Seven Secrets About Disneyland

Gudrun Enger has a friend who works in Disneyland, and whenever she visits the park her friend comes along and acts as a tour guide, and usually shares a few secrets.  Here are some you might not know:

The drawbridge to Sleeping Beauty's Castle really works.  It's been raised only twice: once on opening day, and once in the l980s when Fantasyland reopened.

The crest above the drawbridge is the Disney family crest.

It took only 364 days to build Disneyland.

Main Street represents Walt's home town, Marceline, Missouri, in 1901, the year he was born.

The organ that was in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea now lives in the ballroom of the Haunted Mansion.

In the early years of the park, the Rivers of America were stocked with catfish and visitors were allowed to fish off the docks of Tom Sawyer Island.

When Disneyland launched its original Submarine Voyage ride, it included Weeki Wachee-type mermaids swimming among the submarines.  Here's a video of them.


Photo of Tom Sawyer Island by Gudrun Enger

http://attractions.uptake.com/blog/7-disneyland-secrets-2460.html

More posts about Disney on Neatorama:

- 10 Cool Secrets About Disneyland

- Happy Birthday, Walt!: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Walt Disney

- 6 Attractions You'll Never See Again at Disneyland

From the Upcoming ueue, submitted by Marilyn Terrell.


Comments (69)

Newest 5
Newest 5 Comments

This is a very interesting article and detailed information--Great Job!!! Are you referring to the one in Florida or California? I found this site as a travel search engine for finding travel information, destination suggestions, and things to do at California Travel Search Engine and Travel Directory. It includes vacation ideas, travel tips, reviews, and videos.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
As a former DL employee, I know lots of secrets; ones that management wants nobody to know. Like the cats that are released after the park closes, to catch and eat Mickey's cousins. There is a very active pest control program, and this is one of them. While working there, I saw one murder (in front of the Matterhorn, on Grad Nite) and one person killed on rides (People Mover). DL is really a very dangerous place to let your kids run loose.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I've read two of Cynthia's books, "A Twist of Lennon" and "John", and the prominent overwhelming theme in both is her undying love for John, even several years after their divorce. She was so deeply still in love with him that right up until John's death in 1980, she always felt that she and John would reunite and be together again, forgiving him for everything he put her through.

Now THAT'S love!!
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
I feel sorry for her. She loved him and put up with all of his crap over the years. He wasn't as kind as we tend to view him. He, like all of us, had his demons that he was trying to rid himself of. It's just sad that she wasn't welcome to go along for the ride, IMO. He 'outgrew' her and left her behind. It's gotta be devastating to be dumped for another person. It's also got to hurt their child. Selfishness hurts so many people.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
  1 reply
Ms. Ono was maried with a young daughter when she began stalking the Lennons, asking them for money to fund her art projects. She eventually wangled her way into John's life, abandoned her own family and moved into the Lennon's house one weekend when Cynthia was away with friends. John gave Cynthia a mere pittance in their divorce settlement, apparently saying women like her weren't worth very much.. Cynthia was too polite to protest. What swines John and Yoko were.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
  1 reply
Cynthia was a wonderful person. I am glad she did find happiness in her life with her other husbands. You never forget your first love. I KNOW I met John Lennon when I was nineteen and we were together for five years till the day he left. SURPRISE WORLD YOKO WAS GOING TO BE LEFT BEHIND IN JANUARY 1981 AND HAD BEEN LEGALLY NOTIFIED. TILL THIS DAY I wonder what she had to do with what happened. John introduced me to many people I was far from a secret. I think about him every day. He was human and made mistakes the way we all do. Though I would have never met him I often wish he had worked things out with Cynthia and Julian but the universe turns in its own way. If anyone had told me I would have been so much in love with John or even meet him I would have thought they were crazy. However, we fell in love and those closest to John knew about our plans. I always felt pain for Cynthia and everything she went through. I'm sorry she left this universe so young but I know that she is in peace and happiness watching over Julian with all her heart as she had always done. She said if it wasn't for Julian she and John would never had married. Cynthia often in my life with tears running down my face I think about what could have been for those of us who truly loved him at different times in our lives and his. Yoko never did she used him and in the state he was in broke up his family but let's stop there. Goodbye Cynthia I am certain that you are loved and missed by all those that had the privilege of knowing you BLESS YOU.
Abusive comment hidden. (Show it anyway.)
Login to comment.
Email This Post to a Friend
"Seven Secrets About Disneyland"

Separate multiple emails with a comma. Limit 5.

 

Success! Your email has been sent!

close window
X

This website uses cookies.

This website uses cookies to improve user experience. By using this website you consent to all cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

I agree
 
Learn More