Former Disney Employees Spill Their Secrets
Disneyland and Disney World are two of the most famous theme parks on Earth. With its iconic characters and unique park layout, there really is no other experience that can match it. People travel from miles around just to spend a single day at one of Disney’s magical locations. However, there are plenty of things that go on behind the scenes that make Disney into “the Happiest Place on Earth”. Little tricks of the trade and special employee training make the Disney experience so unforgettable.
We’re going to clue you in on some of them, you may never look at Disney the same way again!
59. Employees are referred to as cast members
Disney is far too magical a place to use common terms like “employee” or “worker”. No, if you ever end up being employed by the Mouse himself, expect to be referred to as a “cast member”. The idea behind this is that the entire theme park is considered a stage, and everyone from the face characters to the cashiers to the custodians is a part of it.
Every person that works at Disneyland is meant to feel that they are putting on a show for visitors, even if that show involves making change for a five-dollar bill. You don’t become a name as big as Disney without coming up with your own language!
58. There’s a Popularity Hierarchy
There are thousands of cast members in both Disneyland and Disney world, many of which are face characters that play iconic Disney characters. But what we sometimes forget is that the people playing Snow White or Elsa are actually real people. And just like the real world, there is a bit of a popularity hierarchy.
Some former cast members have likened the experience to that of a high school cafeteria. Apparently, the more popular princesses, like Anna and Elsa, tend to shun characters like Mary Poppins. One cast member mentioned that while some face performers are friendly, others are totally stuck up and snobbish.
57. The Park is Completely Free of Litter
If you’ve ever been to Disney World you probably can’t recall a moment where you noticed a piece of litter on the floor. That’s pretty impressive for a giant theme park that has thousands upon thousands of visitors going in and out. So how exactly does Disney accomplish this seemingly impossible feat?
The secret of the completely clean streets is in fact tons of cleaning teams. These teams are instructed to go all around the park and snatch up every bit of litter they find. In fact, they even have a special Disney method of picking up garbage. Cast members are taught a special ‘scoop’ method that avoids any stopping or bending over.
56. Playing a Face Character is Serious Business
When Cinderella or Sleeping Beauty are posing for pictures with guests or giving out hugs, it’s natural for anyone to assume they would do so in character. But in actuality, they have to remain in character for the entirety of their time at the park. So if you ever wondered how Rapunzel would answer the question “Where’s the bathroom” you can now find out!
Given the fact that cast members work a full 8 hour schedule, it’s probably a bit hard on the face characters to stay in character the whole time. But they do have a backstage area where they can catch a quick break to be themselves.
55. The Golden Rule for All Costume Characters
There’s one golden rule that a particular type of cast member must abide by. There are two kinds of characters at Disney, face characters like Disney Princesses, and then the characters in a full body costume. Whether you’re Mickey Mouse himself or one of the seven dwarfs, there’s one thing you can absolutely never do…
And that rule is that you MUST always remain silent, no talking whatsoever, no matter how the guests might beg you to! If you think about it, this rule actually makes a lot of sense. It’d take away a lot of the magic if one of these characters started talking.
54. Code V and Other Disney Lingo
You can probably already tell that Disney has a lot of their own unique terminology for things, as well as their own special way of dealing with sticky situations. When it comes to messy situations and rude guests, Disney has come up with a secret code. For example, if a guest should get nauseous and throw up somewhere in the park, the cleaning team would refer to it as “Code V”.
If a guest is being particularly rowdy and disorderly they’re called a “treasured guest”. It’s almost ironic, isn’t it? But this is their way of ensuring cast members use a vocabulary that doesn’t sound too abrasive or disgusting.
53. The Castles are All Optical Illusions
When walking around Disneyland or Disney World, you may be awestruck by the sheer size of all the castles on the grounds. Don’t forget that looks can be deceiving though, and those castles may not be the massive structures that you assume they are. Disney engineers actually use a trick when creating these structures, using smaller bricks toward the top of the castle that gives the appearance of a taller building.
Main Street in Disney World also uses the magic of optical illusions in their buildings. All the buildings are three stories high, but the second and third stories are scaled down.
