The TRUTH Behind Disney Park Icons

[@OffhandDisney]

Hey all, old Jean Laffite here. Dallin told me to tell you all that the audio hiccups you hear in this video will be fixed going foreword. This is the last time. Also, he's wrong, the Sun Statue was the best icon.

[@confidentcringe]

Always an icon

[@princeapoopoo5787]

Dallin is forgiven.

[@Fazbearfan1234]

It was nice meeting you on Wednesday dallin

[@RyanShyffer]

Good to hear, I was just going to comment on it again.

[@radnelac]

I was about to ask about the audio. Quite distracting on bone-conduction.

[@freekeefox]

It would be kinda interesting to talk about the icons of the lesser known parts of various Disney Parks. Each themed hotel and water park has it's own icons/weenies. They all have a ton of thought put into them, even if they're not the same caliber as Snow White's Castle or Spaceship Earth.

[@joshberninger8355]

That would be cool too

[@MattMcIrvin]

At Pop Century, they're the exterior stairwells. At Coronado Springs, the weenie marks the swimming pool.

[@harmonicafish7661]

Seconding this, I’d love to see a video on this topic. Haven’t seen it covered before

[@dchristiank97]

Quick comment on the Earful tower, if you ride slinky dog dash in toy story Land, right when you get to the loading dock if you look on the back wall there is a map of the ride layout with all the little set pieces and whatnot. In the top right hand corner, there’s a tower with a mickey-shaped cloud on top of it, looking very similar to the water tower. I’ve heard it said that the location on the map on the wall places the tower in the same spot that it used to stand on the land before it was taken down. So there actually is an Easter egg for the tower, just not in galaxy’s edge!

[@B0nd07]

Yup, Toy Story Land is now where the Earffel Tower part of the backlot was, not Galaxy's Edge, which is where Catastrophe Canyon was. And I do believe that the reference is pretty much in the exact spot where the tower was (or at least as close as the Imagineers could get it). Been a while since I've compared maps though. Still think they should have moved it to what is now Disney Springs though, instead of just demolishing it.

[@catohung1020]

Here’s a few facts that you all probably know about the international icons but imma write some down anyways: Cinderella Castle at Tokyo Disneyland is of course a replica of the castle at the same name found at the Magic Kingdom, just with a different color scheme painted in 2006 to differentiate it from its MK counterpart. It also doesn’t have a stage in front of it, but contains a walkthrough attraction. Meanwhile at Paris, although it is also named Sleeping Beauty Castle it is in fact not a replica of the one in Anaheim, but designed based off the film. The idea behind it is that real life castles are very common in Europe, so they just build a fairytale one instead. Also it has a dragon underneath it. Mount Prometheus, the volcano at Tokyo DisneySea, is part of Mysterious Island, which gets its name from one of the Jules Verne books. It contains the attraction “Journey to the Center of the Earth” based on another Jules Verne book. It regularly erupts because after designing it, the Japanese engineers asks what the volcano actually does, so they added rocket boosters to simulate the volcano erupting. The earful tower is still found at Walt Disney Studios Park in Paris, unlike the one that used to be in Orlando, this is near the entrance of the park. As Dallin said in the video it is a replica of the earful tower that was in Hollywood Studios besides the name on the front. Hong Kong Disneyland used to have a replica of the Sleeping Beauty Castle in Anaheim, but it was recently changed and turned into the Castle of Magical Dreams. It features a tower for every official Disney princess + Frozen. But now with Raya and presumably more Disney princesses coming they kinda dug themselves into a hole. Its expansion was partly done during operating hours, with the parts being brought in at night since it sat in the middle of the park with guests walking all around it during the day. The Enchanted Storybook Castle at Shanghai Disneyland is of course “Authentically Disney, and Distinctly Chinese.” It is the first Disney castle to not use forced perspective. It houses a Snow White walkthrough attraction and part of the boat ride “Voyage to the Crystal Grotto”, which is basically Jungle Cruise but fantasyland and no jokes.

[@nicolebrowne1433]

I visited Shanghai a few years ago and WOW the castle was HUGE and beautiful!! Loved all the details inside and out!

[@taylorvickerman1508]

Although I think Grizzly Peak is a better park icon for DCA, I consider the Ferris wheel to be the main icon of DCA since that's what I always see used to represent the park in photos and stuff. Great Video!

