How Insane was Disneyland on the Opening Day of Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge??

For months (or really, years) since Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge was announced, people have talked about the ridiculous lines that would be formed to get in and ride the attractions.

This pic is one of the many memes that people have come up with to depict how long the lines were going to be. This one’s for Disney World, but the expectation was the same for Disneyland.

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But Disneyland pulled off a miracle and day one of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge is likely to go down in the history books as a success. The lines worked. The land largely had the capacity for the capped number of visitors. Both the physical structure and the cast were clearly ready to bring this world to life even though the second ride wasn’t yet available. Although it wasn’t empty, there was a bit of breathing room you can see in the pics below.

The main complaints on opening day were things like not being able to even enter a line for some key experiences (such as building lightsabers or visiting Oga’s) when the line got too long. There was also period of time where there was a two-hour delay on mobile food ordering at lunch.  But compared to the expectation that you would be shoulder-to-shoulder and wait hours just to enter the land, things were much better.

When Walt Disney World opened up Frozen Ever After, a boat ride themed around the Frozen franchise in the Norway Pavilion of Epcot, on opening day the wait time reached upwards of 300 minutes. The lines for the attraction stretched all throughout the park as families queued up for literally hours.

If you think that’s bad, the next year in 2017 when Disney World opened its brand new land, Pandora: The World of Avatar, the wait to just get into the new land surpassed two hours, and then once you were inside it was still another four hour wait to ride the main attraction, Flight of Passage.

So needless to say, when it was announced that Disneyland would be opening up a Star Wars land, Galaxy’s Edge, both guests — and cast members — braced themselves for the worst. This wasn’t just a single ride, it was an entire land with a dedicated and die-hard fan base already clamoring to get inside. How would Disney be able to combat the hours-long wait times that were sure to form and stretch on endlessly?

Doing something the theme park has never done before, it decided to require guests to obtain a reservation to access Galaxy’s Edge. It’s like a FastPass, but not just for a ride, but the whole land. The reservation system opened up roughly a month before its opening, and all reservations for Galaxy’s Edge were gone in a matter of hours. However, come opening day, would this actually work?

Surprisingly, yes. In a move that is now sure to be repeated again in the future (hopefully), with this reservation system in place Disney managed to keep the wait time for the one ride in the area — Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run — below 45 minutes for roughly the entire day. Honestly, that’s unheard of. Opening day of new land with a brand new attraction? A 45-minute wait?

By all accounts, this opening went incredibly smooth, it’s time to turn our attention to Disney World where its own Galaxy’s Edge is set to open August 29th, 2019. Currently, there are no plans to use a reservation system to access the new land in Orlando, Florida. Will that opening go as smoothly as Anaheim? I sure hope so as I will be there that very day! If you have any pull over any big-wigs at Disney, please convince them to do the reservation system there, too. Please! :)

Do you want to get to Disney World or Disneyland to see Star Wars? Or do you want to go and avoid that area all together? Either way, contact me!! It’s always FREE to use my services!!


My Worst Nightmare: What Happens if You Get Kicked out of Walt Disney World??

Did you know that it’s possible to get kicked out of Disney World?  Or worse yet…  BANNED FOR LIFE.  Geez that would just be the end of me.  So what could cause you to get into this horrible trouble?  And what happens after you’re removed from the park?  Read on and DON’T let me ever hear that this has happened to you….

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Cutting in line can get you kicked out of the park.  It kind of depends on who sees you and how they react.  Seems to happen all the time without consequences but if you catch the wrong Cast Member on the wrong day, they certainly can have you removed.

Jumping out of a ride can get you kicked out as well. I have heard that in some cases this can even result in the person being banned from the park. First of all, it’s a safety issue.  You could possibly endanger yourself and others around you.  Plus, it ruins the ride for everyone!  Don’t even be tempted to do this.

Making rude gestures. This is another good way to get kicked out of the parks. This often happens on ride photos like Splash Mountain or Expedition Everest. If the right cast member sees the offensive gesture while blurring it out, they might just take action to have you removed from the park. The same goes for making rude gestures or remarks at cast members or other guests in the park. You don’t want to be removed for a silly impulsive decision.

