Disney Facts!

Facts 4381-4410

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Fact #4381
Originally, there were plans to include a Museum of the Weird within the Haunted Mansion. The attraction would've entertained visitors as they waited to enter the ride itself, and was to include a collection of oddities, including a "Candle Man," a man-eating plant, and a ghostly organist.

Fact #4382
The Imagineer who designed the pet cemetery for The Haunted Mansion is named Kim Irvine, and she was the daughter of Madame Leota.

Fact #4383
For a time, the Haunted Mansion actually featured LIVE knights. There used to be actual actors inside those suits that would jump out to scare guests. It worked a little too well. One of the knights ended up getting punched in the face, so the park switched to mechanical versions.

Fact #4384 (Disney Employee Story)
I worked in outdoor foods in the mid to late 1980′s in Mickey's Birthdayland. We had a cart that sold small birthday themed cakes like cupcakes. From what I can remember, the cakes were $2.95 or more, but that was many years ago. The cart was located right outside the main tent where there was a show that featured Mickey popping out of a cake with streamers and confetti. The tent smelled like birthday cake and it was neat for a "temporary" show. As the crowds exited the main tent after one show, a lady approached me explaining how much she enjoyed meeting Mickey at the birthday party. She then requested a cake that was on display. I gave her the total for her order and she said "Oh, I do not want a drink I just want the cake." I smiled and told her that the price I quoted was for the cake. She was shocked by how we could invite her to Mickey's Birthday Party and not give her a piece of cake. She then said something that I would never forget. "I paid to get in here to see a mouse and ended up being stood up by a rat!" She then walked off and I put the cake back in the case.

Fact #4385 (Disney Employee Story)
It was about 45 minutes before closing at Disney's Animal Kingdom and I was working the guest relations window. A younger couple approached the window and explained that they had left his girlfriends purse at the camera shop right inside the park. I told them that I would let them in to go to the shop to get the purse. Normally I would have only allowed one of them in but it was a ghost town and not that big of a deal. I told them to go to the turnstile and ask the main entrance Cast Member to look over and I would wave them in since I was by myself and unable to walk them in. They walked to the other end of the turnstiles and spoke with the Cast Member who then looked over at me for the signal and I waved to go ahead and let them in. At this time a security Cast Member came to the window, as they usually did in the evenings, and I explained what was going on with the couple. Not because I did not trust them, but because there was nothing else to talk about. The two guests entered the park and I watched them as they walked past cash control, then strollers and wheelchairs and then the camera shop. What? Wait. They were supposed to go to the camera shop to get the purse. I stood up and witnessed them walk about a dozen steps past the camera shop and give each other a high five as they continued to walk into the Oasis. I jumped up and told the security Cast Member to come with me and we ran out through the front and met them halfway through the Oasis. I asked them if they got the purse OK and they looked at each other like deer in headlights. I then said "Now that you have your belongings we can help you find the exit as we agreed upon." Security walked them out of the park. No ticket. No purse. No sneaking in the park. 

Fact #4386
Walt Disney was involved with the creation of the school that is now known as CalArts and left 25% of his estate to the institution. 

Fact #4387
Behind Cinderella Castle, just in front of the Golden Carousel, sits the Sword in the Stone. Most guests walk right by it. But a few do notice and stop to give it a pull. Many fail and walk away. But every now and then one of the least likely among us becomes King of England.