The secrets of Disneyland revealed
While continuing to delight visitors as the so-called "happiest place on earth" there are some quirky historical features about the original Disneyland. From secret clubs to urban myths, quite a few surprising facts lurk in Walt’s first magic playground.
A secret, private apartment exists above the Fire Department in Town Square – This was used as an actual residence of Walt Disney and his family when they stayed at the park, complete with a changing room, a front room with fold-out couches, a bathroom, a kitchen, and an outside lounge. A lamp in the window is kept eternally lit in respect and remembrance of the theme park creator.
There’s a secret club – Club 33 is one of the most elite and exclusive clubs in the world with a waiting list more than 10 years long. Built to host celebrities and dignitaries it costs $36,500 to join and another $14,400 a year to maintain memberships. Found in the New Orleans section behind an unassuming green door, Club 33 is the only place in the park where alcohol can be served, and it has a bar and restaurant designed around a plantation mansion.
Cats roam the park at night – Stray cats used to come to Disneyland to prey on discarded food scraps but now they are a permanent fixture used to keep rodents at bay. At night the wild cats are let loose among the rides preying on mice and rats, although it’s not unusual to see them during the day. The park has dedicated feeding stations for the cats and to help keep their population in check they neuter adult cats and put any kittens found up for adoption.
There’s a basketball court at the top of the Matterhorn – Most Disneyland goers will know the Matterhorn as a towering 45-metre mountain that has a roller-coaster ride twisting down the giant peak. But what most people don't know is that at the top of the mountain is a basketball court for workers and rock climbers to shoot hoops on their break. It’s hidden inside the mountain facade so you’d never know it was there.
Employees weren’t allowed to grow moustaches until 2000 – Walt Disney’s signature moustache was an American icon but ironically, Walt wanted his staff clean-shaven. For 43 years Disney staff were banned from growing facial hair until March 2000 when the company relaxed its rules. However management didn’t like the new stubbly look and amended the rules again so that in order to have a moustache, Disney employees must either have them when hired or grow them when on holidays.
Main Street used to have a lingerie shop – There's an elevated porch on the Eastern side of the street that originally belonged to the Intimate Apparel Shop (alternatively called the Corset Shop), which carried racy offerings like strapless Whirlpool bras. It only lasted from 1955 to 56.
There's an abandoned mine shaft in Frontierland – And until 1977, it was actually in service as part of the Rainbow Cavern’s Mine Train, a cargo-car train that would take you on a journey through the Frontierland wilderness and into a cave with neon-colored waterfalls, and glowing pools of luminescent water.
The drawbridge to Sleeping Beauty Castle actually works – It's been raised only twice: once on Opening Day, and again for a rededication in 1983.