Now, making a silly face or giving your cheesiest smile for the camera is a-okay.  Proof here…

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Refusal to comply with Disney rules. If, for example, you somehow get a selfie-stick through security and are seen with it in the park, you probably won’t get kicked out simply for having that “illegal” item. But Disney cast members will escort you from the park if you refuse to give it up.

Fighting. Especially with cast members or characters! Disney is all about safety. So, if a guest does anything that disrupts other guests or a cast member’s safety, Disney will likely take precautions. There are times that families will actually get physical with one another while waiting in lines or for the fireworks. These guests are removed from the parks. Some fights have been bad enough for the guests to earn a ban as well. It’s easy for emotions to run high when you’re hot and tired and hungry.

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Smoking. As of May 1, 2019, smoking (which includes vaping) has been banned in Disney Parks. There are designated smoking areas located just outside the park entrances, at the Disney hotels and Disney Springs, but getting caught smoking in a nonsmoking area may get you escorted out or possibly banned.

Sneaking Backstage. Disney, like most other companies, does not allow guests in private employee areas behind the scenes, both for safety reasons and to help preserve the mystery of how the “magic” is made. If you’re caught in an off-limits area, you will be escorted from the park. If you simply must find out what’s going on behind the guarded walls, there are tours that will take you to some backstage areas.  Let me know if you’re interested in those and I’ll hook you up!

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Getting too drunk at the parks. It’s OK to have a good time and to drink around the world if that’s what you want to do. But, if drunk guests start causing problems or scenes, Disney will not hesitate to remove them from the premises.

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Spreading ashes can get you kicked out or even banned for life. A lot of people want to have their cremated remains sprinkled around the Disney Parks. Believe it or not, the ashes will glow and the cast members will be alerted to what has happened. The ride will have to be closed until the ashes can be cleaned. Then, Disney will locate those who threw the ashes and will likely ban them from the park. Don’t forget, Disney has cameras everywhere and is always watching.

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Stealing. This one should be pretty obvious, but stealing is another action that will result in being banned or kicked out of the parks. Don’t even think about it!   Again, Disney has eyes (and cameras) everywhere!

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SO, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU GET KICKED OUT?

Disney operates on a case-by-case basis. They’ll evaluate each situation based on a variety of factors to determine what action should be taken.

Many times, guests are only removed from the parks for a day. They are given a warning and allowed back into the park. Other times, Disney may “blacklist” a guest, banning them for life.

Disney will document what has happened so that they can keep a record of the events that took place. They will also take a photo of the offending guest.

If the situation warrants it, Disney will contact the appropriate law enforcement officials to take action. This could result in the guest being arrested. Other times, the guest may just be presented with a trespassing admonition.

Despite its best attempts, Disney cannot monitor who is entering its parks and properties everywhere at all times. But if you are caught trespassing after you’ve been banned, Disney will contact the authorities.

Let’s keep Disney Parks magical for everyone!  Don’t get yourself in trouble - it will break my heart!!

And be sure and call me to book and plan your trip - I don’t charge any fees at all and love helping others get to my Happy place!!

Now More than Ever!

The most common question I receive from people considering a Disney World trip is “when is the best time to go to have the best experience?” 

Although I have written in the past about the best/worst times (take a look here), we’re getting to the point where crowd levels are going to be high no matter the time.  With Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opening, crowds will be flocking to the parks in droves. 

Disney is currently running a marketing campaign called “Now More than Ever!”  and I couldn’t agree more.  I wouldn’t normally recommend visiting in the middle of the summer due to the crowds and heat.  But it will be a while until the crowds slow down after Star Wars opens.

So you’ve got until the end of August to get there and enjoy what is turning out to be a slower summer for the parks.  A lot of people are putting off trips until Star Wars opens and that leaves rooms open this summer.  Disney has even put out a rare summer offer to lower the costs of some rooms.  In fact, in looking at a quote for a family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 kids, for 5 nights with a 4 day park hopper ticket in June, you’re looking at less than $3000.  That’s typically one of the higher priced times to travel to Disney so a great deal at the moment. Costs will most likely just keep going up from here with all of the new attractions/resorts/entertainment options heading to the World.

