The early 1970s saw some of the greatest pop-culture moments of the century: the release of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On," the birth of "The Godfather" franchise, the formation of ABBA, the emergence of David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust...and the opening of Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The now-world-famous theme park made its debut in October 1971, and today -- in honor of the mega-destination's 45th birthday -- we've rounded up some of the amusement park's most surprising, bizarre, and downright enchanting facts that only insiders know.
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Cinderella Castle features a near-impossible-to-access VIP Suite.
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Magic Kingdom’s Cinderella Castle was inspired by French Renaissance chateaux and Gothic and Romanesque castles of Europe. The iconic structure houses what may be the world’s most unattainable hotel room: luxurious living quarters originally meant for Walt himself and his family. (He died five years before the park’s opening, so never got to enjoy the super-exclusive apartment.) A private elevator leads to a marble foyer, the entryway for an Italian-tile floored bedroom, bathroom, and sitting area, all adorned in opulent King Louis XVI-era furniture and decor. The Royal Suite isn’t available for booking or touring; access is only awarded to the occasional sweepstakes winner or A-list celeb (Tom Cruise and Kevin Jonas have both scored stays there).
The castle also includes a shocking attention to detail.
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Every seemingly small facet of Cinderella Castle was meticulously planned, including the exact height of the castle. The building rises a strategic 189 feet; had it hit the 190-foot mark, Disney would have had to affix a blinking red light at the top to comply with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. The upper reaches of the castle hold another architectural subtlety: their fiberglass bricks are smaller than the ones at the building’s base. This creates a perspective trick, making the castle’s proportions and scale seem even grander than they really are. The gold turrets help with this effect, too. They’re actually coated in aluminum, but 14-karat gold was used in the five hand-laid glass mosaics found in the castle’s archway.
Guests will never see trash collection, off-duty characters, or maintenance workers.
All of the garbage tossed in bins throughout Disney World is “magically” whisked away, thanks to an elaborate series of pneumatic tubes beneath the park. This may seem like a modern technological upgrade, but it is actually part of the original, half-a-century-old design. Walt didn’t want guests to witness something as “pedestrian” as trash collection, so a massive complex that could contain the tube system was engineered. To this day, the tubes suck waste from the bottom of trash cans all over the park and siphon it to a repository, where it is sorted and processed. The complex, called the Utilidors, not only houses the tubes, but also all sorts of functional areas, like locker rooms, laundry rooms, cafeterias, and hallways for cast and crew members to get from place to place without being seen. The Utilidors tunnel network is thought of as being underground, but it was actually built on the ground level, with the rest of Disney World constructed above.
The American flags lining Main Street aren’t the real thing.
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“Things aren’t always what they seem,” Jafar warns Aladdin in the 1992 animated film. That line could be applied to the American flags flying over Main Street USA in the park. Look closely: The flags don’t feature a full set of 50 stars and 13 stripes, meaning they’re not true American flags. The similar-but-not-quite designs are a nifty way for Disney World to bypass such protocol as taking the flags down at night or in bad weather.
Speaking of flags, male employees can finally let their facial-hair flags fly (sort of).
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For most of Disney World’s history, male employees had to adhere to a strict no-facial-hair policy. Mustaches were eventually allowed, since that is what Walt himself had. Today, male employees can sport mustaches, beards, and goatees — but they must meet specific parameters. All facial hair must be no longer than one-quarter of an inch. Mustaches without beards must reach the corners of the mouth, but may not extend past the corners (a la Walt’s own ’stache). Flared sideburns and muttonchops are still no-gos.
Puppy love is alive at Tony's Town Square Restaurant.
The “Lady and the Tramp”-themed Tony’s, on Main Street USA, tips its hat to the 1955 animated classic in unexpected places. Guests might find their marinara sauce in the shape of a heart or their cheesecake adorned with a cocoa-powder outline of the canine couple. And etched into the sidewalk outside is a heart-and-arrow framing the twosome’s paw prints. The tiny detail is one more way Disney World hopes its guests “will find the enchantment here” — that’s a line from “Bella Notte,” the movie’s romantic theme song (the singer also supplied the voice of Tony).
Hundreds of secret Mickeys are stashed all over the property.
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As if Disney-goers need any more diversions, they always have Mickey-hunting as an option. The famous three-circle Mickey symbol is cleverly embedded all over the resort’s 142 acres: Circular survey markers and utility covers implanted in sidewalks feature ear-like adornments. A wood “Steinmouse & Sons” piano at the Emporium Shop has a gold mouse emblem. Decorative rope at the Frontier Trading Post is twisted into the iconic shape. Mickey’s likeness is carved into rocks, cut into shrubbery, painted into murals, and woven into carpeting prints, wall designs, and floor tile patterns — even the textured skin of a dinosaur on the Cretaceous Trail. Actually, don’t take our word for it: There are books and apps and hashtags dedicated to uncovering each and every hidden Mickey.
Related Links:
- The Perfect Destination to Take Your Kids at Each Age
- Disney for Adults: Booze, Freebies, and Fun
- American’s Most Popular Amusement Parks: Tips on How to Make the Most of Your Experience
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