23 amazing facts you never knew about Disney World

Fans of Walt Disney's films will be ever-grateful to Disney's film company for creating places that they can go and really immerse themselves in joy. We are, of course, talking about the various Disney World and Disneylands that exist all over the world.

There are six Disney resorts across the globe: Disneyland Resort in California, Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, Tokyo Disney Resort in Japan, Disneyland Paris or Euro Disney in France, Hong Kong Disneyland Resort and Shanghai Disney Resort in China.

If you're planning on visiting any of the above - or just really love the world of Disney - you'll enjoy the interesting and lesser-known facts about the parks that we've collected purely for your reading pleasure. Enjoy!

1. Disneyland, California, was built in the early 1950s, opening in 1955. Anxious to be on site as much as possible, Walt built an apartment for his family above the 'Fire Department' on Main Street. A lamp in the window signalled to staff that he was in residence, and this is now always alight in his honour. Awww.

2. Disney World, Florida, opened in 1971, long after the original Disneyland in California. Walt was unsettled by the sight of costumed characters having to run through the 'wrong' lands to get to their allotted spots, spoiling the magic at the first site. He came up with an elaborate tunnel system which runs beneath Disney World, and allows actors to put on their costumes and appear in the appropriate land without shattering the illusion. The entire park is built on a gentle incline to accommodate these.

3. The rules for those playing theme park characters include never using the word 'no' (not sure that would stand up in court), never breaking character or sitting down and never pointing out a direction with a single finger, which is considered rude.

4. Like an action star in Cuban heels, some of the architecture at Disneyland has had a helping hand to appear taller. Its design uses 'forced perspective', so while Sleeping Beauty's castle may seem to rise up into the clouds, thanks to painted bricks that get smaller towards the top, it's actually a relatively titchy 189ft tall.

5. The theme parks use a patented 'Smellitzer' device designed to pump certain scents around. Whether it's a waft of sea salt in Pirates of the Caribbean, or vanilla in Main Street, your senses are constantly being played.

6. Main Street is based on 1910 America, while Tomorrowland was designed to represent 1986 - both were chosen because they were Halley's Comet years.

7. If you're into exclusivity, and already a paid-up Club 33 member, why not try a night in Cinderella's castle in Florida? A swish 650ft apartment can be accessed by a secret lift, but unless you're Hollywood royalty it's unlikely you'll be given directions, and no amount of money can buy your way in.

8. Apparently, if you send Mickey and Minnie Mouse an invitation to your wedding they'll send you back an autographed photo and a 'Just Married' badge. If you send Cinderella and Prince Charming an invitation, you'll get an autographed congratulatory certificate.

9. Disney World flew its flags at half-mast on the day Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died. Jobs was Disney's largest single shareholder (7 percent) and was on the board of directors. Cars features a white racing car with the Apple logo, and the number '84', which refers to the year the first Apple computer was released.

10. While a million and one kids have lost their minds at Disney World, adults have misplaced an estimated 1.65 million pairs of glasses since 1971. Every year, the park finds an average of 6,000 cellphones, 3,500 digital cameras and 18,000 hats.

11. It would take 68 years to sleep in every single room at Disney World. That's a lot of pillow mints.

12. The Disney World resort is about the same size as San Francisco.

13. Disney World was evacuated on September 11, 2001 in just 30 minutes, as staff feared it might become another terrorist target. They then worked through the night to erect the Fourth of July decorations, so it could reopen the following day with an air of national solidarity.

14. Walt Disney's attention to detail was legendary. He placed the bins at Disney World 25 steps away from the hot dog stall, as this was how long it took him to eat a hot dog.

15. With about 78 million sold, Mickey Mouse ears are one of the most popular souvenirs from Disneyland. Names can be embroidered on the back, but you can't get the name of a famous person, sports team, corporation, or personal business.

16. Disney built a miniature railroad in his backyard called the Carolwood Pacific Railroad. It had 2,615 feet of track, including trestles, loops, overpasses, and even a tunnel (after his wife vetoed his suggestion that he put a train through her flower beds).

17. Pogo sticks are forbidden at Disneyland. Not so magical now, is it?

18. On a trip to Disneyland Paris, George Lucas decided to film the Star Wars attraction during a ride - something that is against the rules. An oblivious member of staff (or perhaps a Star Wars hater) tried to have him removed.

19. Disneyland employees only have their first names featured on workplace badges, because Walt hated being called 'Mr Disney'.

20. Back in 2004, the company auctioned (for charity) the chance to name a gravestone at the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. The winner, Cary Sharp, paid $37,400 on eBay to become the attraction's 1,000th ghost. Each to their own.

21. When the Pirates of the Caribbean ride opened in 1967, the only fake skeletons available to Disneyland designers were rather naff, so they used real skeletons (previously employed for medical research) from UCLA's Medical Center.

22. Animal Kingdom scientists at the Disney World safari park have carried out pioneering studies into elephant vocalisations. Some of them travelled to Kenya to see Dumbo in the wild, and were involved in the discovery of a brand new call: an alert related to bees.

23. The horses that pull the streetcars along Main Street in Disneyland have rubber-soled shoes, officially to protect their legs, but with the added benefit of lending a distinct 'clip clop' sound to carriage-based jaunts.

So there you have it!

READ: Which actors voiced your favourite Disney characters?

This article originally appeared on Empire Online.

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