18 Magical Facts About Disneyland You Probably Didn't Know

Some of these facts about the happiest place on earth might surprise you

Disneyland €” a place where when you wish upon a star, your dreams will come true. At least that's how magical the theme park seems upon each visit. Disneyland has been around for almost 60 years (it will be celebrating its 60th anniversary next summer, in fact), which means that a lot of fun facts about the place have popped up along the way. Amidst the exciting rides, colorful characters and delicious Dole Whip, fun facts and quirky stories have turned into classic Disneyland legend. Do you know the story behind Tom Sawyer's Island? Or what is hidden at the top of the Matterhorn? How about what kinds of kooky stores were apart of the original Main Street USA? Secrets and surprises are lurking around every corner in this theme park, and that doesn't even include its accompanying theme park, Disney's California Adventures. Walt Disney had a great vision when he opened his park in 1955, and a great body of history and magic has followed ever since the park's inception. Everyone knows that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth, but here are some things that might surprise you.

18. Walt Disney Didn't Allow Employees To Grow Mustaches

Disney wanted his employees to be clean shaven (even though he himself was mustachioed), so for 43 years employees were not allowed to grow any sort of facial hair. However, in 2000 the park granted employees permission to grown only mustaches if they wished. However, employees can only grow them during vacation or before they are hired, so they don't have stubble while they are working.

17. Comedian Steve Martin Got His Start At Disneyland

Martin worked selling guidebooks, as a cowboy in Frontierland and then at a magic shop.

16. There Is A Basketball Court Inside The Matterhorn

Walt Disney asked the mountain climbers what they would like to have fill them empty space at the top of the Matterhorn, and they all decided on a basketball court.
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Holland Baker is based in New York City, where she is an editor, writer and co-host of Whatever It Takes: A Degrassi Podcast. In her free time, you can find her searching for bodega cats, eating mass amounts of pizza and using humor as a defense mechanism.