WDW Facts! Did you know...

[Ted and Holly]

MAYBE on a specific day of the year. MAYBE. But think about it -- the sun is in a different position at Noon every day of the year. Huge difference between June 21 and December 21. Impossible this supposed phenomenon is present every day of the year.

-- Eric

Maybe if the castle was directly on the equator?

Ted

 

[MissTink]

MAYBE on a specific day of the year. MAYBE. But think about it -- the sun is in a different position at Noon every day of the year. Huge difference between June 21 and December 21. Impossible this supposed phenomenon is present every day of the year.

-- Eric

I totally agree with you. Looking for it at the right time of year is crucial, but then again, so is having the right weather contidions. This is why I mentioned, this was something the imagineers could never perfect. That in itself is a fact. However, there is no doubt that if you're lucky enough to catch it as the right time you will surely see it.

 

[contempgal]

Forgive me if some of these have already been posted.......

Peppermint is piped into Mission Space at the very end of the ride. This is because peppermint helps to prevent nausea.

There is a circle in the walkway between future world and world showcase. At one time, that cirlce marked the exact center of WDW property. This has since changed.

There is a door to the left of the American Adventure entrance that is also in forced perspective.......walk up to it, its actually much, much smaller than it seems.

There is a pebble, river like change in the pavement between the Morocco and France (someone correct me if France is wrong) pavillions that represents the Straits of Gibralter.

I will try to remember more info from my Backstage Magic and Hidden Treasures tours and post soon.


Side note to one of the first posts.........the park was closed during some of the Hurricanes last year. I was there during Hurricane Ivan and it was closed one day then (and closed early the day before).

 

[contempgal]

The CM's who work at the Mitsukoshi Department Store in the Japan Pavillion are actually employees of Mitsukoshi and not Disney.......at least that's what was told on my tour.

Morocco is the only pavillion at Epcot where the government asked Disney if they could do a pavillion. It is normally Disney asking. The Moroccan government also sponsors the pavillion, most of the others are done by companies from the country. I think that China may be government sponsored as well.

Spain has been rumored to be the next country added to WS many times but it has not come true yet. There is space for many more countries around WS.

The US pavillion in WS is in the middle because they didn't want the building to interrupt with Future World if they put it at the front. Canada and Mexico are placed where they are to indicate the Northern and Southern neighbors to the US.

The food at Restaurant Marrakesh was originally very authentic Moroccan when it first opened but many Americans didn't like the strong spices so it was toned down to what it is now..........I still love it though, lol.

 

[crazyj4488]

Can we confirm that this is still in effect? I see the tour helicopters flying quite low over WDW all the time. This may have been a temporary measure.

Ted

During my last two trips there this past month, I didn't see or hear any planes. Anything flying above was a good 20 to 30 thousand feet up. The helicopters could be Disney approved tours or even Disney agents looking over the parks for administrative purposes. I believe the closed airspace deal was mentioned in the most recent unofficial guide as well. I'm really thinking that it's a permanent thing.

 

[contempgal]

Remembered another tidbit from the tour...........

The CM who "plays" Tinkerbell during WISHES is actually paid more than the other characters because of hazard pay for flying. That is the CM's only duty as well..........to "fly" during the fireworks. It is a very sought after job.

 

[peter11435]

Can we confirm that this is still in effect? I see the tour helicopters flying quite low over WDW all the time. This may have been a temporary measure.

Ted

Yes it is still in effect. You can't fly under 3000 feet over Disney Property without getting advanced permission. Many of the copters you seen were for tours that are approved. Disney itself also operates several helicopters for a variety of reasons.

 

[Ted and Holly]

During my last two trips there this past month, I didn't see or hear any planes. Anything flying above was a good 20 to 30 thousand feet up. The helicopters could be Disney approved tours or even Disney agents looking over the parks for administrative purposes. I believe the closed airspace deal was mentioned in the most recent unofficial guide as well. I'm really thinking that it's a permanent thing.

Intersting...

