35 tricks from Disney World that only connoisseurs know (2023)

Since thenThe Walt Disney World, Florida, received its first visitors in 1971 and has anchored itself in the American consciousness like no other institution. Butdisney's successIt Was No Accident The park drew attention, if only a little, for its relentless emphasis on its visitors and their experiences.smalla little fairy dust.

However, when your resort welcomes millions of guests each year, there are a lot of experiences to manage. And, of course, there's a lot going on behind the scenes. from your hiding placeunderground tunnelsthat only a select few man the 30,000 rooms it would take 68 years to own, Disney World has a lot going on that most guests never see -- or know.

Read on for 35 surprising facts about America's favorite amusement park. Oh, and if you're worried, we promise that no matter how much you know, it won't spoil the magic.

If you add up the number of employees at all other Disney properties around the world (Disneyland Resort California, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort), you still have around 5,000 employees per 70,000 people. . who work at Walt Disney World in Florida.

In addition, each of the park's employees, from their costumed princesses to theirreceptionists– are affectionately called “performers”. And with so many people hosting the show every day, Walt Disney World fits the bill.largest employer in a single locationus United States.

The Tower of Terror at Disney's Hollywood Studios and Expedition Everest at Disney's Animal Kingdom are exactly 199 feet tall. This is also not a coincidence. Buildings over 200 feet tall must turn on flight lights. And of course that would ruin some of the magic.

When Disney's Magic Kingdom opened in October 1971, admission was free.push the guestsjust $3.50, the price of a bottle of Dasani at Disney today. (Adjusted for inflation, it's about $21.) Regrettably,prices skyrocketed, and one day passnow it costsabout $109.

To remove garbage from the park, Magic Kingdom uses an automated vacuum collection system (HVAC) that operates in the park's vast underground services, or underground tunnels. To use the system, administrators remove garbage and deposit it in special processors. From there it is taken underground and pushed at 100 kilometers per hour to a central location where it is processed, compressed and taken to a landfill or recycling center.

In addition to the HVAC system, Disney vans also house a massive network of underground tunnels that help cast members navigate the park. The tunnel walls are color-coded so performers can easily see where they are. And if they make a wrong turn, that's fine, as most of them travel in battery-powered vehicles, not unlike golf carts (although in an emergency an ambulance can drive through the fueling system). guests atkingdom keyRides are the only ones allowed in the tunnels.

ANDDisney World Railwayat the Magic Kingdom offers excellent photo opportunities, but it's also worth noting that it's a steam train that carries 1.5 million passengers a year. The four trains were originally built between 1916 and 1928 and have been restored to top condition.

Walt DisneyHe had big plans for Disney World, and one of them was to create a controlled community at Epcot, which meansTomorrow's Community Experimental Prototype. The seemingly dystopian plan called for 20,000 people to be chosen to live in the city, which would have commercial areas, residential properties, theaters, restaurants and, most questionably, an air-conditioned environment. After Disney's death, the project was deemed unrealistic and scrapped.

Why real American flags must follownational flag codeLike flying at half-mast in times of mourning, Disney models were intentionally made to miss a sash or star. This means the park doesn't have to worry about flag etiquette, as their flags are technically pennants.

Epcot's legendary Spaceship Earth is designed so that water never leaks out of the 16 million ton sphere when it rains. Instead, the water flows through a passageway in the sphere and is funneled into the park's World Showcase Lagoon. How about recycling?

The fountain at Epcot Innoventions Plaza can shoot water 150 feet high. Keep in mind that the tallest fountain in the world in Busan, South Korea is only 9 meters high. If the Innoventions fountain released all of its handles at once, it would eject 2,000 gallons of water.

There is no doubt that Cinderella Castle is impressive in the Magic Kingdom. But appearances are deceiving: this castle is more like a fortress. Although the exterior appears to be stone, the building's envelope is actually fiberglass. Because the dream house was built to withstand hurricanes and winds of up to 200 km/h.

Disney really thought of everything, including how annoying it is to carry junk around. To keep guests happy and the parks clean, each area is designed so guests are never more than 30 steps from a trash can.

Even at a per-night room rate, it would take 68 years to stay in any one of the 30,000 rooms at all Disney World hotels and resorts.

Mickey Mouse has always been a style icon and has more in his wardrobe than a pair of red shorts and yellow shoes. In fact, he owns around 136 different outfits, including a tuxedo and a wetsuit. Minnie's collection is a little smaller; She has about 100 outfits.

On average, about 210 pairs of lost-and-found sunglasses are shipped to Disney World every day. Lost and Found collects approximately 6,000 cell phones, 3,500 cameras and 18,000 hats each year.

Every year, visitors buy more than 75 million Coca-Cola drinks. This compares to just 13 million bottles of water. Hydration is key guys!

