Disney Secret #40: Astro-Jets

In Disneyland, the Astro-Jets opened in March 1956 when the park was just eight months old. The ride replaced the Court of Flags, a formation of 48 flag poles flying the flag of every state of the United States. The Astro-Jets closed in 1966, to be replaced the following year by the Rocket Jets(1967-1997). In May 1998, as part of the 1998 New Tomorrowland, Disneyland opened another “circling rockets” attraction—the Astro Orbitor. It marks the entrance to Tomorrowland, just off Disneyland’s central Plaza, just like the World Clock did from 1955 to 1966. As with the original Astro-Jets, the Astro Orbitor loads at ground level. The Astro Orbitor has golden circling planets and moons to make the ride more interesting to the riders, and to make the attraction a giant kinetic sculpture.

Rather than looking “Space Age,” the Astro Orbitor has more of a 19th-century look.

Orbit high above Tomorrowland in a 2-person rocket

Then descend back to the ground for landing.

Astro Orbitor in 2004 (when Tomorrowland was still painted in bronze and brown tones)

Disney Secret #39: Concept of Sleeping Beauty's Castle

Did you know that one of the early concepts of the castle had it themed around Snow White? That's why the wishing well is Snow White's.

Even in its original concept stages, Disneyland had a castle. It was just part of Walt's vision from the outset. Before and during construction of Disneyland in 1954 - 1955, the name of the castle fluctuated. Sometimes called the Fantasy Castle, Fantasyland Castle, Walt even referred to it as Snow White's Castle once. 

However, with the opening of Disneyland and the premiere of "Sleeping Beauty" just a few years away, plus the built-in publicity machine of a weekly television series, Walt saw a marketing opportunity to build buzz for a movie not yet released. Shortly after the park opened, Walt overheard some guests asking to go up inside the castle (which was never intended to house and attraction). Walt ordered the creation of the Sleeping Beauty walkthrough, even before the release of the film 

Disney Secret #38: Earl of Sandwich

In Downtown Disney, the facade for the Earl of Sandwich expansion is all painted and ready to go!!!

Disney Secret #37: Auctioneer in Pirates of the Caribbean

Did you know the Auctioneer was the first animatronic finished in pirates? This was also the only animatronic Walt got to see before he died . Funny story actually. Alice Davis was working with the sculptor to design a costume. Well when the actual body showed up, the sculptor included a certain part it the male anatomy Alice wasn't expecting . She worked around it and finally it came time to test the animatronic, and they were gonna run it once before Walt showed up to make sure it was fine. Well everything was going fine, and when he turned to say "and how much do you offer for this wench" everyone cringed because it looked like he had an erection. Alice was the only woman in that group, and she went and grabbed a saw and literally sawed off that piece of the animatronic  When she told me this story she started laughing really hard and said "I've never seen so many men cross their legs at once" . They fixed it before Walt could see and everything went fine when they showed Walt . This is one of my favorite stories ever honestly, and hearing it straight from Alice herself was the greatest

Disney Secret #36: Lafittes Landing

When you're loading into a boat on Pirates, you'll notice a 

sign above you that says "Lafittes Landing". The dock is a 

tribute to the famous pirate Jean Laffite (the change in the 

spelling of his last name was on purpose as the way it's 

spelled on the sign is the English spelling) who fought with 

the U.S. Army in the Battle of New Orleans in the War of 

1812! This fits because Pirates is set in the 1800's

Disney Secret #35: Finding Nemo's Submarine Voyage

Did you know in Finding Nemo's Submarine Voyage, you 

can hear a reference to the original 

Submarine Voyage in the narration at the very end of the 

ride? It's when the captain says mentions "a run in with a

sea monster or an encount with a mermaid".(not sure on the 

exact quote; it's been a while lol) This references the

original subs as there were mermaids for a time and a sea 

monster part of the attraction

Disney #34: Luigi's Flying Tires

Did you know Luigi's Flying Tires in Carsland was inspired 

by the Flying Saucers attraction from Tomorrowland in the 

early 60's? The Flying Saucers unfortunately had quite a 

few issues. Some include the size of the guest. If the guest

 was small the saucer went flying all over the place. If the 

guest was larger, the saucer sank to the ground . They 

we're difficult to maintenance as well. Basically, Luigi's was 

like a second chance