- The tall Italian cypresses located between the Haunted Mansion and Splash Mountain had previously lined the entrance of Tomorrowland. They were moved in 1967, when the old New Tommorrowland was unveiled. Bill Evans, Disneyland's head landscape architect for many years, thought that they would suit the Mansion 'scaping. His notion was perfect, for cypresses often symbolize death.
- The Haunted Mansion is the only place in all of Disney where the cast members do not smile.
- When approaching the porch of the Haunted Mansion at Disneyland, check out the wrought-iron railing.... while most of the decoration is composed of leafy curlicues, the bottom-most curlicue is actually a dragon
- The Haunted Mansion was originally thought up to be a walkthrough ride
- The dust used in the Haunted Mansion is actually Fullers Earth, which can be purchased form any Stage Equipment store
- In the waiting area under the hearse are written two names: Rick Godin and Jay Gayton 1995. These are the curators of the museum from which the hearse was purchased
I am told that Jamie got a new necklace, and that Ted likes it very much.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Big Thunder Mountain, built in 1979, is covered with 9.5 acres of painted concrete.
- When Big Thunder Mountain was being designed, one of the ideas was sort of like the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror. Guests would board their train car and soon would slowly go up a large hill, then the train would make a sound like the brakes giving away and the train would go plummeting down the hill backwards.
- To add atmosphere, the imagineers scoured ghost towns of western states and came up with actual ore carts, cogwheels, buckets, and other authentic mining equipment.
- The first drop after the second hill is called Monument Valley. During one of the first test on the attraction, the train derailed with a Imagineer on it, causing him to break his toe. So as to a memorial to him, they built one of the mesas into a big foot, with a missing big toe.
- The names of the trains on Big Thunder Mountain are: U.R. Courageous I.M. Brave I.M. Bold U.R. Fearless I.B. Hearty U.R. Daring
- The train used for the Rainbow Caverns tour still exists. It can be seen, crashed into a large pile of rocks, from Tom Sawyers Island on the backside of Big Thunder Mountain. There also are numerous other elements used from the site's former attraction.
After hearing the fact about being able to personally wake up the Tiki Room, Ted just had to try it!
The Matterhorn is closed for refurbishment, but Ted decided it was a perfect photo op anyway!
Matterhorn
- When Matterhorn goes down for rehab they repaint the mountain, lay down new track, the engineers update the ride control, and a team of engineers and cast members readjust the brakes.
- The 1/100 scale 147 foot tall Matterhorn at Disneyland is set in exact geographical alignment with the real Matterhorn in Switzerland.
- Before Matterhorn opened, Walt took it for a spin. Since the ride was not yet completed workers piled some hay at the end to stop the ride. Walt liked the the feeling of way he collided with the hay so much he made the ride end to the same effect as the hay.
- If you enter the Matterhorn from the Fantasyland side, you will experience a milder, more child friendly ride, but if you enter from the Autopia/Tomorrowland side, the ride is rougher and faster
- The abominable snowman on the Matterhorn is named Harold. When they turn on the computers every day to run the ride, following the startup sequence, the screen reads, "Harold isn't going to like this."
- Matterhorn has actually sunk 6 inches since it was built
Stay tuned for at least one more Disneyland post!
(Interesting facts via: hiddenmickeys.org)
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