originally called Mosquito county but the name change was allowed for Disney.
#32
Part of the deal with Florida back in the 60s included the right for Disney to build a nuclear power plant on property
Soton_Sherpa 2 years ago
Do it, Disney! Not for any power related reason, but just to really, really annoy a certain governor. 🙄
Kallen Kneeland 2 years ago
I think that was in prep for Walt's ideal EPCOT city. Didn't happen.
#33
The backstory for Animal Kingdom is really a fun walkabout and if you can find a CM who will take you on the "tour" it's great. It's been a minute since I did it (former DAK CM) but basically an ant lands on Discovery Island (the main hub of the park where the tree is) and he's really lonely. So he starts dreaming and wishing for friends to come join him, and they all start to show up at the tree of life. Eventually they all need a place to call their own so they build their own islands (Dinoland, Asia, Africa, Pandora) but come visit the tree often enough to leave their images on it. Right past the exit to Its Tough to Be A Bug there is an entrance to a little walking path you can take. At the end of the path there is a bench in a "cave" kinda, and if you look through one of the holes it's centered directly on the ant on the tree.
DAK employees have bikes backstage they can take to get from one side of the park to the other. There are also busses. DAK is f*****g IMMENSE, as mentioned here already, and to circumvent it is ridiculous. I worked in Dinoland and was lucky to get to use the front side entrance but it was a TREK to get to the back of the park from cast parking. Also, DAK doesn't have costuming attached to the park like EPCOT or how MK has it in the Utilidors. I never worked at Studios so not sure their costuming situation.
Trying to think of any other weird facts from my time there.
I worked at Sum of All Thrills, which was in Innoventions and sponsored by Raytheon, and we had a very specific script for explaining what Raytheon did and we were not permitted to discuss their warfare programs 👀 also because it was a sponsored ride it cost Raytheon money to upkeep it and it was NOT upkept properly. Not in a dangerous way for guests, obviously, but things like hydraulics on the hoods not working right (putting more strain on cast who had to lift/shut them), programming glitches that would cause the ride to shut down, etc.
There used to be a Subway backstage at EPCOT.
Alien Blob (He/Him) 2 years ago
This one was a little hard to follow with all the abrreviations
Duckie Measles 2 years ago
CM= Cast Member, DAK= Disney Animal Kingdom, MK=Magic Kingdom
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Richienotsorich 2 years ago
Subway? A fast food restaurant or an underground transportation system?
#34
Inside the haunted mansion, in the ballroom scene, the glass windows that make it work are 3 stories tall. There is a spare window in a crate to the far right of the ballroom. They have no idea how they would install it if one of them broke, but, darn it, they have it! They would probably need to take out part of the roof and move it with a crane. The book on the little table in the front left of the library is "The Nightmare Before Christmas", good luck seeing it in the dark. The imagineering office behind HM is full of extra parts, sculptures, heads, skeletons etc. The housekeeping staff left a note for them to please leave the lights on when they left as the staff was, er, not happy, about all the spooky stuff. Not only did they not leave the lights on, the cry of "Challenge Accepted!" was heard. They wired up *everything* to groan, sign, talk, move, clank, whatever. The next day was a note: "Clean your own offices." Mr. Toad in the cemetery was bought/painted/installed by one of the imagineers in secret and (sorta) without permission. Tower of Terror has to be dusted regularly. Dust put *on*. And cobwebs resprayed. ToT exit has a chalk square drawn on the wall as referenced in "Little Girl Lost" ([https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Girl_Lost_(The_Twilight_Zone)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Girl_Lost_(The_Twilight_Zone)) )
Singing Panda 2 years ago
I love how much intricate Haunted Mansion lore there is, it's such a fascinating ride!
Leenda Luna 2 years ago
When the original was created at D-Land, Walt took (his?) kids on it. They were truly scared so he had the attraction lightened up a bit.
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Scott Rackley 2 years ago
As far as the window goes, a proper millwright could put it anywhere it needed to be
catastrophegirl 2 years ago
source: my former coworker who did a couple years at the mansion. there is apparently a life sized realistic looking fake alligator in the props storage at the mansion and when they get new cast members (who have usually been on a waiting list as mansion servant is a high desired job), sometimes they prank them by putting the gator on the tracks during the orientation walk through (with the lights on)
#35
One of my favorite stories connected to the Nixon thing is there’s a transcript available where Nixon talks about wanting to go see Disney World while he was in the area for something else since he was a massive Disney fan (Bob Gurr actually tells a fun story about when he and Walt accidentally kidnapped Nixon at Disneyland). Anyway, while he was visiting the property, he heard the national correspondents convention was happening and wanted to ‘surprise them.’ This is why he ends up giving the quote.
I was floored when my dad showed me the transcript of the conversation, especially knowing the end result. All because he just wanted to see Disney World. LOL
As far as little-known facts, one I don’t see mentioned much is Reagan’s second inaugural parade was at EPCOT. It was freezing in DC when they were supposed to do it, so a few months later it was held in EPCOT. [Here’s more of the story](https://allears.net/walt-disney-world-chronicles-the-presidential-inaugural-parade-at-walt-disney-world/) if interested in reading.
