“Hidden Disney”: The Overlooked Cemetery Outside of the Haunted Mansion
by: guide4wdw – Collin
twitter: @guide4disney
instagram: @guide4disney
It’s time for another one of my favorite types of articles, “Hidden Disney.” Today, our “secret” takes us over to the Haunted Mansion. While many of you may have overlooked this simple part of the attraction experience, the history behind the concept is quite clever.
When you enter the Haunted Mansion, you can’t miss the cemetery just to the left of entrance. While those are certainly clever tombstones (which have stories of their own), a far better cemetery lies just beyond the exit of the attraction following your trip through the mansion. The burial grounds near the exit is often called the “pet cemetery.”
The idea behind the design was actually borrowed from Disneyland in California. Fortunately, Disney World’s version is far more visible to guests if they take the time to look for it. However, just like many guest, you may have walked by it many times without taking a look inside or even realizing that it existed.
Thankfully, this isn’t how the story ends. If you’re familiar with Disney history or have been attending the parks for many years, the name Mr. Toad may ring a bell. Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride was the former attraction that filled the location of today’s The Many Adventure’s of Winnie the Pooh. While that attraction’s disappearance was met with immense criticism, Disney felt that the marketing behind Winnie the Pooh could appeal to a broader audience. Some guests have never forgiven Disney for that decision. (photo of Mr. Toad statue above and closer image to the left)
The Imagineers quickly recognized that fact and a few years later Mr. Toad showed up in the very back of the pet cemetery. Sadly, it is quite difficult to get a good picture of the statue (I’m guessing that was intentional). While Mr. Toad alone is a great addition, according to various sources and rumors floating around the internet, the label on the statue reads,
“Here lies Toad, it’s sad but true. He wasn’t as marketable as Winnie the Pooh.”
Hopefully you enjoyed that short little “Hidden Disney” secret! If you learned something new, hit that share button and invite friends to read the article as well! Thanks!
Sorry for our lack of posts recently, the holidays have made things very busy, but we should be back in action. Our goal is always to bring you a little piece of Disney each and every day! Hopefully it’s something you can look forward to each day and give you that “Disney Fix” when you can’t be in the parks.
Sorry for our lack of posts recently, the holidays have made things very busy, but we should be back in action. Our goal is always to bring you a little piece of Disney each and every day! Hopefully it’s something you can look forward to each day and give you that “Disney Fix” when you can’t be in the parks.
