39 Disney World Facts That Even Die-Hard Fans Don't Know

The happiest place on Earth also happens to be one of the most interesting. Disney World has been around for nearly half a century, and with age comes good stories — and lots of them. We've rounded up 39 Disney World secrets even die-hard fans will be shocked to discover.

If you can't get enough Disney, check out our posts full of tips and facts:

01
Each day, an average of 210 pairs of sunglasses are turned in to Disney's lost and found.
Flickr user Alexandre Breveglieri

Each day, an average of 210 pairs of sunglasses are turned in to Disney's lost and found.

Disney says that "since 1971, an estimated 1.65 million pairs of glasses have found their way into the 'lost' bin. On an annual basis, Lost and Found cast members collect more than 6,000 cell phones, 3,500 digital cameras, 18,000 hats and 7,500 autograph books."

02
Mickey and Minnie have hundreds of unique outfits.
Flickr user princessashley

Mickey and Minnie have hundreds of unique outfits.

Mickey Mouse has over 135 sets of different outfits, and Minnie has more than 100.

03
There are about 74,000 cast members in Central Florida.
Flickr user MediumHero6

There are about 74,000 cast members in Central Florida.

People who work for Disney World are not called employees; they are called cast members and must always be in character when on duty.

04
The Cinderella mosaic is symbolic.
Flickr user irulan_amy

The Cinderella mosaic is symbolic.

Disney says that "guests can see that each of Cinderella's stepsisters appears with her own special facial tint. One sister displays a red tint to show that she is 'red with rage,' while the other sister displays a green tint to show that she is 'green with envy,' as they both watch Cinderella try on the glass slipper to reveal a perfect fit."

05
Disney World is HUGE.
Flickr user harshlight

Disney World is HUGE.

It spans about 40 square miles, making it the size of San Francisco or two Manhattan islands. According to Disney, of the approximately 25,000 acres, about a third is conservation land.

06
Over 75 million Coca-Colas are consumed each year at the Disney World resort.
Flickr user lhbrizzante

Over 75 million Coca-Colas are consumed each year at the Disney World resort.

Not to mention 13 million bottles of water.

08
Newlyweds can see the Cinderella Castle from the altar of Disney World's wedding pavilion.
Flickr user donmaedi

Newlyweds can see the Cinderella Castle from the altar of Disney World's wedding pavilion.

09
When Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closed, a tombstone was placed in the Haunted Mansion to honor it.
Flickr user expressmonorail

When Mr. Toad's Wild Ride closed, a tombstone was placed in the Haunted Mansion to honor it.

10
You can't bring balloons, straws, or drink lids in to the Animal Kingdom Park.
Flickr user caitees_photography

You can't bring balloons, straws, or drink lids in to the Animal Kingdom Park.

It's for the safety of the animals!

11
The camel outside the Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride actually spits on you.
Flickr user kathika

The camel outside the Magic Carpets of Aladdin ride actually spits on you.

Rumor has it a cast member operates the camel and decides which guests to spray with water.

12
Cast members do an average of 285,000 pounds of laundry per day.
Flickr user harshlight

Cast members do an average of 285,000 pounds of laundry per day.

According to Disney, if you washed and dried one load of laundry every day for 52 years, you'd clean as much as cast members at Disney World do in a single day. In addition to the 285,000 pounds they wash, 30,000 to 32,000 garments are dry-cleaned daily.

13
When the parks opened, admission was just $3.50.
Flickr user Bob B. Brown

When the parks opened, admission was just $3.50.

Now Walt Disney World is the most expensive Disney park in the world.

14
Cinderella's Castle has a guest room suite that people can actually stay in.
Flickr user Brandon Serna

Cinderella's Castle has a guest room suite that people can actually stay in.

Walt Disney originally built the little apartment for himself but died before it was finished. The suite sleeps up to six people, but money can't buy you a chance to stay there. You can't make reservations; the only way you can get in on this amazing experience is by winning a sweepstakes Disney prize drawing.

15
Epcot is 35 years old.
Flickr user quintanomedia

Epcot is 35 years old.

The discovery showplace covers 305 acres and first opened on Oct. 1, 1982.

16
Expedition Everest is Walt Disney World's tallest attraction.
Flickr user Jennifer Lynn

Expedition Everest is Walt Disney World's tallest attraction.

It's just under 200 feet tall.

17
There are 4,000 acres of gardens and maintained park landscapes.
Flickr user Anthony

There are 4,000 acres of gardens and maintained park landscapes.

That's 3,000 football fields.

18
Epcot is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.
Flickr user pahudson

Epcot is an acronym for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.

Walt Disney came up with the word in 1966, because he wanted Epcot Center to be a futuristic functional community where people actually lived.

