Disney Parks Secrets Every Tourist Should Know

Walt Disney passed away more than 50 years ago, but it will take something unthinkable to see his legacy disappear. After all, he was the brains behind everything Disney, including the theme parks that followed after years of celebrating his animating success.

In a bid to help everyone enjoy the wonder of escaping to a new world, Disney dipped his toe into amusement parks in the ‘50s, and things have continued to grow since. They might be stronger than ever, but the Disney park secrets every tourist should know reveal things even the most dedicated fan might not know.

The underground tunnels in Disney Parks are said to be real

Wonder how characters make it around Disney parks so quickly? Magic Kingdom might have some extra help, as it’s been suggested there are around 392,000 square feet of underground corridors that allow staff to move freely under the park without bypassing visitors and spoiling the magic. Legend goes that these underground tunnels were all Walt Disney’s idea.

As he was making his way around the park, the animator saw a cowboy walking through Tomorrowland to get to his home in Frontierland. Walt didn’t want to see cowboys in the futuristic world of Tomorrowland and assumed that his guests didn’t want to either, so the tunnels were the perfect option for the cast.

Forced perspective makes Cinderella’s famous castle look bigger than it is

When you make your way into Disney World, Cinderella’s castle is probably the first thing you see. After all, it’s pretty huge, right? Well, it seems that might not necessarily be the case. While it’s fair to say that this building is bigger than your average house, Walt Disney made sure that the castle was built using forced perspective.

This means that the building isn’t as big as it really looks but is instead designed to look larger. Different-sized bricks – such as large bricks at the bottom and much smaller bricks towards the top – are to thank for creating this optical illusion, and it’s pretty clever. They say that size doesn’t matter, but this might be an exception.

Cinderella’s Castle features a hidden suite fit for Walt Disney himself

Although they are meant to be kept a secret, there are countless different rooms and suites in Disney World that are typically closed to the general public. One of those suites is hidden inside the iconic Cinderella’s Castle. While most people will never see it for themselves, VIP guests sometimes get the chance to stay in this room.

Amazingly, it was built for Walt Disney and his family. Although he never got to use it himself, Disney made sure that the whole thing was decked out with original 17th-century furniture, a floor that has been built with a whopping 24-karat gold, and even an incredible clock that always keeps the time at 11:59.

Walt Disney might continue to haunt his old apartment

While creating Disneyland, Walt Disney often found it easier to stay nearer to the California site than head back home. So, he decided to build an apartment above the firehouse on Main Street, which still stands today. If you look, you should see a window with a light on, but things might not be all they seem.

Many believe Walt Disney never left, with one park employee claiming the lamp in the room kept turning itself on and off shortly after Disney’s passing. The light has since been left on permanently as a tribute, but things haven’t stopped. Several guests claim the drapes move every so often, with plenty wondering if Disney is checking over his work.

A specific green helps Disney parks to keep the magic alive

A huge amount of thought and effort goes into maintaining the Disney parks every single year, with one of the biggest achievements being how visitors are transported to different worlds. They inspire magic - but how do they manage to hide the construction materials, the electrical cables, and all of the boring practical things the parks just couldn’t live without?

Disneyland has its very own paint color they invented specifically to keep the magic alive. Often called “Go Away Green” or “No See ‘Em Green,” it’s designed to draw your attention away from things. If you really keep an eye out, you might just notice that things like false walls, speakers, railings, and secret doors are hidden in plain sight.

It’s a Small World terrifies plenty of Disney park employees

If you’re a Disney park fan, you might know the “It’s A Small World” ride is one of the most popular. Sure, it may not be the most modern, but it’s one of the most classic and iconic additions that Disney parks have to offer. However, it seems this ride should be renamed “It’s A Creepy World After all.”

That’s because park employees swear by the notion that the characters who stand around the water-based ride come to life even when the ride is not working or the whole thing is unplugged. Many claim to have seen them move from one place to another overnight when the ride was not running, and some even swear the dolls blink.

There is a reason every Disney park smells good enough to eat

One of the first things you might notice when you walk into Disney World and Disneyland – aside from the magic – is that it smells absolutely divine. No matter where you turn, a sweet scent follows you, and most of the time, it seemingly comes from nowhere. The problem? It might leave us wanting to grab a famous Disney snack.