[@williamf5745]

11:42 A quick fact about the hand and/or foot print slabs outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre replica in Hollywood Studios: It has the only hand prints of Audrey Hepburn in the world. Not even in Hollywood does another pair exist.

[@gbird.]

weird how offhand just gave epcot giant golf ball fake lore, we all know its just used for giant golf

[@ParkTwister]

10:04 Toy Story Land technically was built on the location of the Earful Tower and you can see an easter egg for it in the load station to Slinky Dog Dash. There's a picture of a watch tower drawn with crayons on the wall that's supposedly the exact location the tower stood until it was demolished.

[@noonelikesyoucharlesdugan3581]

We all know what the real icon of Magic kindom is… the people mover

[@awesomealbertt1150]

BRING BACK THE PEOPLEMOVER!!!!!

[@nf1nk]

When I was little the Matterhorn could be seen from the freeway when you were driving to Disneyland, these days the hotels hide it but back then it was the first thing you could see.

[@whossoul]

Yes! I grew up a 4 hour drive from Disneyland, which as a kid felt like an eternity. There was nothing more exciting than spotting Matterhorn from a distance and realizing we were finally there, the drive was over and we had days of fun ahead of us. To me it will always be the true park icon, it was the first part of Disneyland we ever saw and it inspired so much joy spotting it from the car.

[@MattMcIrvin]

At Magic Kingdom, Space Mountain and Splash Mountain effectively function as weenies as well, drawing you further into Tomorrowland and Frontierland respectively. And, as you mentioned, the various Epcot World Showcase pavilions are mostly built with some kind of representative icon as the centerpiece or backdrop.

[@Shag471]

The rod on top of Spaceship Earth is removable and it used as a tie-off railing for climbing/repelling. I used to work overnight custodial at Epcot and it’s basically only used for maintenance and pressure washers during their annual cleaning of the outside of that building. Obviously either they left it there for the week (usually about how long it takes to complete the project) or they forgot about it at the end of their shift. I’ve am one of the few that’s ever been up there when I was trained but I merely peeked outside.

[@princeapoopoo5787]

the its tough to be a bug shout-out has unlocked something dark and deep within my heart and soul.

[@anib]

I remember always asking my mum to see the show and then telling her I was too scared to watch anymore 😂

[@brytonup1551]

It will never not be fun taking someone their for their first time and seeing them freak out when they get poked in the back💀

[@whossoul]

@@brytonup1551 Yes! As a frequent visitor my favorite place to sit was always the back so I could watch other people's reactions!

[@brytonup1551]

Lol I used the wrong their it shoulda been there dangit

[@honorsolbe9996]

the entire ride's worth of animatronics and just general bs make up my sleep paralysis demon

[@StubbyPhillips]

The first geodesic dome in the U.S. was a civic center in Virginia Beach Virginia (there was another in Hawaii but it wasn't a state yet). The city tore it down in 1994. It's a parking lot now. Brilliant.

[@Billyjoe-uw7sp]

I love that original land pavilion music playing in the back ground.

[@stephennovak2512]

Great video. You should add the icon at Disney Sea. Mt Pomethis is the best reveal of any Disney icon.

[@TheBurkissWay]

Web search says that that pole on top of Spaceship Earth is a camera installed in August of 2021. Nobody knows if it's temporary or permanent, so maybe it's just there to film 50th Anniversary celebrations, or maybe it's a permanent security cam.

[@lutherheggs451]

the pole on Spaceship Earth is highly likely a lightning rod, as Florida is a state with alot of rain and lightning

[@TheBurkissWay]

@@lutherheggs451 If it was meant to be a lightning rod or an air signal or anything like that, it would have been installed LONG ago. Multiple blogs have clear photographs: there is a camera attached to that pole. EDIT: I went to find those blog posts again, but guess what: as of September 12 2021, that pole was already taken down!

[@TheBurkissWay]

@Jay Ro tagging you too: the pole is already gone

[@alankroll1734]

Yes, I know what "Footlight Parade" is; and it is worth a watch. Classic Busby Berkley! I also know, "42nd Street", "Gold Diggers of 1933", "Dames", and "Gold Diggers of 1935"

[@sorceress1986]

Ok, Dallin, you’re about to make me throw hands, as the young people say, in defense of The Great Movie Ride.