52. The Secret Sound of the Horses
When hanging out on Main Street you will probably hear the clip clopping of the horses passing by. Just another one of those very magical details that add to the atmosphere at Disney. But there’s a little secret behind the sound of those trotting horses you may have not known. Yes, even the sounds of the park are taken into account!
The horses are all fitted with horseshoes to enhance the sound of their walking, as blogger Gavin Doyle said, “The horseshoes have a special polyurethane coating to give them better traction and to increase the clip-clop sound as they walk the streets.”
51. The Kitty Helpers who Roam the Park
If you happened to find yourself at the park late at night, or you were a cast member after hours, you may have noticed cats roaming around the grounds. Back when the park was first being built, workers discovered stray cats hiding in one of the buildings. At first, they tried to remove them from the grounds by giving them to cast members for adoption.
But then they realized that the presence of cats would help control rodent infestations, which can always become a problem in a theme park like Disney. Those are some incredibly helpful felines!
50. Never Ever Ask for an Autograph
You’d probably lose your cool if you came into contact with a celebrity, especially if they wanted to take a photo with you! But Disney cast members need to know how to stay in character, even when they’re approached by their idol. They’re not allowed to acknowledge a famous person. After all, how would Mickey Mouse know anything about Ryan Reynolds?
He lives at the park, he doesn’t go to movie theaters! A cast member can kiss their job goodbye if they so much as ask a celebrity for a photo or autograph. Sorry, you’re just going to have to wait and “accidentally” bump into them outside of the park grounds.
49. It’s Not the Easiest Job to Keep
As you can probably imagine, what with Disney University and all the restrictions on cast members, getting employed by Disney is an incredibly difficult task. And don’t think that the hard work is all over once you’ve landed the job, it’s not the easiest position to hold onto! In fact, many tiny things can easily get you sacked.
One former cast member confessed that they got the sack for smooching another employee on the park grounds. Another cast member who played Princess Jasmine said she was fired for gaining 5 pounds. Those are just the ultra high standards Disney has! Do they sound fair to you?
48. Are the Waiting Times Crazy Long?
Ever paid attention to the waiting times outside Disney rides, you probably thought that they were a little bit outrageous. Outside some rides, the waiting time can be listed as up to two hours! We all wait in the lines anyway, because the rides are definitely worth it. But there might be something strange you’ve noticed once the wait is over.
Once the ride’s about to start you may feel that you actually waited less time than the sign initially indicated. That’s because a lot of the waiting times listed are actually exaggerated, with the intention of making you feel like the line went by faster than you thought!
47. There’s a Disney Princess Diet
There’s a rumor about the Disney Princess rules that some former cast members have let spill. It’s been said that Disney is quite strict about the allowed weight the princess characters are allowed to reach. As one ex-princess confessed to Cosmopolitan, “Some of the princesses did cleanses to stay fit; a lot of the girls were naturally thin. We’d go to the gym after work or do workout videos together during our breaks.”
Sounds like a pretty rigorous regime! Apparently, royalty comes with a lot more restrictions than we previously thought. The same former employee also mentioned how empty the cast refrigerator was, aside from all the weight loss products!
46. The Secret Behind the American Flags
In Disneyland and Disney World you will probably come across a few American flags. After all, the parks are located in the United States, so it’s only logical to assume that they would want to show a little patriotism. However, if you were to take a closer look at these flags you might notice that there’s something off about them.
The flags in the park aren’t actual US flags, with all of them having one minor alteration (such as a missing stripe). This is done so the park doesn’t need to adhere to flag code, such as flying the flag at half mast on certain occasions.
45. Don’t Let Them Catch You Complaining!
There’s a reason a lot of the things that go on behind the scenes at Disney are secrets or unconfirmed rumors. Cast members are absolutely forbidden to complain about their jobs on social media or any other kind of public forum. A lot of the secrets that have been spilled about Disney have been done so anonymously, or by people who no longer work at the parks.
