The House the Mouse Built--Part II

A visit to Disneyland conjures up images of exciting attractions and rides like Star Tours and Space Mountain. Then, of course, there are Mickey, Donald, Pluto, Goofy, and the host of other wonderful Disney characters. But what goes on "behind the scenes" at Disneyland? What does it take to make the park so much fun?

When someone asked Walt Disney why he wanted to create another "dirty" amusement park, he was said to have replied, "That's just the point - mine won't be [dirty] ." Whether Disney really made that statement has never been proven. True or not, Disneyland has set an imposing standard of cleanliness and efficiency that few other amusement parks can match.

Many people who visit Disneyland for the first time are amazed at its exceptional cleanliness. In the never-ending battle against dirt and garbage, maintenance crews, dressed in "emergency whites," work around the clock to make sure the park stays clean and spotless. Keeping a low profile, these "sweepers" move quickly through the crowds. Some even turn their cleaning chores into a performance, by twirling their brooms and pans as they work. On an average day, these crews dispose of more than 25 tons of trash.

Not only are the walkways and other areas of the park swept clean, but the streets are hosed down every night. Then workers scour the streets and walkways with special steam-cleaning guns to make the pavement look brand new! In addition, every window, floor, and countertop is scoured sparkling clean before the park opens again. To make sure that all the buildings and attractions look their best, 20,000 gallons of paint are used every year at Disneyland.

But what happens if a light burns out? With 100,000 lights, it isn't quite as simple as changing a light bulb. Forty-eight full-time electricians work at Disneyland. Everyday, they check all 100,000 bulbs that outline the edges of each building. One crew of electricians' only job is changing light bulbs that have burned out!

One person spends their entire eight-hour shift polishing the brass on the Carrousel. In addition, there are special maintenance workers who do nothing but clean the "snow" on Matterhorn Mountain. Someone else brushes Monstro the Whale's teeth. Three full-time divers battle 46-degree temperatures and murky water to make sure everything is working at all the river and lagoon attractions like the Jungle Cruise and Pirates of the Caribbean.

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