[@bdchiaccio]

The Great Movie Ride should never have been scrapped and there would have been room for both. It makes me so sad to go near that building and know that it's not inside there anymore

[@whossoul]

@@bdchiaccio Definitely! If it was Disneyland where there's such limited square footage I could understand it. WDW has no excuse though, they have basically unlimited space to expand! I'm a west coast person and the Great Movie Ride was one of the few rides that made me want to visit WDW someday. It's so sad that it's gone and I'll never get to experience it.

[@sorceress1986]

@@bdchiaccio They certainly could have just taken the time to update the movies inside. Even classic movies have different periods of popularity. It was peak late 80s Imagineering.

[@stanfordite]

The Great Movie Ride will rise again one day like a phoenix from the ashes and there will be a duplicate version in DCA one day, too with different movies.

[@afluker6757]

I’ll bet it ends up in Japan because that’s where they spend real money to make awesome rides.

[@PeetyThePirate]

I can not get enough of Innoventions music loop. Glad you put it in!

[@grahammalinowski1982]

Puleeze make a Spaceship Earth video!! It can be an hour long. I’ll watch it. Literally can’t get enough of SSE.

[@moonprincesst.s.h.4ever115]

"Disney, what are you doing?" 🤔 That is a question that gets asks a lot now-a-days. 😏😁

[@RaeAnn_1202]

I was at Expo ‘67. I was 4. All I remember is we had “passports” we got stamps in at each country and … the people mover and sphere! I specifically remember riding and staring at the sphere.

[@rwbashaw66]

Favorite icon: (from favorite park) The Tree of Life. I had to warn my best bud last year on his first trip to WDW that I would likely weep (I’m a crier) at its reveal (so artfully done in the path placement through the entry plaza and Oasis)…Not only did I shed tears…but, he stopped, stunned, impressed, and overwhelmed.

[@StephenDettling]

The Perisphere from the 1939 New York World's Fair is likely another source of inspiration for Spaceship Earth. The Perisphere contained an attraction, a model of a futuristic city not unlike the original plans for EPCOT. These two spheres were also nearly identical in size.

[@EricPrductn]

The water tower actually used to be where Slinky Dog Dash is now and these is a tiny little tribute for it in the form of a hidden mickey on the big crayon drawn map of the toy story land in the back of SDD. There is a cloud in the shape of Mikey where the tower used to stand on the map.

[@MnMsandOreos]

I always consider Mickey’s Funwheel the icon for California Adventure. I know it’s all the way at the back but for a number of lands it really does help you situate where you are, like the castle

[@jrios29]

You know it's a great video when you watched the full Paetron preview, and you still watch it again the moment it premieres!

[@anib]

Aw yes, the legend obi Juan Kenobi

[@jrios29]

@@anib 😊

[@emma-mz5xm]

7:42 ive been to disney many many times and just got back last week. I also realized about the rod just this year and I have never seen it before. strange

[@reneenielsen6634]

I think I have to say the original castle is still my favorite. Seeing Sleeping Beauty castle still brings me the same magical feeling I had as a kid.

[@cherylhale5755]

The Great Movie Ride aged VERY well, because it was the history of movies. My kids and i made it a point to watch each and every movie referenced in it. (Yes, Including Footlights Parade)

[@miolpurst7779]

I’m surprised you didn’t mention the ferris wheel as an icon for california adventure. That’s what I always think of as the icon

[@achiebaba]

I remember the pole being used to anchor harnesses like the Mickey from the 80s commercial

[@brycevo]

To me DCA will always be represented by the golden sun and postcard letters, if not Grizzly peak. And MGM studios is the Tower Hotel

[@BillsTheory]

Would Love to see a Deeper dive on Spaceship Earth, maybe even a poll on which version on the ride is the Favorite. My personal preference is the Jeremy Irons version.

[@chadcooley2850]

The Haunted Mansion…I know it was not listed but for me, that is the visual I love the most. Disney World version.

[@IGuessThisIsHello]

I would be onboard for a looong Spaceship Earth video

[@CinnamonGrrlErin1]

7:41 I wonder if that rod was put there for that commercial where Mickey was standing on top of Spaceship Earth. Or maybe just a lightning rod. I'm the same age as Epcot lol

[@Shag471]

It’s for maintenance.

