Disneyland, or in other words, "The Happiest Place On Earth" is full of actual rainbows and butterflies but, there is a creepy aspect to the park that not many know about. One of the craziest rumors that many have heard about the park is that Walt Disney's body is cryogenically frozen and hidden somewhere within the park. Although that's probably not true, there are some other creepy things associated with the parks that come from the older rides. Since the park was opened all the way back in 1955, there is some serious history behind everything. The original park had some creepy decorative elements inside, but these days it's mostly gone. Here are some of the creepiest rumors we've heard about Disneyland that will make you look around a bit more the next time you go.
Disneyland, or in other words, "The Happiest Place On Earth" is full of actual rainbows and butterflies but, there is a creepy aspect to the park that not many know about.
One of the craziest rumors that many have heard about the park is that Walt Disney's body is cryogenically frozen and hidden somewhere within the park. Although that's probably not true, there are some other creepy things associated with the parks that come from the older rides. Since the park was opened all the way back in 1955, there is some serious history behind everything. The original park had some creepy decorative elements inside, but these days it's mostly gone. Here are some of the creepiest rumors we've heard about Disneyland that will make you look around a bit more the next time you go.
When Disneyland first opened, there was a shop on the Main Street called Hollywood-Maxwell Intimate Apparel where women could buy bras. Can you imagine going to Disneyland to get a bra? However, the shop had a little bit of a twist. t had on display women's intimate apparel from the nineteenth century up until the 1950s. You're probably asking, okay this is a little weird but it's not exactly creepy....Well the creepiest thing of all about the shop was it's mascot. The mascot for the shop was a revolving male robot on stage dressed in stockings and a corset and went by the name "The Wonderful Wizard of Bras". It spoke though an already recorded tape. We're unsure if that actually enticed customers to buy the bras.
When Disneyland first opened, there was a shop on the Main Street called Hollywood-Maxwell Intimate Apparel where women could buy bras. Can you imagine going to Disneyland to get a bra? However, the shop had a little bit of a twist. t had on display women's intimate apparel from the nineteenth century up until the 1950s. You're probably asking, okay this is a little weird but it's not exactly creepy....Well the creepiest thing of all about the shop was it's mascot. The mascot for the shop was a revolving male robot on stage dressed in stockings and a corset and went by the name "The Wonderful Wizard of Bras". It spoke though an already recorded tape. We're unsure if that actually enticed customers to buy the bras.
This is probably the creepiest story we've heard about the Disney parks. There was a rumor going around that when the Pirates of the Caribbean ride first opened, they used real skeletons to decorate it. It probably would've given the ride an authentic feel, but it's certainly spooky to think about. This story was confirmed by Imagineer Jason Surrell when he wrote about it in his book Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. He said the real skeltons were removed, "Because the original Imagineering team felt that the faux skeletons the period were just too unconvincing, the grotto sequence originally featured real human remains obtained from the UCLA Medical Center. The skeletons were later returned to their countries of origin and given a proper burial." However, this is still to this day a human skull that remains on the ride, and it can be seen above the bed in the Captain's Quarters! Guess you'll be thinking about this ride a tad different next time you go on it.
This is probably the creepiest story we've heard about the Disney parks. There was a rumor going around that when the Pirates of the Caribbean ride first opened, they used real skeletons to decorate it. It probably would've given the ride an authentic feel, but it's certainly spooky to think about. This story was confirmed by Imagineer Jason Surrell when he wrote about it in his book Pirates of the Caribbean: From the Magic Kingdom to the Movies. He said the real skeltons were removed, "Because the original Imagineering team felt that the faux skeletons the period were just too unconvincing, the grotto sequence originally featured real human remains obtained from the UCLA Medical Center. The skeletons were later returned to their countries of origin and given a proper burial." However, this is still to this day a human skull that remains on the ride, and it can be seen above the bed in the Captain's Quarters! Guess you'll be thinking about this ride a tad different next time you go on it.