That’s because this is actually just a trick that Walt Disney came up with to inspire a sense of nostalgia within every guest who walks through the gates. To keep the parks smelling like popcorn throughout the day, Smellitzer machines are used, and the scent of these baked goods is then pumped through the vents all day, every day.

A secret 33 door hides an exclusive Disney club

Walt Disney put a huge amount of work into his theme parks, but that doesn’t mean everyone has access to everything. In fact, there are countless secret rooms and doors that seemingly go nowhere – but, in actual fact, everything has a purpose. While walking through New Orleans Square, the average person would probably miss a door with the number “33.”

What many people don’t realize is that behind this door is actually a secret club that Walt Disney designed for special guests and sponsors of the park. It’s the only place in the whole theme park that actually sells adult beverages, and only members who are willing to fork out a huge amount of money get to step inside.

No Disney park employee is allowed to say they don’t know the answer

Working for Disney parks means sticking to the regulations. In fact, one of the most important rules any employee has to follow is the notion that they are never allowed to say, “I don’t know.” Customer experience and satisfaction were always at the top of Walt Disney’s list, and he didn’t want anyone to leave without their questions being answered.

So, if an employee doesn’t know the answer to a guest’s question, they will always seek the answer out – even if that means that they have to ask another employee or do their own research. It’s their job to go above and beyond and create this magical experience, so that’s exactly what they do every time.

The cats within Disney parks all have their own job to do

Although many of us have seen the Disney movie about cats living a life in high society, it seems the film isn’t too far removed from everyday life. That’s because Disneyland is home to hundreds of stray cats - something the head honchos often tried to deny. Still, playing such a pivotal role means the cats couldn’t remain a secret.

One of the main reasons why these feral cats are so important is because they keep on top of any issues they may have with rodents. They make their way around the parks picking up mice and pests along the way, and there are even signs up to acknowledge their existence and place within the Disney family.

Rumors claim that Walt Disney’s body has been frozen in ice

It was a sad day for people across the world when Walt Disney lost his life in December 1966, but his legacy has never been forgotten. As well as changing animation, the legend also brought us the happiest place on Earth. It was reported Disney was cremated during a private ceremony, but that didn’t stop the rumors from spreading.

These alleged that Walt was obsessed with future technology and therefore decided to have his body frozen so that future scientists could bring him back to life. What’s more, the rumors hinted Disney’s frozen body was hidden beneath the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at California’s Disneyland. Of course, this has never been proven, with many believing the whispers.

Spreading ashes at Disney parks is more common than many realize

Having to say goodbye to a loved one is hard, with many wanting to spread their ashes somewhere meaningful. Amazingly, plenty of people choose Disney parks, with the Haunted Mansion ride a popular choice for plenty. Why? It’s said this is meant to be the most haunted place in every Disney park around the world.

Many people have questioned whether this rumor is true or not, but Disneyland employees have since confirmed that it’s actually very true – and more common than you might think. In fact, employees have had to come up with their own secret code word - “HEPA cleanup” - to vacuum up any ashes as soon as they appear.

Parents have been known to smuggle children onto various rides

If you have ever been to either Disney World or Disneyland with a young child, you’ll know your options are sometimes limited. After all, you normally have to be a certain age or height to ride the more advanced attractions – and this can leave many parents waiting around in the park while others go off and have their fun.

This isn’t always the case, with many employees having to deal with countless parents who think they can smuggle their young children onto the rides without anyone noticing. One particular visitor was stopped while attempting to take a large bag on Space Mountain. When the employee looked inside, they realized that there was a 6-month-old child in the bag.

Cinderella’s statue has a different meaning depending on how she’s viewed

Cinderella’s Castle isn’t the only thing that uses a false perspective to induce some extra magic. If you’ve ever made your way to Fantasyland, you may have seen one of the most famous attractions of them all: the Cinderella statue. What’s so incredible about this statue is the fact that it was purposefully designed to look different from different perspectives.

Walt Disney wanted the statue to be viewed differently by children and adults. To adults, the princess looks sad as she looks down at the animals below her. To children, the placement of her hair looks just like a child's. This invites people to embrace their innocence and childishness as they walk through the park.