[@ToastGhost]

I always thought that the big circle thing in the Incredacoaster was the second California park's icon. That or the Micky wheel

[@DavidWRyan]

The Tree is Amazing, but yes, It's Tough to be a Bug is terrifying. My daughter left crying!

[@Emike-nc9ew]

Also Hollywood studios has had 4 icons,2 that are still in the park and 2 defunct(as far a i know) I overthinking it is a symbolic metaphor on the idendity problem that the park has having since it open First as a real studio, the transition of the transformation of rea studio, And now being inside the movies and ips.

[@disdeestranger]

Thanks for all this Disney information! Love your videos! Keep up the good work! 💜

[@joop1991]

I was disappointed that you didn't talked about the Sorcerer's Hat. I always saw that as the icon for Hollywood Studios and was really disappointed when to tore it down.

[@wjscottiii]

0:41 THANK YOU!!!! so many arguments over this.. finally someone agrees with me!

[@sixfootfive6556]

How about something about the icons of the water parks? Like Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach?

[@Emike-nc9ew]

My favorite castle icon is sleeping beuty castle from disneyland paris And my favorite non castle icon is mount prometheus from disney sea.

[@david_walker_esq]

Same here. They're my two favourite icons and two favourite parks.

[@baystated]

Cinderella's Castle has been thru some... permutations... that I'm able to say "yeah, I saw that, and no I don't need therapy because of it." I think you'd have a blast doing going thru some of its cringy photo-albums.

[@ethansmith2845]

There is actually an Earful Tower reference in Hollywood studios! Where the tower used to be is now the loading area for slinky dog dash, and in the que on the big mural of Andy's drawing for the ride, there is a tower (meant to be the army men's tower) that resembles the exact shape of the water tower, and right behind it in the clouds is a hidden Mickey, and together it makes up the earful tower in the exact spot it used to stand

[@Kelly_Wren]

"They poke your butt" just made my day. Thank you.

[@themisfitowl2595]

The best icons are always the Park centerpieces, not only are they iconic and can be seen from anywhere in the park, most of them have rides or shows inside making them multi purpose! The Epcot globe (Spaceship Earth), Grammans Theater (The Great Movie Ride), Tree of Life (Tough to be a Bug) Grizzly Peak (Grizzly River Run) and Sleeping Beauty Castle (Walkthrough with dioramas). Sadly, Cinderella Castle has an expensive restaurant instead of an attraction. Also, I guarantee that the rod on top of Spaceship Earth is very likely a lightning rod. Every single tall structure in Disney World (and Universal) has one.

[@dhi_holo]

I'd love to have a video series going over every weenie from every park Each lands too maybe, rather than just the central one (maybe a 2 parter tackling the world showcase if there's not enough to talk about on each), could be neat As for my favourite, nostalgia wise I'd give it to the hat, it's the first one I really remember (although I've seen a fair few in my early days xD man that makes me sound old, I'm only 20, first trip to the US parks was 2005), but design wise, I think France's Castle is my favourite. They have a dragon!

[@laureladelle]

Ooooh my favorite is tied between Spaceship Earth and Tree of Life.

[@edmundoalarcon2000]

The water Tower in DCA Hollywood studios backlot also has a stupid Hollywood Studios water tower story as they attempted to decorate it for the holidays lol

[@mzeroxx69]

Montreal worlds fair is like the last time any thing major happened in Canada!! Still hoping for Disney land Canada one day... Even a pop up park would be nice!! At least there is a Disney Store in town!!

[@viddork]

You slept through Expo '86, I gather?

[@mzeroxx69]

@@viddork it was a sleeper event

[@tferguson2191]

i saw in an older video that you said you do not have part 1 of the haunted mansion comic? let me know if this is still the case and id be happy to send that to you. thanks for the always great content!

[@twistedjake_]

While watching this, all I was thinking was RIP Innoventions theme :_;

[@keys4443]

also the rod on top of spaceship earth is a grounding rod, it attracts lightening and grounds the electricity from it so that it wont strike other areas in the park or cause power surges

[@gabinoa.serrano4770]

I don’t know, I was pretty fond of the Sorcerer’s Hat, that was my favorite Icon after the MagicKingdom (Fl) Castle

[@laurenoliva1191]

Honestly love all your videos, no matter what you talk about ill listen no matter how long either! I think my favorite icon is the grizzly mountain and the castle.