19
There are hidden Mickeys all over the parks.
Flick user harshlight

There are hidden Mickeys all over the parks.

There are even entire sites dedicated to logging all of the ones people have found.

20
You can camp at the happiest place on earth.
Flickr user cdharrison

You can camp at the happiest place on earth.

Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground boasts 409 cabins and 799 campsites for people to stay at.

21
The first movie ever filmed at Disney World was Ernest Saves Christmas.
Flickr user joeshlabotnik

The first movie ever filmed at Disney World was Ernest Saves Christmas.

The first movie filmed at then-unfinished Disney-MGM Studios, now called Disney Hollywood Studios, was Ernest Saves Christmas.

22
Cinderella's Castle is not built from stones.
Flickr user lexi_scott

Cinderella's Castle is not built from stones.

The entire building is built out of fiberglass, concrete, steel, cement, and plaster. No bricks or stones were used at all.

23
The Liberty Oak in Liberty Square is the parent to over 500 other trees.
Flickr user themeparktourist

The Liberty Oak in Liberty Square is the parent to over 500 other trees.

The trees all started out as acorns that were harvested from the tree.

24
Disney World's Beach Club Resort pool holds 750,000 gallons of water.
Flickr user Michael Gray

Disney World's Beach Club Resort pool holds 750,000 gallons of water.

Stormalong Bay is the largest pool in the world with a sand bottom.

25
The fountain at Epcot Innoventions Plaza can shoot water 150 feet in the air.
Flickr user Eric Frommer

The fountain at Epcot Innoventions Plaza can shoot water 150 feet in the air.

If all of the "shooters" were set off at the same time, there would be 2,000 gallons of water in the air.

26
Most cast members at Walt Disney World can tell you where the bathroom is in 14 languages.
Flickr user JeffChristiansen

Most cast members at Walt Disney World can tell you where the bathroom is in 14 languages.

But that doesn't mean that they are fluent.

27
As of 2017, the Magic Kingdom is the world's most popular theme park.
Flickr user lhbrizzante

As of 2017, the Magic Kingdom is the world's most popular theme park.

It's held the No. 1 spot for a few years now, followed closely by Tokyo Disneyland and Disneyland.

29
The headhunter at the end of the Jungle Cruise is named Trader Sam.
Flickr user Sam Howzit

The headhunter at the end of the Jungle Cruise is named Trader Sam.

30
The Tree of Life is 14 stories tall.
Flickr user kjgarbutt

The Tree of Life is 14 stories tall.

It's also a whopping 50 feet wide.

31
There is a secret tunnel system that runs under the Magic Kingdom.
Flickr user Alexandre Breveglieri

There is a secret tunnel system that runs under the Magic Kingdom.

What many Disney fans assumed was urban legend is actually a proven fact. The tunnels are not underground, however, but ground level — and beneath the Magic Kingdom. Nicknamed "utilidors," the passages are designed so that cast members and service workers can travel from place to place unseen by parkgoers so that the "magic" of the place is not disrupted.

32
The water tower at Hollywood Studios is known as the Earffel Tower.
Flickr user jeffchristiansen

The water tower at Hollywood Studios is known as the Earffel Tower.

33
Walt Disney World is 46 years old.
Flickr user Tobias Wutzow

Walt Disney World is 46 years old.

The first theme park opened on Oct. 1, 1971.

34
You can't buy gum anywhere in Disney World.
Flickr user jemsphotos

You can't buy gum anywhere in Disney World.

That's why you never see it stuck in unfortunate places! Here are other things you can't do at Disney parks.

35
The Jungle Cruise has actually developed its own self-sufficient ecosystem.
Flickr user klingon65

The Jungle Cruise has actually developed its own self-sufficient ecosystem.

Plants in the ride are now native to the jungle and can survive on their own.

36
The parks use "smellitzers" to make the smells of different areas match the theme.
Flickr user themeparktourist

The parks use "smellitzers" to make the smells of different areas match the theme.

Main Street USA typically smells like cookies and vanilla, but around Christmastime, the strategically placed vents release the smell of peppermint.

37
Epcot's Spaceship Earth installment weighs 16 million pounds.
Flickr user lhbrizzante

Epcot's Spaceship Earth installment weighs 16 million pounds.

38
There is a wedding ring embedded into the concrete of the Haunted Mansion.
Flickr user themeparktourist

There is a wedding ring embedded into the concrete of the Haunted Mansion.

People believe that it belonged to the hanging bride you see on the ride.

39
The Be Our Guest restaurant serves "the grey stuff" from the song.
Flickr user harshlight

The Be Our Guest restaurant serves "the grey stuff" from the song.

In the song "Be Our Guest," the memorable lyrics say "try the grey stuff, it's delicious!," and you can actually order the dessert off the restaurant's menu.

Check out more Walt Disney World tips here!