The Disneyland Railroad is home to a secret car designed by Walt Disney himself

There’s nothing more magical than heading onto the Disneyland Railroad and riding along the tracks, but did you know that there is a secret car that everyday guests will never get to see? At the end of the train is the Lilly Belle car, which Walt Disney designed and made specifically for his wife, Lillian Disney.

Decorated in plush furniture and fabrics, Walt made sure this cart was the most exclusive and had a vision of it becoming his wife’s very own Victorian parlor. It even features private photos of the Disney family. Park employees will rarely allow people in, but if you get to the park just early and ask nicely, you might be lucky.

Julie Andrews has her very own carousel horse called Jingles

They say you should never look a gift horse in the mouth, but what if you were to ride it instead? Over the years, more Disney movies have entered the chat, and many have since transitioned into the theme parks. This was the case in 2008 when an ode to Mary Poppins was placed on King Arthur’s Carousel in Disneyland.

In fact, this ode was more for the sake of Julie Andrews, who was presented with her very own intricately decorated horse called Jingles. The horse features a flying umbrella and was a thank-you for her role in the famous movie - and how the star has been an ambassador for the park for countless years.

Looking to the future means a Disney park filled with edible plants

In an effort to take children and adults alike away from their normal lives and into new, magical adventures, Walt Disney had big plans while creating Disneyland. While some of these plans didn’t quite come to fruition, there were others that did: and the plants in Tomorrowland are some of them, with Disney offering his glimpse into the future.

He designed the world he believed generations after him would enjoy, and this involved a huge amount of technology and a community who were completely sustainable and self-sufficient. He wanted his park to be the same. Disney’s idea to put edible plants around the park soon came to fruition, meaning guests can enjoy a snack on the way to Frontierland.

Creating an immersive experience extends to the names used by Disney cast members

People working at Disney parks will never be called “employees.” Instead, they prefer“cast members” and will only ever call people visiting the parks their “guests.” The main reason is that they see the parks as an immersive theatrical experience, and it’s their job to make sure that the whole thing seems as authentic as possible.

They do this by dressing up in their outfits, donning their amazing voices, and becoming the characters that so many of us know and love from the movies. Still, you never want to hear a cast member calling you a “real guest.” This means that they think you are rude and that you’ve done something to irritate them.

The Disney Point might have multiple origins

One rule cast members have followed for years is using the “Disney Point.” If they ever need to tell someone which direction to go, they are meant to use two fingers instead of one. Apparently, the original cast members were taught this by the man himself, with Walt Disney believing that pointing with one finger was extremely rude.

However, there might be another reason Disney always used two fingers. During his lifetime, he was known to take part in a particular adult activity that always meant he had something in his hand. As a result, the modern parks have been forced to airbrush it out of Disney’s hands, leaving the Disney Point in its wake.

An authentic book on witchcraft proved to be too spooky for the Haunted Mansion ride

In an effort to make his parks as authentic as possible, Walt Disney wanted genuine artifacts and ornaments for his guests to enjoy. This happened once again when it came to furnishing the Haunted Mansion in Disney World. In order to keep things haunting and creepy, an original 14th-century book on witchcraft was given a prime spot within the house.

The hope was that it would spook people out, but what they didn’t realize was that it really would give them the heebie-jeebies. Cast members always struggled to keep the book from falling over, and sometimes it would end up in a completely different location from where it started. In the end, the book was replaced with something less haunted.

The Space Mountain ghost has shaken plenty of guests throughout the years

Over the years, countless rumors about ghosts and spirits roaming around Disney parks have made their way through the grapevine. One tale speaks of a construction worker who passed away while in the midst of building the Space Mountain ride at Disneyland. While Mr. Wedway didn’t see the ride finished, it’s said he’s stuck around in the afterlife.

In fact, cast members often have guests screaming at them as they get off the ride because they are convinced that there was a man riding next to them. At the end of their stories, they note that the man falls out of the ride and plunges into the depths below. When this happens, many guests are inconsolable.

The US flags in Disney parks aren’t what they seem on the surface

Those visiting the US Disney parks may have noticed they are filled with what looks like American flags. Many believe Walt Disney wanted to show off his patriotism – but if you look closely, you might notice that something’s amiss. All of them are missing a little something that makes them official, such as a single star or stripe.

