Your BEST WDW theme park secret! Part II

[kmccartney]

I'm glad the book has been helpful! One of the best parts of writing this book has been researching all the interesting backstories and obscure references that can be found throughout Walt Disney World. The place has so much depth; there is more to see that can ever be seen

Wow! You are the real Julie Neal... I just ordered your book... cannot wait for it to come! I am a serious WDW book nut... I can never buy enough Disney books to read.

 

[Dcanoli]

Disney Shawn continues his amazing back story of Fantasyland. How much of this did you know?

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"Moving away from the castle, we start into the Kingdom of Fantasyland itself, where we come upon the second half of Sir Mickey's. This is the village tailor's shop, taking its inspiration from the Mickey Mouse short cartoons "The Brave Little Tailor" and "Mickey and the Beanstalk."

From the outside, we see that the beanstalk which grew that night when Mickey dropped the magic beans on the ground is alive and well, pushing up through the cottage and reaching skyward. The monster vine has even ripped the Sir Mickey's sign off the front of the building and is starting to carry it along.

Above the door is a painting of Happy Valley, where Mickey and the gang live in "Mickey and the Beanstalk." As the story goes, once the giant was vanquished all the residents of Happy Valley were "valley" happy. The keys found in the shop also reference this story and Mickey, Donald and Goofy's attempt to rescue the singing harp.

From "The Brave Little Tailor" come the props that help set the scene of the village tailor's shop: scissors, needle, thread, ribbon. Even the hands of the clock are blades from a pair of scissors.The front window gives us a peek into Mickey's tailoring workshop. Of course, if we need something mended, we're out of luck. It seems Mickey is out giant hunting. He no doubt got roped into the job. Probably shouldn't have bragged so much about killing seven with one blow (especially since he meant flies and not giants).

Ducking back inside, we might just be lucky enough to catch Mickey before he heads up the beanstalk. If he's paying attention, though, he'll realize he doesn't have to go far. The giant has come down to pay him a visit.

Lifting up the roof and peeking into the cottage is Willie the giant himself. Willie made his first appearance in the "Mickey and the Beanstalk" segment of Fun & Fancy Free (1947). Later, he took on a much friendlier role as the Ghost of Christmas Present in the animated featurette "Mickey's Christmas Carol" (1983), where he walked through the village lifting up rooftops just as he's seen doing here."​

 

[Mr. Dark]

The main reason I didn't take Mr. Dark up on his offer to be the editor of an internet document is that I barely have enough time to keep up with being Mommy, part-time teacher, and all the other things I do.

Sorry for stepping on your toes....I understand the rush from being the prime source of info.

I'll just go away quietly.

 

[Dcanoli]

Sorry for stepping on your toes....I understand the rush from being the prime source of info.

I'll just go away quietly.

LOL...you DID NOT step on my toes, and you do not need to go away.


**********

Now, some neat facts ("secrets") about the Tower of Terror from Jack Spence's blog:

The building not only needed to blend with its immediate surroundings, it also needed to blend in with World Showcase in Epcot. When crossing the bridge that leads from the Disney Traders Shop to Mexico, the hotel is clearly visible behind the Morocco pavilion. So the Tower was given a slightly Moorish feel and painted a color that was not completely accurate for its era just so it would blend into the background when viewed from Epcot.

The Imagineers made one mistake when designing the exterior of the building. The "Hollywood Tower Hotel" sign was placed too low on the structure. In fact, the sign would have been underneath the two wings that were destroyed when hit by lightning. If you pay attention during the Library preshow, you can clearly see the sign is located above the destroyed wings, which would have been the correct placement. This mistake was corrected in the California and Paris versions of the ride. At Tokyo DisneySea the storyline is completely different and there are no wings. In fact, the hotel’s name does not appear on the building as it does on its three cousins..

Here are some basic construction facts about the Tower. The structure required 1,500 tons of steel, 145,800 cubic feet of concrete, and 27,000 roof tiles. The building is 199 feet tall as FAA requirements require that all structures 200 feet or more have a flashing red light on top. The Imagineers felt that this beacon would be distracting and opted to come in under this limit. A model of the Tower, used in the planning stages of the ride, can be seen in the "One Man's Dream" attraction on nearby Mickey Avenue.

The stone sentries at the entrance to the attraction are close replicas of the gates found at the entrance of Hollywood's Beachwood Drive. In our case, they mark the beginning of the Sunset Hills Estates.

If you look beyond the dispensers, you'll find a shed and gardening equipment once used by the hotel's landscapers.