Not only that, but face characters are sometimes even prohibited to reveal their role at any of the Disney parks. You might’ve been stoked to tell everyone that you’re the new Tinkerbell, but that’d ruin the magic! Now that’s really keeping the cast members in character.
44. Step Onto the Red Carpet
As you have probably already begun to understand, every aspect of the Disney parks was created with a lot of thought and intention. And one of those little details includes the design of the entry to the park itself. When you first step onto the grounds you may notice that the brick is red, and that’s not an accident!
The idea behind it was to make guests feel like they were stepping onto a red carpet, bringing everything back to the whole “putting on a show” theme. After all, the entrance really is the first impression of the park, so it really needs to make an impression!
43. The Animals on the Jungle Cruise
The Jungle Cruise is another classic Disney ride, but did you know the original idea was to have real animals incorporated into the ride? After Disney realized that this would be impractical during seasons where the animals were hibernating, they tossed the idea in favor of animatronic wildlife. It still looks pretty incredible though, don’t you think?
They did at one point have live alligators involved in the scenery of this ride, which the guests quickly caught onto. Trainers were situated nearby to calm down any alligator antics. However, the animals were removed from the location after one tragic accident resulting in death.
42. Don’t Even Think About Asking for a Pepsi
Disney is renowned for having delicious food all over the park, from fine dining to burgers and fries. And all that good grub needs to be washed down with something, right? If you wanted a Pepsi along with your meal then you’re going to be fresh out of luck, because Disney only carries Coca Cola at the park!
In exchange for carrying their soft drinks exclusively, Coca Cola provides Disney with all the syrup they need to produce the drinks for free! Even though Disney still needs to conjure up the cups and lids, that’s still a great exchange. Sorry to all the Pepsi fans out there!
41. Don’t Call Him “Mr. Disney”
While the name “Disney” is the most common title for the original creator, apparently Mr. Disney preferred to be called solely by his first name. And apparently, he wanted the rest of the Disney team to follow suit, as Disney superfan and blogger shared, “He extended the first name basis requirement to all Disneyland Cast Members by issuing the name tags in 1962.”
Way back in the day, cast members were given name tags with an employee number. But nowadays you’ll see that they sport name tags with their first name and hometown. Sounds like a nice way to make interactions more personable!
40. You Might End Up with a Stage Name
Nearly every establishment requires its employees to wear a nametag, and Disney is no exception. In fact, it’s a pretty serious rule at the parks. Even if you lose your nametag, you’re forbidden from walking around without one. Cast members who are missing a tag can pick one out from a box of spares, and may have to temporarily go by an entirely different name!
Former cast members have even divulged being given a “stage name” because they shared a name with an existing employee. No two name tags can be the same, and Disney doesn’t use last initials! Major bummer for anyone with a generic name. Hopefully, you have an alias at the ready.
39. The Secret Shade of Green
Everything Disney wants you to see, smell, and experience is intentional. They put a lot of effort into making sure everything you look at is magical. But the same goes for all the things they want you to overlook. The park uses a special shade of green known as “go away green”, and it’s meant to draw your eye away from certain objects.
This hue is used for secret staff doors, speakers, and other non-magical things. The Disney designers didn’t want anything to draw visitors’ attention away from the main attractions. We have to hand it to them, this is a pretty cool way of pulling it off. Have you noticed “go away green” at your Disneyland visits?
38. Cinderella’s Hidden Suite
Cinderella’s castle might be the most recognizable attraction at the Magic Kingdom Park. But this gorgeous tower has a hidden secret, a suite fit for royalty! Okay, it’s not literally modeled after Cinderella, but it is a private room that only a lucky few have set foot into. The room was originally intended for Walt himself, but in 2006 it was opened up as a prize for select competitions.
The suite can fit up to six people and has an exquisite interior design. It’s filled with 17-th century furniture, a pumpkin-carriage mosaic floor, and a functional fireplace. And cash won’t get you inside, you have to be invited or win one of Disney’s contests. That’s a pretty exclusive suite!
