Only Those With a Sharp Eye Can Catch These 12 Hidden Disneyland Secrets

Disneyland is filled with secrets and hidden details which often have elaborate histories that are hiding in plain sight. In my book, Disneyland Secrets: A Grand Tour of Disneyland's Hidden Details, I have collected more than 150 stories behind the small details that are hidden throughout the parks.

Disneyland opened over 65 years ago and now holds hundreds of secrets that are waiting to be unlocked. Learning these hidden stories of the parks is the perfect way to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Walt Disney Company! Both Boomers and Millenials agree that these secrets and stories add another layer to the Disneyland experience.

Only A Few Know These Disneyland Secrets

Below, I have twelve Disneyland secrets from the book to share with you. These stories were all collected from interviews with Cast Members, previous Disneyland history reading, or time spent roaming Disneyland. The little-known secrets below are excerpts from the book.

Secrets of the Walt and Mickey Partners Statue

The Partners statue, unveiled in the central hub in 1993 and portraying Walt Disney holding hands with Mickey Mouse looking out toward the future, has several easily missed references to Walt.

According to Disney Historian Jim Korkis: On Walt’s tie there is a small insignia for the Smoke Tree Ranch in Palm Springs, California. Disney had a house there and had the logo stitched into many of his ties. On Walt’s right hand there’s a Claddagh ring in honor of his Irish heritage. Both Walt and his wife, Lillian, purchased Claddagh rings during their 1948 trip to Ireland and wore them often.

One King Arthur Carrousel Horse Is More Decorated Than The Others

The white horse with the collar that reads “Honorary Ambassador” was dedicated to Julie Andrews for her Disney film work and for her stint as as the official Disneyland ambassador during the 50th Anniversary of the park. The horse is decorated with touches from her most popular film, Mary Poppins.

The Queue of Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters Is Lined With Big Battery Boxes

Many of these props are labeled Glendale, California, USA. The batteries pay tribute to the home of Walt Disney Imagineering, the creative team of people behind everything in the Disney parks.

A Famous, Non-Disney Character Is Featured Inside Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride

Behind the middle window of the constabulary is the silhouette of Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes. He can be seen on your upper left just after leaving the pub room.

The Original Disneyland Submarine Voyage Was Comprised Of Eight Submarines

Based on world rankings at the time, this made Walt Disney the commander of the eighth largest submarine fleet in the world.

Real Logs Were Used To Build The Fort on Tom Sawyer’s Island

To transport these full-sized tree logs to the island, they were floated across the river similar to the way that logs were transported in old-fashioned wood mills.

Most Of The Mining Equipment Throughout Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Is Authentic

Imagineers searched swap meets, abandoned mines, and ghosts towns throughout Wyoming, Nevada, Colorado, and Minnesota to find enough authentic equipment. This attraction's development was led creatively by Imagineer Tony Baxter.

A Large Spider Web Festoons The Ballroom In The Haunted Mansion

This web was added when a guest with a slingshot made a hole in the large glass panels that separate the hallway from the ballroom. The glass is built into the foundation of the Haunted Mansion, so it would be impossible to remove without lifting the roof off the building.

You can still see the crack in the Disneyland Halloween “Nightmare Before Christmas” version of the attraction. While this is already one of the scariest Disney rides, this fact makes it even spookier.

The Flames In the Pirates of the Caribbean Looked Too Real For The Anaheim Fire Department

The flames in the Pirates of the Caribbean look so real that the Anaheim Fire Department was concerned they would not be able to tell the difference between the real and faux flames during an emergency. Even though they realized that it was all part of the show, a special system was put in place to shut off the burning town effect in the case of an actual fire.

Three Trees Along The Backdrop Of Toontown Behind Minnie’s House Form The Letters WDI

WDI stands for Walt Disney Imagineering. They are the team of designers who create everything that is included in the Disney theme parks around the world.

Inside the Pirates of the Caribbean, There Is A Real Skull On the Headboard

When the attraction first opened, all of the skeleton heads were real. They were purchased from the UCLA Medical Center. The only remaining real skeleton can be found in the treasure room on the headboard of the bed.

The Final Plans For Jungle Cruise Were Made On The Construction Site By Imagineer Harper Goff

He used a sandbox to sculpt the sand into the shapes of the jungle river. Once completed, the bulldozers replicated the sandy forms he created with his feet.

Jungle Cruise is one of a few iconic Disney rides that inspired a movie!

Boomers Make These Ten Embarrassing Mistakes at Disney Parks

There are some major Boomer mistakes to avoid in order to make the most of your experience. From ignoring mobile apps to resisting breaking out of the same food routine, be sure to read our list of the biggest mistakes that boomers make at Disney.

10 Failed Disney Rides That Were so Unsuccessful They Were Removed Swiftly

While several beloved Disney rides have stood the test of time, others have faced issues or declined in popularity to the extent that they were removed. See our list of 10 failed Disney rides and learn why they were removed from the parks.

Worst Dates at Disney: Avoid Visiting Disney Parks At All Costs During These Times of the Year

Certain times of the year draw in huge crowds that can easily make your park experience frustrating. Make sure you're in-the-know about which Disney dates to avoid at all costs if you hate crowds!