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: wikipedia Several hundred wild cats live in Disneyland. They are tolerated because they rid the park of mice.
Source: huffingtonpost, Image: wikipedia The Pirates of the Caribbean ride used to the have real skeletons on it.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Walter Disney initially planned to go by "d'Isigny" (d'Isignyland) as a tribute to his French roots.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Wall-E was actually named after Walter Elias Disney
Source: imdb, Image: wikipedia There 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: wikipedia The sorcerer in Fantasia is called "Yen Sid". Now read that backwards!
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia For a while, Disney actually held the patent for technicolor. This meant that no other company was allowed to make color films.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia There 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: wikipedia Costumed Disney characters at the theme parks are not allowed to use the word "no"
Source: businessinsider, Image: wikipedia When Disney World first opened, guests with facial hair weren't allowed in the park!
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Are 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: wikipedia Disneyland 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: wikipedia Dumbo is the quietest main character of any Disney Movie. He never says anything.
Source: huffingtonpost, Image: wikipedia Sulley in Monsters has over 2 million individual hairs. In fact, one screen of Sulley took 12 hours to produce.
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Tiger roars were used in the Lion King because lions weren't thought to be loud enough
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Although 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: wikipedia Baloo is Hindi for "bear". And Simba is Swahili for "lion"
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Wayne 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: wikipedia There 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: wikipedia Disney World in Florida is roughly the size of San Fransisco!
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Workers 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: wikipedia Because Steve Jobs was Disney's largest shareholder, Disney flew its flags at half mast when he died
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia It took special effects teams over a year to create the 2 minute storm in The Little Mermaid
Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia Mickey 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: wikipedia Lists Going Viral Right Now