37. The Trash Cans are Specially Placed
There’s a good reason you never see garbage littering the floors of Disneyland, and it’s not just because of the hardworking cleaning staff. You’d expect a place that has thousands of daily visitors to have a bit more trash on the ground, but Disney has its own little secret to prevent this. Walt Disney came up with it himself!
Trash cans are placed every 30 feet. Rumor has it that this spacing came about when Walt was walking and eating a hog dog. He counted the number of steps that he took before needing to throw the wrapper away. And ta-da! The perfect spacing for trash bins throughout the park.
36. The “Kiss Goodnight” Show
Most Disney goers will visit the park sometime during the day and leave well before sundown. If that sounds like you then you’re missing out on a special Disney experience. There’s a magical “Kiss Goodnight” that plays at the park every night after closing time. The mini show is only viewable from Main Street, but it’s well worth the wait.
The castle is illuminated by twinkling lights and begins to play “When You Wish Upon a Star”. Finally, a narrator can be heard saying, “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, on behalf of everyone here at the Magic Kingdom, we thank you for joining us today for a magic gathering of family, friends, fun, and fantasy. We hope your magical journey with us has created wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.
35. The Highly Exclusive Club 33
Think you’re a hardcore Disney fan? If you haven’t heard of Club 33 then you’ve still got some learning to do! Club 33 is THE most exclusive area in the entire park, located smack in the middle of New Orleans Square. The clb is a 5-star restaurant that was originally created for Walt to host sponsors and honored visitors. Nowadays it has a slightly different function.
You can technically become a member of Club 33, but it’s not going to be cheap! If you don’t know any existing members, you can sign onto a nearly 14-year wait list. Rumor has it that membership fees can go as high as $100,000!
34. Alcohol? Sure. Gum? No Way!
You can find nearly every type of food at Disneyland, the park prides itself on it. From casual snack food to fine dining, you can taste it all! Well, almost. There are a few food and beverage items you won’t be able to purchase. The first is chewing gum, for obvious reasons. Keeping the park clean is a top priority. You’d think alcohol wouldn’t be permitted at the park, but that’s changed in recent years!
The highly exclusive Club 33 used to be the only place you could get an alcoholic drink. However, Disney’s policy has changed to allow those of legal drinking age to purchase booze throughout the park. Their cocktails are quite a feast for the eyes!
33. How Do They Keep the Mosquitos Away?
Disney World is located in Orlando, Florida, a city infamous for its hot and humid summers. If you’ve ever visited or lived in a humid town you’d know they’re usually buzzing with mosquitos. But have you ever encountered these nasty pests in Disney World? Your answer is probably a firm “no”. How exactly does Disney fight the force of nature?
Disney World rejects pesticides to keep their guests comfortable, instead, they use a little thing called liquid garlic. Mosquitoes hate the smell of the stuff! And it’s just faint enough that visitors won’t pick up on it, but the bugs will. You’ll thank Disney when you’re not scratching bites all over your arms and legs.
32. The Worlds are All Kept Separate
It’s no secret that there are many different areas in one Disney theme park. Adventureland, Critter Country, Fantasyland, and many more can all be found in Disneyland alone. Each of these parks is decorated and designed to feel like its own little world. What you may have not noticed is just how detailed these structures are, Walt had a hand in this design himself.
Each section is built in a way that you don’t see or hear any part of others nearby. For example, the view of Fantasyland is obscured by trees if you’re standing in Liberty Square. This makes each part of the park feel a lot more unique!
31. The Hidden Mickeys
Disney is all about the details, and its most sought out Easter egg is the hidden Mickeys. No matter how many characters fall under the Disney brand, Mickey Mouse will always be the number one mascot. His likeness is hidden all around the park, some estimate there are over 1,000 of them! Disney fans from all over the world have spent tons of time trying to find as many as they can.
From Disneyland to Disney World, you’re bound to pick up on several of these hidden Mickeys if you look hard enough. One of the largest yet lesser-known Mickeys can be found in a bird’s eye view of Expedition Everest in Disney World. Is that shape a coincidence? We don’t think so!
