#9 A Popular Pop

Sweets are a huge part of any balanced diet- especially when at a theme park.  But nothing is more refreshing on a hot, summer day than a cool, creamy ice cream.

So, it's no surprise that everyone's favorite Disney treat is a very popular popsicle: the Mickey Mouse Premium Ice Cream Bar.

Combine Haagen Daas Ice Cream and Dove Chocolate, and you'll get quite the dessert. It's even on a stick for on-the-go fun!

In fact, the bars are such a favorite that Disney sells over 3 MILLION a year!

All I can say is, even if you don't look as good as I do eating one, a Mickey Mouse Premium is a must-eat at Disney!

#8 Lightning Strikes Twice

The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror is one of the most popular thrill rides in all of Walt Disney World.

The theming is top tier, the suspense is unnerving, and the story is unparalleled.  From the moment you see the Hollywood Tower Hotel at the end of Sunset Boulevard, you believe in they mystery, the paranormal, and the unknown.

Ironically, not all of the story is 100% Disney created.  One of the key elements of the story, the hotel being struck by lightening, actually came true when the Tower was being constructed.

That's right- the Tower of Terror really did get struck by lightening.  How's that for realistic?

#7 You look strangely familiar...

Disney parks are known world-wide for their incredible and life-like audio animatronics.  It's mind-boggling to think of how many they've created over the years- there are 1,100 animatronics in the Magic Kingdom alone!

But not all of those are built from scratch- in fact, if you look closely you can see one face make an appearance again and again!

That's right, three of the Magic Kingdom's favorite attractions, the Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, & Pirates,  all feature the same guy!

All it takes is a change of clothes (or a wig) to make this face ...

A gravekeeper...

An adventurer (He'll get the point...in the end)...

or A Wench! (Check out the last "lady" with the veil!)

Guess this is one way to look at recycling!

#6 Keep on Diggin'

If you've ever been to Disney's Animal Kingdom, you've probably spent time in Dinoland U.S.A.

The brightest area of this land is Chester & Hester's Dinor-rama- a carnival themed section that is "set up in a parking lot."

The parking lot takes place in "Diggs County," off Route 498.  And while these numbers may seem random, they actually hold huge significance to the park.  They are a salute to Animal Kingdom's opening day- which took place on Earth Day in 1998.

More specifically, April 22, 1998.  Get it? 4-98!

How's that for attention to detail?

#5 Sign Me UP!

One of the most important parts of any Walt Disney World vacation, is meeting the characters.  And there is no better way to cherish those memories than by filling up your autograph book!

The classic autograph book is one of the biggest sellers at Disney World.  In fact, if you were to stack all of  books sold in a year, it would be over 200 times taller than the Castle!

And, if you were to add the Princess style, your stack would reach over 88 miles into space! Now, that's a lot of signatures!

#4 Rain, rain, go away.

Ever been to Epcot when it's raining? Ever notice that standing under Spaceship Earth you don't get dripped upon?

That's because during construction, Imagineers placed each of the 11,324 triangles that constitute Spaceship Earth 1 inch apart.  In between the triangles is a delicate collection system, that gathers rainwater which is then funneled into World Showcase Lagoon.

This system works out pretty well- it's good for the environment. And my hair.

#3 Don't worry, I got you a really fast car.

Rock N' Roller Coaster may not be the fastest attraction in Walt Disney World, but it certainly has the fastest take off.

The slingshots accelerates you from 0-60 mph in only 2.8 seconds.  If that wasn't enough, it's so powerful, that the velocity gained in the launch is enough to sustain the car's momentum through the ENTIRE ride- including the loops and corkscrew.

Talk about some sweet emotions.

#2 Check-matey

There's more than plundering and pillaging in Pirates of the Caribbean.

When walking through the queue to the right, look down into the dungeon.  You'll notice two pirate skeletons- enthralled in a game of chess.  But it's not just any game of chess.

Marc Davis, one of Disney's most notable and famous Imagineers, was a huge chess aficionado.  He researched the game until he found record of the one stalemate in history, and arranged the pirates' pieces like so.  Therefore, they are "pondering their next move for eternity."

#1 Something women like about a sharp dressed....

Mouse.

Being the face of a company like Disney, Mickey likes to look his best- no matter the occasion.  In fact, he has over 290 outfits- from a football player to a pirate to a Tux.  Minnie has over 200- a cheerleader, a princess, and an evening gown to name a few.  Now that's a well-dressed couple.

A wealth of useless knowledge.

For as long as I can remember, Disney has been a part of my life.  I was brought home to a Minnie Mouse room from the hospital, I had every princess gown in my dress-up chest, and I wore out my VHS tapes of Mary Poppins and Peter Pan.  And one day, when I was three, I was introduced and reunited with my best friend: Mickey Mouse.  

As I continued to grow up, we kept returning to Walt Disney World every chance we got.  I couldn't get enough- the characters, the attractions, the magic.  It fascinated me: this was a place where Elephants could actually fly, and I didn't have to make-believe that Mrs. Potts was a guest at my tea-party...she was actually there.

As I grew older, my friends stopped wanting to watch Cinderella and Pinocchio, and even more upsetting- they were too "cool" to go to Disney World.  But not me, 

I requested to go back when I was 10:

When I was 12:

When I was 16:

When I was 17:

When I was 19:

To celebrate my 21st birthday:

And finally, I became a Cast Member in 2010. 

If it wasn't clear already, I was hooked.  Obsessed, even.  Every time I went I had a feeling I couldn't explain: an overwhelming source of happiness, magic, and the possibility that anything could happen.  After all, this is the land where I could be a pirate one minute and a space ranger the next.  

I wanted to know everything I could about the place: the stories, the legends, the secrets.  And while I am always learning (and probably will never stop), I have acquired what my friends call "a wealth of useless knowledge."  

I walk around the parks with people and point out small details, and ask, "Why do you know that?" And then, when they got past the extreme dorkyness of my facts, they realized something...what I was telling them was actually cool.  Eventually it became "you should write this all down."

And that's exactly what I'm doing. Just quick facts- we'll start with 101 (for now).  Nothing too hard to read or remember.  And definitely, nothing that ruins the magic.  Just little details you probably never would have noticed- and quite possibly make the magic even bigger and better. 

So, I hope you enjoy, learn something new, and appreciate the magic of Walt Disney World even more.

Magically,

Molly