Conference koolit::disney

    I've looked far and long on any info about a behind the scenes tour
    and have found nothing.  8^(
    
    Some of the reasons might be:
    -To keep you guessing.  They release -just- enough info to tell
     what goes on backstage, but not enough to take away all of your
     curiousity.
    
    -Their insurance rates would probably go way up.
    
    72 Days and counting
    Steve O

    I have read that some of this type of information and perhaps a behind
    the scenes glimpse is available to business groups holding meetings in
    the convention center.  Disney executives give presentations on the
    Disney way of doing things.  I was wondering if an individual guest
    could get some of the same? 

    A friend just returned from a trip to WDW. He told me he was offered
    a VIP tour of the other side of WDW (i.e. behind the scenes tour).
    I believe he said the price was $150-200 for this guided tour but
    he turned it down. I'l get more info from him and post it here.
    

    Moved by Moderator...
    
================================================================================
Note xx.x                      TUNNELS & BUIDLINGS                    No replies
USEM::BMAUE                                          15 lines  13-APR-1989 15:58
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Can anyone out there help me?  When I went to WDW last fall, my
    brother-in-law, a civil engineer, was fascinated by the construction
    of WDW.  He is especially interested in the underground tunnels.  By 
    asking around at our hotel, etc. we were told that with a certain
    number of people, a tour of the tunnel system can be arranged.  Does 
    anyone have any info on this?  
    
    Also, I've heard that there was a book published several years ago
    which detailed the planning & construction of WDW.  I would really
    love to get a copy of this book, if possible.  Glenn is such
    a fanatic that he took several pictures of the survey markers placed
    throughout the parks because they have the WDW symbol on them (similar 
    to the Disney Channel symbol).
    
    Thanks - Becky

    
    RE: .all
    
    No.
       It is Disney policy not to give tours of any of the Backstage
    Areas.  A few exceptions are made and a few reasons for the policy
    are known:
    
        Exceptions:
    
           Children on 'Discovery tours' - Carefully watched and asked
                     not to take pictures in places
    
           Corporations who send personal for training - Big Bucks for
                     this seminar/training - on the order of ~$750,
                     but whatever you are learning, a castmember is
                     taken out of his job and you work/train with him,
                     whether it's finance or hotel-rest. management
                     for about a week.  And still, you have limited
                     access to areas.  
    
           College Students - Considered Temp. Castmembers for the semester
    
           Foreign Exchange Students - Considered Temp. Castmembers
                     the year.
    
           All Guests - only if there is a parade being Broadcast from
                     Magic Kingdom, Main Street - This is to prevent
                     the guests who want to get deeper into the park
                     from interupting the parade and 'happy crouds'
                     observing the parade.  Guests are taken Backstage
                     to the right of the trainstation (if facing
                     Cinderella's castle from the Monorail Station/Ferry
                     Dock) and are brought around behind Main Street
                     and into TomorrowLand near the Tomorrowland Stage.
                     All there is to see there, are a few parked cars
                     and a couple of loading docks
    
           Performers - any high school or college bands who are going
                     to perform must perform before any other event
                     planned, they can't go to the beach or play in
                     the park.  Once they have performed, they are usually
                     given free admittion to one of the park.  They
                     enter in a similar way to above, but from the West,
                     near Frontierland.
    
           Heads of States or Superstars - only for there own safety
                     and then as little as possible.  Disney policy
                     treat everyone as a VIP and the VIPs love to play
                     like a regular person.  (Hey, there's Jimmy Carter.
                     OH, BOY, There's MICKEY!)

    
    Policy Reasons:
    
           To Protect the SHOW - I've been Backstage, and while
                     fascinating, some of the Magic is gone.  I discovered
                     what does it isn't Picie Dust, it's just as dirty
                     as you might expect it to be.  You might be able
                     to handle the shock, even if you are expecting
                     it but it did me a Loop when I saw Cinderella from
                     the face up, hair and make-up, neck down: jeans
                     and T-Shirt, Chomping on a burger, smoking a cigerette
                     and slurping a soda.
    
           Castmember Protection from Guests - Imagine having to smile
                     every minute of your day.... 
                     
           Corporate Spying - it's a big concern for every company

    

    
     Well, it looks as if I was wrong about this.  
    
     In the 1989 addition of The Official Guide to Walt Disney World,
    undet the chapter titled, "Meetings and Conventions", p 210:
    
     (duplicated without permittion, spelling errors are my own)
    
        BEHIND THE SCENES
     
     Several workshops and seminars are available to groups of 15 or
    more people, and are a perfect way to add a special Disney touch
    to a meeting or convention.  These programs are available to groups
    staying at WDW-owned resorts or at the hotels at WDW Hotel Plaza.
    
        Innovations in Action
    A 3�-hour seminar begins with an audio-visual presentation highlighting
    Walt Disney's career and his announcement of the vacation kingdom
    he planned to build in Central Florida.  Patrticipants are taken
    underground (the Magic Kingdom is actually the second floor of the
    complex) to the tunnels and "utilidors" where the computers, wig
    rooms, wardrobe, offices, cafeterias, and all the utility systems
    that make the Magic Kingdom work are located.  The wardrobe facility
    here is the largest in the world.  Next stop is the production center,
    
    where shows and parades are rehearsed, and parade floats are stored
    and maintained.  The rest of the program is designed to fit the
    needs and interests of each particular group, but may include the
    central energy plant, where a sophisticated computer system monitors
    and controls the distribution of power across the WDW property.
    The system is housed in a solar energy-powered office building,
    the Vista United Telecommunications office, where one of the nation's
    most advanced telephone systems is operated; the water hyacinth
    project, a test area that uses plants as natural filters for waste
    water; the topiary garden and tree farm nursery, where trees are
    shaped for later planting on the WDW property; and the central shops,
    where everything from trash cans to monorail cars is built, painted,
    and maintained.
    
        The Show Behind the Show
    This behind-the-scenes field trip begins in a classroom, where
    participants join several strangers in a talent audition.  Everyone
    fills out an application, but don't panic-only Disney employees
    are actually called on to audition.  The Disney stage manager and
    the performers discuss the process and share some personal experiences
    with the group.  Then it's on to the production center, where
    rehearsals are conducted, stage sets constructed, and parade floats
    and costumes are stored and maintained.  The tour next heads downstairs
    to the utilidors that lead to the wardrobe and costume design
    departments.  The group is later escorted into the Magic Kingdom,
    where they see the auditoners from the morning session on stage
    and in costume performing for a live audience.
    
         Planting Ideas - The art and science of gardening at WDW
    
    This in-depth program provides visitors with the chance to go behind
    the scenes to study with the experts responsible for helping to
    maintain the WDW horticultural show.  The session opens with a video-
    tape of flower photography, set to classical music.  The instructor
    gives a brief presentation about the philosphies of the Disney
    horticulture operation.  The group then proceeds to the WDW nursery
    to examine plants, annuals, trees, shrubs, and foliage, and to view
    ongoing experiments.  Each group may choose on of the following
    subjects for an in-depth presentation:  tree care at WDW; flowering
    trees in Central Florida; big tree transplanting; pest control for
    ornamental landscape; the use of annual flower beds at WDW; hanging
    basket production; interiorscaping; or the business of landscape
    maintenance.  Each participant recieves a copy of "Planting Ideas,"
    a full-color guide to the gardens of Walt Disney World.
    
        World Showcase Fellowship Project
    As a part of a cultural exchange program, Walt Disney World invites
    top-level college students from several foreign countries to work
    and study at WDW each year.  Participants have a chance to discuss
    lifestyles and culture with these students at sessions moderated
    by a Disney staff member.  A list of topics and areas of interest
    is provided by the World Fellowship project staff to help keep the
    discussions on track.
    
     For schedules, prices, and additional information about these special
    seminars, contact Walt Disney World Seminar Productions; Box 10000;
    Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830; (407)345-5860
    

    I wonder if a "group" has to be affiliated with some organization
    or if 15 people can just get together and request the tour??????
    
    Steve

    
      Security at the Magic Kingdom -WDW is located at the Main Street
    entrance, the control center is located on the 2nd level, above
    the photo store.
    
      They utilize over 20 separate frequencies to coordinate security,
    VIP security, maintenance, transportation, services, etc....
    
      They also have their own weather radar, so as to be informed
    of any potential weather threats to the WDW area.  There is also
    video surveillance of most of the park and attractions, not to
    mention the thousands of alarm points that they monitor for
    security, fire, environmental problems, etc...
    
      There are over 400 security personnel across WDW, a lot in
    plain clothes.  And they literally are looking for people
    who are dressed or acting inappropriately and turn them back
    before they are allowed to enter any park entrance. I understand
    that they turn hundreds of people back in a year's time.
    
      And most of this activity takes place without almost no one
    noticing anything.  They also have their own aircraft, boats,
    etc.... which are used to patrol the thousands of acres that
    are not developed looking for smugglers, and poachers.
    
      It is difficult to believe, but crime does exist at WDW, but
    they seem to manage it quite well.
    
                                    Mark
    

    Finally, some information from someone who has done this.  Any one
    interested in setting up a group?

From: [email protected] (Chris Allison)
Subject: WDW Innovation In Action Seminar - getting started
Date: 28 Dec 90 21:03:23 GMT
Organization: Miami University - Academic Computer Service
 
 
   About 3 months before my wife and I went to WDW we started kicking
around the idea of getting a tour of the underground at the MK.  After
some Compuserv plexes on the Disney forum she called the Seminar Productions
number (407) 363-6666 and began the process of setting up the tour.
  Now before you run to the phone let me tell you some of the rules.  Disney
does not coordinate setting up the tour - You do, and they have restrictions.
The tour is for 15 or more people.  It costs $50 per person.  The people MUST
be staying on Disney property.  The tour must be paid for 30 days in advance.
They ask for names and reservation numbers at that time.
   The tour goes to the flood control gates, the nursery, past the waste water
plant, the power plant, the fireworks launch site, the fire station, into
productions, past the laundry facilities, the dry dock area, and finally into
the tunnels and last but most magical ON-STAGE in the middle of Fantasyland
with a short tour of the castle and main street.
  For $5.00 extra per person one additional stop can be added.  I believe the
optional locations are the power plant, Laundry, and Central Shops.  We
choose Central Shops.  A very good choice as it turned out.
  More latter.

From: [email protected] (Chris Allison)
Subject: Innovations In Action seminar
Date: 11 Jan 91 14:22:08 GMT
Organization: Miami University - Academic Computer Service
 
 
    Our tour started in the Poly with a 20 minute orientation session.  A
film of Walt talking about EPCOT (Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow)
and some information on WDW and its efforts to be an environmentally good
entity.  The guide told us EPCOT stands for Every Paycheck Comes on Thursday
and confirmed that they are paid on Thursday.
   From the Poly we boarded a bus and stopped for a moment at one of the 22
flood control gates.  These are designed to automatically adjust themselves
to maintain the water levels throughout the property.  They work by a counter
weight system that allows the gate to open when the water pressure increases
and close as it falls.  This allows them to work without supervision or power.
You can see one of them from the access road to the MK parking lot.  The system
is designed to handle a 50 year storm of 5 inches of rain in one hour or 12
inches in a day or 17 inches in 5 days.
   Our next stop was the Tree farm where we learned that there is one tree for
every three "on stage", currently there are some 1500 hanging baskets, they
employ 800 horticulturists and it takes 1 and a half years to get a
planting from the conceptual stage to being placed in the park.
We stopped at the topiary farm so we could see several topiaries in various
stages of development.  It takes 7-9 years for these to grow to the point
they can be used.  They are trimmed every 3-4 days by a man  who is blind.
Behind the topiaries was a large green house.  We were warned not to
enter this area as the automatic sprinkler system uses waster that
comes from the waste water plant.  Our next stop.
   The waste water treatment plant converts sewage into two parts, sludge
and water which still has a lot of organic materials.  This is the same as
any neighborhood sewage treatment plant.  The water is processed through the
tree farm, a percolation pond system and finally the wetlands area of the
park.  Flow rates approach 7 million gallons a day.  The sludge is composted and
mixed with sawdust to form a material similar to potting soil.  There are 42
lift stations.  Not show to us was the Water hyacinth filtration facility, a
100,000 gallon a day experimental facility which removes 90% of the organic
material.
     More latter
 

From: [email protected] (Chris Allison)
Subject: Innovation in Action seminar - part 2
Date: 11 Jan 91 21:11:32 GMT
Organization: Miami University - Academic Computer Service
 
 
     After leaving the waste water treatment plant we drove on to the
production center.  Along the way we passed the power plant, the compacting
station, the fireworks launch facility, the fire station and found ourselves
behind Big Thunder Mountain.
    Some more trivia.  Disney's electric bill comes to over $2 million
per month.  They also generate steam and electricity using a co-generation
plant.  This plant uses a modified GE LM5000 aircraft engine.  This engine
has been used on such aircraft as the 747, DC-10 and the A-300 Airbus.
The plant generates an average 37 MW of electricity with a peak demand
capacity of over 80 MW. The plant provides about 50% of WDW's electric needs.
(this comes to over $4 million per month if they bought it all)
The waste heat from the plant is used to produce over 27.5 million BTU/hr.
of hot water and 2000 tons per hour of chilled water.  They have another
water chiller which generates 17,330 tons using centrifugal chillers.
The plant can burn natural gas or #2 fuel oil.
   Solid waste from the Magic Kingdom(MK) is collected from 15 collection
points to a central compactor station.  The collection points are connected
using 20" pipes and use a vacuum system with moves the trash at speeds
approaching 60 MPH.  Trucks are used to move the trash to the Osceola County
Landfill.  An average of 90 tons per day is collected. ( I asked about
re-cycling.  It is being done by the cast members but they have not yet
decided on a way to keep the magic and recycle the guests trash.  Chip and
Dale are the mascots for company re-cycle plan)
 
(source: Document titled Reedy Creek Energy Services,Inc.
dated March 1989 available through the EPCOT outreach center)
 
As an aside If you look under the fence hiding splash mountains
construction or look back at the entrance to Big Thunder Mountain you can
see the production center.  This is the staging area for the parades as the
floats are stored here.
    Next up the production center.
 

