17 THINGS YOU DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT DISNEY WORLD

7. Disney World is basically its own self-governing city

This should be frightening to the outside world. The land that became Disney World straddles Osceola and Orange Counties. And, all Florida stereotypes aside, neither had the resources to support the park's construction back in the day. The solution? Designate Walt's land as its own autonomous taxing district. This autonomy, however, does not seem to apply to the American rule of law.

8. Cinderella Castle is practically empty

Besides a restaurant, gift shop, and the ghost of Walt Disney's would-be apartment, that is. Designers built an apartment for Walt into the castle plan, but he died before its completion. That space was later turned into a hotel room that's literally impossible to get a night in.

9. It's also made entirely of fiberglass

The Florida housing bubble was already brutal, but the Cinderella Castle really weathered that storm. Still, in the hierarchy of fairy tale homes, Cinderella Castle falls somewhere above the Three Little Pigs' straw and sticks houses, but below the brick house. No pigs or stones were harmed in the making of this castle.

10. EPCOT is an acronym, and an amalgamation

True Disney nerds will tell you EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, and it was originally supposed to be a living, working city of the future. If you'd ever wanted to live in a Ray Bradbury novel, this would have been your shot. Sadly, Walt's death detoured the original plan. There's a story, though, about the park's odd genesis. Imagineers couldn't decide between the future concept or the world showcase concept. Supposedly, one Imagineer had the brilliant idea to just push together the two tables with the separate park models on them, thus merging them into one mega park. Sounds legit.

11. Disney World is the largest single-site employer in the US

And employees aren't just called employees -- they're cast members. A lot of them are probably sleeping together. And they can probably tell you where the bathroom is in 14 languages. Just don't ask them for freebies

12. The Haunted Mansion isn't the only place that's haunted

The real ghost (not a typo) of a worker who died during construction of The Pirates of the Caribbean allegedly haunts the ride. And that one tourist's finger is probably roaming around there like Cousin Itt, for that matter.

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