Disney Insider
Practically every child dreams about going to Disney World at some point in their life. Disney World should be a warm and magical place to spend time with kids...right?
Well, that's ruined now thanks to "Escape From Tomorrow," the dark thriller director Randy Moore illegally filmed in Disney World in complete secrecy. The movie is a decidedly dark take on the Happiest Place on Earth, centering on the epic battle of a father who loses his job — and sanity — while vacationing with his family in Disney World. His hallucinations and disturbing visions that take place while he's inside may give park-goers pause.
Though we can assure you that Moore's film is a work of fiction, there are some real-life murmurs of weirdness in the Magic Kingdom. Human remains in the park? Hmm, maybe Disney World isn't as happy as it's made out to be.
Read on for six of the weirdest secrets and rumors about Disney World.
1. There are actual human remains scattered among the park.
Yes, you read that right. As it turns out, some family members don't want the dearly departed to depart the park in the afterlife, and have scattered cremated ashes on the grounds. Back in 2007, Disneyland cast members were reportedly alerted that a woman was seen sprinkling a powdery substance into the water at the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction. The ride was shut down again that same year when a group of people left a pile of ashes in the Captain's Quarters section of the ride. These aren't isolated incidents; apparently the Haunted Mansion is another popular final resting place.
2. The Wizard of Bras
Mouse ears? Check. "Fantasia" wizard hat? Check. Disney-themed bra? Pardon? Yes, it used to be possible to buy yourself some undies in the Magic Kingdom. When Disneyland first opened in 1955, there was an Intimate Apparel Shop. It's no surprise that the shop on Main Street closed down six months after it opened and was turned into a bookstore.
3. Wear thy neighbor's undies
At one point, Disneyland workers weren't allowed to wear their own underwear when they were in character, and were instead required to wear park-owned and park-laundered undergarments, including underwear and tights. After complaints from workers of pubic lice and scabies after wearing unclean underwear, the Teamsters in 2001 negotiated a deal with Disney to assign workers their own sets of underwear that they could wash themselves. How's that for Disney magic?
4. Scent-based mind control
Once you enter a Disney theme park, it seems to feel like everything in the world is pleasant and you become nostalgic for a time that never actually existed. You can thank the "air smellitzer" for that. Disney parks use a patented scent generator that makes sure you're smelling exactly what they want you to smell — freshly baked cookies, for example — which brings those childhood memories and happiness back into your soul.
5. The Magic Kingdom is actually the second floor.
Disney is so great at sucking visitors in with its magic that they don't even notice that they're walking up a very slight incline from the entrance of the park, which eventually brings them one story up in the air. Actually, by the time a guest reaches Cinderella's Castle, they've actually made it up to a third-story level. That's because Disney World was built on top of a huge series of tunnels and rooms called Utilidors, which actually comprise the ground level of the park. Ever wonder why you never see the garbage being taken out, and characters seem to pop up out of nowhere? Thank the nine-acre network of Utilidors.
6. "It's A Small World" never stops
Nothing is worse than hearing the same infectiously cutesy song in your head over and over again after getting off of a ride at Disney World except for the reality that it's played 24/7. It's too much trouble to shut off and reboot the sound system, so even the maintenance workers tending to the "It's A Small World" ride at night are treated to the earwormy theme song on a loop.