Perched on a hill is a sign displaying the wait time for standby riders. Although numbers less than 13 are often used, this superstitious numeral is frequently present. When it is, you know that the line is very short if not nonexistent. The TOT and the Haunted Mansion at the Magic Kingdom are the only two attractions to ever use this number. The nearby landscaping is reminiscent of Griffith and Elysian Parks found in the city of Los Angeles.

As you approach the arbor, music can be heard in the background. If you listen closely, you'll notice it has a far-away, echoey quality. This was done intentionally to invoke a ghost-like feel of a bygone era. The songs played are as follows:

"Alabamy Home" By Gotham Stompers
"Another World" By Johnny Hodges
"Can't Get Started" By Benny Berigan
"Dear Old Southland" By Noble Sissle
"Deep Purple" By Turner Layton
"Delta Mood" By Cootie Williams
"Inside" By Fats Waller
"Jeep's Blues" By Johnny Hodges
"Jitterbug" By Johnny Hodges
"Jungle Drums" By Sidney Bechet
"Mood Indigo" By Duke Ellington
"Pyramid" By Johnny Hodges
"Remember" By Red Norvo
"Sleepy Time Gal" By Glenn Miller
"There's a House" By Henry Allen
"There's No Two" By Frankie Newton
"Uptown Blues" By Jimmy Lunceford
"We'll Meet Again" By Vera Lynn
"When the Sun Sets" By Nobles Singers
"Wishing" By Vera Lynn

Along a wall is a table. Here, a young couple was celebrating their engagement with a glass of champagne when lightning struck the hotel. Lipstick can be seen on one of the glasses and a diamond ring can be found on a white glove sitting on the table.

Beside the concierge desk is a poster advertising the Tip Top Club located on the top floor of the hotel. The orchestra leader is Anthony Fremont. If you remember your Twilight Zone episodes, you might recollect a show titled "It's a Good Life." In this story, a young boy, named Anthony Fremont, could make people disappear into the cornfield.

The main lobby of the Hollywood Tower Hotel is stunning. Some of the chairs were secured from the exclusive Jonathan Club, a well-known Los Angeles landmark built in the 1920's. Other leather chairs are authentic Renaissance antiques. And a set of luggage near the front desk is made from genuine alligator skin, a popular fashion of the time. This same set of luggage can be seen later in the library TV presentation as the bellman carries them onto the doomed elevator.

A number of French and American bronze pieces are scattered around the hotel lobby. Some are recreations and others are real, crafted by the famous 19th century artist Moreau, whose work graced many of the best hotels of the era.​

 

[Dcanoli]

...from Disney Shawn:

Philharmagic-Located just off the central court in the village is the Royal Fantasyland Concert Hall, now presenting Mickey's PhilharMagic.

The golden touches and crown icons tell us this is a theater built for the pleasure of the nobility, while the scrolls and musical notes indicate the nature of the performances.

Stepping through the main entrance of the hall, a lobby card informs us of tonight's featured presentation: The PhilharMagic Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Mickey Mouse.

While this is home to the PhilharMagic Orchestra, the Royal Fantasyland Concert Hall has also played host over the years to a number of guest performers. Posters from some of the past shows that have played the theater grace the walls of the theater lobby. They represent a virtual "Who's Who" of Disney musical heritage.

Gift Shop: When Donald was shot from the tuba at the end of the concert, he crashed all the way through to the ceiling of the shop. We find him in one of his usual moods, caught up in a tangle of instruments.

While we're looking up, though, it's a great opportunity to admire some of the other musical details in the space, from the tops of the fixtures to the columns around the edge of the room. Just above those columns is a bar dotted with musical notes. The appear purely decorative... unless you know how to read music. Hum through the notes, and you'll find yourself singing a bit of "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" by Paul Dukas.

*****

Cinderellabration -

The concert with the PhilharMagic Orchestra isn't the only special event happening in Fantasyland today. In fact, the entire village is holding a spectacular celebration, all in honor of Cinderella, Prince Charming and their distinguished Guests (that's you!).

The celebration carries throughout the Kingdom. There are jousting tournaments, festivals of food and an ornate carousel set up under a beautiful canopy. Even a traveling circus has pitched its tents and brought in an elaborate calliope just for the occasion.

Everywhere you look there are colorful tents, banners and flags to mark the celebratory mood.

Since this is a magical storybook Kingdom, many of those tents set up along the castle walls actually serve as portals, transporting the Guests to other fantastic places: the Dark Forest, the Hundred Acre Wood, London, Neverland and the Seven Seaways for a trip around the world.