As stated, the parks have a ton of history, and although it's been updated time and time again, the Imagineers like to give a nod to it's past. Many rides get replaced from time to time. Usually, if a ride received a lot of love from guests and workers, Imagineers like to leave a small piece of the previous ride when building new ones. Although the notion is sweet, it can end up being somewhat creepy in some instances. For example, if you turn around on the Winnie the Pooh ride, you can see large animal heads mounted on the wall with names. They're named Max, Buff, and Melvin and they come from the ride entitled Country Bear Jamboree.
As stated, the parks have a ton of history, and although it's been updated time and time again, the Imagineers like to give a nod to it's past. Many rides get replaced from time to time. Usually, if a ride received a lot of love from guests and workers, Imagineers like to leave a small piece of the previous ride when building new ones. Although the notion is sweet, it can end up being somewhat creepy in some instances. For example, if you turn around on the Winnie the Pooh ride, you can see large animal heads mounted on the wall with names. They're named Max, Buff, and Melvin and they come from the ride entitled Country Bear Jamboree.
One of Disney's famous "secret" (although not so secret much anymore) clubs is a club entitled Club 33. Disney created this to be a VIP lounge where celebrities and esteemed guests could get away from the large crowds. It's named about the amount of original sponsors of the park, which was 33. There's a rumor that there are only 500 members of this club, and that there's still a long waiting list. When you do become a member, you have to pay $25,000 at first and then $10,000 a year to keep your membership. It's apparently decorated with antiques that Disney personally chose, along with real Disney props.
One of Disney's famous "secret" (although not so secret much anymore) clubs is a club entitled Club 33. Disney created this to be a VIP lounge where celebrities and esteemed guests could get away from the large crowds. It's named about the amount of original sponsors of the park, which was 33. There's a rumor that there are only 500 members of this club, and that there's still a long waiting list. When you do become a member, you have to pay $25,000 at first and then $10,000 a year to keep your membership. It's apparently decorated with antiques that Disney personally chose, along with real Disney props.
Walt Disney loved keeping the element of magic alive within the parks. The secret behind this magical feature is that once he saw a cowboy wandering from Frontierland to Tommorowland, which he had a problem with. When he began building Orlando's Magic Kingdom, he didn't want anything else happening like that again. He decided to build a layer of the park full of 392,040 square feet of underground tunnels for the staff to use to get from park to park. Technically, they're not ACTUALLY underground. The tunnels are on the ground level while the rest of the park sits on the second level. The tunnels themselves are called utilizers and can be used by staff at the staircases around the park. It's also down here where the cast members are able to have their lunch and hair salon called the Mouseketeria.
Walt Disney loved keeping the element of magic alive within the parks. The secret behind this magical feature is that once he saw a cowboy wandering from Frontierland to Tommorowland, which he had a problem with. When he began building Orlando's Magic Kingdom, he didn't want anything else happening like that again. He decided to build a layer of the park full of 392,040 square feet of underground tunnels for the staff to use to get from park to park. Technically, they're not ACTUALLY underground. The tunnels are on the ground level while the rest of the park sits on the second level. The tunnels themselves are called utilizers and can be used by staff at the staircases around the park. It's also down here where the cast members are able to have their lunch and hair salon called the Mouseketeria.
Over the years, workers from the parks have come forward and revealed the intimate secrets of the park along with their experiences in working there. A man named Robert Evans came forward and admitted that the park had an animal problem. He explained that, "If a cat gets onstage, we've got to keep them from getting close to the guests for obvious reasons. Getting clawed by a stray cat at Disneyland is a good way to get some kind of infection and a great way to get Disney in a sh**load of trouble. But believe it or not, the geese are the real threats. If you've never been around geese, they're kind of dangerous. They're extremely territorial, they hiss, they bite, and they chase you while hissing at you and biting you.
Over the years, workers from the parks have come forward and revealed the intimate secrets of the park along with their experiences in working there. A man named Robert Evans came forward and admitted that the park had an animal problem. He explained that, "If a cat gets onstage, we've got to keep them from getting close to the guests for obvious reasons. Getting clawed by a stray cat at Disneyland is a good way to get some kind of infection and a great way to get Disney in a sh**load of trouble. But believe it or not, the geese are the real threats. If you've never been around geese, they're kind of dangerous. They're extremely territorial, they hiss, they bite, and they chase you while hissing at you and biting you.