Need more reasons to travel to Walt Disney World Now More than Ever?   Here you go!

Join Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom Park!

Join Mickey & Minnie’s Surprise Celebration at Magic Kingdom Park!

Party with Pixar Pals to Celebrate 30 Years of Disney’s  Hollywood Studios

Party with Pixar Pals to Celebrate 30 Years of Disney’s 
Hollywood Studios

Celebrate the Circle of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

Celebrate the Circle of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park

Satisfy Your Cravings for Food, Entertainment and Fun at Epcot

Satisfy Your Cravings for Food, Entertainment and Fun at Epcot

Other Can’t-Miss Experiences at Walt Disney World Resort

Other Can’t-Miss Experiences at Walt Disney World Resort

Do You Want to Spend the Night in Cinderella's Castle?

Last week I talked about the amazing Specialty Suites at Disneyland. This week, I’ll tell you about special rooms at Walt Disney World!

I can’t imagine getting to spend the night in Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. And sadly, I don’t imagine it will ever happen for me. As of now, the only way you can stay there is if you’re invited (usually for celebrities) or you win a contest. But you can bet I’ll keep hoping it happens. Here are a couple of pictures from lucky ducks that have seen the suite…

Below are other rooms that regular peeps like me can actually book… I’ve included the one at Wilderness Lodge mainly due to the bedding options. You can get bunkbeds! When you have 2 kids that nearly kill each other shoving each other in the bed, you really appreciate an easy bed time. Each in their own bed!! This option is also available at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. And bonus there, you can see animals from some of the rooms!

Of course, this is only a small sampling of rooms. There are a LOT of options depending on what you and your family need. Please give me a call if you’re thinking of taking a Disney trip. I will help you get the room that will work best for you and make your trip as Magical as possible. My services are FREE!!



What are the Absolute BEST Rooms at Disney??

All of the rooms on Disney property are amazing in my opinion - I mean if you’re staying there, you’re at Disney so you’re having a pretty good day, right?! But there are a few rooms that will blow you away.

The rooms I want to show you today are Signature Suites at the Disneyland Hotel. These are all available for booking by anyone - if you are willing to pay a bit more! I can’t give you exact costs here as they change based on time of year and availability but expect thousands per night!! If you are actually interested in staying in one, let me know and I’ll give them a call for you to find out specifics!

I was able to personally visit all of these suites on my last training trip to Disneyland. Staying in all of them is now definitely at the top of my bucket list! Forgive me for my photography. There were quite a few agents on the tour and we didn’t get a lot of time to get the perfect shot.

First up is the Fairy Tale Suite. This one just has space for 2 guests but it’s the most “magical” of the suites. It has a beautiful bathroom and spectacular views of the resort!

Next up is the 2-bedroom Pirates of the Caribbean Suite. You’ll be completely immersed in a Pirate’s Life for sure… Be sure and ring the doorbell!!

Want to take the most luxurious safari ever? Then head on to the Adventureland Suite. This amazing suite even has a stone grotto that will make you feel like you’ve stepped into the rain forest!

All aboard the train as we head into the wonderfully rustic Big Thunder suite. It’s the wildest suite in the wilderness for up to 6 guests.

Finally, up to the Penthouse, you’ll find the Main Mouse’s suite! It’s the Mickey Mouse suite! It’s ultra-modern and huge. Mickey definitely gives it a big thumbs up…

If you could choose your suite to stay in, which would you pick? If I had to choose, I think it would be the Adventureland Suite - there’s a grotto in it for goodness’ sake! But if you want to gift me with a week in one, I won’t be picky.

These Signature Suites are exclusive to Disneyland, but there are some really fun (and more affordable) special rooms at Disney World. I’ll tell you all about those next week!!

Want to know more about planning a trip to Disneyland or Disney World? Contact me and remember there’s no charge for my trip planning services!

Hey! Watch Where You're Walking!!

