Secrets & Little Known Facts about rides

[bekkiz]

On the Jungle Cruise, when you come across the three natives, listen very closely. One of them really loves Disco.

 

[Craig E Hood]

here's something i recently wrote on pirates...

Unfortunately, December 7 marks the anniversary of his death. ... an abbreviated version appeared in the Magic Kingdom on December 7, 1973 - the anniversary of Walt's death.

I thought Walt Disney died on Dec 15th...

 

[bradk]

er.. yeah.. big mistake there.. sorry, thanks for the catch... not sure what i was thinking of at the time. POTC did open on the anniversary of his death though, but that would have been 12/15/73.

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

also on pirates the scene with the skeleton driving a broken boat that use to be a real skeleton bc they thought a fake skeleton would not look real enough but it is a fake one now.

Not just the skeletons in PotC -- but also the skeletons used at the HM for the bodies of the Ghost Host (in the Stretching Rooms) were once real. According to the story I heard, when those attractions were built, realistic faux skeletons were prohibitively expensive -- so real ones were obtained from a medical supply house. Some years ago, someone in Imagineering found out they were real, and quickly had them replaced with new, inexpensive faux skeletons. The real ones were given a proper burial.

One of the brick walls as you exit the Haunted Mansion is not actual brick.

Actually, none of the brickwork on the HM is real. It's plaster, molded and painted to look like brick.

davis also designed the ornamental roof of the haunted mansion which consists of various chess pieces (except for the knight)

This oft-repeated urban legend is just that. The ornamental stonework is representative of the era (late 1700s Gothic Dutch architecture), and was never intended to specifically represent chess pieces.

Also, Davis was responsible for the character gags that dominate the second half of the Mansion. The ornamental stonework and ironwork on the facade of the HM was the work of Claude Coats (who is also responsible, largely, for the more atmospheric and less character-driven first half of the HM).

Possibly. BUT CMs do apparently change the pieces/play the game as I have seen many pictures of the pieces in different positions.

I've also noticed the pieces moved around between visits (and have photographic proof somewhere on my computer). I can't say whether it was an Operations CMs or someone else (like a prankish maintenance worker).

 

[MickeyJoy]

Here's a few I picked up over the years:
- There is a little gopher that pops out overhead on Splash Mountain right before your last ascent and he shouts "Go FSU" or just "FSU" Apparently someone was a big Florida State fan!

- I'm sure everyone here knows of the "hidden Donald" on HM? He's on the back of a chair.

- Don't know if anyone else can actually clarify this or not - but I've heard a common rumor about the meteors on Space Mountain actually being pictures of chocolate chip cookies because they didn't actually have a photo of a meteor to use. Does anyone else know more to this myth?

- In the line for Muppet 3-D (right when you step inside the building) to your right is a sign that says something to the effect of Gone for Lunch... "Key under the mat" - there really is a key under the mat if you lift it up!

- In the line for Toy Story Mania - go ahead and talk to Mr. Potatoe head if you get the chance. He will talk back. You can even give him commands. Sometimes he will oblige and other times - he may just call you a "hockey puck"!!

- On TOT - pay close attention to the details in the lobby. If you take a look at the mail slot below the bulletin board you'll notice that certain letters have fallen off to spell an ominous message (which I hear is sometimes changed or removed) - Does anyone else know if this?

- This may not be a "secret" per say - but something great to sputter off to non-Disney enthusiasts is at Expedition Everest - they sent researchers out to Everest itself to exactly duplicate the base camp. Also - with the Yeti - they consulted zoologists and other experts on primates to help figure out the exact size and stance the Yeti would take if such a being existed. I also heard they hired native Africans to do the thatched roofs on the buildings in AK - and they commented that Disney did such a great job with theming that they felt right at home.

Again - these are all off the cuff so the details are not too crisp -perhaps others can elaborate. I just thought they were neat little tidbits.

 

[bradk]

last i checked, the TOT letters were gone, but that was a while ago. I gave up hope (they were removed at some point). They used to spell out something like EVIL TOWER - U R DOOMED. it's the hotel's directory (those signs that have the removable individual letters, behind glass)

also, i think this is more predominant in Disneyland, but I think they do it at TOT in WDW (at DLR, it's done at both TOT and HM sometimes) where the minimum standby time is 13 minutes.

 

[dtr_angel]

great thread!

