Secrets & Little Known Facts about rides

[Buzz Litebeer]

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.

While waiting in the Jungle Cruise queue, listen closely to the announcements. You'll hear that one of the new sponsors of the Jungle Cruise is "Casablanca Air: The Airline No One Comes Back From".

 

[Buzz Litebeer]

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.

- 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?

The gopher clearly says "FSU!" It's pretty obvious if you know what to look -- and listen! -- for.

I hate to break it to you... but there is no "Hidden Donald" in the HM. Now, there is a face in the back of a chair that some claim looks like Donald's... but it was never intended to resemble Donald (or any other Disney character, for that matter). There are, in fact, many hidden faces worked into the architecture, moldings, ornaments, grates, and ironwork inside and outside the Mansion. This is to give Guests a feeling that they're being watched constantly. On a related note, the Mansion was inspired by the 1963 film "The Haunting" (which uses a similar gag) and the 1960 film "13 Ghosts" (both films have been remade within the past 10 years).

The missing letters on the letterboard in the ToT spelled out EVIL TOWER. As others have mentioned, those letters have been removed.

 

[bradk]

as i said, evil tower u r doomed

 

[AMVmom]

as i said, evil tower u r doomed

Never ever knew that! Thank you for the info! Sometimes in the rush to get onto the actual ride we never have the time or patience to enjoy the props in the waiting area.

 

[footballmouse]

You're right about missing things. I wish I would have known this stuff last spring when we went. I never knew to look for these things and like you said, you're so excited to be going on the ride, you just don't pay attention to the little things.

 

[footballmouse]

Is there possible a website or something for this surplus store. This is the first I've heard of it and would love to see some of the things.

 

[perla75]

You're right about missing things. I wish I would have known this stuff last spring when we went. I never knew to look for these things and like you said, you're so excited to be going on the ride, you just don't pay attention to the little things.

Here ya go!
http://mousesurplus.myshopify.com/

 

[perla75]

I love this thread!

Here are some I have come across:

-The Biergarten restaurant at Epcot/Germany was originally intended to be a boat ride (like the Mexico ride) down the Rhine River. The now dining area was supposed to be the queue area.

-The original location for the World Showcase was supposed to be near the Transportation and Ticket Center.

-Israel, Africa, & Spain were additional countries that were in the works to be built but ended up being replaced by other ones. They even had posters advertising these at Epcot then it first opened (I remember the Israel & Spain posters).

-Several resorts that were planned, but never built were supposed to be called: "The Persian," "The Venetian," "The Asian," "The Mediterannean," and "Buffalo Junction"

 

[Mickey_for_President]

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!

I hope this is not the result of flash photography on HM as well as your others, like the hidden mickey in the graveyard scene.

If so, I beg you to never do that again.

Everytime someone ruins the atmosphere of my ride by blinding me with their flash in the dark (yes, the people ahead and behind you will be very annoyed by it)... that means that I get back in line and have to wait to ride it again.


EVERY time this happens, I just sit there and hope that it wasn't someone's FIRST ride that just got ruined.

If you are on my boat in PotC, I will command you to stop immediately. The CMs need to make this rule more clear to some people.

 

[bradk]

er.. although those aren't my photos, i've used flash on POTC and HM... *with* the CM's blessings.

of course i happened to be the only one on the attractions at the time too.

but i do have the most compromising photo of leota's ball.

back on topic, the show building for the would-be german ride (japan was supposed to have one as well) is used as a rehearsal space.

 

[IndyJammer]

I hope this is not the result of flash photography on HM as well as your others, like the hidden mickey in the graveyard scene.

Thanks for the concern - I am VERY careful as to when/if I use flash Photography - b/c it is VERY rude to ruin someone else's experience! But, you would be surprised who will let/help you get your pics sometimes!

as i said, evil tower u r doomed

Awesome Picture bradk (As always!). I could never get it to come out right!

The pic in my sig has not been mentioned yet either! It is from the Great Movie Ride (actually both of my next pics are!). And the neat thing about both are that they were actually FROM the Raiders of the Lost Ark Movie Set! (Or at least, copies of them!)

Mickey & Donald

C-3PO & R2-D2

ps - Neither of the above pictures were taken "during" the ride!

 

[SaysNuts]

Quote: The deep-voiced "singing bust" in the graveyard scene is Thurl Ravenscroft, who did numerous voices in Disney attractions (including Country Bear Jamboree and Pirates). But you might know him best as the voice of Tony the Tiger, and the singer of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch."

My favorite Thurl Ravenscroft project was in Snoopy Come Home. He sings "No Dogs Allowed" throughout the show.

 

[angiejg]

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.

I think DD11 read in the Disney magazine, Celebrations, that on the stone Mr. Toad there's a saying that says, "Here lies Mr. Toad. Sad but true. Much less profitable than Pooh".

 

[Shelton123]

-Israel, Africa, & Spain were additional countries that were in the works to be built but ended up being replaced by other ones. They even had posters advertising these at Epcot then it first opened (I remember the Israel & Spain posters).

Africa isn't a country.

 

[atksn]

Africa isn't a country.

I thought the same thing, just didn't say anything. Not worth pointing out petty things- this is supposed to be a fun thread.

 

[Csaks]

Africa isn't a country.

Continent, country whats the difference .

 

[perla75]

Africa isn't a country.

Sorry for the misprint. I guess I assume you guys are smart enough to know what I am talking about without the petty criticism.

Your welcome for my contributions to this thread by the way

 

[RFrank9504]

since you guys all know this inside stuff, maybe you can answer my question. In the haunted mansion, the voice of the lady in the glass crystal ball...is that the same as Malefiscent from Sleeping Beauty?? I am convinced its the same voice...anyone know?

 

[IndyJammer]

since you guys all know this inside stuff, maybe you can answer my question. In the haunted mansion, the voice of the lady in the glass crystal ball...is that the same as Malefiscent from Sleeping Beauty?? I am convinced its the same voice...anyone know?

Yes - And it's also the voice of Lady Tremaine in Cinderella! Her name was Eleanor Audley. But like a prior poster stated, it's actually an Imagineer named Leota who's "face" is in the Crystall ball!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleanor_Audley

 

[Mickey_for_President]

Thanks for the concern - I am VERY careful as to when/if I use flash Photography - b/c it is VERY rude to ruin someone else's experience! But, you would be surprised who will let/help you get your pics sometimes!

I know...

Sorry, I'm very touchy when it comes to flash photos. We just got back from a vacation where I literally spent most dark rides enduring at least one flash until I strongly "reminded" the person to quit. Lots of loud talking from guests during the rides that have narrator commentary too. Ugh.

I'm glad that you had permission to take the photos... therefore

Mickey_for_President, the crabbiest Dis-er in existence, has bestowed upon your pictures the Sailor Smiley Seal of Approval.

(sorry, I just wanted a bad excuse to use that smiley)

FYI: If anyone wants to hear the schpiel about the HM take the Keys to the Kingdom tour... they tell you all about Leota and such.