From: [email protected] (Chris Allison)
Subject: Innovations is Action seminar - part 3
Date: 14 Jan 91 20:29:52 GMT
Organization: Miami University - Academic Computer Service
 
 
   The Production Center is a large warehouse type building where among
unknown other things the parade floats are stored.  We were able to look
at, touch, and explore the floats used in the electric light parade.  Elliot
the dragon had his lights turned on and the tea pot from Alice in Wonderland
was open for close examination.  Throughout the room the hum of charging
batteries could be heard.  We were told that each string of lights is doubled
so that no one lights failure would show.  At the top of each float is a radio
antenna which receives the music for that float from a transmitter located at
the top of the castle.
   Still at the production center we walked to a practice room and were able
to see a rehearsal of the Starland show.  Imagine seeing Characters out of
costume but in character.  Another short walk took us past a room that had what
looked like a player-violin down to the canal used to store the electric
water parade.  The barges used for the parade are connected together each with
its own motor.  During the show only the lead and trailing barges motors are
operating.  The trailing barges motor pulls back to keep the whole thing
taunt.
   Next it was back to the bus for the trip to Central Shops.  This trip took
us past the laundry facilities where 69 tons of laundry are processed each day.
They use 900 pound dryers.  This area is beyond and behind the Small World
and 20k rides.
    When the trip was arranged everyone was looking forward to being in
the tunnels.  After the seminar everyone agreed that the Central Shop was the
high point of the tour.  This is were almost everything in the parks is made.
From boats on the lagoons to the $200 trash cans, Small world dolls to
dinosaurs at EPCOT.  They have 300,000 sq. feet of space and operate with an
annual budget of $35-70 million per year.  The average worker has been here
for nine years and completed a four year apprentice ship learning his trade.
The from looking at the bulletin board it was obvious that the area is
unionized.  When we went through the shop they were working on things for
Euro Disney Land (EDL)
   Next Central Shop

    As I understand it, you need to be part of a group of 20 or more in
    order to be offered the backstage tour. I don't know how much it costs
    to take the tour; I doubt it is free, and is probably between $20 and
    $50 (wild guess). 
    
    So I suppose you could extrapolate and say that the price to take a
    single tour would be 20 x the single price, eg between $400 and $1000.
    Hmm, still might be worth it.
    
    Alternatively -- could we Disney noters get together down there (like
    Christmas '91, for instance) and take the tour for real???
    
    						Nigel

    
    	RE : The last couple of notes
    
    		Actually, if you're really anxious to take the "
    Innovations in Actions " tour, there is an easier way. You could hook
    up with the World Chapter of the National Fantasy Fan Club, an
    Disneyana collectors organization. Each October, the World Chapter
    -- which is, surprise, surprise, based out of Orlando -- holds a three
    or four day convention in one of the hotels near the Walt Disney World
    Shopping Village. In addition to listening to guest speakers from the
    Disney organization leak inside secrets about the company, the World
    Chapter also offers its members the opportunity to sign up for these
    behind the scenes tours of the parks.
    		This past October, I took part in all three of the tours
    offered -- the " Innovations in Actions " tour, the " Hidden Treasures
    of the World Showcase, " and " Gardening Secrets of EPCOT Center. "
    ( Actually, I've botched the name of that last tour, but it dealt with
    all the different types of plants used to given an authentic look to
    each of the pavilions in the World Showcase part of EPCOT Center. I
    guess it would be pretty interesting to you horticultural types.
    Personally, I found it a bit of a bore. ) I had hoped to attend a
    fourth tour -- " Aritheming, " which would have gone into the detail
    Disney uses to recreate the period look at the Disney - MGM Studio
    Theme Park as well as the resort's newer hotels -- but this was 
    cancelled at the last minute.
    		The price of the tours ranged from $ 45 - $ 55 per person.
    They typically took four or five hours to complete, with a Disney
    staffer escorting around the grounds spewing all sorts of inside info.
    Though I had made at least a dozen trips to WDW before this, I learned
    numerous things about the parks and the Disney Company that I had never 
    known before. For the Disney afficiando, I feel that these tours are
    well worth the money.
    		If any of you Disney DEC dweebs are interested in taking 
    these tours, let me know and I'll post the address for the World
    Chapter and the N.F.F.C. Their annual dues are $ 10 - $ 20, I think.
    But this includes a handsome newsletter and -- of course -- the chance 
    to take these behind-the-scenes at Disney tours with a group that's
    also deeply into Disney.
    
    					Regards,
                                                  
    					Robespierre

    
    re: .14
    
    Robespierre,
    	Please go ahead and post the address of the World Chapter of the
    	National Fantasy Fan Club, whew!  Just curious, it this only a
    	Disneyana collectors club?  With the word Fantasy, in the title,
    	it seems that this club could get into D&D stuff, which I'd rather
    	not get invovled with again.
    
    	Did you actually attend all four days of the convention?  It kinda
    	seems a shame to "waste" 4 (partial?) days, being lectured when you
    	could spend all that time in the WDW parks.
    
    	I am interested in any additional info.  Unless the mod's disagree, 
    	please post it ASAP!!
    
      +- Sharon  

    
    RE : - .1
    
    		Actually, no, Sharon -- I didn't attend all four days of 
    events. I'm not a big fan of cocktail receptions or silent auctions.
    ( Of course, by blowing off the cocktail reception, I missed a slide
    and video presentation on Euro-Disneyland. Oh well ... )
    		But there are actually quite a few Disneyana clubs
    scattered around the country. I belong to about 10 different
    organizations, and -- through their various newsletters -- I have a
    pretty good idea what's going on in each of the parks from month to 
    month.
    		For my money, the World Chapter of the National Fantasy
    Fan Club is the best I've encountered so far. They're a truly friendly
    bunch who know about all the nooks and crannies at WDW. Plus they've
    got a super newsletter.
    		If you're interested in joining the World Chapter, write 
    to :
    
    				The World Chapter
    				N.F.F.C.
    				P.O. Box 22647
    				Lake Buena Vista, FLA. 32830
    
    		They'll send you a membership information packet. The 
    club's annual dues are $ 15 or $ 20, as I remember.
    
    		Likewise, if you'd like to hook up with the main office
    of the organization, write to :
    
    		The National Fantasy Fan Club for
    		Disneyana Collectors and Enthusiasts
    		P.O. Box 19212
    		Irvine, CA. 92713
    
    		They'll also send you a membership information packet.
    And their annual dues are $ 20, or so I remember.
    
    		However, if you live in the New England area and would
    like to hook up with a local outfit, you might want to try the :
    
    		Mouse Club East
    		474 Main Street
    		Wilmington, MA. 01887
    
    		These folks just set up their club -- which is an off-shoot
    of the National Mouse Club -- last year. They're not the most
    professional bunch, but their hearts are in the right place. And --
    surprise, surprise -- their annual dues are $ 20.
    
    		Just an advance warning, though. There is such a thing as
    being *TOO* into a certain subject. I'm all of use know someone who's
    obsessed with their hobby. Well, I have to tell you -- a lot of the 
    people I've met through these Disneyana organizations are more than a
    little too much obsessed with things Disney. They're sweet people --
    harmless, really -- but they really need to get out of the house more,
    if you know what I mean.
    
    		But -- if you can be fairly tolerant of people who know
    way too much about things that don't count -- you can learn a lot from
    these Disneyana clubs, and have a lot of fun too. So -- what the hell 
    -- give it a shot, okay ?
    
    		If you've got any further questions, don't be afraid to
    ask.
    
    				Regards,
    
    		               Robespierre

RE last couple -

Maybe there should be a topic devoted to fan clubs, so that information isn't
buried in other topics.  Just a suggestion...

						-- Nina

From: [email protected] (Chris Allison)
Subject: Innovation in Action seminar - part 4
Date: 16 Jan 91 19:49:03 GMT
Organization: Miami University - Academic Computer Service
 
 
     Outside the central shop is a large parking lot type area covered with
old conveyer rollers, bent trash cans, motors and various other electrical and
mechanical devices in need of repair.  Steam cleaning and sand blasting areas
were also visible.  Before we entered the building safety glasses were issued.
We entered the building at a large metal shop and passed the cafeteria.  Union
and company notices were plainly posted for all to read.  - Pictures -  We were
told before the tour began and at almost every stop that we were entering
"pixy dusted" areas.  If we tried to use our cameras the film would be
confiscated.  If ever there was a place of temptation....
   At the end of the metal shop was a large mostly empty area with a heavy
traveling crane.  We were told that this area was used to build the passenger
boats used at EPCOT.  When we went through the area it was being used as a
holding area for several partially finished Euro Disney Small world exhibits.
The dolls on these exhibits were wrapped in plastic and had signs attached
describing what still needed to be done.  We found out that the dolls
spin and dance at the edge of bicycle wheels.
    Next we entered a area with a sign over the door "Alligator Alley".  In
this room they were in the process of assembling S-figure animatronic figures.
I remember seeing a bird in the Walt Disney story area in the MK several years
ago.  This was the ??first?? audio-animatronic figure.  I remember seeing a tape
lots of cams and very complicated mechanical linkage from the motor area in
the base to the bird figure.  The tape controlled both the sound and the
movement.  These figures were completely different.  The figure itself was a
pirate from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" (again for Euro Disney).  The basic
structure was a very human looking a steel alloy skeleton.  The joints have
hydraulic actuators to make the figure move.  Hydraulic lines run very much
like blood vessels from the cavity/base/support area to these actuators. (for
under water figures air is used instead of oil.)  The figure is "fleshed out"
with a plastic skin molded to look like the body part.  The only S-figure at
Walt Disney World is the witch in the Great Movie Rides Wizard of OZ.  We
were told the S-figure was a result of a University Prostheses research
project Disney had funded.  I got the impression that not only were the
animatronics figures significantly more life like, but handicapped people were
now able to get much more realistic prosthetic devices as a result of this
project.
    We were fortunate enough to be able to see figures in various stages
of assembly.  At one station a man was having his metal skeleton assembled.
At another the hydraulic lines were being carefully run.  In the middle of the
room a plastic leg part was being heated and molded to match a drawing for that
figure.  We were told that Disney had to use a different kind of plastic as the
European fire laws would not allow the plastics used in the states.  Another
station was testing a fully assemble figure.  This figure was connected to a
computer which ran full range of motion tests.  This was the only station that
seemed to be turned on for us.  It is amazing to see these figures move.
Their movements are so smooth and life like that it is almost spooky.  Around
the room were several figures assemble, tested and awaiting shipment to Europe.
Even though we were told not to touch, the room was so crowded and we had to
pass so close that...
   After several minutes we moved on to an area where we saw the jail from
pirates, a Small World harp bird being painted by a artist who was
concentrating so hard she looked like a mannequin.  Figure heads were being
molded, stitched to harnesses, painted and outfitted with hair.  At the
woodworking shop we saw several items waiting for shipment to Europe.  Several
Carousel horses, and a chariot were there.  We were told the gold and silver
on the horses is real.  Disney strips and repaints the horses so you will not
see paint chips.  Signs were being painted for use in the park.
    It was pointed out to us that Walt Disney wanted a carousel and not
a merry-go-round because he would always get the stationary animals whenever
he took his daughter to the fair.  We also learned that carousels go counter
clockwise and merry-go-rounds go clockwise.  That the horses get smaller
and less ornate as you move from the outside of the ride and that they are
less ornate on the inside side of the figure.  This is the type of tour it
was.  Our guide knew more than we could think of questions.  But like all good
things this one ended here.
   next under the MK.