[@animatortrav]

In "The Imagineering Story," one of the Imagineers called out how cheap that sun statue was. "I could see that at a mall!" I'm glad Cal Adventure has improved -- I remember how cheap and phony it felt when I first went there as a kid!

[@VioletWhirlwind]

How do they get the water INTO those water towers, anyway? Is it some kind of artesian-well-like mechanism or something? Also, I always thought Grizzly Peak was a wolf, not a bear. Granted, I didn't know the name of it at the time...but it still looks more like a howling wolf to me.

[@Icanonlyaskwhy]

Literally just a water pump.

[@Cheezbat]

Chinese Theatre is and always will be the Hollywood Studios icon to me. When I think Disney MGM/DHS, that’s what I think of. Definitely agree that Spaceship Earth is the best icon though!

[@annieskywalker9290]

I wonder what is the icon for Tokio Disney Sea, is it Prometheus Volcano at mystery island?

[@michelleluna4278]

The info you provide is great! Thank you and yes please to the park icon videos.

[@coppertopolo]

Sorry, I'll stick with the Tenderloin of Beef. Another epic, informative video. Thanks again, Dallin.

[@rienailo]

Yes, please make videos for each of the icons!

[@wesleygandy4293]

Hey Dallin, the center pipes in the water towers going to the ground are NOT legs. These pipes are how the water is pumped up inside the tower and how the water is gravity fed to the surrounding areas.

[@UCRfZb91nX-triozNmzvaRrA]

I have never been to Epcot very Intresting Fact

[@TheAnimatorOfOpallyon]

*Can You Bring Back The Live Action Intros ? Please, Maybe Somethin' With Kermit.*

[@jeronimoalmada52]

nothing beats a giant golfball with a cool retro ride inside!

[@hazelleblanc8969]

I remember going to Expo 67 when I was 5, and traveling on the Minirail. I lost my favorite teddy bear there.

[@carlosschwindt4014]

@OffhandDisney my friends and I created a Disney appreciation club called Oozma Kappa at the University of Kansas a year and a half ago. We’ve grown it to over 100 members, and I wanted to talk to you about maybe giving a talk to our club members. Let me know if this is something night interest you! Keep up the great work, I love watching your videos!

[@chloeelkins5599]

Follow-up video on icons in the international parks!

[@ernestjamesmusic995]

Just watched the video OD. Towards the middle I had to take my headphones off because I was hearing a metallic clank every time you spoke. Just fyi check the equipment to make sure it's not peaking. Other than that, good job as always...

[@jennycraigadventures3314]

Nice video as always. I’ve always thought DCA’s icon was the coaster/fun wheel.

[@anib]

Remember when the Mickey hat was a thing? Rest In Peace 😞

[@SJMcK]

I miss the hat. It was so wonderfully tacky.

[@whossoul]

I love that the Disneyland Hotel has a small sorcerers hat still. It had the cute charm without being huge and tacky, it definitely feels more fitting as a small prop at a hotel!

[@anib]

@@whossoul cool! I’ll have to visit there sometime

[@maxonwolf5841]

I originally thought the demolition of the sorcerers hat was damage from a hurricane that year.

[@anib]

@@maxonwolf5841 what hurricane? I forget what year they took it away, was it 2017

[@djcruiselover3827]

I’ve never been to California adventure but when I think of it I always think of that Ferris wheel

[@R4yn3N3r3id]

i miss the Sun sculpture, but my favorite icon is Grizzly Peak! seconded by Spaceship Earth!

[@whossoul]

I sort of do too. As an adult I can recognize the changes they made to DCA made it much better. But I grew up with the original DCA, it was such a pivotal time in my life, when we got our first annual passes, when Disneyland came to be a formative experience for me that inspired a life long love of Disney. I love the new DCA but I also miss taking pictures in the letter, smelling burnt coffee beans as I walk in, and seeing the sun sculpture.