30. A Secret Hair Salon!
Most Disney fans will be familiar with the park’s underground tunnels, but there’s another hidden secret down there you might not know about. We know Disney enforces strict guidelines and restrictions when it comes to the appearance of their cast members, and they have something down there to help them stay Disney-approved. Kingdom Kutters is the hair salon for cast members only, and it’s located under the Fantasyland tunnels.
This is where you can go if your hair isn’t looking neat and combed, but you need to be on the park grounds in 15. As they’re located in employee-only areas, you won’t be able to get your hair styled here unless you’re a Disney cast member.
29. High Tech Garbage Disposal
Think the streets of Disney are littered with wrappers? Think again! With all the rules and regulations set for cast members, there’s no way the Big Mouse would allow trash on the streets of his park. The hardworking cleaning staff is only part of the process. The other half is the underground trash tubes. Yes, you heard us correctly.
These tubes are located in 17 different spots in the park, and suck the garbage in at a whopping 60 miles per hour! This Swedish-made technology cost the park over a million dollars, but we’d say it was well worth the investment. You can’t claim to be the most magical place on Earth with litter on the ground!
28. The Tree of Life isn’t Real
One of the famous features of the Animal Kingdom is the Tree of Life. This enormous “plant” is actually a sculpture of a baobab tree. Creating this artificial tree couldn’t have been easy, not a single element is real vegetation. Every element was created by hand! In addition to the dozens of different animals carved on the trunk, it has an impressive number of hand-crafted leaves.
It’s estimated that there are over 100,000 handmade leaves on the Tree of Life. They’re all placed on around 8,000 artificial branches. The projections on this massive sculpture are really something to behold, and the knowledge of the handiwork behind it makes it even more impressive!
27. Stay Smiling, Unless You’re Spooky
What would the Disney magic be without the bright grins of the staff? It’s imperative that every cast member, from the face characters to the cleaning crew, shows off their pearly whites when greeting guests. And that goes for every corner of the park. What if you’re not a fan of smiling throughout the day? Well, there’s still a place at Disney for you!
Unsurprisingly, the only cast members who aren’t required to smile are the workers at the Haunted Mansion. If their expression creeps the guests out, great! That means they’re doing their job. If you’re the type of person who has a natural melancholy look, this might be the perfect position for you!
26. The Big Stars Who Made Their Start at Disney
It sounds like the plot of a movie but believe it or not there are a number of big-name Hollywood actors who got their start at Disneyland. Before Steve Martin was an award-winning actor he started out doing magic tricks and making balloon animals in Fantasyland. And he’s not the only star to work at the park…
Before Michelle Pfeiffer was Cat Woman she played Alice at the park in the 70s. Famed Disney/Pixar director John Lasseter used to sweep the streets of Tomorrowland! Next time you’re at the park, pay a little more attention to the everyday workers. You never know who’s going to become the next big name in show business.
25. Be prepared to know absolutely everything
Most people in this world have a limited knowledge supply, that is to say, no one is capable of knowing absolutely everything. But if you intend to work at Disneyland, you’ll have to be as close as you can possibly get! Cast members are absolutely prohibited from telling any guest “I don’t know”. They’ve got to turn their brain into the Holy Grail of Disney knowledge.
The knowledge of all cast members needs to be complete and totally airtight, at the very least when it comes to aspects of the park itself. In a serious information emergency, there are secret phones that will connect cast members to a park operator for answers.
24. So What Are the Perks of Being a Cast Member?
Of course, there are rules and restrictions that Disney cast members need to abide by. So what exactly are the perks that come with this super challenging position? Well, there are a few! For one, cast members have free or discounted entry to all Disney parks and resorts, a great way to spend your day off!
In addition to free admission, they are also treated to discounts on merchandise and food. There are also exclusive events for cast members only, including secretly organized tours of different Disney attractions with the rest of the team.
23. The Most Magical Lost and Found on Earth
With all the people who go in and out of Disneyland year round, you’d probably guess there are a good amount of items in the lost and found. You would expect things like sunglasses and notebooks to be common items there, but cast members have divulged that they have actually come across items like a glass eye and prosthetic leg!
