50 Things you Didn't Know About Disney World

Think you know everything about Walt Disneyhour in 2.8 seconds.
World Resort and its four world-class theme25. A swinging suspension bridge leads from Tom
parks – Disney’s Magic Kingdom, Epcot,Sawyer Island to Fort Langhorne, which was
Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animalnamed after Samuel Langhorne Clemens (better
Kingdom? Think again! Even the biggest Disneyknown as Mark Twain).
fanatic will be amused, intrigued or surprised by26. The replica of the Liberty Bell that can be
some of the 50 fascinating Disney World factsfound in the center of Liberty Square was built
listed below . . .from the same authentic cast as the original in
1. Walt Disney World encompasses 30,500 acres,Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
making it approximately the same size as San27. The exit to Haunted Mansion features crypts
Francisco.with humorous names inscribed such as I.M.
2. When Disney’s Magic Kingdom first openedReady, Rustin Peese, Pearl E. Gates, Manny
its doors on October 1, 1971, adult admission costFestation, Dustin T. Dust and Asher T. Ashes.
$3.50.28. The Walt Disney World Railroad, which serves
3. The opening day crowd at Disney’s Magicapproximately 1.5-million passengers annually, is an
Kingdom was approximately 10,000 guests.authentic 1928 steam-powered train.
4. The eight “E ticket” attractions at29. The Mission: SPACE thrill ride at Epcot is so
Disney’s Magic Kingdom were Spaceauthentic that motion sickness bags are available
Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Hauntedjust in case of emergency.
Mansion, Country Bear Jamboree, Hall of30. Mickey’s Toontown Fair was once known
Presidents, Jungle Cruise, It’s a Small Worldas both Mickey’s Birthdayland and
and 20,000 Leagues under the Sea.Mickey’s Starland.
5. The estimated annual attendance at31. Sonny Eclipse, an “intergalactic lounge
Disney’s Magic Kingdom is 16.2 million, followedsinger,” performs daily at Cosmic Ray’s
by Epcot with 9.9 million, Disney-MGM Studios withStarlight Café in Tomorrowland.
8.6 million and Disney’s Animal Kingdom with32. In order to rank as a “Galactic Hero”
8.2 million.at Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin, you
6. Cinderella Castle is Disney’s tallest structuremust score 900,000 to 999,999 points.
at 189 feet, followed by Space Mountain at 18333. The audio-animatronic dog in the Carousel of
feet.Progress is named “Rover.”
7. Both the Carousel of Progress and It’s A34. Astronauts Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper
Small World made their debut at the 1964-65and Jim Irwin were present at the grand opening
New York World’s Fair.of Space Mountain in 1975.
8. The 180-foot-tall Spaceship Earth at the35. Stitch’s Great Escape in Tomorrowland
entrance to Epcot weighs approximately 16 millionlies at the former site of ExtraTERRORestrial
pounds.Alien Encounter, which closed in 2003.
9. The Haunted Mansion uses state-of-the-art36. One of the original attractions at Disney’s
Omnimover vehicles called “DoomMagic Kingdom, Tomorrowland Indy Speedway
Buggies.”was once known as Grand Prix Raceway.
10. The jolly headhunter who shows up near the37. Recently renamed The Seas with Nemo &
end of the Jungle Cruise is known as “TraderFriends, The Living Seas pavilion opened at Epcot
Sam.”in 1986 and was originally sponsored by United
11. In conjunction with the 2006 release of PiratesTechnologies.
of the Caribbean: Dead Men’s Chest, the38. “Honey, I Shrunk the Audience,” a 3-D
Pirates of the Caribbean attraction atfilm at Epcot, is located in Future World at the
Disney’s Magic Kingdom was renovated toformer site of “Captain EO,” another 3-D
add several characters from the movie such asadventure that was directed by Francis Ford
Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa.Coppola and starred Michael Jackson and Anjelica
12. The icon of Disney’s Animal Kingdom, TheHuston.
Tree of Life, stands 14 stories, features more39. Legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus was the first
than 300 animal carvings and is 50 feet wide.champion at the Walt Disney World Open
13. Built in 1917, Cinderella’s Golden CarrouselInvitational, which made its debut in 1971.
in Fantasyland was once located at Olympic Park40. The Tomorrowland Transit Authority was
in Maplewood, New Jersey.originally called the WEDway People Mover (WED
14. The Great Movie Ride at Disney-MGM Studiosstanding for Walter Elias Disney).
is housed in a replica of Mann’s Chinese41. Disney’s Magic Kingdom, which
Theater.encompasses approximately 107 acres, is itself
15. Astro Orbiter first opened in Tomorrowland inlarger than Disneyland, which only covers 80
1974 as Star Jets.acres in Anaheim, California.
16. The Hall of Presidents had its origins as an42. The design of Main Street U.S.A. was loosely
audio-animatronic exhibition called “Greatbased on Walt Disney’s hometown of
Moments with Mr. Lincoln,” which premiered atMarceline, Missouri.
the 1964-65 New York World’s Fair.43. The Swiss Family Treehouse is of the species
17. Originally known as the “TropicalDisneyodendron eximus or
Serenade,” the Tiki Room in Adventureland“Out-of-the-Ordinary Disney Tree.”
was once sponsored by Florida Citrus Growers.44. The 189-foot-tall water tower icon at
18. The 60-foot-tall Swiss Family Treehouse inDisney-MGM Studios is known as the “Earffel
Adventureland weighs approximately 200 tonsTower.”
and is made of concrete and thousands of45. Jungle Cruise riverboats include Amazon Annie,
polyethylene leaves.Bomokandi Bertha, Congo Connie, Ganges Gertie,
19. Cinderella Castle, the centerpiece ofIrrawaddy Irma, Kwango Kate, Mongala Millie, Nile
Disney’s Magic Kingdom, features 18 towersNelly, Orinoco Ida, Rutshuru Ruby, Sankuru Sadie,
and 13 gargoyles.Senegel Sal, Ucvali Lolly, Volta Val, Wamba Wanda
20. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh atand Zambesi Zelda.
Fantasyland is located on the site of the former46. Splash Mountain in Adventureland features a
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride.five-story, free-fall plunge at a 45-degree angle
21. The “Spirits of America” statues ininto a splash pool at a speed of 40 miles per hour.
The American Adventure at Epcot represent47. The 8,500-acre Disney Wilderness Preserve,
Adventure, Compassion, Discovery, Freedom,which lies 15 miles South of Disney World,
Heritage, Independence, Individualism, Innovation,features a Conservation Learning Center and
Knowledge, Pioneering, Self-Reliance andhiking trails.
Tomorrow.48. Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin is
22. Towering four stories over DinoLand U.S.A. atlocated at the former site of If You Had Wings in
Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Dino-Sue is anTomorrowland.
exact replica of the largest Tyrannosaurus Rex49. The three “talking heads” who
ever discovered.introduce the Country Bears Jamboree are
23. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierlandnamed Buff, Max and Melvin.
features six trains: I.B. Hearty, I.M. Brave, I.M.50. Approximately 46 million people visit Walt
Fearless, U.B. Bold, U.R. Daring and U.R.Disney World – including Disney’s Magic
Courageous.Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios,
24. The Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster –Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Downtown
Starring Aerosmith at Disney-MGM StudiosDisney – annually.
launches you at a speed of 0 to 60 miles per