From: [email protected] (Chris Allison)
Subject: Innovations in Action Seminar - part 5
Date: 17 Jan 91 21:03:28 GMT
Organization: Miami University - Academic Computer Service
 
 
     After leaving the Central Shop we reboarded the bus for a trip past
the dry dock where the various boats are refurbished.  We were told that
the small rental boats are built upon the "Tupperware" principle.  It seems
the bottoms of the boats wear out and have to be replaced while the top is
still in good shape.  Zip - off with the old and on with the new.  Past the
20K sub pins and down a hill to a parking area directly behind Small World.
From here we walked into the tunnels.
     I have to admit if you have seen one industrial tunnel you have seen
them all.  Cement walls, pipes of various sizes on the ceiling and colored
lines on the floors and walls.  We stopped at a service window and looked
into the wardrobe department.  This is a very large area containing the
costumes used by the cast members.  Disney provides these costume to each
cast members.  They have three for each person.  One in the sack (laundry),
one on the back and one in the rack (in the locker or wardrobe area).  After
a shift is completed the cast member returns the used costume telling
the worker his/her size and is issued a clean costume to store in their
locker until the next shift.  (Any comments from the former cast member?)
Next we traveled through the wardrobe area which contains a fitting and
adjustments area and on to the DACS computer room.  Here we saw the door
leading to the computer which controls literally hundreds of activities
in the Magic Kingdom.  It is capable of controlling over 72,000 individual
functions every second.  These functions include such things as opening
theater doors, operating stage lifts, lights and curtains, issuing voice
and motion commands to the various Animatronic figures, checking
motion and fire sensors, and sensing power and equipment failures.
     From here it was down a short hallway up some steps down another hall
and through a door into the Magic Kingdom.  Wow in three steps we went from
a tunnel hall with no music, special lighting, or any real sense of Disney
magic to just the complete opposite.  This was quite a shock for everyone.
The rest of the tour was spent pointing out features of the Castle, Main
Street USA and finally a bus trip to our destination.
    Some of the trivia we were shown is that there is an apartment in the
castle.  It has never been occupied and is currently used for storage.  The
Disney coat of arms is over the entrance to the castle.  The castle is made of
Fiberglas making it the largest use of Fiberglas.  Forced perspective is used
to make the Main Street buildings look taller than they really are.  The second
story windows are only 1-2 feet tall.  In fact forced perspective seems to have
been used through out the parks.  In EPCOT for instance all of the World
Showcase buildings use it.  The only building over 2 an a half stories tall is
the Americas and there they use forced perspective to make the building look
smaller.
    That's the seminar.

    re: .17

    Thanks for your suggestion Nina.  See note 241.

    Your Obedient Moderator.

    Here's some interesting bits of info I got out of an article entitled,
    "Disney's Night Shift." The article discusses the "...housekeeping
    magic that keeps the fantasy fresh."
    
    The third shift comes in after the parks have closed and do their
    thing....cleaning, washing, painting, maintenance, etc.
    
    Occasionally, workers discover guests inside the parks after closing.
    One worker talked about a couple roaming around the World Showcase in
    Epcot at 2 A.M. The couple had fallen on the grass while watching
    IllumiNations. They were quickly escorted out.
    
    Another incident involved a guest who had sneaked into EPcot with a
    4-wheel drive vehicle (dunno how!!) to take some photos of Spaceship
    Earth.
    
    The Swan and the Dolphin hotels usually have guests who sneak into the
    park after hours. Midnight joggers run along the World Showcase Lagoon.
    
    I'll bet few of you know the reason why chewing gum is not sold in WDW.
    Chewing gum is one of the biggest enemies the cleaning crews have to
    deal with. They have to scour the park each night and chewing gum is
    not fun to remove off of any surface.
    
    Crew leaders inspect work to insure it meets the standards set by WDW.
    
    There are eight crystal chandeliers in the American Adventure
    pavillion's theater. These are cleaned but once a year. Why? Well,
    first off they measure eight feet across and seven feet high. Secondly,
    it takes two people eight hours to clean just one of them.
    
    In the pavillion workers polish all the brass, mop the marble lobby floor,
    and give it a high-speed buff. 
    
    It takes workers, also called "cast members", four to five days, and
    seven coats of wax to strip and refinish the floor.
    
    The article says that weather is the main determining factor as to what
    gets done during the third shift. Lightning and/or 20-degree weather
    curtails their work. The resort cannot be hosed down when the air is
    too cool.
    
    Get this, crews sometimes discover raccoons rummaging through trash
    cans and alligators roaming the parking lots. This is due to the
    enormous amount of undeveloped land on the property. The article
    mentions that workers are trained on how to handle animals and relocate
    them to other parts of the park.
    
    The Universe of Energy fountain collects so many coins that it must be
    cleaned out every two weeks. It takes three hours to clean out all the
    coins. The article does not explain how they do it. By the way, the
    money is donated to Disney's employee recreation fund and local
    charities.
    
    Epcot has 5,000 square feet of sidewalk which is washed with
    high-pressure, hot-water machines. These mchines dissolve the
    aforementioned gum, sticky candies, and spilled drinks from that day's
    visitors.
    
    There's a vessel named Minnie Cooley which travels about the Magic
    Kingdom waterways at night sucking up cola cups and other unwanted
    mementos from the day past.
    
    Special attention is given to Space Mountain's entrance ramp because
    the lines are long for this ride. They actually scrub the concrete
    entrance ramp.
    
    New crew members to the Haunted Mansion crew are constantly reminded,
    "Don't dust."
    
    Horticulture crews begin their day at 5 A.M. so they can get most of
    their work done during daylight hours. All work requing loud equipment,
    work like mowing, edging, trimming, and even watering...must be done
    before the parks open.
    
    The flower beds are always checked and never left empty. The article
    mentions the largest flower bed in WDW. Anyone want to gather a guess
    as to where this 20,000 plant bed is located?
    
    The article talks about the 120-acre nursery of 15,000 trees.
    
    Also mentioned is the Zoo Room. This room is located in the tunnels and
    is where the character costumes are stored and groomed each night.
    
    That's all. 
    
    Mike

    My husband (to be) and I will be spending our honeymoon at WDW.  This
    will be our second trip there, the first being last September.  What I
    was wondering is, does anyone know of any behind the scenes tours that
    are available for the general public?  Any information would be greatly
    appreciated!
    
    Thanks,
    Jennifer

    I just called the number listed in a previous note (407) 363-6666 to
    get information about a tour of the "inner and underground" workings of
    DWD.  Exactly as the person has stated in the previous note, tours were
    usually run for parties of 15 people or more, for select groupsf.
    
    HOWEVER ... during our visit (the last week in Sept) they will be
    sending new tour guides on "dress rehersal" tours.  The tour is
    absolutely free (such a deal) and runs for about 3 1/2 hours.  I don't
    know how long this will be for, but I did want to pass it on.

re. 74.22

	I just love this notes file.  It's awesome, outta-sight, and far-out.
	(Am I dating myself?)

	Thanks for the information in the previous note.  I called the number
	and have reservations for Innovation in Action for Sept. 24.  That is
	the last day available.  The secretary originally was going to
	schedule me for Sept. 3.  So if anyone is going in Sept. give them
	a call to see if there is date and time available during your visit.

	I'm so excited it'll be hard to concentrate on work today.  I let out
	such a whoop when I hung up that some people several cubicles away
	had to come by to see what I was making such a racket about.

	Luckily, people seem to be tolerant about my addiction to WDW.  One
	person is even jealous.

	I'm in heaven today just thinking about this tour.

	Thank you ever so much MILLER_COLE.

	Marilyn

    I posted the base note almost 2� years ago, and now my dream has come
    true!!  And during the period I'm going to be there.  I might have made
    a special trip just to do this tour.

    I too am booked for Sept. 24 at 9:00 AM.  This is the same program that
    is described in great detail in previous replies in this topic.  I
    can't believe how psyched I am.

    When I first called Seminar Productions (the number posted in .22) they
    didn't know what I was talking about, especially when I used the
    four-letter "F" word that is never uttered on Dinsey property...
    "FREE".  I was in a panic until I could get a hold of Robin Miller-Cole
    and get enough details to sign up.

    For the record the program is called: "Innovation in Action, Dress
    Rehearsal".  I spoke to someone named Kim.

    Len, sorry I'll just miss you.  I'm signed up for the 1 p.m. tour on
    Sept. 24.

    I didn't realize how much I really wanted to go on this until I had
    my name on the list.  It really is dream come true.

    Marilyn

    Ya know, Len, if I were one of your kids, I'd be pretty ticked that I'd
    be missing out on this.  Heck, I'm not oone of your kids and I'm still
    ticked.... :-)
    
    - Skip

    They aren't ticked because Len told the kids that he was actually
    taking a tour of, well he staerted to sing that song the Goldberg kids
    just...nahhhh I'll let Len tell the story.
    
    Mike

    
    Thanks for the pointers in here! We're reserved for September 12 at 
    9am, and we can't wait. (I'm amazed when I think of all the stuff
    we would have missed if I hadn't found this notesfile)
    
    T minus 9 days and counting...
    
    Ellen

	My wife and I will be at WDW from September 18 to September 23.
	I called and the only Backstage tour dress rehearsal that was
	available was September 23 at 9:00 am.  Our plane doesn't leave
	Orlando airport until 3:10 pm, so I don't think the tour will
	make us late, but it will may make things hectic that day.  It
	will be worth it.

	We are staying at the Beach Club and we are not planning on having
	a car, so we will have to take a bus to the Disney Village Marketplace
	and then another bus to take us through the Villas to get to the
	Disney Village Conference Center at 9:00 am where the tour starts.

	When the tour is over and we come back to the Disney Village
	Marketplace, we can do some last-minute shopping before heading out.

	Are there any restrictions on when you can take pictures during
	the tour?

						An even happier camper,

							John

    
    	RE :  Taking pictures on the WDW Backstage Tours
    
    		Actually, yes, there are restrictions. When I took the
    tour last year, our Disney hosts were quite insistant about us * NOT *
    taking any photos while we were " backstage. " They insist that all
    lense caps be tightly fastened as we went through the Central Shops
    area ( Where -- inside Alligator Alley -- all the resort's audio
    animatronic figures are repaired ), toured the parade warehouse as
    well as the park's rehearsal halls. We were also forbidden to take
    any pictures as we wandered through the Utilidors under the Magic 
    Kingdom and exited out behind Main Street.
    		On the plus side, you do get the opportunity to take a few
    behind-the-scenes photos as you make your trip. For example, you can
    get some incredible shots of the Disney character topiary-in-the-making
    during your stop at the WDW tree farm. And -- if you're really quick 
    ( and sneaky ! )  -- you can still snag a few pix while touring the 
    truly restricted areas ( At least, * I * was able too ! :-) ) 
    		Mind you, this is a 16 mm still camera I'm talking about
    here. I'm not sure how much a clever, sneaky person with a video camera
    might able to snag. ( Just a hint : Put black maksing tape over the 
    red " camera running " light )
    		But -- whether you get pictures or not -- this behind-the-
    scene is still well worth taking. In just three hours or so, you really
    do get an inside overview of WDW's backside ... So to speak.
    
    		Any other questions ?
    						jrh

I spoke with central reservations yesterday and asked about backstage tours.
I was told that they no longer do these.  Sigh.

Anyone have any confirmation of this?  Perhaps I asked the wrong question.

   Gary

    We never heard whether any of you noters actually took this
    backstage tour?  What's happened?
    
    (Just curious!!!)
    
    Pc

    As you have read in the previous notes in this topic, I have for some
    time wanted to get a behind the scenes tour at Walt Disney World. 
    Because of some diligent work on the part of some other noters in this
    conference, and some plain dumb luck, we had our opportunity at the end
    of September to participate in "Innovation In Action", a seminar given
    by the Seminar Productions department at WDW.
     
    IIA is usually offered to business groups of 15 or more who are all
    staying in WDW resorts. The 3� hour seminar costs $50 per person. 
    This time however, Seminar Productions was training some new
    instructors, and was offering "dress rehearsals" with none of the
    restrictions, and at no charge. It also happened that the rehearsal
    seminar was available during the week we had already planned to be at
    the World. It couldn't have worked out better for us.

    We all met in a function room on the 15th floor of the Contemporary
    Resort at 9:00 on Tuesday morning Sep. 24 1991. The group consisted
    of myself, my wife Linda, Robin Miller-Cole, (The noter who was the
    one who originally found out about the free seminar), and her husband
    Greg. There was one more woman, who didn't say much, but gave the
    impression she was somehow related to a cast member or something.

    Jim was to be our instructor/guide. Jim had worked at WDW for seven
    years, and was just breaking in to Seminars. His real job was working
    the Friendships at EPCOT Center. Also there from Disney was Sue, who
    was introduced as being from Seminar Productions and there to observe,
    and Harriet who was to be our van driver. It was obvious after a
    while that Sue was Jim's trainer. She did a good job of just
    observing, and not jumping in unless Jim asked her a question.

    The seminar began with a short lecture by Jim. He described his first
    experience at WDW as a child the week after it opened. His dream was
    to live in an apartment over Main St. USA. Jim was impressed that we
    had found out about the seminar through a "computer bulletin board",
    but was intimidated at first by our level of Disney and Disney World
    knowledge. He got over it soon enough when he realized we weren't
    hostile or threatening, just curious. It was probably a good
    experience for him, should he ever get another group with similar
    background.

    Jim talked about WDW as a working experiment in urban systems. He
    discussed how the company bought up the land for the project using
    several small real estate trading companies as fronts. At the time
    there was much speculation about who was behind the land purchases. 
    Many thought it was Martin Marrietta, who already had a presence in
    the Orlando area. Others speculated it was a NASA project, and they
    were going to move their launch facilities inland from the coast. 
    There was even speculation that the Mafia was buying up the property
    as kind of a retirement home for crooks.

