I Was a Disney World Cast Member and Even I Didn’t Know These 5 Hotel Facts

Being a Disney World Cast Member means you learn even MORE about the Disney parks than you did before because now you’re part of it! You have to be ready to answer guests’ questions yourself or know how to direct them to the correct person so they can get their answers.

I’m one of many members of the AllEars team who used to work at Disney World, so my head’s full of secrets to share.  I thought I knew a good bit about Disney before I became a Cast Member, and felt I knew a lot more afterward, but these are five hotel facts I still had no idea about!

Just How Much You Can Learn At Animal Kingdom Lodge

Animal Kingdom Lodge is an incredible deluxe resort at Disney World, bringing you closer to the animals and their savanna than ever before. But you won’t just be watching the animals — you can learn all about them too!

All you have to do is head to the front desk and ask for a Wildlife Spotting Guide. These guides feature photos and information about all the different wildlife you can spot out in the savanna. It’s a super fun activity for families to partake in on their resort day, or for kids to try and find all the animals before their vacation is over.

This Hotel Is Also a History Museum

Speaking of Animal Kingdom Lodge, you may notice all the incredible theming details throughout the resort. This is partly because Animal Kingdom Lodge is one of the largest collections of African art outside of the African continent itself!

There are so many incredible pieces to see, but one of the most impressive is the 16-foot-tall Igbo Ijele mask at the back of the lobby. On your resort day, we highly recommend wandering around the hotel to really take in all the ambiance and history — and you don’t even have to be staying at the hotel to take a look around!

There’s A VERY Special Tree at One Hotel

Before it was called Old Key West, this hotel was made specifically for Disney Vacation Club (DVC) Members and was called the Disney Vacation Club Resort. To commemorate its cause, Disney planted a “family tree” when the hotel opened in 1991.

But why? Well, as the Disney family grows over the years, so does the tree! Next time you’re exploring the hotel, be sure to be on the lookout for the tree!

Learn more about the “family tree” here!

Where Does All That Gingerbread Go?

Every year, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa builds a massive gingerbread house (and I mean MASSIVE) for visitors to admire and buy treats out of. But after the holiday season is over, I was really happy to know that the gingerbread is recycled in a way!

Instead of being thrown out, Disney gives all the sugary gingerbread to the bees at the Disney Tree Farm, where they eat all the honey off the house. This way, it provides them with nutrients to fuel them for the coming year, and Disney hasn’t, literally, thrown away all their hard work.

Renting DVC Points

If you’re not a Disney Vacation Club member but you wanna stay at one of those higher-priced DVC rooms (or just a regular room at a deluxe hotel), don’t worry, there’s a way to make your dream come true without breaking the bank — just rent some DVC points through sites like David’s Vacation Club Rental.

This is a great way for non-DVC members to stay in DVC rooms for a cheaper price. Don’t worry — renting points through a reputable service is entirely allowed, so you won’t be breaking any rules!

Learn all about renting DVC points for your next vacation here!

The Disney parks are always changing, which means I’m always learning new things about the resort, and so is the rest of the AllEars team! We’re always here to tell you about the latest Disney news, so stay tuned to our blog and YouTube Channel!

What’s a hotel secret you didn’t know until recently? Tell me in the comments!