Disneyland, the place of dreams.
Millions of visitors visit the park every year, all guaranteed the experience of a lifetime. So it must take some amount of people, operations and tricks to keep the place going.
No mean spoilers, we promise. After all, you can’t explain magic, but there are a few things about Disneyland you never knew before.
1. Mickey Mouse Is EVERYWHERE
The round-eared Mickey Mouse emblem is synonymous with Disneyland and it’s absolutely EVERYWHERE. Hundreds of these are scattered across the park, from the wallpaper at the first aid stations to the rust marks on the Pirates of the Caribbean treasure chest.
Hoses wrapped in the Mickey Mouse head… no joke. Pic: Pinterest
2. Midnight Visitors
When the gates to the park close each night, over 200 midnight visitors descend on the park… cats. They keep the rodent population under control and spend their days resting in the park’s well-concealed “cat houses”.
3. Main Street Inspiration
Main Street Disneyland represents Marceline, Missouri, Walt Disney’s childhood town. The scent of vanilla is pumped into the air along Main Street.
During the summer, the scent is changed to peppermint.
4. He What?!
Steve Martin used to work in the theme park’s magic shop.
5. Walt’s Apartment
When Disneyland was under construction in the early 1950s, Walt didn’t want to miss a moment of his dream coming to life. He built a small private apartment above the Fire Station with a lamp in the window which was lit when he was on site.
Today the lamp stays lit in honour of Walt.
Walt’s bedroom…
6. There’s A Downstairs…
The Magic Kingdom in Disneyland is actually the second floor, the first floor, called the Utilidors, is below the ground. It’s where the cast members report for work, deliveries are made and the rubbish is taken out.
7. Flashers Beware…
Just before the final, five-storey drop on Splash Mountain, Disney cameras take a photo of the riders to catch their facial expressions. But sometime in the late 1990s, a trend caught on that involved flashing your breasts for the camera. Flash Mountain was born.
To combat the flashers, Disney hired employees to monitor the photos before they were displayed on the big screen. Since then the number of flashers has dwindled.
8. VIPS ONLY
Hidden behind a dull green door in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square is one of the park’s most exclusive attractions, a VIP lounge called Club 33. The club was built as a hideaway for celebrities and it’s served the likes of Johnny Depp, Elton John, and executives from large companies.
The waiting list is about 10 years and you’ll have to fork out about $10,000 in initiation fees and another $3,500 every year you’re a member there.
9. “Andy’s Coming!”
If you’re a fan of Toy Story, you’ll love this. Shout “Andy’s coming!” and the Toy Story characters will drop to the ground!
“ANDY’S COMING!!!”
