Disney is a name synonymous with childhood wonder, animated antics, and the spirit of imagination. But behind all the castles, princesses, and pixie dust, there lies some rather peculiar and curious lore about the Disney name and even the man behind the mouse himself. Just how much does the company stick to its sugary-sweet image?
There are few fandoms more loyal and more dedicated to their obsession than Disney fans, especially those at Yesterworld and Fastpass Facts. There are legends involving ghosts, strange experiments, and mind control all under the name of the mouse. The question is, how much is true?
The Castle Can Collapse
Florida is definitely hurricane territory, everyone knows that. But since it's also home to the place where dreams come true, fans have speculated what would happen if a hurricane were ever to hit the Magic Kingdom. A rumor is floating around that Cinderella Castle is entirely collapsible in the event of a major tropical disaster.
The decor and structure are indeed hurricane-proof, but it never needs to be collapsed and does not have some sort of advanced technological shield to protect it. Still, that's some smart thinking on Disney's part.
The Costumes Are Self-Cooling
It's not easy being a character at any Disney Parks, but Florida probably has an extra Factor going against them. The heat can be absolutely unbearable, especially if someone's in a heavy suit. With all of their innovations and creations, were they able to create cooling costumes for their characters?
The short answer is no, but it's still an interesting idea. Considering the amount of detail that the company goes to with all of its other projects.
People Dump Ashes At The Haunted Mansion
The Haunted Mansion is home to a legion of Happy Haunts and is perhaps the dream house for any wandering spirit. But it's also a magnet for guests who want to give their loved ones a final resting place amongst the 999 Happy Haunts. How? By dumping their ashes in the ride.
This is one of those legends that turned out to be fact, as it's quite a more common occurrence than one might think. In fact, there's a special code and process for cleaning up the remains of unexpected guests who slip into the park.
The Lion King Includes "Sex"
When it comes to Disney flicks, there are few held in higher regard than The Lion King. It was one of the most beautiful and breathtaking animated features ever put to film, but there was a time where it was the subject of controversy.
When Simba collapses onto a patch of grass, the dust and leaves swirl around him. Fans thought they saw the letters S-E-X in the formation, leading to tales of subliminal messaging. In reality, this was actually a nod to SFX, the visual team behind the animation.
Nudity In The Rescuers
Yet another subliminal image, but this time blatant, was the presence of a nude woman's photo in the release of Disney's The Rescuers. There was in fact a photo of a woman spliced into the flight sequence when Bernard and Miss Bianca take flight with Orville.
It was since removed in later re-releases of the film, but owners of the right VHS copy who are quick with a pause button, can find the dirty secret in this Disney flick.
Mickey’s Mind Control
Disney has been suspected of some pretty far-out things, but mind control? Surely not. The reality of this suggestion is a little bit more plausible than one might first think. Some call it mind control, but Disney calls it immersion.
Force perspective and other visual tricks are common, but it's the Smellitizers that truly sell the illusion. These little devices pump the parks full of smells appropriate to their placed environments and can smell like anything from popcorn to pirate water. A secret yet surprisingly effective way to keep guests entranced.
Mickey Was A Real Mouse
Everyone knows Mickey is the rock on which Walt built his empire. But what they might not know is that before Mickey was ever a member of the ink and paint club, he might have been a mouse at Walt's Laff-O-Gram studios.
The story goes that Walt found a brown mouse in the bottom of his wastebasket, rescued him, and kept him as a pet on his desk before moving to California. It's kind of nice to know that the world's most famous mouse might have been inspired by a real-life rodent.
There Are Real Bones In The Pirates Ride
It's often been said that there are real skeletons used in the original Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. A famous legend, but only partially true. While it does sound a tad bit far-fetched, there are human remains in the attraction.
The skull in the captain's quarters was indeed donated to the park by a medical lab way back when the attraction first opened. As strange and creepy as that might seem, it's not the only dead thing calling the Caribbean home these days.
George The Ghost
Ask any cast member who works the Pirates attraction and they'll be sure to talk about George. George is supposedly the ghost of a former park employee who died on duty while installing Pirates of the Caribbean in the Magic Kingdom. Now his spirit haunts the ride.
Though there is no record of George's living existence, cast members are very superstitious when it comes to George. If they don't say hi to him in the morning and bye to him at night, he's been reported to cause malfunctions in the ride.
Disney On Ice
One of the biggest legends surrounding Walt Disney is that he had a very peculiar interest in cryogenic freezing. It was his mild interest in the subject matter that spawned the legend that not only did Walt put himself on ice, but that his body was moved and hidden somewhere in one of his parks.
While it is reported that Walt was interested in the process, it was documented that he did not pursue the procedure. But a man as prolific as he was could only be the stuff of legends, right?
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