How Disney Tricks You Into Walking Past Hidden Control Rooms

[@toddsworldofcooking8094]

Another way to know if the fireworks are cancelled is to look at the top of the Matterhorn. You can see a dark square at the top. That’s the open door that tinker bell comes out of. If the door is closed and turns white, they are cancelled. The door is closed about 10 minutes before the announcement is made.

[@smallworldfanmason]

Wow, thank you. This is really helpful to know because on my last trip to Disneyland, the fireworks were cancelled and it was my first time at disneyland coming from florida. So that was kinda sad.

[@chrisplacke13]

Watched this video yesterday and went to Disneyland today, and during the mixed magic fireworks, we noticed the fireworks stopped during the Coco scene. Then noticed a white balloon, then another, then a 3rd all released from the fireworks launch area. The balloons seemed to go mostly straight up, but they definitely stopped launching fireworks and got no finale. Thanks Brickey, for letting us know why we kept seeing balloons. We picked a spot in front of small world asked a cast member if it was OK to be where we were and she said we “may” be asked to move due to wind. Seemed like there was little to no wind, but they pulled the plug mid show. So glad we knew why. Again- Thank You Brickey for all your hard work!

[@MiguelsAdventures]

Captain Jack Sparrow 😂@ 14:57

[@J_Pike]

🏴‍☠

[@seanmulligan4123]

Got to do some work around the control rooms years back. CalOSHA made Disney raise height of guard rails and barriers on many of the roofs. We had to take old wood steps and platforms out that techs use to check conditions.

[@AdventureStop]

This is true

[@LMGVids]

I was always wondering why I saw a white balloon fly up a little bit before the fireworks, great videos bricky

[@DisneyLegoLemaxandMore]

I'm exactly like you, just one performance of Fantasmic in that control room is one of my lifetime dreams! I was watching Halloween Screams from there one time and I even asked one of the cast members who operated the show if I could go up there, and they told me that unfortunately, only "special" individuals can go, but he would have taken me up if that wasn't the case. All of the lighting, sound, fountain, fire, laser and operation cast members who operate all of these nighttime shows are severely underrated. People just think that someone turns on the program and it runs automatically, but it takes countless months and hours to program every microsecond of these shows. Thanks for the video!

[@JesseAdventure]

I remember my last day at Disneyland in 2006 went and watched the fireworks in front of the castle Remember dreams come true! (Best Disneyland Fireworks show! I have my reason why it’s the best) after the show, went over and watch fantasy before the show started we were in front of one of the lighting rigs this guy came over rip open a rock 🪨 pull out the remote to bring the tower down so the spotlight guy went up and do his thing I’m still shocked about that today

[@adventuresinsplashmountain6]

2006?! That's 2 years before I was even born! You need to go back! It has changed so much!

[@JesseAdventure]

@@adventuresinsplashmountain6 I finally came back in October 2022!

[@MelissaAndAlex]

@@adventuresinsplashmountain6stop you’re making me feel old lol

[@slamovgod]

Great video! It’s always a fun time hearing the “there’s not even any wind.” Complaints from guests who are completely oblivious to fire safety.

[@catperson271]

I feel so smart after watching this fun video. They might be control rooms, but it still feels very magical to me. I loved this little peek into how the magic happens. Thank you, Brickey!

[@reginaldnand2235]

You're the only Disney content creator that I don't skip or fast forward to the end. Don't change a thing!

[@HeyBrickey]

Thanks!

[@OgasBoyfriend]

What a great video! I learned more from this than from any previous video from you or any creator. Brickey, you are an exceptional storyteller!

[@ScanFan_Ed]

He is amazing!

[@timothygenewong]

Great content. Hiding the mechanics of everything is the very best part of the magic trick that is Disneyland. I got to visit the control room for World of Color through a professional development conference opportunity for live entertainment techs in 2011. It was both amazing and surreal to see the control board and the several small rooms worth of servers.

[@amandak1683]

Yeeess! Love the peek into the range of the simple analog controls to the complex rooms filled with screens.

[@mholzer54]

Dude... You've given me a reason to go back to Disneyland, but not for the rides, but for the history. I have 8mm of me at Disneyland in 1955 (I was a year old.) But the cool part was my dad did audio engineering for Disney On Ice, back in the '50s. Also, a really good story for you to investigate was the Dixieland Band, the "Firehouse 5 plus 2". What makes this story incredible was that all the musicians were Disney Animators. The one I got to know at the studio was Ward Kimball. Someone told me that he was one of Walt's best animators. Anyway, my dad and I would record them for albums at the Golden Horseshoe Review. I knew the little bit behind the scenes at the review. In the '50s, I just remember going and seeing nothing but orange trees forever. Really enjoy your work!

