Disneyland is one of the coolest vacation spots. But there are so many unbelievable fun facts about Disneyland you have no idea about. Check them out below!
This list of fun facts about Disneyland was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links, which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Are you a true blue Disneyland fan? Or would these fun facts about Disneyland still wow you?
I’m a huge Disneyland Park fan. My family usually visits Disneyland and Disneyland Resort multiple times a year.
We love the corny jokes on the Jungle Cruise, spotting Pixar characters at Disney California Adventure Park, wandering through Mickey’s House, and transporting ourselves to Route 66 in Cars Land.
I love the magic of being in a whole new world, separated from everything else.
When Disneyland opened, it was a monumental achievement in urban development.
With so many design details and such a colorful history, there are many fun facts about Disneyland that just might blow your mind.
Here are a few of my favorite fun facts about Disneyland, as told to me by a former Disneyland cast member.
10 Amazing Fun Facts about Disneyland That Will Blow Your Mind
Dark Water System
The dark water in Disneyland is a term for the water dyed by imagineering to achieve a specific look.
Rivers of America, The Jungle Cruise, The Castle Moat, and the Storybook Land Canal Boats all use dark water.
Even more impressive is that these systems are all connected.
Disneyland uses an efficient water system to fill various spaces in the park and has its own water filtration recycling facility.
Main Street Expansion
From the beginning, Walt Disney proposed expanding to Main Street, USA.
It was not meant to be just a road leading to the castle.
Instead, the side streets would lead to future expansions dedicated to ideas that blossomed into Liberty Square at Magic Kingdom and World Showcase in Epcot.
Disney planned Liberty Street and Edison Square as two expansions to run alongside Main Street, just beyond Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln.
At one time, he also proposed an International Street.
The original concept for the Enchanted Tiki Room was a Chinese restaurant with performing birds in the dining area.
Richard Nixon Was Kidnapped on the Disneyland Railroad
In 1959, Vice President Nixon accepted an invitation to dedicate the monorail at Disneyland.
He wound up boarding with his daughters for the inaugural round trip.
The monorail had broken down daily and only successfully made one full trip the night before.
The organizers only intended the press to capture a shot of the monorail leaving the station.
However, Walt directed co-designer and engineer Bob Burr to take them out for a ride, leaving the Secret Service behind.
Mr. Burr was relieved to get the monorail back to the station without bursting into flames… Only Nixon’s daughters asked for another ride, and Walt instructed him to go again!
The monorail went right through without stopping as the Secret Service ran after it.
Patrick Begorra’s Story is “Rooted” in Reality
You may have seen the tiny home at the base of the Adventureland tree or read the 1955 Golden Book “The Little Man of Disneyland.”
If you haven’t, the story describes how Mickey and his friends chop down a leprechaun’s home while paving the way for Disneyland.
In the story, Mickey wins Patrick over with his vision for the magic of Disneyland, and Patrick agrees to let them complete their work as long as he can find a new home for himself inside the park.
The tiny house is a nod to this story, but even more amazing is the nearby Dominguez Palm.
This date palm belonged to the family that inhabited the land. It was a wedding gift dating back to 1896.
One of the stipulations in Disney’s purchase of the land was that he keep the palm, which he relocated to Adventureland, where it still stands.
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Wide Open Spaces
Here is a glimpse at Masterful Design. You will never see Adventureland and Frontierland the same way again.
Most gateways lead down a broad path that leads down some vista toward a beckoning “weenie” or visual magnet to draw guests deeper into the park.
This is certainly the case with Frontierland, although it’s slightly different.
Frontierland presents a much broader and wide-open appearance, unlike the boxed-in design of the other lands. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, one of Disneyland’s iconic attractions, is located in Frontierland.
It spreads wide, leads to a riverbank, and seemingly never ends, with wilderness lining the horizon.
Contrary to the “frontier effect,” Adventureland does the opposite.
The gateway leads you into a wall. This causes you to turn a corner to go deeper into the land and is more exploratory.
The giant treehouse obstructing the view on the other side compounds the mystery of the land, further shrouding this area in a jungle atmosphere.
Walt Disney Was Afraid of Mice
Yes, Walt Disney was indeed afraid of mice. Many believed that this fear inspired him to create the character of Mickey Mouse as a way to face and overcome it.
Disney’s fear of mice may have stemmed from his childhood. He grew up in a small Missouri town where mice were common.
One story has it that when Disney was a child, he was awakened in the middle of the night by a mouse running across his face. This experience may have left him with a lasting fear of mice.
In fact, in a 1956 interview, Walt Disney himself stated, “I’m scared to death of mice. That’s why I made a mouse my hero.”
So, while he may have been afraid of real-life mice, Walt Disney’s creation of Mickey Mouse has become one of pop culture’s most beloved and iconic characters.
