If a worker at a Disney park refers to you as a "treasured guest," it's not actually as nice as it sounds. Disney workers use this as a code word to warn each other about guests who are rude or disruptive.
Pirate Prank
There are usually 3 Jack Sparrows on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, but you may see 4 from time to time. Believe it or not, Johnny Depp actually hangs out in full costume in the ride for fun on occasion!
Underground World
The Magic Kingdom that the public sees is actually the second level of the park. Beneath the surface, a series of "utilidors" allows workers to cross the park quickly and unseen. It can also be used by ambulances in emergencies.
Cinderella Statue
Disney prides itself on looking at the world like a child, and one of the best ways that it illustrates this point is in the statue of Cinderella outside of her castle. From the view of an adult, the statue depicts Cinderella working as a peasant, but from below, children look up to see she is smiling, and that a crown is behind her head.
Scent From Above
Ever notice how wonderful Main Street smells? The street is actually equipped with vents that pump an artificial vanilla scent into the air. Around Christmas, they use peppermint.
Communal Underwear
You probably already assumed that spending your day in those heavy, hot mascot suits wasn't very fun, but until 2001, it was way worse than you imagined. Before that year, Disney required all the character actors to wear communal underwear.
Toy Story Trick
For years since the movie's release, the workers in the "Toy Story" character mascot suits would drop to the ground immediately if a guest yelled "Andy's coming!" The practice has stopped since the phrase became publicized online, and now the workers simply respond "Andy's at college" when they hear the phrase.
Doritos Birthplace
Doritos were actually invented in Disneyland. The Frito company ran a Mexican style restaurant in Disneyland on New Orleans Street called Casa de Fritos. Legend has it that the restaurant was delivered a batch of stale tortillas one day, but instead of throwing them out, the marketing executive had the idea to fry them up and serve them as chips. Doritos means “little golden things” in Spanish.
Mr. President?
Spaceship Earth is Epcot's most well-recognized attraction, and the ride takes guests on a journey through Earth's past, present, and future. Some of the robotic characters featured on the ride are actually repurposed presidents from the Hall of Presidents attraction. John Adams is a monk, Teddy Roosevelt is a senator in Rome, and William Taft is an Egyptian priest.
Disney Jail
Although it's the happiest place on earth, even Disneyland has its seedy underbelly. Disneyland has its own jail, used as a holding area for disruptive guests.
Real Skull
The Pirates of the Caribbean ride in Disneyland is filled with spooky skeletons, and not all of them are props! The skull on the headboard of one skeletons bed is real.
No Gum
Gum isn't sold anywhere on the premises of a Disney park. You can still bring gum from home, but the parks won't sell it to you, in an effort to keep the ground clean. The idea to ban gum selling actually came from Walt Disney himself.
No High Fives For Adults
Costumed characters in Disney parks are discouraged from giving high fives to adult guests. While they will still interact with adults, they are told to focus primarily on the children.
Wizard Of Bras
Disneyland first opened in 1955, and featured a number of stores on Main Street in the middle of the park. You may be surprised to learn that one of these stores was called "Wizard of Bras." Obviously, the bra store is no longer up and running.
High Court
There is a basketball court in Disneyland's Matterhorn Mountain. The small half-court is in an attic-like room at the top of the mountain used as a resting and preparation area for costumed climbers who will scale the mountain for guests. One of the climbers once brought in and installed a basketball hoop for the climbers to amuse themselves in the room.
The Grey Stuff
The "Beauty and the Beast" song "Be Our Guest" featured countless dishes and platters offering Belle whatever food she desired. When Lumiere implores her to "try the grey stuff," she remarks that it's delicious. Well, at the Be Our Guest restaurant, "the grey stuff" is actually a menu item!
The Suite Life
There is a hotel room located within Cinderella's castle reserved only for contest winners. There's a similar hotel room in Disneyland above the Pirates of the Caribbean.
Soiled Streets
Liberty Square is a section of Magic Kingdom meant to recreate colonial America. The brown pavement in Liberty Square is actually supposed to signify the sewage problems common in colonial streets.
Hide, Mickey!
Although their mascot is a mouse, Disneyland isn't exactly welcoming of the rodents in real life. The park is actually home to over 200 feral cats. The cats are tolerated because they keep the property clear of rats and mice.
Mythical Animals
Originally, Animal Kingdom was going to include a land devoted to mythical creatures, but they decided against it at the last minute. However, there is still a dragon on the Animal Kingdom sign.
Firepower
Disney World purchases the second highest amount of explosives in the United States. The only organization that purchases more is the US Military.
Bieber's Ban
You won't be seeing Justin Bieber at Disneyland. The pop star was banned from the park for punching Mickey Mouse in the nuts.
Morse Meaning
Guests can hear a Morse code message being typed at New Orleans Station. It is actually Walt Disney's inaugural speech. "To all that come to this happy place: welcome. Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past, and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future..."
No Sad Kids
If any cast member sees an upset child, they can invoke the "No Sad Kids" rule. The rule allows the cast members to replace dropped ice cream or give out souvenirs for free to any sad children.
Nixon's Disney Connection
One of Nixon's most famous speeches is the one in which he asserts "I am not a crook." This speech was given at Disneyland.
The Point
You will never see a Disney worker pointing with just one finger. All park employees are instructed to point with either two fingers or their whole hand since pointing with one finger is insulting to some cultures.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
First, exactly WHY are there real skulls in the Pirates ride?
And two, if I find Johnny Depp in there, can I keep him?
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
My friend was married to the head of personnel for Disney Corp. for 40+ years. He started out as a ride attendant for that alpine ride when he was in college. One of the perquisites to working for Disney is that you have a warm smile.