I’ve mentioned before that one of my favorite things about Disney World (and all things Disney actually…) is their attention to detail. One of the seemingly small things is the ground that you walk on! In today’s post, I’ll focus on the interesting things to see on the ground at the Magic Kingdom, but keep your eyes open at all of the parks - the detail isn’t limited to the Magic Kingdom.

As you may have read in the past, my favorite spot in the Magic Kingdom just happens to be the Tangled restroom area. Don’t worry, I don’t have a medical condition that keeps me near the bathrooms, it’s just that this is the only real Tangled area in the park and that’s my fav Disney movie. Plus, the area is actually really pretty regardless of what’s housed there. One detail I love is that if you look down, you’ll see that my favorite horse, Maximus, has been there!

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Next up is the line queue and surrounding area of Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid. Scattered throughout the area are tons of colorful sea shells.

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For more colorful sidewalks, head on over to The Magic Carpets of Aladdin. Here you’ll find an assortment of broken tiles, jewelry and stones. Looks like someone may have dropped a bit of their loot from the Cave of Wonders!

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I haven’t had a chance to see the new Dumbo movie but it’s on my list! While you’re visiting the Dumbo area in the park, look down to see the discarded peanut shells. Dumbo and his friends are a messy bunch!

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One of the most interesting (and historically accurate) pavement areas is found in Liberty Square. Notice the brown area of pavement that winds through the middle of the area below. It’s actually there to represent the fact that during Colonial times, there was no indoor plumbing. People pretty much just threw their bathroom waste into the road creating this brown “river.” Yeah, it’s gross but Disney wants to educate you as well as entertain!!

Have you noticed any of these or any other ground-level fun I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments!! Remember, I will book and plan your Disney trip for FREE so you can get there and see what you’ve been missing!

The Cats of Disneyland!

For years, I’ve heard rumors about the cats of Disneyland. Being a huge fan of both cats and Disney, I loved the idea of cats living there. So you can bet I was pumped to actually see one on my last trip!!

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This was at the Disneyland Hotel. Unusual to see one during the day as they normally stay hidden until night, but a maintenance worker was working in the bushes where the kitty probably was trying to hide. Of course I tried to pat it since I was out of town and missing my own cats but it was a bit too quick for me.

It’s hard to know exactly when the first cats started to appear on Disneyland property, but there have been sightings going as far back as 1955. Soon after Disneyland opened, Walt decided that there should be an attraction inside of Sleeping Beauty Castle. When he brought imagineers into the castle to begin the planning process for what would eventually become the Castle Walkthrough attraction, he was greeted by quite the sight—scores of feral cats had set up a home for themselves inside the building. Not only that, but the cats had brought with them an infestation of fleas. It became clear that something needed to be done about the cats, but the Disney company knew they couldn’t exactly “eliminate” the problem without considerable uproar from guests. The immediate solution was to adopt out all the cats to cast members and ensure them good homes.

Meanwhile, being an outdoor theme park with lands meant to simulate rustic situations, Disneyland had developed a bit of a rodent problem. While the irony was lost on no one in the company, Disneyland had mice running around—and we’re not talking about Mickey and Minnie. There were also still plenty of feral cats on property who hadn’t set up shop in the castle. The cats were smart and realized they’d found a decent hunting ground on a property that was free of all the typical dangers stray cats have to face. They were able to emerge at night to a relatively empty park, and they could hunt in peace.

It was around this time that someone in the Disney company must have had a pretty brilliant idea. The cats weren’t bothering anyone—feral cats, by nature, are scared of humans—and they were doing a much better job with pest control than any human exterminators were likely to do. So the cats were put to work. More accurately, they were allowed to continue doing the work they were already doing, but now it was with Disney’s blessing, and some payment.

A relationship between the company and the Disneyland Cats was established that still operates in basically the same fashion today. Feeding stations were set up around the property where the cats could get their fill when they couldn’t subsist on hunting alone. The cats were all captured and spayed/neutered before being released back out onto the grounds so that the cat population would remain under control. The cast members at Circle D Ranch (the same cast members who look after the Main Street trolley horses and the goats at Big Thunder Ranch, etc.) help manage the cats. They give them medical treatment if necessary, keep the food refilled, and generally look after Disney’s herd.