    The story was finally broken by a reporter from the Orlando Sentinel
    who innocently asked Walt at a news conference if it was he who was
    buying up a big chunk of central Florida. Never a good liar, Walt
    protested that the area was not suited for a Disneyland kind of
    operation. Unfortunately, his answer quoted detailed statistics of
    climate, population, infrastructure, etc., and even used some local
    place names common only to natives. The next morning the Sentinel
    headline read that Disney was coming to Florida.

    Jim told us how the original concept for the property was to be the
    Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow (EPCOT), (not to be
    confused with the theme park with a similar name: EPCOT Center). As
    you Disneyphiles know, Walt's dream included a real city where people
    lived, worked, and played. It is only now with the development of
    Celebration that anything like the original plan is beginning to
    happen.

    Never the less, by getting the Florida legislature to create the Reedy
    Creek Improvement District (RCID), essentially a new county, Disney
    was able to use several innovative building techniques that would not
    have been allowed under normal building codes. The building codes
    that were adopted by Reedy Creek were called, not surprisingly, the
    EPCOT building codes. The Cinderella Castle is an example of
    construction that is allowed under these codes. More Fiberglas was
    used in its construction than in any other structure. This was
    allowed under the code because "sophisticated system of sprinklers,
    computer- controlled smoke detectors and flame retardants have proven 
    Fiberglas -- formerly considered too combustible for major 
    construction -- a safe and structurally sound building substance."

    After Jim's talk, he showed us a short film. The film began with the
    now famous clip of Walt's description of his plan for the project. 
    Interestingly enough, he called it "Experimental Prototype *CITY* of
    Tomorrow". No one ever explained the discrepancy in nomenclature.

    Next was a clip of David Brinkley on opening day of WDW. According to
    Jim it was on of the few reports that focused on the innovative
    aspects of the infrastructure of the World, and its possible
    application to the nation's urban problems, instead of just looking at
    WDW as a fancy new amusement park.

    The film went on to discuss the various areas on innovation at WDW:

         Water Management
         Design and Construction
         Energy
         Communication
         Transportation
         Entertainment

    I'll say more about each of these as I describe the tour portion of
    the seminar.

    After the film was over, and we had a short bathroom break, we headed
    to our van for the tour.

    On the way to our first stop, Jim mentioned Vista United, a joint 
    venture between Disney and United Telephone. VU supports 18,000 
    telephones on the property, (and by my observation this trip at least
    that many pagers). While the innovations introduced by Vista United
    are commonplace now, they were significant at their time. They
    include the first commercial use of fiber optic cable in the U.S.
    (1978), the first 911 emergency system in Florida, the first totally
    electronic switching network in the U.S. (1971), the first video
    display long distance operator system in the Continental U.S. (1975).

    We headed down Bear Island Road, which leaves the MK area exit road
    sort of behind the Car Care Center, and skirts the south edge of the
    Palm Golf Course. 

    Passing the golf course maintenance building, we stopped on a bridge
    over a canal. The main feature here was the water control gate called
    an Emile Gate. (Water control is for obvious reasons a big deal in
    Florida.) Of French design, the Emile Gate is non- powered, and self
    controlling. It uses a double ballast system that causes it to open
    as the water pressure, and thus the water level increases, and to
    close as the level decreases. In this way, the water level is
    maintained, without the necessity of sending someone out in the middle
    of a thunder storm or hurricane to adjust the gate, or worrying about
    remote control failure. Along the canal, on the side of the road
    opposite the golf course, Jim spotted an alligator sunning itself. I
    guess there are all kinds of hazards on Florida golf courses.

    Next we drove by the waste water treatment plant. There was much 
    construction going on in this area, as they are expanding the capacity
    of the plant.

    At WDW they recycle 100% of the waste water. After treatment, the
    liquid portion of the waste is used for irrigation and the like
    throughout the property. The treated solids are mixed with other
    products and used as fertilizer. Apparently there was a contest to
    among the cast name this product, losing entries included "Zippity Doo
    Doo" and "Winnie's Pooh". The winner was "Vista Green". Boring.

    We were not shown the experimental water hyacinth treatment facility.

    Continuing down Bear Island Road we drove through the tree farm. Here
    there are six trees for every one in the parks. WDW has pioneered the
    technology needed to move full grown trees and successfully replant
    them. If an on-stage tree is ailing, it can be replaced overnight
    with the same species from the tree farm, without the guests having a
    clue that any thing had changed. Finally we stopped at the nursery,
    where we were allow to get out of the van and walk around. We were
    warned, however, to be careful since the sprinkler systems were known
    to come on with out warning. (Remember from the description of the
    waste water plant where the irrigation water comes from.)

    WDW employs something like 800 horticulturists to take care of all the
    plants on the property.

    At the nursery they grow all the plants and such that are used on 
    stage. We saw row upon row of hanging plants in one greenhouse. Each
    was labeled with common and Latin names, its intended destination, and
    the date it was needed. For example, "Mickey's nose rehab., 12/91". 
    Each plant also had its own drip irrigation tube.

    Also in this area were several topiaries, in various stages of 
    development. These can take up to 10 years to fully develop. They
    are grown in a metal or wire frame, and trimmed to the appropriate
    shapes regularly. Depending on the size and other requirements of the
    figure there are three types of topiary used: field grown, sphagnum
    moss, and box topiary. You can see some topiaries being grown on the
    tram portion of the Disney-MGM Studio tour.

    As we drove back toward the Magic Kingdom, past our snoozing alligator
    friend, I asked Jim what they would do if the 'gator wandered onto the
    golf course. He said they would call the Reedy Creek pest control
    people who would capture it, and relocate it to the conservation area
    part of the property.

    Jim took this opportunity to tell us a little about the Reedy Creek
    Improvement District. Apparently they have all the authority of any
    county government in the state, with two exceptions. They can't form
    a "gun toting" police force, and they can't issue business permits.

    We turned left on Floridian Way, past the entrance to the Disney Inn
    and the Grand Floridian Beach Resort. As we passed the GF, Jim
    mentioned that it was the largest single order of mill work ever
    placed.

    Along the left side of the road beyond the GF, we saw various pieces
    of steel work destined for installation on Splash Mountain. Talk
    about a giant 3D jigsaw puzzle!

    A right turn off Floridian Way brought us to the Production Center,
    located directly Frontierland. As we got out of the van, Jim pointed
    out the rear of the ride buildings for Pirates of the Caribbean, and
    Splash Mountain. He also indicated the central compactor for the AVAC
    system. More about AVAC later.

    The Production Center itself is dedicated to support of the live 
    entertainment aspects of the Magic Kingdom. It is here that the 
    parade floats are built and maintained, and the stage shows are 
    choreographed and rehearsed. 

    There are several buildings in the area, including dressing rooms for
    the regular cast and for visiting bands etc. Outside the main
    building were all the floats from the new "Surprise Celebration"
    parade, their balloons mostly deflated. In another corner of the area
    were the floats from the previous parades, (Character Hit Parade,
    Mickey's Birthday Parade, etc.).

    I asked about how the balloon floats were inflated, and kept rigid. 
    Jim answered that inside each was a telescoping structure that bore
    the weight of the balloon, and electric fans in the base of the float
    inflated the skin, and kept it taut. He also showed us where the
    driver sits, quite low in the front of the float. one of the major
    obstacles they have to deal with are the trolley tracks along Main St.

    We were able to walk inside the main building, the major part of which
    consisted of a large work area where several cast members were putting
    the finishing touches on the floats for the SpectroMagic parade. I
    must admit that they look pretty drab in the daylight. Jim explained
    that not only do the floats employ various types of high-tech lighting
    effects, but many are also covered in special fabrics that seems to
    shimmer or glow when illuminated.

    He also showed us how each float had a radio antenna that received the
    signals that keeps the music in sync. We peeked inside on of the
    floats that was open, and as you might expect it was a maze of
    batteries and wires and stuff.

    The peacock float was operating. The major feature of this float was
    the open peacock's tail made of fiber optic strands. The changing
    colors gave the illusion that the feathers were moving. Quite
    impressive.

    As I said, the technicians were touching things up and checking 
    everything out. We were told that they go so far as to paint their
    own light bulbs, in order to get exactly the color they want.

    The other part of the main building is devoted to costume storage and
    rehearsal space. We saw the costumes for both the current parades, as
    well as the large rack where all the battery packs for the nighttime
    costumes are charged. Jim said that he average costume for
    SpectroMagic weighs 39 lb. Not exactly what I'd like to be dancing
    around in on a hot summer night.

    We peeked into the rehearsal hall where a show of some kind was being
    rehearsed. The interesting feature here was on the floor. It was all
    marked off with various colors of tape. Each color represented the
    actual dimensions of a different stage in the MK. That way the
    performance could be blocked without the need to be on the real stage.

    Along side the Production Center are docked the boats for the 
    Electrical Water Pageant. These consist of a series of 14 barges in
    two strings. The barges at each end of the string have engines that
    pull in opposite directions. This keeps the string straight as it
    makes its way around Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake. Since the engine
    in the front pulls a little harder than the one in the back, the whole
    thing moves forward. The only time they cancel the water pageant is
    in high winds, when they just can't keep the barges lined up.

    On top of each barge is mounted what looks like a 20' x 20' chain-link
    fence. Strung on the fence are Christmas lights in various patterns. 
    These patterns make up the two "acts" of the water pageant, King
    Neptune's Court, and Star Spangled Salute. Also on the barges are
    speakers for the music. Music for the pageant also comes from large
    speaker banks permanently mounted on the islands in the lakes.

    There is one other boat in the flotilla, a Boston Whaler painted 
    black, whose job it is to make sure that the whole deal makes it 
    safely across the water bridge near the Contemporary between Seven
    Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake.

    If SpectroMagic was dull in the daylight, the Electrical Water Pageant
    was downright uninspired.

    We reboarded our van, and Harriet continued along Floridian Way to the
    North Service area located directly north of the Magic Kingdom. Along
    the way Jim pointed out the Central Energy Plant. In this jet turbine
    plant the Reedy Creek Utilities Company generates 50% of WDW's
    electricity from either oil or natural gas. The rest of the power is
    purchased from Florida Power and Light at the cost of about $2
    million/month.

    We also passed by one of three fire stations on the property. Run by
    the RCID, they are strategically placed so they can provide a two
    minute average response time. Our home town fire department has one
    ambulance to handle a population of about 65,000 (it used to be two
    before budget cuts). I noticed that there were a lot more ambulances
    than that at the fire station we passed. And none of them said Walt
    Disney World on them. In fact all they said was "Ambulance". I guess
    we have to avoid bad publicity.

    In the North Service Area we drove by several very large buildings. 
    The largest was the Central Shops, about a block long. Jim told us
    that this is where everything from boats, to Audio-Animatronics, to
    trash cans are build or repaired. I had hoped we would get a look
    inside, but that was not on our itinerary. We were told that it takes
    five years as an apprentice before you can be considered a craftsman
    in the shops.

    Beyond the Central Shops is the bone yard. This is where they keep a
    bunch of stuff that they might re-use sometime. Sort of like that junk
    drawer in the kitchen where you keep the stuff that's too good to
    throw out just yet. We saw a section of track from some attraction or
    other, and random pieces of architectural bric-a-brac laying around. 
    Nearby we also saw some Imagineers checking out a ride vehicle on a
    test track.

    Also a short distance from the Central Shops is the dry dock. Located
    at the north end of Bay Lake this is where the launches that cruise
    Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon are stored. There is a large lift that
    enables them to raise the vessels out of the water to work on the
    undersides, and if necessary, wheel the whole thing into the shops. 
    Near the dry dock there were a number of water sprites on racks. Jim
    explained that these were built in two halves, top and bottom. Since
    the bottoms wear out much faster than the tops, they just detach them
    from the top, and zip on a new one. "Like Tupperware."

    We saw the monorail shops here too, but Jim didn't say anything about
    them.

    Across the road from the Central Shops Jim pointed out the laundry and
    dry cleaning facility where they process 69 tons of linen, costumes,
    (including Audio-Animatronic costumes), and such per day. Next to the
    laundry is the food processing plant that prepares most of the food
    for the parks.

    Finally, it was time to see what we had all been waiting for: 
    underground at the Magic Kingdom. We were dropped off at the entrance
    to the "utilidors" as the tunnels are known. Roughly behind and below
    the Pinocchio Village Haus. Jim pointed out that in fact they are not
    tunnels, but were built at ground level, and covered over with the
    earth excavated from the creation of Seven Seas Lagoon. Trying to dig
    a tunnel system like these underground in Florida would have been a
    constant fight with the water table.

    As we were standing in the entrance, being warned once again about the
    hazards and possible disillusionment of being backstage, a bus marked
    "VIP Cast Members" arrived from the cast parking lot and disgorged
    20-30 cast members in jeans and tee- shirts. (I asked, all the cast
    buses say that). At the same time a delivery truck started backing up
    toward where we were standing, and the cast members were walking. 
    Cars, trucks and other service vehicles seemed to be parked all over
    the place. For all the organization and precision Disney displays in 
    handling crowds on-stage there was true chaos below.

