Walter Elias Disney is still one of the most famous men in the world. This animator and entrepreneur first made waves within the film industry, and it’s long been held that he completely changed the game in terms of animation and cartoons. In an effort to allow children and adults alike the chance to escape to new worlds, he decided to dip his toe into the amusement park industry during the 1950s. His Disney parks are growing stronger and stronger every year, but it seems as though most guests don’t know what really goes on behind the scenes.
The tunnels are real
The legend goes that these underground tunnels were all Walt Disney’s idea. As he was making his way around the park, the animator saw a cowboy walking through Tomorrowland to get to his home in Frontierland. Walt didn’t want to see cowboys in the futuristic world of Tomorrowland and assumed that his guests didn’t want to either, so the tunnels were the perfect option for the cast.
Size does matter
This means that the building isn’t as big as it really looks, but is instead designed to look bigger than it is. Different sized bricks – such as large bricks at the bottom of the building and much smaller bricks towards the top – are to thank for creating this optical illusion, and it’s pretty clever. They say that size doesn’t matter, but in the case of this castle, it really does matter.
The hidden suite
Although he never got to use it himself, he made sure that the whole thing was decked out for kings and queens of the castle. It features original 17th century furniture, a floor that has been built with a whopping 24-karat gold, and even a timeless clock that always stays in its place at 11:59.
The haunted apartment
Many believe that this apartment is today haunted by the ghost of Walt Disney, and there are many witnesses to this claim. When one park employee was cleaning the apartment just after his passing, they noted that the lamp kept turning itself off and on. While the light is kept permanently on now as a tribute to the cartoonist, there are some who swear they can see the drapes moving every so often.
The perfect color
Well, Disneyland has its very own paint color and one that they invented specifically to keep the magic alive. Often called “Go Away Green” or “No See ‘Em Green,” this color is designed to draw your attention away from it at all times. If you make your way around the parks and really keep an eye out, you might notice that things like false walls, speakers, railings, and secret doors are painted in this color. Pretty smart, huh?
It’s a creepy world
That’s because park employees swear by the notion that the characters who stand around the water-based ride come to life even when the ride is not working, or the whole thing is unplugged. Many claims to have seen them move from one place to another overnight when the ride was not running and some even wear by the notion that the dolls blink.
Smelling good
That’s because this is actually just a trick that Walt Disney came up with, to inspire a sense of nostalgia within the guests who make their way through the park gates. To keep the parks smelling like popcorn throughout the day, Smellitzer machines are used, and the scent of these baked goods is then pumped through the vents all day, every day.
The secret club
After all, there are so many fake doors and stores throughout this area of the park. However, what these people don’t realize is that behind this door is actually a secret club that Walt Disney designed for special guests and sponsors of the park. It’s the only place in the whole theme park that actually sells liquor, and only members who are willing to fork out a huge amount of money get to eat or drink here.
Following the rules
So, if an employee doesn’t know the answer to a guests’ question, they will always seek the answer out – even if that means that they have to ask another employee or do their own research. It’s their job to go above and beyond and create this magical experience, so that’s exactly what they do.
The Aristo-cats
One of the main reasons why these feral cats are so important is because they keep on top of any issues they may have with rodents. They make their way around the parks picking up mice and pests along the way, and there are even signs up to acknowledge their existence and their place within the Disney family.
