10 Fascinating Facts About Disneyland You’ve Probably Never Heard
1. The Disney Family Crest
The icon of Disneyland Park is, without a doubt Sleeping Beauty Castle. It’s a lovely, charming, and quaint entrance into Fantasyland, complete with a working drawbridge. But there’s also a small but significant detail that many do not notice.
2. The Historic Matterhorn Bobsleds
The Matterhorn is more than just a thrilling ride. This attraction was also the first of its kind in both Disneyland and the world. It was the first coaster built for the park. But also, significantly, it was the first steel tubular roller coaster ever constructed.
The 72 beautiful and majestic horses featured in this attraction have a rich history. Each was salvaged from 19th-century carousels and restored to pristine condition. Walt Disney insisted that every horse on the ride be leaping, so some were re-constructed to adhere to that pose.
4. The Dominguez Tree
Trees are an abundant and lovely mainstay of Disneyland. But one of these trees has a fascinating back-story. The “Dominguez Tree” can be found in Adventureland and is the oldest natural element in the park.
Did you know that the popular snack chip was invented in Disneyland? It’s quite the story. In Disneyland’s earliest days, one of the park’s corporate sponsors was Frito-Lay, which opened the restaurant, Casa de Fritos in Frontierland in 1955.
6. An Olympic Pool on Main Street, U.S.A.
In October 2004, one of Disneyland’s most unique events occurred. A 21-foot wide swimming pool that ran down nearly all of Main Street was constructed for a special event with U.S. Olympic swimmers Michael Phelps, Lenny Krayzelburg, and Ian Crocker.