Wherever we go within Fantasyland, we're free to enjoy our celebration in peace, secure in the knowledge that the entire Kingdom is surrounded by the protective walls of Cinderella Castle.​

 

[Dcanoli]

Today, Jack continues on with some other little known secrets of the Disney's TOT. Although some of them are well known, a few others are not!

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The clip of Rod Serling was taken from the episode titled "It's a Good Life." However, the voice used is that of Mark Silverman. Mr. Serling's widow made the final selection after the Imagineers narrowed down the field following hundreds of auditions.

Watch the television show carefully and you can see a Mickey Mouse plush toy in the young girl's hand right before she gets onto the elevator.

The broken pair of glasses is from the episode titled "Time Enough at Last" starring Burgess Meredith as Henry Bemis. He is a bookworm and the sole survivor of a nuclear war who drops and breaks his only pair of glasses.

The trumpet is from "Passage for Trumpet" starring Jack Klugman as Joey Crown, a down and out musician. While contemplating suicide, he is saved by another trumpet player, Gabriel. Beneath the trumpet is sheet music titled "What! No Mickey Mouse? What Kind Of Party Is This?" The song was written in 1932.

On the shelf above the books is a small spaceman. This creature was from "The Invaders" starring Agnes Moorhead who is terrorized by what turns out to be a space mission from earth.

Also on the overhead shelf is a fortune telling machine that tormented William Shatner in an episode titled "Nick of Time." All of these items are accurate reproductions of the actual props used in the television show.

Pay attention to the noises in the Boiler Room. You can hear a number of sounds appropriate to your surroundings such as motors running and pipes banging. The first two brick structures you encounter when entering this room are the hotel's furnaces. One is still in service. If you look closely, you'll find several carloads of coal waiting to be stoked. Boiler tanks and electrical equipment can also be found.

When the elevator moves horizontally into the Fifth Dimension, this room was inspired in part by the "Little Girl Lost" episode of The Twilight Zone. In this show, the daughter of a young couple rolls under her bed and through the wall into another dimension.

The drop sequence that you experience is selected by a computer and each ride is unique and random.

To accomplish a faster-than-gravity fall, the elevator car you are riding in actually enters a secondary elevator car located in the drop-shaft and locks into place. This secondary car has cables attached to both the top and bottom of the elevator, allowing a motor to pull you down faster than a natural freefall would generate. The motors used on these elevators are significantly more powerful than those used in modern skyscrapers.

Eventually, the elevator comes to a rest in the basement. If you look to the side of the car before it turns, other Twilight Zone props can be seen. The slot machine from the episode "The Fever" and the ventriloquist dummy from the show titled "Caesar and Me" are both in view. You will also notice a large "B" painted on the inside of the elevator doors, signifying "Basement." As the doors open, the "B" splits in half creating the number 13.

Just beyond the photo desk are three sets of doors labeled Sunset, Beverly, and Fountain Rooms. In reality, these lead to backstage areas. But in the realm of the Hollywood Tower Hotel these are banquet rooms. If you check the menu next to the Sunset Room, you can see that a gala dinner was taking place here on October 31, 1939.

Outside the gift shop are three windows displaying elegant merchandise once for sale at the hotel. Pumpkins make up part of the window dressing in honor of Halloween. Also, a sign in the window mentions the upcoming Halloween Extravaganza, presumably being held in the Sunset Room.​

 

[Dcanoli]

More from Disney Shawn:

Cinderella's carrousel sits under the royal gold and purple canopy at the heart of the celebration in Fantasyland.

Carrousel is spelled with two Rs as per the French origin of the word; Disney's Cinderella draws heavily on French author Charles Perrault's version of the tale.

Here, Guests are invited to take a ride on one of the elegant white stallions.

On the way in, you may notice little Jaq and Gus standing by, perhaps secretly hoping the Fairy Godmother will come along and transform them into horses once again (at least for a little while).

The carousel itself is a genuine antique, one of the oldest attractions in the Magic Kingdom. Entitled "Liberty," it was built in 1917 by the Philadelphia Toboggan Company for Palace Gardens in Detroit, Michigan.

The carousel was later moved to Olympic Park in Maplewood, New Jersey, where Disney's Imagineers found it in 1967. Olympic Park was closing, so Disney was able to acquire the classic carousel, restore it and bring it to Walt Disney World.

In the restoration, the eighteen panels around the carousel were replaced with paintings depicting the story of Cinderella, and the original wooden mechanical parts were upgraded to metal. The Italian-crafted band organ and much of the rest of the carousel's artwork and elaborate carvings were maintained.