FDC NOTAM 3/2122:

FL.. FLIGHT RESTRICTIONS ORLANDO, FL. EFFECTIVE 0303182000 UTC (MARCH 18 AT 1500 LOCAL) UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. PURSUANT TO RESTRICTIONS DETAILED IN SECTION 352 OF PUBLIC LAW 108-7, AND 14 CFR SECTION 99.7, SPECIAL SECURITY INSTRUCTIONS. AIRCRAFT FLIGHT OPERATIONS ARE PROHIBITED AT AND BELOW 3,000 FEET AGL, WITHIN A 3 NAUTICAL MILE RADIUS OF THE DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK (282445N/0813420W OR THE ORLANDO /ORL/ VORTAC 243 DEGREE RADIAL AT 15 NAUTICAL MILES). THIS RESTRICTION DOES NOT APPLY TO: (A) THOSE AIRCRAFT AUTHORIZED BY ATC FOR OPERATIONAL OR SAFETY PURPOSES, INCLUDING AIRCRAFT ARRIVING OR DEPARTING FROM AN AIRPORT USING STANDARD AIR TRAFFIC PROCEDURES; (B) DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, LAW ENFORCEMENT, OR AEROMEDICAL FLIGHT OPERATIONS THAT ARE IN CONTACT WITH ATC. THOSE WHO MEET ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA MAY APPLY FOR A WAIVER TO THESE RESTRICTIONS: (A) FOR OPERATIONAL PURPOSES OF THE VENUE INCLUDING THE TRANSPORTATION OF EQUIPMENT OR OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNING BODY; (B) FOR SAFETY AND SECURITY PURPOSES OF THE VENUE. INFORMATION REGARDING WAIVER APPLICATIONS CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE FAA WEBSITE AT HTTP://WWW.FAA.GOV/ATS/ATA/WAIVER, OR BY CALLING 571-227-1322. WIE UNTIL UFN

Given this, anything above 3,000 would be fine. The tour helicopters don't technically fall under the temporary waiver criteria. But they may only flow low over certain areas not covered by this.

Also by this note, any commercial aircraft flying over WDW would be fine.

I have read some opinions that this was a move by Disney to try to push out the banner towing planes and other aerial advertising.

Ted

 

[Dippy Dawg]

Did you know that Disney got the FAA to close the airspace above WDW after Sept 11th? This just adds to the magic as you don't even hear aircraft while on property. Man, you really are in another world!!!!

Actually on our most recent trip (Easter 2005) we noticed a few planes flying over head and I made a couple of comments about the airspace restrictions. One of the planes was actually a skywriter and was spelling out "COORS" I kid you not, I have a picture, it is hard to see unless you know what to look for.

We were standing in Town Square on the City Hall side between the barber shop and Main Street. The flag pole is the Town Square flag pole. He had to be below the 3000ft level.

 

[Disneynutbsv]

Did you know if you get a turkey leg and walk past the HM towards Splash Mt. there will be birds? Did you know if you sit down on the bench the birds will be on the ground? Did you know if you throw a little piece of turkey that they will all go for that little piece? And did you know if you throw a piece in the air right in front of you that the will all swarm towrds you?

 

[Laurajean1014]

50 years of Disney theme parks, Cast Members at the Walt Disney World Resort and the Disneyland Resort who have worn black pin-trading lanyards now are wearing gold lanyards.

The neck lanyards feature a specially designed "Happiest Celebration On Earth" lanyard card. Gold hip lanyards also are available for trading.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Did you know that in Test Track when you nearly collide with the tractor trailer, the "driver" of the trailer is a cardboard cutout of Lyndon B Johnson? He is wearing sunglasses and a hat but if you look carefully when the lights turn on you can see him.

 

[Laurajean1014]

The Eiffel Tower in France (in WS) is painted with a special substance to prevent birds from perching there (which prevents the forced-perspective illusion from being ruined, as well as the... ummm... you know)

 

[Laurajean1014]

Cinderella's Carousel was originally built in 1917 for Detroit's Palace
Garden Park.

 

[Laurajean1014]

if Mickey was going to be the right size to fit the giant socerer's hat at MGM Studios, he would have to be about 350 feet tall...........

 

[plutofreak]

On our last trip while waiting for BJ Thomas to play at America, you can see the Illuminations ball right next to the theater. While talking to a Cast Member he told us the Ball cost $50 million

 

[jimmiej]

In the Hall of Presidents, FDR's figure is so detailed, if you look closely, you can see the braces on his legs.

-from Lou Mongello's WDW Trivia Book

 

[jimmiej]

More than 500,000 character watches, mostly Mickey, are sold each year in WDW gift shops.

-from Lou Mongello's WDW Trivia Book

 

[jimmiej]

Walt Disney attended only one year of high school.

-from Lou Mongello's WDW Trivia Book

 

[jimmiej]

There are about 167 lane-miles of paved roads on WDW property.

-from Lou Mongello's WDW Trivia Book