The allure of Disney in the United States has made the theme parks in Florida and California one of the most popular vacation destinations in the United States for the last 50 years. In fact, the Disney charm has gone international with Disney themed resorts in Hawaii, France, Hong, Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo! For those who can’t bear to live a day without a Disney experience have decided to ink themselves with everything from their favorite Disney character to portraits of Walt himself.
We’ve put together a gallery of 50 fantastical Disney themed tats and 50 fascinating facts about the most enchanted amusement parks in the world!
No gum is sold in Disney parks.
Disney World encompasses over 50 square miles.
Disney World has only closed three times since it first opened in 1971. Hurricane Floyd closed the park in 1999. The terrorist attacks of 9/11 in 2001 closed the park as well as a 2002 power failure. When the park closed on 9/11, it took less than 30 minutes to evacuate and close the parks.
Guests in Walt Disney World are never more than 30 steps away from a trash can.
There are no bathrooms located in the Magic Kingdom's Liberty Square, in keeping with the time period of that area.
An imagineer named George was killed during the building of Pirates of the Caribbean. It is said his ghost haunts the ride to this day. Workers say "goodnight George" before they shut down the ride each night as a superstition to prevent attraction break downs the next day.
Epcot gardens grow over 30 tons of fruits and veg each year to help feed hungry park visitors.
Adult admission to Disney World when it opened was $3.50
Disney Transportation System is the third largest bus system in Florida with over 290 buses.
Disney has grown over 500 oak trees from acorns of the Liberty Oak found in Liberty Square.
Over 200 pairs of sunglasses are turned into lost & found each day at Disney World
Mr. Toad's Wild Ride was an original park favorite. After it closed a tombstone was placed in the pet cemetary of the Haunted Mansion for J.Thaddeus Toad.
The Lake used for Fantasmic is only about 1 foot deep
U2 was first approached to be the starring Rock Band for Hollywood Studios Rockin Roller Coaster. When they decline, the ride was based on the band Aerosmith.
Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest and Hollywood Studios Tower of Terror stand 199 feet tall. This is because any structure 200 feet tall would require red flashing lights according to Aviation rules.
Epcot's Mission Space Attraction needs more computer power than NASA's real space shuttle.
The hydrolic thruster and cylinder used to bring the Yeti to life atop Expedition Everest uses more power than a 747 jet engine.
Walt Disney died of lung cancer in 1966. His last words were "Kurt Russell" who at the time had just been signed to a 10 year contract for Disney Movies.
Mickey Mouse was the first cartoon character to receive a plaque on Hollywoods legendary walk of fame.
Need to cool off at Hollywood Studios? Look for the "Singing in the Rain" umbrella in the Streets of America. Stand on the pad and instant rain.
It is estimated that 4% of all amateur photographs in the U.S. were taken inside a Disney Park.
More than 50 million cokes are consumed each year at Disney Parks. Not one Pepsi.
It takes over 150 tractor trailer loads of decorations to decorate for the holiday celebrations. Disney's electric bill is for all of this is $0.00, They have their own power plant.
Since 1971, the Walt Disney World monorail trains have logged enough miles to make 30 round trips to the moon.
Walt Disney World Resort encompasses 30,500 acres, making it approximately the same size as San Francisco.
The estimated annual attendance at Disney’s Magic Kingdom Park is 17.5 million, followed by Epcot with 11 million, Disney’s Hollywood Studios with 9.9 million and Disney’s Animal Kingdom with 9.9 million.
The 180-foot-tall Spaceship Earth at the entrance to Epcot weighs approximately 16 million pounds.
Magic Kingdom which encompasses approximately 107 acres, is actually larger than Disneyland, which only covers 80 acres in Anaheim, California.
The design of Main Street U.S.A.was loosely based on Walt Disney’s hometown of Marceline, Missouri.
There are almost 30,000 Disney World hotel rooms throughout Disney Resorts. As a result, it would take nearly a lifetime to spend the night in every room.
Some of the oddest items brought to the Lost and Found were a glass eye, and a prosthetic leg. All were claimed.
The lovable rubbish-compactor, Wall-E, was named after Walter Elias Disney
For a couple of years Disney held the patent for Technicolor, making him the only animator allowed to make colour films.
Anxious to be on site as much as possible, Walt built an apartment for his family above the 'Fire Department' on Main Street. A lamp in the window signaling to staff that he was in residence, and this is now always alight in his honor.
The theme parks uses a patented 'Smellitzer' device designed to pump certain scents around. Be ready for a waft of sea salt in Pirates of the Caribbean, or vanilla in Main Street..
Main Street is based on 1910 America, while Tomorrowland was designed to represent 1986 - both were chosen because they were Halley's Comet years.
Steve Martin used to work in the magic shop at Disneyland.
Dumbo has never spoken a word.
Although Disney frowns upon it, people spreading the cremated ashes of loved ones has become very popular.
Sulley from Monsters Inc has more than 2.3 million individual hairs, which are all carefully animated. This explains why a single frame of the big blue fella took an average of 12 hours to produce.
Bruce, the 'vegetarian' great white shark of Finding Nemo, was named after the mechanical shark used in Jaws, which, in turn, was named after Steven Spielberg's lawyer!