This wasn’t just a misprint when they were made because they were designed to be this way. If the flags were official flags, the parks would have to abide by the American flag regulations, which would mean raising them, lowering them, and putting them at half-mast on certain occasions. With their modifications, Disneyland doesn’t have to do any of that.

Walt Disney’s plans are why Epcot feels different from other Disney parks

There’s no doubt that Epcot is very different from the rest of the Disney parks. It’s more innovative, real, and seems to have taken a lot of thought and effort. While it now gives guests a chance to look at the World’s Fair and other delights that Epcot has to offer, many don’t know the real reason behind this park.

When Walt Disney was designing this park – the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow – his idea was to use Epcot as a base for “The Florida Project.” This was supposed to allow Disney to create a community of 20,000 people that would be a complete utopia. While Disney had grand plans, he passed away before the project was complete.

An abandoned Disney park continues to intrigue people decades later

The Disneyland franchise is booming across the world, but one didn’t work out. Instead, there has been an abandoned park in our midst for years. To be specific, it’s an abandoned water park in Disney World, once called River Country. It first opened its doors and slides in 1976, and it became the very first Disney waterpark on its roster.

However, the park closed up shop in 2001, and it was later announced that it would be permanently closed. Despite the high levels of security surrounding this abandoned site, a few people have managed to make their way inside and see this place for themselves. Creepily, they have noted that music can still be heard coming out of the loudspeakers.

Playing with his dog led to a huge part of Walt Disney’s ideas for the parks

Walt Disney had big dreams for his animations, but he also had big dreams for Disneyland. He wanted to create a place where everyone could forget about their worries and focus on the good times, and part of his plan involved the “weenies.” This idea came to Walt when he was at home with his family and his dog. 

Walt would wiggle a hot dog in front of his dog’s face - and he couldn’t believe the reaction. While Walt was wiggling the food, his dog only had eyes for the sausage. The animator wanted to create a similar experience for those walking into Disneyland, so created a large focal point in each Disney park to grab people’s eyes immediately.

Costumed cast members are never allowed to remove any aspect of their look

Many people love to meet their favorite Disney characters in real life. While many adults know they’re cast members in costumes, the magic of these parks is helped by children believing they’re real. To keep this magic alive, the cast members are not allowed to take off their costumes while in front of guests – no matter how hot it gets.

Even if it’s the height of summer and the cast members feel ill, they cannot take off their heads or any layers just in case it could spoil the illusion. Sadly, there have been many cast members who have had to simply be ill in their costumes because the heat and lack of fresh air became too much.

A Tarzan actor didn’t break character while saving a boy’s life

While they have to stay in character, it seems that’s not all the cast members get up to. Although many of the actors become heroes and valiant knights, one particular character really did save the day. While watching the parade make its way through the Magic Kingdom, a child inadvertently fell into the water around Tom Sawyer Island.

His mother couldn’t believe what was happening, so she screamed in shock in the hope someone would help. When Tarzan heard the scream, he immediately jumped off the parade float and jumped the water to save the boy. Amazingly, he didn’t even break character! He told the mom to, “Keep boy safe… Tarzan very brave. But everybody can be hero.”

The horseshoes used on Main Street USA were specifically designed by Walt Disney

Did you know Main Street USA was designed by Walt Disney and based on his childhood home in Marceline, Missouri? It’s believed Walt absolutely loved the small-town American life, so he wanted to embody every aspect. While the buildings all look the same as when he was a young boy, Disney knew he wanted to also add something else.

He wanted horses to draw the carts that headed down Main Street – so that’s exactly what he got. If you’ve always wondered why their hoofs are so loud, there’s a special answer. The horses that make their way down Main Street actually have horseshoes that are coated in polyurethane. This makes their clip-clops seem even louder than normal.

The bright colors used in Disneyland lands are there for a reason

Although Disneylands use a rather unattractive green color to hide the things they don’t want their guests to see, you might have also noticed that they use rather bright colors elsewhere. To be exact, they often paint bright colors across the walkways, and these normally change in color when you make your way from one land to the next.

As well as helping guests to distinguish between one land and the next, it’s also the result of a rather intense study conducted by both Disney and Kodak. Here, they learned brighter colors in the background actually enhanced the pictures guests take. With this, they were not only getting great memories but also even better photos.

