Random WDW Info - I Never Knew!

[ajleone]

Just discovered this thread and I'm about 21 pages in and not sure if anyone has posted this commercial made by US Steel, the company that built the Contemporary:

http://www.archive.org/details/us_steel_2

I also have a commemorative book (not sure if it's from the opening but it's definitely early 70s) that shows the construction process for Magic Kingdom, the monorail and the original resorts.

This is Great!! Loved the video.

 

[nezy]

If it's not true about the Swan and Dolphin being mixed up then they really need to tell the CMs to stop spreading that information. We were just told that during our trip earlier this month.

What was this in reference too.
(I am not sure if I did the quote thing right)

 

[DisneyRN51207]

I believe the same is true for Tower of Terror...it is just under the height regulations so that it doesn't have the light on top of it either...

Also true of Cinderella's castle. It stands at I believe 189 feet to avoid the red light on top.

Some facts we learned on our KTTK tour:
1. The goldleaf printing on the windows on Main Street, USA are people, etc. that made WDW possible. i.e. the names of "companies" Walt used to acquire the land.
2. If you can't see it, it's not there. One example: the bridal auction scene from Pirates of the Caribbean, only the redhead actually "has a leg to stand on".
3. CMs adjust the plates in the Haunted Mansion to arrange a plate and two saucers to make a hidden Mickey. If you don't see it, the Imagineers were just through and put things back the way the belong. If you lift up the place setting, there is a picture underneath it of what the place setting is supposed to look like.

 

[DisneyRN51207]

Okay....I talked with some elderly experienced cm and they told me that Tinkerbell is a woman - she's a nurse during the day. Her husband straps her in and pushes her off the rooftop every night.




The trash cans are about 17 feet apart because that is the distance a person will go before throwing the trash on the ground.

I don't know what she does during the day, but she has to get weighed in every night and gets paid for 8 hours of work in about 30 minutes. She must weigh within a 10 pound limitation so that she can "fly".

Walt actually did a study in DL. He noticed that there was an awful lot of trash on the ground so he started handing out candy at the gate to see how far people would carry the wrapper before they would throw it on the ground. He kept doing this and noticed that the distance was approximately 17 feet between piles of wrappers.

 

[Mischa]

Regarding Tinker Bell flying...

On our first trip to WDW we spoke to one CM and he said that there were 3 "Tinker Bells" one was a woman and the other two were men and that one of the men was gay. The CM said it was his nephew. True or not? I don't know but that is what the CM said.

just my 2 cents.

 

[Brandi1leigh]

I'm a sucker for anything retro! I loved the Steel Commercial!

 

[Disneenut]

haven't seen this thread in a while... lets see what it does!

 

[gk90]

If it's not true about the Swan and Dolphin being mixed up then they really need to tell the CMs to stop spreading that information. We were just told that during our trip earlier this month.

What was this in reference too.
(I am not sure if I did the quote thing right)

Here's the reference, there's another post which i can't find that says it's an urban legend:

Originally Posted by nigel-bigel
This is one of my favorites - it was told to me by a boat driver...

The building we know to be the Dolphin was originally supposed to be the Swan, and vice versa. When the construction crew mistakenly put the huge dolphin statues on top of the wrong (Swan) hotel, it was decided that it would be easier to change the hotel names than to take the statues back down and put them where they belong!

 

[Sandy Fisher]

Just bumping this to keep it going. Love the trivia and I haven't had time to read all the pages.

 

[eeyoregirl1970]

Just wanted to subscribe

 

[RustManFan]

I thought I heard that those trees at AK are native trees trimmed to look like the African variety.....also on either Disney Channel, History Channel or Travel Channel show.

 

[bellenbuzz]

I read that there is a radio frequency to tune into when entering WDW Resort that gives WDW information.
Magic Kingdom for Incoming Guests is AM1030
Magic Kingdom for Outgoing Guests is AM1200
Epcot Incoming Guests is AM850
and
Epcot Outgoing Guests is AM910

Don't know if it's true or not, we always fly......

 

[chemie15]

my wife and I are reading an unofficial guide, but this board has even more info

 

[disneyfan55]

What difference does it make? Whether it is a man in the costume of a female character or a woman in the costume of a male character (yes, far more likely) the point is the character and the magic. Why the need for the 'ick' smileys?

I mean, you know, if they were costumes which they, of course, are not.

Peter Pan is usually a women!!

 

[cindyfan]

I read somewhere (or maybe heard on the Backstage Magic tour - I've forgotten now) that the progression from Liberty Square through Frontierland is supposed to simulate moving across the US, with HM representing the Hudson River Valley, HoP representing Philadelphia, then on to colonial Williamsburg, then on to the western state.

Not sure if that was intentional or not, but it makes sense to me.

Yes, I also heard this was part of the plan.... as much of WDW that we like to think happened by "magic" or by chance....
They really do an unbelievable job at planning every detail!!!!

 

[brcworks]

Disney as an entire business (thats ALL Disney... resorts, parks, movies, cruises, apparel, etc) is so big that if it DID go up for sale theres not a human being alive that could afford it. i cant say its fact, but it sounds good.

Disney is a publicly traded company with a Market Capitalization of 61 billion dollars. That means there are a few multibillionaires who could in fact buy the whole thing, if everyone who owns stock would agree to sell...

 

[Djali]

I haven't read all of the pages so this may have already been shared. I learned on the Backstage Safari tour that the AKL is considered a zoo by national associations. Animals as AK cannot be transferred to AKL without permission from the different associations and vice versa.

 

[aribelle]

Disney is a publicly traded company with a Market Capitalization of 61 billion dollars. That means there are a few multibillionaires who could in fact buy the whole thing, if everyone who owns stock would agree to sell...

Well, that'll never happen then....not because Bill Gates or some other uber wealthy person wouldn't buy it.....but because I would never ever for any amount of money sell my 100 shares. I can see the headlines now:

Mom of two princess loving girls kabashes the sale of Disney!


Hmmm, on second thought.....I might sell for a chance to stay a weekend in the Castle. My kids would sell their dad for that...and probably throw me in as a bonus!

 

[gk90]

Disney is a publicly traded company with a Market Capitalization of 61 billion dollars. That means there are a few multibillionaires who could in fact buy the whole thing, if everyone who owns stock would agree to sell...

only 1 person has enough: Warren Buffett, $62 billion
http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/10/billionaires08_Warren-Buffett_C0R3.html
# 2, Carlos Slim Helu & family, of Mexico, is worth $60 bil, and #3, Bill Gates, is worth $58 bil

 

[MegaPrime33]

I read through most of this thread and I didnt see anyone point this out. During Illuminations, there are several points around the park that shoot a laser beam to each other. Lasers are used in the show, emanating from the American Adventure, Canada and Mexico pavilions. The FAA requires the user of any outdoor laser system to obtain advance permission and to contact local airports prior to use. Consequently, Orlando International Airport is notified every night when the show begins so that air traffic can be advised and directed accordingly. I don't recall the lasers during the show, but definitely remember them before hand. I had thought it was to coordinate the fireworks and such.