Fun Facts About Disney World That May Surprise You

My first trip to Disney was Spring of 1972. I was 10 years old and in love. I didn't return until my honeymoon in 1992 but four years later I brought my two year old, then my sister, and then the grandparents. While it may sound cheesy, we have made some wonderful memories there and after over 20 trips, we still see no reason to stop. It truly is the "Happiest Place On Earth".

• The Magic Kingdom first opened its doors on October 1, 1971. Adult admission was $3.50. Parking was fifty cents!
• The opening day crowd in 1972 was 10,000 people. Annual attendance at the Magic Kingdom is now 17.5 million.
• Both the Carousel of Progress and It's A Small World debuted at the 1964-65 New York World's fair.
• Mainstreet USA is based on Walt Disney's hometown Marceline, Missouri.
• Big Thunder Mountain Railroad has six trains: I.B. Hearty, I.M. Brave, I.M. Fearless, U.B. Bold, U.R.Daring and U.R. Courageous.
• The replica of the Liberty Bell was made from the same cast as the original in Philadelphia, PA.
• The Liberty Tree in Liberty Square is 100 years old.
• Liberty Square has no restrooms in keeping with the era.
• A wire extends from Cinderella's Castle to the Plaza Restaurant. Sit under it during the night time show to see Tinker Bell fly overhead.
• There is a bridge where you can view the logs splash on Splash Mountain. There is a cannon which shoots water every third log guaranteeing you'll get soaked.
• Ask to ride in the pilot house on the riverboat ride. you'll receive an "official" river boat pilot's certificate.

• 11 million people visit EPCOT each year.
• The track at Test Track is 4,286 feet long. The cars reach a speed of up to 65 mph.
• The Eiffel Tower in the France Pavilion is one-tenth of scale. The bottom is wider and the top is narrower to give it the illusion of greater height. A bird deterrent was installed at the top so as not to ruin the illusion.
• Spaceship Earth weighs 16 million pounds and is constructed of 11,324 aluminum and plastic alloy triangles.
• The facade of the USA Pavilion is constructed of 110,000 bricks that were handmade from red Georgia clay.
• A tomato "tree" in the Land Pavilion holds a Guiness World record for producing 32,000 tomatoes.
• The International Food and Wine Festival serves 1.2 million plates of hors d'ouevres each year.
• 2800 fireworks shells are used each night during Illuminations. One of the fireworks launching spots is on the top of Mexico.
• The king of Morocco sent craftsmen to help construct the pavilion to ensure its accuracy.
• The bridge between France and the UK Pavilion is based on the Pont des Arts in Paris.
• The Tea Caddy tea shop is modeled after the home of Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife.

• The ball in the Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular weighs 440 pounds.
• The Sorcerer's hat was added on December 5, 2001 to commemorate Walt Disney's 100th birthday.
• The Rock 'n' Roller Coaster was built outside. The building was then built around it.
• The Rock 'n' Roller Coaster's "limo" goes from 0 to 57 mph in 2.8 seconds.
• 60 hours of music was recorded for the Rock 'n' roller Coaster ride so the same song would not repeat twice in the same day.
• The Tower of Terror is 199 feet tall. One more foot and the FAA would have required a red flashing light be installed on the top.
• The Tower of Terror drop sequence is powered by two engines that are 132,000 pounds.
• The lagoon where they show Fantasmic is only 1.5 feet deep.
• Go to New York Street and check out the "Singin' in the Rain" umbrella. Stand on the square under it, grab it, and be "showered" with a surprise.

• The Tree of Life has 300 carvings which took 10 artists and 3 Imagineers 18 months to complete.
• The base of the Tree of Life is actually an oil rig (which could withstand hurricanes) covered with 102,583 transparent leaves in 5 shades of green.
• Disney scientists have been studying the vocalizations of the park elephants and have found they flirt.
• Zebras were added to the park in 2012 and removed four months later due to their high aggression levels.
• Some of the park birds are given fake eggs to nest on. This persuades them not to reproduce.
• At a cost of more than $100,000,000, Expedition Everest is the most expensive roller coaster ever made.
• 1800 tons of steel were used in the making of Expedition Everest. This is 6 times more steel than in an average skyscraper its size.
• Kilimanjaro Safaris is 110 acres, bigger than all of the Magic Kingdom which covers 107 acres.
• The pond with the pink flamingos on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride is shaped like the head of Mickey Mouse.
• 27,000,000 gallons of water are in Discovery river. That is the equivalent of 1800 traditional backyard swimming pools.

• Do use Magical Express. It is convenient, free and entertaining which sets a great mood for the beginning of your vacation.
• Don't use the Disney Dining Plan unless it's free or you are big eaters. We have never saved money using the dining plan but we have overeaten by a lot.
• Contrary to what most people advise, when you see an item you want to buy, buy it right then. There's nothing worse than having to go back to get it when you have limited free time. Trust me. If you stay at a Disney resort, they'll deliver it to your hotel for you.
• The grey stuff is overrated.
• So is the Dole whip.
• Unless you really want to see the characters, skip the buffets. You are guaranteed to gain 5 pounds easy if you eat there.
• Enjoy some of the activities that are not at the parks. We love biking and playing tennis. The fitness centers are great and not very crowded.
• Get a room where you can view the fireworks. It is so much nicer than fighting the crowds in the parks.
• Disney hotels are great but staying on the monorail is the best!