[@TheGreatPOD]

I'm not gonna read through all the comments to see if anybody else posts this out, but you got a few things wrong in this video and somethings right. The first big thing you got wrong was world of color. The room you pointed out is where the stage manager sits to call the show. All the technicians running the show are running it from a highly secured room backstage in a building. The control room has six control stations and is right next to the server room where all the Contant is stored, and I know this to be true because I've been in that room backstage. I also believe you're wrong about the control location for the firework show. It's actually closer to the hub I won't say exactly where, but if you were a professional in this industry, you know where to look because it's where you'd want to be for that show. I would also say for fantasmic at least as of the last time I saw the show several years ago the actual show show caller/stage manager is sitting on a temporary control cart, which is rolled out near the center tower. I believe that station also houses the safety officer for all the Pyro and fire effects as you would want that person to have a really good view of everything to maintain safety for the production. But other than that a great video.

[@DanOLGB]

You are the closest yet. There are actually multiple pyros operator positions on most shows as they have to be line of site. There are at least three for the main fireworks in different locations each covering different sections of the show.

[@josephhalderman]

The green light for the sword in the window is just a status light that the system is on. It’s there to confirm to the cast member that the system is functional. The actual triggering is done with a wireless controller by the cast member.

[@HeyBrickey]

Thanks Captain Literal

[@josephhalderman]

@@HeyBrickey just trying to be helpful 😂

[@aayotechnology]

Thanks for sharing the extra details, Joseph!

[@FiS501]

Isn't that exactly what he said?

[@josephhalderman]

@@FiS501It wasn’t worded in a way I felt was clear. Not trying to bash him at all. Maybe I need to go back and watch it again.

[@NYPlasticDoc]

Just wanted to give a what's up and thanks for everything shout out. My son Peter Parker and I live in AZ but try to get to Disneyland 8-10 times per year. We were just there last weekend and had a blast. Big crowds but still had a memorable time. Yesterday 2/19 got SOAKED at Universal Hollywood, it was crazy. I have lived in southern California and cannot remember such a downpour. Our pants and socks and shoes were totally soaked! LOVE your videos, such awesome content!!!!!

[@marcmooney9293]

I knew about the fantasy Land sword room but that's about it! Very cool!

[@rudolphilaga9557]

I never even knew about the sword control room! 😅 I love the park even more with this kind of knowledge only Brickey can give us.

[@BruceBergman]

Often Merlin is on stage getting a child to pull the sword out, with a remote control in his pocket. The green light in the window is a confirmation it's triggered. 5:36

[@Rich.O]

Great video! For some reason I always thought the ballon was released closer to the castle. Now knowing where it is released from explains why I could never see it 😅.

[@usroadtripper]

Fascinating! Now I want you to catch that balloon release on video for us! 😁

[@jordanrick007]

What time do they release it? I have a new must do!

[@HeyBrickey]

Normally 5-10 minutes before show time.

[@colesevertson3182]

I’ve mainly seen the balloon get released on the left side of the castle but mainly because my family likes to secure a spot ring in front of the castle

[@nzjonty]

Such an original, informative and entertaining video! Around 1900 there were +/- 45 states, so the era-accurate flags also mean they aren’t “official”. I’ve always wondered how they hide the security cameras too? I’ve never managed to spot one

[@HeyBrickey]

Easy Security camera to spot is on the North East banister of the Haunted Mansion.

[@tommloye4626]

A quality 3mp surveillance camera can be as small as a golf ball, and pretty easily hidden. A 16mp camera can be placed far enough away you would never see it.

[@philopharynx7910]

I love the cameo of Captain Jack Sparrow!

[@JTKell]

Just like always, an amazing video! Can confirm the location of the 2nd hidden control room. As a CM years ago I had to go in that area to confirm and make a report on some very un-"Citizen of Disneyland" like behavior by one of the guests. Love how amazing these videos are coming out! 1313 Ride or Die!

[@user-mw5eg8yb8f]

He who wishes to secure the good of others, has already secured his own.

[@HeyHo-u2k]

Awesome video. Thanks Brickey for giving the inside infos to understand Disneyland on another level.

[@StephenYang]

The space above the Disneyana ("the bank") store was originally where the park switchboards were located! I don't recall exactly when the switchboards were relocated, but it was sometime around DCA was constructed.

