Last time, we ran out of space while looking at some things that you
might not know about Walt Disney World, so today we’ll spend a little
more time on the subject.
Studios “extras”
In my article about hidden Imagineering tributes, we spoke about some hidden tributes at the MuppetVision
theater at the Disney-MGM Studios. If you look to the right after you
pass through the turnstiles, you’ll see that the box office is closed.
But the sign also says that the key is under the mat. It is. Lift up the
mat below the window to see the key. Show this trick to someone who hasn’t
seen this article. Amaze your friends!
You’ll be surprised if you disregard the sign near the Indiana Jones
Epic Stunt Spectacular. Photo by Mike Scopa.
Closer to the front of the Studios, by the theater for the Indiana Jones
Epic Stunt Spectacular, there is a well with a sign that says, “Do
not pull rope.” Interpret that sign as if it said, “Please don’t
throw me in that briar patch!” Pull the rope. It’s been a while,
but I believe that there are about a half-dozen possible reactions.
Meanwhile over on Sunset Boulevard, the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
looms. But the music and the Rod Serling clip aren’t the only things lifted
from the classic TV series. While you’re in the library, take a careful
look around. There are many iconic props from the show lying around. Some
of my favorites are the little coin-operated machine saying “Ask
a yes or no question,” from a great episode with William Shatner;
the book “To Serve Man,” from probably the most famous episode
ever (“It’s a cookbook!”); and Burgess Meredith’s broken
eyeglasses from my favorite episode, “Time Enough At Last.”
More Magic Kingdom “stuff”
Actual props from the original TV series inhabit the Twilight Zone Tower
of Terror. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
Over at the Magic Kingdom, take a break on Center Street, the side street
halfway down Main Street, U.S.A. Unfortunately, the malling of Main Street
claimed west Center Street (home of the late, lamented Main Street Flower
Market) recently, leaving only the eastern half of this lovely cul de
sac. Sit there quietly for a few minutes listening to the music and voice
lessons taking place upstairs. Alas, the conversations from across the
way were lost when the street was replaced by more retail space.
Meanwhile, in Liberty Square, the Haunted Mansion still has more secrets
to share. You’ve heard, perhaps, of the saying, “The opera isn’t
over until the fat lady sings”? Well, so have the Imagineers. They’ve
put her right at the end of the graveyard scene, right before the hitchhiking
ghosts.
Oh, and don’t get any bright ideas about jumping from your doom buggy
to Madame Leota’s table. Many years ago, somebody tried to do just that,
and fell 20 feet to the floor below. They’ve since installed a net, in
honor of the fact that many guests check their brains at the front gate,
but it’s still a long way down.
This “River” doesn’t run deep
The native alligators need to find a new watery resting place while the
Rivers of America are drained in this 1996 photo. Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
The Haunted Mansion sits on the banks of the Rivers of America. OK, the
river can’t be too deep, but it’s got to be at least fairly deep for the
Liberty Belle to be able to float in it, right? Well, not exactly. As
you can see in the 1996 photo above, the river isn’t more than about five
or six feet deep (about the height of a pickup truck). That’s Aunt Polly’s
that the truck is parked in front of. The round footings along the bottom
of the riverbed are the supports for the rail that the Liberty Belle runs
along, which had already been removed for replacement.
Riverboat tales
By the way, some of you may remember the days when the Liberty Belle
cruised the Rivers of America under a different name. The riverboat, which
went into service in 1973, was once known as the Richard F. Irvine.
The name was changed back in 1996, during the Rivers rehab taking place
in the photo. It was rebuilt from the bottom deck up, but the hull is
still original from the Irvine. There also was another riverboat that
once traveled those waters. The Admiral Joe Fowler was in use from
1971 through 1980, when it fell victim to a maintenance accident. While
going into drydock for rehab, it slipped in the carriage and the hull
was destroyed. However, there is still a life preserver with the Fowler
name on it that is kept in the hull of the Liberty Belle for good luck.
If you’ve got old pictures of one of the steamboats and you’re not sure
which one it is, there’s an easy way to tell. The Fowler (like
the Mark Twain at Disneyland) has two smokestacks, while the Irvine/Liberty
Belle has one.
Mix ‘n’ match
Did you know that the original Magic Kingdom resorts were themed to fit
in with lands inside the park? The Polynesian Village Resort (as it was
called then) was themed to match Adventureland, while the Contemporary
Resort was themed to match Tomorrowland. In this 1996 photo taken from
the late, lamented Skyway attraction, you can see how the architecture
of the Contemporary really meshes with the original white color scheme
of Tomorrowland.
In this 1996 photo taken from the old Skyway attraction, the Contemporary
Resort seamlessly blends with the styling and color of old Tomorrowland.
Photo by Mark Goldhaber.
The “Golf Ball”
Some folks insist on calling Epcot’s Spaceship Earth “the golf ball.”
Of course, that has decreased significantly since they stuck the Sorcerer’s
Wand on top of it and diminished its majesty. (Don’t get me started.)
But let’s stick with that golf ball analogy and see where it goes.
A golf ball is 1.680 inches in diameter. Spaceship Earth is 165 feet (1,980
inches). This makes Spaceship Earth roughly 1178.6 times the diameter of a
golf ball, or roughly 1,634,691,752 times the volume.
More interestingly, a golfer (say the same scale as a 5-foot, 6-inch
golfer) would have to be about 1.23 miles tall. (A 5-foot, 10-inch golfer
would be 1.30 miles tall.) An average (40-inch) golf club would be almost
three-quarters of a mile long.
Just “wand”-erful
The impact of the wand on Spaceship Earth can be seen in these photos.
Photos by Mark Goldhaber.
But let’s take another look at that wand. The geosphere of Spaceship
Earth reaches 180 feet above the ground (and the supports go more than
110 feet under it). The wand, however, actually dwarfs the sphere, towering
257 feet in the air. In fact, it is by far the tallest structure at Walt
Disney World, reaching well above runner-up Tower of Terror (soon to be
matched by Expedition: Everest) at 199 feet. This means that the wand
is the only structure at Walt Disney World over 200 feet, requiring those
lovely flashing red aviation lights.
Well, that’s about it for this time. See you next time!
Coming attractions
I’ll be at Walt Disney World from October 10 to 18 (if you see me there,
be sure to say “Hi”), and I’m sure that I’ll be bringing back
a bunch of cool story ideas, like all of the Halloween goings-on. Also,
in November, you’ll be writing the column, with Reader’s Favorite
Tributes and Secrets. A couple that I’ve received already have really
surprised me. Keep on writing in!
Bonus Factoid of the Week
Ask a Cast Member for a close look at their “Where the Magic Lives”
name badge. See if you can spot the hidden Mickey. Tink’s not the only
one on that pin.
