Your BEST WDW theme park secret! Part II

[Dcanoli]

If you got the Allears' newsletter this morning, then you've already read these, but I think they are worth mentioning here, and I will add them to our master document. Because, if you are like me, you might remember them NOW, but come the time you are actually AT Disney, you will have already forgotten them!

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Taylor writes:

There's something I've been wondering lately. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror was built in the early '90s. Rod Serling died in 1975. How did they get the preshow video? As far as I remember (it's been a while since I've been to that park), it was really him in the video.

Hi Taylor!

The video in the Tower of Terror preshow is from an episode of the Twilight Zone called "It's a Good Life," originally aired on November 3, 1961. The lines that the late Rod Serling spoke in this episode were similar but not exactly the same, so the pre-show film is actual footage of Serling, but the voice has been dubbed (AKA "looped") by voice actor Mark Silverman. According to Silverman, he was chosen by Serling's widow from a pool of several voice actors who auditioned for the part.

Some Tower Trivia:

* The lobby contains a reference to "Anthony Fremont," the name of the creepy kid who could control the world with his mind in "It's A Good Life."

* The entire hotel features props used in various episodes of the "Twilight Zone" TV series. These are too numerous to list here.

* At 199 feet, the Tower of Terror is the third-tallest attraction at WDW. The second-tallest structure is Animal Kingdom's Expedition EVEREST at 199.5 feet. The new Characters in Flight balloon is now the tallest (highest?) attraction at WDW at over 300 feet when it's aloft.

* "Lightning" struck the Hollywood Tower Hotel at 8:05 p.m. on October 31, 1939, during a party at the Tip Top Club. This is where that glamorous couple in the elevator was headed. The evening's entertainment was provided by the Anthony Fremont Orchestra.

* The exterior of the Hollywood Tower Hotel was designed and painted to blend in with the Morocco Pavilion at Epcot because, from certain vantage points in Epcot, the HTH can clearly be seen behind the pavilion.

* In the lobby, between the libraries, is a directory with removable lettering. At one time, the fallen letters appeared as a message in the bottom of the glass case covering the directory. It spelled out "evil Tower UR doomed." The message disappeared in late 2001, but reappeared again for a very short time in 2007. I checked it recently, and it's still gone. Another little bit of Disney hidden treasure gone forever, I guess.

A.A

 

[Dcanoli]

Here is one other thing I saw in the newsletter this morning that I never knew, so I'm going to include it in this list/master document.

If you guys ever see me posting something you know is already in the doc., let me know (my brain cells aren't what they used to be)!

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There is a plaque at WDW dedicated to Randy Pausch, author of The Last Lecture.

The plaque is located in Fantasyland in the Alice-themed garden on the west side of the Mad Tea Party. The garden is more or less between the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh and the Tea Cups.

 

[Dcanoli]

I just ran across this on a site. Have any of you ever seen this before?

There already is a ‘hidden’ Luxo Jr. in the Pixar Place area of DHS. Look for the street sign near the huge Pixar Studios sign as you enter from the central plaza.

I'll put it in our master document.

 

[cruisindisney]

I would love a copy of the list if you could pm it to me, that would be great!

 

[bhayes]

I would love to have a copy of the master list emailed to me!
Thanks,
Bridget Hayes

 

[kmk1180]

If

* "Lightning" struck the Hollywood Tower Hotel at 8:05 p.m. on October 31, 1939, during a party at the Tip Top Club. This is where that glamorous couple in the elevator was headed. The evening's entertainment was provided by the Anthony Fremont Orchestra.


A.A

I got this second hand so I can't be 100% sure it's true.
But the Chicago Tribune did an article about the Studios, listing 20 little known facts.. the one that I remember is this...
Everyone who's been on the ride knows the story above is the plot of the ride...but did you know.. ToT ws ACTUALLY struck by lightning during construction?
Weird!!!

 

[Dcanoli]

I "think" I did hear that at one time, and I'm only saying that because when I read Anita's column, I remember thinking she was going to say that, and then, she didn't.

I think you're right though...I had heard the actual ride got hit by lightning too! That really is so weird!!!!

