WDW Facts! Did you know...

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Mainstreet posts and poles are mantained every night, that they start at one end of Mainstreet and scrape and paint the posts and poles fresh and when they get to the other end they start all over again. (at least they used to do it, don´t know if it is still done).

"All CM's who are characters must be able to sign their character's name the same way as anyone else who plays that character does. They practice until it's perfect. Leah was several characters for WDW inc. Stitch, Lilo, Minnie and Mickey. She was kind enough to sign a post card for DS using Mickey's handwriting. DS was suspicious, thinking I did it, so he checked out his autograph book and it's the same hand writing!"

That is awesome, I wondered what would happen when my dd was old enough to have autograph books and she could compare different signatures from the same character.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Walt Disney got the idea for Mickey Mouse from watching mice play in a garage, where he was forced to work, because he could not afford to rent an art studio.

 

[Laurajean1014]

"101 Dalmatians" and "Peter Pan" are the only Disney animations in which both of a character's parents are present and don't die during the movie.

 

[Laurajean1014]

In Disney's Fantasia, the Sorcerer to whom Mickey played an apprentice was named Yensid, which is Disney spelled backward.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants.

Donald Duck lives at 1313 Webfoot Walk, Duckburg, Calisota.

Donald Duck's middle name is Fauntleroy.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Mickey Mouse is known as 'Topolino' in Italy.

 

[Laurajean1014]

The 1st feature-length animated film, released by Disney Studios in 1937, was "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs."

 

[Laurajean1014]

The Black Hole, 1979, was Disney's first PG-rated movie.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Walt Disney's youngest daughter is named Sharon.

 

[laura12581]

WDW Full Day Closures:

September 15, 1999 (Hurricane Floyd)

September 4 and 5, 2004 (Hurricane Frances)

September 27, 2004 (Hurricane Jeanne)

Partial day closures:

September 11, 2001

August 13 and 14, 2004 (Hurricane Charley)

Some parts of the resort were closed in the days surrounding Hurricanes Floyd, Frances and Jeanne

**The parks were closed, Sunday, September 26th, 2004 for Hurricane Jeanne, weren't they?

 

[mexican-mouseketeers]

Bambi and Robin Hood used to be the only animated movies with no humans (I can think of a few more recent ones).

Julie

 

[Laurajean1014]

Bambi and Robin Hood used to be the only animated movies with no humans (I can think of a few more recent ones).

Julie

The Lion King

 

[MissTink]

Bump!

 

[MyGoofy26]

Mickey Mouse is known as 'Topolino' in Italy.

Dopey is Cucciolo

We were in Rome in April and I made my aunt, who LOVES Dopey, buy the little Dopey because he had "Cucciolo" written across his hat. If it wasn't for having to schlep my Disney Store bag all over Rome, I would have invested in all the dwarves.

 

[Laurajean1014]

Some dates of Disney Interest:


January 1994: Inaugural Walt Disney World Marathon

April 1, 1995: Blizzard Beach water adventure park opens

June 1995: Michael Eisner announces Disney’s Animal Kingdom

July 1995: Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings Pavilion opens

January 1996: Inaugural Indy 200 at Walt Disney World

January 1997: Walt Disney World Resort celebrates 25 years

September 1997: Downtown Disney opens

March 1997: Disney’s Wide World of Sports opens

April 22, 1998: Disney’s Animal Kingdom opens

June 1998: DisneyQuest opens

July 30, 1998: Disney Cruise Line launches first ship, the Disney Magic

 

[Laurajean1014]

Disney Attaction Opening dates:

Attraction Openings:


1971: 26 original Magic Kingdom attractions: Jungle Cruise; Swiss Family Treehouse; Sunshine : : Pavilion (Tropical Serenade); Cinderella’s Golden Carrousel; Dumbo, the Flying Elephant; Mad : : Tea Party; Mickey Mouse Revue; Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride; It’s a Small World; Snow White’s : : Adventures; Diamond Horseshoe Revue; Frontier Shooting Gallery; Country Bear Jamboree; : : Mike Fink Keel Boats; Hall of Presidents; Haunted Mansion; Main Street horseless carriage, : : Jitney, fire truck, horse-drawn streetcar and omnibus; Main Street Cinema; Walt Disney World : : Railroad; Skyway and Tomorrowland Indy Speedway

1972: If You Had Wings

1973: Pirates of the Caribbean; Walt Disney Story; Swan Boats; Tom Sawyer Island

1974: StarJets; “Magic Carpet ‘Round the World” film

1975: Space Mountain; Carousel of Progress; WEDway PeopleMover; Davy Crockett’s Explorer : : Canoes

1980: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

1982: 5 Future World & 9 World Showcase pavilions at Epcot: Spaceship Earth; The Land; Journey : : Into Imagination; Universe of Energy; World of Motion; Canada; United Kingdom; France; : : Mexico; Germany; Italy; China; Japan; American Adventure

1983 : : Horizons (EC)

1984: Morocco showcase (EC); “American Journeys” film (MK)

1986: The Living Seas (EC); Captain EO (EC)

1988: Mickey’s Starland (MK); Norway showcase (EC); Disney-MGM Studios Production facilities

1989: Dreamflight (MK); Wonders of Life (EC); original Disney-MGM Studios attractions: Great : : Movie Ride; Backstage Studio shuttle tour; Magic of Disney Animation tour; “Indiana Jones : : Epic Stunt Spectacular;” Behind the Scenes Special Effects walking tour; Superstar Television; : : Monster Sound Show.