Underground Tunnels
The Utilidor system at Disneyland is an underground tunnel system built beneath the park’s Main Street, USA.
The name “Utilidor” is short for “Utility Corridor,” and the tunnels were originally constructed to allow cast members to move around the park without being seen by guests.
The Utilidor system serves as a backstage area for the park, where cast members can take breaks, store supplies, and move between different areas of the park without disrupting the guest experience.
It is also used for trash removal and other maintenance tasks.
Disney built the Utilidor system before Disneyland’s opening in 1955 to accommodate the park’s unique layout, which includes a raised train station and a lower level for the attractions.
It is one of Disneyland’s best-kept secrets and is not open to the public.
Disney replicated the Utilidor system at other theme parks worldwide, including Walt Disney World in Florida and Tokyo Disneyland in Japan.
There is a Pet Cemetery Near the Haunted Mansion
Disneyland has a pet cemetery, although it is not open to the public. The pet cemetery is located on the grounds of Disneyland Park in Anaheim, California, and is a resting place for the beloved animal companions of Disneyland employees.
The cemetery is home to various pet graves, including those of dogs, cats, birds, and even a snake. Each grave is decorated with a unique headstone, and many graves have heartwarming epitaphs.
Matterhorn Bobsleds Hides a Secret Basketball Court
Yes, there is indeed a secret basketball court inside the Matterhorn Bobsleds attraction at Disneyland. The court is located on the upper level of the mountain, above the ride’s tracks, and is accessible only to Disneyland employees.
Builders constructed the court in the 1960s to use the unused space inside the mountain. People describe it as a small half-court with a single hoop and a basic playing surface.
The court has become a bit of a legend among Disneyland fans and cast members and is one of the park’s best-kept secrets.
While it is not open to the public, some lucky guests have been able to catch a glimpse of the court while riding the Matterhorn Bobsleds.
There’s a Time Capsule Buried at Disneyland Park
Disneyland officials buried the time capsule in 1995 on the park’s 40th anniversary and scheduled it to be opened in 2035.
The time capsule contains various items representing the park’s history and culture. These items include a map of Disneyland, a copy of the Disneyland Times newspaper, and a video of Walt Disney speaking about his vision for the park.
A plaque marks the time capsule in front of Sleeping Beauty Castle, and it reads:
“A Time Castle containing Disneyland memories, messages, and milestones lies beneath this spot. The Disneyland Time Castle is dedicated to the children of the 21st century, who may unlock its contents on the 80th Anniversary of Disneyland: July 17, 2035.”
Disneyland Resort FAQs
The oldest Disneyland Resort is located in Anaheim, California. The park opened on July 17, 1955, and is the only Disney park that Walt Disney himself ever saw completed. More than 800 million people have visited Disneyland since it opened in 1955.
Walt Disney coined the phrase “happiest place on earth” himself. He wanted to create a place where families could spend time together and create happy memories. He believed that the park’s immersive atmosphere, attention to detail, and emphasis on customer service would make it a truly special destination.
Walt Disney’s private apartment, designed by Imagineer Emil Kuri, sits above the firehouse on Main Street, U.S.A., in Disneyland. Walt used the fully furnished space, with a kitchenette, bathroom, and living room, as a retreat and to entertain guests. Though closed to the public, the apartment occasionally hosts special events.
Possibly! People claimed and shared stories of ghosts or strange noises during the ride. Others recount personal experiences they believe confirm its haunted nature. It remains one of the most iconic Disneyland attractions.
Roland E. Hill designed Sleeping Beauty Castle to stand 77 feet tall and appear taller using a process called forced perspective. He crafted the design elements to be larger at the foundation and smaller at the turrets.
Yes, many famous people have worked at Disneyland. Steve Martin worked in the Main Street magic shop before becoming a comedian and actor. Michelle Pfeiffer was a ticket taker at 18, and Kevin Costner served as a Jungle Cruise skipper before his Hollywood career.
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Disneyland Resort Facts Wrap-Up
Disneyland Resort is more than just a theme park. It’s where Walt Disney’s vision of creating a world of wonder and imagination comes to life.
From its inception in 1955 to its evolution over the years, Disneyland has remained a beloved destination for park guests of all ages.
Exploring some fun facts about Disneyland reveals how the park’s creators carefully crafted each aspect to deliver an immersive and unforgettable experience.
Disneyland has something for everyone, from hidden secrets and basketball courts to famous attractions like Pirates of the Caribbean, the Haunted Mansion, and Splash Mountain.
Whether it’s your first time visiting or you’re a seasoned Disneyland veteran, there is always something new and exciting to experience, including unique rides like Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes and Tom Sawyer Island, which offer fun-filled adventures for families.
As we continue to celebrate Walt Disney’s legacy and his dream of creating a place where people can come together and make memories that will last a lifetime, we can see how Disneyland remains one of the world’s favorite attractions.
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