    There are over a mile of utilidors under the Magic Kingdom. Along
    with various offices, storage, wardrobe, employee cafeteria and break
    areas they make up nine acres of basement. The utilidors serve three
    main purposes, according to Jim. First they carry and provide access
    to utilities. Overhead were a maze of pipes and conduits. Jim
    pointed out a 24" diameter insulated duct that was part of the AVAC
    trash collection system. He said that the insulation was to cut down
    the noise of the trash sailing through the duct at 60 MPH. Even with
    the insulation it is apparently pretty noisy. The Swedish-built 
    system moves refuse pneumatically every 15 minutes from 17 collection
    points around the Magic Kingdom to the central compactor station we
    saw earlier. That's why you never see a garbage truck driving down
    Main St. USA.

    In addition to carrying the utilities, having them exposed and out of
    sight of the guests allows Disney maintenance workers to repair any
    problems that might crop up without disturbing the show overhead. It
    wouldn't do to have Fantasyland all dug up to repair a water main
    break.

    The second purpose of the utilidor system is to allow cast member 
    access to all parts of the Magic Kingdom. They arrive in their work
    area in costume and ready to go. That's why, for example, you never
    see a cowboy in Tomorrowland. Thirdly the utilidors provide for storage
    and distribution. Food and merchandise are delivered to points all
    over the park, again with out delivery trucks to muck up the
    atmosphere. Could you picture an 18-wheeler parked outside the
    Diamond Horseshoe Revue? Once inside the utilidors, Jim stopped in
    front of a large map called the tunnel directory. (This is where he
    gave us the spiel about them not being tunnels). If ever there was a
    place on this tour that I wanted to take a picture, this was it. Of
    course we had been told no pictures backstage. 

    The map showed the entire tunnel system, and the access points to the
    Magic Kingdom above. The whole system is color coded. The walls in
    the area we were standing were painted purple, since we were under
    Fantasyland. Other areas of the park were other colors. Jim told us
    that they had to add graphic symbols and names to the color coding to
    help color-blind cast members. The symbol for Fantasyland was a
    carousel.

    While I was trying to memorize the directory, a Wells Fargo armored
    truck came driving through the tunnel to make one of its twice daily
    cash pickups. It was pretty tight in there, and I don't know how it
    got out. Perhaps there was a place it could turn around, or there was
    another exit.

    Jim pointed out one break in the color scheme. There was a wall near
    us painted bright red. He told us that the Wells Fargo drivers had to
    make a turn there, and kept hitting the wall. They figured they might
    be able to see it better if it were a bright color. So far it has
    worked.

    After we finished trying to memorize the tunnel directory Jim lead us
    to one of the 18 wardrobe locations in WDW. As we walked along he
    pointed out the red carpeting, remember all the cast members are VIPs,
    (yeah, right), and the top-40 music playing from the P.A. system. He
    told us the latter was a recent addition, as a result of cast
    suggestions. I guess you can only listen to "It's a Small World" for
    so long before you need to retreat somewhere for a dose of sanity.

    He also pointed out the barbershop where cast members can get 
    haircuts, (on their own time and at their own expense), but at least
    you don't have to explain the "Disney look", and it is a little
    cheaper than outside. On the subject of the dress code Jim explained
    the rules that should already be familiar to readers of this
    conference: no hair over the ears or collar or facial hair for men,
    minimal or no makeup for women, only one ring per hand, no bracelets
    or necklaces (with the exception of a religious symbol, such as a
    cross).

    As we walked through the tunnels I didn't manage to see any characters
    half in costume, but I did notice several very small people who I
    assumed played roles such as Donald and Daisy.

    You have no doubt heard zillions of times that WDW has the world's
    largest working wardrobe of over 2 million garments. The way it works
    is this. For every cast member there are three costumes, the one they
    are wearing (one on the back), one that they turned in at the end of
    their last shift and is being laundered (one in the sack), and the
    clean one they will get at the end of this shift and store in their
    locker (one on the rack). Outside the wardrobe window there was a
    vending machine that along with the usual chips and candy bars offered
    dress socks, pantyhose, and disposable razors. Never an excuse for
    not looking your best.

    We got to walk through the wardrobe department and see racks and racks
    of costumes in various sizes. There were even a few character
    costumes, but it didn't appear that this was where they were regularly
    stored. Also in this are were several people with sewing machines who
    could make repairs or alterations to costumes as needed.

    We didn't get to see the wig department, but other DECcies who took
    the tour at other times said it was impressive too.

    In response to a question, Jim described some of the perks of working
    a Disney. Cast members themselves can visit the parks anytime, they
    may bring guests with them three times per quarter. Someone asked
    what are some of the no-no's for cast members. Beyond the obvious,
    Jim said that eating or drinking on-stage would get you into trouble,
    the exception is for cast members, such as lifeguards, who are working
    in the direct sun.

    Next, we stopped in front of the door to DACS, the Digital Animation
    Control System. DACS is the system that controls and monitors all the
    animated show in the Magic Kingdom. The technical details have been
    discussed at great length elsewhere in this conference. We weren't
    allowed inside, and it didn't look too impressive through the window

    After not seeing much of DACS, we ascended a purple staircase, 
    (Fantasyland remember), and ended up in a hallway behind The Mad 
    Hatter shop. The hallway was also being used for merchandise storage.

    As we exited from the under World into the Magic Kingdom itself, Jim
    asked us to notice three things. First he asked us to listen to what
    it sounded like backstage, and what it sounded like as soon as we got
    on stage. Second, he told us each to push on the door leading on
    stage, and then thirdly to turn around and look at the door we had
    just come through.

    The first observation was obvious, we went from the virtual silence
    behind the shop, (the rock and roll had not followed us up the
    stairs), the hustle and bustle of Fantasyland. The door was somewhat
    of a surprise, it was very heavy, and took a fair amount of force to
    get it open. When we turned around to see from where we had come we
    got our third surprise. As we turned around we didn't see a door, we
    saw six! The doorway we had just come through was cleverly disguised
    as a doorway. The other five doors in the row were the exit doors
    from the Fantasyland Theater.

    Jim explained that the same type of camouflage was used to hide most
    of the entrances to the utilidors throughout the MK, and that there
    were no card keys or other security measures, but it is pretty obvious
    when they spot someone down there who doesn't belong. The extra heft
    of the door is another psychological deterrent should a guest get
    curious and give one of the doors a tug. When it doesn't "give"
    easily they usually give up.

    From that point on, Linda and I had a new game to play in the MK -
    spot the secret door. After a while it got pretty easy, and by the
    end of the week we were very good at it.

    We spent some time looking at the details of the Castle and 
    surrounding buildings. Jim pointed out how the Fiberglas was painted
    and textured to look like very old stone outside of the Tinkerbell Toy
    Shop.

    Inside Cinderella's Castle he told us though you can't usually hear it
    over the racket of the strollers that the music was from the
    Cinderella film. We took some time to look at the mosaics on the
    walls as you pass through the arches. Jim showed us one scene where
    one of the stepsister's face was literally green with envy as she
    watched Cindy. He also told us that the gold color tiles are real
    gold. In answer to a question he explained that they were glued on
    really well, and it would be very tough for a guest to try to pry one
    off the wall.

    On the other side of the Castle, Jim showed some examples of how 
    forced perspective is used to make the building look taller than it's
    180 feet. Like many of the buildings at WDW, the architectural
    details at the top of the building are smaller than life-size making
    the top look farther away, thus taller. A good way to see this on the
    Castle is to look closely at the "stones" that make up the walls. The
    ones near the ground are large, and they get smaller as they go up. 
    There is one building in WDW uses the reverse of this effect to make
    itself look smaller, I'll let you figure which on your own.

    As we stood in the center of the Hub Jim discussed how as we looked in
    each direction there was something large and inviting to draw our
    attention toward another adventure. At this point he also asked us to
    make a mental estimate of the distance from where we were to Town
    Square at the other end of Main Street. 

    He told us that the MK was designed with the idea that most people are
    right handed. He said that the sidewalks on the right side of Main
    St. are wider than those on the left. From where we were standing it
    was also clear that the bridge to Tomorrowland was at least twice as
    wide as the bridge to Adventureland. In fact, the whole park is
    sloped from right to left, from the high point in Tomorrowland to the
    low point in Adventureland.

    As we walked down Main St. toward Town Square Jim talked about the
    apparent break in theaming, a turn of the century American Main
    Street, with a giant fairy tale castle at the end. Very un-Disney to
    let one theme overlap into another. To compensate for this, the
    buildings are set up such that if you are standing on the sidewalk
    anywhere along Main St. USA, your view of the castle is blocked by the
    overhanging roofs, etc. He pointed out some more examples of forced
    perspective, such as the small second and third story windows on the
    Main St. buildings.

    Since he knew we were real Disney fans, Jim shared some trivia with us
    a we walked. He pointed out some of the names of people who have been
    important to the Disney organization over the years on the second
    story windows. He was impressed that we knew who Dick Nunis and Ub
    Iwerks were. Of particular interest was the real estate office above
    the corner of Central St. Listed here are the names of the five phony
    companies that were used to buy the land that is now WDW.

    I wasn't able to supply the name of the ticket taker at the Main St.
    Cinema, (Jennifer), but I did know the number of the fire engine,
    (71), and could guess why that was picked. Sue asked me if I was a
    member of the National Fantasy Fan Club. I told her no, it sounds too
    much like a group that is into 900 numbers.

    When we got to the Town Square end of Main St., Jim once again asked
    us to estimate its length. It's amazing. It looked much longer from
    this end. Forced perspective once again. Main St. is wider at Town
    Square than at the Hub giving the illusion of the Castle being way off
    in the distance thus heightening the sense of excitement as you begin
    the day. On the other hand, as you are dragging yourself out dead
    tired at the end of a day of fun it doesn't look quite so far to the
    exit.

    Linda wanted to know the actual length of the street. Jim didn't 
    know, but promised to find out before the seminar was over. He wasn't
    able to get the information, but a later inquiry at town hall provided
    the answer: 850 feet.

    We exited the Magic Kingdom through an opening between Tony's Town
    Square Cafe and the new Disney Vacation Club sales office. Backstage
    once more Jim showed us how the back of the apparently three story
    buildings on Main St. were really only two stories tall. From behind
    they are quite drab. They house security and other offices.

    The other thing of interest here is the other end of the wire that
    Tinkerbell slides down to start the fireworks on summer nights in the
    MK. The cable terminates into a giant foam pad like one that would be
    used in the landing pit of a pole vault, turned on its side. Two
    large men back this thing up as Tink smacks into it each night. On of
    the qualifications for her role is that you can't weigh more than 90
    lbs.

    Harriet was waiting for us with the van, so we piled in and headed
    back to the Contemporary. We filled out the obligatory evaluation
    forms, (giving Jim all 10's of course), and after nearly three hours,
    our seminar was over. On the whole I was impressed with Disney's
    backstage operation. 

    I was a little disappointed that we didn't get to see more of the
    technical stuff, like computers and Audio Animatronics. I would have
    also liked to see the central shops and more of the utilidors. But as
    they say in show biz, you got to leave 'em screaming for more.

    If you ever get a chance to take this seminar or one like it, do it! 
    It would have been worth it even if I had to pay the fifty bucks.

    Len,
    
    Great report....makes up for your last one.
    
    Did this tour take away the "magic" you experience when visiting TMK?
    
    From your last few sentences it didn't sound like it did. But do you
    think for some people they may prefer what they see on-stage and may
    not feel the same way knowing what's backstage?
    
    After reading this report I know what I'm going to do when I get back
    to TMK (Castmember: "Sir, why are you pushing on that wall?")
    
    I think I know which building you are referring to regarding the
    reverse perspective.
    
    I'm tempted to take the tour.
    
    Mike

re:.33

Which Seminar was this?  The brochure I just recently received listed three
interesting, backstate seminars for teenagers, and two, not so
interesting, not backstage tours for adults.  I may feel like a
teenager, but I don't think I
can convince them.

I'm interested in putting together a group for right after MagicCon,
sometime the week of Labor Day.  I've been trying to convince all my
Science Fiction friends going to the con that they should stay over and
visit the world.  If anyone who's planning on being at MagicCon is
interested, or even if you're not going to the con but want to go to
WDW during the hot off-season, and you're interested in one of these
seminars, please contact me by mail.

   Gary

    As my note says this is one of several seminars that the Seminar
    Productions Department usually gives to business type groups.  There
    are others as well, some running 3-5 days.  Some like Innovation in
    Action (IIA) that we took are normally only given to organized groups,
    others you can enroll in as an individual.  They tend to be expensive
    if you are paying out of your own pocket, kind of like our own Ed.
    Services courses, but the companies that send their people think it is
    worth it.

    The brochure you have is for Wonders of the World, and those are
    promoted to the "general public".  These are also taught by Seminar
    Productions.

