Secrets & Little Known Facts about rides

[GadgetRick]

To expound on this - it's actually sort of a 'salute', if you will, to the realities of streets in colonial cities - this was a trough of sorts which ran down the center of streets to collect 'runoff' from the horses and nearby businesses... Kind of a nasty thing to think about, but still yet another detail unforgotten by the imagineers.

You can see it here - the yellowish-gray areas in the center of the 'streets' of Liberty Square.

We always laugh when we're walking through there. I tell my wife and kids they're walking through the pee pee! Heh heh heh...

 

[GadgetRick]

Still reading through everything but here goes...

-At HM, when you're waiting to get in, there are the tombs with funny sayings on them. One of the tombs has eyes which blink and open every so often. You have to watch it closely.

-When they originally tested Mission Space, it was more intense than it is now. People were getting off the ride and losing their lunch so they toned it down to what it is now.

-When Mission Space originally opened there was no Orange and Green side. It was all the same.

-The 2nd story of the buildings on Main St are all made smaller than the first story to give the impression they are bigger than they are (forced perspective).

-The only building NOT made like this is to the right as you walk into MK. This was because, if it was made that way, you'd be able to see (I believe) the Contemporary and it would ruin the feeling.

-You can view the fireworks for MK at the California Grill at the Contemporary. Don't have to eat there, just walk out to the observation deck. They play the music and everything.

-Sometimes, if you get a chance to ride in the front of the Monorail, you'll get a license. I have one as does my oldest son.

-In Tomorrowland there is a talking trash can. Or used to be. Haven't looked for it in a while.

-In MGM (sorry, still call it that), by the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular, there's a well with a rope going down into it (right near Gertie the dinosaur). If you pull it, you'll hear someone down there.

-When walking down Main St, take the first right (near the fruit stand). Upstairs on the left is a dancing/singing school. If you hang out you'll hear them playing scales and dancing.

-In Disneyland (not sure if they changed this, been a while), if you look upstairs near the castle (on the back). Can't remember exactly which window but the witch from Snow White opens the curtains every so often to look down on everyone.

That's all I've got for now. Will think of more. Sorry for any duplicates.

 

[LadyGracey]

-You can view the fireworks for MK at the California Grill at the Contemporary. Don't have to eat there, just walk out to the observation deck. They play the music and everything.

This is only partially true.
While you can view the fireworks from the Contemporary's observation deck (music included), you now must have a reservation for California Grill in order to be allowed in the elevator, and they escort you upstairs once you check in. They stopped allowing non-dining guests up there a while ago, because of the scene it was causing with tourists traipsing through the restaurant at fireworks time.

That said--if you can get a reservation for anytime, even if it's not during the fireworks--as long as you are on the list for that day, they will allow you back up there to view the fireworks (or so I was told by the hostess last time I ate there).

 

[kkrull]

Wow!! I finally made it through the thread. Thanks for all the cool things to look out for on our first trip to WDW in June. My daughter will think I know everything about Disney.

 

[Berlioz70]

I learned this one a little while ago and went last Saturday to check it out!

There is a small stream that runs between Frontierland and Liberty Square under a small wooden bridge. They call it the Little Mississippi... it represents the Mississippi river and the separation between the colonial states and the western states. Very cool!

Here are the pics I took!

 

[LadyGracey]

Two more for this evening, and then I have to go do something productive...ugh!

The ride track and vehicles for the Dinosaur attraction at AK are the same layout as the Indiana Jones attraction at DL.

The Carousel of Progress attraction is now in its third theater: Originally it was at the '64 World's Fair in New York, then was moved to Disneyland, and finally was moved to Florida in the 1970s. And Horizons (RIP) was intended as a "sequel" to CoP--hence the same family was used (all grown up now!) and the CoP song "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" was played in the Looking Back at Tomorrow scene.

 

[GadgetRick]

This is only partially true.
While you can view the fireworks from the Contemporary's observation deck (music included), you now must have a reservation for California Grill in order to be allowed in the elevator, and they escort you upstairs once you check in. They stopped allowing non-dining guests up there a while ago, because of the scene it was causing with tourists traipsing through the restaurant at fireworks time.

That said--if you can get a reservation for anytime, even if it's not during the fireworks--as long as you are on the list for that day, they will allow you back up there to view the fireworks (or so I was told by the hostess last time I ate there).

Major bummer. They must have just changed this.

 

[Disneycrazy!!]