1990: Star Tours; “Here Come the Muppets” show; “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” Movie Set Adventure

1991: Jim Henson’s Muppet*Vision 3D (ST)

1992: Splash Mountain (MK); Voyage of the Little Mermaid (ST)

1993: ATAS Hall of Fame plaza (ST)

1994: Innoventions (EC); The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror™ (ST); Legend of The Lion King (MK); : : “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience” (EC); Planet Hollywood; The Timekeeper (MK); Theater of the Stars (ST)

1995: New Tomorrowland (MK) including The ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter

1996: Mickey’s Toontown Fair (MK); Universe of Energy (EC)

1998: Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin (MK); “The Enchanted Tiki Room -- Under New Management” (MK); original Animal Kingdom attractions: The Boneyard; Countdown to : : Extinction; Cretaceous Trail; Kilimanjaro Safaris; Pangani Forest Exploration Trail; Wildlife Express; Conservation Station; “It’s Tough to be a Bug”

1999: Test Track (EC); Disney’s Winter Summerland miniature golf course; Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Starring Aerosmith (ST); The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (MK)

 

[Laurajean1014]

Resort Openings:

1971: Disney’s Contemporary Resort; Disney’s Polynesian Resort; Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
1972: Disney’s Village Resort (Treehouse & Vacation Villas); Royal Plaza; Grosvenor (Dutch Inn); TraveLodge; Courtyard by Marriott (Howard Johnson)

1973: Shades of Green (Disney Inn 1986-1993, Golf Resort 1973-1986)

1974: Discovery Island; Pioneer Hall

1975: Disney Village Marketplace; Fairway Villas

1977: Empress Lilly Riverboat

1978: Disney’s Polynesian Resort expansion

1980: Walt Disney World Conference Center; Club Lake Villas

1983: Buena Vista Palace; Hilton at Disney Village

1987: Doubletree (Guest Quarters, Pickett) Suite Hotel

1988: Disney’s Grand Floridian Beach Resort; Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

1990: Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club resorts; Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin hotels

1991: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort

1992: Disney’s Dixie Landings; Disney Vacation Club Resort at Walt Disney World; Bonnet Creek Golf Club

1994: Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort; Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

1995: Disney’s All-Star Music Resort

1996: Disney Institute; Disney’s BoardWalk

1997: Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

1999: Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

2003: Disney's Pop Century

2003: Disney's Sarasota Springs

 

[Laurajean1014]

Disney Entertainment Highlights:

1971: Televised opening with 1,076 piece band & World Symphony; Bob Hope; Julie Andrews; Glen : : Campbell; All-American College Band program debuts; Candlelight Processional debuts
1972: First Easter parade and Grad Nites

1974: Donald Duck’s 40th birthday; “Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue” debuts

1975-76:: “America on Parade” bicentennial salute

1977: : : “Fantasy in the Sky” begins as a Disney-designed fireworks show; “Main Street Electrical Light: : Parade” debuts

1978: Mickey Mouse 50th birthday parade and first Christmas at Walt Disney World television special

1979: First World Series of Entertainment

1981: Year-long Tencennial Celebration

1982: Epcot premiere with Big Bands and International folk groups; “Sparkling Christmas Spectacular” show (MK)

1983: First live telecast of Christmas parade; “Disney World is Your World” show (MK); “Mickey’s ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” show (MK); “Holiday Splendor” show (EC)

1984: Donald Duck’s 50th birthday parade; WorldFest & “Laserphonic Fantasy” (EC)

1985: Radio City Rockettes (EC); “Skyleidoscope” (EC); President Reagan reviews the Inaugural Bands (EC); Easter telecast; Big Band Bash; Six World Series Entertainment Nights; first Goofy Games ceremonies; Tinkerbell flies above Cinderella Castle for the first time (July 4)

1986: 11,000 guests for 15th anniversary kickoff; 15th birthday parades

1987: “All America” parade (MK); “Daredevil Circus Spectacular” (EC)

1988: Mickey’s 60th birthday parade; “IllumiNations” premiere (EC)

1989: “Disney Character Hit Parade” (MK)

1990: Pleasure Island nightly New Year’s celebration begins; “DisneyMania” show (MK); “Dick Tracy & the Diamond Double Cross” show (ST); “Dick Tracy” film world premiere at Downtown Disney Pleasure Island; “Here Come the Muppets” show (ST); Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (ST); “Sorcery in the Sky” (ST)

