Your best Disney fact or insider story...

[Good Morning Dewdrop]

Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse, Dumbo, Teacups, Carrousel, Its a Small World and Hall of Presidents (assuming that you don't consider adding the new presidents as changing the attraction).

The Country Bear Jamboree has changed fairly significantly since it first opened.

Tomorrowland Speedway (Grand Prix Raceway) is essentially the same attraction.

Frontierland Shooting Gallery went from pellets to infrared so I wouldn't say it is virtually unchanged.

what about Carosel of Progress (except they updated the last scene as I recall)

 

[bcrook]

Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse, Dumbo, Teacups, Carrousel, Its a Small World and Hall of Presidents (assuming that you don't consider adding the new presidents as changing the attraction).

The Country Bear Jamboree has changed fairly significantly since it first opened.

Tomorrowland Speedway (Grand Prix Raceway) is essentially the same attraction.

Frontierland Shooting Gallery went from pellets to infrared so I wouldn't say it is virtually unchanged.

I think they have tinkered with Its A Small World. They just tore out the tea cups, any changes coming there with installation?

 

[bcrook]

The Jungle Cruise: first of all I never made the connection to the movie The African Queen. I always felt like I was in Conrads the Heart of Darkness.

I also didn't know that each of the boats in this attraction was named after a famous river: Ganges, Irrawaddy, Orinoco, etc.

Anybody hear that Disney was planning a movie based loosely on this ride? Tim Allen and Tom Hanks starring? Apparently that has been shelved.

 

[jw50]

what about Carosel of Progress (except they updated the last scene as I recall)

Carousel of Progress was not one of the original attractions at Disney World.

 

[disneyfan03]

The Jungle Cruise: first of all I never made the connection to the movie The African Queen. I always felt like I was in Conrads the Heart of Darkness.

I also didn't know that each of the boats in this attraction was named after a famous river: Ganges, Irrawaddy, Orinoco, etc.

Anybody hear that Disney was planning a movie based loosely on this ride? Tim Allen and Tom Hanks starring? Apparently that has been shelved.

This thread has been great. I thought I knew a lot about Disney but I learned a few more interesting tidbits on here. Thanks so much everyone. I did hear that they were going to do a movie after Jungle Cruise. Has it officially been shelved?

 

[bcrook]

This thread has been great. I thought I knew a lot about Disney but I learned a few more interesting tidbits on here. Thanks so much everyone. I did hear that they were going to do a movie after Jungle Cruise. Has it officially been shelved?

According to IMDB it in the development stage, but it has been there since 2007.

 

[bcrook]

Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Swiss Family Treehouse, Dumbo, Teacups, Carrousel, Its a Small World and Hall of Presidents (assuming that you don't consider adding the new presidents as changing the attraction).

The Country Bear Jamboree has changed fairly significantly since it first opened.

Tomorrowland Speedway (Grand Prix Raceway) is essentially the same attraction.

Frontierland Shooting Gallery went from pellets to infrared so I wouldn't say it is virtually unchanged.

There is something a little sad about that quote. I would think the go cart technology has improved in the last 42 years. Have they at least upgraded the cars? They do still feel like the 1977 versions.

 

[t_daniels]

This is definitely the idea behind the suite... but Tom and Suri got up there somehow.

Celebrities who donate to Wdw related charities are offered stays,I believe.

 

[jw50]

Have they at least upgraded the cars? They do still feel like the 1977 versions.

I believe they are the same ride vehicles (they aren't really go carts) as when the attraction opened in 1971. The "theme" has changed a couple of times, the Indy 500 was a sponsor for awhile, and I think the track was shortened a little but I don't think the actual ride vehicles have changed any.

 

[AuroraMeansDawn]

The Jungle Cruise: first of all I never made the connection to the movie The African Queen. I always felt like I was in Conrads the Heart of Darkness.

I also didn't know that each of the boats in this attraction was named after a famous river: Ganges, Irrawaddy, Orinoco, etc.

Anybody hear that Disney was planning a movie based loosely on this ride? Tim Allen and Tom Hanks starring? Apparently that has been shelved.

After the Haunted Mansion, I'd hardly blame them.

 

[bcrook]

After the Haunted Mansion, I'd hardly blame them.

No kidding!

 

[mesaboy2]

Thought of another one today. The busts in the new HM queue form a whodunit that can be figured out by examining each closely.

 

[bcrook]

Thought of another one today. The busts in the new HM queue form a whodunit that can be figured out by examining each closely.

We can spend all day at the Haunted Mansion. This ride is truly a classic.

 

[MellinMickey4333]

what about Carosel of Progress (except they updated the last scene as I recall)

COP has had multiple changes over the years... I'd be willing to bet that ride has had more changes over the years than any other ride! (I could still be wrong, though, haha!) Nothing super huge, mind you, but still some significant stuff, including many voice-overs!

 

[WVParkfan]

I have not personally witnessed these, so I cannot confirm that this is true, but here are some CoP tidbits:

1) There is a Picture of Walt Disney hidden in the CoP. It is in the daughter's room in the 1940s on the wall you are facing as you sit in front of the stage wall in the upper left corner
2) You should be able to spot four Hidden Mickeys in the final scene. Mickey appears as a nutcracker on the fireplace mantle, a plush peeking out from a present, a white peppermill on the kitchen counter, and an abstract painting on the dining room wall.
3) The voice of the grandfather in the final scene is the voice of the man who was the main character voice in the original 1964 Worlds Fair version. Mel Blanc is the voice of Cousin Orville. Mel's son, Noel, is the voice of some of the characters on the radio in the earlier scenes. The current voice of the main character you may recognize as the voice of the narrator from "A Christmas Story". "Can't get no privacy” line sounds faintly like Yosemite Sam.
4) The dog holding the keys in Pirates of the Caribbean and the dog in Carousel of Progress are both Walt Disney's dog, or so I've heard.

 

[vikster1]

Here's a few.

The Swiss family tree's structural root system goes four stories into the ground.

Cinderalla's Castle is actually made of fiberglass panels designed to look like stone. (When I was there earlier this month i had to feel it for myself to confirm)

The castle is 189 ft tall. The peak of space mountain is 183 ft from the ground.

Astronauts Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper and Jim Irwin took the first ride at the grand opening of Space Mountain on 1/15/75.

Tickets cost 3.50 when MK opened in 1971.


I have an awesome app on my phone. It is just facts for WDW, MK, EPCOT, HS, AK

 

[ferret42]

What is the name of this app?

 

[vikster1]

Disney World Fun Facts- Free

It is great. All throughout our last trip I gave out little facts to my family. They loved it.

 

[bcrook]

Here's a few.

The Swiss family tree's structural root system goes four stories into the ground.

Cinderalla's Castle is actually made of fiberglass panels designed to look like stone. (When I was there earlier this month i had to feel it for myself to confirm)

The castle is 189 ft tall. The peak of space mountain is 183 ft from the ground.

Astronauts Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper and Jim Irwin took the first ride at the grand opening of Space Mountain on 1/15/75.

Tickets cost 3.50 when MK opened in 1971.


I have an awesome app on my phone. It is just facts for WDW, MK, EPCOT, HS, AK

I'm getting the app.

The astronaut fact is great!

 

[CarrieR]

4) The dog holding the keys in Pirates of the Caribbean and the dog in Carousel of Progress are both Walt Disney's dog, or so I've heard.

I have heard the same. I also noticed what appears to be the same dog elsewhere on my last trip - I am struggling to remember where but I *think* it was Living with the Land. Does anyone else know if this is true?