Not all creatures at Disney's Animal Kingdom worship this day. To see the park's nocturnal animals in their element, visitors can join an exciting night safari. As well as an overnight tour of the Harambe Wildlife Reserve,the experienceIt also includes a meal of African-inspired dishes paired with local beer and wine.

If you're looking for a more robust Disney experience,the campsitesDisney's Fort Wilderness Resort has what you need. For about $55, visitors can pitch a tent in the park's 750-acre forest. If you're lucky, you might see deer, rabbits, ducks or armadillos.

Disney's Magic Kingdom covers 142 acres, while Disneyland in Anaheim, California only covers 85 acres. Both seem tiny considering Disney World is around 25,600 acres in total, or the size of two Manhattan islands.

You might have thought that Disney World was in the city of Orlando, but it's actually part of the Reedy Creek Improvement District, aspecial tax districtacting with the same authority and responsibility as a district government. Disney itself helped organize the District to exert greater control over its theme park environment. Technically, Reedy Creek consists of two distinct cities, the City of Bay Lake and the City of Lake Buena Vista. The county has its own fire protection, laws, and traffic contracts, and has only a few dozen full-time residents, all of whom work for Disney.

Living 130 yearsCarvalhoIt was found on Disney properties in 1990 and moved eight miles to Disney's Magic Kingdom. The tree weighs 38 tons and could only be moved by drilling holes in the trunk, inserting steel pegs and lifting it with a crane. The process took months.

ANDartificial treeIt was built on a modernized 14-story oil rig. The 145-foot creation is covered in over 100,000 leaves, each over a foot long. The trunk of the tree is concrete, not wood.

There's nothing better than feeling the warm sand under your feet on the beach. And at Stormalong Bay at Disney's Beach Club Resort, you can feel like you're really there. Its 750,000-gallon sand pool is the largest in the world.

To protect the park from unsightly bubblegum bubbles, Disney World suspended sales. It's not forbidden, but if guests want a slice, they must bring their own.

If you know your favorite Disney characters, you can also document the experience with an autograph. And it turns out that Disney sells so many autograph books a year that if you were to stack them on top of each other, the stack would be about 4,000 feet high.as high as 200 Cinderella's castles.

1975,Magic Kingdom Space MountainThe attraction officially received visitors. Although the trip really cannot betake you to space, astronautsscottish carpentermercury 7,Gordon Cooperof Mercury 9 and Gemini 5 andJim IrwinAll of Apollo 15 attended the opening ceremony to commemorate the space-themed journey.

disney world is notjust about ridesIn fact, over 12% of the park, or 4,000 acres, is occupied by gardens and other manicured landscaping. There are about 3,000 soccer fields with vegetation. To keep things fresh, gardeners plant around three million annuals a year.

The 18-minute Animal Kingdom safari journey offers visitors the chance to see up closewith animalsthat apparently areFree roaming. But fear not, these creatures cannot run and catch you or each other. The reserve will have barriers such as water fountains and moats to keep animals in specific areas.

Pandora's Visions: The World ofavatarthat opened in May 2017 are so magical they might not feel real. actually exists500 real trees and 10,000 bushesintegrated into the landscape. To heighten the experience, there are glow-in-the-dark trails that charge during the day and glow at night.

disney every yearconsume visitorsseven million hamburgers, half a million pounds of macaroni and cheese, one million pounds of watermelon and two million pounds of ketchup. 350 cooks are needed to meet the demand.

You can at DinoLand U.S.A. at animal kingdomI found dino-su, an exact replica of the largest T-Rex skeleton ever found, a 13-foot-tall, 40-foot-long creature discovered in South Dakota by an archaeologistdeclara Hendrickson. You can pose for a photo, but don't expect to see Dino-Sue in the photo, she's the length of a four-story building!

Keeping thousands of cast members spotless takes work, and most of it is done by the folks at Disney World Laundry. Every day, cast members do an estimated 285,000 pounds of laundry there. if you drop ita lot of clothesOne day it would take you 52 years to die.

Disney Imagineers took the historical accuracy of Liberty Square at the Magic Kingdom very seriously. To maintain the essence of the colonial era, Praça da Liberdade was built without bathrooms. (The Magic Kingdom has 23, though!) A sneaky loophole, however, allowed for the installation of restrooms at Columbia Harbor House and Liberty Tree Tavern, as they are technically not located in Liberty Square.

Whether you're visiting the park for the first time, celebrating a birthday, or celebrating another special event at Disney, you can get a free celebration button if you make the effort. All you have to do is stop by Guest Services or the front desk at any Walt Disney Resort to pick one up. Expect special attention from artists when using your button!

Worldwide, Disney World parks attract approximately 150 million people each year, making it one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world. and with almost21 million visitors in 2018, Disney World's Magic Kingdom is the most visited theme park in the world. And for a great family vacation away from Disney, visit the15 Family Summer Trips Your Teens Won't Hate.