Disneyland Article

The Disneyland You Thought You Knew Did you know that the cannons in Disneyland’s Town Square are actual cannons used by the French Army in the nineteenth century? Or that the organ in the ballroom of the Haunted Mansion is the same organ that was in the 1954 version of 20,000 Leagues under the Sea? You may think that you’ve experienced Disneyland before. After all, you’ve ridden the teacups and taken pictures with all your favorite Disney characters—what more is there to discover?

Let’s not be too hasty! “The happiest place on earth” holds secrets unbeknownst to even the most fanatical Disney enthusiast: hidden Mickeys, architectural illusions, and historical memorabilia, just to name a few. Discovering some of these secrets will captivate you in a childlike trance once again.

If you want your Disney adventure to be more than churros and parades, throw into your agenda a quest to discover as many secrets and fun facts as you can about the park. You just may find that entering “the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy” can be far more than you have ever experienced before.

Tricking Your Senses Walt Disney used a lot of care and creativity when designing Disneyland. He made sure it was a place where adults could feel like kids and kids could feel like adults. Even the tiniest details were considered. For example, he refused to have 90-degree angles on the sidewalks; he thought they would be too harsh, so instead he made sure all of the curbs were curved.

Disney also implemented a lot of forced perspective. You may notice that Main Street USA seems longer going toward the castle than it does leaving. That is because the street narrows

slightly, giving the illusion of a longer street as you enter, and a shorter street as your tired legs walk you out at the end of the day.

Forced perspective is also used on the Matterhorn and Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Larger trees are planted at the bottom of the Matterhorn, and they slowly decrease as they go up. The trees at the top are a mere two-feet tall, though they appear much bigger. And the lower elements of the castle are larger than those at the top, giving an illusion of a building much taller than 77 feet.

The Disney design team also did their homework when they created what they call Noseeum (no-see-um) Green. This is the color they paint things that they don’t want you to notice. For example, the door to Club 33 is painted Noseeum Green to detract attention from its entrance (Club 33 is an elite Disney club with a three-year waiting list, a $25,000 initiation fee, and yearly dues of $10,000).

As you try to find hidden doors and admire the architectural genius of Disneyland, you will smell wafts of fresh-baked waffle cones, popcorn, and candy. This is no coincidence. Disney uses a Smellitzer, a machine that blows delectable scents through the vents of Disney stores. Disney knows that guests are more likely to buy something they smell rather than something they simply see.

Riddles of the Rides Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, the Matterhorn, Space Mountain, and It’s a Small World are all classic rides that appear on every Disney patron’s to-do list. But there is more to these classics than meets the eye. As you and your friends take the plunge down Splash Mountain or have a whirl in a Mad Tea Party teacup, look for some of these fun facts to make the experience a bit more magical.

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The Haunted Mansion is actually located outside of Disneyland Park. The room you first enter is an elevator that takes you underground, where you then walk under the railroad tracks outside of the park to begin the ride.

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If you ask the captain of the Mark Twain Steamboat to let you steer the boat, he will let you man the helm and then give you a free souvenir certificate.

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Actresses dressed as mermaids used to sit on the rocks in the middle of the water where the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage now stands. Disneyland stopped this because too many men were jumping into the water and swimming out to meet the “mermaids.”

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Each horse on King Arthur’s Carousel has a name. The lead horse with the gold bells on its harness is named Jingles and was Walt Disney’s favorite. You can get the complete horse roster at City Hall, located at the beginning of Main Street USA.

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Snow White’s Scary Adventures was originally just Snow White’s Adventures. “Scary” was added later to inform guests of the ride’s frightening nature.

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Within the top of the Matterhorn is a basketball court where Matterhorn hikers can shoot hoops after reaching the top.

Whatever your age, Disneyland holds the keys to free your inner child and make magic a reality.

Now you can enter its gates and discover anew the Disneyland you thought you knew. http://disneyland.disney.go.com/.

—Cameron Smithson

Sidebar – Did You Know? 

More than 200 cats roam Disneyland Park at night, helping keep down the rodent population.

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The Market House on Main Street USA is the only place you can get free coffee refills.

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The Disney family crest adorns the archway of Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.

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You can watch the fireworks show with audio from the rooftop pool at Paradise Pier Hotel.

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Sleeping Beauty’s Castle has a functioning drawbridge that has been lowered only twice: on opening day and when Fantasyland was remodeled in 1983.

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You can ride in the front of both the Monorail and the train. All you have to do is ask.

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Goofy’s water at Mickey’s Toontown gas station is lit with different colors after dark.

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All cast members, including the horses, wear nametags.

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At the New Orleans Train Station, you will hear a tapping sound: it’s a Morse code version of Walt Disney’s opening day remarks.

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The left track of the Matterhorn is faster than the right.

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Whenever Walt Disney was in his apartment above the firehouse, he left a light burning so guests knew he was in. Since his death, a light has remained in his window to let guests know that his spirit is always there.