The sheer amount of lost items at Disneyland is also off the charts. 210 pairs of sunglasses are lost (and usually but not always) found at the park on a daily basis! So be sure to hang onto your shades during your next visit.
22. Not the Place to Spread Ashes
One of the common occurrences at Disneyland is people trying to sprinkle the ashes of a deceased loved one. The thought process might be that the departed had a deep love for Disney, but this is by far the worst location to spread a person’s ashes. As one cast member aptly put it, “They just get vacuumed up and disposed of.”
People who are caught in the act of dumping ashes on the park received a very harsh punishment, a lifetime ban. This is probably done in the hopes that it will discourage people from the idea. It might sound sweet in theory, but in practice, it’s beyond a bad idea.
21. Secret Underground Tunnels
Ever wonder how all the cast members in Disney World can get from place to place without crowding the park? Well, if you had super sonic hearing, you might know that underneath the park is an elaborate secret tunnel system. In fact, these tunnels are so vast that they are often referred to as an “underground city”. Now, how’s that for a hidden secret?
They have a few functions which include; places for the cast members to store their things, prep space for all the park kitchens, a costuming department, the electrical operations, and even trash removal. Pretty sophisticated, and we’d expect no less from the Big Mouse!
20. There is Edible Vegetation in Tomorrowland
The Disney parks may seem like completely inorganic structures, but in actuality, there is a little bit of nature integrated into the park. You may have never guessed, but all of the plants in Tomorrowland are actually edible! Walt himself had the vision of a sustainable future that was also efficient, hence the integrated edible vegetation at the parks.
Other natural elements can be found in Tomorrowland, for example, there is one Sequoia Tree said to date back to 818 AD. That’s a pretty cool way to bring a natural and still futuristic element to that part of the park.
19. There are Certain Special Teacups on this Ride
One of the most iconic rides at Disneyland is by far the spinning teacups. This ride, inspired by Alice in Wonderland, is very likely to be featured in anyone’s photo album from their visit to Disneyland, it’s simply a cannot miss. But there is a hidden secret to this ride that lies in the speed of certain cups.
You would think that all the cups go the exact same speed, but such is not true. Apparently, the orange and purple teacups are the ones that go fastest, while the teacups with hearts spin much slower.
18. Undercover Security Guards are Planted Throughout the Park
So how exactly does Disney make sure that guests are behaving appropriately, that is, without having a ton of “Men in Black” style security guards all over the park? The secret is undercover security guards, dressed to completely blend in. According to one cast member, “I know some people who work undercover security at Disneyland.” And believe us, you’ll never be able to spot them!
“I’ve seen them when they’re working and they look like the biggest dork tourists you could possibly imagine (big hats, zinc on the nose, silly character shirts tucked into ill-fitting shorts, hiking boots, etc.) so they fit right in.”
17. How They Make the Characters Feel “Real”
As you’ve probably figured out, Disney takes their “magic” VERY seriously. All cast members must remain in character, no matter who they’re playing. But it goes further than that. In order to make these characters seem as real as possible, Disney never allows more than one out at the same time. You’re never going to spot more than one Snow White at Disneyland!
And this rule extends to the guests, too! While small children are allowed to wear whatever costumes they please, adults are not allowed to enter the park dressed as a Disney character. If you want to show off your Cinderella cosplay you’ll have to do it someplace else.
16. Definitely an Upgrade
Okay, so this one isn’t technically about Disneyland or Disney World. But California Adventure is close enough (literally) to Disneyland that we felt this belonged on the list. For the uninformed, this theme park opened around two decades ago. Feels like such a long time, though compared to Disneyland it’s practically nothing. It’s quite literally across the street, initially there were no plans to turn it into an amusement park!
Where people queue up for rides and snap photos used to be a mere parking lot. But don’t worry, Disneyland still has plenty of space for you to park your vehicle. Plus, a theme park is a lot more exciting than an empty lot, wouldn’t you agree?