The cats actually live a pretty mundane life, similar to most other feral cats you might have in your neighborhood. Of course, they do so in the Happiest Place on Earth. They generally stay hidden out of sight during the day and only come out at night. There are exceptions, of course, and guests have been known to spot cats sleeping in the parks or otherwise slinking around property. As a general rule, Disney doesn’t encourage guests to get too close to the cats. In addition to the simple fact that it’s never smart to try to pet a cat you don’t know, these cats are often better off remaining solitary. If cats start to appear too comfortable around humans, Disney will adopt them out to cast members. The same is true of any new litters of kittens that are accidentally born on property.

It is estimated that the current cat population on Disneyland property is about 200. Some of the feeding station locations where guests are most likely to spot a cat include ones near the Hungry Bear Restaurant in Disneyland, Taste Pilot’s Grill at Disney’s California Adventure and White Water Snacks at the Grand Californian. Cats can also often be spotted in the Rose Court Garden at the Disneyland Hotel and in the ditch that runs parallel to the path for the Mickey and Friends Tram.

There are most likely feral cats that roam Disney World also, although they don’t “officially'“ live there like at Disneyland.

Want to head to Disney to try to catch a glimpse of the cats? Call me! It’s always FREE to book with me!

**Credit for the information in this post belongs to disneylandcats.com.

A Few BIG Disney Announcements You May Have Missed

With the excitement of the announcement of the opening of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, a few other BIG announcements from Disney have been missed by a lot of us!

Two New Nighttime Shows

Beginning May 1, the date of the 30th anniversary of Disney’s Hollywood Studios, the Wonderful World of Animation will make its grand premiere. This excitement-packed projection show will take you on an incredible journey through more than 90 years of Disney and Pixar animation.

Watch in wonder as the façade of the Chinese Theatre is magically transformed—displaying this stirring tribute to animation. Behold spectacular sequences celebrating themes like magic, family, adventure, romance and friendship. Each theme is brought to life through unforgettable moments from beloved films—like Sleeping Beauty, The Incredibles, Coco and many more.

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Of course, since we can never lose sight of the fact that it was all started with a mouse, the show fittingly begins and ends with the one-and-only Mickey.

Over at Epcot, a new nighttime spectacular, called “A Celebration of Disney Music,” will show how Disney music inspires people around the globe, and will feature large floating set pieces, custom-built LED panels, kites with special effects, choreographed moving fountains, lights, pyrotechnics, and lasers. The current Illuminations show will end this summer. Until the new show starts in 2020, there will be a limited-time experience, called “Epcot Forever,” which will debut in fall 2019 and will feature classic Epcot tunes.

Two New (Non-Star Wars) Experiences to Open at Hollywood Studios

 
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The first new experience is Lightning McQueen’s Racing Academy and it officially opened yesterday! In this interactive show, Lightning demonstrates what he’s learned over the years by using his brand-new, state-of-the-art racing simulator and its wraparound screen. Of course, as this seasoned racer has discovered throughout his career, things don’t always go according to plan, and he has to think fast to get back on course.

With Tow Mater, Cruz Ramirez and the gang from Radiator Springs rooting him on, Lightning gears up for the challenge. Will he emerge victorious? Speed on over to find out.

Also opening soon at Hollywood Studios is Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway - the attraction replacing The Great Movie Ride inside of the replica of the Chinese Theater. No official opening date has been released yet by Disney, but according to insiders, it’s expected to be some time this summer.

Beauty and the Beast Sing-along to Debut at Epcot’s France Pavilion

A new guest offering will soon debut at the France pavilion at World Showcase (in addition to “Impressions de France”) – a brand new “Beauty and the Beast” sing-along created by Don Hahn, producer of the animated and live-action “Beauty and the Beast” films.

Space-Themed Restaurant at Epcot

A one-of-a-kind, space-themed restaurant is currently planned for Epcot that’ll offer guests amazing meals and a spectacular view – from high above Earth. This restaurant will be built in a newly developed area located between the park’s Mission: SPACE and Test Track attractions.