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
LOL that's great! And yeah, I bet he was a Disney fan, he grew up in Yorba Linda. For those unfamiliar with Southern California geography, Orange County is TINY. Yorba Linda, Fullerton, Buena Park, Garden Grove, Placentia, Cypress -- they're all contiguous with Anaheim. Dude literally watched as Disneyland was built. He probably knew people who had to sell their homes to make room for the park (my grandparents did not know him -- I asked).
Tiny Dancer 2 years ago
"This is why he ends up giving the quote." Showing my ignorance here, but what quote is this talking about?
#36
The music video for the beach boys “Kokomo” was shot at the Grand Floridian resort before it officially opened to guests.
So that magical fairytale land they are singing about is actually just Disney world, in a way.
Edit: Grand Flo, not Poly!
Michael Largey 2 years ago
There may or may not be a magical land called Kokomo, but there certainly is a mid-sized town in Indiana named Kokomo, which the Beach Boys’ tour bus took them through many times.
brittany 2 years ago
Kokomo Indiana is also is briefly mentioned in the movie Cats Dont Dance as the main character's (Danny) hometown. i highly recommend the movie if you haven't seen it.
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AlienBarbu 2 years ago
was it the one with John Stamos from Full House? or I'm completely wrong?
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
I was about to ask "wasn't uncle Jesse there?"
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#37
Go away green and blending blue, used to hide things they do not want you to see by using colors that make your eyes not pay attention to them
Norm Gilmore 2 years ago
The colours 'Go Away Green' and 'Blending Blue' are used to hide things...
catastrophegirl 2 years ago
i used to pick up my paychecks and my costume at "the invisible building" in the middle of the parking lot at downtown disney (now disney springs). it was go away green and literally people could be parked next to it and not see that there was a building there. it was hilarious to me.
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
That's how they hid the Quidditch World Cup. "Muggle repelling charms" are actually just two colors used like a reverse green screen
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JP Doyle 2 years ago
Wait... You can't see the picture of the green building? Wow! It works!
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the gay boogeyman 2 years ago
i looked up go away green and its SUCH a nice colour (blending blue is okay as well)
#38
Hollywood studios was originally a large hidden mickey when viewed from above! It’s a lot harder to see now since so much has been built off the main center, but you can still see the eyes and nose markings in the central plaza, and the general shape
#39
In the barbershop, where you can get a very respectable haircut, there is a hat rack with a smoky mirror in the back. The barber said this was an original fixture from one of Walt’s trains. Also, Main Street is modeled on Marceline, MO where Walt grew up.
#40
Lots of people don't know that WDW actually has its own [decommissioned airfield](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walt_Disney_World_Airport).
Brian Droste 2 years ago
I wonder when it was built and when it was decommissioned? With all the probably the billions WDW makes why don't they tear it out and either plant plants and trees or let it go back to nature.
#41
The last of the now extinct Dusky Seaside Sparrow died on Discovery Island in 1987.
catastrophegirl 2 years ago
that photo is of the wrong discovery island (the photo is from animal kingdom). the one referenced in the story is the original, an actual island in the middle of bay lake (in front of the magic kingdom). while it allowed visitors as a zoological attraction for many years, it also was used for things like endangered species rescue breeding (golden lion tamarins) and spider monkey training to be assistance animals for people with disabilities. i used to go there a lot before it closed. they moved all the animal programs from there to animal kingdom. i distinctly remember the signs towards the end to be watchful for "evidence of birds" - the wild ibises and vultures had pretty much turned the island into their own personal island and it was just covered in bird droppings. i often suspect that ended up being part of why they didn't bother turning it into another attraction.
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
Thank you. I was confused by this because I know that sign is in Animal Kingdom which did not open until more than a decade later.
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There’s a Wikipedia for everyone that has died in the parks most are heart attack related but a few are accident related https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_incidents_at_Walt_Disney_World
Tasha Christensen 2 years ago
Allegedly, in the early days, WDW sent the patients to a hospital off property to be pronounced so that nobody actually "died on property"
Leoninus Fate 2 years ago
As of 2023, 63 people have died from 60 incidents at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL, since its opening in 1971. Of the 63 deaths, 35% were due to natural causes, 65% were male, and about 70% were adults.
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#43
The Art of Disney gallery is one of my wife and I’s favorite places to visit. Sometimes you get the chance to see some amazing historical Disney World/Company documents that are for sale. There’s been a check signed by Walt himself as well as currently the incorporation documentation for the Walt Disney Company on display/for sale. Technically, it’s in Disney Springs, so not in a park - but still a great treasure trove of history.
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago (edited)
wife's and my* I might get downvotes, but it's hitting my brain wrong.
Mitchell 2 years ago
I hate it when a correction is downvoted. Thanks for the fix.
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#44
Space Mountain opened at WDW before Disneyland.
Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
That was back when you had to buy e-tickets and Pay by the ride rather than just a general admission (I don't know if they charged that also)
#45
“If you can dream it, you can do it” is often misquoted to Walt Disney
But it actually comes from Horizons that was at Epcot
catastrophegirl 2 years ago
when i think about horizons, i still smell orange blossoms in my memory
#46
While it does run on a guiding track, the Liberty Belle is a fully functional steamboat. The waterway around Tom Sawyer Island is connected to Seven Seas Lagoon by a series of locks and movable bridges behind Frontierland and Adventureland, which is also where the Electrical Water Pageant barges are stored. When the Liberty Belle needs refurbishment, she is taken to maintenance docks hidden in the northwest corner of Bay Lake, north of the Contemporary, where all the other area watercraft are serviced.
Brian Droste 2 years ago
So when it needs maintenance is there a back up Liberty Belle to take its place?
#47
That magic Kingdom "street level" is actually second story. The first floor is all utility and service corridor. I want to go so bad! Also probably not a little known fact but I find it fascinating.
Hiram's Friend 2 years ago
For more money (of course), you can book a "behind the scenes" tour.
Sweet_Dee 2 years ago
It’s actually quite reasonable! I think when we looked it was around $150 for 6 hours
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My favorite fun fact is that Maelstrom was originally going to be a Mt. Fuji ride in Tokyo pavilion. but, since Kodiak was a sponsor of Epcot at the time they did not want fujifilm to get “advertised”
Spocks's Mom 2 years ago
I honestly thought they were referring to bears until I read the rest.
Load More Replies... Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
Maelstrom was one of my favorite rides .. my daughter is so happy there is a frozen ride of course but Arendelle is not a real country and I feel they could have found another place for this. I miss those trolls. Not the frozen trolls, the scary ones.
#49
In 1980, an 11-year-old boy died of an amoeba brain infection at the now-defunct River Country Waterpark.
David 2 years ago
How did they determine it was the waterpark? Those things can be found in many warm water sources and even if one of them gets in your nasal cavity (and later brain) it takes a few days to die. I think I read you could die within 3-4 days but sometimes longer.
JayWantsACat 2 years ago
Well, if the park was the only place that the kid went swimming recently...
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Telepathetic 2 years ago
I've heard no one Dies at DW because they move the body off lot before Pronouncing Death
SkyBlueandBlack 2 years ago
63 people have died at Disney World, including four suicides.
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Nice Beast Ludo 2 years ago
River Country used natural rivers to swim in not pools (they might have had a pool I never went there) so that makes sense
catastrophegirl 2 years ago
yes, they had a shallow kiddie pool, some human-dug "rivers" that connected to Bay Lake and used lake water, and there was a roped off swimming area at the beach of Bay Lake. a couple of the attractions there were things like a rope swing and a "boom" (faux sailboat boom swing) that you could use to drop yourself out into the lake. the lake was warm and the bottom was slimy and your feet would sink and stick in it if you stood still too long. it stank like all water in florida does
Load More Replies... catastrophegirl 2 years ago
a tour of abandoned river country with a bit of the original commercial for it. https://youtu.be/103wYOcs5mo
catastrophegirl 2 years ago
oh, just found this one which shows exactly how the park was laid out and the water was handled. https://youtu.be/qewT3SYFqNw
Load More Replies... #50
There is actual gold on the mosaic heading into the Land pavilion at Epcot. There are lots of hidden Mickeys but there are a few other characters hidden through out the Disney world, Donald, Minnie, etc... This is an old one and I don't think it exists anymore but there used to be a basket ball hoop/half cort in Cinderella castle. There is a red space ship in Tomorrowland kind of between the People Mover and the speed way, the building is one of the original ticket booths for the park where you would purchase A,B,C,D, or E tickets for rides.
catastrophegirl 2 years ago
there are hidden mickeys even the guests cannot see, the imagineers get very creative. i used to walk past some of them in the walkway between the stockrooms above the world of disney store. i remember one of them specifically was on a mural very high up on the wall and you had to be looking straight at it to see the headlight formation on the vintage cartoon car was a mickey. the world's fastest hidden mickey was 1/4 of a second long and was put into the Sid's-Create-a-Toy game at disneyquest by the imagineer who developed the game (i think her name was anita?) and i found it when i was beta testing the game for her. it was an in game animation of a rocket ship blasting off and the mickey was the vapor/smoke coming from the base of the rocket.
JayWantsACat 2 years ago
I miss the People Movers. Like the train, I loved riding them as a way to relax and get off my feet while still moving about the park.
Willem Oosterhof 2 years ago
I thought the half-court basket was inside the Swiss mountain ride. There are pictures on the net.
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Deborah Rubin 2 years ago
Loved this. Haven't been to Disney World since 1996, and will never be able to go again. I know there are a lot of changes. And I do think that Disney World should be a separate state, not part of Florida.
Deborah Rubin 2 years ago
Loved this. Haven't been to Disney World since 1996, and will never be able to go again. I know there are a lot of changes. And I do think that Disney World should be a separate state, not part of Florida.
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