 

[Mom2PrincessesLinSy]

I don't *think* I saw this one posted, but on your way into the HM in WDW, if you look there is always a real rose placed on the "tombstone" for Master Gracie. The HM staff put it there every day or so. Sometimes I have seen it looking very fresh, and sometimes, it looks like it has been there for days!

Also, the woman in the head of the crystal ball in HM is actually one of the imagineers (or staff or something )who they had video'd and have projected into the ball.

The smell of cookies or cakes or whatever you smell as you walk down Main Street is purposely piped through vents and all so guests can smell it on the way to the castle!

 

[JenniBarra]

Don't know if anyone else can actually clarify this or not - but I've heard a common rumor about the meteors on Space Mountain actually being pictures of chocolate chip cookies because they didn't actually have a photo of a meteor to use. Does anyone else know more to this myth?

According to the imagineering field guide to MK, this is not true.

On TOT - pay close attention to the details in the lobby. If you take a look at the mail slot below the bulletin board you'll notice that certain letters have fallen off to spell an ominous message (which I hear is sometimes changed or removed) - Does anyone else know if this?

I know this is the case for Disney's California Adventure so I would expect DHS to be similar: there are multiple references to specific episodes of "The Twilight Zone" found throughout the queue area. For example, broken glasses that reference the famous Burgess Meredith bookworm episode.

Also, the woman in the head of the crystal ball in HM is actually one of the imagineers (or staff or something )who they had video'd and have projected into the ball.

Even better is that the imagineer was named Leota (hence the medium being referred to as "Madame Leota") Toombs!

 

[IndyJammer]

!
- I'm sure everyone here knows of the "hidden Donald" on HM? He's on the back of a chair.

- In the line for Muppet 3-D (right when you step inside the building) to your right is a sign that says something to the effect of Gone for Lunch... "Key under the mat" - there really is a key under the mat if you lift it up!

- On TOT - pay close attention to the details in the lobby. If you take a look at the mail slot below the bulletin board you'll notice that certain letters have fallen off to spell an ominous message (which I hear is sometimes changed or removed) - Does anyone else know if this?

Like bradk said - the letters are now gone. Rumor was that they were not there when they opened & when someone high up found out about them, they had to be removed.

Here's your Hidden Donald & Key!

And DS13 - I think he was about 8 at the time!

 

[IndyJammer]

On the Haunted Mansion Ride at WDW, just as you are exiting the cemetary scene and getting ready to go into the next part of the ride, the doom buggy turns....lean up and look out to the right. You will see a ghost with an outstretched arm. Where his hand should be is a "hidden mickey".

Also, if you look in the cemetary outside of the Haunted Mansion, a small Mr. Toad made out of stone is there. It is said to have been put there by some Imagineers as a tribute.

For this one, you have to go by a "tomb" right before the Opera Singer - and look back towards the way that you came

It's actually a full statue - Upper left corner!

 

[IndyJammer]

Even better is that the imagineer was named Leota (hence the medium being referred to as "Madame Leota") Toombs!

But, they did not use her voice in the Crystal Ball Scene - it's Eleanor Audley - of Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty & Lady Tremaine of Cinderella!

On the winnie the pooh ride just as you enter the first scene you can see mr.toad handing owl the deed to the ride. Mr. toads wild ride is the ride that use to be there before winne the pooh.

As you enter the "Owl's House" portion of Winnie the Pooh, there is a picture of Owl & Toad on the left...

...and then one of Mole & Pooh on the floor on the right!

 

[freepixie]

Subscribing! This thread ROCKS!

 

[EHakkinen]

subscribing...

 

[ArmyWife3-4]

Great thread! Subbing in!

 

[cpthook623]

If you look at the plane crash scene in jungle cruise it is only half a plane. If you look in the great movie ride at DHS in the casablanca scene the front half of the plane is located there. Great way of saving money.

 

[atksn]

cool stuff, subbing

 

[rlovew]

If you look at the plane crash scene in jungle cruise it is only half a plane. If you look in the great movie ride at DHS in the casablanca scene the front half of the plane is located there. Great way of saving money.

The plane also has a hidden Mickey on the side in the jungle cruise.

Also do you know why the Tower of Terror is pink. It helps it blend into the one place it should not be seen but can be in a park. If you stand at Mexico and look across the lake at Morocco you will see the back of the Tower. The pink helps it blend in and look like a part of Morocco.

 

[jkid721133]

bump

 

[matt&jakesmom]

Great facts. I have enjoyed reading. Keep them coming..