[@horaciolinares8597]

I can talk about these icons all day long....yeah I'm sure hehe great vlog. Thanks for sharing😀👍

[@lukycharms9970]

Oh god that snippet at 1:55 where the reporter putting his arm around Walt and Walts just not having it is super cringey hahahaha

[@chocolatesquad1176]

7:42 I literally said the same thing when I was at Epcot 2 days ago

[@ColbyJackCheesey]

I feel like the wand on top of space ship earth sphere is for lightning depending on weather conditions. On a clear day it's hidden BUT on rainy days they can erect this poll to attract lightning

[@marcuschhoa1512]

After you mentioned disney putting the neuschwanstein castle, I realize that soarin around the world is basically a way to showcase the real world places that inspired disney and Pixar IP. Like, they have the Matterhorn for the one in Disneyland. Then, Sydney for Finding Nemo. The Great Wall of China presumably represents Mulan, Monument Valley for Cars, etc.

[@whossoul]

So basically what you're saying is Soarin is like the original California Adventure idea of condescending one state into a park but for the whole world? Hahaha. I'm usually on board with the changes Disney makes. Changing the red head pirate? Awesome. Taking out Trader Sam? I totally get it. But changing Soarin Over California was a mistake!

[@marcuschhoa1512]

@@whossoul Well, Soarin's first iteration was Soarin' Over California that featured locations around California. The one over at epcot, then those following in shanghai and tokyo, featured places from around the world (hence the name), but have some noteworthy locations that inspired disney and pixar films (e.g. neuschwanstein castle being the inspiration for disneyland's castle). I think this version has been implemented into California's version of Soarin now. And yes, though I haven't personally been, I like the soundtrack from that version much better (and the orange smellitizers).

[@whossoul]

@@marcuschhoa1512 Actually Epcot originally had the same film as California's version, and they branded it as you were flying to California instead of already being there. It didn't change till the around the world version till California's changed too!

[@joshberninger8355]

Would like to see full videos of some of the lesser covered icons like Grizzly Peak, Carthage Theatre, Tree of Life (covered more but not as much as castles or spaceship earth)

[@silentpaw]

There is one Icon you forgot, at least I consider it an icon, The Giant Farris Wheel at what is now Pixar pier. As for my favorite Icon of the parks, I would have to say the Chinese Theater because I use to work at Disney/MGM Studios. And the pole on Spaceship Earth has always been there, even before the giant wand. It is a lightning rod.

[@BreakItYourself]

4 legs. The 5th pipe in the center is for the water.

[@gamberlane]

Spaceship Earth forever! I'd love to see a whole video about it.

[@elmersagehorn4156]

Awesome 😎 💯 loved it. My fave is always the Castles the conic stature statues

[@toddhensley880]

Those old Mickey and Minnie costumes are the stuff of nightmares.

[@joshuamfeder]

Fantastic as always! I’d love a video chronicling the history and developments of all the castles across the world!

[@jetsons101]

BRING BACK THE PEOPLEMOVER. Now that's a icon.

[@michaeltaylor1603]

OMG! I was born the year Expo 67 opened. Love BuckyShere 3/4 dome. In reality (Space Ship Earth is same building) It sits atop a table 15 feet above ground. It's a Disney "illusion" Do'nt get me wrong. I was obsessed by it's beauty! I finally saw this jewel with mine own eyes 20 yrs. ago in Nov. 2001. Tree of Life (again, an OMG! monument) Took older sister to see it in 2008. I did do GMR. Wonderful AA figures. Back to SSE... aluciBond panels glistening day/night in Florida.....Priceless!!!!

[@capnjunke]

i do think that the back/front of the castle looks way better than the front/back

[@Relic827]

Sorry is the icon of DCA not the fun wheel?

[@lovelo8780]

If Disney built an entire Star Wars theme park, what should the icon be? I think it should the Padme's Naboo palace

[@toddhensley880]

A full size Death Star.

[@ninedragons6400]

You damn right Goofy's the biggest star in Disney.

[@christopherleon7236]

Anytime the Disney world future team is played it’s great

[@meaganl124]

Is it bad that I think of Mickey’s Fun Wheel as DCA’s icon? 😬😬😬

[@rondajones7526]

I really really enjoyed this one, not like the others suck lol, but I love the mix of history and trivia. Mine is the Epcot geodesic sphere

[@sarafulton1595]

My favorite icon has to be Sleeping Beaty Castle. I am a sucker for an OG!