8. Rehearsal facilities and late night practices

Walt Disney World is known worldwide for the tremendously high quality of its entertainment, from parades to stage shows to character interactions. But as anyone with even a passing knowledge of the theater is aware, mounting a major professional production takes a great deal of rehearsal. How and where do cast members rehearse, when the parks are open long hours 365 days per year?

The answer lies hidden in a plethora of rehearsal studios nestled around the property. From dance routines to high-energy stunts, Disney provides plenty of room for cast members to safely learn and rehearse their moves.

For parades, however, there is simply not enough room to rehearse indoors. Likewise, some shows can only be rehearsed to a certain point inside a rehearsal facility. At some point it becomes critical for both the performers and the technicians to practice in the actual location in which the show will be held. Coordinating these on-site rehearsals often means late nights for the entertainment department, since they typically practice after the parks close for the day.

9. Central Shops

Although outsourcing has become more common in recent years, Disney continues to fabricate the majority of its own items, from trash cans to ride vehicles. It also handles its own refurbishments. This is all managed from a massive facility behind the Magic Kingdom known as Central Shops. Specialty departments, such as painting and maintenance services, are housed under the Central Shops umbrella and operate out of its enormous warehouse. 

10. The Disney tree farm

Have you ever wondered where Walt Disney World gets its stunning array of plant life? While the displays at the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival are impossible to ignore, take a good look around the next time you are in the parks on an average day. Even without factoring in the festival, there is no denying that Disney horticulturists are hard at work every day of the year.

The Walt Disney World tree farm is where trees and plants from every corner of the globe are carefully tended and adapted to the Florida climate. Some are pruned into elaborate topiaries, while others are used for shade or planted as part of the immersive theming for which Disney has long been known. Some plants and trees can take as long as three years to fully adapt to life in Florida!

Go backstage yourself

In many ways, Walt Disney World is its own city, supporting a vast population. All the services you might expect, from hairdressers to a medical clinic, are readily available to cast members. It would be impossible to expound on all of these services in any great detail, but I hope that the above named departments have helped you wrap your head around just what a vast empire the resort truly is. Keeping it operational each and every day requires a monumental and highly choreographed behind the scenes dance that most guests never get to see.

If you want to learn more, though, Disney offers a wide range of backstage tours. Some focus on a single aspect of one park, such as Dolphins in Depth or The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains. Others provide a more general overview of a park, such as Disney’s Keys to the Kingdom. Still others are seasonal, such as Disney’s Yuletide Fantasy. But if you want the ultimate behind the scenes experience, consider signing up for the Backstage Magic tour. This day-long marathon visits all four theme parks, delving deeply into the overall processes and techniques that make Walt Disney World what it is today.

Have you been backstage at Walt Disney World? Do you have any favorite areas or hidden secrets? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!