MORE LITTLE KNOWN FACTS ABOUT DISNEYLAND

As you walk into Disneyland if you enter to your left you will walk by the Disneyland Fire Department. This is a real working fire department should there be a fire at Disneyland.

Right above the Fire Department you will see a window with a light on. This was Walt Disney's actual apartment. Yes he really lived at Disneyland. How fun would that be!

The staff, or as they are known at Disneyland, the Cast Members, would always know when Mr. Disney was actually home because he would always leave the light on in the window. If the light was off they knew he was not in the park.

Once Mr. Disney died they left the light on 24 hours a day as a memorial to Walt Disney as they believe his Spirit is always at Disneyland.

The street you walk down to get to all the rides is called Main Street USA.

The appearance of Main Street gives the appearance that it is larger then it actually is. This is because they used "forced perspective". The ground level floors were built at approximately 7/8 size and the upper floors become progressively smaller.

The buildings are also a tad bit higher on one side then the other.

By building Main Street this way it makes it appear that it's just a little short walk to get to the heart of the park.

But, when you leave it appears that it's a long walk to get outside. Disneyland does not want it's guest to leave so by making it appear this way they are hoping to keep you in the park longer.

Note the windows above the main floors as you walk down main street. You will observe the names of many of the men and women who were crucial to the development and operation of Disneyland.

If you walk into the side alleys you'll hear sounds coming from the windows above. Listen closely and you can hear a piano lesson in progress, a dentist drilling and a man singing as he takes a shower.

The gas lamps along Main Street burn night and day.

When you go to the Snow White ride you will come across an open book with a brass apple sitting near it. Touch the apple and you will hear a clap of thunder and the wicked witch!

If you stand over by the Peter Pan ride and look up to the window at the top of the Snow White ride you will see a curtain. However, keep looking and soon you will see them open and the Wicked Witch will be looking out.

Since this curtain is not open all the time many people have never even noticed this. But now, you are in on the little secret so you can keep an eye out for her.

When Tom Sawyers Island was opened up Walt Disney made an agreement with the state of Missouri to annex it to them. Yes, it's true. When you step onto the Island you are no longer in CA.

Tom Sawyers Island has it's own Missouri Zip Code. This is why they do not sell things on Tom Sawyers Island. If they did so, they would have to charge a different amount of tax then the rest of the Park. Plus the book keeping would get crazy.

Should a crime be committed on Tom Sawyers Island it becomes a Federal Crime due to the crossing of State lines to get there.

Did you know that every day Cast Members will climb to the top of the Matterhorn at Disneyland? They go up there to check on things, do maintenance and make sure the ride is safe to go on.

Walt Disney had a basket ball court built up there for the workers so they would have something to do while up there. However, since his death the basket ball courts have been turned into a storage area.

I love the Carousel at Disneyland. To me it's so romantic and has feeling of days gone by.

When they clean the Carousel they are only allowed to use water. The reason is every horse is a refurbished vintage or antique horse. They are all 90 to 110 years old.

Did you know if you go on the Mark Twain Steamboat ride and ask the Captain, you may get to help steer the ship? Also, if he are lucky enough to be able to do, you will be given a special souvenir certificate.

The last little fun fact for today is, if you stop at The City Hall on your birthday, you will be given a badge that says it's your birthday. Wear it and through out the day the Cast Members will wish you a Happy Birthday, may sing to you, may provide you with a little gift and/or may move you to the front of the line in honor of your special day.

Well that's it for today. Did you learn anything?

Tomorrow I will end my little series with a post about the Private Club 33. I will give you a peek inside. This is something not to many people have seen.

FUN DISNEYLAND FACTS

Since I was born and raised in So. California I grew up going to Disneyland. I had several friends who worked there. For many many years I had a Year Pass and could go whenever I wanted.

To me, Disneyland is like a home away from home. But, I know many of you have never been to Disneyland or maybe only go once or twice in a lifetime.

I thought it may be fun and interesting to some of you, if I shared some fun facts, tips and even secrets about Disneyland.

There is so much information I can share with you. So, I am going to spend the next few days on this subject.

Disneyland is located at 1313 S. Harbor Street Anaheim CA. Walt Disney picked this address himself when Disneyland was first built.

Why 1313 you ask? Well, M is the 13th letter of the English alphabet so 1313 stands for Mickey Mouse. Pretty clever huh?

Walt Disney refused to ever allow a death certificate to read the place of death as Disneyland. For those who have died at Disneyland, they were not allowed to be pronounced dead. They were quickly brought under ground to a tunnel that leads out to Harbor Blvd. It is there that the person would be pronounced dead, not before hand.

Mickey Mouse will never been seen in two places at the same time inside Disneyland.

Disneyland does not sell gum.

Only Coca Cola brand soft drinks will be found at Disneyland. No other brands are allowed to be sold there.

If you buy a cup of coffee, keep your cup. The rest of the day you can then go to any place that sells coffee and get a free refill. Most people don't know you can do this as they don't often tell you. It's a little secret for those people who are "in the know".

Another little secret is, if you purchase a balloon and it pops or your child lets it go, you can get a free replacement. Also, if you find a part of a popped balloon, even if you didn't purchase it, and you take it to the balloon man/girl, you will be given a free balloon.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle has a real working draw bridge. It's only been lowered two times. The first is when Disneyland first opened on July 17, 1955.

Fantasyland under went a major refurbishment and was closed. In 1983 the bridge was once again lowered when Fantasyland reopened to the public.

The crest above the Castle is the Disney family crest.

To the right of the Castle, you will find stairs that lead up inside the Castle where you can go through an exhibit that tells the story of Sleeping Beauty.

It's a bit hard to find and is not always open. Therefore, many people do not even know about this attraction.

Dumbo is hiding on the wall of the 1st cave on Big Thunder. Most people have never even noticed this.

Alice can be seen only once on the Alice in Wonderland ride.

See if you can find her when you go on this ride. She is before you enter the Queen's Courtyard on the right side of the trees across from the caterpillar.

Once you enter the Haunted Mansion and go into the room that stretches, you are really going down an elevator. The doors open and you walk down the hall towards the buggies for the ride.

When you do this, you are no longer in Disneyland. The ride is actually underground and outside the park.

There is a hidden Donald Duck on the back of one of the chairs inside the Haunted Mansion.

No, I'm not going to tell you exactly where it is. It's more fun to hunt for it.

While in line waiting to get on the ride, you will hear an announcer call out for Mr. Egroeg Sacul.

This is actually George Lucas ,the creator of Star Tours, name spelled backwards.

Tinkerbell, Goofy, Briar Rabbit, Blackbeard and Pluto are all hidden on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Again, I'm going to let you search for them. I don't want to spoil the fun.

Throughout the Park you can find Mickey Mouse hidden in different ways.

There is at least one in each Land. You may find them in the wrought iron railings or a hedge that is cut into the shape.

Take some time and search for them. It's fun to see how many you can find.

Hope you enjoyed these little known facts. There are many more waiting to be told so come back tomorrow.