[@HeyBrickey]

Nice.

[@danielvandersall6756]

Dear GOD I want you to do this in Disney World. Just fascinating.

[@jesshavinfun3547]

Me too!

[@someweirdo9700]

I didn't know that the sword in the stone was still operational! I've only ever seen it back in the days when they did the Merlin shows and pulled a kid up from the audience. So, it is just a random thing now? That's neat.

[@TheWorldAccordingtoJim]

Fantastic... and yes!! Hidden wonders.

[@TheRickRatedShow]

Personally, my fave spot to view the fireworks is from the jacuzzi of the Anaheim Majestic Garden Hotel, which is just on the other side of Ball Rd. behind Toon Town. It's amazing! Car alarms going off! Ash falling everywhere! Dogs and cats living together! Oh, the humanity! 🤣

[@danielswenson5502]

Really interesting and fun video

[@bmiller949]

I miss the days when the kids are in school and people are in their offices and the park was easier to get around. Yep, that long ago...

[@OMG_No_Way]

As a kid, we always went on Fireman’s Night. The place was almost dead and we had free rain of it. Then over the years everyone realized how great it was to have their own night and figured out how to get tickets. Slowly it because more and more busy and there was nothing special about Fireman’s Night anymore. (Btw. My Dad was LACoFD. He’s retired now)

[@mikeavila7454]

Good stuff, I often wondered while in the park, where the command centers would be. I'm glad I'm not the only "nerdy" guy thinking about this! 🤣👍

[@HeyBrickey]

You are not alone ❤️

[@mbbsf1999]

Love this!! Now I’ll keep an eye out😮

[@LeonaPope]

Always be mindful of the kindness and not the faults of others.

[@troystaiger6154]

Sweet, more stuff to look out for on our next visit

[@alancranford3398]

Brickey, you showed me what became of Disneyland's switchboard after that system was automated. Thanks.

[@Kenjisan66]

Didn't know about the control room for the sword in the stone. Cool! I'm totally going to watch the fireworks from the intersection next time. That's such a brilliant point you made!

[@t0wana808]

Wow wow wow!! Now This was awesome!!!!!!!!!! No one else brings this type of fun, mind blowing content but Brickey!

[@RussellInRenton]

I was lucky enough to do the dessert buffet party in the 90s on Disney balcony when it was the museum. One of Parties best party one of the best views of all time my favorite view centerpoint one down from the control booth!

[@HeyBrickey]

Amazing!!!

[@energywolff7112]

i love this video. i love production work and always want to she behind the scene's. and i love this so much

[@vinnysharma5344]

This is one of your greatest videos ever. Really interesting and amazing stuff.

[@HeyBrickey]

Wow, thanks!

[@Mnnyquintero]

Former guest relation CM here. The second floor of the Lincoln theater is where PBX( old school phone operators) are and a control room for fireworks and anything that happens in Main Street

[@DLRPyro1]

That's audio central where they control the audio, lighting and generate SMPTE time code that syncs all systems needed to run the show onto one time track. The pyro launch bunker is in the back behind star wars land located about 150 feet from the air launch complex.

[@Drambles77]

Thorough and informative! Thanks, Brickey 👍

[@UrsulaChurch-g1g]

Our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as being able to remake ourselves.

[@bruiser666]

Wow! These are awesome secrets! I love learning about all the behind the scenes tricks Disney uses to make the magic! Another great video Brickey!

[@Ceelbc]

Why are you always so sure its only one building where the control rooms are? The room can easilly spread over multiple buildings since they are only facades.

[@JoshuaBilly-s2t]

A failure is a man who has blundered but is not capable of cashing in on the experience.

[@AdaDalton]

Wisdom is the reward you get for a lifetime of listening when you'd have preferred to talk.

[@MickeyMousePark]

Fortune Cookie AI?

[@MrGregBMX]

That is a tasty 6 pack of nuggets, thanks for always making the next visit to Disneyland even better!

[@automatedelectronics6062]

Control rooms for visual attractions which need to be monitored to operate them are usually above ground. These are also observation rooms for security purposes. Control rooms which are pretty much automated, operating the attractions, may only need a babysitter. They are located in or under the attractions and are never visible to the park guests. There are also "backstage" passages where security and cast members can get to any place in the parks without having to deal with crowds. Now, at Disney world, it was built on top of swamp and marshlands. Tunnels and passages were built first and then buried. Disneyworld was built on top of them so that any part of the parks can be accessed almost immediately. The control centers are located in rooms along the passages.