Whether you noticed it or not, there are little things Disneyland does in order to control guests without them realizing. One of these things is painting certain buildings specific shades to guide the guests where they want them to go. In fact, they invented these two boring shades entitles "Go Away Green" and "No Seem Gray". They paint things they want to hide these shades, or things they want to blend into the background. You'll usually see utility buildings or walls and fences, or even the door of Club 33 painted in these shades.
Whether you noticed it or not, there are little things Disneyland does in order to control guests without them realizing. One of these things is painting certain buildings specific shades to guide the guests where they want them to go. In fact, they invented these two boring shades entitles "Go Away Green" and "No Seem Gray". They paint things they want to hide these shades, or things they want to blend into the background. You'll usually see utility buildings or walls and fences, or even the door of Club 33 painted in these shades.
Anything abandoned is bound to give you creepy vibes! What you probably don't know is that Disney has a few abandoned theme parks. In 1999, Disney shut down "Disney World: Discovery Island and in 2001, they shut down "River Country". Both had to close down because of a Florida law that said unchlorinater natural water could not be used in theme parks. Yet, even though they closed down the parks, the statures were not demolished, meaning that the ruins of the former parks are still there to this day. An urban explorer named Shane Perez visited these parks and found vulture babies, old photos of employees, and preserved snakes in jars.
Anything abandoned is bound to give you creepy vibes! What you probably don't know is that Disney has a few abandoned theme parks. In 1999, Disney shut down "Disney World: Discovery Island and in 2001, they shut down "River Country". Both had to close down because of a Florida law that said unchlorinater natural water could not be used in theme parks. Yet, even though they closed down the parks, the statures were not demolished, meaning that the ruins of the former parks are still there to this day. An urban explorer named Shane Perez visited these parks and found vulture babies, old photos of employees, and preserved snakes in jars.
The older rides of the park definitely have a more creepy factor to them than the newer ones. The older rides are referred to "dark rides" since they're not lit up and they're all about the scenes you ride though, while the newer ones are bright and shiny looking. One of the aforementioned "dark rides" is "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" with Mr.Toad from The Wind in the Willows. The weird part of this ride is that it ends with Mr. Toad going to hell after he collides with a train. The hell part is filled with devils, and is even heated to make you feel like you're there. The creepiest part about it is that there's no scene in the movie or book versions where Mr. Toad goes to hell, someone just deemed it appropriate for the ride.
The older rides of the park definitely have a more creepy factor to them than the newer ones. The older rides are referred to "dark rides" since they're not lit up and they're all about the scenes you ride though, while the newer ones are bright and shiny looking. One of the aforementioned "dark rides" is "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" with Mr.Toad from The Wind in the Willows. The weird part of this ride is that it ends with Mr. Toad going to hell after he collides with a train. The hell part is filled with devils, and is even heated to make you feel like you're there. The creepiest part about it is that there's no scene in the movie or book versions where Mr. Toad goes to hell, someone just deemed it appropriate for the ride.
So, in 2010, the New York Daily News, reported that a chef who worked at the Disneyland in Paris committed suicide. It turns out his death was related to the park. In French, he wrote on the wall, "I don't want to go back to Mickey's House" before his death. Then, in 2013, a child fell out of a water ride and suffered severe injuries. It was written in the New York Daily News, "But this wasn't an isolated incident - in November 2013, another Disneyland Paris employee tried to light himself on fire but he was stopped just in time. The same year, a child fell out of a water ride and suffered severe injuries. Although Disneyland Paris is the most popular tourist attraction in Europe (with roughly 15 million visitors per year), it has an impressive body count, which is the absolute last thing a theme park should ever have." Yiiiikes!