 

[pkondz]

I "think" I did hear that at one time, and I'm only saying that because when I read Anita's column, I remember thinking she was going to say that, and then, she didn't.

I think you're right though...I had heard the actual ride got hit by lightning too! That really is so weird!!!!

I took a quick look on the net and found a few sights that claim that the hotel was indeed struck by lightning during construction.

Another interesting tidbit gleaned from the net: "The exterior of the attraction resembles an old hotel with a blackened scorch mark across the front of the façade where the lightning destroyed part of the building. All of the cast members wear a costume that resembles that of a 1930s bellhop. At over USD$1000 per uniform, it is the most expensive costume in the various theme parks..."

 

[Dcanoli]

At over USD$1000 per uniform, it is the most expensive costume in the various theme parks..."

ARE YOU SERIOUS? That is insane!!!

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

I don't know if anyone mentioned this but you can not bake cookies for free in "the land" anymore.
We go every year and every year my now 8 year old looked forward to baking cookies. Last year during our 12 day Nov/Dec trip we went to bake cookies, there was a wall where the kitchen use to be. Those were some really great cookies to.

 

[Dcanoli]

Yeah, it was sad when they took out the Nestle attraction.

I think it's been 2 years now. The same man worked it for years. He is a staple around The World; he had worked at some of the resorts before heading up the Nestle attraction.

I never found out what happened to him, but I hope he is in another kitchen on property somewhere now!

Here's a picture of him w/my boys the last year of cookie making. (This was such a great and free and hidden treasure of Disney...sometimes we don't understand or even like the decisions Disney makes, but we still have to accept them!)

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

I know it was there December 5, 2007. I never saw that man in your photo before. We always had the older gentleman, he always looked grumpy but was funny has heck.

if i knew how to upload a photo I would show you.

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

wait a minute that is the gentleman. He just doesn't have his glasses on in your photo. If it's not him it's his twin LOL

 

[Dcanoli]

I'd bet money it was Kaine. It was always him and another younger girl--an ethnic-looking girl (not sure what nationality).

He was grumpy (trust me, I've had conversations with him), but he was also funny (as heck), as you said!

He told me all the resort kitchens he had worked in over the years. That's what makes me think he is still on property somewhere.

 

[Nutz4Dizney]

Yup, it's Kaine. We always got Kaine and different girls. I have to checkthe photos.

I'm also mad they got rid of the plastic works factory. My son and I loved to run the race. I am a heavy woman so me liking to run was an amazement of itself LOL My son and I always paired up, I always did the running and he did the designing (was that fair??). When I was first or second place out of those in shape kids 10-14 year olds) I was so happy with myself. Maybe it was the Disney magic that let the fat chick win I don't know but my head was floating all day long.

I do like the waste dump attraction but they should have kept the running on. Plus I never get my certificate emailed to me. Has anyone?

 

[Dcanoli]

I am with you.

I hated to see the plastic robot game gone too. That was one of my favorite things to tell people--you could actually get a little souvenir for free!

We will always to Innoventions. I think people really miss something when they skip those two buildings. If you stop to take the time to do actually do all the stuff, not only are you learning, but you are having fun and playing games!

 

[Amanda132]

I hate to ask for a copy of the list via this thread because I know I'm not supposed to, but since I don't have enough posts to email/PM, can you please email me the list at itsamanda132 @ gmail . com? (Had to use the spaces because I can't post an email address either, apparently.) Thank you!

 

[WeatherbySwann]

I picked up a book the other day and flipping through it, it reminded me very much of this thread! It's called The Hidden Magic of Walt Disney World by Susan Veness, and the entire book is about the little details and "secrets" throughout WDW. It's really great, and I thought fans of this thread might like it.

 

[spatulaqueen27]

Hi Deb,
I sent a pm and I got a reply, but it was blank. If you need my email address again, PM me and Ill bounce it back!

 

[Claroquesi]

OK I know where all the hidden Mickey's are.
I've been on Keys to the Kingdom
I know a cutout of Eisenhower is in the big rig at Test Track.
Tell me something I don't know so I can make the magic happen for my DH one more time...Please I don't know any more minutia...