I am VERY scared of dolls/dummies/puppets, and I remember my very first ride on ToT, I was only 9 and our vehicle got stuck at the bottom for quite awhile before the doors opened. And that DANG DUMMY was right next to me staring at me! For me, it was the scariest part of the ride! Add to that the teenage boys who were behind me saying that the other elevator was going to fall on top of us, and it's a wonder I ever rode it again (but it's still one of my favorite rides!).

OMG I was scared of that Dummy also!! Those things are soooo creepy. I also HATE porcelin dolls, I always feel like they are going to come alive and get me....LOL I think I watched to many horror movies like Chucky and Dolls.

 

[pampam]

Two more for this evening, and then I have to go do something productive...ugh!

The ride track and vehicles for the Dinosaur attraction at AK are the same layout as the Indiana Jones attraction at DL.

The Carousel of Progress attraction is now in its third theater: Originally it was at the '64 World's Fair in New York, then was moved to Disneyland, and finally was moved to Florida in the 1970s. And Horizons (RIP) was intended as a "sequel" to CoP--hence the same family was used (all grown up now!) and the CoP song "There's a Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" was played in the Looking Back at Tomorrow scene.

Are you sure about this? I remember CoP's song , before Great big beautiful tomorrow was Now is the time. I remember it well, because you could ask at the entrance, and they would give you sheet music with words for it. It was written by Sherman and Sherman( as most Disney songs were for quite a while ). For these that don't remember, the words were

Now is the time,
now is the best time,
now is the best time of your life,
life is a prize, live every minute
Open your eyes and watch how you win it
Yesterday's memories will sparkle and gleam
Tomorrow is still but a dream
Right here and now, you've got it made
The world's forward marching and you're in the parade
Now is the time
now is the best time,
Be it a time of joy or strife
There's so much to cheer for, be glad your here
for it's the best time of your life.

Of course Epcot didn't come along until the '80's, and by that time COP could have been updated to the new song. They had to update it because the future caught up with it.

 

[doconeill]

Are you sure about this? I remember CoP's song , before Great big beautiful tomorrow was Now is the time.

Actually, "There's A Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" was the original song. When CoP opened in 1975 at WDW, they decided to change the song, and the Sherman brothers produced "This Best Time Of Your Life", which is the song you remember.

In 1994, when Tomorrowland itself was being rethemed, CoP was refurbished again and they brought back GBBT as the theme song, although re-recorded with a more contemporary sound.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

At HM, when you're waiting to get in, there are the tombs with funny sayings on them. One of the tombs has eyes which blink and open every so often. You have to watch it closely.

The 13 Tombstones in the family graveyard at the Haunted Mansion are named for Imagineers who worked on both the HM and the WDW Resort. I discuss this in detail on page 24 of this thread (click here for the post).

 

[Ziggie]

The 13 Tombstones in the family graveyard at the Haunted Mansion are named for Imagineers who worked on both the HM and the WDW Resort. I discuss this in detail on page 24 of this thread (click here for the post).

Buzz, you are utterly amazing! (but then again, you already knew I thought that!)

 

[POB14]

-In Tomorrowland there is a talking trash can. Or used to be. Haven't looked for it in a while.

Still there. We got to meet Push this January for the first time. We told him we were going to have chicken fingers for lunch, and he said he preferred chicken toes.

For the entire rest of the trip, our 9yo talked to every trash can she passed, just in case.

 

[LadyGracey]

Still there. We got to meet Push this January for the first time. We told him we were going to have chicken fingers for lunch, and he said he preferred chicken toes.

For the entire rest of the trip, our 9yo talked to every trash can she passed, just in case.

A different talking trash can is sometimes seen in AK (I saw it at Rafiki's Planet Watch).
Want to know how the magic works? Look for the tourist carrying a messenger bag.


The Sherman brothers (speaking of the CoP songs) also wrote the theme song to "it's a small world" (which actually has 2 verses) ; "One Little Spark," "Magic Journeys" and "Makin' Memories" for the original Journey Into Imagination; and the scores for many Disney films, including The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (from which the attraction takes several songs) and, most famously, Mary Poppins (for which they won 2 Oscars).

 

[ZeroToHero]

Still there. We got to meet Push this January for the first time. We told him we were going to have chicken fingers for lunch, and he said he preferred chicken toes.

For the entire rest of the trip, our 9yo talked to every trash can she passed, just in case.

I think GadgetRick meant a different type of trashcan. It doesn't move, but it has a pre-recorded track that it says when you throw something away.

And I love Push and Pipa (the recycling can in AK) as well as Wes Palm.

 

[Brian_WDW74]

A different talking trash can is sometimes seen in AK (I saw it at Rafiki's Planet Watch).