The bench where it all began can still be found in Disneyland

It’s amazing one man created such an amazing career for himself after so many setbacks, and there’s no doubt about the fact that most people have wanted to celebrate Walt Disney and his work over the years. In fact, there’s a bench dedicated to the man himself, and it can be found in Disneyland. This isn’t just any old bench.

This is actually the bench Walt Disney sat on when he first decided to make a theme park. He was sitting on this bench near the Griffith Park merry-go-round in LA, and it was his dream to build the park in Griffith Park itself. When he realized it wasn’t large enough for his vision, Disney decided to find another space.

Walt Disney went to incredible efforts to ensure his parks were never dirty

Spending so much energy making Disneyland the best it could be, Walt Disney knew he wanted to keep the whole thing spotless by stopping people from throwing their trash on the floor. As a man who liked getting his hands dirty, Walt decided to do his own research. He ultimately followed guests around the park and looked into their habits.

It was here that he realized people would hold their trash for around 30 feet before throwing it on the ground. After this, he knew exactly what he had to do. Today, you will never be more than 30 feet away from the nearest trash can, which means you can dispose of your trash without too much effort.

Legend states one of the skeletons on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride could be real

The Pirates of the Caribbean ride is one of the favorites, and a lot of effort has been made to make it look as authentic as possible. This includes going as far as introducing real skeletons. When the ride was in the development stages, those in charge struggled to find fake skeletons that would look realistic and as creepy enough.

They needed a new plan, so they made their way to the UCLA Medical School. It just so happened the medics had some skeletons going spare. For years, many of the skeletons along the ride were real, but most of them have since been replaced by fake ones. Rumor has it there is just one real skull and crossbones left.

A staggering number of security guards help to keep Disneyland safe

It’s estimated around 440,000 people make their way through the gates of California Disneyland every single day, and while most of these people aim to have the best day of their lives, there are others who cause a ruckus. It’s not uncommon to find huge numbers of security patrolling popular attractions - 300, to be precise.

The staff ensures the park runs smoothly and nothing untoward happens while also helping with other tasks, such as lost children and crowd control. To put that into perspective, the city of Anaheim – where Disneyland is located – has just 285 police officers on its force for the whole city. Disneyland has more than that for a theme park alone.

Disney parks at night are said to be some of the creepiest places on Earth

Plenty have wondered what Disney parks are like at night. Do all of the rides shut down? Does the park become eerily quiet? Is it super creepy for the security guards and cleaners who work through the night to get the park ready for another day? Well, according to reports, the answer to that last question is a resounding "yes."

The rumor goes that it's cheaper for Disneyland to keep the music around the parks and on rides going throughout the night rather than turning them off and on every single day. This means that although the parks could be completely empty and dark, the giggles of rides and the cheerily upbeat music through the park speakers continue to blow.

Each window on Main Street USA has a special meaning behind it

Main Street USA is one of the most iconic aspects of Disneyland, and it’s the place where many guests feel the biggest connection to Walt Disney himself. Everything about the area was designed by Disney, with many of these windows dedicated to the people who had an impact on Walt’s life - and they appear within whimsical shop names and businesses.

Walt dedicated a window to himself as part of the Disneyland Casting Agency, another window to his father, Elias Disney, and others to various other people in his life. Window dedications have been given out to people since Walt’s passing, but they have to pass three requirements before their window becomes a reality and joins the ranks.

A strange-looking wall in Disneyland wasn’t an accident

Walt Disney had extremely big dreams when planning Disneyland, and he knew that he wanted everything to be perfect – down to the last brick. Quite literally. With a huge amount of money under his belt, Walt was able to play around with the construction of Disneyland to ensure that it fit his specifications and his vision perfectly.

If you’ve walked down Main Street USA and seen a water fountain on a rather strange-looking wall, you might have noticed something. Rather than being perfectly formed, it features bricks in all shapes and sizes. Walt used this as a test wall to see which size and shape of brick he preferred, building a wall featuring every option.

Even Disneyland’s address has a hidden easter egg

While most people simply put the name of Disneyland into their GPS system and let the satellites take them to the happiest place on earth, those who have actually looked at the address of this park might have realized something: it’s an easter egg. It’s something that has long set Disney apart from the rest.