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Once completed, the restaurant will invite guests to travel to space for an amazing dining experience in the stars. The new restaurant will be operated by the Patina Restaurant Group, led by Nick Valenti, which operates several other restaurants around Walt Disney World Resort, including Tutto Italia and Via Napoli at Epcot and Morimoto Asia and Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante at Disney Springs.

Disney Skyliner

The new Disney Skyliner gondola system will begin transporting guests in Fall 2019, connecting Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels: Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, and Disney’s Riviera Resort, the proposed 15th Disney Vacation Club property. Select gondolas will have Disney characters incorporated into their exterior design. After much speculation, it was confirmed earlier this year that the gondolas won’t have air conditioning.

Disney loves to keep things new and exciting so that guests always have a reason to return!! Keep your eyes on the blog here at Trips by Mouse to keep up with all of the fun! And, of course, if you’re thinking of traveling to the Mouse’s House, give me a call! It’s always free to book with me!








5 Crazy Facts about Disney World's Trash!

Disney World has an average annual attendance of 52 MILLION visitors! So of course, that means a lot of trash is generated. Here are some amazing facts about all of that trash…

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1 - AVACS - You’ve probably heard that a lot of the behind-the-scenes work at Magic Kingdom takes place below the park itself. It’s built on top of a series of utility corridors or “utilidors” that house many of the operations that keep the park running smoothly.

The AVAC system — Automated Vacuum Assisted Collection System — was imported from Sweden. It’s basically a series of large tubes that hang from the ceiling of the utilidor. It moves trash around the park through pneumatic tubes at 60 miles per hour to a central collection point located behind Splash Mountain where it is processed, compressed or recycled. There are access points all over the park and the garbage is actually “sucked” into the tubes. The vacuum is created by two motors and exhausts and the tubes themselves are 20″ in diameter.

2 - AMOUNT OF WASTE - An average of more than 80,000 pounds of garbage run through the AVACS every day. And that’s just at the Magic Kingdom! According to a report from the Reedy Creek Improvement District, which oversees Disney World operations, more than 110,000 TONS of solid waste were discarded in 2017.

3 - GARBAGE TRUCKS - Who is taking care of all this trash? That falls on the Reedy Creek Improvement District’s 35 solid waste transfer vehicles. In 2017, these vehicles made an average of 191 pick-ups per day. Keep in mind these are full-size garbage trucks that would be full each pick-up. That’s a pick-up every 7.5 minutes on average!

4 - CUSTOM TRASH CANS - Walt Disney World trash cans have become such a crucial part of the Disney experience, that they even sell merchandise designed around them.

Walt himself wanted to make sure the park was clean and tidy. Typical trash cans at the time were simple round, open receptacles that led to foul odor and trash spilling out - far from clean and tidy.

Trash can inspired salt/pepper shakers!

Trash can inspired salt/pepper shakers!

Walt came up with a solution - the covered bin with a swinging lid. This would contain the trash out of sight, and control the smell. Disneyland was the first place to use these trash cans, but Walt never patented the idea because other manufacturers told him they were useless.

The trash cans are themed appropriately to the area of the park they are in. They are part of the decor and actually FUN to look at. This makes you more likely to walk up to a trash can and use it.

5 - PERFECT PLACEMENT - Besides the perfect designs for trash cans, Walt knew they had to be perfectly placed in order for people to use them. He decided to station a trash can every 30 feet.

There are a few different versions of the story of how Walt came up with this exact measurement. The first is that it’s how long it took him to finish his hot dog as he walked from the stand. When he was done, he needed a trash can to dispose of the wrapper. The second is that Walt and his team removed all of the trash cans on Main Street and then handed out candy and snacks to people as they entered the park. They then watched and counted how long people would carry the wrappers and paper before giving up and dropping them, and it was around 30 feet.

Who knew that trash could be so interesting?? Remember that I will plan and book your Disney trip for free and leave you with time on your hands to read about things like garbage!