    Rumor has it that they do the free dress rehearsals of IIA like we got
    in on *every* September.  Since that is when you are going to be there,
    it would be worth calling and asking.  The number is somewhere earlier
    in this topic.  I had to call a couple of times before I got a hold of
    someone who was aware of the freebies.

    If you can't get in on the dress rehearsal, definitely try to organize
    a group.  It was well worth it.  Keep us posted.

    Warning, this  post  contains  spoiler info of the Innovation in Action
    backstage tour, if  your  planning  to take this in the near future you
    may wish to skip this.
    
    Claude

Article 9153 of rec.arts.disney:
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!news.crl.dec.com!deccrl!caen!spool.mu.edu!tulane!agwbbs!Rich_Koster
From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Disneyana - Backstage Tour - Pt. 1
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 6 Oct 92 06:12:05 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 103

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 * SPOILER -- This whole article should not be read if you think you *
 *            might someday take the Innovations In Action - Behind  *
 *            The Scenes Tour at Walt Disney World which takes you   *
 *            "backstage" at the Magic Kingdom, including inside the *
 *            Utilidor tunnel system!  This article is a big spoiler,*
 *            SO BEWARE, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!! :-)                *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 
Part 1: "Brush with greatness, almost 'Breakfast Under The Castle'!"
 
We attended the Sunday morning "Innovations In Action" group tour on
the last day of the Disneyana convention.  The meeting place was in
the Contemporary Resort's Grand Ballroom "A" at 9 am, although they
allowed a few minutes for late arrivals to stroll in and for everyone
to get settled.  Orange juice, coffee, and soft drinks were available
while we sat waiting for the tour to begin.
 
The first 40 minutes or so were spent in the ballroom while we were
told about the interesting innovations that Walt Disney had his
people bring about and test at Walt Disney World.  We were shown
about 25 minutes of videotape and film of these innovations, and we
saw most of a report that David Brinkley made at the time Disney
World opened.  Brinkley pointed out that Disney was bringing about
(and doing it well) what a lot of future planners were talking about:
(1) innovative, efficient transportation like monorails and people
movers that can keep cars away in one place while the people travel
comfortably in another place, (2) to efficiently provide telephones,
electricity, sewer, water, drainage, waste management and other
utilities, (3) private nterprise providing what had been government
services in newer, better ways and (4) bringing to reality futurists'
ideas for better living.  We were also given an overview of what we
would see that day.
 
Next, a few minutes were given for a restroom break.  We were also told
that cameras and recorders of any kind would not be allowed on the tour,
so we might want to use that time to put our cameras in ourrooms, or
else they could be checked with the bus driver.  We were told to meet at
the bus depot at the front of the Contemporary Resort.
 
After boarding one of the waiting buses, we began our tour.  We were all
excited as the bus approached the Magic Kingdom and we entered a private
driveway for cast members only.  This lead to an underpass through the
park berm under the WDW railroad tracks.  It is bhind landscaping to
the right of the main entrance as you face the park.  We were in awe as
we saw the white-painted walls of the back of the Main Street USA
buildings.  Then our smiles turned to puzzled expressions as we were
immediately driven back out of the park.  "Is this all we get for our
$45???" we briefly wondered.
 
But the smiles returned when we were realized that it was just a quick
taste of hat backstage is like before we came to the first stop on
our tour -- going into the Utilidor tunnel system under the Magic
Kingdom!
 
We were driven North past Space Mountain along the continuation of
the road that brings guests to the Contemporary Resort.  On our left
we saw the fire and emergency response building, and then the back of
the "20,000 Leagues Under The Sea" attraction where the extra
sumarines are kept and worked on.  The Fox from Pinocchio happened
to be strolling along there (wearing his head) either on his way from
or just going to Fantasyland.  That was to be the only cast member in
a character costume that we wound up seeing on the tour, although we
saw many cast members costumed for running the attractions, or selling
food or merchandise.
 
When we got out of the bus, we split int two groups.  Our group walked
to the left and entered the Utilidor tunnel system near the cast
member changing rooms and then toured the wig styling area.  The other
group walked straight off the bus into the Utilidor right at the cast
member cafeteria (the famous area where the privileged few of another
tour got to "breakfast under the castle"!), and then into the wardrobe
storage area.  (The cast member cafeteria is actually under part of
Pinocchio Village Haus restaurant above in Fantasyland, rather than the
castle).  We saw those two areas while they saw we had just seen.
There is a vending machine near the wardrobe room which sells snacks
as well as stockings and hairnets. A sign on the door at wadrobe has
Mogli from the Jungle Book dressed in oversized clothes, with the snake
telling him "Trussst me, man cub -- it fitssss!"
 
We saw the many utility pipes above us in the Utilidor, including
the vacuum system that sucks away trash from many locations in the
Magic Kingdom to a large trash compacter.  Later in the tour we
would see where cast members go through the trash separating the
various kindsof recyclables.
 
In the Utilidor many electric carts went by hauling all kinds of food
and merchandise.  It gets very busy in there sometimes!  The walls
are painted in a light cream color, and once you get out of the
entrance corridors there are color-coded stripes added to the cream-
colored walls -- a different color for each land that the tunnels go
under.  In addition to the different color stripes, each land has
its name and logo above the stripe -- this was added when it was
realized that some cast members are color blind!  The tunnels of the
Utilidor are actually on the ground level and the Magic Kingdom is
one story above them.
 
End of Part 1 -- Coming up in Part 2: "Under Fantasyland with Bubba!"

-- Via DLG Pro v0.992

Internet: [email protected]
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

    Warning, this  post  contains  spoiler info of the Innovation in Action
    backstage tour, if  your  planning  to take this in the near future you
    may wish to skip this.
    
    Claude

Article 9154 of rec.arts.disney:
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!news.crl.dec.com!deccrl!caen!spool.mu.edu!tulane!agwbbs!Rich_Koster
From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Disneyana - Backstage Tour - Pt. 2
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 6 Oct 92 06:13:13 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 102

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 * SPOILER -- This whole article should not be read if you think you *
 *            might someday take the Innovations In Action - Behind  *
 *            The Scenes Tour at Walt Disney World which takes you   *
 *            "backstage" at the Magic Kingdom, including inside the *
 *            Utilidor tunnel system!  This article is a big spoiler,*
 *            SO BEWARE, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!! :-)                *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 
Part 2: "Under Fantasyland with Bubba!"
 
We turned right at the end of the entrance corridor and entered the
tunnel under Fantasyland.  According to the map on the wall, if we
had instead made a left and then a quick right we would have gone
down the corridor where all the money is collected together.  I wonder
why they didn't want us walking past all the money? ;-)  (Since later
in the tour they showed where our human wastes end up, it would have
been nice to see where some of the other fruits of our labor end up! ;-)
 
We turned right off the Fantasyland Utilidor and were allowed to peek
into the central computer complex, where the audio animatronics of
the attractions are controlled, along with many other things like
lights, automatic doors, sound, and music.  We weren't brought in
there, although apparently some groups are allowed in.  We were told
that the soundtrack for the Jungle Cruise, controlled from in there,
contains the sound of the tribal warriors who are actually chanting
"We like disco! We like disco! We like disco!" over and over, but
speeded up.  Listen for that on your next trip through the Jungle
Cruise at WDW and you'll probably recognize it and start laughing
out loud (which might make the others in the boat think you are
strange!).  We were told the Disney imagineers ofte include little
inside jokes like that at WDW as the "signature" of the imagineer
who put it in.
 
Next, we walked up a stairway one level.  There is a beam above the
lower part of the stairway which has the name "Bubba" written on both
sides of it.  Could this be another imagineer joke rather than
graffiti?
 
At the top of the stairs we walked down a hallway that ended at a
door in front of us and a door near it on the right.  As we gathered
there, a cast member who looked very much like she needed a break
came out of the door in front of us.  She looked as if she wasn't
expecting to see us there!
 
When all of our group came to the end of the hallway, our tour guide
picked one of us who had a red shirt on.  She said that she wanted to
pick someone with red shoes, but since we were all wearing white
eeboks that this was the best that she could do!  She had the woman
she picked stand with her back to the door on the right, and then --
just like Dorothy did in "The Wizard of Oz" (it is okay for them to
use that title since Disney and MGM have a deal!) she told the woman
to click her heels together 3 times, and think of when that movie
switched from the black and white of Kansas to the vivid colors o Oz
as Dorothy walked through the door of the farmhouse onto the yellow
brick road.  Our guide pointed out the drab monotones of the hallway
we were in, then dramatically opened the door and had us step through
it.  We felt like we truly were entering a fantasy land, and
Fantasyland felt even more magical than ever before!  I'd swear there
was pixie dust in the air as we stepped out into the area next to the
Mad Hatters shop.
 
Out guide pointed out how even the trash cans were themed to the land
they were in, with the same colors as Cinderella's carrousel and with
a decorative Fantasyland design.  We walked in the sunshine along the
Magic Journeys theatre and past the Tinkerbell Toy Shop to an area
behid the castle overlooked by many guests: Cinderella's statue.
Even those who have found it might have been too tall to notice an
interesting detail built into the area.  Our guide had each of us
scrunch down to a child's height as we got in front of the statue,
as she pointed out that the imagineers had painted a crown on the
wall behind the statue so that a child would see Cinderella wearing
a crown.  As we scrunched down, my wife remarked that we were all
curtsying to Cinderella, and rightly so!
 
Then our guide pointed out the water sprinklers almost hidden in
the spires of the castle, which help cool the fiberglass and provide
fire protection.  She explained how Disney was an innovator in using
fiberglass panels in building construction.  She said it was a good,
inexpensive building material which is safe to use as long as water
sprinklers are built-in to not let it get too hot.  Before the
fireworks in the Magic Kingdom go off, these sprinklers are turned on
to keep the castle's outer surface cool.
 
A fellow guest asked about hurricane preparations and how she had
been there the other week when it was thought that Hurricane Andrew
was approaching Orlando -- she had seen cast members scurrying around,
putting away almost everything in sight.  The tour guide said that
the way the Utilidor system was built, that was one of the safest
places to be in the area.  This brought up the tale that perhaps
the castle can be dismantled quickly if need be, an this story was
brought up by our tour guide -- but she said she had only been able
to get confirmation of it from the guys who run the boats in the
Jungle Cruise, so take it for what it's worth!
 
End of Part 2. Coming up in Part 3: "What's that smell? It's not
chocolate!"

-- Via DLG Pro v0.992

Internet: [email protected]
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

    Warning, this  post  contains  spoiler info of the Innovation in Action
    backstage tour, if  your  planning  to take this in the near future you
    may wish to skip this.
    
    Claude

Article 9267 of rec.arts.disney:
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!news.crl.dec.com!deccrl!decwrl!ames!tulane!agwbbs!Rich_Koster
From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Disneyana - Backstage Tour Pt. 3
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 11 Oct 92 21:46:47 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 155

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 * SPOILER -- This whole article should not be read if you think you *
 *            might someday take the Innovations In Action - Behind  *
 *            The Scenes Tour at Walt Disney World which takes you   *
 *            "backstage" at the Magic Kingdom, including inside the *
 *            Utilidor tunnel system!  This article is a big spoiler,*
 *            SO BEWARE, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!! :-)                *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 
Part 3: "What's that smell? It's not chocolate!"
 
Our tour guide pointed out the forced perspective used in the design
of Cinderella's castle.  It looks taller than it is because the
architectural details get smaller the higher you go.  For example, the
stone bricks in the castle walls look massive at ground level but get
smaller and smaller the higher up in the castle they are.  And they
are not actually bricks at all -- large sections of brick are sheets
of molded fiberglass.  She told us an amusing story about a woman who
tried to sue Disney, claiming she was hit on the head when a brick
fell out of a wall in the castle.  The woman didn't win the case after
it was shown that there are no individual bricks so she was obviously
lying.
 
We were told that recently Mrs. Disney still had use of the apartment
in Disneyland's castle but decided to give it back to the company.
There had been plans to build an apartment in the Magic Kingdom's
castle, but Walt died before construction began and Mrs. Disney didn't
want an apartment there, so it wasn't built.  But the space for it is
still there and our tour guide confided in us that one day when she
was still new on the job she snuck up there.  She walked around in
what would have been the apartment, and found it was being used for
merchandise storage.
 
Before stepping into the castle's main passageway, she told us to look
closely at the mosaic on the wall which depicts scenes from the movie.
She said it was the only time in a Disney park that the characters
don't look exactly like they do in the Disney movie they come from.
If you look at the mosaic of when Cinderella is at the ball with the
Prince, pay close attention to the color of the faces of Cinderella's
jealous step-sisters.  One of their faces is green (with envy) and the
other is red (with rage).  The mosaic was done by someone in England.
She pointed out the real gold tiles used in the mosaic, and we noticed
a missing one that someone had apparently stolen as a souvenir.  We
were also shown the fine detailing in the tops of the columns, complete
with the mice and birds from the movie.
 
A few minutes before we left the castle, I saw Cruella Deville, wearing
a black leotard under her dress.  She entered an interior doorway with
a female cast member.  As we were leaving the castle I saw two female
cast members come back out, one of whom was the same height as Cruella
and was also wearing a black leotard under more normal clothing.
Interesting...
 