In fact, Walt Disney loved an easter egg because he chose the address of his park perfectly. Located at 1313 Disneyland Drive, Anaheim, there’s something about the number 13 that means more than many realize. The 13th letter of the alphabet is “M,” which means that 1313 Disneyland Drive actually translates to MM Disneyland Drive – or Mickey Mouse Disneyland Drive.

A parade tragedy changed the rules for cast members walking around floats

With so many people in one place and high-octane thrill rides aplenty, the Disneyland parks are bound to have a few accidents here and there, with real tragedy shaking Disney World in 2004. While a 38-year-old cast member dressed as Pluto was part of the Share A Dream Come True Parade, they were sadly run over by a float.

The collision and the impact tragically meant Pluto sadly passed away. It’s believed the crash itself happened away from the prying and innocent young eyes of the public, but it was enough to start a full-blown investigation. Now, cast members have to follow strict rules when it comes to walking beside or in front of the floats during the parade.

Hurricane season can prove to be a dangerous time for Disney guests

Located in Florida, Disney World is one of the most popular Disney parks. However, it’s safe to say its location causes a few problems. Known for having turbulent weather, lightning storms can often cause rides to shut down temporarily – but they are normally up and running again after a short while. Sadly, hurricanes are a whole different story.

When this happens, there is normally enough warning to completely evacuate the parks. However, it’s not so easy for those staying in Disney resorts. As their hotels lie just a short distance away from the park, they have nowhere else to go. Thankfully, cast members do their best to entertain guests with free arcade tokens to keep them busy.

One disgruntled guest spent a year making a Disney horror movie

Sadly, not everyone thinks Disney parks are magical. This was the case for Randy Moore, a filmmaker who has horrible memories of visiting the park when he was younger with his drink-dependent father. While his issues were with his father rather than the park itself, Randy knew that he wanted to do something to turn his memories into art.

Eventually, Randy made a horror film about Disneyland. He made his way into the park for a whole year to create a movie that would show the happiest place in the world as the worst - without any permission. He had to sneak in his cameras and actors. Of course, we probably don’t need to tell you park officials weren’t happy.

None of the boats actually float along the water in Disney parks

The Liberty Belle – more commonly known as the Mark Twain Riverboat – is one of the most popular attractions at Disneyland. It gives guests a chance to take a ride on this incredible steamboat, and it gives them the opportunity to get a proper look at Tom Sawyer Island. It makes sense people assume they’re on the water, right?

Sadly, none of the boats at Disneyland actually float, as this would be too much of a safety concern. Instead, they all move along tracks underwater. Amazingly, it only needs 18 inches of water to maintain the illusion that the Liberty Belle really is cruising along the river before the water’s dyed brown and green to keep the illusion alive.

The ghost of a little boy is said to mess with the Tomorrowland People Mover

There are countless reports of ghosts at Disney parks, but it seems people swear by the spirit of the Tomorrowland People Mover. This ride is a popular attraction for those who just want to sit and let the futuristic world go by, but over the years, it’s garnered a bit of a reputation for shutting down completely.

While most people put this down to a mechanical error, many of the cast members believe that the shut-down is because of a ghost. It’s been noted that a young boy passed away many years ago after jumping from cart to cart. He fell to the ground, with his ghost reportedly haunting the People Mover and forcibly shutting it down.

Walt Disney wanted to ensure his parks were always evolving and adding new lands

Some theme parks find their rhythm and never change. However, that isn’t the case for Disney parks, as they find that a huge number of their parks see visitors that have been there time and time again. One of the main reasons for that is that they are constantly building and adding brand-new rides as times change.

While Walt Disney started work on Disneyland on July 16, 1954, the park officially opened its gates on July 17, 1955, after a whopping $17 million bill. That didn’t mean construction ended. Walt wanted his theme parks to be constantly moving with the times and incorporating new animations and new movies, with new worlds opening up every single year.

Walt Disney only ever saw one of his parks come to life

Although Walt Disney was overjoyed to see people fall in love with his first theme park, he wasn’t content with just one, so he soon put the plans together to create Walt Disney World. Sadly, Disney passed away before he could see the final park. As a result, he actually only completed one park over the course of his lifetime.

Many feel he would be pretty proud of the fact that there are now 12 parks across the globe. Six of those parks are in his home country of the United States, while another six are scattered across in the likes of Paris, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. While he never saw them, the parks help keep Disney’s legacy alive.