Most Shocking Disney Facts

1. Disney “weenies” are visual icons that draw guests and help them orientate themselves within the parks—so called because Walt realized his dog would follow him when he was carrying a weenie. Cinderella’s and Sleeping Beauty’s castles are Disney weenies.

2. Walt Disney wanted to feature real animals at Disneyland. Live alligators inhabited Jungle Cruise in 1955, but the babies kept escaping. The gators were relocated.

3. Walt Disney received one normal sized honorary Oscar and seven miniature Oscars for Snow White and the Seven Dwarves in 1938.

4. Each year, Disney guests lose approximately 6,000 cellphones, 3,500 digital cameras and 18,000 hats!

5. On Disneyland’s opening day, during a Main Street parade, a tiger and panther broke through that partition separating them. Guests witnessed the bloody battle.

6. Before 2019, Disneyland was considered a dry park. Only members of Club 33 were served alcohol. Membership cost? $35,000 to join and $15,000 annually, not to mention the years-long waiting list.

7. Goofy and Donald are in The Little Mermaid, watching the concert as her sisters sing.

8. Walt’s family lived above the fire station on Disneyland’s Main Street. An antique lamp still burns there in remembrance of him.

9. Mickey Mouse has more than 500 outfits, including a scuba suit.

10. You can stay in Cinderella’s castle, but you’ll need to win a sweepstakes.

11. Have you ever noticed how Main Street smells like sweet baked goods, Pirates of the Caribbean smells salty, and the Haunted Mansion smells like ghosts? Disney uses “smellitizers” to build atmosphere at activate memories. Even Disney resort lobbies have signature scents.

12. Mickey Mouse was the first animated character to be awarded a Hollywood Walk of Fame star. He was also the first animated character to speak onscreen: “Hot dog!” (The Karnival Kid, 1929)

13. When Disneyland opened, guests with facial hair were not allowed inside.

14. Daveigh Chase voiced both Samara in The Ring and Lilo in Lilo & Stitch.

15. More than 750 million people have visited Disneyland.

16. The name Wall-E was inspired by Walter Elias Disney.