15. You’re the Master of this Ride
While amusement parks like to give off the illusion of an organically magical location, the reality is that everything is under tight control. As you can probably guess, Disney tries to involve themselves in as many aspects of their parks as possible, whether that’s the character actors, smells, or buildings. Obviously, the rides are all on tracks, there’s no way for you to take charge yourself. But if you’re the independent type, there is one ride you might enjoy.
The Davy Crockett Explorer Canoes are yours to control. Guests can paddle any which way they like, there’s no track holding the canoe in place. It’s the only place in the park where you’re the master of the ride!
14. A Dish from Walt’s Life
Walt Disney didn’t just put his name in the title of the park and leave, he had a ton to do with the creation of Disneyland. He clearly left a legacy behind that extends far beyond the name of the park (and brand). If you’re interested in getting to know a little more about the man himself you can visit Carnation Cafe for some very special American comfort food.
Get a taste of what Walt considered to be the perfect chili. Heaven knows there’s plenty of debate over that! There’s something special about digging into an old family recipe, even if that family isn’t your own. People who’ve tried this dish must let us know how it tastes!
13. Walt Had a Different Vision
There are a few distinct areas in Disneyland, but one of the more interesting ones is Epcot. The name of this section stands for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Opened in 1982, this part of the park will give you a taste of the future. but Walt’s original vision for Epcot extended far beyond a mere attraction. He wanted it to be a functioning society!
20,000 individuals would’ve been given the chance to live in Disney’s utopia, located inside of the park. We think he might’ve been a little too ambitious when coming up with that one. We can’t imagine people actually living in Disneyland, although we’re certainly sure it’s possible.
12. Secret Games
There are many hidden locations and Easter eggs you can find at Disneyland. Some of these are open for the public to discover, others are hidden away for VIP access only. Cinderella’s suite is one such place, but another is located in one of the rides itself. The Matterhorn opened way back in 1959, and it has a pretty cool secret space for employees and special guests to play ball.
Apparently, there was a little empty space at the top of this mountain, senior management figured they’d put something there! That’s got to be a great way for employees to unwind after a long workday. We assume they get out of costume first, but just imagine watching Sleeping Beauty make a 3-pointer!
11. Some Details in the Artwork
Disneyland doesn’t skimp on the details, and its sister park in Florida isn’t much different. You can expect to experience a lot of the same magic whether you’re at Disneyland or Disney World. One of the exciting attractions in Orlando is the Be Our Guest restaurant. Not only will you have a chance to meet the Beast, but you’ll also feast your eyes on the beautiful mural painted on the ceiling.
If you’re there you’re going to want to squint and focus on some of the faces. While they might not be super familiar to you, some of them belong to the Imagineers, aka the geniuses behind the Disney parks. That’s a pretty cool homage!
10. They Had to Tone it Down
Some people look for genuine thrills when going to an amusement park. They’re not just there for the magic, they want excitement, too! If you’re one of those individuals we’d like to point you in the direction of Dinosaur, a ride that opened back in 1998. If you think it’s a stomach-clenching experience now you should’ve tried it back when it opened!
This ride might’ve been a bit too much for a Disney theme park. Maybe it would’ve fit in better at 6 flags. While there were changes made to this attraction, it’s still considered one of the park’s more thrilling rides. Plus, it has one of the biggest smoke machines in any amusement park!
9. A Difficult Audition Process
We already know that getting hired at Disney is no easy process. They’re not going to pick up just anyone to portray their beloved trademark characters. You’ve got to go through a rigorous process that involves auditions, callbacks, and choreography. Only the best of the best are hired and get to become cast members. But it’s not just your professionalism and dance skills they test.
If you’re a face character you’re going to have to interact with the public, and you’re going to talk to them in character. Disney wants to make sure you have the improvisation skills to handle any kind of conversation. If you can’t get chatty as Rapunzel you’ll have to see yourself out.
8. Not Your Average Merry Go Round
Merry Go Rounds are one of the cornerstones of any good amusement park. Sure they might only be exciting for very small children, but without them, no park would truly feel complete. King Arthur’s Carrousel was one of the ride rides to be opened at Disneyland, and it’s unlike any other you’ve seen before. Nearly all these horses have a special touch that makes them different from the next.
