17 little-known facts about Disney history die-hard fans should know

Tarah ChieffiMay 31, 2020, 17:24 IST

The Lilly Belle train car (not pictured) has a heartfelt backstory.Scott Brinegar/Walt Disney World

Almost everything you see at Disney has a story behind it, including nods to closed attractions and notable cast members.
Some of Disney's concepts never came to fruition, like a California ski resort and a West Coast version of Epcot.
Disney hides many of its secrets in plain sight, like the "punny" names of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad trains.

Disneyland in Anaheim, California, was the first Disney park to open back in 1955. Since then, Disney has opened five additional parks and a variety of other themed travel experiences, and, along with them, a rich history that many visitors may never even notice without a little digging.

See, you don't need to know Disney's secrets or history to enjoy a vacation there, but one could certainly argue that a trip to Disney becomes even more enjoyable when you do learn these fascinating bits of Disney's past.

To get you started on earning your (unofficial) Disney historian badge, here are 17 little-known Disney facts that you might want to know.

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Although Disneyland's haunted mansion now boasts 999 happy haunts, when it opened in 1969 there was one more: the Hatbox Ghost.

Disneyland's haunted mansion had one more ghost. Paul Hiffmeyer/Walt Disney World

Walt Disney had plans to build a ski resort.

The ski resort might have looked something like Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds (pictured above). Paul Hiffmeyer/Walt Disney World

Disney World was once home to an improv nightclub.

The Adventurers Club was a popular Disney night spot. Courtney Di Stasio/Walt Disney World

There's an explorer's society with Easter eggs placed throughout the parks.

Some say this society was an offshoot of the since-closed Adventurers Club. Matt Stroshane/Walt Disney World

The Matterhorn didn't always have a scary snow monster.

The Abominable Snowman was added to the attraction in 1978. Paul Hiffmeyer/Walt Disney World

Dole Whip wasn't the first popular pineapple treat at Disney.

Dole Whips are arguably the most popular snack at Disney. Paul Hiffmeyer/Walt Disney World

Many of the dinosaur fossils used at Animal Kingdom are real.

Disney World's dinosaurs are as real as they come. Kent Phillips/Walt Disney World

Disneyland almost had its own Epcot.

Disney California Adventure was almost a very different park. Gene Duncan/Walt Disney World

Legendary cast members are honored throughout the parks, but you have to know where to look.

Disney legends are often recognized in a way that honors their hobbies and passions. Paul Hiffmeyer/Walt Disney World

You can often find nods to defunct rides in the attraction that took their place.

These attractions are gone but not forgotten. Matt Stroshane/Walt Disney World

The Enchanted Tiki Room was the first Disney attraction to use animatronics.

These talking birds forged a path for today's audio-animatronics. Paul Hiffmeyer/Walt Disney World

The "it's a small world" ride debuted outside of Disneyland.

This popular ride first debuted at the 1964-65 New York World's Fair. Paul Hiffmeyer/Walt Disney World

Animal Kingdom opened on Earth Day.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 each year. Gene Duncan/Walt Disney World

One of the original Disneyland train cars was named for Walt Disney's wife.

The Lilly Belle train car (not pictured) has a heartfelt backstory. Scott Brinegar/Walt Disney World

Disney's first trackless ride was at Epcot.

Guests board a First Order Short-Range Evacuation Vehicle – otherwise known as an escape pod – in Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. Steven Diaz/Walt Disney World

Disneyland created a whole new alphabet for the Indiana Jones ride.

Be on the lookout for Disney's version of hieroglyphics while waiting to ride Indiana Jones Adventure. Joshua Sudock/Walt Disney World

The Thunder Mountain train car names are pretty funny.

Big Thunder Mountain is set amongst a late 1800s frontier town. Garth Vaughan/Walt Disney World

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