In the design are depictions of Lady Liberty, golden eagles and a red, white & blue color scheme (made more pastel to be a better match for Fantasyland), all indicative of the period during which the carousel was built, when a wave a post-WWI patriotism swept the nation.

Once the carousel was acquired, several horses were modified and others added in place of previously existing chariots. It was Walt Disney's desire with the King Arthur Carrousel at Disneyland that it be filled with nothing but white horses, all of which are galloping. That same wish was carried out here in the Magic Kingdom (although notably, one of those original chariots was returned to Cinderella's Golden Carrousel a few years ago, in an effort to make the attraction more accessible to all Guests).

Each of the horses on the carousel is hand-crafted and unique, and many have become personal favorites of Disney Guests and Cast Members over the years. One in particular, though, has been designated as Cinderella's horse. She's on the second row from the outside and the only one with a gold ribbon on her tail.

Why the second row and not a more prominent position? Because the Princess is a lady, of course. The horse on her outside would belong to the Prince, her noble protector. How chivalrous!​

 

[Eeyoreblues]

I injuried my knee last week and have been laid up since. I found this blog while doing a search and started to read it from the beginning of Part 1 and finally caught up now. It got me so excited, I have learned so much and can't wait to use the secrets that I got on our trip later this year. One thing I want to say is... THANK YOU DEB!!! Your a sweetheart for keeping this post going and for sending out all the emails of the list to the people who request it. I do have to admit at times I was waiting for a blow up from you when people were asking for it in replys and not PM or emailing you, but you held your cool. I will probably be emailing you my request as it gets closer to my trip, I know you and everyone else will come up with some interesting secrets in the meantime. Thank you all for entertaining me while I heal.

 

[Dcanoli]

Awww...thank you!

It does get frustrating at times, but what is the use of being mean-spirited?

Thank you (again) for your kind words.

Update--anyone that has not received the document from me, PLEASE SEND YOUR REQUEST AGAIN.

My Outlook just crashed and shut down, and apparently, it took the draft I had set up to send out.

(I keep the requests in a batch and then send them out all at once.)

Once I have your name, I delete your request, so I have no way of knowing who all didn't get the document.

If you'll resend your request, I'll get it out to you today. Thanks!

 

[Dcanoli]

..the Cinderellabration...

Dumbo, The Flying Elephant (again, from Disney Shawn):

As part of today's Cinderellabration, a traveling circus has pitched its tents in the village square. Circuses have a long tradition in Europe, but this one actually hails from the New World (with winter quarters in Florida, according to the film). It's the world-renowned Dumbo's Circus, featuring everyone's favorite flying elephant!

The centerpiece of the circus (and the attraction) is an elaborate golden calliope covered in fanciful gears, pinwheels and other mechanisms. Carvings and details on the calliope recall the artistry of the circus wagons of old and include elements from the Dumbo story.

More story details can be found on the finials atop the lampposts in the area, where pyramid piles of ponderous pachyderms perch precariously on the poles.

Overseeing the entire show is none other than Dumbo's #1 pal, the one who always believed in him, Timothy Q. Mouse. Timothy is in full circus costume and carrying the so-called "magic" feather, but Dumbo knows he doesn't need that anymore. He has all the confidence he needs to spread his ears and soar.

Flying high above the circus grounds, we spot the sideshow tent and one of the wild animal wagons (with a pair of monkeys on top). This location, a relatively new Disney Vacation Club kiosk, fits right in with the Big Top motif. Even the ad copy on the posters inside the tent does its part to help tell the story.​

 

[Dcanoli]

...you aren't going to believe this, but while I was at work today, the power went out, and I lost the two batch e-mails I had to mail this afternoon.

There were quite a number of people on that e-mail, so if you don't or haven't received the document yet, PLEASE e-mail me!!!!

Thanks! Deb

 

[Disney Commando]

Have a Great trip & Good Luck at the conference

 

[Dcanoli]

Have a Great trip & Good Luck at the conference

Thanks! I am super excited!!!!

 

[Dcanoli]

More from D. Shawn:

Within the walls of Cinderella Castle is an entire Medieval village. The structures of the village take their inspiration from several different styles and European regions, from English Tudor to Swiss Alpine. These diverse styles are brought together through a broad use of storybook colors and exaggerated romantic elements.

While this is a fantasy place where fairy tales come to life, it feels more believable and real as a result of this attention to detail.

Even the former Fantasyland Skyway station (below) plays its part. The Skyway attraction may no longer be operating, but leaving the building in place adds to the rich look of the land.