[@jimlinde2753]

Dang, Brickey, you are rooting through the nitty AND the gritty these days! I love it! I will admit, though, that during my park trip last October, my first in over 20 years, I missed some of the magic and I diagnosed myself with Disney over-smartyosis, the condition caused by, well, knowing too much about the Disney parks! The culprit? Why, you, Mr B, and your fantastic YT ilk, stuffing my all-too-complicit face with crispy reality nuggets that flush the glitter from my system! Any suggestions for regaining the wide-eyed wonderpuss I once wore while giving quarter to the pince-nez know-it-all you've helped me become? Asking for a friend...

[@HeyBrickey]

Welcome to my nightmare!!!

[@StanfordGregory-f7y]

If you don't go after what you want, you'll never have it. If you don't ask, the answer is always no. If you don't step forward, you're always in the same place.

[@GabrielWood-t8h]

Happiness is found in doing, not merely possessing.

[@MickeyMousePark]

Fortune Cookie AI?

[@deevyl]

​@@MickeyMousePark definitely a lot of bots in the comments. Kinda sus.

[@Mr.SlashX]

This is great behind the magic content.

[@ScanFan_Ed]

Thank you very much for another great video, Brickey!

[@lauri-jeancarlson8476]

that so cool

[@WaltsChiliBowl]

Awesome video, Brickey! Wow, I learned so much! Thank you, sir!!

[@yvettechristensen8315]

Another great deep dive!

[@AnselMax]

She was amazed by the large chunks of ice washing up on the beach.

[@lisaharden695]

Something I always wonder about is the music during parades. How did they know when to switch music paired with one float to music paired with another float? Is it timed? Do they do it manually? Sensors as floats go by?

[@Jonni8]

Awesome video! I have seen the Fantastimic control room lots of times.

[@scottcaldwell2786]

Good to see a video with more views! Love your channel

[@Tomsonic41]

The balloon method is pure genius! If a guest spots the balloon, they'd just think another guest accidentally let go of their balloon. I wonder if they use similar methods in Paris?

[@alleesutton]

What do you shoot on? This is absolutely beautiful. Thank you for this awesome video!

[@RakoonCD]

AHH Jack Jumpscare!

[@movingloz]

Haha. Wow. That’s awesome to see behind the scenes like this. So cool to know.

[@AntoniaShaw]

Even with the snow falling outside, she felt it appropriate to wear her bikini.

[@klacustoms]

Wow! Amazing content! Video packed with a lot of information I didn't know, all contained in this one video. I've learned more in this video than other content creators with one video! The incorrect flags I knew about because they're up all year long due to them not being real flags, so no need to take them down, but I didn't know that as to detect wind speed and direction for fireworks as well. Thanks again!

[@darrenabel6795]

Disney's not going to like all their secrets being given away. I'm surprised they haven't done anything with it yet. But hey I'm not complaining just saying knowing Disney 😊😊😊. Hey Brickey thank you for the videos man love you. Especially the bad Disney guests videos where I met you keep it up 😁.

[@HeyBrickey]

It's not a secret if they put it where a guest can see it.

[@darrenabel6795]

@HeyBrickey I never have it was new to me 🤨😁

[@darrenabel6795]

I won't tell Disney it's our secret LOL 😉

[@quickclipsbyjmj]

I'm not tricked into ignoring control rooms. I am glad to be aware that spaces, above stores and attractions, are being made good use of.

[@lawrence_tenn]

Great video. Being a Disney Nerd, I love the channel.

[@garyhenderson5256]

the control room for all the audio in the park is right above Bank of America top right corner room. I have been in there. Back in the 90’s they controlled the main street electrical parade from in there amongst other things

[@Jockstrap61]

I'm not sure about Disneyland, but at Walt Disney World in Florida, Merlin did a show with the "Sword in the Stone" 7 times a day. And if you were the Cast Member operating the Carrousel, you learned every word of Merlin's script! And indeed, an Entertainment Cast Member activated the sword during the show, from an upper window to the left of "Snow White's Scary Adventures." HOWEVER, when the show was retired, and the Snow White ride became "Princess Fairytale Hall," Fantasyland Cast Members could go backstage turn on the stone, pick up the remote from the Carrousel Cast Member, and create magic! In reality, it was a garage door opener! I taught my Trainees to roam around the area, and never stand in the same place. My specialty was... to only raise the sword for little girls and boys. Big muscle men? Nope! I wouldn't do it. But once these 3 elderly ladies, visiting the park together, asked me, "Can an old women like me pull the sword from the stone?" I answered, "If you are the true Royal Ruler of the Realm, you may pull the Sword from the Stone." I gave them instructions, to hold the sword handles, palms up, and one of them went over, palms up, grabbed the sword's two handles, and that sword arose out of the stone, to the great delight of ALL 3 ladies! I'm sure it made their day. God, I miss working in at WDW in Fantasyland! I was made for that role!