So, in 2010, the New York Daily News, reported that a chef who worked at the Disneyland in Paris committed suicide. It turns out his death was related to the park. In French, he wrote on the wall, "I don't want to go back to Mickey's House" before his death. Then, in 2013, a child fell out of a water ride and suffered severe injuries. It was written in the New York Daily News, "But this wasn't an isolated incident - in November 2013, another Disneyland Paris employee tried to light himself on fire but he was stopped just in time. The same year, a child fell out of a water ride and suffered severe injuries. Although Disneyland Paris is the most popular tourist attraction in Europe (with roughly 15 million visitors per year), it has an impressive body count, which is the absolute last thing a theme park should ever have." Yiiiikes!
If you go on Splash Mountain, none of the characters from the ride will be familiar to us. This is because they were adapted from a 1946 film called Song of the South. The film was never released in the US because it was extremely racist. It told the story of a slave storyteller called Uncle Remus, and then they based a ride on it. Also, in the 90s, there seemed to be a trend amongst women in which they would flash their breasts for the camera that took souvenir photos.
If you go on Splash Mountain, none of the characters from the ride will be familiar to us. This is because they were adapted from a 1946 film called Song of the South. The film was never released in the US because it was extremely racist. It told the story of a slave storyteller called Uncle Remus, and then they based a ride on it. Also, in the 90s, there seemed to be a trend amongst women in which they would flash their breasts for the camera that took souvenir photos.
There are all kinds of legends that run amok around the Disney parks, and it's up to you whether you want to believe them or not. There are ghost stories that revolve around certain rides, such as the dead bellhop that haunts the Tower of Terror. The story goes that a bellhop had a heart attack while working the ride and so he haunts it to this day. One of the guys who worked the ride believed this story and says, "We bellhops made a point to never let the person on Delta ride through alone. They'd wait until we were all finished with our duties and then we'd ride through together, or at least with one other person. Strange things happened every time: Lights would go off, leaving us in blackness. The people in the control room, who could see us via video camera, would swear the lights were on the entire time and nothing ever malfunctioned. The music would waver in and out. And occasionally, a dark, human-shaped figure would be spotted lurking around behind the machinery, but when you turned your head, it would be gone." There are all kinds of legends that run amok around the Disney parks, and it's up to you whether you want to believe them or not.
There are ghost stories that revolve around certain rides, such as the dead bellhop that haunts the Tower of Terror. The story goes that a bellhop had a heart attack while working the ride and so he haunts it to this day. One of the guys who worked the ride believed this story and says, "We bellhops made a point to never let the person on Delta ride through alone. They'd wait until we were all finished with our duties and then we'd ride through together, or at least with one other person. Strange things happened every time: Lights would go off, leaving us in blackness. The people in the control room, who could see us via video camera, would swear the lights were on the entire time and nothing ever malfunctioned. The music would waver in and out. And occasionally, a dark, human-shaped figure would be spotted lurking around behind the machinery, but when you turned your head, it would be gone."
There's a big tradition of people bringing in the ashes of their loved ones and scattering them in the Haunted Mansion. Unfortunately, the ashes are vacuumed up by the cleaning crew every night. Since the tradition started at the Haunted Mansion, there are still many people who apparently bring their ashes to the park even though nobody has officially been caught.
There's a big tradition of people bringing in the ashes of their loved ones and scattering them in the Haunted Mansion. Unfortunately, the ashes are vacuumed up by the cleaning crew every night. Since the tradition started at the Haunted Mansion, there are still many people who apparently bring their ashes to the park even though nobody has officially been caught.
Since it opened 60 years ago, the Jungle Cruise has developed it's own ecosystem. What started as a fake jungle, actually became a real, self-sufficient jungle. The Disneyland landscapers no longer need to tend to it beyond pruning the tropical plants once a year. We wonder if there's some real-life animals beyond the animatronic ones as well!
Since it opened 60 years ago, the Jungle Cruise has developed it's own ecosystem. What started as a fake jungle, actually became a real, self-sufficient jungle. The Disneyland landscapers no longer need to tend to it beyond pruning the tropical plants once a year. We wonder if there's some real-life animals beyond the animatronic ones as well!