The bulk of the castle village, where the majority of the Kingdom's residents would live and work, is incorporated into the form of the Pinocchio Village Haus Restaurant. In order to meet the demand of thousands of daily Magic Kingdom Guests, the restaurant is a massive structure. To help it fit better in the scale of Fantasyland, though, the outside of that structure is divided into several different facades.

Across the front of the building are varying styles of roof coverings, chimneys, windows, wall treatments, balconies and doors. Some of these structures are businesses, such as the Village Tavern, while others would be private residences. Unique weather vanes atop the buildings each identify a different family.

At the center of the village, right on the square, is the bell tower. The bells chime throughout the day, marking the hour, but can also be used to call open a festival or celebration like the one taking place throughout the Kingdom of Fantasyland today.

At the center of the village, right on the square, is the bell tower. The bells chime throughout the day, marking the hour, but can also be used to call open a festival or celebration like the one taking place throughout the Kingdom of Fantasyland today.​

 

[Dcanoli]

More from Cast Member Shawn:

The Pinocchio Village Haus Restaurant complex makes up a large part of the town within the walls of the castle. Yesterday, we took a look at the exterior and saw how this large building is broken down into smaller facades, each with a different character, to better fit the story and the charming scale of Fantasyland.

Stepping into the main room of the restaurant, we find ourselves in the Village Tavern (aka The Stromboli Room). Beer steins and mugs are on display, and you can almost picture Beauty and the Beast's Gaston kicked back in a corner or the weasels from The Wind in the Willows swinging from the iron chandelier.

Even though the restaurant takes its inspiration from Pinocchio, an Italian story, it combines design elements from all over Europe. Most notable throughout the space are the large frescoes painted on the walls. Done in a storybook style, they help tell the tale of the little wooden boy.

The counter service area of the restaurant is designed to look like an exterior courtyard (notice the shingles, windows and balcony). The skylight above is meant to give the impression of natural light in the space.

Be sure to look for the collection of cuckoo clocks (just like some of the ones Geppetto might make) in the Cleo Room, and take a moment to appreciate the finely-crafted woodwork in the Figaro and Jiminy Cricket Rooms.

Naturally, the Monstro Room sits at the western edge of the village, overlooking the Seven Seaways of "it's a small world."​

 

[Must C Mickey]

Sadly the ring is no longer at the exit of Haunted Mansion. I read about it on this thread and when we couldn't find it, we asked a cast member. She told us that the concrete their recently cracked and had to be replaced. She did show us where it was though. now it's just a fresh patch of concrete.

 

[Dcanoli]

Sadly the ring is no longer at the exit of Haunted Mansion. I read about it on this thread and when we couldn't find it, we asked a cast member. She told us that the concrete their recently cracked and had to be replaced. She did show us where it was though. now it's just a fresh patch of concrete.

Well....others can chime in here to correct me and/or add to this, but that's not exactly true.

When they closed the HM down for a total refurb, they redid the exit, and they went right over where the "ring" was.

We were there right after it opened back up, and yep, true to all internet reportings, they did away with it.

A little sad to me because it was a part of the fun of the HM and part of the story, even if it wasn't really the ring. Wished they would have left a little something for us to gape at as we walked out!

 

[pkondz]

Well....others can chime in here to correct me and/or add to this, but that's not exactly true.

When they closed the HM down for a total refurb, they redid the exit, and they went right over where the "ring" was.

We were there right after it opened back up, and yep, true to all internet reportings, they did away with it.

A little sad to me because it was a part of the fun of the HM and part of the story, even if it wasn't really the ring. Wished they would have left a little something for us to gape at as we walked out!

Sounds to me like the CM told a little white lie. "the concrete their (sic) recently cracked and had to be replaced" sounds better than, "We did a refurb and just paved over it."

 

[floridianer]

Sounds to me like the CM told a little white lie. "the concrete their (sic) recently cracked and had to be replaced" sounds better than, "We did a refurb and just paved over it."

Right
Actually it was a piece of a metal chain and they removed it before the did the new floor
You would have seen it if they just "covered" it

The reason, why they removed it though is quite simple ... sooo many were looking for it so that the exit was blocked all the time and they couldn´t handle it well any more. So this metal thing had to go

 

[*HappyDisneyMom*]

Dcanoli, Thanks for putting this all together-its incredibly nice of you, but I need some help-so please bear with me (I'm a newbie) I know I am not supposed to post requests on here (I apologize)-but I can't PM you, see your email, or post mine..apparently because I'm a newbie-I'm leaving in March and would love this list. Is spelling out my email ok? alan_galgoci at yahoodotcom. I apologize again I just a little confused

(Updated) I think I just found out how to leave you a message on your page..I think. I apologize again for posting.