Along with things like Star Wars, Disney is probably one of the most significant factors influencing pop culture in the last few decades. Whether it’s movies, books, stuffed animals, or theme parks, Disney seems to be everywhere. You would have to go to great pains to find someone who has never heard of Disney in one form or another. In fact, with the internet the way it is today, you might not find that person at all. Today, however, we’re going to test your knowledge. You probably know more about Disney than you care to admit…especially if you’re a guy. Hey, it’s hard not to pick up a thing or two along the way. But even if you haven’t, we’re here to change that. That’s right. We’re about to make you into a Disney knowledge master. Well, maybe not. But you are definitely going to know more about Disney after you read this list than you did before. For one thing, do you know Disney’s full name? Well, now you do – Walter Elias “Walt” Disney. That’s not a fun piece of information you say? Well we’ll fix that. Get ready because these are 25 crazy facts about Disney and its insane influence on our culture.
Featured Image: Mighty Travels via Flickr
Employees at Disney parks are required to point with either the whole hand or two fingers. This is because some cultures see pointing with one finger as disrespectful.
Source: businessinsider, Image: wikipediaSeveral hundred wild cats live in Disneyland. They are tolerated because they rid the park of mice.
Source: huffingtonpost, Image: wikipediaThe Pirates of the Caribbean ride used to the have real skeletons on it.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaWalter Disney initially planned to go by "d'Isigny" (d'Isignyland) as a tribute to his French roots.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaWall-E was actually named after Walter Elias Disney
Source: imdb, Image: wikipediaThere is a startling lack of mothers in Disney movies. This has been attributed to Walter Disney's guilt over his own mother's death. Apparently, after the success of Snow White he built his parents a house but a faulty heater lead to the death of his mother.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaThe sorcerer in Fantasia is called "Yen Sid". Now read that backwards!
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaFor a while, Disney actually held the patent for technicolor. This meant that no other company was allowed to make color films.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaThere are hundreds of corridors running under Disney World to allow costumed characters to move about the park. This prevents things like having Snow White walking through a Little Mermaid exhibition (something that had apparently bothered Disney)
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaCostumed Disney characters at the theme parks are not allowed to use the word "no"
Source: businessinsider, Image: wikipediaWhen Disney World first opened, guests with facial hair weren't allowed in the park!
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaAre you a Disney fan? Who isn’t right? Well then feel free to check out these 25 Incredible Secrets In Disney Movies That Will Blow Your Mind.
Smellitzers (patented smell-creating devices) are positioned all around Disney Parks to create a more authentic experience
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaDisneyland is dry (no alcohol) unless you're a member of the exclusive Club 33 (located above Blue Bayou). To get into Club 33 you have to know people and the waiting list is supposed to be 14 years
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaDumbo is the quietest main character of any Disney Movie. He never says anything.
Source: huffingtonpost, Image: wikipediaSulley in Monsters has over 2 million individual hairs. In fact, one screen of Sulley took 12 hours to produce.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaTiger roars were used in the Lion King because lions weren't thought to be loud enough
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaAlthough Cinderella has her heart stolen by Prince Charming, his name is never actually stated anywhere in the film. So yea, he's a nameless guy.
Source: reddit, Image: wikipediaBaloo is Hindi for "bear". And Simba is Swahili for "lion"
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaWayne Anthony Allwine used to voice Mickey Mouse. He eventually married Russi Taylor who voiced Minnie Mouse. They were married until Wayne died in 2009...a real Disney happily ever after!
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaThere is a rumor that Walt Disney was afraid of mice. Although this has not been confirmed, he did originally name Mickey Mouse "Mortimer". Finally his wife convinced him to the change the name.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaDisney World in Florida is roughly the size of San Fransisco!
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaWorkers used to use the code phrase "man in the forest" to warn other workers to get back to work because Disney was about to walk by
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaBecause Steve Jobs was Disney's largest shareholder, Disney flew its flags at half mast when he died
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaIt took special effects teams over a year to create the 2 minute storm in The Little Mermaid
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaMickey Mouse was the first animated character to talk. His first words (in 1929 during the cartoon The Karnival Kid) were "Hot Dog"
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipediaLists Going Viral Right Now
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