1991: Disney entertainment “World” record; six new shows to celebrate 20th anniversary: “Surprise : : Celebration” parade (MK); “SpectroMagic” nighttime parade (MK); “Surprise in the Skies” show (EC); “Hollywood’s Pretty Women” show (ST); “Muppets on Location” show (ST); “Dinosaurs Live!” parade (ST). Also: “Beauty and the Beast -- Live on Stage” show (ST); Moulin Rouge (EC); Points of Light ceremony with President Bush (EC); Academy of Television Arts & Sciences awards ceremony

1992: “Voyage of the Little Mermaid” show (ST); “Aladdin’s Royal Caravan” parade (ST); “Jolly Holidays” dinner show (RE)

1993: Sword in the Stone (MK); “SPLASHTACULAR!” show (EC); “The Magical World of Barbie” show (EC)

1994: “Mickey Mania” parade (MK); “Ellington Under the Stars” salute (EC); “Legend of the Lion King” show (MK); fountain ballets (EC); “Holiday IllumiNations” (EC); Candlelight Processional moves to Epcot and extends series (EC)

1995: “Rhythms of the World” series (EC); “Galaxy Search” show (MK); “Every Day’s a Holiday” show (MK); “The Spirit of Pocahontas” show (ST); “Toy Story Parade” (ST); “Swinging Summer Nights” series (EC)

1996: 25th Anniversary Parade and Celebration; ABC Super Soap Weekend (ST); Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party (MK); “IllumiNations 25” (EC)

1997: Richard Petty Driving Experience; Disney’s Magical Holidays included: Spectacle of Lights with the Osborne Family Light Display (ST); Holidays Around the World with nightly Candlelight Dinner and Processional (EC); Jolly Holidays Dinner Show at Disney’s Contemporary Resort; and seven “Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Parties” (MK)

1998: “Fantasmic!” show (ST), “Mulan Parade” (ST); “Festival of the Lion King” (AK); “Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends” (AK); “Journey into Jungle Book” (AK); “March of the ARTimals” (AK); “Flights of Wonder” (AK)

1999: “Main Street Electrical Parade” (MK); “Tarzan Rocks!” (AK); Walt Disney World Year-Long Millennium Celebration begins featuring new entertainment such as “IllumiNations 2000: Reflections of Earth” and “Tapestry of Nations,” as well as new attractions including Millennium Village, Leave a Legacy and Imagination! presented by Kodak

 

[Laurajean1014]

Rock 'n' Roller Coaster Facts

Each "limo" launches from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds -- similar to the feeling of sitting atop a supersonic F-14 Tomcat as it blasts off the deck of an aircraft carrier.
Guests aboard each "limo" encounter nearly 5 Gs as they transition from launch to loop at the ride's first inversion. By comparison, astronauts aboard the Space Shuttle experience only 3 Gs at liftoff.
At this point of the ride, Aerosmith's lead singer Steven Tyler, who weighs 150 pounds, would feel as if he weighed nearly 750 pounds.
It takes each "limo" 3:12 minutes to cycle from start to finish -- the exact running time of one of Aerosmith's "Greatest Hits," Sweet Emotion.
A specially recorded Aerosmith soundtrack resonates out of 120 speakers in each "limo," including five per guest -- your average limo-for-hire boasts a whopping six speakers.
Throughout the attraction, more than 900 speakers generate more than 32,000 watts of audio power, about as ear-piercing as an arena rock concert.
The 3,400-foot-long track is more than a half mile of sudden accelerations, dips, loops and twists and turns.
Each "limo" seats 24 guests, about twice the number of passengers who fit in the average limousine.
At 40 feet tall, the larger-than-life stratocaster guitar that adorns the entrance of the attraction has a 32-foot-long neck which is nearly 15 times the size of the neck on an average stratocaster guitar.

The "Stats"
Total Building 68,131 sq. ft.
Building Volume Over 3.7 million cubic ft.
Track Length 3,403 ft.
Inversions Disney's first coaster in the US with inversions, including two roll-over loops and one corkscrew.
Preshow Time Approx. 120 seconds
Ride Cycle Time 3:12 minutes
Limo Capacity 24 guests
Limos Cycling on track 4 with 1 spare
Max Speed 57 mph in 2.8 seconds
Speakers per Limo 120
Audio Five separate Rock 'n' Roll audio scores synchronized to the ride
Total Speakers Over 900
Watts of Audio Over 32,000
Height Restriction 48"
Max Ride Height 8 stories at point of inversion
Launch Catapults you approx. 200 ft.
G-Force Between 4 and 5 entering the first inversion

 

[Laurajean1014]

Tune In, Mousketeers

Four low-power radio signals on three AM frequencies keep Vacation Kingdom visitors abreast of Walt Disney World information. Guests can tune in to 1030 (driving toward the Magic Kingdom), 900 (exiting the Magic Kingdom), 810 (entering Epcot) and 900 (exiting Epcot).