We all walked over to the hub in front of the castle.  Walt had meant
for this area to be a place where the family could meet at the end of
the day, after some of them had gone to spend time in the lands that
interested them.  That is why it was designed with paths that lead
from the hub to all of the lands in the park (and why it also gets
very crowded).  She pointed them out, quizzing us as she pointed to
them.  The path that got the least correct responses was just to the
right of the castle, which leads to the newest land in the Magic
Kingdom, Mickey's Starland.  She reminded us that it was created for
the 60th birthday of Mickey Mouse, and in a tired voice she said his
birthday had been celebrated there every day for two years.
 
The advice was given that even though all of the parades in the
Magic Kingdom go through the hub area, it is not the best place to
view it as it gets very crowded.  She recommended Frontierland as a
better viewing area, especially close to the end of the parade route.
 
In the center of the hub there is topiary in the shape of Mickey and
Minnie.  When we had been at the hub a few days earlier, only Mickey's
hand was waving, and it was waving slowly.  The day of the tour both
Mickey and Minnie were waving, moving their arms up and down faster.
(Not four arms waving -- they were holding hands.)
 
The Disney topiary is not the same as the classic kind found in Europe,
as that kind takes decades to acquire the desired shapes.  The Disney
process starts with a three-dimensional wire frame of the shape they
want, and then uses faster-growing shrubbery inside it which is clipped
as it grows to keep the shape of the frame.
 
At one time all the topiary at Walt Disney World was real.  People had
a tendency to touch it however, and since it is a real growing plant
some of them didn't survive all the handling well.  So now some topiary
is real and some is artificial.  You can tell which is which: the real
topiary will be found raised up or in some other way out of reach of
the guests, while the artificial topiary is easy to touch.
 
A woman in our group said she had been there when for a special
convention the Mickey and Minnie at the hub had been dressed in real
clothes.
 
We were led away from the hub toward Main Street and regrouped in
between the hub and the storefronts.  Our guide told us that all the
names on the windows of the upper floors of Main Street are of real
people in the Disney organization, but that Walt Disney's name is
not up there because while he was alive he made it clear that he
didn't want his name on Main Street.  After his death, it was felt
that some tribute should be added there, but in deference to Walt's
wishes they put his initials -- W. E. D. -- on a window around the
corner from Main Street, but not on Main Street.  You can see it
above the ice cream parlor, facing the castle.
 
Before moving on down Main Street, she asked us if we had ever been
tempted by the smell of chocolate along the street to go inside a
shop and buy some.  All of us had.  What we had been smelling was
not chocolate from inside the shop, but the aroma coming out of
what the Disney imagineers call the "smellitzer" (pronounced smell it,
sir).  It is a mechanical device which releases a chemical which has
the same smell as what they are mimicking.  Besides using it for the
chocolate smell to lure chocolate lovers into the candy store, it is
also used in the dinosaur scene in Epcot's Universe of Energy.  There
the scent is called "eau de swamp"!  She said some shops in the Village
Marketplace have the pleasant aroma of perfume outside of them, thanks
to the smellitzer, to lure women inside.  My wife remarked on the
wonderfully strong floral aroma she noticed at the entrance to the
Grand Floridian, and asked if that was due to the smellitzer.  She
was told no, that Disney spends thousands of dollars on real flowers
at the Grand Floridian and that is why it smells so good over there,
not due to a smellitzer.
 
As we walked down Main Street we were highly aware of the effects of
the smellitzer.  Our guide told us that each time she walks along
there, even though she knows it smells so good because of the smellitzer
and not because of any actual aromas coming out of the store, she still
always wants to go inside there and eat some chocolate!
 
We got about halfway down Main Street and she stopped us to point out
that we were walking downhill.  When the Seven Seas Lagoon was dredged
out during the construction of the Magic Kingdom, the mucky soil on its
bottom was scooped out and spread over the land surrounding the lagoon,
including where the Magic Kingdom is.  A deep layer of sand was found
underneath, which was bulldozed to the areas around the lagoon that now
have sandy beaches.  The dirt was bulldozed on an incline along the
Main Street area, so that the entrance is lower than the area at the
hub.  This was done for a few reasons.  One is for staging, so that the
castle would be scene on top of a hill.  Also, as you enter the park in
the morning you have more energy to walk up the incline.  It slows you
down a little, allowing you to take in the surroundings and think a
little more of where you want to go -- then when you reach the end of
Main Street it levels off and you go off to the various lands of the
Magic Kingdom.  At the end of the day you are tired, so the downhill
slope makes it easier to walk as the guests are funnelled from the hub
into Main Street.  Since you are now walking downhill, you tend to
pick up some speed and the whole crowd moves faster toward the exit,
thus speeding up the flow of traffic.
 
End of Part 3. Coming up in Part 4: "It's not chocolate, it's sawdust
sh*t!"

-- Via DLG Pro v0.992

Internet: [email protected]
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

    Warning, this  post  contains  spoiler info of the Innovation in Action
    backstage tour, if  your  planning  to take this in the near future you
    may wish to skip this.
    
    Claude

Article 9287 of rec.arts.disney:
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!nntpd2.cxo.dec.com!pa.dec.com!decwrl!wupost!tulane!agwbbs!Rich_Koster
From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Disneyana - Backstage Tour Pt. 4
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 12 Oct 92 21:56:56 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 175

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 * SPOILER -- This whole article should not be read if you think you *
 *            might someday take the Innovations In Action - Behind  *
 *            The Scenes Tour at Walt Disney World which takes you   *
 *            "backstage" at the Magic Kingdom, including inside the *
 *            Utilidor tunnel system!  This article is a big spoiler,*
 *            SO BEWARE, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!! :-)                *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 
Part 4: "It's not chocolate, it's sawdust sh*t!"
 
We've all heard the quote "It all started with a mouse".  Our tour guide
said she'd rather think of it as "It all started with Walt Disney"
because it was his creativity and innovation that made Mickey Mouse and
everything that came after Mickey possible.  Our guide took us to the
flagpole at the foot of Main Street USA and pointed out the plaque at
its base, dedicating the park to Walt Disney.  A guest on our tour said
he'd heard that "The Walt Disney Story" attraction was closing for
"renovation" and that reaction to that closing would determine whether
it was reopened or not, but that the space would probably be used by
the nearby Disneyana store next to Tony's Town Square restaurant.  Even
though we were all on a tour made up of Disneyana conventioneers, we
were all saddened to hear this.  We all thought it should stay open and
that the reason why the attraction has low attendance is because of its
location and because it is not promoted.  Most people don't even know
it is there.  If they do reopen it after renovation, they should apply
today's audio restoration technology to the film's soundtrack -- some
of the clips of Walt's voice are difficult to understand because they
were made with the low fidelity equipment of the time, and they need
the enhancement that today's technology can give them.  With that in
our minds, our tour walked in front of "The Walt Disney Story" which
was still open (and which contained an after-movie exhibit of scale
models and drawings of the planned changes to Tomorrowland at the
Magic Kingdom and the rest of WDW -- but more on that in another post!)
 
We were led in between Tony's Town Square restaurant and the Disney
Vacation Club store to the fence at the end of that street.  We went
through the cast member passageway to the paved parking area behind
Main Street USA and Tomorrowland, which we had driven through at the
start of the tour.  We boarded our bus there and exited under the
railroad tracks.
 
Passing by the Contemporary Resort, we were told how when it was being
built each room had been prefabricated off-site complete with wiring,
plumbing, lights, and all the furniture.  These completed rooms were
then slid into the frame left for them in the building.  This we had
heard before, and you probably have too.  But what was new to us was
that the innovative plan also called for these rooms to be renovated
in a similar way -- just slide the old ones out and slide in newer
ones.  Since this was a brand-new idea, they hadn't figured on one
little detail that messed up this renovation plan... The Florida
humidity made the rooms expand after they were slid into place, so
it was impossible to slide them back out again!
 
There are a lot of innovative techniques used at WDW, some of which
the guests don't see.  WDW is much like a city or county in that it
provides necessary services to its area such as as fire department,
waste collection and processing, drainage control, and the protection
of the environment -- but as David Brinkley said in the report we
were shown, WDW does a much better job of it than most cities.  Much
of it is hidden (such as underground utilities) or blends into the
landscaping so well that you aren't aware of it.  The meandering
drainage canals are mulched and grassed to look like rivers.
 
As we drove past the Magic Kingdom parking lot we were told that it
was paved on an incline so drainage can be controlled.  Vehicles drip
oil which mixes with the water runoff when it rains.  This contaminated
water could harm the vegetation, so the imagineers directed the runoff
into a strip of ground along the lot where it filters through layers of
sand as it sinks into the ground.  By the time it reaches the golf
courses nearby it has been cleaned of contamination.  Have you ever
noticed the large clump of trees in the middle of that parking lot?
It certainly is strange to take up such a large area with trees when
sometimes parking is at a premium.  Well, the trees are there to hide
a large sinkhole in the middle of the parking area.  There is also a
sinkhole described as a bottomless pit in the water next to the Odyssey
restaurant at Epcot Center (not the lake at Epcot, but the water next
to the Odyssey in Future World).
 
South of the parking lot we turned right onto Bear Island road and
drove over one of the canals.  We saw one of the French-designed Emile
gates which regulate water levels throughout the 43 square miles of WDW.
There water control gates float open automatically when water levels get
high and close when levels go down.  The excess surface water is not
eliminated from the property but sent through the canals to other parts
of WDW, such as the conservation wetlands or developed areas where it
isn't raining.  One practical example of why this is done is to keep
water levels in the developed areas consistant so that ferry boats on
Bay Lake are always at the same height, allowing wheelchair access at
the docks.  We were told that recently when it looked like Hurricane
Andrew might go over Orlando, part of the hurricane preparation was to
manually raise the Emile gates to move the water to the wetlands and
lower the water level in the park areas, to help prevent flooding from
the very heavy rains associated with the hurricane.
 
Bear Island road leads to where liquid and solid waste in WDW wind up
for treatment to purify the water.  What we're talking about is where
all that stuff goes after thousands of WDW toilets get flushed, folks!
We saw a *LOT* of what the guests leave "behind"!  There is now
construction going on to expand the Wastewater Treatment Plant.  We
thankfully didn't stop there and get out, but we saw a conveyer belt
emptying plop by plop what looked like, uh, chocolate into a dump
truck.  But it's not chocolate! ;-P The other tour guide on the bus
explained the process where the solid and liquid waste are separated,
then sawdust chips are mixed into the solid waste, and then it is
squeeeeezed so that more liquid comes out.  Then more sawdust chips are
added and the mixture is squeeeeezed again to get even more liquid out.
At this point that tour guide made a slip of the tongue, and instead of
saying "sawdust chips" said "sawdust sh*t"!  She got quite red-faced
and all of us broke up laughing. It was especially amusing hearing this
said by her because previously on the tour she had told us about how
the press sometimes tries to get speaking characters (Snow White,
Cinderella, etc.) to answer off-topic questions with language that
usually isn't heard coming out of those characters mouths!  She had
said it is hard to not say what you are really thinking sometimes, and
here she had done the same thing all by herself!!  There was a lot of
good-natured ribbing after this, even from the other tour guide on the
bus who said that every few weeks the cast members get together to
discuss innovations that were brought to the tours and the attractions,
and that she would let the others know about this innovation that her
fellow cast member added to the tour!!  Needless to say, very precise
enunciation was done for a while after this!
 
BTW, I wonder about the name "Bear Island" given to the road which leads
to this area.  Bears are widely known to like honey, and trucks filled
with stuff like these treated "sawdust chips" are known as honey wagons,
so I wonder if the name of the road is an inside joke... "Bear Island is
where the honey wagons go."
 
Anyway, the treated "sawdust chips" are taken in the trucks to an area
where they are dumped out, spread around, and left to dry out.  The
treated water meets state standards for discharged water.  It is not
drinking quality but is fine for watering plants and vegetation.  The
experimental tree farm is conveniently located nearby and uses this
water in a spray irrigation system.  The treated water still contains
"nutrients" which act like fertilizer on the plants.  Experimentation
continues with more advanced cleaning of waste water and solid waste
in the "Water Hyacinth Project", now known as the Community Waste
Research Facility.
 
Next to the Wastewater Treatment Plant is the Recycling Center where
cast members who want that job hand-sort all of the trash.  They
separate the various types of recyclables.  WDW lets recycling companies
take the sorted recyclables for free.  What can't be recycled goes to
a county landfill (not on Disney property). The county government has
urged a certain percentage (I think it was 30%) reduction in the
amount of solid waste going into the landfill, so Disney and others
are working on ways to be in compliance.  Efforts are becoming more
successful at reducing the amount of material going to the landfill.
We noticed that Disney soft drink cups are made from recycled materials
and have the recycle triangle logo. Disney is also using recycled paper
products and subtly promoting their use of them.
 