Plus there’s a special one named Jingles that you don’t want to miss. When Disney’s 50th anniversary rolled around, they dedicated this horse to Julie Andrews. Y’know, the iconic actress behind one of Disney’s most beloved characters? We wonder if children fight over getting that one!
7. Don’t Get Caught Doing Wrong at the Parks
When it comes to guests majorly breaking the rules there’s only one place for them to go. And that place is known as Disney jail. Yes, it isn’t just a myth! There is actually a holding area for thieves and wrongdoers at the park. There is even a police station on the grounds just in case.
And the Disney justice system doesn’t discriminate, there have even been celebrities who wound up there! Blake Lively once found herself in Disney jail for trying to sneak into the park when she was 6, and Robert Downey Jr was thrown in there for smoking marijuana.
6. The Best Place to See the Beast
If you’re a frequent visitor of Disneyland, you’ve probably seen every character under the sun. However, there’s one famous prince that you’ll be hard-pressed to find wandering about the park. Everyone remembers the timeless tale of Beauty and the Beast, but the latter of this duo spends all his time in one specific place in the park. If you want to be his guest, here’s where you ought to head…
Disney fans have caught him at the Be Our Guest restaurant, appropriately located at the edge of the Beast’s castle. But don’t just go at any hour, you’ll only get to see him at dinnertime. This is a can’t-miss for fans of the classic Disney film.
5. How They Keep Disney Autographs Consistent
Did you know Disney characters give out autographs at the park? Yes, before the advent of camera phones, people used to ask famous people for their signatures. And Mickey Mouse is no exception. Whether you’re a kid or a fully grown adult, you’d probably cherish a Disney character signing your autograph book or t-shirt. But how does Disney keep the signatures consistent?
That’s right, all characters are required to learn the signature of their specific character. Forget about whatever your own handwriting looks like, you’re a new person now! That means Aladdin will have the same handwriting no matter who’s playing him. Just another way Disney strives to bring their characters to life.
4. Even the Floor Colors are Thought Out
Disney has a way of making every detail of their parks magical, and that includes the floor! You’ve probably noticed that different parts of the park have different colored flooring and concrete. This is a great way to set the stage for the various themed areas, as well as mark the beginning and end of certain parts of the park. But there’s more to it than that.
In a study with Kodak, Disneyland found that colored concrete prompted people to take more photos. There’s a reason that bright red floor made you want to post a selfie on the ‘gram. Of course in the age of social media, this tactic more than pays off.
3. The Screams at the Tower of Terror
The Tower of Terror is another iconic Disneyland ride that sticks out in the minds of many guests. One of the ride’s defining features is the dramatic screams that can be heard from outside. Even if you are just passing by, you’re sure to hear screaming, presumably coming from people on the ride. But you might actually be wrong!
While some of the screams are surely real, there is a speaker system set up to play realistic human screams on a loop. This is intended to draw guests to the ride by making it sound especially thrilling. You’re still in for a wild ride, but it’s not as scary as you think!
2. A Feast for All the Senses
If you have ever visited Disney World you may have noticed that certain parts of the park have distinct and unique smells. For example, you might pick up the whiff of salty sea air in the Pirates of the Caribbean rides. If you take a stroll down the main street you probably noticed the warm aroma of freshly baked goods. This theme park is a feast for all the senses!
The secret behind these ever-present aromas is special smell pumps, that are made to provide a constant stream of smells in certain areas. This creates a unique and memorable experience for all visitors since smell is such a distinct sense.
1. You’ll Have to Graduate from Disney University
Ever toyed with the idea of becoming a cast member at Disneyland? Well, don’t expect a simple job interview and application process as the ticket to getting in! The only people who become cast members are the ones who graduate from Disney University. So break out your Mickey Mouse pencil case and get to studying!
You heard right, there is a whole school with the sole purpose of training cast members to work at Disneyland. At this educational facility, you will learn absolutely every in and out there is to work at Disney. On that list are things like how to talk, walk, and dress.