Former Employees Expose Disney World's Most Disturbing Behind-the-Scenes Secrets
“I hate Disneyland. It primes our kids for Las Vegas.”—Tom Waits.
In American culture, Disneyland parks aren’t just family theme parks: they are bywords for big family fun and also big scandal. With its long and eventful history, is Disneyland really the happiest place on earth? Who better to ask than Disney park workers themselves?
Reddit asked employees of both Disneyland (in California) and Walt Disney World (in Florida) to share their stories: what does it take to work for the Big Mouse himself? How do they survive in those sweaty costumes?
And who is leaving all these brown “parting gifts” all over the park? Do the hanky-panky in the Epcot monorail to these 42 shocking stories from behind-the-scenes at Disney World.
42. Crocodile Tears
On our family trip to Disney World. I was leaning over a railing looking down into some water. A few unreachable feet below I spot a tiny (1.5ft to 2ft) alligator.
Being from Africa and relatively unfazed with a slightly sharp swimming lizard, I thought nothing of it. I called my mother over and said "look an alligator! How cool." This was a mistake.
Not two seconds later (ears everywhere man) a staff member was looking over the railing whispering on the radio. All hell broke loose in the most hushed, professional way ever.
We were escorted away on a golf cart and a huge section of the park was cordoned off. We were taken to a room where they were very apologetic for our negative experience and offered us a free day, VIP, the works.
So we said very a big thank you and took what was offered. In the future, I will be smuggling other small harmless creatures in for free stuff. I also got stuck on the Big Thunder Mountain ride in Paris...
that was handled in a much more French way: "Je suis désolé," as they blow smoke in my face. I mean, seriously.
41. The Word of the Mouse
I worked on The Great Movie Ride in Hollywood Studios for a while and I can tell you all 22 minutes of your friendly tour guide's speech is scripted to the very last letter.
You get three days to learn your whole monologue (AND all of the speeds/controls/stops/gos of the actual ride) before going "live" as a tour guide.
Most of those three days is spent in a room with your trainer reciting your script until you get every word right. If you accidentally say the word "okay" instead of "alright," you start over from the beginning. Most tedious 3 days of my life.
There's also one button on every car that, despite being really close to buttons you have to touch all the time, if pushed gets you fired immediately.
40. A Brave New Disney World
I haven't worked there, but here's something interesting. During a security threat like 9/11, cast members head to the back of the park, link arms, and slowly head to the front.
Normally MK takes like 2 hours to clear out, but (I forgot the exact number) it took them like 15 minutes on 9/11.
39. Beauty and the Breaktime Vent
I was cleaning a Code V backstage, Belle came by and pulled a cigarette out of her bra while talking smack about annoying brats.
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