That was PIPA, the talking recycling bin. Unfortunately, PIPA "retired" in February and no longer appears.

And I love Push and Pipa (the recycling can in AK) as well as Wes Palm.

Wes Palm also has "retired."

 

[rustyp]

I'm sure most of you guys know this, but the wait times on the attractions are actually exagerated (sp) so you don't actually wait as long as the time says. I believe it is anywhere between 5 to 10 mins. less than what is listed. But I know most of you get FP for everything so it doesn't make a difference what the wait times are.

 

[SelfEmployedDebtFree]

While you can view the fireworks from the Contemporary's observation deck (music included), you now must have a reservation for California Grill in order to be allowed in the elevator, and they escort you upstairs once you check in. They stopped allowing non-dining guests up there a while ago, because of the scene it was causing with tourists traipsing through the restaurant at fireworks time.

My comment is off topic, but I've done the CA Grill/fireworks seating, and I found it to be a waste of time. The music included was HORRIBLE! I've heard better sound quality from antique radios! It was breaking up, and distorted. You could only hear half of what was being said, and you had to dodge the champaigne sipping drunks who were only concerned with themselves. My wife got champaigne spilled on her hand if I remember correctly by some honeymooners who were making out with their wine glasses through the half the show. It was a huge disappointment for us. Of course don't cancel your trip because of our experiences, they were just one experience. I've read that they refurbished the area and the sound as well, so it may be better now, but at the time (about 3 years ago) it was just crappy. I had better expectations for a $300+ meal. (Even if it WAS on the free dining deal)
But the food... now THAT was a different story! The food was AMAZING. The show on the balcony was the disappointment.

 

[Scoobmuzic]

My comment is off topic, but I've done the CA Grill/fireworks seating, and I found it to be a waste of time. The music included was HORRIBLE! I've heard better sound quality from antique radios! It was breaking up, and distorted. You could only hear half of what was being said, and you had to dodge the champaigne sipping drunks who were only concerned with themselves. My wife got champaigne spilled on her hand if I remember correctly by some honeymooners who were making out with their wine glasses through the half the show. It was a huge disappointment for us. Of course don't cancel your trip because of our experiences, they were just one experience. I've read that they refurbished the area and the sound as well, so it may be better now, but at the time (about 3 years ago) it was just crappy. I had better expectations for a $300+ meal. (Even if it WAS on the free dining deal)
But the food... now THAT was a different story! The food was AMAZING. The show on the balcony was the disappointment.

They have absolutly fixed the sound outside. My parents & DH took me there last May for my 40th. We went out to view the fireworks and it was amazing. It happened to be the Pirate & Princess fireworks and my parents both comented on the whole experience.
I also agree whol heartedly about the food. I have been there a few times and every time, the food has been wonderful. I always encourage people to go if they have 1 expensive meal they plan for, to make it Cal Grill.

 

[LadyGracey]

My comment is off topic, but I've done the CA Grill/fireworks seating, and I found it to be a waste of time. The music included was HORRIBLE! I've heard better sound quality from antique radios! It was breaking up, and distorted. You could only hear half of what was being said, and you had to dodge the champaigne sipping drunks who were only concerned with themselves. My wife got champaigne spilled on her hand if I remember correctly by some honeymooners who were making out with their wine glasses through the half the show. It was a huge disappointment for us. Of course don't cancel your trip because of our experiences, they were just one experience. I've read that they refurbished the area and the sound as well, so it may be better now, but at the time (about 3 years ago) it was just crappy. I had better expectations for a $300+ meal. (Even if it WAS on the free dining deal)
But the food... now THAT was a different story! The food was AMAZING. The show on the balcony was the disappointment.

Like the PP said, they did fix the sound and it is great now. Still not easy to hear in the restaurant, but that's just because it's noisy in there to begin with. The one complaint I have about fireworks seating is that, you can make a reservation for 30 min. or more before Wishes starts, and often you're not seated until AFTER the show is over, because people finish their meals and sit there and linger without ordering anything more, until fireworks time. And I don't mean 15, 20 minutes. We were sitting in the bar, waiting to be seated once, for 45 minutes AFTER our ADR time because of this, and there was a family that sat at their table that whole time, had clearly paid their bill and had nothing more to eat or drink during the whole "waiting time", and got up and left right after the show. We, of course, were seated at their same table after they bussed it. But what can Disney do about it? Nothing. I feel bad for the servers who can't turn those tables and then have irate guests who've been waiting hungrily for way too long.

And now, back to our regularly scheduled program.