Our next stop was the Experimental Tree Farm.  We saw where the topiary
is grown and got out for a closer look.  We were told that one of the
cast members in charge of the care of the topiary was blind, and he
knew which topiary was which just by touch.  He would trim the topiary
based on the wire frame inside it.  Next to the topiary in many animal
shapes is a "Don't Feed The Animals" sign.  One day a tour group came
by as this blind man as watering and fertilizing the topiary and he
told the guests "That sign says 'Don't Feed The Animals' and here I am
feeding them anyway!".  Next to this area are the huge greenhouses
where trees and shrubs are grown.  WDW does not grow their own flowers
(other than flowering trees and shrubs) because it is less expensive to
buy them through commercial florists.
 
Next we headed North past the Polynesian, Disney Inn, and the Grand
Floridian resorts to see more backstage magic at the Magic Kingdom.
 
End of Part 4. Coming up in Part 5: "The Hollows of Splash Mountain"

-- Via DLG Pro v0.992

Internet: [email protected]
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

    Warning, this post contains  updated spoiler info to parts 3 & 4 of the
    Innovation in Action backstage tour, that  I posted from Rich Koster on
    the USENET, if your planning to take this in  the  near  future you may
    wish to skip this. 
    
    Claude

    BTW No I haven't seen part 5 "The  Hollows  of  Splash Mountain" ;^(

Article 9413 of rec.arts.disney:
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!news.crl.dec.com!deccrl!caen!sdd.hp.com!wupost!tulane!agwbbs!Rich_Koster
From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Disneyana - Backstage Tour Update
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 18 Oct 92 22:33:27 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 98

In Part 3 of the Backstage Tour article I talked about how the apartment
for
Mrs. Disney was never built in Cinderella's Castle in the Magic Kingdom:
 
"There had been plans to build an apartment in the Magic Kingdom's
castle, but Walt died before construction began and Mrs. Disney didn't
want an apartment there, so it wasn't built.  But the space for it is
still there and our tour guide confided in us that one day when she
was still new on the job she snuck up there.  She walked around in
what would have been the apartment, and found it was being used for
merchandise storage."
 
Since I posted that, I've found out more from a Disney cast member:
 
In this part of the castle there is now a dressing room for, among other
things, Tinkerbell's flight (prior to the fireworks).  The size would be
comparable to, perhaps slightly smaller than, the rooms at Caribbean
Beach Resort -- maybe like the new All Star Resorts! ;-)  It is nice to
know that after all these years there is something there similar to the
original design. It includes a small restroom (so Tinkerbell can tinkle!)
with a shower but no tub ('cause you gotta rinse off that Pixie dust from
time to time...) and it has a small entrance foyer.  It is accessed by
either a 6 flight staircase or a 4 person elevator.
 
The next time you are there, look for the elevator door in the Castle
breezeway area. Access is thru the small wooden door across from the
mural. (Not the "big wooden door", that leads to a tech area used for
the stage shows at the Castle.) The "small" door is only large enough
for 2 people to crowd thru at once.
 
I also said in Part 3:
 
"The advice was given that even though all of the parades in the
Magic Kingdom go through the hub area, it is not the best place to
view it as it gets very crowded.  She recommended Frontierland as a
better viewing area, especially close to the end of the parade route."
 
I've received this further information from a cast member:
 
The above is especially handy info for when you come out of an
attraction 5 minutes before the parade starts!  If you are on the
Tomorrowland side of the park, head for the train station at Starland,
and take the train to Frontierland.  That's the easiest way to beat the
crowds.  Remember, the parade doesn't reach the Frontierland area for
20 minutes after it starts on Main Street.
 
In Part 4 I wrote that:
 
"... heard that "The Walt Disney Story" attraction was closing for
"renovation" and that reaction to that closing would determine whether
it was reopened or not..."
 
Well, as you have since seen posted here, it is official... that WDW
attraction is down for the count.  That is so sad.  "The Walt Disney
Story" had turned into such a nice tribute to Walt.  I remember seeing
it many years ago when it was less about Walt's life and had more of
the clip about Walt describing his plans for Epcot.
 
A cast member now tells me that any renovation will be to expand the
merchandise shop, or *possibly* a "preview" center.  A preview center
is what was in the post-show area during the last days of "The Walt
Disney Story" --  Fascinating drawings and scale models of what's
being worked on to update WDW.  Having this remain, updated when
applicable, would be welcome.  The merchandise shop is the "Disneyana"
store -- what better place among the old (and new) collectible stuff
for a collection of one-of-a-kind Walt Disney artifacts and a film
explaining his life!  Maybe a light bulb will go off in an Imagineer's
head one day that the concept of the old "Walt Disney Story" attraction
could be *combined* with a Disneyana store to make an even better
attraction that would draw more guests.  Maybe someone reading this will
pass it along to any Disney contacts that might be interested.
 
The artifacts that had been on display are being returned to the Disney
family, at their request.  However, there's more where those came from.
If not from the Disney family, from the famous Disney archives.  The
exhibit would be different, but it could be just as fascinating.  For
example, we were shown at the Disneyana convention the last signature
of Walt Disney before his death, where he signed over shares of stock
to pay off his daughter's mortgage.
 
In Part 4 I also wrote about the spray irrigation system used at the
experimental tree farm.  I've been told that the system also extends
to a 3000 acre area NW of Disney property, an area of orange groves
owned by private growers.  Not only does Disney profit by having an
additional outlet for disposing of wastewater, the growers are also
gaining a low-cost source of irrigation and nutrients.  Part of this
land is no longer used for growing oranges, and pine tree seedlings
were recently planted to control runoff, as well as provide shelter,
etc., for wildlife.  Once mature, these trees will form a forest
which, when viewed from the air, will give you a pretty good clue of
its origin...  yes, it's Mickey's head!  They are also currently
laying pipe for irrigating the Wilderness Lodge landscaping with
this same treated water.

-- Via DLG Pro v0.995

Internet: [email protected]
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

    Warning, this  post  contains  spoiler info of the Innovation in Action
    backstage tour, if  your  planning  to take this in the near future you
    may wish to skip this.
    
    Claude

Article 9419 of rec.arts.disney:
Path: nntpd.lkg.dec.com!news.crl.dec.com!deccrl!caen!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!wupost!tulane!agwbbs!Rich_Koster
From: [email protected] (Rich Koster)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.disney
Subject: Disneyana - Backstage Tour Pt. 5
Distribution: world
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: 19 Oct 92 05:46:10 CST
Organization: The Amiga GateWay BBS * New Orleans, La.
Lines: 112

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 * SPOILER -- This whole article should not be read if you think you *
 *            might someday take the Innovations In Action - Behind  *
 *            The Scenes Tour at Walt Disney World which takes you   *
 *            "backstage" at the Magic Kingdom, including inside the *
 *            Utilidor tunnel system!  This article is a big spoiler,*
 *            SO BEWARE, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!! :-)                *
 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
 
Part 5: "The Hollows of Splash Mountain"
 
Disney's Grand Floridian Resort past by us on the right as our bus
continued along the road.  After entering a wooded area we made a right
turn off the road into a backstage area behind the Magic Kingdom's
Pirates of the Caribbean and Splash Mountain.  A number of interesting
areas were shown to us here after we got off the bus.
 
We saw the Electrical Water Pageant barges up close in broad daylight.
They look much better at night!  The characters are simply standard
Christmas tree lights strung into the character shapes, with different
circuits overlapping to get the animated effect.  The U.S. flag and
stars are overlayed as well, again just standard Christmas tree lights.
The strings of lights are attached to a wire grid which looks like a
metal fence.  Our guide said this was meant to be a temporary show to
celebrate the opening of the Polynesian Resort, but it has been kept
around all these years by popular demand.  You get a quick glimpse of
them stored floating in a canal while riding the monorail (on your left
just past the Grand Floridian if you are travelling clockwise, or on
your right just past the Magic Kingdom monorail station if you are
travelling counterclockwise.
 
Christmas tree lights are also used on the SpectroMagic parade floats
and costumes.  We saw all the floats stored in a warehouse before the
first parade of the day, although the cast member who could have lit one
up for us was at lunch, so we only saw them turned off. The globe-shaped
blowfish mini-floats were there with their outer skins raised up to
allow access to the interior seat, so we saw the modified golf cart
chassis and batteries which give the power to light and propel it.
Outside the warehouse under a large carport-like roof we saw older
floats and were told how Disney recycles floats from past parades,
making changes to them as needed.  It might have been here that a
previous rec.arts.disney poster said he noticed some floats for the
new Aladdin parade for the Disney-MGM Studios, but we didn't see them
ourselves.
 
We were then taken inside the parade costume storage building.  It is a
large building which also contains a rehearsal studio.  All the costumes
are hung from multi-level racks, hanging on heavy-duty metal coathangers.
The battery packs are removed from the costumes and charged in this
building.  Some of the costumes don't need batteries inside the costumes
if the character wearing it is basically going to stand in one place and
not move around too much, so these costumes are designed to plug into
batteries in the floats.  We were able to hold two costumes (one was
Minnie's) and even without batteries attached they are quite heavy!  We
were told to hold them by the hook of the hanger because oil from our
skin could damage the costumes.  We now not only respect the cast members
who wear the hot character costumes but also everyone in the SpectroMagic
parade who stand up and even dance while wearing all this heavy stuff for
the entire length of the parade route and staging area!
 
The rehearsal hall floor is specially built to be resilient for the
safety of the dancers.  It is made to absorb their energy as they pound
along the floor and be easier on their joints and muscles.  The floor is
marked with color-coded tape representing different stages at WDW, with
the boundaries and different parts of the stages marked by the tape.
Cast members first learn their dance routines here dressed casually, and
then later in full dress.  The dancers wearing character heads cannot
see the tape by their feet, so they must memorize their routines very
well.  With their character heads on they can only get clues to where
they should be based on the position of the other dancers.  Parts of
the stages are on different levels, so with their limited visibility
it is most important that they don't mess up and go where they aren't
supposed to, otherwise they could fall and hurt themselves.  There is
a large mirror along one wall here.  Along another wall of the rehearsal
area are huge racks where the battery packs are charged.
 
Just before leaving this building we peeked in the area where extra
antique Pian-Orchestra automated music machines (like the one in the
Penny Arcade on Main Street USA) are kept and repaired.
 
In that area we saw the back of the Pirates of the Caribbean building and
the exterior of the building which has the large trash compactor for the
waste which is sucked there through the Magic Kingdom's AVAC trash vacuum
system.
 
We also saw the exterior of the building which filters and chills the
water used in Splash Mountain.  Splash Mountain was easy to spot, and
from our vantage point we could see under its fiberglass skin to the
steel beams in its hollows below.  My wife pointed out a few temporary
satellite dishes and we were told they were set up for Splash Mountain's
grand opening, to beam coverage of it to radio and TV stations.  You
could see the attraction's framework and the shell covering the
framework, so it looked like seeing a movie set from behind.
 
Just before we got on the bus again we asked the tour guides for
confirmation of what we had heard -- that there is a deep cement-lined
pit, much like a swimming pool (but about 40-feet deep), where all of
Splash Mountain's water is emptied into each night for cleaning, so
that the ride itself is drained each night.  Our guide didn't know,
and the other guide said that all of the water doesn't fit but that
it is cleaned and chilled as it filters through the area continuously.
Being such a new attraction, I'm not sure if she got all the details
exactly right and that the original story isn't true.  The water is
chilled in this attraction and others at WDW to help stop the growth
of bacteria in the water.
 
End of Part 5. Coming up in Part 6: "Fort Wilderness: The Final Frontier"

-- Via DLG Pro v0.995

Internet: [email protected]
    UUCP: rex!agwbbs!rich_koster

                <<< CLOSET::W7_:[NOTES$LIBRARY]DISNEY.NOTE;1 >>>
                       -< The Disneyphile's Disney File >-
================================================================================
Note 336.0              Tours of the underground city????             No replies
SEIC::TANCRETI                                       21 lines  20-JAN-1993 17:21
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Hello Fellow Disney Fans,
    This is my first entry into this notes file, I do read it from time to
    time....
    
    Anyway I just bought my airline tickets last nite ($235 roundtrip) for
    Florida. Leaving April 7th and return May 6th. Will be spending 2 weeks
    in the Orlando area and of course will visit WDW at least for 4-5 days.
    As a matter of fact will be there on Easter Sunday. My question is does
    anyone know if there is any tour of the underground city open to the
    public? If so how does one go about arranging it?
    
    Also if there is anyone out there looking for a place to stay we have a
    timeshare week available from 25-Apr @ Orange Lake Country Club, we
    won't be using that week as we will be heading back to Marco Island on
    the 24th. If anyone is interested please contact me at 264-4717 or
    SEIC::TANCRETI and we can discuss the details.
    
    Can't wait for 07-Apr-93
    
    
                      Matt 

    
    I am going to be visiting WDW in August, and just on the odd chance I
    might be lucky, I called "Disney University" to ask about any dress
    rehearsals for Innovation in Action.
    
    Well, I found out good news and bad news.  The good news is that there
    will be some dress rehearsals this fall.  The bad news is that they
    will be in September.  I was told that the first one will be on
    September 19, and that they will continue through the end of the month.
    
    So, if anyone is going to be down there at that time, call them and get
    on their list.  Based on Len's report, it is a worthwhile endeavor.  The
    phone number posted in earlier notes has been changed to 407-824-7997.
    
    Good luck.
    
    --Jay