7 Secret Disney Theme Park Facts
Disney parks - commonly referred to as “the happiest place on Earth” - and in many ways
- they most certainly are.
Families and tourists come from thousands of miles away to experience the family-friendly
fun the Disney machine has been supplying for decades.
However, for all of the lively, character-driven fun to be had in Disney’s assorted vacationing
parks - there’s some darkness brewing just below the surface.
If you look closely - past the bubbly music, cartoons and whirring of the rides and attractions,
things become a whole lot spookier.
Today, let’s take a look at seven secrets of Disney’s theme parks.
Number seven - the hidden Mickeys.
Starting things off slightly easy - the hidden Mickeys of Disney have been a recurring discovery
since 1989, when patrons of the parks began noticing the insignia (in the form of three
circles) embedded everywhere throughout the park - from ride designs, sewer grates, building
foundations and more.
Thought to first be implemented into the parks around the 1970s, hundreds of Mickeys have
been spotted throughout the years - sometimes innocently, other times ominously incorporated
into rather odd places in the park’s design.
While seemingly innocuous, park employees are instructed to dismiss any and all inquiries
from patrons regarding the sightings as if they didn’t exist in the first place - prompting
conspiracy theories to run amuck for over 25 years.
Number six - the underground tunnel system.
While the exterior locations and streets of Disney’s parks are painstakingly crafted
to be perfect recreations of their massive library of film properties, there’s a secret
system running just behind the scenes.
Although not truly subterranean - the series of interconnected underground tunnels found
at any of Disney’s locations provide transportation arteries to the thousands of employees and
performers employed.
These industrial-tinged tunnel systems (with jarringly different appearances) are a stark
contrast to the bright and candy-coated environment located just above - with the park itself
actually being constructed ABOVE ground level, sitting atop the complex system built to accommodate
the inner workings of the billion-dollar machine.
Number five - The Midnight Mouse patrol.
Since Disneyland’s inception - the park has had a comically ironic problem on its
hands.
The ‘House of Mouse’ had an extremely large amount of feral cats prowling the confines
of the park - first discovered in Sleeping Beauty’s Castle.
Realizing there may be a solution to their feline problem - the park adopted the two
hundred plus kitties and provided a new home to them all in their aforementioned underground
tunnel system.
However - no one boards for free, so these cats become part-time pest control for the
park - being released into the premises each night to help combat the rodents and vermin
that ALSO call the park home.
By the time patrons begin filtering in, the cats escape back to their beds and feeding
stations - snoozing during the day.
Number four - scent-based psychological control.
Walt Disney himself penned the original concept for “The Smellitzer” - a patented generator
that dispenses aromatic influence tailored to individual environments.
For example - Western themed areas are filled with the smells of dust, sand and sarsaparilla
- while other areas like the Haunted Mansion are pumped with the aromas of soil and must.
Although it seems simple enough, their complicated injection system actually pumps out smells
and immediately sucks them right back up - creating an endless supply of perfectly balanced scents
to influence your experience.
Some of their seedier uses include making the food at their restaurants smell better
or other surface-level distractions that literally make you think you’re having a better time
than you are.
Number three - Club 33.
The infamous secret Disney speakeasy is a an actual private club - long storied and
rumored about, but seen by a precious few.
Due to the family friendly nature of the parks - there’s only two places in the entire
establishment to obtain a hard beverage in the Magic Kingdom - a Little Mermaid themed
restaurant and this super secret, invite only club.
Strictly forbidden to be spoken of by staff, Club 33 is said to be not only an authentic
speakeasy-style watering hole, but also a card-carrying gift that allows its members
to enter any park for free - long before the doors are even open to the public.
Although said to only be obtainable to the rich, famous or powerful - it’s reasonable
to think (with enough luck) that anyone could potentially gain some privileged access.
Number two - the Disney Secret Service.
As with any park of Disney’s magnitude - the need for an exceptional security staff is
mandatory.
However, Disney takes it one step further - as their authority figures lurk in the shadows,
intentionally hidden from sight and sound.
Members of Disney’s secret service style security team are mostly dressed in plain
clothes - hidden in the open against the sea of patrons at any given time - yet constantly
monitoring the premises for any unsavory or potentially dangerous activity.
Although there’s a handful of online clips to be found of officers breaking their hidden
cover to swoop in and handle a criminal situation, it’s almost impossible to tell WHO exactly
is watching you until the moment you do something - well, un-mouse-like.
Number one - the Post-Mortem coverups.
Although theme parks are generally considered the safer thrill-seeking alternative to carnival
and temporary rides (due to their regular maintenance and permanent constructions),
accidents still DO happen.
Whether a naturally caused death, excitement-provoked heart attack - or a death caused by the fault
of a ride or operator - fatalities are simply bad for business.
Although it’s impossible to avoid, darkened rumors about a long history of covered up
or whitewashed cases persist - especially whispers over undocumented deaths.
Although there’s no formal proof of any such thing, it’s hard not to believe that
the need to be - err - discreet - may come into play.
It’s just disconcerting to think there may be more happening than what we know.
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