5 Disney Ride Secrets From the Cast Members Who Worked Behind the Scenes

There are some pretty incredible rides at Disney World!

From thrilling roller coasters like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, to dark boat rides through the Caribbean on Pirates of the Caribbean, or a serene ride through greenhouses on Living with the Land, there is something for just about anyone.

As with much of Disney World, Disney rides are also hiding secrets of their own! We are going through some Disney World ride secrets from former Cast Members.

Safety is the priority! Cast Members are frequently being audited and watched for safety violations and to make sure they are operating the attraction safely. We know some rules may seem weird or unnecessary, but trust us that they are there for a reason. 

Each attraction has a different operating procedure and Cast Members are trained extensively on proper operation, have read the entire operating manual  to operate the ride, and been assessed on their ability to operate the ride.  It can be a stressful job, and Cast Members are often monitoring A LOT at once. However, it is also a magical job, and seeing the reactions of people getting off the ride always makes the day a bit better!

When you are moving through the queue of Tower of Terror, make sure you take some time to look at the items inside of the pre-show room. In these libraries you will see all sorts of objects. There are lots of nods to Twilight Zone episodes hidden in the libraries.

As you are getting ready to ride Tower of Terror, make sure you are holding onto your items well! You may think you have a good grip on your phone or wallet, but if it is something you care about, you would be best to put it in a backpack or somewhere very secure. The drops on this ride are no joke, and if your items aren’t secure, you may not be seeing them again.

Also, while you are in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, you may find yourself taking a ride on Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster. When you first walk into the building, make sure you take a look at the concert posters on the walls. You might just see a familiar name! The posters link-up with Magic Bands to display the name and city of guests in the room.

Also, as you are waiting to board your limo, take a peek at the license plates of the vehicles. There are some fun ones, and each limo has a different license plate. The song is different on each limo, so if you really want to know what song you are getting you can look it up based on the license plate or limo number.

Next up, when you are in EPCOT make sure you are paying close attention to two parts of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. There are two hidden Mickeys that you will want to keep an eye out for. The first one will be while you are walking through the queue. Take a moment to really look at the display showing Xandar. You may just find a Mickey hiding in the display.

Toward the end of the ride, you can also spot a hidden Mickey on the moon. Your vehicle will spin around the moon, and as it does, you can spot a hidden Mickey in the craters.

Over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, there are a few fun things to be on the lookout for at DINOSAUR. While the ride will be getting a retheme soon, you still have some time to spot these things. The first part of the queue is actually a museum and has a curator that is responsible for it. Make sure you spend some time browsing on your next ride.

Also, there is a hidden Mickey on the head of the Carnotaurus where your picture is taken. It is hard to spot (especially with the blinding light), but it is there! While we are on the topic, too, there aren’t any T. rex dinosaurs in the ride, they are all Carnotaurus.

The last item isn’t a secret, but just something that some people may not realize. There is ALWAYS a way to exit the ride without actually getting on the attraction. You are more than welcome to walk through the queue with your family and then exit before actually getting on the ride.

These exits exist, and you shouldn’t feel bad about using them! You don’t need to give a reason for using it. Just ask a Cast Member how to exit, and they will happily direct you.

Want to find out even more Disney World secrets? Check out our video that covers 40 secrets about Disney’s Hollywood Studios:

Stay tuned to AllEars for more Disney World tips, tricks, and news!

Check out some behind-the-scenes ride secrets from a former Disney Imagineer!

What is your favorite Disney World ride? Let us know in the comments!