[@dzmo-official]

14:59 “who’s this? Ah I got more important things 😂”

[@TwoAcreMaker]

Just to clarify some miss information about flag code. There is nothing wrong with displaying the flag 24/7 and there are actually many places that display the flag for 24/7 without any needed permission. So Disney doesn't need to do anything to make them "not real flags."

[@parkpiggy]

Never seen a video like this! I usually know a lot of fun facts about the parks, but this is a neat surprise! You've got a new subscriber for sure!

[@RedheadedMama]

Super cool! What a great video!

[@MeghanLeeman]

I can confirm that the stage manager booth for the fireworks is on top of the old Kodak building. Or at least it was. I had a friend of a friend who was an imagineer and he gave us an informal tour. He was part of the team that programs all light shows, so probably a reliable source.

[@dillonconway9815]

The fireworks control room also controls the audio for the parade

[@djkoeib]

The Main Street control center is above the old camera shop next to the corner dog cart. 😊for fireworks

[@HeyBrickey]

I knew it was somewhere on that block. That makes so much sense. Thanks.

[@djkoeib]

@@HeyBrickey there is a small control box at the roof of the building and that’s how they check the wind flags. There is a video as well of the control room on KZbin. If I find the video I will post the link

[@luceromartineznajera2037]

Mr. Brickey, when would you suggest going to Disney? It looks like you filmed this video really early, but still, there are only a few people around.

[@PeppersGhost]

Does front of house refer to up front by the performance area or the front where guests might enter an auditorium (if there was one)

[@kentslocum]

I'm a former Disneyland cast member. "Front-of-House" means anything guest-facing or visible from within the park. "Back-of-House" is anything that is hidden from guests and that only cast members interact with. In the case of the firework show control room, I guess Brickey called it "Front-of-House" because it is within sight of guests and directly controls the show, as opposed to an off-site recording studio where they prepare the music for a new show, for example.

[@HeyBrickey]

In the entertainment industry, the term 'front of house' refers to the location where the sound is mixed during a concert or live performance. Typically, this is located at the center of the event space. However, Disney has a different definition of 'front of house'. As someone who spent two decades in the music business, I am familiar with these industry terms and their meanings.

[@Banjo_Tails]

41K VIEWS! killing it into the algorithm. It was at 13k when i watched. Well done!

[@elizabethwiggins3849]

I think sharing information like this opened the door for someone to try something.

[@KDP2009]

14:45 I can't believe you disrespected Jack like that...

[@karenughoc2849]

The Lincoln building on the 2nd floor is where the park operators.

[@mi55414]

Actually based on ent. costuming and Talent availability for shows can be cancelled on a whim it’s not security or just control rooms that stop performances it’s can be a multiple issues and factors of show not coming together.

[@bravosierra2447]

What fascinating & insightful content you posted. I really enjoyed it. Subscribed.

[@JimAllen-Persona]

I always figured the second story was either facades or secret apartments. I should’ve guessed some of them would be control/security rooms. I guess since I’m mostly east coast all the control rooms would be underground (since the park is really on the second floor).

[@andreavigano6070]

wow💝thanks for sharing! my dream is to work at disney as a stage technichian so yayyyy i know more nowww

[@keighters]

I'm just here for the subscription segues. 😄

[@HeyBrickey]

Best in the game 😉

[@shashona3084]

Let's talk secrets

[@LIndalecio87]

Loved this one, Brickey!

[@GermanBeardGuy]

I tried to remove the sword, the green light was on - didn't come out, my Granddaughter tried, didn't come out. Next Time we will wait for a cast member to see us

[@DansGarageNC]

Another great video. Do you have the complete videos of the control rooms? Or did you just find those short snippets you shared?

[@jasonmoyer1486]

Great work Brickey!

[@juliemartinez1099]

Whoa.. congratulations on the amount of views so far 🎉😊

[@Jkpgs]

WOW THAT WHITE BALLOON FOR FIREWORKS I JUST SAW IT LAST NIGHT

[@HeyBrickey]

Yes!!!! I heard the grand finale last night from home. Happy that you were there