A Cold War tale of innovation, investment, and ideology
The Walt Disney Company is set to open a new theme park for the first time in 15 years, this time in Abu Dhabi, marking Disney’s debut in the Middle East.
Announced on May 7 following strong second-quarter earnings, the new Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the company’s seventh resort destination worldwide.
As Disney expands its global presence, the company continues to delight fans with the kind of magic and hidden details that have made its parks legendary. Indeed, Walt Disney was known for weaving subtle movie references and surprising touches into every corner of his parks.
In this gallery, check out some interesting facts about Disney parks that you probably didn’t know. Click on for more.
A lot of visitors attempt to spread the ashes of loved ones on Disney rides every year, despite it being illegal.
There is a wooden leg labeled “Smith” in Frontierland, which is a reference to ‘Mary Poppins.’ In the movie, Bert says, “I knew a man with a wooden leg named Smith,” and Uncle Albert responds, “What’s the name of his other leg?”
There are two lanterns on the second-story windows near the Hall of Presidents, which are a reference to the line, “One if by land, and two if by sea,” from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem ‘Paul Revere’s Ride.’
No shops at Disney World sell gum, which is why you rarely see gum stuck to the parks’ rides, attractions, and sidewalks.
There is always a trash can within at least 30 steps from you. The story goes that Walt Disney himself went to different parks and observed how long people held on to trash before dropping it on the ground. He determined 30 steps was the magic number.
Magic Kingdom’s lots were named after six of the seven dwarves. “Doc” was left out because designers thought it would be confused for the ferry docks.
Magic Kingdom’s concrete walkways don’t actually correspond to each section. Disney and Kodak conducted a study that showed that light reflecting off colored concrete makes for great photos.
The winding path in Liberty Square represents raw sewage that flowed down the streets of Colonial America before indoor plumbing was invented.
Unlike most of the lawn at Disney parks, which are carefully tended to, the lawn at The Haunted Mansion is left to grow wildly to heighten the mood of the place.
There is a wedding ring in the concrete wall at the line of The Haunted Mansion. It supposedly belongs to the hanging bride in the stretching room and attic scenes on the ride.
Toy Story characters used to drop to the ground when guests yelled the famous line from the movies, but the practice was discontinued for safety reasons.
The seal was only installed in the Hall of Presidents attraction following an actual act of Congress allowing it.
There's a Galactic Communication Network phone in Tomorrowland that plays messages from around the galaxy. One of those messages says: “Earth’s Crust Pizza! We deliver anywhere in the solar system in less than two lightyears or your order is free. Can you hold please? Thanks for holding. I had to take that incoming call from Saturn, because they hardly ever give us a ring!”
Another one: “Hiya, babe, it’s your agent, Johnny Jupitor. You called? Anyway, I gotta call you right back. I’m in a meeting with my number one client— er, I mean, my number TWO client, Sonny Eclipse. You’re always number one in my book, baby. You know that. Let’s do lunch! Oooh, look at the time! Gotta fly!”
And another one: “This is Tomorrowland News Networks Corona Borealis with your local time and weather. As always, it’s going to be a great, big, beautiful tomorrow, and at the tone, the time will be now.”
Epcot was designed to be a model community with capacity to hold 20,000 people. Walt Disney’s original diorama can still be seen on the PeopleMover ride.
Staff can enjoy a game of basketball in the upper third of the Matterhorn ride at Disneyland.
There’s room for eight additional countries at The World Showcase.
The 1982 book ‘Epcot Center: A Pictorial Souvenir’ lists Israel, Equatorial Africa, and Spain as potential pavilions.
The castle structure behind the German pavilion at Epcot was supposed to house a boat ride simulating a trip down the Rhine River.
The aquarium in The Seas with Nemo & Friends is so massive it can fit Spaceship Earth inside it.
The dragon on Animal Kingdom’s gates represents an unbuilt area called the Beastly Kingdom, which was going to be dedicated to mythical animals.
See also: Why planes are forbidden from flying over Disney parks (and other no-fly zones)
Disney to open first-ever theme park in the Middle East
Set for Abu Dhabi, it will become Disney’s seventh resort destination worldwide
LIFESTYLE Disney
The Walt Disney Company is set to open a new theme park for the first time in 15 years, this time in Abu Dhabi, marking Disney’s debut in the Middle East.
Announced on May 7 following strong second-quarter earnings, the new Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be the company’s seventh resort destination worldwide.
As Disney expands its global presence, the company continues to delight fans with the kind of magic and hidden details that have made its parks legendary. Indeed, Walt Disney was known for weaving subtle movie references and surprising touches into every corner of his parks.
In this gallery, check out some interesting facts about Disney parks that you probably didn’t know. Click on for more.